Chapter 17
Unexpected Ride
(Arushi POV – Parking Lot, 6 PM)
Nakaupo ako sa waiting shed, halos wala nang tao sa paligid. 6 PM na, and I was still here dahil pinatawag ako ni Professor Hwang kanina tungkol sa event na sasalihan ko.
Napatingin ako sa langit—madilim na at mukhang uulan.
I sighed, shifting in my seat. Ang tahimik na ng campus, halos wala nang estudyanteng naglalakad. Some professors were leaving in their cars, but other than that, wala nang ibang tao.
I checked my phone again—still no response.
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The Sudden Rain
As if on cue, biglang bumagsak ang ulan.
Napailing ako at niyakap ang sarili. Medyo malamig na dahil sa hangin, and I was already regretting not bringing a jacket.
I stared at the rain, watching as it poured heavily sa parking lot. Walang choice kundi maghintay nang nakaupo rito, kahit na unti-unti nang nababasa ang mga sapatos ko sa talsik ng tubig.
---
An Unexpected Arrival
Maya-maya, may isang sasakyan ang huminto sa harapan ko.
At first, akala ko si Mama Primo na.
Pero nang bumaba ang bintana ng sasakyan, napatigil ako.
Professor Haneul.
She was in the driver’s seat, staring at me with her usual serious expression. Kahit madilim na, kitang-kita ko pa rin ang sharp features niya, lalo na ang piercing eyes niya.
Nanigas ako sa kinauupuan ko.
Wait, what? Si Professor Haneul… inaalok akong ihatid?
---
Hesitation
For a few seconds, hindi ako nakasagot.
I mean, this is Professor Haneul we’re talking about. The woman who barely talks to students unless necessary, who walks around campus like she owns the place, and who literally terrifies everyone with her mere presence.
At ngayon, inaalok niya akong sumakay sa sasakyan niya?
Ang weird.
Pero bago pa ako makapag-decide, biglang lumakas ang ulan.
Napamura ako sa sarili. Shit.
It wasn’t just light rain anymore—it was pouring like crazy. Wala akong choice kundi tumayo at lumapit sa sasakyan niya, kahit kinakabahan ako.
Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang passenger door at sumakay. The moment I was inside, napansin ko agad ang amoy sa loob—leather mixed with a hint of perfume.
She didn’t say anything. She just started driving.
---
Silence in the Car
The silence inside the car was so intense na parang mas malakas pa sa ulan sa labas.
I shifted uncomfortably, looking outside the window. Should I say something?
Pero naunahan niya ako.
Napatingin ako sa kanya, but she kept her eyes on the road. Her hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, her posture perfect.
She hummed in response, not really looking interested.
Another awkward silence.
I bit my lip. Tangina, ang weird nito.
Why does she even care? And bakit niya ako pinasakay?
---
A Question I Didn’t Expect
Out of nowhere, she spoke again.
Napatingin ako sa kanya, gulat na gulat.
My heart skipped a beat.
Wait… nakita niya ako kanina?
She was watching me?
She didn’t respond immediately. Pero ramdam ko yung tension sa loob ng sasakyan.
Then, she sighed. “Skipping meals isn’t good.”
Napakurap ako. Is she… worried?
She clicked her tongue, clearly not buying my excuse. “Still the same thing.”
I rolled my eyes. “I ate naman after.”
---
A Strange Conversation
Tahimik ulit.
Pero this time, hindi siya awkward.
I stole a glance at her. She was still so composed, so effortlessly intimidating. Even while driving, parang hindi siya nagfa-flinch.
Napakagat-labi ako. Why the hell did I say that?
Wala akong choice kundi ituloy.
She didn’t answer right away. For a moment, I thought she was going to ignore my question.
Then, she sighed.
That’s it?
Yun lang talaga?
I don’t know why, pero parang hindi ako satisfied sa sagot niya.
Napansin kong saglit siyang lumingon sa akin, her expression unreadable.
Ouch.
I faked a gasp. “Grabe, Prof. So you don’t care at all?”
She scoffed. “You’re my student. Not my responsibility.”
She didn’t say anything, but I swore I saw the corner of her lips twitch.
Parang… ngumiti siya saglit?
Pero bago ko pa iyon ma-confirm, huminto na ang sasakyan.
I blinked, looking outside. Nasa harap na kami ng penthouse.
Damn, that was fast.
---
Before Getting Off
I unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed my bag. “Thanks for the ride, Professor.”
She didn’t respond.
I was about to open the door when she suddenly spoke.
Napalingon ako sa kanya. She was staring straight ahead, hindi ako tinitingnan.
But her words… they felt oddly personal.
I smirked. “Noted, Prof.”
Without waiting for her to say anything else, binuksan ko na ang pinto at lumabas.
Pero habang papasok ako sa penthouse, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
About the way she looked at me.
And most of all…
The fact that she noticed me even when I thought no one was watching.
__
Pagkapasok ko sa penthouse, unang sumalubong sa akin si Citrine.
She was standing by the window, arms crossed, obviously watching me.
Pagkakita niya sa akin, isang knowing smirk agad ang binigay niya.
I rolled my eyes, dropping my bag on the couch. Wala na, naramdaman ko na agad na hindi ako tatantanan nito.
Pero lalo lang siyang lumapit, halatang hindi ako tatantanan.
I sighed in defeat, alam kong wala akong kawala.
Silence.
Napa-stop ako nang marinig ko ang biglang pag-hinga ni Citrine.
And then…
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Citrine Freaks Out
Pero walang pake si Citrine. Literal na halos tumalon siya sa pwesto niya, sabay hawak sa balikat ko at niyugyog ako.
Napahawak pa siya sa dibdib niya as if masyado siyang na-overwhelm sa nalaman niya.
I stared at her, unimpressed. "Anong drama mo diyan?"
Pero hindi pa siya tapos. Lalo pa siyang lumapit at halos dumikit na sa mukha ko.
I sighed, leaning against the counter. Alam kong hindi ako titigilan nito hangga't hindi ko kinukwento.
---
Explaining the Ride
So I told her everything—yung naghintay ako kay Mama Primo, biglang bumuhos ang ulan, and then dumaan si Professor Haneul at pinasakay ako.
Habang nagsasalita ako, nakataas lang ang kilay ni Citrine, halatang may iniisip.
I nodded. "Yeah, ano pa bang dahilan?"
Pero hindi ako sinagot ni Citrine.
Instead, she smirked.
I groaned. Alam kong may iniisip na namang kalokohan ‘to.
Pero naglakad siya papunta sa sofa, sabay bagsak ng sarili niya ro’n habang nakangisi.
Napairap ako. "What the hell, saan banda nakakakilig?!"
She gasped dramatically. "Saan? Sis, binigyan ka niya ng special treatment! Ang daming estudyante sa university, pero ikaw lang ‘yung sinakay niya!"
I turned around and gulped down my water, hoping she wouldn’t notice.
Pero syempre, Citrine being Citrine, napansin niya agad.
---
Trying to Defend Myself
She pointed at me, her smirk growing wider.
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Siraulo, Citrine, ‘wag mo nga akong gaguhin. Wala ‘yon!"
Pero hindi siya nagpatinag. She looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I froze.
Shit.
Bakit ko pa ba binanggit ‘yun?
Her eyes widened in realization. "OH MY GOD!, Arushi, pinapanood ka niya?"
But Citrine was already fake-swooning on the couch like a lovestruck fool.
I groaned, ready to strangle her.
---
The Teasing Continues
For the next five minutes, hindi ako tinigilan ni Citrine.
She kept teasing me, making fake love scenarios about me and Professor Haneul.
I threw a pillow at her. "TARANTADO, CITS, HINDI ‘YON MANGYAYARI!"
"Eh paano kung biglang—"
I threw another pillow.
She dodged it, still laughing like a lunatic.
Pero kahit anong gawin ko… hindi ko maalis sa utak ko ‘yung sinabi niya.
Kahit anong deny ko…
May isang bagay akong hindi matanggap.
Bakit nga ba napansin ako ni Professor Haneul?
And most importantly…
Bakit ko siya iniisip ngayon?