Academic Temptations

Chapter 38

I woke up with someone nudging my sides. Slowly opening my eyes, I expected the sun to greet me, but instead, darkness surrounded me.

"You missed dinner," Miss Zoe said, standing before me. During swimming time, I opted to rest in the small cottage I discovered a bit farther away in our exclusive area.

"Anong oras na?" Tanong ko at umupo.

"It's 7 in the evening. They're beginning the bonfire and the session with Audrey." I had been asleep for three hours.

"You should eat dinner, then join them. Attendance is a must," I sighed. Those activities aren't really my thing because I find them pretentious. I'm sure after this day, we'll go back to our old habits.

"Or you can stay here and drink with me. Here, take a sip," she handed me a tumbler, which I reluctantly accepted. I don't want to stay here with her because I don't really know her, but if it'll excuse me from the activity, then fine.

Napangiwi ako sa lasa ng ininom ko. Akala ko tubig o juice pero alak pala ang laman ng tumbler na binigay niya.

"You're drinking during retreat?" I asked in disbelief. She laughed at my reaction and grabbed the tumbler from me.

"This is my reward for my hard work. Don't I deserve it?" She deserves it, but still, I don't think she should be drinking, especially now with a student.

I didn't respond anymore and just stared at the beach a few feet away from us. It's getting colder already.

After our last activity a while ago, I decided to take a shower to get rid of the sweat and sand and changed into my olive green tie-side bikini. I put on a long beach cardigan that stops until my knees, just to cover at least some exposed skin.

"Why are you here anyway?" I asked as she sat beside me, both of us gazing at the beach.

"I thought Harriet's with you since both of you missed dinner." I gave her a puzzled look.

"Why would she be with me?" I asked, trying to figure out if she knew something about Professor De Veres and me.

"Drop the act," she said and laughed.

"What are you talking about?" Patay malisya ko ulit na tanong kaya mas tumawa siya nang malakas.

"She's right, you are cute. Seriously though, I know things between you but don't worry. Only I know," I can't believe she told her! What happened to confidentiality? I did my best to hide it from my cousin, and she just ratted us out.

"Anong alam mo?"

"I know from the moment you met at the bar and to you punching Jade," Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa hiya dahil naalala ko nanaman ang kabobohan ko.

"A-are they together?" I know I shouldn't have asked, but I couldn't help it.

"You should ask her yourself."

"Where is she?"

"Probably still working in her room," I think she'll be the president soon, given how hard she works these days. I don't even know why she's still our professor, adding to her workload with all the teaching and grading.

"Then, bakit pa siya pumunta dito?" I murmured to myself.

"May binabantayan kasi," Miss Zoe whispered, but I didn't catch it.

"What?" I asked, but she shook her head and offered me her tumbler, which I declined.

"Come on, I won't tell. You need this to sleep anyway," She's right. Kapag nakakatulog ako sa hapon nawawala na yung antok sa sistema ko. I'm uncomfortable about breaking rules, but I suppose I've broken enough to consider breaking one more.