Sara slipped back into class, her bag sliding off her shoulder.
"So?" Sweety whispered immediately. "What's the result?"
Sara grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Oh my god, really?" Sweety squealed, throwing her arms around her. "Love you, Sara!"
Sara laughed and hugged her back. For a second, the stress of work and college melted away.
The lecturer walked in, and class began. For once, Sweety and Sara actually paid attention.
At the end of the period, the Principal's assistant walked in and handed the lecturer a memo. He read it, and a slow smile spread across his face.
"Students, I have good news," he announced. "The college has arranged a two-day trip. I need all names submitted by today."
A buzz of excitement ran through the room.
"Professor David, Ms. Stella, and I will be accompanying you," he added. "Any questions?"
The moment he said "David," the first row exploded.
"We're coming!" three girls shouted, hands waving in the air.
Sweety leaned toward Sara, her eyes narrowing. "Great. Forget Stella. We need to stop them."
Sara just smiled. She knew exactly who Sweety meant.
Sweety turned to her. "Are you coming for the trip, Sara?"
"No," Sara said quietly. "I have work."
"What? You can't say no," Sweety hissed. "Stella's going. We have to protect Mr. Handsome from those vultures."
Sara kept her voice low. "I am working, Sweety. I can't get leave for a trip."
And David's coming too, Sara thought, her stomach twisting. I can barely function around him in class. Two days? Impossible.
"Come on," Sweety pleaded, grabbing her hand. "If it's about money, I'll pay. Please don't say no."
Sara gently pulled her hand back. "I'm sorry. I can't."
She stood up and walked out of the classroom.
Sweety watched her go, a slow, devilish smile spreading across her face. "You are coming on the trip," she whispered. "And you're going to help me protect Mr. Handsome."
—
Sara headed to the café and started her shift. Not long after, David walked in, scanning the room until his eyes landed on her. A co-worker came to take his order, then immediately nudged Sara. "Table three. He asked for you."
Sara's stomach dropped. She forced herself to walk over.
"Are you coming on the trip?" he asked, not looking up from the menu.
Sara glared. "None of your business."
David finally met her eyes. "Okay. I'm asking as your professor. Are you coming or not?"
"No, sir," she snapped. "I'm not coming. I skipped your classes, remember? I'm covering the portions I missed."
David blinked, genuinely confused. So she doesn't even know her name is on the trip list, he realized.
He shrugged. "Okay. As you wish. But if you change your mind, that's good too."
Sara turned and walked away without answering, but his words echoed in her head all shift.
—
Back in her room that night, Sara ran a towel through her damp hair. What does he mean, 'if you change your mind'? Something's fishy.
—
Days passed. The trip was finally here.
David checked his watch for the tenth time. Please come, Sara. I'll be waiting for you.
—
Sweety burst into Sara's room without knocking. "Hey, Sara! How's work?"
"Not bad," Sara said, folding a shirt. "Everything's going fine."
"Good," Sweety said, grinning. "One more thing — you're coming with us on the trip. So be ready."
Sara froze. "What? What did you say? I didn't get any holiday."
"I know," Sweety said, suddenly nervous. "But... you got three days off."
Sara stared at her, stunned. "How is that possible? The shop owner never gives anyone leave, especially during semester."
"Yeah," Sweety said, her smile a little too bright. "But the new owner agreed."
Sara stepped closer. "What new owner? Sweety, are you hiding something from me?"
Sweety let out a nervous laugh. "No! Nothing to hide."
Sara grabbed her wrist and pushed her toward the bed. "Tell me, Sweety. You are hiding something."
"Okay, okay! Let go first, then I'll tell you," Sweety yelped.
Sara released her. "Now. Tell me everything."
Sweety took a deep breath. "Actually, Sara... the café's new owner is me."
Sara's mouth fell open. "What? Are you out of your mind? Why would you do that?"
"I know exactly what I'm doing," Sweety said, lifting her chin. "I can't go alone on this trip. That witch and Mr. Handsome will be there together. I can't let them talk. We have to be there. You know 'Operation Witch,' right? Please, please, please..." She clasped her hands together, begging.
Sara pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sweety, how does buying a whole café for a trip make any sense?"
"Don't worry," Sweety said with a shrug. "I bought it for my own benefit too."
"No more questions," Sweety declared, grabbing their bags. "We're leaving now. Come on!"
"Wait, but I didn't pack my bag—" Sara protested.
"No worries. I already packed everything while you were sleeping," Sweety said with a smug smile.
"But—"
Sweety cut her off. "It's time. Let's go." She dragged Sara toward her car.
"Okay," Sara sighed, giving in.
—
At the college, students were piling into the bus. David stood at the door, marking names off a list.
"Has everyone arrived?" Stella asked, tapping her foot.
"No. Still three pending," David replied without looking up.
"Who are they?"
"It's Sweety, Sara, and Vicky..." David started, but trailed off as Vicky jogged toward the bus. "Good morning, Professor David, Ms. Stella."
David nodded. "Get inside."
Vicky paused at the steps. "Are Sara and Sweety here yet?"
"No," Stella said sharply. "We're waiting for them."
"Get on the bus, Vicky. They'll come," David said.
Vicky climbed in. Stella crossed her arms. "Do we have to wait for those girls? Are they serious about this trip? They have no sense of time."
"Ms. Stella," David said, his voice hard. "Don't talk about students like that. We still have time. They will come."
"Why do you care so much about Sara, Professor David?" Stella snapped. "She's a normal student, like everyone else."
Before David could reply, he heard Sweety's voice. "They didn't leave us, right?"
He looked up to see Sweety and Sara walking toward the bus, lugging their bags.
"See? They're here on time," David said to Stella, checking his phone.
Stella scowled. Sweety and Sara stopped in front of David. "Are we late, Mr. Handsome?" Sweety asked sweetly.
"No..." David and Sara said at the same time, then stared at Sweety in shock.
"What did you just say?" David asked her.
"Come on, girls, we're getting late. Get inside the bus," Stella said, cutting the tension.
Sara and Sweety nodded and climbed aboard.
Sweety shoved Sara toward a window seat. "You sit here. I'm damn sure Mr. Handsome will sit here."
"What?" Sara hissed.
"No, listen. What I meant is, you sit beside Mr. Handsome so that Witch—" she pointedly looked at Stella, "—sits separately. I should sit beside him, but I'll get nervous and forget what to say. But if it's you, you can tell the Witch you're just asking about doubts. Perfect cover."
Sara glared at her.
"Okay, they're coming and I'm going. Bye-bye!" Sweety said, waving as she darted to the back of the bus.
Sara turned to see David and Stella boarding. Stella stopped short when she saw Sara in her usual seat. "Sara. Why are you—"
Sweety popped up from the back. "Ms. Stella! We need you to sit with us and play games. Please?"
"Yeah, Ms. Stella," David added smoothly. "You can't disappoint them, right?"
Stella sighed. "Okay. I'm coming."
"YAY!" Sweety cheered.
She caught Sara's eye and winked.
Sara glanced to her side. David was already looking at her, smiling.
Oh god, what am I gonna do now? she thought, her heart pounding.
---