𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓻𝔂❤︎

Chapter 12

It started like any other day—Y/N was daydreaming through her classes, counting down the minutes until seventh period. Mr. Le had been extra sarcastic yesterday, and Y/N was absolutely convinced it was because he was warming up to her. She couldn't stop thinking about the way his voice had sounded, so playful and teasing. She'd spent the night obsessively replaying their conversation, going over every word like it was some kind of secret code. "You're strange... in a good way."

Her heart fluttered at the thought. What did it mean? Was he saying she was unique? Or that she stood out in a crowd? Either way, Y/N took it as a sign. Today, she was sure something would happen. Today is the day. Something big is coming, I can feel it.

Seventh period finally arrived, and Y/N could hardly sit still. She kept fidgeting with her notebook, her eyes constantly flicking over to Mr. Le as he went over the lesson. He was wearing his usual dark clothes, the black mask covering his face, making him seem even more mysterious than usual. She could see the faint outline of a smirk behind the mask, and her mind raced with possibilities. Does he know I'm staring?

Suddenly, a loud announcement echoed through the room.

"Attention, students and staff. We are initiating a lockdown drill. Please follow all safety procedures immediately."

The room went silent. Y/N's heart skipped a beat. A lockdown drill?

Mr. Le looked up from his desk, his usual calm demeanor unshaken. "Alright, you know the drill. Everyone move to the back of the room, keep quiet, and stay out of sight."

Y/N felt a rush of adrenaline. A lockdown drill meant being huddled together with her classmates... and with Mr. Le *wink wink*. This was her chance. Maybe he'd sit close to her. Maybe there would be a moment where they locked eyes in the dim light, their faces just inches apart. Her mind spun with all the cringeworthy scenarios, each more far-fetched than the last.

The class quickly moved to the back corner of the room, and Y/N's heart raced as she maneuvered her way into the perfect spot—just a few feet from where Mr. Le was organizing papers at his desk. The lights were turned off, leaving the room in soft shadows. It was almost... intimate.

Her friends huddled nearby, whispering and giggling about the drill, but Y/N couldn't focus on them. Her eyes were locked on Mr. Le as he moved toward the back of the room. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. This is it. This is the moment.

He sat down against the wall, just a few feet away from the students, his long legs stretched out in front of him. Y/N, in a daring move, shuffled a little closer, her hands trembling slightly as she hugged her knees. If I'm quiet, maybe he'll notice how close we are. Maybe... maybe he'll even say something.

For a moment, everything was still. The room was quiet, the only sound the soft breathing of her classmates and the distant hum of the school's air conditioning. Y/N's eyes flicked over to Mr. Le, who was resting his head back against the wall, his eyes half-closed behind his glasses.

Now's your chance, she thought. Say something.

"Mr. Le?" she whispered, barely audible in the silence.

He opened one eye, glancing in her direction. "What is it, Y/N?" His voice was low and soft, sending shivers down her spine.

Oh my God, he's talking to me. She swallowed hard, her mind racing for something—anything—to say. "I, um... I just wanted to say that... you're really calm during these drills."

What?! What was that?!

Mr. Le raised an eyebrow, clearly confused but also slightly amused. "Uh, thanks, I guess? It's just a drill."

Y/N nodded furiously, feeling her face heat up. "Yeah, I know. But, like... you're just... really good at it. Being calm, I mean."

Her friends, who were sitting nearby, exchanged glances, trying not to laugh at the awkward exchange. But Y/N didn't care. She had his attention, and that was all that mattered.

"Uh-huh." Mr. Le's voice was laced with sarcasm, but there was that familiar softness in it too, the one that made her heart flutter. "You good over there? You seem a little... flustered."

Flustered?! He noticed!

"Oh, no, I'm fine!" she blurted out, her voice a little too loud for the situation. "Just, you know... lockdown drills. They make everyone nervous."

Mr. Le smirked, the corners of his eyes crinkling behind his glasses. "If you say so."

The room fell into an awkward silence, but Y/N was on cloud nine. He noticed. He totally noticed.

A few minutes passed, and the stillness of the room felt almost unbearable. Y/N couldn't stop fidgeting. I have to say something else. Something to keep the conversation going.

She cleared her throat softly, inching just a little closer. "So, um... what do you do during lockdowns? Like, when you're not here with us?"

Mr. Le looked at her, clearly trying to figure out where she was going with this. "What do I do? I just... sit here. Same as you. There's not much else to do."

Y/N nodded eagerly, desperate to keep the conversation going. "Oh, yeah, of course. That makes sense. I just thought... you know... maybe you had some kind of... special teacher thing you did."

Her friends were silently shaking with laughter now, and Y/N felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Why did I say that?!

Mr. Le chuckled, clearly amused. "No special teacher thing. Just sitting here, trying to make sure you don't fall asleep during a drill."

Y/N's heart soared. He's teasing me again!

"Right, right," she said, her voice shaking with nerves. "Well, um... you're really good at... sitting."

Oh my God, did I just say that?!

Mr. Le didn't even try to hide his laughter this time. "Thanks, Y/N. I'll take that as a compliment."

Y/N's face was burning now, but despite the cringe, she couldn't help but feel a tiny bit triumphant. She had managed to get him to laugh. Twice.

As the drill continued, the silence between them grew more comfortable, but Y/N's mind was still racing. What now? Should I say something else? Or just let it be?

Before she could make up her mind, the intercom crackled back to life. "All clear. The lockdown drill is over. Please resume your normal activities."

The lights flickered back on, and the room burst into motion as students started packing up their things, ready to leave. Y/N stood up slowly, glancing over at Mr. Le one last time. He was already gathering his papers, but before she could walk away, he looked up at her, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses.

"You survived the drill, Y/N. Good job." There was that teasing tone again, and Y/N felt her heart skip a beat.

She smiled, her face still red. "Thanks, Mr. Le."

As she walked out of the room, her friends caught up to her, giggling uncontrollably. "What was that?!" one of them whispered, trying to keep her voice down. "You told him he's good at sitting?!"

Y/N laughed nervously, her cheeks still burning. "I don't know! It just came out!"

But despite the embarrassment, Y/N couldn't stop smiling. Because in her mind, the drill had been perfect. It had been cringey, sure, but it had been her cringey moment. And she knew, deep down, that Mr. Le had noticed her. Maybe not in the way she'd imagined, but still...

It's a start.