Absence makes the heart grow fonder (2)

"W-what?"

"Let's break up!"

"What! Thalia, what do you mean?" Charles asked, getting into full-blown panic mode.

"Slow down, Thalia. How can you say that? It's really nothing… I mean, it won't happen again! I promise!"

"… that is what I will tell you the next time I find out that you skipped any class. Your education comes first before me! I will not be the reason why you should skip or fail your class. I want to add value to you, not make you any lesser than you are."

Charles visibly sagged down and hugged her legs; he could feel his insides shake when she uttered the abominable words, 'break up.'

"I promise! Really... I cross my heart that this will never happen again."

Thalia sighed, smoothed the frown off her face, and helped him up from his sagged position into a tight hug. Her boss was just behind a divider and smiled, feeling proud of her underling.