Ms. Carmen skimmed through Sofía's assignment, a pleased smile curving her lips as she nodded to herself.
"You did an excellent job, Sofía," her Science teacher said warmly.
Sofía's face lit up. "Thank you," she replied, happiness softening her voice as she nodded along with her teacher and watched her place the assignment neatly aside.
"You may go now, dear," Ms. Carmen said.
Sofía nodded once more and stepped out of the office, relief settling lightly in her chest.
She hadn't taken more than a few steps down the hallway when she froze.
A low, feral growl rumbled from the room beside her.
"I'm hating this f**king shit!"
The sound made her flinch violently. Her heart leapt as she stared at the closed door, dread creeping up her spine. Her eyes slid to the nameplate, and she swallowed hard when she read the bold, italic letters.
Mr. Ruiz.
"I'll rip your throat apart the first thing I see you!" the voice snarled again dark, dangerous.
Sofía stood rooted to the spot.
Did he just threaten to kill someone?
Panic seized her limbs. She barely had time to process the thought before the office door burst open.
Mr. Ruiz stepped out.
His gaze landed instantly on her on her small, stiff frame hovering in the hallway.
"What are you doing here, Ms. Rodríguez?" His voice was rich and thick, smooth but edged with something sharp.
Her heart dropped straight into her stomach.
He knew her name.
That realization terrified her far more than the growling had. It meant he had noticed her the one thing she had been desperately trying to avoid.
She went completely blank. Words vanished from her mind, fear locking her tongue in place like a deer trapped in headlights.
"N-n-nothing," she stammered, instinctively taking a step back.
His sharp, hawk-like eyes flicked down to her feet, catching the tiny retreat. Slowly, deliberately, his gaze lifted back to her face.
She looked away immediately.
His eyes…
Dark forest green, threaded with hazel, intense enough to make her chest tighten every time they rested on her.
"I hate liars," he said gruffly, amusement faintly lacing the threat.
Sofía retreated another step, refusing to meet his gaze. There was something about him something overwhelming. Power clung to him like a second skin. Authority. Dominance. He didn't look like a professor at all. He looked like a warrior. A beast. A man made for battles, not classrooms.
"I—I was just p-passing," she muttered.
Her legs finally obeyed her.
She turned and bolted.
Her heart thundered as she stumbled into the ladies' restroom, bracing her hands against the sink while she struggled to breathe. She splashed cold water onto her face once, twice then lifted her head to stare at her reflection.
Wide eyes. Pale skin.
Anyone who saw her now would think she had encountered a ghost.
Instead, it was just her teacher.
The rest of the day passed without incident.
Alfonso kindly helped her pick up everything she needed during his half-hour break, and by the time she was finally home, exhaustion dragged at her bones. She lay back on her bed, but sleep didn't come easily.
Her thoughts circled relentlessly.
Fernando Ruiz.
That man radiated something deeply unsettling. She barely knew him, yet his gaze felt as if it peeled her open, as though he could see straight through to her soul.
And now he knew her name.
Excellent going, Sofía.
The harder she tried to stay invisible, to remain unnoticed, the more attention she seemed to draw.
With a firm resolve to avoid him at all costs, she eventually surrendered to sleep.
The next morning arrived mercifully calm. No bullies waited for her. The first three classes passed smoothly, and by recess, she headed for her sacred spot the quiet classroom on the top floor.
She had brought herself a chicken sandwich today.
Humming softly under her breath, she munched as she walked toward the window. She settled into the seat beside it and gazed outside.
Her eyes immediately locked onto the black Range Rover parked below.
But it wasn't the car that held her attention.
It was the broad, muscular shoulders leaning against it.
Curiosity nudged her closer. Mr. Ruiz stood by the vehicle, phone pressed to his ear, posture relaxed yet commanding.
She took a large bite of her sandwich, cheeks puffed out
and he looked up.
Straight at her.
Their eyes collided.
Her breath caught painfully in her throat. She froze, eyes stretching wide, mouth stalled mid-chew. With both cheeks full, she stared at him like a fish out of water.
His gaze didn't waver.
She was so far away so far yet somehow he had felt her watching him. Impossible. Or maybe his instincts were just that sharp.
She swallowed without chewing.
Instant regret.
The food lodged painfully in her throat, sending her into a coughing fit. She staggered back from the window, lightly pounding her chest as panic flared. She grabbed her water bottle, gulping desperately until air finally rushed back into her lungs.
Her hands were icy. Her feet felt numb.
None of this made sense.
First of all, he didn't look or act like a teacher.
Second of all, he swore freely and threatened people over the phone.
Weird.
"Oh, Lord," she muttered, pressing her palm to her face as realization struck.
Next period was math.
Which meant him.
"Lord, show mercy."
She packed her bag quickly and slipped down the stairs, carefully ensuring no one noticed her path. If anyone discovered her sacred hiding place, Mateo, Miguel, and Lucía would turn her life into a living nightmare.
She entered the classroom quietly and took her usual seat in the back, by the window.
Five minutes remained before class began.
Sofía pulled out her notebook and reviewed the last problems Mr. Ruiz had solved on the board. She understood most of it mostly but the final two steps completely lost her.
She was so focused on the equations that she didn't notice the door open.
"Settle down, class."
His deep voice snapped her attention upward.
He stood at the front, dressed in black slacks and a black button-up shirt, dark tattoos hidden beneath the fabric.
His gaze swept the room and landed on her.
She instinctively tried to shrink into her seat.
Too late.
"Ms. Rodríguez," he said coolly. "Come here. Sit in the front."