CHAPTER 3 - June Jitters (3)

[THE BITCH'S MEDDLING]

Right before class has started, the sniper duo entered the faculty lounge where Irina Jelavić, their English teacher, was currently fixing her make-up.

"What do you want, brats?" She merely gave them a glimpse before looking back at the mirror.

A professional hitwoman from overseas, she was hired by the government to assassinate Korosensei. On the outside, she appeared to be alluringly cruel and arrogant; her femme fatale and her sensual figure could make any men lose themselves. But upon spending time with the students as their teacher, she was surprisingly humble, earnest, and has a soft side on her.

The two students took a few steps closer with their textbooks and notes in their hands. "I have some questions on a passage in the book, Bitch-sensei," said Hayami.

Being called with that name ticked Irina off. Ever since Karma instigated it, the nickname has been entrenched in the students. And she couldn't do anything to change that.

"And please teach me how to translate some complex words into English," Chiba stated further.

After applying lipstick, Irina puckered her lips and spun her chair, facing them with a narked expression. "Why are you getting into study mode when it's so early in the morning? You kids should learn how to have fun."

Then with an outstretched arm, she added, "Jeez. Let me see them so that we can get this over with," as her other hand swatted her wavy blonde hair off her shoulder with a huff.

She began to teach them when she eventually got weary. Not because of their learning speed, in fact, they were able to quickly grasp the concepts she explained without needing more examples and follow-up questions. It was rather because they were too businesslike that her tutoring session became dull for the thrill-seeking assassin.

Like a stroke of lightning, it came back to her that rumors were going around the class. Kurahashi mentioned it once while Irina was sharing her romantic endeavors in her undercover jobs. There were suspicions that the two snipers were going out which would not be a shock due to their similar personalities and how they always have been spending time together.

An idea crossed her mind. With a malicious grin, she said, "Let's test if you actually understood the lesson. If you got my question wrong, you will be punished with a –" she seductively licked her lips with a pout "– wet kiss from me."

Shivers ran down the students' spines.

"Or what if –" she tapped her finger on her chin thoughtfully as she repeatedly glanced at the two "– you have to kiss each other if one of you gave me a wrong answer!" she declared, finger-pointing.

Since they did not want to exert their energy in objecting, both Chiba and Hayami would have to see to it that they would not make a mistake.

Well, it was easier thought than done.

"WRONG!"

After hearing Chiba's answer to the third question, Irina crossed her arms with a triumphant smile on her face. "Now, you have to kiss her," she instructed with a glance on Hayami, who was now stiff on her seat.

Chiba looked queasy as he tried to keep his gaze away from Hayami. "Bitch-sensei, can't you reconsider?" he asked.

"Of course not! Be a man and just do it!" Irina barked. Then she thrust the unwilling boy to the disoriented Hayami, who was able to raise her hands beforehand to barricade herself from the impending kiss.

Her patience wearing thin, Irina held Hayami's back to prod her towards Chiba, whose arms were pillared on Hayami's chair. For a woman with delicate arms, she definitely has a vicelike grip and strength.

"Oh come on. Why don't you give in already? I know that you two want to do this..."

The wooden door slid open, revealing Karasuma with his usual scowl, which turned into bewilderment upon witnessing his colleague doing something ineffable on their two students.

"What the hell are you doing, Irina?!" he bellowed.

His feet pounded on the creaking floor until his sturdy hand caught her by her collar and dragged her away from the two snipers.

"But I'm not yet done teaching them!" Irina whined right before they went out of the room.

Withholding his temper, Karasuma finally released the whimpering assassin when they had reached the corridor. He wheeled around to face her just as he put his hands on his hips.

"If you want to continue doing your mission here, then, you better act accordingly," he rebuked.

Irina repetitively linked her forefingers together. "But I only want to help them since they are always focused on their studies and the assassination. They also need to enjoy their youth, you know," she mumbled with a pout.

He shut his eyes tight as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's okay for you to give the students a push. Just don't go overboard as you did earlier. Understand?" he said.

Her scowl deepened with her light blue eyes sideways on the floor. "I understand."

He turned his back on her as the corner of his mouth curved up. She really has changed. If this was before, she would not have given the students a time of her day.

***

When their teachers had been out of sight, both Chiba and Hayami breathed out a sigh of relief. They gathered their stuff in haste since they were about to be late for their first class.

"That was mortifying," Hayami said with a dreary look while on their way to the classroom.

"Yeah. It would be a shame if I were to become your first kiss," said Chiba.

Hayami sneaked a glance at him. "I don't mind if it's you."

His footsteps stopped while she continued until she was three steps away. Her head turned over at him when she had noticed his absence by her side.

"Didn't you realize what you just said?" he blurted.

Pondering over her last words, her cheeks became pink as she looked away from him. "Don't get the wrong idea," she stated before rushing to the room, leaving him dumbfounded.

After that, the sniper duo did not seek Irina's help anymore beyond class hours much to her disappointment.