Chapter 9
(Arushi POV – Kitchen, Baek-Costa Penthouse)
I sat at the kitchen counter, silently eating my dinner. It was already past 8 PM, and the penthouse was quiet except for the faint sound of the TV from the living room where Mama Primo was watching something.
I stabbed my fork into my food, chewing slowly. Matamlay akong kumakain, not because I wasn’t hungry, but because my mind was still a mess.
Then, out of nowhere, Citrine walked in, sipping on a cup of milk tea like she didn’t just come home late.
I blinked at her. "Akala ko nasa bahay ka na kanina."
She smirked, setting her drink down on the counter. "I messaged Mama Primo na late ako umuwi. Di mo lang binasa messages mo."
I rolled my eyes. "Obviously."
She hopped onto one of the stools, stretching her arms. "Grabe, I’m so tired. Pero worth it ‘yung gala namin ni Min-Jae. Ang dami naming napag-usapan."
I raised a brow. "About what? Kung paano niyo pagtritripan ‘yung mga lalaki sa uni?"
She laughed. "Medyo."
I sighed, shaking my head. "Hindi ka pa ba nagsasawa sa ganyan?"
She gave me a look. "Excuse me, Troney, pero hindi lang ako puro laro, okay? I have depth."
I scoffed. "Sure."
She smirked, taking another sip of her milk tea before tilting her head at me. "Ikaw, anong pinagkakaabalahan mo? I swear, lagi ka lang nasa kwarto mo. Minsan feeling ko may tinatago kang jowa."
I deadpanned. "As if."
She cackled. "What? Totoo naman! Parang may tinatago kang secret love life d’yan sa kwarto mo."
I groaned, stabbing my food harder than necessary. "I swear, Citrine, minsan gusto kitang idispatsa."
I ignored her, focusing back on my food. But she wasn’t done.
I sighed. "Ano na naman ‘to?"
She leaned forward. "‘Yung professor natin."
I tensed.
But I recovered quickly, rolling my eyes. "What about her?"
Citrine wiggled her brows. "Kita ko ‘yung tingin mo sa kanya, Troney."
I gave her a blank look. "anong tingin?"
She gasped dramatically. "Oh my God, defensive ka agad?!"
I groaned, dropping my fork onto my plate with a loud clatter. "Can you shut up?"
She grinned. "Okay, okay, pero seryoso, bakit siya?"
I stared at her, not knowing how to respond.
Because she wasn’t exactly wrong.
But it wasn’t like that.
I wasn’t interested in Professor Haneul in a romantic way.
At least, I thought I wasn’t.
It was more of… curiosity. A weird, nagging feeling that I knew her from somewhere.
And that feeling wouldn’t go away.
I snapped back to the present, scowling. "tumigil ka nga."
She snickered, standing up and grabbing her milk tea. "Okay, okay, I’ll leave you alone… for now."
I sighed in relief. "Thank you."
She walked towards the door but paused. "Pero Troney~"
I glared at her. "Ano na naman?"
She smirked. "If ever magka-crush ka kay Professor, let me know ha?"
And with that, she left, laughing.
I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
This was going to be a long night.
___
I was lying on my bed, mindlessly scrolling through my phone. Social media, to be exact. Nothing new. Just the usual—people oversharing their lives, aesthetic food pictures, and some random memes.
Then, a notification popped up.
Ding!
A message from the group chat.
I tapped it out of boredom.
Raegan, Forest, and Min-Jae were talking about something. I scrolled up a bit to see what the fuss was about.
Then I saw a link.
I frowned. Ano na naman ‘tong trip ng mga ‘to?
Curious, I clicked the video.
It loaded for a second before playing.
Then I saw it.
Biglang lumaki ‘yung mata ko.
I instantly exited the video.
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
It was porn.
Not just any porn.
Some weird-ass amateur porn na hindi ko na gustong balikan.
I stared at my phone, horrified. Bakit ko pa kasi pinanood yun?!
Then the group chat blew up.
I groaned, slamming my face into my pillow. "Bwisit talaga."
Then, another message popped up.
I rolled my eyes.
I sighed. Wala na talaga ‘tong tatlo.
Me: "siraulo ba kayo, next time wag niyo akong isama sa kababuyan niyo."
I groaned again, tossing my phone to the side.
Why was I even friends with these idiots?
I laid back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Bakit ba ako nagpadala sa curiosity ko? Dapat talaga natulog na lang ako.
The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner. I sighed, trying to erase the image from my head.
But then, my thoughts drifted.
To her.
The faceless girl in my dreams.
The way she made me feel. The way she always seemed so familiar yet so distant.
And then, there was Professor Haneul.
I clenched my jaw.
What the fuck was happening to me?
I turned over, burying my face in my pillow.
Tomorrow was another day.
For now, I just needed to sleep.
__
Everything was quiet.
No sound, no people, just me standing in an empty space.
It was dark, but not in a scary way. More like… calm. Peaceful. But at the same time, unsettling.
I looked around, trying to find anything familiar.
Then I saw her.
The faceless girl.
Standing a few meters away from me, her figure was just as I remembered—tall, elegant, and wrapped in an aura that felt both distant and intimate. Parang kilala ko siya, pero hindi ko siya matandaan.
She took a step closer.
I should’ve been scared, but I wasn’t.
I wanted to see her.
She tilted her head slightly, as if amused by my question.
Her face—still blurred, still unknown—remained a mystery.
Then, she spoke.
My breath hitched.
Her voice was soft but firm, like a whisper that demanded attention.
She didn't answer.
Instead, she reached out.
My body stiffened as her fingers—cold yet familiar—grazed my cheek.
A shiver ran down my spine.
It felt real.
Too real for a dream.
She hummed, like she was thinking. "Maybe because you already know the answer."
My brows furrowed. "Anong sagot?"
I frowned. "Tangina, bakit puro riddles?"
She let out a soft chuckle.
Then, suddenly—
She was gone.
Like smoke fading into the air.
And I was alone again.
The silence felt heavier.
Then—
A whisper.
Right by my ear.
---
I gasped, bolting upright in bed.
My heart was pounding.
My room was dark, illuminated only by the faint glow of my bedside lamp. I looked around, trying to shake off the lingering sensation of her touch on my cheek.
I exhaled sharply, rubbing my face.