Despite his mother’s warning, Zean still showed up at the school whenever he pleased.

“I told you not to come here anymore,” Becca said, raising an eyebrow as she looked up from her desk. “Can you tell me why you’re here again, Zean?”

“Mom, I just wanted to make sure you arrived safely,” he replied, attempting to sound sincere.

Becca shook her head. “Don’t try to fool me, Frank. I know you—and I know your habits. Go to work. You have a meeting today, don’t you?”

He dropped himself into the visitor’s chair. “It’s later. Clover’s already there anyway,” he said casually, scrolling through his phone.

“I promise, Mom. I’ll just stay until ten. I’ll keep an eye on you,” he added with a wink.

“You’re exactly like your father,” she muttered, clearly exasperated.

He only laughed.

Just then, the door opened.

“Yes, Veron?” Becca asked.

“Ma’am, did you call for me?” Veron said politely.

Zean already knew Veron had a boyfriend—and she was loyal to him. She wasn’t someone he could easily flirt with. She was beautiful, well-proportioned, dressed elegantly, and clearly came from a well-off family.

“Oh, your son is here again, ma’am,” Veron remarked, shooting Zean an irritated look from head to toe.

“Hey, Veron,” Zean grinned. “Ever considered breaking up with your boyfriend and becoming my assistant instead?”

“Whatever, Mr. Frank!” Veron snapped. “Ma’am, I swear, I want to slap this man right now.”

“Hey, don’t be mad,” he said lightly. “Want to join me? I’ll take you to heaven.”

“You—!” Veron clenched her fists.

“Veron,” Becca interrupted calmly. “Here are the documents for Friday’s meeting. Please make sure Faith receives a copy.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Veron shot Zean one last glare before turning to leave.

“Oh—and please tell Miss Celestial I’d like to speak with her later,” Becca added. “I want to know how her students are doing.”

“I’ll tell her,” Zean offered quickly. “I want to see her again.”

“No,” Veron replied sharply. “I’ll handle it. Do you even know Miss Faith?”

Zean smirked. “Of course.”

“Whatever,” Veron said curtly. “I’m leaving now, ma’am.”

Once she was gone, Becca sighed. “Oh my goodness, Frank.”

Zean chuckled and stood up, deciding to walk around the school. As he wandered through the halls, he wondered whether the teachers were doing their jobs—or if the students were actually learning anything worthwhile.

Mariely noticed Veron looked unusually tense when she returned from the office.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked.

Veron sighed deeply. “Nothing, Faith. I just saw someone who completely ruined my mood.”

“Ma’am Becca?” Mariely asked, puzzled.

“No. Her son.”

Her son?

Mariely paused, then remembered what her brother had once told her.

“Ah,” was all she said.

“You know him?” Veron asked.

“Yes, though I forgot his name. He was my brother’s classmate in high school.”

“Were they close?”

“I don’t really know,” Mariely replied. “My brother didn’t talk much about his classmates. He went to a private school while I was in public school.”

“Just be careful around that man,” Veron warned.

“Why?” Mariely asked. “Did he try to court you?”

“He did,” Veron rolled her eyes. “Thought I was like all the girls who fall for his charm.”

“Oh.” Mariely smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I won’t lower myself to that level. He has a bad attitude.”

“Very bad,” Veron agreed.

“I’d better get back to my students before they start another brawl,” Mariely said lightly.

“Wait—Ma’am Becca wants you to drop by the office during your free time,” Veron added. “She just wants to check if you’re doing okay.”

“She thinks I’m going to quit?” Mariely laughed.

“She’s just concerned.”

“I can handle it,” Mariely replied confidently. “I need this job—to help my parents and pay for my board exam review.”

“You’re so positive,” Veron smiled. “Oh, and don’t forget—we have a meeting on Friday.”

“Thank you, Veron,” Mariely said before heading back.

******

As she approached her classroom, shouting echoed down the hallway.

Another fight.

“Stop it!” she shouted as she rushed inside.

The room went silent. She was slightly out of breath.

“What’s going on now?” she demanded, glaring at the two boys nearly throwing punches.

“Go on, fight again!” someone teased from the back.

“I dare you,” she said calmly, pulling out her notebook.

“Just write our names down,” they laughed.

Calm down, Ely, she told herself, steadying her breath.

“You really won’t listen?” she snapped. “Everyone—clean outside.”

“We don’t want to,” someone muttered.

“If you don’t,” she said sharply, “I’ll call your parents.”

That did it.

The room fell silent.

“Clean the tall grass near the restroom,” she ordered. “Everyone, out.”

Then she turned to the two boys. “You two—stay.”

She stepped outside briefly and called over a female student.

“Please get the first aid kit from the clinic—two ice packs and medicine. Tell the nurse I’ll return it later. Keep an eye on your classmates while they clean.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Back inside, the boys sat stiffly. One had a black eye; the other’s nose was still bleeding.

“What were you fighting about?” she asked.

Silence.

“Niel. Rodel. You’re cousins, right?” she said firmly. “Why are you fighting?”

“He stole my girlfriend,” Niel muttered bitterly.

“I didn’t steal her,” Rodel shot back. “Her behavior drove her away.”

“So this is about a girl,” Mariely said quietly.

“She flirted with other men even while dating him,” Rodel explained. “She let other guys touch her. I warned her to stay away from him—for his own good.”

“She’s not like that!” Niel shouted.

“Rodel,” Mariely asked gently, “did you actually catch her with someone else?”

“Yes, Ma’am. She was always with other men—sometimes even sleeping with them. I couldn’t stand watching my cousin suffer.”

Mariely turned to Niel. “And you?”

He lowered his head. “I caught her… but she said she was forced. I believed her. Even when others warned me, I stayed. I even saw her kissing someone else—but I still accepted her.”

A tear slid down his cheek.

Mariely’s heart softened. She gently ruffled his hair. “Someday, you’ll meet someone more deserving of your love.”

“I’m sorry, bro,” Niel whispered.

Rodel placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let it go. There are better people out there. I’m sorry, too.”

Mariely sighed in relief.

“You won’t fight again?” she asked.

They both nodded.

“Ma’am,” a student called from the door.

“Thank you,” Mariely smiled. “Are they cleaning properly?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Good. Sit down—I’ll treat your wounds.”

As she cleaned their injuries, she reminded them softly, “Your ‘one and only’ will come at the right time. For now, focus on your studies—and your future.”