Time of Change

It was Thursday, and Agatha was in her classroom, half an hour before the first period started. She was alone, completely immersed in her work, reviewing assignments, extra credits, and most importantly, the project fair. The calm of the morning, far from the hustle and bustle of the students, allowed her to concentrate better on the details of the rapidly approaching fair (next Monday). In front of her, stacks of papers with notes upon notes, as well as the forms she had prepared to involve the theater teacher in the Shakespeare tragedy performances, were neatly arranged on her desk.

Agatha couldn’t help but feel slightly more relaxed than usual, though the pressure still lingered in the back of her mind. The stress of the fair hadn’t vanished, but there was something about the stillness of the morning that helped her think clearly. As she went over the details, adjusted schedules, and added a few notes to her work plan, Agatha began to feel that, maybe, if she kept everything organized, things would turn out fine. There wasn’t much left to do: some organizing, booth decoration, and a few forms, but she had a plan.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, breaking her concentration. It was Jen, walking in with a mischievous smile on her face. She seemed to have something to say.

"Good morning, Agatha," Jen said lightly, closing the door behind her.

"Good morning," Agatha replied, not looking up from her papers, still focused on her notes.

Jen approached Agatha’s desk, curiously eyeing the scattered papers. "Hey, I saw you yesterday talking to Rio. I couldn’t help but notice that weird expression you had—it looked like, happiness? The conversation between you two seemed different. You looked great yesterday. Like there was... something different in the air."

Agatha finally looked up, setting aside the form she had been filling out. Her face hardened slightly, not wanting to give much weight to what Jen had said. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jen," she said dryly, trying to downplay it. "Nothing strange. Rio and I are just good colleagues in the English department. We were talking about the fair work."

Jen looked at her with a slight smile, as if she already knew Agatha wasn’t being entirely truthful. "Mmm... sure," Jen said, though her tone suggested she wasn’t fully convinced. "But are you sure there’s nothing more? There was definitely some chemistry between you two. At least, that’s what Alice and I thought."

Agatha felt a small pang of discomfort in her chest at those words. Chemistry? No, that couldn’t be it. They were just talking about work, nothing more. "I didn’t know I was being spied on, but I assure you, Jen," she said, trying to maintain her composure. "I was just organizing fair details. Like I said, nothing strange or out of the ordinary."

Jen shrugged, but the smile didn’t leave her face. "Well, well, whatever you say. I just thought it was interesting, that’s all. Sometimes, body language says more than we realize, Agatha."

With that, Jen turned and left the classroom, leaving Agatha alone once again.
Agatha huffed, feeling indignant that Jen had only come by to bother her, completely distracting her from her work. She glared at the door for a moment before returning to her papers, though something inside her still felt unsettled. What was going on with her and Rio? It was the first time she had felt so... distracted by someone's presence—by Rio’s, specifically. She shook her head, trying to dismiss those thoughts, settling instead on the vague notion of friendship.

Five minutes later, the door opened again, and this time, it was Rio who walked in. With her usual energy, she entered the room, wearing her characteristic smile.

"Good morning, Agatha," Rio said cheerfully as she walked in, holding a cup of coffee in her hands. "I brought you one." The coffee ritual was quickly becoming a routine between them, and Agatha didn’t mind it—this was the second day in a row.

Agatha looked up and saw the cup Rio was offering. Although she had initially thought it unnecessary, Rio’s morning gesture was beginning to feel... comforting, somehow. Maybe it was the small act itself, or perhaps the fact that Rio always had a way of making her feel a little less tense.

"Thanks," Agatha said, taking the cup with a slight sigh. "How’s work going? I can already tell the fair is going to keep us busy."

Rio pulled up a chair across from Agatha and nodded. "Yeah, that’s actually what I wanted to talk about. Today’s going to be a long day, you know? We’ll need to work extra hours. If we want everything ready for Monday’s fair, we need to finish what’s left today. If all goes well, we can have most things organized and nearly done by Friday. But for that, we’ll need to stay after classes."

Agatha frowned slightly. "Extra hours today? I thought we had more time."

"I know, I know," Rio said, raising a hand in mock surrender. "But you know how these things are—there’s always something we overlook. Anyway, it’s not so bad. Since we’re working together, we can make it productive and maybe even fun!"

Agatha let out a small scoff, more out of habit than annoyance. "I’m not a fan of extra hours, but I guess there’s not much we can do."

"Exactly," Rio said, her smile carrying a hint of camaraderie. "Nothing we can do but get to work. But I promise, if we do it right today, tomorrow will be more relaxed. In the meantime, I can help you organize everything for the Shakespeare presentation. You know, for the play part, I could pitch you some ideas to make it more... dynamic."

"That sounds good," Agatha replied, feeling a bit of relief knowing she wasn’t alone in this sea of work.
"Great," Rio said, springing up from her chair with energy. "See you in a few hours, then. Let’s make today productive. And remember, if you need more coffee, just let me know—you know where to find me!"

Agatha watched her leave, feeling a strange mix of tranquility and confusion, emotions that were becoming common whenever Rio was around. What was happening between them? What was happening within herself? For the first time, Agatha wasn’t sure if it was just work that connected her to Rio or if there was something more... something she wasn’t even ready to admit, once again brushing it off as mere friendship.

The door closed behind Rio, and Agatha was left alone with her thoughts. The calm she had felt earlier in the day had transformed into something more complex. Rio, with her energy and a personality so different from Agatha’s, managed to bring out something in her that she didn’t even know existed. Could it be possible that she was starting to feel something more for her?

Running a hand through her hair—a nervous habit—she leaned back in her chair. "It can’t be," she murmured to herself. Yet deep down, something in her heart suggested that perhaps... just perhaps... things weren’t as simple as they seemed.

Agatha had never been the type to enjoy long conversations. In fact, she had always preferred solitude, silence, and thoughts that only she could understand—or not understand. However, ever since she had started interacting more with Rio, something within her felt... different. Today, for example, she felt oddly anxious to talk to Rio. The same woman who had been so energetic and playful from the start—qualities that had initially put Agatha off. But as Rio revealed her different facets, Agatha began to understand her, even consider her. Now, as she sat alone in her classroom, organizing the details of the fair and preparing everything for the Shakespeare play, she noticed that, for some reason, she wished to share that moment with Rio. She wanted to work with Rio.

"What’s happening to me?" she wondered aloud, flipping through notes and mentally organizing the booth decorations and schedules with the theater teacher. Although her mind remained occupied with logistics, a small part of her couldn’t stop thinking about Rio. And that thought unsettled her. It was something she wasn’t used to feeling—it was outside her routine. Could it be that what she felt for Rio was more than just simple camaraderie? Agatha didn’t want to admit it, but the confusion lingered like a shadow.

Finally, the school day ended, and the extra hours began. The teachers got up to have lunch, and, as usual, Agatha retreated to a corner of the schoolyard. She sat at a wooden table under a tree that provided enough shade to keep the sunlight from bothering her. Settling in, she delved into her thoughts, once again reviewing the notes about the play, watching as everything started to come together. Yet, every so often, her mind wandered to Rio. Without meaning to, she found herself longing for her company.
Shortly after, as if she had sensed Agatha’s need for something different, Rio appeared. Without warning, she approached the table where Agatha was sitting, and with her usual cheerful and carefree tone, she said:
“Mind if I join you? It’s not that I want to bother you, but… I have a feeling you might need someone to talk to.”

Agatha looked up, surprised by her sudden appearance, worried that her longing for company might show on her face. Despite not being a fan of interruptions, a strange sense of relief washed over her at the sight of Rio. “Sure,” she replied, trying to mask her surprise but unable to suppress a slight smile. “It’s nice to have company sometimes.”

Rio sat down across from her, glancing at the food Agatha had brought. “I’m glad you didn’t turn me away. To be honest, I’m not a fan of eating alone, so I thought we could chat for a bit.”

As they began eating, the conversation became more fluid. They started with simple topics: preparations for the fair, the Shakespeare play, and the organization of the English department booth. Rio listened attentively but also shared amusing details about her life, recounting anecdotes from her university days and her love for horror movies. Agatha, more relaxed than usual, started to enjoy the conversation. Without meaning to, she began to open up more than she was accustomed to.

The talk shifted from trivial matters to something more personal when Agatha unexpectedly asked a direct question.
“Why did you take this job, Rio? You seem like someone with a lot of options, and you’re very young. To end up in such a small institution seems… unusual.”

Rio sighed, hesitating for a moment before answering. “At my previous job, they didn’t take me seriously. Not just because of my age or because I’m a woman... It also had a lot to do with the fact that I’m part of the community. My coworkers made my life miserable and rarely included me in anything.”

Agatha, who was in the middle of chewing, choked slightly at the confession. After coughing a bit, she managed to say, “I’m so sorry. That must have been… frustrating.”

Rio smiled, shrugging. “It’s in the past. The good thing is, this place seems to have a much friendlier atmosphere.”

Agatha, still feeling a bit flushed, nodded. “Yes, I think it is,” she replied, her tone implying something more, though she didn’t say it outright.

Rio looked at her with a soft yet understanding expression, as if she could read the unspoken words—and yes, she could.
Rio, with a broad smile, broke the silence that was about to settle if neither of them spoke, and asked Agatha, “What do you do after work, Agatha? Wait, wait, let me guess.” Pausing for a moment, she added, “You sit at your desk, reading all your students’ essays and writing notes to their parents about their poor academic performance, right?”

“No,” Agatha responded with a sharp tone and a piercing look, but moments later, she softened, giving a small smile. “When I get home, the first thing I do is spend time with Mr. Scratchy.”

“Mr. Scratchy?” Rio raised an eyebrow, surprised by Agatha’s confession.

Agatha pulled out her phone and began searching through her photo gallery. In an instant, she showed Rio a series of adorable pictures of her white rabbit with patches, large, tender eyes. “This is my housemate. He keeps me company when no one else is around. Mr. Scratchy,” Agatha explained, almost as if introducing a family member.

Rio looked at the photos, and for some reason, couldn’t help but smile. The rabbit had such an innocent expression that Rio felt an immediate connection and was deeply charmed. “He’s adorable,” Rio said, her voice softer. “I don’t know if I’d call him ‘Mr.’... but he’s really cute.”

“I’m glad you like him,” Agatha said, happy to see Rio share her appreciation for the rabbit. “I promise he’s much friendlier in person. I’ll introduce you to him someday, if you’d like.”

Rio was surprised by Agatha’s unexpected invitation. The Agatha from three days ago wouldn’t have even let her sit where she was now. She realized that Agatha wasn’t bad or rude, maybe just a little misunderstood—maybe she just needed someone to listen and understand her.

The conversation continued more casually, and they both got to work on the final details of the English department’s booth. The atmosphere was pleasant, even fun, and Agatha began to feel comfortable with Rio. They found they worked well together, and before long, the sun began to set, signaling that the workday was coming to a close.

“Well,” Rio said as she packed up her things, “we’ve done a good job today. Almost everything is ready, and we can head out to rest a bit. But before we go, there’s something I want to ask you.”

Agatha looked at her curiously. “What?”

“Do you still want to go out with me tomorrow?” Rio asked directly. “We could grab a drink at a bar. It’d be nice to unwind after all this work. Around 7, what do you think?”Agatha sat in silence, surprised by Rio’s directness in reminding her about their “date,” if that’s what it could be called, a casual outing between “friends.” Something inside her told her that maybe—just maybe—it was time to truly give that idea a chance. However, the thought of stepping out of her comfort zone made her hesitate. After a few moments of tension, Agatha finally said, shyly, “Yes… yes, it’s still on.”

Rio’s face lit up with a genuine smile, and Agatha, without realizing it, felt her face flush slightly. She wasn’t used to such direct interactions, but there was something in the way Rio made her feel so… good.

“Perfect,” Rio said, almost bouncing with excitement. “It’s going to be fun, I promise.”

Before either of them could say anything more, Lilia appeared in the courtyard, interrupting the conversation. “Girls! I’m really happy with how everything’s turned out. I don’t think we need to do extra hours tomorrow, just make sure the booth is decorated and ready tomorrow so everything’s set for Monday. Great job.”

They both nodded, grateful for the news. Rio, smiling, turned to Agatha. “So, tomorrow after we decorate the booth, can I pick you up?”

Agatha, blushing, nodded shyly. “Yes, of course.” She was still surprised by everything that was happening.

With that, Rio said goodbye and walked away as the sun began to set. Agatha watched her leave, feeling a mix of confused and pleasant emotions. For the first time, she was excited about something outside her routine, about something as unexpected as going out with Rio Vidal.

That night, when Agatha arrived home, she settled into her bed and looked around until her gaze landed on her little rabbit, “Mr. Scratchy.” Her thoughts flooded as she gently petted the rabbit. What did she really feel for Rio? Was it just friendship? Or perhaps something more? The only thing she knew for sure was that, somehow, she had begun to appreciate Rio. All the anger and frustration she had felt toward Rio just a few days ago had subtly been erased by her.

With those thoughts swirling in her mind, Agatha fell asleep, the confusion and affection filling her thoughts, as the moon slowly settled in the cold night sky.