CROSSING LINES |18+|✓

Chapter VI

                                •<Exposed>•

      He got my heartbeat
      Skipping down 16th Avenue
       Got that, oh! I mean
     Wanna see what's under that attitude
        Like, I want you, bless my soul
        And I ain't gotta tell him
        I think he knows. I think he knows
        •
          Taylor Swift

                                             •<>•
I'm sitting still in my seat unable to move a muscle because of how paralysed I feel right now. I still can't believe this is happening, he heard me talking to Keyara, glorifying him like he's the most gorgeous being to have ever existed.

The walls are closing in on me and my soul left my body the moment he stood in front of me and said those words.

Now knowing that he knows about what I said earlier this week, I feel embarrassed and I'm constantly facepalming myself (metaphorically) again for the foolishness I displayed. Embarrassment is touching my skin, I can feel the tingling sensations crawling under my skin.

How can I get myself out of this situation? How can I talk my way out of it?

With his eyes still lingering, I feel cornered, so caught in his web that not even a thousand prayers will save me from this mess I've gotten myself into.

I'm tongue-tied, my breath is lodged in my throat and I can't even shift my gaze from his.

He's still standing in front of me, burning me with his laser eyes while the muscles in his jaw twitch occasionally. He has his arms folded over his chest like some detective who has caught a big case and is enjoying the show of it, the satisfaction of seeing me crumple in my seat.

The silence in this room is screaming louder than the voice in my head. It's torturous and it's only making this moment more awkward than it already is.

Keyara, where are you?

He briefly clears his throat and just as he's about to speak, his phone chimes. He immediately digs it out of his pocket and the moment he looks at his phone screen, he excuses himself and leaves the room in a hurry without a word. Upon emitting a deep breath of relief, I slump back in my seat and thank my lucky star for saving me.

After some minutes, the class starts to fill up with students, voices are echoing in these walls and I'm so thankful for the noise. Who knew that silence could feel like a screeching noise in your ears, torturing your eardrums till they're on the verge of bursting, and yet noise is quite the opposite, so calm and peaceful.

As Keyara enters through the door, a sense of relief washes over me, and I can't resist the urge to curve my lips into a smile—a smile that conveys my joy at her presence.

Thank goodness you're here.

"Hey, what's up? You missed me?" She smiles while putting her bag down before sitting beside me. "Sorry I took so long, Candace and I had to go over everything we discussed in class." She then turns to her bag and pulls something out of it. "I got you a chocolate bar! Here," she says enthusiastically as she extends the chocolate bar toward me.

"Thanks." I smile at her while taking it from her hand. As happy as I am to see her, my heart is troubled. I can't stop thinking about what Ethan...I mean Mr. Myers said; he knows about it and now I feel ten times worse than before. How am I even going to face him when he comes back? Even though this room is now filled with students, I have a feeling things will not be the same.