Chapter 14
The kitchen was quiet, except for the faint humming of the refrigerator and the occasional clinking of my spoon against my bowl.
I was eating cereal—hindi naman ako gutom, pero I needed something light para magising ako nang maayos.
It was too early.
The sky outside was still a deep shade of blue, and the penthouse felt eerily peaceful.
Citrine was still knocked out in her room, and Mommy Auburn was overseas for her business trip.
Si Mama Primo? Malamang tulog pa rin.
I sighed and took another spoonful of my cereal. Pero habang kumakain ako, biglang pumasok sa isip ko si Professor Hwang.
"Shi..."
I put down my spoon and leaned back in my chair.
She told me yesterday na gusto niya akong sumali sa isang event. Something related sa Architecture Department, pero hindi ko masyadong naintindihan kasi I was too distracted.
I think it was some sort of competition? Or conference?
I groaned, rubbing my temples.
Do I even want to join?
Honestly, hindi naman ako mahilig sa mga ganun. I preferred to keep my head down, do my work, and go home. Hindi ako yung tipo na sasali sa mga events para lang makilala or to prove something.
Pero si Professor Hwang, she was persistent.
Noong sinabi niyang gusto niya akong makausap kahapon, I thought it was about grades or something related to the subject.
Pero hindi.
She wanted me to represent something.
Parang may tiwala siya sa skills ko—more than I actually had in myself.
But do I even want this?
I tapped my fingers against the table, thinking hard.
---
6:15 AM – Still in the Kitchen
I was almost done eating when my phone vibrated on the table.
A notification.
I picked it up and checked.
Professor Hwang: Miss Costa, have you decided yet? The deadline for registration is today. I need your answer before noon.
Damn.
That was fast.
Parang naramdaman niyang iniisip ko siya.
I stared at the message for a few seconds, trying to decide kung ano ang ire-reply ko.
I could just say no and be done with it.
Pero…
Something was bothering me.
Bakit ba ang big deal sa kanya na ako yung sumali?
Sure, I was good at architecture, pero hindi lang naman ako ang magaling. There were plenty of other students who were more active and willing to join these things.
So bakit ako?
I sighed, typing a reply.
Me: I’m still thinking about it, Professor. Can I give my answer later?
After a few seconds, she replied immediately.
Professor Hwang: Of course. But don’t take too long. This could be a great opportunity for you.
I stared at her message.
Opportunity, huh?
I wasn’t sure if I cared about that.
But maybe… just maybe… I should give this a chance.
---
6:30 AM – Still in the Kitchen
I finished my cereal and stood up, rinsing my bowl in the sink.
My mind was still conflicted, pero at least now, I was actually considering it.
Napatingin ako sa hallway leading to Citrine’s room.
She was still asleep.
Pero knowing her, sigurado ako na may opinion siya dito kapag sinabi ko sa kanya.
And knowing her even more…
She’s probably going to tease me about it.
I rolled my eyes at the thought.
Then, just as I was about to head back to my room—
I heard footsteps.
I turned, expecting to see Citrine.
But instead—
Mama Primo walked into the kitchen, looking half-asleep.
She was wearing pajamas, her hair was a mess, at parang lutang pa rin siya sa antok.
She yawned and lazily stretched. "Shi… ang aga mo naman?"
I shrugged. "Couldn’t sleep well."
She walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. "Hmm? Bakit? Iniisip mo na naman yung faceless girl mo?"
I blinked.
She smirked while taking a sip. "Yung weird mong panaginip. You always look stressed after waking up, kaya I figured."
I rolled my eyes and leaned against the counter. "I don’t even know why I keep dreaming about her. It’s weird."
I frowned.
Not this again.
She always had these weird theories whenever I brought up my recurring dreams.
She smirked again. "Or maybe… you just need to get laid."
I choked on air.
She laughed. "I mean, come on. Maybe yung faceless girl mo is just your subconscious telling you na may dapat kang gawin. Maybe you need to loosen up."
I groaned, rubbing my face. "This is exactly why I don’t tell you things."
I frowned.
Step out of my comfort zone?
I crossed my arms. "What do you mean?"
She smirked. "Ano pa? Yung event na sinasabi ni Professor Hwang."
I froze.
How the hell did she know about that?
She chuckled at my expression. "Citrine mentioned it to me last night."
Of course, she did.
I sighed. "And?"
I raised a brow. "You? Encouraging me to do something serious?"
She laughed. "Don’t get me wrong. I don’t care about the event. But if it means you’ll stop acting like a robot and actually experience something new? Then why not?"
I stared at her.
Was I really that predictable?
She grinned. "Troney, seriously. You’re good at what you do, pero minsan parang wala kang pakialam. Maybe this is the push you need."
I bit my lip, thinking.
I hated to admit it, but maybe she had a point.
Maybe… this was a chance for me to try something different.
I sighed, grabbing my phone again.
Professor Hwang was waiting for my answer.
And I think…
I finally had one.
__
Nakatayo lang ako sa gilid ng parking lot, nakasandal sa isang poste habang hinihintay ang mga tigang kong kaibigan.
Kanina pa sila nag-message sa group chat na malelate sila. As usual.
Citrine? Ewan. Baka kasama na naman ang tropa niya.
Ako naman? Nandito, nag-aantay.
Wala pa rin si Professor Haneul, so may extra time pa bago pumasok sa klase.
The morning breeze was cool, and the campus was just starting to fill with students. Some were rushing to their classes, others were just arriving.
Tumingin ako sa relo ko.
9:05 AM.
Napabuntong-hininga ako.
Seriously, ganito na ba kaaga pero late pa rin ang mga yun?
I was about to check my phone again when I heard the distinct sound of heels clicking against the pavement.
My eyes drifted towards the entrance ng parking lot.
And there she was.
Professor Carter Celest Haneul.
She had just stepped out of her car.
Napatigil ako.
Damn.
Ang effortless niyang tignan.
She was wearing a fitted black blouse tucked into high-waisted slacks, with sleek heels na parang hindi man lang natatakot sa uneven pavement ng parking lot.
Her long, jet-black hair was neatly tied in a low ponytail, and her signature cold, sharp gaze scanned the area as she locked her car.
I thought lagi siyang maaga?
I narrowed my eyes, curious.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero napako na lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko, staring.
Admiring her whole existence.
May kakaiba sa presence niya—parang kahit nasa isang crowded place, she still stood out.
Nakakabaliw.
---
9:07 AM - Still in the Parking Lot
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and started walking towards the building.
Ang ganda ng postura niya, ang graceful ng paglalakad niya.
Seryoso ba ‘to?
Bakit parang slow motion?
Damn.
Napansin ko na lang na sobrang titig na pala ako.
I quickly looked away, pretending to check my phone.
Pero out of curiosity, I stole another glance.
Too late.
Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin.
My breath hitched.
She saw me staring.
Napatigil siya sa paglalakad for a fraction of a second.
Pero instead of looking away—she held my gaze.
Napakagat ako sa labi, feeling my heartbeat pick up.
Her expression was unreadable.
Hindi ko alam kung nairita ba siya?
O napansin niyang parang na-hypnotize ako sa presence niya.
Pero then—she did something unexpected.
She smirked.
Putangina.
---
9:08 AM - Unexpected Interaction
I wasn’t prepared for that.
My grip on my phone tightened.
Ano ‘yon?!
Did she just smirk at me?
Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko, so I played it cool.
Kunwari hindi ako naapektuhan.
I crossed my arms, leaned back sa poste, and raised a brow.
Parang sinasabi ko, So what kung nakatingin ako? May problema?
Pero deep inside, hindi ko na alam ang ginagawa ko.
Professor Haneul, still smirking, continued walking.
Pero habang dumadaan siya sa harapan ko—
She spoke.
Shit.
Ang lamig ng boses niya pero may something doon na parang… teasing?
Lalo akong napatayo ng maayos.
I cleared my throat. "Good morning, Professor," I said casually, pretending na hindi ako affected.
She gave me a knowing look before walking past me towards the building.
I exhaled sharply.
Holy. Shit.
Ano ‘yon?!
---
9:10 AM - Kaibigan Kong Tigang
As if on cue, dumating na ang mga hayop kong kaibigan.
Raegan, Forest, at Min-Jae—lahat sila may kanya-kanyang dalang kape.
I was still recovering from that Haneul encounter, pero hindi nila ako binigyan ng chance na mag-process.
Forest, as always, napaka-observant.
She smirked.
Raegan gasped. "Wait lang. Sino kausap mo?!"
Napailing ako. "Wala, gago."
But then, Raegan followed my line of sight—towards the entrance kung saan kakapasok lang ni Professor Haneul.
Forest’s eyes widened. "HOLY SHIT, ARUSHI. DON’T TELL ME—"
Min-Jae grinned. "Nag-usap kayo ni Professor Haneul?!"
Min-Jae looked at me knowingly.
Raegan gasped again, extra dramatic.
I frowned. "Paano niya ako tinignan?"
Forest smirked. "Parang may something."
I scoffed. "Pucha, imagination niyo lang ‘yon."
Pero tangina, tama ba sila?
Raegan suddenly grinned. "GIRL. I swear, that smirk was dangerous."
Min-Jae crossed her arms. "So ano, Shi? Do you find her attractive?"
Napaatras ako. "Ano?!"
Forest snickered. "Don’t ‘ano’ us. Answer the question."
I felt my cheeks heat up.
Raegan and Forest squealed.
I groaned. "Ewan ko sa inyo!"
Pero kahit anong deny ko…
May something talaga kay Professor Haneul.
And maybe—just maybe—this was just the beginning.