Chapter 66

Yoko

The day has been a blur—just one long, continuous loop of lectures, assignments, and the occasional dramatic sighs from my friends as we collectively trudge through the final stretch of our high school lives.

Now, I'm sitting in my last class of the day—calculus. Which means, the real suffering begins.

Ms Catherine, our calculus teacher, stands at the front of the classroom, effortlessly scribbling an equation on the board like it's the most exciting thing in the world.

I stare at it blankly.

∫(3x² - 4x + 5) dx

Okay. I know how to do this. I think.

Ms Catherine turns to face the class, adjusting her glasses. "Alright, who wants to walk me through the solution?"

Silence.

No one ever volunteers for this voluntarily. I shrink slightly in my seat, hoping she won't—

"Miss Apasra," Ms Catherine calls out smoothly.

Damn it.

The whole class shifts their gazes to me as I groan internally, dragging myself up from my seat. "Of course, Miss Catherine," I say sweetly, making some of my classmates chuckle.

She smirks. "Good. Show us how it's done."

I sigh dramatically before walking up to the board, grabbing the marker.

Alright. Indefinite integration. I quickly recall the basic rule, I take a deep breath and begin writing.

Once I am done, I step back, cap the marker, and glance at Ms Catherine.

She studies my answer for a moment, then nods approvingly. "Perfect," she says, and I barely resist the urge to pump my fist in the air.

I hear a few exaggerated claps from the back—Marissa, probably—and I roll my eyes before heading back to my seat.

Ms Catherine continues, but at this point, my brain has already started winding down, and I slump slightly in my chair.

One more hour and I'm free.

Somehow, the next hour passes in a blur. Maybe because I actually focused for once. Or maybe because my brain is too fried to process anything else.

Ms Catherine wraps up the lesson just as my fingers start cramping from all the writing.

"Alright, class," she says, tapping the board. "This worksheet will help reinforce what we covered today. I expect it to be completed by next lesson."

A collective groan echoes through the room. I sigh, stuffing my notes into my bag.

More work. Great.

Around me, my classmates slowly start filing out of the classroom, some lingering to discuss answers, others looking far too relieved to be done with another day of school.

I don't move yet. Instead, I let my head drop onto my desk with a dull thud, closing my eyes.

Just five seconds. 

Just five seconds before I have to drag myself up and pretend I'm still alive. But then—

"Miss Apasra," Ms Catherine's amused voice reaches me.

I groan. "What," I mumble into my folded arms.

I hear her chuckle. "Planning to stay longer? I can give you more worksheets if you want."

My head snaps up immediately. "NOPE," I say quickly, pushing back my chair and gathering my things at record speed. "Absolutely not."

Ms Catherine smirks as I sling my bag over my shoulder, already making my way toward the door.

"Have a good evening, Miss Apasra," she calls out behind me.

I shoot her a playful glare over my shoulder. "You too, Miss Catherine."

Then, I'm gone, weaving through the now-empty hallway, heading straight toward Faye's classroom.

Because after a full day of classes, there's only one thing I need to make my day better—My girlfriend.

I push open the door to Faye's classroom, expecting to find her alone—

Only to see a few students gathered at her desk, notebooks open, brows furrowed in varying degrees of desperation.

Oh. Guess someone's still in consultation mode.

Faye looks up when she hears the door, her eyes softening for a brief second when she sees me.

"Miss Apasra," she greets smoothly, ever the professional.

I smirk. "Miss Peraya."

A flicker of amusement crosses her features, but she keeps her voice even. "Here for a consultation?"

I snort. "Nope."

Faye tilts her head, playing along. "Are you sure? Your poetry analysis last lesson could use some work."

I roll my eyes. "I'll have you know, Miss Peraya, my poetry analysis is flawless—"

"—Barely acceptable," she corrects.

I gasp. "Wow. Unbelievable. This is bullying."

One of the students glances between us, clearly confused by the dynamic.

I just flash them an innocent smile before heading toward the back of the classroom, plopping down into an empty seat.

It's routine at this point.

By now, I know that after school, after all the lessons and endless assignments, Faye always has a line of students needing help. So I wait—

And she always sends me home.

It's not like I mind though. The best part of my day is always the moment I see her, when we leave together, when she drives me home—

But right now, it looks like she's stuck for a while.

I rest my chin in my palm, watching her in action, effortlessly guiding each student through their questions with that calm, charming, and intelligent aura that somehow makes literature seem bearable.

Ugh. She's so attractive.

I get so lost staring at her that I barely notice when the last student finally gathers their things and leaves. Faye exhales, stretching her arms slightly before making her way toward me.

"Hey, love," she murmurs, voice softer now that it's just us.

I smile. "Hey."

She reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "It might take me a while to finish up here."

I nod. "I figured."

She hesitates, then sighs. "I feel bad making you wait. You should head home first, especially if you're planning to revise."

I blink at her, then grin. "Are you kicking me out?"

Faye chuckles. "I'm politely encouraging you to go home and not waste your time waiting for me."

I hum thoughtfully, then lean forward, dropping my voice to a teasing whisper. "I don't think waiting for you is a waste of time."

Faye exhales sharply, pressing her lips together—her telltale sign of holding back a reaction.

It's my favorite thing.

Then, she sighs, placing a hand on my head so gently that it makes my heart ache a little. "Go home, baby," she murmurs, her voice warm, coaxing.

I melt.

"Okay," I say, smiling softly.

Faye studies me for a moment, then nods approvingly. "Good girl," she murmurs, her lips twitching.

I roll my eyes, standing up. "Hang in there, Ms Peraya," I tease, patting her arm dramatically before heading for the door.

I don't miss the way her eyes linger on me as I leave. And, well—I love that she does.

I step out of the school gates, exhaling deeply as the cool afternoon breeze greets me.

It's been a long day—one filled with back-to-back lessons, endless assignments, and way too much brainpower required for calculus.

And honestly?

I need a break.

Which is why, instead of heading straight home, I turn on my heel and start walking toward the park nearby.

It's not planned, but the moment I think about it—the wide open space, the quiet rustling of leaves, the way the golden light filters through the trees in the late afternoon—I know it's exactly what I need.

I slip my hands into my pockets, inhaling deeply as I take my time. The air is crisp, fresh, and the rhythmic sound of my footsteps against the pavement is oddly soothing.

By the time I reach the park, I feel like I can breathe again.

There are a few joggers, some people sitting on benches scrolling through their phones, and a kid chasing after a very enthusiastic dog.

I smile to myself, walking toward my usual spot near the fountain.

It's peaceful.

And finally—my brain isn't filled with assignments, revision schedules, or the stress of looming finals. Instead, it's just me, the park, and the slow, easy quiet.

Until—

"Fancy seeing you here."

A voice—smooth, familiar—interrupts my thoughts. I freeze for half a second before turning around—and there she is.

Blair.

Standing behind me, hands tucked casually into the pockets of her jacket, eyes glinting with something that looks suspiciously like amusement.

My stomach tightens for a brief moment.

Why is she here?

Blair moves past me, walking ahead before casually settling onto the bench near the fountain. She glances up, tilting her head slightly. "Well? You just gonna stand there looking suspicious, or are you going to sit?"

I blink at her, then sigh, exhaling through my nose before I finally move.

It's fine. She's just making conversation.

I take the seat beside her, keeping a respectable distance. The air between us is neutral—a little awkward, maybe, but not hostile.

Blair leans back, stretching her arms out along the back of the bench. "So," she starts, her tone easy, casual. "How's revision going? Ready for finals?"

I scoff. "As ready as anyone can be, I guess."

Blair chuckles. "So... not ready."

I huff a laugh, shaking my head. "I'm getting there."

It's not a lie. I've been putting in the work, studying like crazy, making use of every moment I have to prepare. But there's still this weight pressing down on me—the knowledge that these exams are the last stretch of high school, the final hurdle before everything changes.

And apparently, my tension must be obvious because—

"You seem kinda stiff," Blair notes, glancing sideways at me. Then—her lips curl into something that's not quite a smirk, but definitely teasing. "What's with the whole 'distant and cold' thing? Is it because I used to like you?"

My face heats up instantly. I turn to her, completely caught off guard.

"What?"

Blair raises an eyebrow. "You heard me."

I open my mouth, close it, then groan, dragging a hand over my face. "God—that's—" I exhale sharply, hating how my voice comes out almost embarrassed. "I mean... yeah."

Blair lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Wow," she muses. "So you really thought I'd still be pining or something?"

I wince. "I didn't—not exactly."

She hums, watching me for a beat before shrugging lightly. "Relax," she says, tilting her head. "I get it."

I glance at her, uncertain. "You do?"

"Yeah," Blair grins, propping her chin in her hand. "It's cute."

I groan.

She laughs. Then—she leans back again, stretching slightly before dropping the next bombshell so casually, like it's nothing.

"I'm dating someone, anyway."

My head snaps toward her. "What?"

Blair blinks at me, feigning innocence. "What?"

I narrow my eyes. "Since when?"

"Since a while ago."

I stare at her. She smirks. I squint harder. Blair snickers, clearly enjoying this.

"You're acting like it's some huge plot twist," she muses.

"Well, yeah," I say, still trying to process. "Who is it?"

She hums, gaze flickering toward the park before responding, smooth as ever, "Someone from school."

I scoff. "Oh, come on. That's vague as hell."

Blair grins, looking way too amused. "So?"

I roll my eyes. "Fine. Keep your secrets."

Blair chuckles. "Damn right."

The tension that had been there before—the awkwardness—has mostly dissolved now. There's something easier between us. And I don't know if it's because of Blair's nonchalant attitude or the way she's clearly moved on, but I feel...

Lighter. Less guilty. Less uncomfortable.

I exhale, standing up. "Alright, I should go. I need to get started on revision."

Blair mock gasps. "Wow, who are you and what have you done with Yoko?"

I roll my eyes again. "Shut up."

She grins.

I shake my head, adjusting my bag strap. "Good luck with finals," I tell her.

Blair smirks. "You too, Apasra."

I make a face at her. Then, I turn, making my way out of the park, my mind still lingering on the conversation.

That wasn't as bad as I expected.

Still, as I step onto the pavement, I find myself reaching for the necklace around my neck—fingertips brushing over the pendant Faye gave me–grounding myself. 

And then, I keep walking.

By the time I reach home, the afternoon sun has begun its slow descent, casting golden light through the windows. The house is quiet, save for the soft pat of paws against the floor.

Ham bounds toward me the moment I step inside, tail wagging like I've been gone for years instead of just a few hours.

I laugh, crouching down as he immediately presses into me, licking my chin. "Hey, buddy. Miss me?"

He lets out a happy little bark.

I grin, scratching behind his ears before rubbing his belly when he flops over dramatically onto the floor. "You are so spoiled."

Ham wags his tail in response.

Shaking my head, I nudge him playfully before standing up, stretching. As much as I'd love to spend the rest of the afternoon lazing around with Ham, I know there's work to be done.

Finals are looming.

I sigh, ruffling Ham's fur one last time before heading to my room, setting my bag down with a thud.

Alright, focus mode.

I settle at my desk, flipping open my notes and laptop, stretching my neck before diving into the workload.

...One Hour Later

I groan, rubbing my temples. Why does calculus exist? Seriously. Who created this? And why does it have to be so damn difficult?

I glare at the formula on my screen like it personally wronged me. Then I sigh, adjusting in my chair, willing myself to keep going.

I push through, solving equation after equation, highlighting key points in my notes, flipping between my textbooks and online references.

Then, chemistry. Then, literature. By the time I reach my English revision, I feel like my soul has left my body.

But I push through. Because I have to. Because the finish line is so close. Because I want to make Faye proud.

I sigh, rolling my shoulders before glancing at the clock.

Only three hours in?

I groan, leaning back in my chair. Ham lifts his head from where he's sprawled across my bed, blinking at me sleepily.

I narrow my eyes at him. "Must be nice to do nothing all day."

He blinks again. Then yawns.

I scoff. "Lazy."

Still—his presence is comforting.

With a sigh, I shake out my hands, stretch, then lean forward again, flipping to the next page of my notes.

Time to keep going.

By the time I finally close my textbooks and shut my laptop, the weight of exhaustion settles deep in my bones. I exhale, stretching my arms over my head before pushing away from my desk.

That's enough for tonight.

I shuffle toward the bathroom, stripping off my clothes and stepping into the warm cascade of water. The heat instantly soothes my aching muscles, washing away the tension from hours of studying.

As I lather shampoo into my hair, my thoughts drift back to Blair.

Her sudden confession about dating someone from school still lingers in my mind. I mean... why tell me that? Was she just being casual? Friendly? Did she think I needed to hear it?

I replay the way she said it—the easy confidence in her voice, the slight teasing smile tugging at her lips.

I tch softly. Whatever. It's not my business. And it's not like I care. I tilt my head back, letting the water rinse through my hair.

I don't care. At all–Right?

...Right.

I shake off the thought, stepping out of the shower and wrapping myself in a towel.

I quickly dry my hair, slipping into a comfortable oversized tee (one of Faye's, obviously) and some shorts before heading back to my room.

Ham is already sprawled across my bed like he owns it.

I sigh, ruffling his ears. "Scoot over, fatso."

He gives me an unimpressed look but begrudgingly shifts. I flop onto the bed, pulling my blanket over me, my body already sinking into the comfort of sleep.

My thoughts drift for a moment—back to Faye, her teasing smile, her gentle touch, the way she makes everything feel right.

Then, to Blair, her unexpected words, her familiar presence in my life that, at one point, almost became something more.

I close my eyes. It doesn't matter. I know where my heart belongs.

And with that, I let sleep pull me under.