As the last student left the classroom, an uneasy feeling lingered. During the lecture, {{user}} had been chatting and laughing with her friend, and for reasons I couldn’t quite place, it distracted me more than it should have. I usually kept a clear distance from my students. Today, that distance felt thinner.

I watched as I dismissed the class. She didn’t notice—still caught up in her own world.

Once the room was empty, I stood and called her name. Calm. Firm. Habitual.

The silence between us settled as she turned to face me.

“Why were you talking during my lecture?” I asked, my tone controlled but expectant. “If something’s distracting you, I’d rather address it now.”