𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓻𝔂❤︎

Chapter 21

The weeks following their conversation weighed on Y/N. Sure, Mr. Le had noticed her transformation, but it wasn’t enough. Not yet. His cool, detached demeanor remained, even though she could sense a crack in his usual indifference. It gnawed at her. She craved more—more attention, more acknowledgment. She wanted to be on his mind as much as he was on hers.

Y/N had started pushing boundaries in subtle ways, but now she was ready to take drastic steps.

She entered the chemistry class that day with a clear plan. Her look had become even bolder—an outfit that was slightly too daring for school, her eyeliner darker, and her lips painted a deep red. She wanted his eyes on her. She needed them on her. But her clothes were only the first step.

Throughout the class, Y/N found ways to draw his attention. She purposely lagged behind on her assignments, making small mistakes that would force Mr. Le to come over to her desk. When he did, she leaned in a little closer, her voice softer, more suggestive.

“I don’t understand this part,” she said, even though she did. Her hand brushed his as she passed him her paper.

Mr. Le, however, didn’t flinch. He circled the mistake, his expression as unreadable as ever behind his mask and glasses. “Read the question again,” he said, his voice steady, unaffected by the brush of their hands. “It’s simpler than you’re making it.”

Y/N bit her lip, frustrated but determined. She wasn’t going to stop there. As the class neared its end, she realized she needed to do something bigger, something bolder. Her eyes landed on her phone, and an idea sparked.

After the bell rang and students began to leave, Y/N intentionally hung back. She waited until the classroom was nearly empty before casually walking up to Mr. Le’s desk. She held her phone in her hand, flipping through it as if she was preoccupied with something else.

“Mr. Le,” she began, her voice low and sweet, “I need your help with something.”

He looked up from the papers he was grading. “What is it?”

Y/N held out her phone, her finger lingering on the screen. “Could you explain this equation one more time? I think I’m still missing something.”

Mr. Le sighed, but got up and walked over to where she stood by the lab table. As he leaned over to look at her phone, Y/N shifted slightly, her hand brushing against his arm. This time, the touch was intentional, deliberate.

“Here,” he said, his tone clipped. He tapped the screen, explaining the equation, but his usual calmness was starting to waver. Y/N could see it. He was getting annoyed—or maybe something else. She wasn’t sure, but it was a reaction, and that was all she needed.

She leaned in closer. “Thanks. I knew you’d be able to make it clearer for me.” Her voice was soft, almost playful. She didn’t move away, lingering just a little too long in his space.

Mr. Le stepped back, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. “Y/N,” he said, his tone a warning. “I’m your teacher. You need to respect that boundary.”

Y/N’s heart raced. She had expected this—his pushback—but she wasn’t going to stop now. “I know,” she said softly, her eyes locking onto his. “But it doesn’t feel like just that anymore, does it?”

For a moment, there was silence. Mr. Le stood there, his expression hard to read, but there was definitely something there—a flicker of confusion, maybe hesitation.

“Go home, Y/N,” he finally said, his voice firmer this time. “We’re done here.”

She smirked, feeling a strange thrill in his reaction. It wasn’t a victory, but it wasn’t a loss either. She had rattled him, even if only slightly.

Y/N turned on her heel and walked out of the classroom, her heart pounding with adrenaline. She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she was all in now. And this was only the beginning.