– Wherein Therese has a crush on their sub teacher, Ma'am Sto. Tomas.
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Therese's mind was consumed by thoughts as she stared at her teacher, Ma'am Sto. Tomas. She knew that she had feelings for her teacher, but she wasn't sure if it was because of her "mommy issues" or if there was something more to it. She couldn't help but feel drawn to Ma'am Sto. Tomas calm demeanor and strict yet caring personality.
Therese snapped back to reality when she felt her teacher's touch on her arm. Her eyes widened as she looked up at Ma'am Sto. Tomas.
"Cr muna ako, ha?"
She quickly nodded. "O-Okay po, maam." Once her teacher had walked out, Therese couldn't help but feel confused. Why had Ma'am Sto. Tomas told her specifically that she was going to the restroom? Huh? Nakaupo sa harap 'yung president namin, bakit hindi sa kaniya sinabi? Dahil ba ako ang class secretary?
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They were working on their seatwork when Therese came across a question that left her feeling confused. She read it over again and again, her forehead creasing with a frown. "Ano 'yan? Ano 'to? Ang gulo naman."
Therese looked up and noticed that Ma'am Sto. Tomas was looking in her direction, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Therese's face flushed bright red when she realized that her teacher had caught her looking confused about the question. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly looked back down at her paper, trying to hide her reddening face.
"Beh, nakatingin siya saakin!" Therese gripped on her seatmate's
arm.
"Sandali lang, 'te!" her seatmate complained.
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As Therese and her friend walked through the campus, heading toward the canteen for their break, Therese noticed Ma'am Sto. Tomas standing in front of the main building. She seemed to be fuming, her expression stern and her face red with anger. Therese couldn't help but be curious as to what had happened to put her teacher in such a bad mood.
"Si maam oh!" she told her friend.
Her friend didn't even bother to look. "Hayaan mo siya."
As Therese and her friend continued walking towards the canteen, her attention was still drawn to their teacher. Ma'am Sto. Tomas' face was still visibly upset, so when she happened to look in their direction and saw her, Therese couldn't resist waving her hand, smiling, and mouthing "Hi, ma'am" to her. Even with her anger still evident, Ma'am Sto. Tomas couldn't help but give Therese a small, warm smile in response.
Therese likely felt a little flutter of excitement or butterflies in her stomach when her teacher smiled at her. She gripped on her friend's arm. "Nginitian niya 'ko! Oh my gosh!"
"Ikalma, beh. Kalma lang."
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"Nag quiz ba tayo nung December?" Ma'am Sto. Tomas asked.
"Opo, maam!"
"Tapos na po, maam!"
"Tapos na ba?" Ma'am Sto. Tomas frowned.
Therese's face twisted in confusion as she listened to her classmates' conflicting answers. She turned to her seat mate and asked. "Ha? Nag quiz na ba tayo? 'Di ba hindi?"
