Broken Boundaries

Chapter 21: Confessions In The Choas

Celeste

This morning, the auditorium buzzed with the chatter of 12th graders and their teachers. The faint scent of floor polish mixed with the air-conditioning as we filed in, everyone finding their seats for Mrs. Dalton's address. Our principal stood on the podium, her stern gaze sweeping over us like a hawk. She reminded us of the upcoming CAHCEE and SAT exams, only two months away. Two months. The thought of failing lingers in the back of my mind, whispering that Nigeria might be my next stop if things don't go according to plan.

Two months later...

The weight of the exams suffocates me. The final hurdle of high school stretches out for an entire month, and after that, it's over. One more month, and I'll be free-or so I hope.

Saturday evening finds me walking with Blake, Kelvin, and Kyomi down our usual path. Warm air brushes against my skin as I clutch the pink beaded handbag Mum gave me last year. My butterfly locs bounce slightly with each step. Blake and Kyomi are lost in their own little world, her giggles mixing with the soft chatter of the group. Calvin trails behind us, unusually quiet.

"Why are you so silent today, Calvin?" Kyomi calls over her shoulder. He doesn't respond, his face unreadable.

"You two haven't kissed, right?" she presses, her voice teasing. Calvin freezes mid-step, his expression twisting into something between irritation and embarrassment.

"Kyomi, stop," her boyfriend mutter, walking ahead.

But she's relentless. "Come on, Calvin. It's obvious you love her. Why not just tell her?" She smirks, scratching the back of her neck.

"Kyomi," Blake cuts in, shaking his head, though he's grinning. "She's right, though. You're acting like a complete i***t. Just man up and hold her hand."

I pretend not to hear, keeping my focus on the road ahead. The truth is, my heart pounds with every word they say, but I refuse to give any of it away. Calvin sighs behind me, and then I feel his hand on my shoulder.

"Celeste," he says, his voice softer than I expect. I stop and turn to face him. His eyes are locked on mine, intense and unyielding.

"I love you," he blurts out, the words tumbling from his lips like a confession he's been dying to make. My chest tightens.

"Calvin, I-" I begin, but he cuts me off.

"I've wanted to tell you since the day you saved that picture in class. These past two months, spending time with you-it's made me better. I'm better because of you. Please... will you be my girlfriend?"

The world feels like it's spinning. I open my mouth, unsure of what to say, but before I can answer, Calvin grabs my wrist and takes off running.

"Calvin! Where are you going? Stop!" I shout, trying to keep up, but his grip tightens, and my wrist begins to throb. Finally, I wrench my hand free.

"Just think about it, okay?" he says quickly, his voice shaking. "You don't have to reply now."

"No," I say, my chest heaving. "It's not that." My voice trembles, and the weight of my unspoken words presses down on me. "I'm sorry, Calvin, but... not you. There's someone else I-"

Before I can finish, a stranger yanks my handbag from my arm and takes off.

"Hey!" I scream, adrenaline surging as I chase after him. The world blurs around me as my feet pound against the pavement. His pace fastens, so does mine. The thief's hood slips off in the breeze, and my breath catches.

Mr. Dominic?!

He ducks into an empty hallway, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. I stop a few feet away, clutching my chest as my mind spins.

"Mr. Dominic?" I manage to say, my voice a mix of shock and confusion. "Why did you-"

"What are you doing alone with that boy?" he interrupts, his tone sharp.

"I should be asking you why you're acting like a thief!" I snap, clutching my aching wrist.

He exhales, brushing a hand through his hair. "So, Calvin did what I couldn't." His voice is barely a whisper, yet it carries a weight that makes my stomach flip.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, taking a cautious step back.

His eyes meet mine, and for the first time, I see something raw, something vulnerable. "Celeste, if I were to put my feelings for you into words, I'd write a library," he says, his voice trembling.

I blink, my heart hammering. "What-what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I love you," he replies, his gaze piercing mine. "I've been scared, and I've made mistakes, but I can't hold this in any longer."

His words hit me like a tidal wave. My mind reels, flashes of every confusing moment with him over the past months crashing into me.

"That's a lie," I whisper, tears pooling in my eyes. "You're lying."

"Celeste-"

"You're a wicked man," I cut him off, my voice breaking. "As a teacher, you shouldn't be doing this with me! You kissed me and called it a mistake. You met your childhood love and made me a living ghost in school? Only if you know the pain I've been through with my family. School was my only escape and You ignored me for months. Now you have the audacity to tell me you love me?"

"I was scared," he says, stepping closer. "Scared of what I felt for you. Scared of messing everything up."

For a moment, I fantasized about what it would be like being in a relationship with Mr. Dominic. He stepped closer and placed a hand on my neck. Sharing an intense eye contact of pain and regret, he placed his forehead against mine. His cold breath swept against mine and as he leans to me for another kiss, I break out of his clutch.

"No!" I yell, pushing him away as tears stream down my face. "You don't get to do this to me! You don't get to mess with my heart and then pretend it's love. Stay away from me, Mr. Dominic. Never stalk me like this again, I hate you."

He reaches out, but I'm already running, my sobs echoing in the empty street.

Why is this happening? Why now? And how am I supposed to face either of them after this?