You're Making Me Crazy, Professor [COMPLETED]

Chapter 3

"Get the hell out of the car now. I'm losing patience with you, Gomez," she snapped, her voice slicing through the thick silence inside the vehicle like a blade.

"Chill, I'm just joking. See you again, Miss!" sabi ko sa kanya, trying to lighten the mood with a grin as I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door. I hopped out casually, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

The moment the car door shut, she slammed the gear into drive. The tires screeched lightly against the asphalt as the engine roared back to life. Her car sped off without another glance, the wind stirring my hair as I stood there on the curb, watching her taillights disappear into the distance.

Despite the tension and her coldness, I couldn't help but smile.

I really like her.

Shaking my head with a small chuckle, I turned around and headed inside our house. The familiar scent of the foyer greeted me as I stepped through the front door, and the faint sound of music played from somewhere in the background. I took off my shoes and walked into the living room where I saw Ate lounging on the couch, legs curled under her, her eyes glued to her phone screen.

"Ate," I called out, walking over to her.

She didn’t look up right away, just lazily tapped something on her screen before finally acknowledging me. "What?" she asked, her voice flat, her face unreadable as she glanced up from her phone.

"I want to transfer to your university," I said, my voice soft, almost hesitant. My hands were clasped behind my back like a child caught doing something mischievous.

She blinked, eyebrows rising. "Out of nowhere? Stop it," she replied, her voice sharp, eyes narrowing slightly as suspicion instantly clouded her face.

"It's not what you think," I defended myself, a teasing lilt in my voice. I walked over to the arm of the couch and leaned on it, grinning. "I have friends there. I just want to spend more time with them before I graduate."

I made sure to emphasize the word friends, stretching it a little for effect. I was hoping to sound nonchalant, casual. But I knew Ate wasn’t buying it—not even for a second.

"Why did you just decide this right now?" she asked, her tone more serious now, her eyes boring into mine like she was trying to read between the lines.

"Because I just realized it now," I mumbled, looking away briefly as I tried to suppress the giddy smile forming on my lips. I kept my tone quiet, like it was just a harmless thought I suddenly had. But in truth, it was far from harmless.

Ate didn’t look convinced. Her brow furrowed deeper. "No, it's a hassle. Just stay at your current university," she said, her tone clipped with finality.

I straightened my back and looked her dead in the eye. "You can't stop me, Ate. I'll get permission from Grandma and our parents," I said firmly, the playful edge in my tone now gone. I meant every word. If I had to beg Grandma, I would.

"Stop being stubborn, Sylvia." she snapped, her voice rising with irritation. Her hand finally dropped her phone onto the couch cushion beside her, and now she was sitting up straight, full attention on me.

The tension in the room thickened, buzzing like static in the air.

Just then, a familiar voice broke through the rising storm.

"What's going on here?" Grandma's voice echoed gently but firmly from the hallway as she walked toward us, her shawl draped over her shoulders and a slight frown etched on her usually serene face.

"La..." Ate started, quickly lowering her tone. Her voice softened at the sight of our grandmother, but she clearly struggled to explain the argument without escalating it further. Her hands clenched on her lap, frustration lingering in her eyes.