When I Kissed The Teacher

21. Future

X: Y/N, is that you?

I look up, and there she is—the woman who vanished from my life five years ago. After that teacher caught us, the school dismissed her, and I faced consequences. They severed our connection, forbidding us from seeing each other. On top of that, she left the town, completely exiting my life. I endured significant suffering. I had to reside with my mother, who had finally reappeared, only to berate me for having a girlfriend instead of a boyfriend. She disregarded the fact that Cate was my teacher and fixated on the gender. I spent weeks searching for Cate, but she remained elusive. Although heartbroken, I persevered, completing high school with satisfactory grades and enrolling in university for the degree I had always aspired to pursue. And now, here I am.

I hadn't noticed that I had been gazing at her for an extended period.

Cate: Are you okay? Can I join you? -I don't respond, but she takes a seat in front of me- So, what are you up to these days?
Y/N: I... I'm studying medicine...
Cate: Exactly what you wanted! That's fantastic!
Y/N: Yeah...
Cate: How's life treating you?

Should I confess that my heart longs for her every day? That I haven't moved on? No, she probably left me in the past a long time ago...

Y/N: I'm doing well, I suppose...
Cate: Your tone suggests otherwise. Is something bothering you?
Y/N: No, no! Everything's great! I'm studying what I love, surrounded by fantastic friends, out of my mother's grasp, and my boyfriend is incredibly supportive. I couldn't ask for mo... -I'm interrupted by Cate.
Cate: Oh... boyfriend... What's his name?
Y/N: Jack.
Cate: And... how... how long have you been together?
Y/N: Just a few months... -she remains silent, prompting me to inquire about her life- How about you? How's everything going?
Cate: Well... I'm working in a town near here. I started last year...
Y/N: What did you do before working at this school?
Cate: I... I kept travelling around the world... trying to forget...
Y/N: Forget what?
Cate: -she hesitates a little bit before speaking- You...
Y/N: Could you... forget me?
Cate: No... this is why I came back here...
Y/N: Why? Five years later? Why?
Cate: Because I can't take it anymore, Y/N! I need to be with you. I love you, Y/N, I really do. Do you... love me?
Y/N: I have a boyfriend, Cate. I'm happy now...
Cate: Are you? 'Cause you don't sound like you are. And answer my question, please. Do you love me?
Y/N: No... -I say looking doing down at the table.
Cate: Okay, now say it looking at me, and I'll believe you, and I'll leave you alone forever. I promise.
Y/N: I don't... -I try to say it but I can't- I love you! Of course I love you, Cate! I love you and I miss you every fucking day of my life! -I say with tears in my eyes.
Cate: Hey, don't cry -she says also with tears in her eyes.
Y/N: You're crying too...
Cate: I know... I love you so much, Y/N.
Y/N: Me too... but what am I gonna do?
Cate: That's up to you, honey. I can't tell you what to do.
Y/N: I'm gonna break up with him. Today at lunch. I'll do it.
Cate: Okay baby... Here's my number. Talk to me when you're ready -she says, giving me a paper with a number on it and leaving.

And that's it. My life just made a 180-degree turn and changed completely. But I feel really good. I mean, not with the fact that today I'm gonna break up with my boyfriend, who is the sweetest boy ever. But, apart from that, I feel like everything's gonna be better now. I don't feel like something's missing in my life anymore. I guess what was missing was Cate.

4 in the afternoon

Jack just left my house. It was really hard, but I told him the truth. He deserved it. We had only been together for 5 months, but he was the sweetest guy and treated me really well. And the most important thing, he loved me, well, still loves me. I just broke his heart, so I don't feel really good right now. I decide to call Cate and ask her to come and cheer me up a little bit.

20 minutes later

I hear a knock on the door. It's Cate.

Cate: Hi beautiful!
Y/N: Hi -I hug her, and tears start rolling down my face.
Cate: Hey, what happened?
Y/N: I just broke his heart... -I say, still crying.
Cate: You did the best thing, Y/N. It would've been worse if you had waited to tell him.
Y/N: I know but...
Cate: Shhh... Let's go to bed.

She takes me to my bed, and we both lay there. My body is half on top of hers, and her arms envelop me. She keeps repeating comforting words to calm me down until I fall asleep.

Later that day

I wake up to an empty bed, but I can still smell Cate's perfume lingering on me. It's the best feeling. I hear sounds coming from the living room, so that must be her.

I enter the living room and find her meticulously setting the table with a spread of delicious food she had ordered.

Y/N: Mmm, it smells delicious.
Cate: I ordered Chinese. Is that okay with you?
Y/N: Absolutely, I love it.

We both take our seats, facing each other.

Cate: So... I was thinking... if you would like to move in with me. It's okay if you don't want to. I just figured, since we both said... that... this morning at the cafe... -she is really nervous, I had never seen her this nervous, so I cut her off trying to calm her down.
Y/N: I would love it, Cate. I would love to spend the rest of my life with you if you wanted to.
Cate: I do want to.
Y/N: I love you.
Cate: I love you.