LESSONS IN SHADOWS (GL)

Jennifer walked down the corridor with Cynthia and Angela, her books hugged tightly to her chest. The hallway buzzled with the usual chatter, but today, something about the noise felt sharper-more alert.

As they passed a group of Form One students standing near the staircase, one of the younger girls nudged her friend, whispering while glancing in Jennifer's direction. They giggled softly, then quickly looked away when Angela's eyes landed on them.

Just ahead, a group of Form Three girls leaned against the wall, talking in low voices. One of them turned her head, her gaze following the three seniors as they passed.

Angela gave a small smirk. "Seems like someone is famous today," she whispered, just loud enough for Jennifer and Cynthia to hear.

Jennifer exhaled slowly but didn't reply.

When they entered their own Form Four South classroom, the shift in energy was immediate. Conversations dimmed for a beat before picking back up again-not with loudness, but with that quiet tension that always meant someone was being talked about.

At the back of the room stood Maria surrounded by two of her closet classmates. She wasn't laughing, wasn't even speaking. Just watching.

Her gaze landed on Jennifer-steady and cool. It lingered for a moment too long before she turned her head away, murmuring something to the girl beside her.

Jennifer sat down, trying not to let the weight of it press on her chest.

Today had started like any other, but the stares, the whispers, the glances-they told a different story.

And Jennifer could feel it.

A notification popped on Cynthia's tablet, drawing her attention. She tapped it, stared for a moment, then tilted the screen toward Jennifer without saying a word.

She reached into her pocket, unlocked her phone-and there it was.

The first image: Jennifer and Kevin in the physics lab. He was leaning in, his smile playful, while she looked down at her notebook. Innocent-but suggestive.

The second: in the dining area, Jennifer placing a plate in front of Kevin. His eyes were on her. Their fingers nearly touched across the tray.

Then came the third. The shot taken by someone clever with angles-Jennifer and Kevin standing near the corridor window. They weren't kissing. But in the photo, it looked like they were. Their heads tilted toward each other just enough to fool the eye.

#KJennifer

#StAndrews*Fatima

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#CutestPair

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Cynthia blinked at the screen, cheeks already brushing with color. "Why can't I ever capture a moment like that with Brian?" she muttered, not really expecting an answer.

Angela rolled her eyes. "Psst," she scoffed.

Meanwhile, Jennifer had already slipped her phone back into her pocket. Her face undisturbed, calm.

But her mind was anything but.

She was supposed to come today...for Physics.

Miss Emily always showed up. Always. And after those pictures, Jennifer had expected something-even if just a glance. A reaction.

She hadn't said a world to Cynthia or Angela, but she was waiting.

Eagerly.

For that quiet, unreadable presence at the front of the lab.

To see how she'd walk. Look. Breathe.

To catch the faintest tremble in her voice-or that ever-careful flicker in her eyes.

But Miss Emily Didn't come.

The first physics period passed.

Still no sign of her.

Jennifer's gaze flicked to the door more than once, hoping.

Each time, someone else walked in. A prefect. Another teacher. Never her.

Now, it was the second period. The last lesson.

Jennifer pressed her lips together, then slowly stood up and picked her exercise book.

"I think I'll go ask Miss Emily a question," she said to one in particular.

Angela raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Cynthia blinked, half-distracted by the notifications still coming in.

Jennifer stepped out, her heart tapping a little faster.

If she won't come to class...I'll find her myself.

Not to comfort her. Not even to talk about the pictures.

Just to see her face.

Just to know whether anything had changed.

...

The corridor outside the staffroom felt colder than usual.

Jennifer's fingers clutched her book as she reached the wooden door.

She paused...then knocked softly.

No reply.

The door was open anyway.

She stepped inside.

Miss Emily was at her desk-sharp in her maroon sweater, a pair of rimmed glasses perched neatly on her nose. Her eyes were fixed on her laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard with controlled rhythm.

She didn't glance up.

"How can I help you?"

Her voice was calm. Clipped.

Not rude, not warm. Just...distant.

Jennifer stood still for a second, uncertain.

"I-I came to ask about something in Physics," she said. Her voice wasn't as steady as she'd hoped.

"There's a part in the topic of electromagnetic induction...I don't quite get it."

Miss Emily gestured slightly with her hand, still not meeting her eyes.

"Bring it on."

Jennifer stepped closer, placing the open book gently on the table. The scent of Miss Emily's perfume-faint and familiar-caught her off guard. She didn't dare say anything else.

Miss Emily finally glanced down at the page.

Then paused.

Her eyes narrowed.

"This?" she said, tapping lightly on the formula Jennifer had circled. "You don't understand this?"

Jennifer nodded once.

Miss Emily finally looked up, glasses slipping slightly as she held Jennifer's gaze.

"Weren't you the same person who explained this exact concept to the physics club on Saturday?" she asked. Her tone wasn't mocking. It was...sharper. Curious. Controlled.

Jennifer swallowed.

"I-maybe," she said. "But I thought I'd...just confirm something."

Miss Emily stared at her a moment longer. Then sat back slightly.

Her fingers tapped the book again-slower this time.

"...Interesting," she said softly.

But didn't elaborate.

Jennifer didn't know what answer she had expected. A smile? A smirk? A raised eyebrow, at least?

But Miss Emily's Expression was unveiled-cool and composed.

She flipped through Jennifer's book with precise fingers, nodding slightly as if reviewing a student's notes.

"You've done your calculations correctly," she said. "Your mistake is only in interpreting the direction of the current."

Jennifer opened her mouth, but Miss Emily continued, pointing gently at the diagram.

"...Here. Use Fleming's Right-Hand Rule. Remember? You taught it perfectly to your club members."

Jennifer gave a small, awkward nod.

Then Miss Emily looked up again-this time, with something softer in her eyes. Not gentle. Not cold. Just...level.

"I saw the pictures." she said, voice cool.

"You've got quite the fanbase now. The favorite couple of the year, huh?" 

Jennifer blinked. "Oh."

"You seem...close."

A pause.

"That's good. It's healthy to spend time with people your age. Relationships help you grow. I hope he treats you kindly."

The last sentence landed like a feather-light, but deliberate.

Jennifer wasn't sure what to say. Something about the way Miss Emily smiled-calm, composed-felt like a closed door.

"Thank you," she mumbled, looking down.

Miss Emily gave a short nod.

"If there's nothing else, Jennifer...you should return to class. I have a paper to prepare."

Jennifer lingered for half a breath too long.

But Miss Emily was already looking at her screen.

Typing.

Still calm.

Jennifer turned slightly, preparing to leave-her hand barely gripping the corner of her exercise book. The office door had been open all along, letting the light spill gently into the room. She didn't hear footsteps. She didn't sense anyone coming.

So when she shifted to step forward, she was caught off guard.

Before she could move back, collision.

A tray knocked sideways, a soft thud of a paper cup hitting the ground. The smell of spilled coffee bloomed in the room. A doughy snack bounced once on the floor, landing beside Jennifer's foot.

She stumbled slightly.

Across from her stood Maria.

Frozen.

Her fingers still clutched the edge of the tray, her eyes wide, chest rising with the quiet aftershock.

Neither girl spoke.

Jennifer's book slid a little in her hand, her knuckles paling around it. Maria stared at her. Jennifer stared back.

And behind the desk-glasses low on her nose, hands paused above her keyboard-Miss Emily looked up slowly.

Silent.

Watching.

Jennifer swallowed. Maria's gaze flicked from the coffee-stained floor to Miss Emily, then back to Jennifer.

Nobody said anything.

But everything was loud.

The only sound was the soft dripping of coffee from the tray.

Then, as if obeying an invisible cue, both girls bent at the same time to pick up the fallen cup.

Their fingers brushed.

Jennifer pulled back slightly. Maria paused. Then she stood-slowly, wordlessly-still holding the tray, one ruined cup now upright but empty.

"I'm sorry...Miss Emily."

Maria's voice broke softly through the silence. She paused

" I mean... Miss Emily. I can prepare another coffee."

Jennifer blinked.

Emily?

The name hung in the air, wrong somehow.

Too familiar. Too close.

Across the room, Miss Emily Finally Shifted in her seat. She adjusted her glasses, slow, deliberate-and said without emotion,

"No need, Accidents happen."