Alina tried her best not to laugh. Her lips twitched as she glanced at Dante, who—amazingly—didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
Instead, he nodded once toward her and said in his calm, quiet voice, "Don't forget. My office. Your gift."
"I won't," she promised, still smiling.
He stepped away, walking down the hallway with silent footsteps. And as soon as he was out of view—
Shuffle.
Tap.
Rustle—
Thud thud thud thud!
Little footsteps dashed away from the door, followed by giggles and a soft bump as someone tripped over.
Alina chuckled under her breath and shook her head.
So much for hiding…
She smiled as she walked toward the classroom door, still thinking about the little spies outside earlier. Their wide eyes, squished heads, and peeking chaos had already put her in a good mood. But now… she was ready to play along.
With her hand on the door, she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders like a proper serious teacher. Let the fun begin.
She opened the door.
