"Maybe," she replied gently, eting his gaze. "But duty doesn’t make soone show up early to encourage nervous children. Or leave quietly so a teacher can do her work."
A faint smile touched his lips. "You noticed."
"It’s hard not to," she said, then laughed softly, embarrassed. "I an—when soone is... attentive."
His eyes ward, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Attentive," he repeated, as if testing the word. "And you, Miss Alina, are attentive too. You see their fears before they speak. You celebrate their effort, not just their results."
Her cheeks ward. "I just want them to feel brave."
"You make them brave," he said simply.
For a mont, neither of them spoke. The air felt comfortable, easy, threaded with sothing unspoken.
Alina broke the silence with a small smile. "I suppose we make a decent team."
Dante’s brow lifted again, this ti with quiet interest. "I suppose we do."
There was silence again, soft and unhurried.
Alina beca suddenly, painfully aware of the quiet room, of the steady sound of his breathing, low and even, filling the space between them far more than words ever could. Heat crept up her neck, and she felt her ears turn red without permission, her body reacting before her mind could catch up.
She swallowed and shifted slightly in her seat, fingers curling together in her lap.
Dante noticed.
A small smile curved his lips, subtle but unmistakable, his gaze steady on her face. "Anything more?" he asked lightly.
The question was simple, but the way he said it made her heart stumble.
She hesitated, then laughed softly, trying to mask her fluster. "N-no, sir. That’s all," she said, though her voice was a little quieter than before.
His smile deepened just a fraction, as if he knew exactly what she was feeling and chose not to press it. "Very well."
The silence returned, but this ti it felt warr, charged with sothing gentle and unfinished, like a conversation neither of them was quite ready to end.
Alina finally cleared her throat, breaking the fragile quiet. "Then... I should go," she said softly, standing up and adjusting her dress.
Dante nodded, resting back in his chair. "Of course. Thank you for coming to tell ."
She took a few steps toward the door, her movents careful, as if she were afraid to disturb the mont. Dante didn’t say anything else. He simply watched her, one hand resting against his chin, eyes thoughtful, unreadable, following every small motion until she reached the door.
Her fingers wrapped around the handle.
For so reason she couldn’t explain, she paused. Then she turned back.
Their eyes t again.
For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to just the two of them in that quiet office, the air still warm with everything unsaid. His posture was relaxed, composed, yet there was sothing intense in the way he looked at her, like he was morizing her presence without aning to.
And the thought slipped into her mind.
God... he is handso.
The realization made her cheeks heat instantly. She quickly looked away, embarrassed by her own thoughts, and offered a small, polite smile.
"I’ll see you later, sir," she said.
Dante inclined his head slightly. "See you, Miss Alina."
She opened the door and stepped out, her heart beating far too fast as it closed softly behind her, while inside the office, Dante remained still, his gaze lingering on the door long after she was gone.
***
Today was the science paper, and Alina ca earlier than usual, curiosity tugging at her steps. She wanted to see what the babies did before an exam when they thought no teacher was watching. Quietly, she stopped near the classroom window and peeked inside.
Every baby was holding a book. So upside down. So sideways. So clutched like life-saving manuals.
"I think this question teacher will ask!!" Kelpie announced confidently, slapping his page with excitent. "Like how much water babies should drink... or how much water we have in our bodyyy."
Drake imdiately panicked. "We have water INSIDE us???" He stared at his own hands in horror. "How did it get there?"
Alina facepald herself. Had he forgotten about the lessons she had taught them related to water?
"It cos with baby upgrade," Boo said seriously, floating closer and peeking into Kelpie’s notebook. "Let seeee!!!"
Kelpie tilted the book proudly. Boo squinted, eyes moving dramatically across the page.
"Hmmm," Boo humd. "Yes yes. This looks like a teacher question."
Luna leaned over with suspicion. "That page has drawings. Teacher likes drawings."
Felix said calmly, "Teacher explained this already. Plants need water and sunlight. Humans need water too. It is logical."
Drake gasped. "PLANTS DRINK WATER TOO???" He pretended to look elsewhere, blinking mischievously. Hehe, he knew, but he was going to pretend that he didn’t know anything!! Hahaha.
Rocky nodded solemnly. "Yes. That’s why they don’t cry. They drink quietly."
Sable hugged his book tightly. "I morized sunlight and water. If teacher asks anything else, I will panic politely."
Vlad Jr. sat straight, flipping pages with elegant precision. "The normal body contains approximately sixty percent water," he said calmly, as if reciting a royal decree. "However, I doubt teacher will require exact percentages."
Everyone stared at him.
"Vlad Jr. is scary," Boo whispered loudly.
Lucien sighed, rubbing his temples like a tired adult. "Stop yelling. Panic will make you forget."
Boo gasped dramatically. "LUCIEN. Panic is my fuel."
Kelpie suddenly raised his hand. "What if teacher asks... where water cos from???"
Drake scread. "FROM SKY?? FROM CLOUDS?? FROM BABY TEARS???"
"No no," Boo waved his hands. "Water cos from... cups."
Luna facepald.
Felix nodded thoughtfully. "Cups are involved."
Alina covered her mouth outside the window, shoulders shaking as she tried not to laugh out loud. Inside, the babies were still furiously whispering, flipping pages, debating water like it was the most mysterious substance in the universe.
Boo floated up dramatically. "Okay, everyone. Final decision. If teacher asks water question, we answer confidently. Even if wrong."
"Yes!" Drake nodded. "Confidence is science."
"Will teacher ask questions related to food and energy?" Lucien asked suddenly, looking up from his book with genuine concern.
The classroom froze.
Boo grabbed his head with both hands and spun in a slow circle midair. "Oh no no no no," he groaned dramatically. "Now where are these new topics coming from?!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)