Girlfriend

Professor De León’s face softened in a way Alvin had never seen before. The scowl that had been carved into her features for as long as he’d known her vanished, replaced by an expression so foreign that he could hardly believe it was the same person. The icy glare that had once cut through his confidence was gone, and in its place was something warmer, gentler. A radiant smile lit up her face, softening her sharp features.

Alvin’s gaze dropped to the sticker he’d stuck to her blazer in a last-ditch act of desperation. There it was, stuck neatly over her heart: Girlfriend.

His stomach churned. This was… not how he’d imagined things playing out. At all. He’d been grasping at straws when he wrote it, certain that nothing could make Professor De León treat him with kindness, let alone affection. But now, as he stared at her serene expression, he knew the sticker had worked—too well.

“Alvin,” she said suddenly, her voice smooth and warm, so unlike the clipped, authoritative tone he was used to. The way she said his name sent a shiver down his spine, equal parts disbelief and dread. “Are you feeling all right? You look nervous.”

He blinked. What?

“I—I’m fine,” he stammered, taking a step back. His brain scrambled to process what was happening, but her smile followed him, unwavering.

“You don’t seem fine,” she said, her tone laced with concern. She stepped toward him, her hands clasped together in a way that felt shockingly intimate. “If something’s bothering you, you can tell me. That’s what I’m here for.”

Alvin’s mouth opened and closed, words failing him. “Uh, who… who are you now?” he asked finally, his voice trembling.

Her smile deepened, and a soft laugh escaped her lips. “What kind of question is that, silly? I’m your girlfriend. Camila De León, your girlfriend.”

Alvin’s heart nearly stopped. “But… but you’re my professor,” he blurted out. “You teach my history class, remember? You—”

“I was your professor,” she interrupted, her voice light and easy, as though they were having a casual conversation over coffee. “But that doesn’t matter anymore. The only thing that matters is us.”

His pulse quickened as she stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his. “Us?” he echoed, panic creeping into his voice.

“Yes,” she said softly. “You and me. You’re my boyfriend, Alvin. Why are you acting like you don’t know that?”

Her hand reached out, brushing lightly against his arm. Alvin flinched at the contact, his mind racing. This wasn’t just a change in behavior—this was profound. The woman who had spent months tearing him down was now looking at him like he was the center of her world.

“What about… Professor De León?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her head tilted slightly, her expression puzzled. “Camila De León? That’s who I was. But I’m not her anymore. Not really.”

“Where is she?” he pressed, his voice trembling.

“I still have her memories,” she replied, her tone calm and matter-of-fact. “I can still do everything she could do—teach, lecture, handle her responsibilities. But everything I do will be for you, Alvin. Because that’s who I am now. Your girlfriend.”

His breath caught. “But I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he admitted, his voice cracking.

Her smile never wavered, though there was a flicker of something behind her eyes. “You placed the sticker on me, Alvin. You made me this way.” She took another step forward, closing the distance between them. “And now, I’m here for you. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Alvin’s fingers twitched around the remaining stickers in his hand. The power he held suddenly felt like a double-edged sword, sharper and more dangerous than he’d realized.

“What if I… put a different sticker on you?” he asked cautiously.

“Then I’ll change,” she said simply. Her voice was light, but the implication weighed heavy. “You can make me anything you want, Alvin. But right now, I’m yours. And I don’t think you’ll find anyone who cares about you more than I do.”

Her words hung in the air, and Alvin swallowed hard. The warmth in her gaze, the softness in her smile—it was almost enough to make him forget who she had been before. Almost.

But as she stood there, waiting for him to respond, Alvin realized he was holding a power he didn’t fully understand. And now he had a choice to make.