Chapter 9 9
Forest green met ocean blue.
For the briefest second, the world stilled. Time seemed to hold its breath, broken only by the steady ticking of the clock on the wall. They were caught in each other’s gaze, suspended in something fragile and dangerous.
Sofía was the first to recover. Her lashes fluttered as she quickly lowered her eyes.
“C-clear,” she answered softly.
He continued to stare at her, his gaze intense unfocused, almost as if he were trapped in a trance. Her heart skipped painfully when he lifted his hand toward her face.
Her blue eyes widened, tracking the slow movement of his fingers.
What was he doing?
His fingertips brushed her cheek.
A sharp chill raced down her spine.
She recoiled instantly, jerking away from the forbidden touch, and the sudden movement knocked her out of the chair. Her legs felt like jelly beneath her, her heartbeat stuttering wildly in her chest.
Without a word, panic taking over, she shoved her books into her bag and zipped it closed, ready to flee. But before she could move, he stood abruptly and stepped into her path, forcing her to retreat two steps back.
She froze.
Moments ago she had been shocked now her mind was racing. The realization hit hard and fast.
He crossed a line.
Fear curled tightly in her chest.
She heard him curse under his breath.
“That’s enough for today,” he said calmly.
She didn’t respond.
She tried to move past him, but he didn’t budge, making her nerves fray further. Drawing on every ounce of courage she had, she spoke.
“Mr. R-Ruiz, please move aside.”
She was grateful her voice didn’t completely fail her.
“Be on time on Monday,” he ordered curtly.
She nodded hesitantly.
He stepped aside.
She didn’t waste a second.
Sofía bolted out of his office, running full speed down the hallway. The corridors were nearly empty most students had already left. By the time she reached the main gate, she was panting hard, lungs burning from the sprint.
What was that?
She wasn’t a child. She knew when someone’s behavior shifted—knew when something crossed into dangerous territory. He’d looked… entranced. As though touching her was meant to confirm something he’d felt.
Had he lost his mind?
Why would he do that?
One thing was certain there was no way, absolutely no way, she would ever take math lessons from him again.
She went straight to work.
“Why so tense?”
Alfonso’s voice popped out from the kitchen doorway, startling both her and Noelia.
“You scared us!” Noelia complained.
Alfonso pouted exaggeratedly.
“Nothing,” Sofía replied softly, forcing a smile. “Just assignments and stuff.”
She had always been good at hiding her feelings behind a smile.
Alfonso studied her for a second, eyebrow raised, then reached out and ruffled her hair deliberately.
“Hey!” she protested.
“What? I like ruffling your hair,” he said innocently.
Noelia chuckled as Sofía shot him a glare.
They returned to work but no matter how hard she tried to focus, those mysterious green eyes crept back into her thoughts, uninvited and unsettling.
At home, she skipped dinner. Instead, she lay on her bed, staring out the window. The moon hovered close to full, luminous and beautiful. Stars scattered the sky, twinkling like distant promises.
She closed her eyes, seeking peace
and his face flashed before her.
She groaned softly in frustration.
Thank God it was the weekend. Heaven knew what would have happened if she had to return to Domingo Faustino Sarmiento the next day.
After tossing and turning countless times, sleep finally claimed her.
The next day was spent tackling unfinished housework laundry, cleaning, anything to keep her mind busy. That night, she made pasta for herself and settled on the couch, watching Man of Steel playing on television.
A sudden, harsh knock froze her body instantly.
No one ever came to her place.
Alfonso had just walked her home earlier.
So who was at the door?
With trembling hands, she muted the TV and approached cautiously. She peered through the small peephole and her mind went blank.
Two men stood outside.
She recognized them.
Gang members.
Fear seeped into her bones. Why were they here? Had they discovered she was a girl? That she lived alone?
She wasn’t even dressed in her boyish clothes.
Another knock made her flinch.
“We just need some water for our friend,” one of the men called out.
Her instincts kicked in. She rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, and hurried back. Pulling on her grandfather’s gloves, she cracked the door open just enough for the safety chain to hold.
She extended the bottle outward.
Only her gloved hand was visible.
The men exchanged glances before one of them took the bottle.
She slammed the door shut immediately and secured every lock.
Only when their footsteps faded did she finally release the breath she’d been holding.
Wiping sweat from her forehead, she collapsed onto the couch, breathing deeply until her heartbeat slowed.
That night, she double-checked the locks on the door and every window before finally allowing herself to sleep.
The next morning, she jolted awake to the shrill ringing of her phone.
Groggily, she answered only for her eardrums to be assaulted by Alfonso’s booming voice.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
“Stop shouting, Alfonso,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
“You’re no fun, Sof,” he muttered. She could practically hear the eye roll.
“Be ready at eight, okay? You’re finally eighteen! God, I can’t believe it. Just yesterday you were tiny, and now you’re all grown up!”
He sounded absurdly cheerful.
“Relax, Alfonso,” she murmured.
“You’re not a morning person at all,” he grumbled, making her chuckle.
“See you at eight,” she said before hanging up.
A deep sigh escaped her lips.
One year down.
God knew how many more awaited her.
“Finally… I’m an adult now,” she whispered with a small smile, snuggling deeper into her bed.