Mia's heart pounded as she scrubbed the grimy tiles of the college restroom. The bell signaling the end of the break echoed loudly. "Five minutes," she muttered, glancing at her watch. She quickly changed out of her janitor's uniform and into her regular clothes, her mind racing. Miss Hensley's class was next, and she wasn't looking forward to it.
Entering the classroom just as the final bell rang, Mia slipped into her seat at the back. The room buzzed with chatter until Miss Hensley's cold voice cut through.
"Miss Mia, decided to grace us with your presence?" Miss Hensley sneered. "I hope you've finished cleaning the toilets to your satisfaction."
Mia's jaw tightened. "They're spotless, thanks for asking," she replied, her voice steady.
A few students snickered, but before Miss Hensley could respond, the door swung open. The in-charge teacher stepped in, followed by three unfamiliar faces. The room fell silent.
"Class, we have new students joining us today," the in-charge teacher announced. "Please welcome Hyun, Jisoo, and Minho."
The three boys bowed slightly, following the Korean tradition.
"I'm Hyun," the tallest one said with a polite smile.
"I'm Jisoo," the second added, his eyes scanning the room.
"And I'm Minho," the last one finished, his grin broad and confident.
"Take your seats," Miss Hensley ordered, her tone dismissive. The boys nodded and found seats near the front.
Lily, Mia's best friend, leaned over and whispered, "They're cute, right?"
Mia rolled her eyes. "Please, not you too."
"Come on, Mia," Lily teased. "You've got to admit, they're interesting."
"Interesting doesn't pay the bills," Mia shot back, her tone sharper than intended.
Miss Hensley cleared her throat, silencing the whispers. "Let's get started, shall we?"
Throughout the lesson, Mia's thoughts kept drifting. Why did those boys have to arrive and cause such a commotion? She had enough to deal with already, between her job, her studies, and Miss Hensley's constant harassment.
As the class ended, Miss Hensley called out, "Mia, stay behind for a moment."
Mia sighed, gathering her things slowly as the room emptied. Once they were alone, Miss Hensley approached her.
"Just a reminder, Mia," she said, her voice low. "I have my eyes on you. Don't think you can get away with anything."
Mia met her gaze, unflinching. "I'm not trying to get away with anything, Miss Hensley."
"We'll see," Miss Hensley replied, turning away.
Mia left theclassroom, her mind churning. She needed to stay focused and prove herself, nomatter what Miss Hensley thought. As she walked down the hall, she couldn'tshake the feeling that her life was about to get even more complicated.
YOU ARE READING
Behind the Gossip
Teen FictionFinds herself embroiled in false rumors linking her romantically to one of three Korean exchange students. As tensions escalate under the scrutiny of a disdainful teacher and a vindictive classmate, Mia teams up with Hyun, one of the enigmatic newco...
