45

It's been four days since that dinner. Four days since Cameron showed up at my house, and I've barely been able to catch my breath ever since. The whole thing felt like a blur-- like I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of tension, guilt, and forced smiles.

He's been staying at our house the entire week, but there's still a few days left. Adeline made sure of that, pushing the idea that I 'needed' to give him a chance. But every time I looked at him, I just felt sick. He wasn't the problem. It was the fact that Adeline was pulling the strings, using him to threaten me into submission. I'm starting to think she's doing it for her own pleasure, not for my 'own sake' like she said.

A sick feeling in my gut knowing what I'm keeping from Daniela behind her back.

It's been happening right under her nose too.

Constantly, when we're together Adeline calls me, giving me commands to do and reminders about getting close with Cameron. Daniela's getting suspicious. And it's not helping that Cameron's literally right under my nose too. He's a lot more touchy than last week and starts to give me compliments-- like I smell nice, my hair is nice, I'm so smart or I look beautiful today, or he'll just admire me from afar, and tell me that my smile-- which is fake-- is contagious.

Daniela's also picked up on that.

Cameron and I have been coming and going back and forth to university since we leave together from home.

We share a room, my room. So even if I tried, I couldn't sneak past him.

I've also been making sure we're entering Daniela's class at different times. The strategy is as follows, we arrive at university, and I excuse myself to go to the bathroom. There is where I stay until I have to go to class, and make sure to go earlier or later than he does.

Like now.

Cameron next to me smiled as we walk into the university grounds together. "So I was thinking tonight we just order pizza in since we'll have the house all to ourselves?"

My body stiffens at his words, especially the last ones. Adeline's voice echoed in my head, her threats playing on repeat like a broken record.

Alone.

My dad warned me the day before that he's taking Adeline to a fancy restaurant tonight, so we'll be all alone at the house.

I swallowed hard, plastering on a smile. "Pizza? That's, uh... a solid plan. Can't go wrong with pizza."

He laughed lightly, nudging my arm. "Right? Classic, easy, and it beats me attempting to cook. Trust me, you don't want that."

It was probably time to start heading to class, and he knew it too as he slightly started speeding up. Crap. My mind scrambled for a reason. Anything to avoid walking into Daniela's class with him and raising eyebrows. My eyes darted toward the nearest bathroom, and suddenly, inspiration struck. Not my proudest moment, but desperate times.

"Actually, you go ahead," I blurted, forcing an awkward smile. "I need to... you know, stop by the bathroom real quick."

"Bathroom?" Cameron raised an eyebrow. "Professor is going to be so pissed if you skip her class to go to the bathroom."

Trust me, I have great persuading skills on her.

"Yeah well, It's girl stuff." I immediately think of an excuse.

Ladies, if a creepy man ever follows you, this is the excuse to make-- periods. One thing they're scared of.

His eyes widen. "Oh! Right. Say no more. Got it. I'll, uh, meet you in class then?" Strange. I thought he'd make a joke about it, maybe even start turning green and also run to the bathroom to puke.

I nodded quickly, relieved he wasn't pressing the matter. "Yeah, I'll catch up."

As he walked off, I rushed too, and into the bathroom, letting out a breath I didn't realized I've been holding. My reflection in the mirror looked as tired as I felt.

Leaning against the sink, I tried to pull myself together.

There was plenty of sleepless nights where I found myself staring up at the ceiling, listening to Cameron's soft breathes while he sleeps.

Being the gentleman that he is actually, he offered to sleep on a mattress on the floor next to my bed.

Adeline even kept suggesting that he should sleep on the bed next to me, but even Cameron is too shy to do it. But still, some nights I just stare at him, wondering how this boy, no--man--fell into his aunt's traps. If this guy even likes me or not. If he's getting paid to do this.

I leaned back against the sink, staring blankly at the wall. Daniela's class. Daniela. The one part of my day that should've been my escape, but now everyday when I walk in, I'm just so tense.

I'm scared Daniela will find out what's happening-- Adeline trying to ruin our relationship, trying to get me and Cameron together, and even finding out that Cameron is Adeline's nephew.

She's a smart woman, Daniela. She probably knows something is up already, but decides to stay quiet.

Because when she looks at Cameron, she doesn't want to accept the fact that there might be something happening between me and him. She doesn't want hear that I'd cheat on her.

And I won't ever do that.

I really like Daniela. Like, really-really.

I never thought I'd fall for a woman, but here I am, her never leaving my mind. She showed me what this feeling is like, and I love it.

I love love.

And she, out of all people, my professor, made me experience it.

After giving myself another minute, I stepped out of the bathroom just to collide with someone around the corner.

"Woah, Vic!" I looked up into Iris' eyes as he held out her arms to steady me. She processed staring at me in front of her before frowning. "Wait, what are you doing out here? Class started minutes ago."

I hesitated. "Just taking a quick break. Needed a minute."

"A break in the bathroom? That's a new one." She folded her arms as if not believing me, almost judging me. Knowing that I normally never skip out on class. "You got me worried for a second. I thought you were sick and forgot to text me that you're not coming... Though, I'm not the only worried one."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my eyebrows furrowing. "Who else is worried?"

"Well, miss hot stuff's lookin' a bit off, uneasy. She kept looking at the door like she was expecting someone. She also kept looking at me with a suspicious look as if her eyes were trying to interrogate me-- like she thought I knew where you were. Maybe holding you hostage. Well, also at Cameron."

I listened as she spoke before darting to the door. But Iris was quick to stop me, calling out my name.

"Where are you rushing off to?" She asked.

I turn to her again, a bit impatient, "To class." Iris raised an eyebrow. "I'm already late, and I don't need to get a punishment from her."

"Oh but I bet you would." Iris smirked.

"I-" I cleared my throat, adjusting my bag over my shoulder. I shrug her comment off. "Come on, what are you waiting for? I'm in enough trouble already."

"Hey, I got permission from your girlfriend to be in here unlike you." Iris fought back, walking to a stall. She closed it halfway but peeked around the stall's door. "If I were you, I'd run."

With one last look at Iris, I made my way out of the bathroom, my nerves a knot in my stomach.

The sound of my sneakers hitting the tiled floor echoed with every step, and my breath quickened, not just from the running, but from the thought of walking into class with Daniela scolding me.

As I rounded the corner, the door to her classroom came into view. I slowed down, catching my breath and try to steady my racing heart. My hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment before I finally pushed it open.

The sound of the door creaking caught the attention of everyone inside. A dozen heads turned in my direction, and I felt like I was walking into a spotlight. I avoided their gazes, my eyes finding Daniela at the front of the room. She looked up from her notes, her eyes locked onto mine. Relief on her face before she shifted in her seat.

"Nice of you to join us, Miss Rivera." She said lowly, eyeing me.

It felt like I just stepped into a lion's den.

"Sorry," I mumbled, my voice barely audible as I shuffled to the nearest empty seat. Cameron, of course, was sitting at the back, and I could feel his gaze following me as I passed. I avoided looking at him—or anyone, for that matter—and dropped into my seat, wishing I could shrink into invisibility.

Throughout class, I couldn't shake the feeling of Daniela's eyes on me, even when she wasn't looking directly my way. It was a subtle glance as she wrote something on the board, the way her gaze lingered a little too long on my side of the room when she addressed a question.

Each time when she rapid fired the questions, I would answer them and get them all right. The other students wouldn't look impressed since they all know that I'm usually right. On the other hand, each time Daniela held back a smirk. But since I also sat at the back, I saw Cameron throw me thumbs-up with a smile from the corner of my eye.

I felt Daniela's eyes flick between him and me more than once, her expression unreadable.

Iris was eating this up. Next to me, she wiggled her eyebrows and teasingly made kissy faces towards us.

My own focus was far away now. I fiddled with my pen, pretended to take notes, and occasionally glanced up at her, only to find her quickly looking away. Each time it happened, my stomach filled with butterflies and a smile crept on my lips. I really did try to maintain attention, but her voice was so soothing.

My focus wavered somewhere between some sentences to translate and imagining what she might say if we were alone right now. My hand idly moved across the page, the pen sketching before my brain caught up with what I was doing.

When I glanced down, I froze.

There she was—well, a cartoonish version of her—standing at the front of my notebook.

Now staring at my creation, slightly impressed. Great, I thought sarcastically. Now I'm drawing her. But somehow, my pen kept going, and added a small heart over her head.

"Having fun?" Iris whispered from beside me, craning her neck to peek at my notebook.

I blushed and hurriedly closed my book. "Would you focus on your own work?" I mumble.

Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough. Daniela turned around from the board and her gaze flicked toward the noise, her sharp eyes narrowing on me, and then Iris.

"Miss Rivera." Her voice cut through the room, making my heart leap into my throat. "Would you like to share whatever's so entertaining?"

Is she serious right now?

Some heads snapped back towards me, and just from that, my cheeks heated up even more. But it really exploded into flames while Daniela kept staring into my eyes with a knowing look, almost like she's doing this on purpose, teasing me.

Iris smirked and leaned closer to whisper, "Now or later, she'll find out."

I nudged her leg with mine and she pulled away.

She walked towards us, heels clicking against the wooden floor with each step. I had to shut my thighs as she stopped in front of my desk, towering over me. Her eyes burned into my soul, causing me to gulp. That's when she looked around herself to everyone else. All their attention was on us.

"This has nothing to do with you." She spoke sternly. "Eyes on your on work. Now."

Just like that, everyone else faced forward and down to their own books.

With a sigh, I slid the notebook to the edge of the desk, where Daniela stood, hand outstretched. The corners of her lips twitched as she flipped open the cover. Her eyes landed on the drawing, lingering for a moment before she looked up at me.

I saw the slightest of amusement on her face as she tried to keep her composure and her professionalism.

"Artistic." She shuts the notebook and placed it back on my desk. ""¿Quizás te gustaría canalizar tu creatividad hacia la tarea de hoy en lugar de hacia las caricaturas?" (Perhaps you'd like to channel your creativity into today's assignment instead of caricatures?")

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "Si, profesora."

She sent me a grin before walking to her desk.

I melted right there.

Iris nudged me with her elbow, whispering, "Smooth move, Picasso."

For the rest of the lesson, I kept my head down, trying not to look at Daniela.