Chapter 28

"You ready?"
My cousin asked after I fixed all my things. We are going to enter now, btw I am now first year college in St. Jude University. I am taking now HRM course because a lot of our companies compose of hotel and restaurant that owned by our family. Sad to say, I didn"t get the course I wanted most, to be an astronaut. But its okay, its fine with me as long as I see them happy Dad. I'm not upset or angry with them that this is what they want me to take. Its my choice anyway.
I zipped my sling bag over my right shoulder and lowered my skirt a bit because it was too short.
"Let's go?" I smiled at the harvest. He shook his head and smiled.
Then we left the house together to get in his car. They also left early Daddy to manage our company, Dad even insisted me earlier to take me but I refused and I just said that Ivan would take me.
Ivan and I are brothers, so we're really cousins, and he's only a child too. We're in the same university, so he's free to deliver me and pick me up when they're busy, daddy at the company.
"How's your weekend?" He asked out of the blue when he's already driving. I didn't answer him right away because I was staring at a big house we passed where I met Zarius last night. His car is gone and his bulk is gone. I sighed.
When it was over, I only answered Ivan.
"It's okay, there's still no change."
"You still go out every midnight and go to the park?" Then he looked at me, yeah he knows it too.
"Yeah, can't help it. I'm used to it." I shrugged in response.
"Just be careful, because we can't tell the weather right now. You may be used to being safe now but what if one day right?" I knew what he was saying, and I was careful.
"I know Ivan."
"You have a balcony in your room, why don't you go there instead to watch the stars? Instead of going out at night without telling that to your parents."
There really is, but it's really different because you walk while watching the stars.
"I don't feel anything when I'm just on the balcony, Ivan. I don't know if I'm more stressed then, I'm feeling better when I'm going for a walk in the middle of the night and then in the park." I said
"Your hobby's kinda weird." We both laughed.
When he parked his car I decided to get out. I waited for him so we could enter together.
"Aren't there any lovers yet?" I laughed at his question. Well, in the two months I've been here at this university, I think there's something that makes me feel, I'm not dense so I can't feel that. I only have kablock mates. But I just didn't pay attention.
"Nothing." I said so that he wouldn't ask any more questions. And maybe he'll report me to Dad.
"Sus that's impossible! How nice of you ?!" We stopped walking so I punched him in the arm.
"Paepal! I know I've been beautiful for a long time! But I don't have a pake." Then I roll my eyes on him and continued walking.
"The weight of your bank, Ysla." He laughed at the promise. When a to teased again. Many students are already entering the main gate. And when we enter, Ivan and I will part ways, he is in the engineering building while I am in another building.
"Eh friends?" He asked more.
"I don't have, and I have no plan." Yes, because I feel like other people are just friends with you based on your physical appearance. I experienced that back in high school, they befriend me because I am rich and they just pay me so now I have learned.
"You know Yslavien, not everyone is like that." He said and we finally entered the main gate.
"Yeah. I have to go now."
"I won't deliver you anymore?"
"Tsk not anymore!" I heard him laughed so I was even more irritated and left. Kainis so sometimes I was mistaken for his girlfriend! Craye and Aaron are even more famous here! Great womanizers!
I still can't help but look at me from time to time every time I walk down the hallway to my building. Maybe I'm used to it, because I get used to something quickly. Women look more, others just look but most seem angry. But I don't give a damn, I don't have a pack in their presence as long as I'm here to study.
And one more thing I don"t want a mess. So often I just really want to be alone and a friend doesn't want to.
"Miss tourism!" I was just shaken when someone called and people were still whistling at me. Every day I just don't pay attention. I'm also annoyed because I can't escape the thought that they really penetrate, especially with my legs that are exposed. There are no stockings.
Tourism amp! If I was just being sarcastic, I would have cursed it!
I have 2 hours of class today in my minor subject and then I have a vacant one hour so I can go to my favorite tambayan at the back of the cafeteria, there is a garden there and there are benches so it's fresh to study there.
When I entered the room, I had many classmates, but I didn't know them even though they had been my classmates in a subject for a long time. I don't know but they are all in my eyes now. This is what I hate the most, the attention. What do I have and do they always think so?
Aren't they married? Aside from my blue eyes that really grabs attention or am I just beautiful? Well, I have blue eyes btw. I got it from Lola, mommy's mom. And mommy also loves the color of blue which reminded the sea. Mom is a beach lover, she really loves the color of the sea which is blue so mommy was even happier when she saw my eyes.
I saw someone still pushing, and then someone sitting on me. But I ignored I decided to sit there at the pretty end with no one. I just ignored them and put my bag on the other chair when I sat down.
While the professor was away, I decided to take out my phone and earphones to listen to music first, as I was next to the window so I could look outside and see different students.
I played the song of Katy Perry which is Thinking of you. I'm not broken, but I really want to hear her song, especially Taylor Swift. I love listening to music especially when I am studying quietly.
I just hummed softly as I stared out the window, I was also flicking my fingers on the desk.
But I was distracted when someone sat down in the seat next to me and just threw my bag on my lap. Disgusted I removed the earphone and faced him. I was ready to scold him when I finally saw his face.
Its Zarius!
He is sitting lazily now while looking at the emptiness, if you look closely his eyes are very dark like when we first met. The eyes are always as dark as night.
I also saw that his uniform was different from the uniform of my other male classmates. Engineering? Why is he here? Did he drop a subject and was he really a minor?
What year is it? His polo shirt still has two buttons open.
"That seat is already occupied." I said I regret saying that when our eyes met. I even bit my lip and avoid his gaze. I can't stand the darkness of his eyes.
I can feel how his gaze penetrates me.
"This chair doesn't have name, miss stalker." I looked at him.
Seriously ?! Am I a stalker ?! He was already looking at the emptiness so this is my chance to look at him.
"Hey! The thickness of your face to say that I am your stalker!"
"Tsk." I was more annoyed with his answer but he still didn't look at me.
I just stared at him because I thought I wouldn't get anything out of fighting him. I just put the earphone back on and looked out the window again. Annoying! I was still thinking about him last night when we would meet again but that's how we will meet again. The snout!
"Hi Ysla!" I looked when a woman touched me, it didn't matter that she was next to Zarius' chair but she was just standing.
I even looked at Zarius frowning and staring into space.
I removed my earphones and faced him, I was bored when he called me. Only mom and dad and Ivan could call me then.
"Its Laraya." She frowned at my answer, I even caught her rolling her ugly eyes. Tsl I knew it! Plasticnation.
"Laraya then, can you come for my birthday this Saturday? I'm inviting you to come so we can be friends." Plastic he promised, tsk plastic! Friend your freaking ass! Gosh I'm so cheap
"I cant, my father won't allow me."
"Maybe I can talk to your dad." Napangiwi naman ako, seriously ?!
"No thanks, thank you for inviting me anyway." I'll just answer. He would have appealed when I looked out the window. Tsk, that's how they were in the beginning pretending to want to make friends but with a motive.
I didn't return my earphone because there might be another disturbance.
"Girls are always annoying, pretending to be a good shit but in fact bitch inside." I looked at the person next to me as he spoke. Maybe it's immune to swearing.
"Who?" I asked, he looked at me so I averted my eyes again.
"Poked." Barumbado replied, my jaw dropped. What the? What did he said ?!
"What's poked?" He did not answer. The prof also came and the class started.
All the time I was just listening and from time to time I also took down notes but the one next to me seemed to be just at home and didn't care. Sometimes I see that I close my eyes and then look at the emptiness again after shaking, a to is abnormal.
But I was impressed with him when the professor asked him and he answered immediately. Like how did he know that when I was older he wasn't listening?
"Class dismissed." This is really my favorite to listen to in class, its not that I hate the subjects but I want to scape because I don't want to stay longer and I also want to be alone.
I went out with him earlier, because I don't think he had been dismissed yet because he was still an idiot in the absence.
When I came out I saw a group of men on the side of the door. They were five and laughing.
I even saw them stop laughing when I passed by.
"Woahhhh our troop has an American classmate so maybe this subject failed." Saad nung isa, I don't know them so I just walked, no choice because that's my way to the back of the caf.
"Miss you dropped this." I stopped walking when someone grabbed my arm when I caressed it, he was the man who was there.
But his aura is unique unlike when he spoke before. I don't know but I see Zarius with him. I looked at the handkerchief he handed me.
"Ahm thanks." I said then took the handkerchief in his hand. He just nodded. I would have left when someone spoke.
"Heyooo putangina!" I frowned at what I heard and frowned even more when I saw who it was. Why is that? They are his friends, then when he faces them, his smile is so bad that you will always think he is smiling. He grinned widely now that I just saw him.
But when I see the darkness, his eyes are dark.
"Vino is moving ah!" The man returned, Zarius' smile suddenly disappeared the moment he saw me. It's ugly again, I didn't do anything bad to him ah? I nodded and turned around to walk.
But he turned off because of that, he swears badly. I still don't like that.
I sipped on the milktea I was drinking that I first bought at the coffee shop here inside the university. I settled myself under the acacia tree then lean my back on it. I put my bag on my side. Then I took the sketch pad and pencil, then I took my phone out of my pocket to watch kdramas. This is also my frequent hobby, watching dramas when I'm not on a study trip.
I played the series of While you were sleeping, the one with Lee Jong Suk and Bae Suzy. They are so good really, but I also bet Hae In is the second lead of this drama. This drama is so good, the feeling that is really perfect, the flow of the story is over, Jong Suk is great when he investigates. He's a prosecutor in this drama, just so nice.
I used it first and then took out the cupcake that mommy baked yesterday so that I could have something to eat while watching. I also arranged a seat first so that I would not be overlooked. I looked around, even though there was no one but it was better to be careful. Just like mommy said be a formal or decent woman.
I saw a message pop up, and it was from my father.
Daddy:
I'll fetch you after your class, so text me when you get home. I love you, Ysla.
I smiled at Dad's text
Me:
Okay po 'ddy, I love you too po.
Then I send it, I look at the sky, wow it's beautiful! Every cloud seemed to be a staircase. This is the beautiful picture after posting it on instagram!
So I stood up and took my phone home. Maybe I'll continue watching later so I can just hang myself. I clicked the camera app then focused it in the sky, because with the clarity of my cam, my shot got even better.
I took a few more captures before deciding to check it out. Nice!
"So you're also a photographer?" I looked up when someone spoke. It was Zarius, he was standing on the side of the fish pond while he was digging. What is a to doing here ?!
I just pocketed my phone and turned my back on him without answering. I don't want to answer him so we can just fight, and I also don't want to look at him because I'll admit I'm afraid of the darkness of his eyes.
I sat down again under the tree and arranged to sit down. I just took out my major book and the notebook ballpen, I'll just advance. I don't want to watch anymore.
I also took out my earphones and played music once tucked in my ear. I want to be alone so I hope he knows how to feel.
I close my eyes when I feel his presence by my side. Nakakainis naman! Doesn't he know how to feel ?! I want to be alone!
He also sat down but he was in an Indian seat and then peeked at what I was doing. What's wrong with him ?! Just now when we were staring at each other he was always angry and now arg!
"What!" I moaned and pulled my hand away. His forehead wrinkled.
"Just look." He shrugged his shoulders, when will a to tease ?!
"Don't you have class today ?!"
"Why do you want to know? Do you want to get my sched?" I winced at his promise. Seriously ?! I'm asking him because he's just making trouble!
"Where are you!" I scolded him.
"I am now second year college, engineering is my course." He said out of nowhere, okay who asked?
Why does he seem to be talkative?
"Who asked?" Pambabara ko.
"Woah you're learning already ah." I averted my eyes when he smiled. Lord why is he handsome? Wrong! Focus Ysla!
"So why are you a classmate in a subject? And why did I see you recently?" I bit my lip when I couldn't help but ask. What are you, Ysla!
"So you're interested?" He asked in surprise.
"As if, I was just asking."
"Secret ----" I cut him off
"Did you fail in your first year?" His forehead furrowed again.
"It looks like that already."
"But you look smart, you look like you have a brain ----"
"Everyone has a brain, why don't you?" I frowned when he cut me off.
"That's why you failed! You're a Philosopher!" I was surprised when he laughed, he was still holding his stomach, Am I dreaming? Is he really laughing? Arg!
"You really are! You're a philosopher." Then he mocked. What the? He started to cry with laughter. What's funny about what I said? Did I say it in a wrong way? Isn't it?
"What are you laughing for ?! You're abnormal!" I shouted, little by little he stopped laughing and looked at me again but there was still a smile on his face. Only now did I notice that she had a small dimple on the side of her eye, then she also had a mole under her right lip that added to her beauty. I looked away for a while, I thought I was with him.
"What's your name?" He suddenly asked.
"Why would I tell you?"
"I just want to know." I could see out of the corner of my eyes that he was still looking at me so I couldn't look at him.
I took a deep breath before he answered.
"Laraya Yslavien Villareal." I promise not to look at him.
"I'll call you Ysla then." I looked at him.
"I can't! Only mommy, daddy and Ivan could call me then!" I appealed, his jaw clenched.
"Who's Ivan?" The jaw tightened as he asked.
"H-he's my cousin." I just answered, little by little I saw that the tension in his jaw was disappearing.
"Then I will call you Yslavien." He said seriously while looking into my eyes, I also couldn't take my gaze away from his eyes. I don't know but they seem to be pulling me, this is the best thing to watch for life. Not boring.
"I'd never get tired staring at your beautiful blue eyes." He just said while still looking at me, like he was memorizing my face. Suddenly I felt my chest throb. B-why so much? We only met yesterday or last night!
When I realized, I looked away, at the same time as my cellphone alarmed. The one hour vacant is over, we now have a three hour class in the major.
I adjusted my gear and didn't pay attention to him even though I could still feel his gaze.
I got up and ironed my skirt, so she also stood up with a rag. Maybe Playboy is also a to, so I won't send one like him.
When I thought it was okay I walked away without saying goodbye to him. I don't need that, I don't know him. I just know him by his first name.
"Yslavien!" I stopped when he called me.
"See you around." He promised coldly, I closed my eyes, I don't know if I'll be happy or what. I just shook my head and didn't even look at him to answer. Hays can already leave.
I don't want to see him anymore.
I'm afraid I feel worse when I see him, though we just met.
But while it's still early, I don't want our paths to meet again.