Professor Arceta

The Arceta residence was alive with activity. Aiah sat at the center of the room, her family and Jeremy’s parents surrounding her, their faces glowing with pride. A small diamond engagement ring sparkled on her finger, a symbol of a commitment she had reluctantly accepted.

“Congratulations, anak,” Alma said, hugging her tightly. “This is the start of a beautiful future—for you and for our family.”

Aiah forced a smile, her heart sinking with every word of praise. Jeremy, ever the picture of charm, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and whispered, “We’ll make this work, Aiah. I promise.”

Her chest tightened. She nodded mutely, unable to find the words to respond.

Weeks passed, and Colet Vergara was nowhere to be found—no snarky remarks in class, no teasing smiles behind the counter at 7/11. The void she left behind was deafening.

Aiah’s attempts to focus on her work faltered as her thoughts constantly drifted to Colet. She had asked Maloi and a few other students about Colet’s whereabouts, but all she got were vague shrugs and half-hearted guesses.

“Wala pong nagsabi kung bakit siya absent, ma’am,” Maloi had said once. “Pero alam mo naman si Colet, bigla-bigla na lang nawawala.”

But this time, it felt different. Colet’s absence wasn’t just sudden—it was unsettling.

One humid morning, Colet finally returned. She walked into the campus wearing her usual confident stride, but something was off. A white bandage wrapped around her upper arm, peeking out from under the sleeve of her oversized hoodie. Her face was pale, and her steps lacked their usual bounce.

The moment Maloi spotted her, she rushed over. “Colet! Akala ko hindi ka na babalik! Ano’ng nangyari sa’yo?”

Colet waved her off, her smile strained. “Wala, Maloi. Na-busy lang ako.”

“Busy?!” Maloi’s eyes widened as she gestured to the bandage. “Ano ‘yan? Bakit may sugat ka? May nangyari ba?”

“Accident lang,” Colet said quickly, avoiding eye contact. “Huwag mo nang tanungin, okay?”

Maloi frowned but nodded, sensing Colet didn’t want to talk about it.

Aiah was on her way to the faculty room when she caught sight of Colet walking across the courtyard. Her breath hitched. The sight of Colet—alive, safe, but visibly hurt—sent a jolt of relief and concern through her.

Without thinking, she called out, “Colet!”

Colet froze, her back stiffening, but she didn’t turn around. Instead, she resumed walking, her pace quickening as she disappeared into the nearest building.

It took days for Aiah to find the right moment to corner Colet. She finally caught her in the empty art studio after class. Colet was cleaning her brushes, her movements slow and deliberate.

“Colet,” Aiah said firmly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

Colet didn’t look up. “Yes, ma’am?”

Aiah moved closer, her voice softening. “I’ve been worried about you. You disappeared, and now you’re back with…” She gestured to the bandage. “What happened?”

Colet’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s none of your business, ma’am.”

“Of course it’s my business,” Aiah said, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’m your professor—and I care about you.”

Colet snorted, finally looking up. Her gaze flicked to Aiah’s hand, where the engagement ring glinted in the light. Her expression hardened.

“You care?” Colet said bitterly, gesturing to the ring. “That says otherwise.”

Aiah flinched, instinctively moving her hand behind her back. “Colet, it’s not what you think—”

“It’s exactly what I think,” Colet interrupted, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. “You made your choice, ma’am. You chose him.”

Aiah’s heart twisted, guilt clawing at her. “It’s more complicated than that.”

Colet shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Don’t. Don’t try to explain. Alam ko na. I’m just the stupid student who thought I mattered. Pero hindi pala.”

“Colet, please,” Aiah pleaded, stepping closer. “You don’t understand—”

“I don’t want to understand!” Colet snapped, grabbing her bag and shoving past Aiah.

Aiah stood frozen, the weight of Colet’s words crashing down on her as the door slammed shut behind her.

Colet stormed out of the studio, her vision blurry. Her arm throbbed under the bandage, but the pain in her chest was far worse.

She had tried to bury her feelings, to move on and focus on her new reality. But seeing Aiah again—seeing that ring—had shattered whatever fragile wall she had built around her heart.

“Never again,” she muttered under her breath, her fists clenched. “I won’t let her hurt me again.”

Back in the studio, Aiah sat down heavily, her hands trembling. She stared at her engagement ring, the symbol of everything her family wanted for her, and thought of Colet’s pained expression.

For the first time, Aiah allowed herself to admit the truth she had been avoiding for weeks: she had fallen for Colet.

But with her family’s expectations bearing down on her, she didn’t know how to reconcile what she wanted with what was being demanded of her.