Can’t Win Me Back

"You—" Amber glared at him in embarrassment. Her eyes were dewy and sparkling.

Axel tilted his head with a roguish smile. He tapped his lips to remind her.

Suddenly, he frowned and spun around. A group of smiling kids had gathered by the backdoor of the classroom to watch the unfold. Their cute

heads peeked out of the door, one on top of another, which was rather hilarious to see.

They would have made a fuss if they could speak.

"You rascal!" Amber's face reddened. She shoved him away before fleeing and herding the kids back into the classroom.

Her scolding sounded flirtatious to Axel. His smile deepened when he relished her remark.

Amber returned to the podium after soothing the children. When she looked up, she found Axel shamelessly sitting in a chair by an unoccupied table

in the last row. He folded his arms and rested them on the table, blinking obediently like he, too, was a student.

until she took a few deep breaths

kids happily filed out of the classroom, each holding a gift from Amber. Axel was the only one remaining

palm, he beamed

went up to him, holding her breath and pressing her

and unfurled his palms. Then, he said pleadingly,

for you," she replied,

that's unfair." He looked so

finally retrieved a bunny keychain from her shirt pocket. "Count

one."

shifted between the bunny keychain

hand when he did not accept the keychain immediately. She mumbled, "Right. I'm sure you have

good stuff. You wouldn't want something like a bunny

held it tightly. She sweated from her fingertips, and

out

it because you left one for me." He held

"Thank you, Ms. Altman!"

| have no tto fool around with

he called out to her, "Ms. Altman, you're good at sign language. Mind teaching me?

calming her breath, she turned around to meet his starry