Chapter 28
(Arushi POV)
It’s 6 PM, and Citrine and I are here at the waiting shed, waiting for Auntie Amber to pick us up.
The sun is setting, casting a warm, golden glow across the university grounds.
The air is cool, with a light breeze rustling the leaves of the trees nearby.
Tahimik lang kami ni Citrine, both staring into the distance, watching students leave one by one.
Citrine let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Obvious naman. Alam mo naman yung tatlong yon, wild pag weekend.” She stretched her arms at tumingin sa akin. “Ikaw ba? No plans? No girls to meet?”
I rolled my eyes. “Hay, naku, Trine. Huwag mo na akong isama sa kalokohan niyo.”
She smirked. “Pero seryoso, troney. Since Margarette kissed you, feeling ko may madadagdag na sa listahan ng admirers mo.”
I sighed. “Wala akong pake.”
Citrine nudged my side, grinning. “Weh? Sabihin mo nga, kung si Professor Haneul ang gumawa non, magrereact ka rin ba ng ganyan?”
Napatingin ako sa kanya, trying to keep a straight face, pero alam kong nagpipilit lang ako. She burst out laughing. “troney, ang pula ng mukha mo!”
I turned my gaze back to the street, wishing Auntie Amber would arrive already. But deep inside, may tumatakbo pa rin sa isip ko. The dream. The faceless girl. And… Haneul.
Bakit ba hindi ko maalis sa isip ko si Professor? Lalo na ‘yung moment sa gym kanina. The way she looked at me after seeing Margarette kiss me. She asked me if Margarette was my girlfriend. Why did she care? Does she…
No. Stop, Arushi.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
Citrine noticed and leaned closer, resting her chin on my shoulder. “Anong iniisip mo?”
I sighed. “It’s nothing, Trine. Just tired.”
She hummed, clearly not convinced, pero hindi na rin siya nagtanong pa.
Biglang may nag-vibrate sa phone ko. I pulled it out and saw a notification. A message from…
Professor Haneul.
“Miss Costa, have you completed your research for tomorrow’s discussion? I expect you to be prepared.”
I swallowed hard. Bakit kahit simpleng message lang parang may tension? Maybe it’s just me overthinking.
I quickly typed a reply.
“Yes, Professor. I’ll be ready.”
Halos isang segundo lang, may reply agad siya.
“Good.”
I stared at the screen for a moment, unsure how to feel. Then, Citrine peeked at my phone and saw the name.
I pulled my phone away. “Ano namang paki mo?”
She grinned teasingly. “Ang defensive mo, ha! Bakit ka kinakabahan?”
I groaned and leaned my head back against the waiting shed post. “Citrine, please lang.”
Before she could tease me again, a black luxury car pulled up in front of us. Auntie Amber’s.
Sa wakas.
Citrine immediately stood up and stretched. “Tara na, baka sipain tayo ni Auntie Amber kung magtagal pa tayo dito.”
I followed her inside the car, sliding into the passenger seat while Citrine sat at the back. Auntie Amber was, as usual, expressionless as she drove. She looked at us through the rearview mirror.
Citrine groaned. “Ugh, ang tagal pa. Gutom na ako.”
Auntie Amber ignored her complaints, keeping her eyes on the road. I leaned against the window, watching the city lights blur as we passed by.
Napalingon ako kay Auntie Amber. “Yes?”
She glanced at me briefly before focusing back on the road. “Your professor. The one handling your event training. Do you trust her?”
Nagulat ako sa tanong niya. “I mean… yeah? She’s strict pero she knows what she’s doing.”
Auntie Amber nodded slowly, as if analyzing my answer.
I raised a brow. “Define ‘interesting.’”
Auntie Amber smirked slightly. “Cold. Reserved. Pero sharp. Like someone I know.”
I blinked. “Are you talking about yourself?”
Citrine burst out laughing at the backseat. “Troney, ikaw rin kaya!”
I groaned. “Ugh, not this again.”
Auntie Amber didn’t say anything, pero I could tell she was amused.
We drove in silence for a while. I checked my phone again. My fingers hovered over Professor Haneul’s chat window, pero hindi ko alam kung anong gusto kong sabihin.
Instead, I closed the app and leaned back.
May kung anong dumadagundong sa dibdib ko, pero hindi ko pa alam kung bakit.
And it scared me a little.
---
We’re still stuck in traffic. The red brake lights from the cars ahead illuminate the darkening streets, making the whole scene look like a river of molten lava.
I sighed and leaned against the window, staring outside.
Ang daming tao sa sidewalk, students, employees, random pedestrians walking past each other.
Some are in a hurry, some are just leisurely strolling, and some—
My breath hitched.
Among the sea of people, may isang pamilyar na figure na nakatayo sa may streetlamp, her posture straight, arms crossed, her dark eyes scanning the crowd. My heart skipped a beat.
Professor Haneul.
She’s wearing a fitted black turtleneck and slacks, her long hair tied in a neat ponytail. Kahit nasa malayo siya, her presence is striking. She looks like she doesn’t belong in the chaotic flow of people. She’s just… standing there, observing.
Napakurap ako. Is it really her?
I turned to look at her. She's slumped dramatically, clutching her stomach. "Auntie Amber, can we stop by somewhere? Kahit drive-thru lang."
Auntie Amber, na mukhang walang pake sa traffic or Citrine’s hunger, simply said, “No.”
I was about to respond when something pulled my attention again. I turned back to the window, looking at the same spot where I saw Professor Haneul.
She’s gone.
What?
Napatingin ako sa paligid, searching for any sign of her. Wala na talaga. It’s like she disappeared in an instant. My brows furrowed. Did I just imagine it?
I shook my head. “Wala.”
She pouted. “Hmp. Sana pinigilan mo na yang ‘wala mo’ at inuna mo gutom ko.”
I rolled my eyes and turned back to the window, pero this time, I didn’t see anything strange. Just the usual busy streets of the city.
Maybe I really was imagining things.
Or maybe…
She saw me first.
---
The car finally moved after what felt like an eternity. By the time we reached the penthouse, Citrine practically jumped out of the car, rushing inside. “I swear, I’m never skipping lunch again!”
I walked in behind her, taking my time. Auntie Amber locked the door behind us, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room like she was checking for intruders. Typical.
Citrine rushed to the kitchen, pulling out snacks while muttering something about starvation. I sighed, heading straight to my room.
As soon as I closed my door, I leaned against it, taking a deep breath. The image of Professor Haneul standing on that sidewalk kept replaying in my mind.
Bakit siya nandun? At bakit parang ang bilis niyang nawala?
I pulled out my phone, my thumb hovering over our chat. Hindi ko alam kung anong gusto kong gawin—ask her if she was really there or just ignore it.
In the end, I locked my phone and tossed it on my bed.
I lay down, staring at the ceiling. Maybe I was just overthinking. Maybe it was just some random woman who looked like her.
Maybe.
Pero bakit may part sa akin na sigurado akong siya yun?
And why do I feel like she saw me too?
---