Chapter 6
The New Professor
(Arushi POV)
The cafeteria was buzzing with students, pero wala akong pakialam. Tahimik lang akong kumakain, minding my own business. Citrine was nowhere to be found—most likely hanging out with her friends or causing trouble somewhere.
Not my problem.
I casually poked my food, enjoying the rare peace of eating alone. Pero syempre, hindi nagtagal ang katahimikan.
Napairap ako even before turning my head.
Raegan.
She plopped down beside me, setting her tray down with a loud clunk. Kasunod niya si Forest, who was much calmer but still had that usual smirk on her face.
Forest chuckled, resting her chin on her hand. “Kasi ang saya mong kasama, kaya hinahanap ka namin.”
Raegan leaned in, eyes gleaming with gossip. “So, narinig mo na ba?”
I sighed, already knowing she was about to drag me into something I didn’t care about. “About what?”
I paused, raising a brow. “And?”
Raegan smirked. “Sabi ng mga students, super strict daw. As in, walang patawad sa late, sa tamad, at sa mga walang kwentang estudyante—”
Forest laughed while Raegan gasped. “Grabe ka, Shi! Hindi naman ako ganun ka walang kwenta!”
I shrugged, sipping my drink. “Depende sa araw.”
I rolled my eyes. “So? Ang daming magandang professors.”
Forest smirked, nudging me. “Baka siya na ‘yung tipong magpapakaba ng puso mo, Troney.”
I scoffed. “Sa panaginip niyo.”
Raegan wiggled her eyebrows. “Malay mo, sa panaginip mo rin.”
Napahinto ako saglit.
Because that hit a little too close to home.
The faceless girl in my dreams.
A cold aura. A strong presence. Mysterious.
Could it be—?
No. That’s ridiculous.
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. “Wala akong pake sa new professor na ‘yan. Basta wag lang siyang abala sa akin.”
Raegan smirked. “We’ll see, Shi. We’ll see.”
And for some reason, a weird feeling settled in my gut—one I couldn’t quite explain.
---
We were still eating, surrounded by the usual cafeteria noise—clinking utensils, students chattering, and the occasional burst of laughter from different tables. I was halfway through my meal when I noticed someone approaching from my peripheral vision.
Citrine.
She walked in silently, her usual loud energy completely gone. No unnecessary remarks, no annoying commentary—just her sitting beside me, barely making a sound.
Weird.
I didn’t say anything, though. If she wanted to sulk or act weird, that was her problem. I focused back on my food, casually picking at my meal. Pero syempre, hindi ‘to pinalampas ni Raegan.
Citrine shot her a glare but didn’t say anything.
Forest, who was calmly eating her fries, chuckled. “O baka naman may siningil na utang sa kanya tapos wala siyang pambayad.”
Raegan gasped dramatically. “Oo nga, baka naman tinakbuhan mo na naman ‘yung ex-fling mo.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course this would turn into another Citrine-drama session.
Raegan wiggled her eyebrows. “Aha, guilty!”
Napairap ulit ako. “Raegan, let her eat in peace, please.”
Forest laughed. “Or baka may parating na bagyo—”
Right on cue, someone walked up to our table.
A tall girl with wavy dark hair, expensive-looking clothes, and a very serious expression. She was standing straight, chin slightly raised—obviously trying to keep her composure pero kita sa mata niya na may something siyang gustong sabihin.
And then, she spoke.
I blinked.
Oh.
So ito pala ‘yung dahilan kung bakit ang tahimik ng kakambal ko.
Raegan, of course, loved this. “Oh my God.” She turned to me, pretending to whisper pero lakas naman ng boses. “Shi, drama alert.”
I ignored her, glancing at Citrine instead.
She sighed heavily, looking up at the girl with an almost bored expression. “Ano na naman, Louise?”
Louise.
Ah. Another one of Citrine’s ‘suitors.’
I didn’t know the full details, pero ilang beses ko na ‘tong naririnig from Raegan and Forest. Si Louise, isa sa mga babaeng obviously may gusto kay Citrine. Pero syempre, knowing my twin, she treated it like a game—flirting, getting their attention, and then leaving before it got serious.
Louise frowned. “Can we talk?”
Pero syempre, hindi nagpaawat si Louise. “Citrine, come on. You can’t just ignore me forever.”
At this point, kahit ako naiinis na. Sino bang may gustong maistorbo sa pagkain?
I sighed and finally spoke up. “Louise, pwede ba? Kung breakup scene ‘to, pwede after kumain?”
Louise turned to me, her face slightly red, pero kita pa rin sa mata niya na determinado siya. “I just need a few minutes.”
Raegan snickered beside me. “Damn, Shi. Galit na galit ka lang kapag pagkain mo na ‘yung ginugulo.”
Citrine, on the other hand, sighed again and finally met Louise’s gaze. “Fine. Five minutes. Outside.”
Louise immediately looked relieved. “Okay.”
And with that, she turned and walked away, probably waiting by the cafeteria entrance.
The moment she was gone, Raegan dramatically leaned on the table. “Ang hot ng eksena na ‘yun, ‘di ba?”
Forest nodded. “Parang teleserye.”
Citrine groaned, resting her forehead on the table. “You guys are so annoying.”
Raegan patted her back. “Good luck sa closure mo, bebe.”
I just shook my head, finishing the last of my food. Citrine’s love life was exhausting, and I wasn’t even involved.
And to think, I still had classes to deal with after this.
__
The lecture room was filled with a dull hum of conversations—students chatting, some scrolling through their phones, others half-asleep while waiting for the professor. Nasa usual seat ko lang ako sa likod, feet propped under my desk, arms crossed habang hinihintay matapos ang oras.
Citrine was beside me, mindlessly tapping her pen against her notebook, probably still thinking about that Louise situation. Raegan, on the other hand, was busy doodling something on the corner of her paper, habang si Forest ay mukhang nagbabasa ng syllabus—nerd move, honestly.
Ako? Wala akong pake.
I just wanted to get this class over with.
Then, just as the clock hit the exact time for our class, the door swung open.
And in walked someone… unexpected.
The room instantly fell silent.
I sat up straighter.
A woman stepped inside, exuding authority without even saying a word. Tall, elegant, and intimidating as hell. Her long black hair was neatly tied in a low bun, her dark gray blouse perfectly pressed, and her sharp eyes scanning the room with a chilling gaze.
Cold. Distant. Mysterious.
For some reason, a shiver ran down my spine.
Something about her felt… off.
Or rather—familiar.
I clenched my jaw, trying to shake off the weird feeling crawling up my skin.
Forest adjusted her glasses. “Most likely the new professor.”
Citrine, who was usually loud, was unusually quiet as well, just staring at the woman with furrowed brows.
Then, the professor spoke.
A calm, steady voice—low but firm, filled with authority and a hint of something unreadable.
Carter Celest Haneul.
The name echoed in my mind like a distant memory.
And suddenly, I felt my breath hitch.
No way.
There was no way.
My pulse quickened, my fingers tightening around the edge of my desk.
That name. That presence.
The faceless girl in my dreams.
My world tilted slightly, everything else fading into the background.
And in that moment, I just knew—
This woman wasn’t just any professor.
She was her.
The one who had been haunting my dreams.