Chapter 22
"Unexpected Trainer"
(Arushi POV – Baek-Costa Penthouse, Bedroom, 11:00 PM)
After that embarrassing video call with my friends, I buried my face in my pillow and groaned.
Those three are never gonna let me live this down.
I shook my head, trying to erase the memory from my mind, then reached for my phone on the bedside table. Maybe checking my messages would distract me.
I scrolled through my notifications, deleting some spam emails and ignoring Citrine’s random TikTok links.
Then—
I froze.
A new message caught my attention.
It was from Professor Hwang.
> Professor Hwang: "Miss Costa, regarding the upcoming event, I have finalized your participation. As for your training, I have assigned you a personal trainer. You will be working under…"
I tapped the message to read more.
And then I gulped.
I re-read the message just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
> "You will be working under Professor Carter Celest Haneul."
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then stared at my phone in pure disbelief.
I could already feel my soul leaving my body.
I threw my phone on the bed and ran my hands through my hair. Out of all the possible trainers in the university—BAKIT SIYA PA?!
Professor Haneul.
The strict, cold, gorgeous, scary as hell Professor Haneul.
I felt my stomach twist into knots.
She’s literally the last person I expected. I thought maybe some random coach or another professor—pero siya talaga?!
I laid back down on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
This was bad.
I could barely breathe properly whenever I was around her in class, and now I had to train under her? Spend more time with her?
Citrine’s voice suddenly broke my thoughts.
I turned my head and saw her standing at my door, munching on a bag of chips, looking at me like I just saw a ghost.
Citrine raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"
I gulped again.
Citrine choked on her chips.
__
"PUTANGINA, ANO?!"
Citrine almost spat out her chips and started coughing like crazy.
After a few seconds, she finally calmed down, pero yung pagkagulat sa mukha niya hindi pa rin nawawala.
Citrine threw herself on my bed, face down, then screamed into my pillow.
I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. "Yun nga iniisip ko eh!"
She lifted her head, eyes wide with excitement. "Grabe, Troney, ang swerte mo!"
I snapped my head towards her.
Citrine sat up, crossing her legs on the bed. "Pero isipin mo, Arushi, one-on-one training 'to. Ibig sabihin, more time with her."
I stared at her, unamused.
She smirked.
I threw a pillow at her face.
She fell back on the bed, laughing her ass off. "Pero seryoso, Troney. Pano mo ‘to haharapin? Lalo na kung di mo kayang mag-concentrate pag andyan siya?"
I sighed, staring at the ceiling.
Just thinking about spending that much time alone with Professor Haneul made my stomach turn.
This was going to be a nightmare.
___
I was laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind stuck on Professor Hwang’s message.
Training… with Professor Haneul.
Putangina.
I turned to my side and hugged my pillow, trying to shake off the anxiety creeping up my spine. My phone was beside me, the screen dimly lit, barely visible against the dark room.
Then, suddenly—
BZZT.
My phone vibrated, the screen lighting up again.
I glanced at it lazily, expecting some random notification from our GC or maybe Citrine sending a stupid meme.
Pero nung nakita ko kung kanino galing yung message…
Professor Carter Celest Haneul.
Omg.
Napaupo ako agad sa kama, my heart beating twice as fast.
What the hell?
Hesitantly, I reached for my phone and clicked the notification.
A direct message.
From her.
> Professor Haneul: Miss Costa. Have you read Professor Hwang’s message?
Napalunok ako.
Okay, calm down, Arushi.
This was just a normal conversation. A professional one.
Yeah, sure.
I took a deep breath before typing a reply.
> Me: Yes, Professor.
A few seconds later, she replied again.
> Professor Haneul: And your decision?
I frowned. Ang bilis naman niya mag-reply. Nakabantay ba siya sa chat?!
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.
> Me: I agreed to join the event.
> Professor Haneul: I see. Then I’ll be in charge of your training.
Alam ko naman na yun, pero nung binasa ko na sa mismong message niya, it felt… different.
Like it was real now.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Ano ba isasagot ko?
> Me: Understood, Professor.
> Professor Haneul: Training starts Monday, 6 AM. Don’t be late.
6 AM?!
Putangina.
> Me: That early, Professor?
> Professor Haneul: Do you have a problem with that, Miss Costa?
Napakurap ako.
Tangina, parang rinig ko boses niya habang binabasa ‘to.
> Me: No, Professor.
> Professor Haneul: Good. Get some rest. You’ll need it.
And just like that, she went offline.
I stared at my screen for a few seconds, processing everything.
Then I fell back on my bed, groaning into my pillow.
Monday was going to be hell.
__
Bedroom, 3:00 AM
I was asleep, but my mind was wide awake.
Again.
The dream.
That same paradise.
The air was warm but comforting. The sky stretched endlessly, a soft gradient of pinks, purples, and golds, like the world had been painted with the colors of a setting sun.
And there she was.
The faceless girl.
She stood by the crystal-clear river, the water reflecting the sky’s glow. She wasn’t looking at me—not that she could, anyway—but something about her posture told me she knew I was here.
This time… she looked happy.
I watched as she twirled slightly, her white dress flowing with the gentle breeze. She reached out to touch the flowers blooming near the riverbank, her delicate fingers brushing against the petals.
Her laughter—soft, almost melodic—filled the air.
Napakurap ako.
She’s never laughed before.
Usually, the dreams were silent or filled with an eerie feeling of longing. But now, she was… different.
"Who are you?" I finally asked, my voice uncertain.
She tilted her head, as if thinking.
Then, she raised her hands and made a small gesture—almost like she was telling me to come closer.
A part of me hesitated.
But my feet moved on their own.
Each step I took, the world around me seemed to shift—the colors grew brighter, the air warmer, the sounds clearer. I could hear the river flowing, the leaves rustling, the distant hum of a song I couldn’t quite recognize.
I stopped a few feet away from her.
She lifted a hand towards me.
I didn’t know why, but my heart started beating faster.
Slowly, I reached out—
Just as my fingers were about to touch hers—
A sudden sharp noise rang through the air.
The dream shattered.
And I woke up.
My breath was uneven, my heart pounding like I had just run a marathon.
I sat up in bed, running a hand down my face.
That dream… it felt too real.
I turned to check my phone. 3:00 AM.
Damn it.
I laid back down, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing.
Who the hell was she?
__