Alina stepped into Class D, the familiar chatter softening as the little ones noticed her.
"Good morning!" she said with a bright smile, her voice carrying the same warmth that always made the babies feel safe.
"Good morning, teacher!!" they chorused back, voices overlapping—Boo's sing-song tone louder than everyone else's.
Alina's gaze moved across the room, settling for a second on Lucien. His pretty red eyes were fixed quietly on her. She softened her expression, giving him a gentle smile, and the corner of his lips twitched in the smallest response before he looked down at his desk.
Her heart felt a little lighter at that.
She placed her bag on the desk and picked up the attendance sheet. "Alright, let's see… is everyone here today?" she asked, glancing around.
