Miss Kelly nearly dropped her pen, staring at him. "Wait—you actually took someone's advice?" she teased. "And it worked?"
Professor Hobb shot her a glare but didn't deny it. Instead, he muttered, "Better than gifting her a pen again. At least she didn't throw this one back at me."
Gabriel choked on his tea, coughing into his sleeve as his shoulders shook with laughter. Alina covered her mouth, trying not to giggle too loudly.
"I'm glad it worked out, Professor," she said kindly, her smile warm. "Sometimes… it's just about showing you remembered and cared."
Hobb harrumphed, but his ears turned suspiciously red. He reached for his book and buried himself in it, pretending he wasn't secretly pleased with himself.
Alina exchanged an amused glance with Gabriel, and both of them had to bite back their laughter.
"Good morning," Gabriel said warmly, his angelic smile brightening the staffroom far more than the pale morning sunlight streaming through the windows.
