DISTRESS

CHAPTER 21

I glanced around feeling the anxiousness slowly creeping in my body. I've been going back and forth to school but this is one of those times where I can feel someone watching me in the shadows.

Actually, this isn't the first time I felt like someone is watching me. I've been having this feeling of being watched for a couple of times now, I just didn't payed it too much but now I know that this feeling is no coincidence anymore. I'm pretty sure that someone is keeping a close eye on me yet for some reason I can't feel any malice or bad intention from the one following me. No, I still shouldn't let my guard down just because of that. Who knows what might happen. That alone makes me worried and anxious.

A few days have passed since the field trip ended. Since then the principal and I have been in good terms, to say the least. I'm not ignoring her that much or act harshly towards her but there's still instances where I can't control myself from saying something blunt and sarcastic. It's just part of my disposition and that's something I can't erase. Though I don't think I need to do any of that since the principal doesn't seem to mind my attitude.

"I got you something," she said smiling brightly as she hands me a small paper bag. As usual I'm here in her office helping her with whatever there is to do. Either it's stapling or arranging files.

I took it and opened it to see a keychain. I pulled it out of the paper bag to get a closer look. I was speechless to see that it was a keychain of the painting of the american robin I saw in the museum during the field trip. I don't exactly know what to say so all I did is stare at it. "This is beautiful," I finally said.

"I saw you looking at it for a long time and I knew right away that you liked that painting from the rest and since there's no keychain of that painting, I had to ask the shop to customize me one. I want to give you something memorable. I hope you like it."

I don't know if I should hug or kiss her right now. I didn't expect her to do something like this for me. I'm so happy that I can't put it into words. Just that I appreciate the effort she did to do this.

The bell rang just when I was about to reply. I quickly stood up and leaned across her table and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you," I said smiling at her then made my way towards the door while holding the keychain tightly in my hand. Her stunned and surprised expression is really adorable. But before I could even open the door, the principal pulled me in her arms.

"You always catch me off guard," she muttered, holding me.

I raised my head to look at her, "Mind letting me go? I need to get back to class now."

"I don't want to and being late for a couple of minutes won't hurt. You can't just steal a kiss from me and leave."

I raised my eyebrow and tried breaking free from her but she won't budge, "Honestly what do you want?"

She smirked and I know she already has something in her mind. "I want that kiss and smile again." she said leaning closer to my face.

This made me roll my eyes, "I don't do mushy stuff."

"Yet you still did."

"It was only once. I don't plan to redo it or do it occasionally," I argued. "And have you forgotten that you're married and I'm your student. We can't keep doing these things."

She sigh, "I told I'll handle that."

"And is that suppose to make things better? This is still inappropriate and you know that."

"Not exactly but you're still here. Doesn't that mean you don't entirely hate this set-up?"

"That's" is all I could say. I want to deny it but she's right. I know this is wrong but still I keep seeing her which only shows I'm way worse than I claim to. It's just no matter what I do I can't help but want to see her and be with her. I really am the worst. "I need to go now," I said, freeing myself from her embrace.