Zarinna plastered her gaze to her lap, her heart throbbing as she heard the nearing voice of Mr. Sepnayen from outside of the office.

"Ma'am Zarinna, are you okay?" Zarinna glanced up, forcing a smile towards the teacher adjacent to her, "You look so pale right now. Are you sick?"

"N-no," Zarinna replied, "I'm alright Ma'am Mel." She assured.

Zarinna looked towards the empty table beside her.

So this is why there was a new table here. Zarinna surmised in silence. Shutting her eyes momentarily as the two males made their way inside the faculty office.

"Good morning Sir!" Her fellow teachers greeted in unison. Zarinna couldn't speak, her gaze still downward as Mr. Sepnayen began to introduce each of them to the new teacher. She fiddled with the hem of her blouse in apprehension, listening as David and Mr. Sepnayen went around the room. Her chest heaved once more, summoning courage as she felt the two now standing before her.

"This is Ma'am Zarinna Bunhiyan, David, also a new teacher like you," Mr. Sepnayen introduced. For a moment Zarinna couldn't lift her gaze, uncertain how she is to handle the embarrassing situation she was trapped in.

Would he recognize me? She questioned in silence. How am going to survive being with the man who-

"Ma'am Zarinna?" Zarinna's was torn from her thoughts, slowly lifting her gaze as she heard Mr. Sepnayen's voice.

"I-I'm sorry Sir," She stuttered, standing to her feet. "It's nice to meet you..." With all the courage she can muster, Zarinna met the man's gaze, gulping as she extended her arm. "Sir David."

The man's features were clouded with astonishment as soon as they locked gazes, and immediately Zarinna knew. He recognized her.

I'm done for. The thought echoed in her mind.

"It's a pleasure to meet you..." The man replied, shaking her hand. "...Ma'am Zarinna," the sound of her name upon his lips somehow made Zarinna's heart lurch. She bit the inside of her lip, suppressing the scream of embarrassment that bubbled from her core.

"I-I need to get to class." She stammered, scurrying through her desk for her book.

"Ma'am Zarinna," She gazed up, "Are you okay?" The older man asked.

Zarinna took in a breath, summoning her body to calm down as she tried her best to compose herself.

"Y-yes Sir Sepnayen," She forced a smile, "Excuse me." She flashed David a glance and walked out of the office in haste, her palm upon her chest as she panted for breath.

Zarinna came to a halt as she reached the front of her classroom, her palm clenching to a fist as she remembered Gina's words.

That's Pastor David...

"Oh, Lord Jesus," She heard herself whisper.

Zarinna released a long sigh, her thoughts spinning like a whirlwind in her mind.

How could this world be so small? She questioned, squeezing her eyes shut as she tried to comprehend what is happening.

"Great," Zarinna breathed, "Just... great."

Zarinna released a sigh as she stepped out of her last class, relieved that her lectures for the day were finally over. Going through this day was one of her hardest, with the memory of David flashing through her mind more often that she wanted.

"Oh there you are," She heard Gina speak as she sat beside her. "Are you okay? Why do you look as though you're floating?"

Zarinna directed her gaze to Gina, whining as she rested her head upon Gina's shoulder.

"Oh, did something happen?" Gina asked once more, placing her arm around Zarinna's shoulder.

"That man," Zarinna groaned, "That man!"

"Huh? Who?"

"That David you were telling me about..." Zarinna began, lifting her head from Gina's shoulder, "H-he..." A groan again preceded Zarinna's words, multiplying the confusion that Gina felt.

"Rinna, just relax for a moment and tell me what's going on."

"That man, Pastor David... Uh, " Zarinna took in a breath, facing Gina as she composed herself." I've already met him before." She confessed.

"Really?" Gina's eyes widened, "You met him before? When? How?"

"I met him before in a..."Zarinna paused, wincing inwardly as she remembered the embarrassing memory. "--A spring."

"A spring?" Gina raised a brow, "Why a spring?"

"It's like this. Three months ago, I..." Gina listened intently, her gaze narrowed as Zarinna recanted the event, picturing Zarinna's words as she listened. And slowly, her eyes widened, the realization striking her like thunder as she listened to a familiar story.

"Wait, hold on, hold on, Zarinna!" Gina raised her arm, "This happened in Agawa, right?"

Zarinna nodded, and with this, silence reigned in their midst.

"You know what Zarinna, " Gina began, chuckling as she spoke, "I find this story more familiar than you think."

Zarinna blinked in confusion, staring at Gina as she heard her words.

"Don't worry about those lost clothes." Gina grinned, "They're in good hands."

"Huh?"

David took another glance at himself before he stepped out of the faculty office, his heart throbbing in apprehension as he made his way to Zarinna's classroom.

It has made him think twice before he could reply to Mr. Sepnayen's request that he be the one to call Zarinna to the faculty office for an emergency meeting. The thought of facing Zarinna once more somewhat made him feel awkward. He was sure she felt the same- a million times more than how he did probably.

Nevertheless, he would take the chance anyway, the necklace he had been keeping in his wallet needed to be returned, and he is yet to worry about how he'll return the others. For now, he needed to do what he needs to do.

He composed himself, taking in a deep breath before he peered through the door. The woman was busy arranging textbooks in the class book shelves, grunting as she lifted a stack of books in her arms.

"Excuse me, Ma'am?"

He saw Zarinna turn around, and immediately David saw astonishment dominate her features as her gaze came in contact with his.

"O-oh," She stuttered, "Is there anything you need, Sir David?" She asked, placing the books upon the shelf and turning towards him once more.

"Can I come in?" David asked.

"Oh! Of course, sure step in." David summoned a smile as he walked into the classroom, his gaze occupied by the wooden chairs that lay unarranged on the floor as he stepped in.

"I'm sorry for the mess," He heard her speak, "I'm doing a renovation around here."

"Wow," David breathed, his gaze directed towards the dirt and garbage that had been gathered in the middle of the classroom aisle. "Why didn't you ask your students to help you with this, ma'am?"

"I meant to, it's just that..." I lost all my focus and forgot things when you came, Zarinna meant to say. "I was really busy today that I forgot to inform them, earlier."

"Oh," David lowered his gaze, "Well, we better finish this up quick then. Mr. Sepnayen announced an emergency meeting this 5 pm," He continued, to which he saw Zarinna gasp, lowering her gaze to her watch.

"Oh, goodness, that 20 minutes from now!" Immediately, he saw her turn to the shelves, arranging the books in haste.

A smile was formed upon David's lips as he watched Zarinna scurry around the room, fixing curtains and books simultaneously. And as if responding to instinct, he made his way to the cleaning materials, lifting a broom in his hand.

Well, I guess the necklace would have to wait then. David remarked.

"Oh!" She heard Zarinna exclaim, "No, Sir David you don't have to do that." She resisted, shaking her head. "I can do it myself."

"It's okay with me," David assured, hunching over as he picked up pieces of the waste papers. "Two heads are better than one. Besides," He looked over his watch, "We have exactly 18 minutes to finish this."

Zarinna opened her mouth to protest, but soon realized it was of no use as David began to sweep the floor clean. She sighed in surrender, returning her gaze towards the books she was arranging. And soon, her classroom was all ready and arranged. She smiled in satisfaction, scattering her gaze towards her all tidied up classroom.

"Thank you, Sir." She breathed.

"You're welcome." He replied, his voice gentle as it came in contact with her ears. "Now, should we get going?"

Zarinna lifted her gaze to the wall clock, "Oh my, we should!"

David followed Zarinna as they walked outside the door in haste, his gaze now drawn to the woman's hair that reached her hips. He hadn't noticed it when he first saw her in the spring, but fascination brewed from his core as he watched how her long raven hair swayed as she walked. For a moment, he wondered how it would feel to touch those strands.

Zarinna peered across her shoulder, startled as she saw the man's gaze towards her. Zarinna gulped, "Sir?"

David was torn from his thoughts, clearing his throat as he looked towards the woman before him. "Come on..." Zarinna beckoned. David nodded and increased his pace, now walking beside her as they approached the faculty office.

"There you two are!" Mr. Sepnayan's voice welcomed them as they stepped in, "You got me worried for a second, I feared you two had already gone to a date, instead!" Zarinna cleared her throat, her eyes widening at the thought as she heard the teachers around them chuckle.

"Anyway, take a seat now. We were just about to start." Mr. Sepnayen instructed.

"Alright," He began, looking upon the notes he held as Zarinna and David took a seat. "So, just this morning the Principal has announced to us that..." Zarinna tried her best to listen, her eyes towards Mr. Sepnayen unaltered in order to distract herself from the mixed emotions that engaged in a tug of war in her mind.

Oh God! Her mind screamed, Please, please grant my heart peace. She prayed.

Minutes rolled by, and the meeting soon came to an end. Zarinna took her phone out, the name of Gina on her screen instantly meeting her gaze as she turned the phone on.

'I heard you have a meeting' She read the text in haste, swiftly swiping down to read the rest of it.
'Sorry Sis, I'm going ahead, okay? I need to finish grading some papers. Take care!'

Zarinna nodded in understanding, returning the phone back to her pocket as she prepared to leave. She looked around the faculty office, waving towards the other teachers goodbye as she walked out the door.

As soon as she stepped out, Zarinna ran down the building in haste, noting the now dim skies as she advanced. She needed to get to a tricycle soon, especially that Gina's not with her. She has always remembered her uncle's word; How it is dangerous for women to be alone especially at night here in the province, plus, remembering her experience in the spring only intensified the warning.

She looked towards the dark street before her, there was a hundred-meter walk she needed to take before she could reach the main road. Tricycles would usually be present in front of the school gate, wonder plagued her mind that not a single one was there today. She lifted her gaze once more. The sun is already completely gone.

"Lord, protect me," She whispered and took a deep breath. She began to walk, waiting there would only consume her time, and she needed to get home fast. Zarinna doubled her pace, feeling her heart throb as she reached the darkest part of the street.

"Oh Jesus, Jesus, Jesus..." She repeated, speaking in tongues as she suppressed the brewing fear in her heart. She hated dark streets; it had always been her greatest weakness even back when she was a young girl.

The fear she felt intensified, for even before she is able to walk halfway through, she heard footsteps from behind. Zarinna increased her pace, running, in fact as she heard the footsteps come nearer.

Lord, I know You are with me, She began to pray, I entrust myself to You...

Zarinna summoned courage, and she dared to look back. An image of a person wearing a hoodie a few meters from her occupied her vision. Her heart raced.

"In Jesus' Name," She heard herself whisper. Rebuking the fear, and the possible harm this person could bring. She didn't want to judge too quickly, but the fear she felt only intensified, and with this, she continued to pray.

Zarinna jolted upright, her prayers interrupted as she heard a sound a tricycle from behind. She turned around, relief dominating her being as the lights from the vehicle set the path alight.

The vehicle came to a halt in front of her, and the realization soon struck as Zarinna's vision cleared. It wasn't a tricycle.

"Hop on," The driver spoke as he removed his helmet. Zarinna's eyes widened. "Ma'am Zarinna..."