I am more worried now that you might end up dating me

I am more worried now that you might end up dating me
Dinne let out a long breath, clearly fed up. “Are you serious, sir? You want to punish us like we are little kids?” she complained.

She and Carissa stood by the classroom door, each holding one ear while lifting one leg, exactly how Leon had ordered.

“You behaved like little kids, so you will be treated like them,” Leon replied, his arms crossed over his chest. His voice made it clear he was not open to any argument.

“You stay like that until my class is over,” he added before walking back inside and shutting the door.

The moment the door closed, Dinne dropped her leg and let go of her ear.

“Let us go to the cafeteria, Car,” she said as she grabbed her bag from the floor.

“We are being punished,” Carissa replied, still in position, doing exactly what she had been told.

Dinne rolled her eyes. “Are you not embarrassed standing here like this in front of everyone?”

Carissa glanced around at the students passing by, some staring, others pretending not to look.

“I am embarrassed,” she admitted, “but this is what happens when we fight in class.”

“We would not have fought if that girl did not run her mouth,” Dinne snapped, throwing a hateful look at Violyn.

Violyn narrowed her eyes, not backing down. “You talk too much,” she shot back.

Dinne clenched her teeth, trying to control herself. Her fingers moved like she wanted to grab Violyn again.

“You are the one who talks too much,” Dinne fired back, then turned as if she was about to walk away.

“Sir Leon, Dinne is trying to leave!” Violyn suddenly shouted.

Her voice filled the hallway.

A second later, the classroom door opened again, and Leon stepped out, his face already hard.

“Where do you think you are going?” he asked coldly.

Dinne let out another tired breath and returned to her spot without saying anything. She lifted her leg again and held her ear like before.

Leon walked closer and stopped in front of all three of them.

“If anyone breaks the rules again, the punishment will get worse. Do you understand?”

Dinne and Violyn nodded, both clearly annoyed.

Before going back inside, Leon looked at Carissa. She was looking down, avoiding his gaze. His attention stayed on her cheek, still red from the slap.

“Carissa,” he called.

She lifted her head at once. “Yes, sir?”

“When my class is over, come to my office.”



“You are starting to act like Dinne now. Always getting into trouble.”

Carissa winced. It still hurt every time he touched her cheek while applying the ointment.

After class, he had pulled her straight to his office before Dinne could drag her away.

“Do not bring Dinne into this, sir,” Carissa said, clearly annoyed.

Leon sighed. The difference between those two girls was obvious. One looked for trouble. The other always tried to avoid it. Yet somehow, Carissa still chose to stay close to Dinne.

“Dinne is always surrounded by problems. Most of her friends are guys. Do you want to be like her?” Leon continued, his tone full of disapproval.

“You do not know anything about her,” Carissa snapped.

“You are the one who does not know anything about her,” Leon shot back, his voice rising.

Carissa went quiet for a moment, staring at him. She did not understand why he was suddenly this angry.

Slowly, she pushed his hand away from her cheek and stood up.

“This has nothing to do with Dinne. Violyn started it,” she said, then turned and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Leon moved quickly and blocked her before she could reach the handle.

“I am leaving. Just looking at you is already annoying me,” Carissa replied, her face showing clear irritation.

“Do not go anywhere. Just eat lunch here.”

“It is not even lunchtime yet, sir.”

“You did not eat this morning,” Leon replied.

“I would rather eat outside. If I stay here with you, I will not enjoy my food.”

“What is wrong with you?” Leon asked, his voice getting louder.

Carissa pulled her hand free from his grip.

“What is wrong with you?” she shot back. “I know your class got messy because of me. I already said sorry. But do not drag Dinne into this. She was defending me!”

Her chest moved up and down as she spoke, her eyes locked on his.

Before he could answer, there was a knock on the door.

Carissa moved first and opened it.

She paused when she saw who it was.

“Chaka?”

Chaka stepped closer right away, his face full of worry. His hand moved to her cheek, holding it gently.

For a moment, he just looked at her, his jaw tightening at the sight of the injury.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Leon let out a quiet breath through his nose, clearly annoyed.

“You are late. I already treated her,” he said in a dry tone. Without waiting for a reply, he shut the door behind him.

Carissa took Chaka’s hand off her face.

“I am fine. Why are you here?” she asked.

“Dinne told me that Violyn slapped you. Is it true?”

Carissa let out a small breath. “No. My cheek just got into a fight with a ghost,” she said sarcastically.

Chaka laughed softly.

They started walking down the hallway together.

Carissa had another class in three hours, and she had not eaten yet.

“Have you eaten?” she asked.

“I have, but if you want to eat, I can join you,” Chaka replied with a grin.

Carissa smiled. “Let us go to the café outside.”

Chaka frowned. “The cafeteria food is better.”

“I am tired of that place. The café is good too.”

“I do not trust café food. It just sticks in your teeth.”

“I am paying.”

“I will pay.”

Carissa stopped walking, making Chaka stop too.

“You are a rare kind of person. Who refuses free food?” she said, laughing.

Chaka turned fully toward her, crossing his arms. “Since I am rare, why not date me?” he teased.

Carissa laughed and lightly pushed his shoulder.

“I am not looking for someone just because they are rare,” she replied, continuing to walk.

Chaka quickly caught up with her.

“I am not just rare. I am kind, good-looking, funny, cute, helpful, and I also like you,” he added, clearly enjoying himself.

Carissa covered her face with her hand, trying not to laugh too much.

“Wait, Car,” Chaka said, gently grabbing her hand.

His expression turned more serious.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Have I told you that I like you?”

“Like who?”

“You.”

Carissa laughed again, not taking him seriously.

“You are always joking,” she said.

Chaka reached out and messed up her hair playfully.

“Fine. I will say it properly next time. Then you can answer me.”

Carissa did not reply right away. Her expression shifted for a moment, more thoughtful now.

Then she shrugged and started walking again, leaving him behind for a moment.

“Do you think you can make me take you seriously? It is not easy,” she said over her shoulder.

Chaka ran to catch up with her.

“I would not have come this far if I did not believe I could,” he said.

Carissa glanced at him from the side.

“So you were not worried I was dating Dinne or Alvero?”

“I am more worried now that you might end up dating me,” Chaka replied with confidence.

Carissa shook her head, but she was already smiling.