CHAPTER 2

My cheeks were burning in both embarrassment and frustration. I misjudged him. He was not looking at my chest, but the lace that shows I'm from the Architecture department. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko habang mariin na nakatingin sakaniya. I was about to shot back when someone walked between us.

"Excuse," It was Ismael, a student from Engineering department. "Buti umabot!"

My lips parted when he took the last can of coffee from the machine and everything moved slower. Umangat ang kamay ko, gustong abutin 'yon nang marinig ko ang pagsirit ng lata. He got it first.

"ISMAEL!" I screamed. "That was mine."

Kunot-noong sumulyap ito sa'kin habang nakalapat ang labi ng lata sa sakaniya. My shoulder fell before turning back my gaze to the man who caused me to not get the coffee. I was about to argue with him again when my eyes widened and watched him take the energy drink from the machine. He glanced at me and smirked, raising his canned beverage before drinking on it without taking his eyes off from mine.

"Energy drinks are good," He raised a brow. I watched him tuck his tongue out and licked his lower lip after taking a sip from his drink. He looked manly enough to take anyone's attention. Kung hindi pa siya nagsalita ay baka tuluyan ko nang nakalimutan na siya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ko nakuha ang kapeng hinabol ko pa talaga. "But his drink seems better, you should've tried it."

I opened my lips to throw him another ball of argument, but I chose to shut them and glared at him instead before turning my gaze at Ismael. That was when I realized that Ismael has mild caffeine sensitivity.

"Do you have death wishes?" I asked. "That's coffee, dimwit."

"Pinaganda mo pa, sana sinabi mo na lang na walang utak. Tinakbo ko pa nga 'to galing sa kabilang building," He raised the empty can before crumpling it. "Ito lang kasi ang decafe coffee dito."

Bumilog ang mga mata ko when I realized what he just stated. Ismael has caffeine sensitivity, but he can drink coffee with low caffeine content. That means I argued with a stranger over a decafe coffee. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Ismael sa aming dalawa.

I noticed the stranger holding his laugh, I scoffed before stomping my feet to leave them.

"Huy, coffee-addict!" Ismael chased me. I glared at him while walking with my heavy feet.

"Bakit ka nandito? Nagcucutting ka na naman siguro."

"Sobrang nakaka-hurt talaga," He held his chest, acting in pain. "May seminar daw sa AVR, kasabay ng Engineering department ang Architecture."

After the class in AD-7, Mrs. Montevero left the studio earlier than the usual dismissal. I was finalizing the proposal of MALAYA for the upcoming event when the class secretary announced that there will be a seminar in the audio-visual room at ten o'clock this morning.

"Tungkol daw saan?" I asked Ismael.

"I have no idea," He shrugged. "Pero ang usap-usapan sa building namin ay students from Aurelia University of Medicine daw ang speakers."

The students from school of architecture, computing, and engineering were gathered inside the audio-visual room. My eyes caught a hand waving in the air, it was Naiah. Ismael followed my steps when I started walking to sit with my friends. Inunahan ako nitong humila ng upuan at nagsimula nang gumawa ng ingay.

"Hi, Naiah," He greeted. "Naiah puso kita palagi."

Mabilis na nalukot ang mukha ni Naiah habang nakatingin sakaniya. She raised her middle finger in eye-level of Ismael.

"Alam mo, awang-awa na ako sayo. Araw-araw bang mais ang almusal mo?" She scoffed.

"Hala?" Ismael acted to cry before looking at me. "Ikaw siguro ang virus, Celeste. Nainfect mo ng kasamaan ng ugali ang mga kaibigan mo."

I balled my fist before lifting it. Masamang tingin ang ibinigay ko sakaniya. He rolled his eyes before looking back at Naiah.

"Hindi kasi kayo laking Nido kaya hindi kayo protektado sa virus." He murmured.

Akala niya siguro ay walang nakarinig sakaniya, ngunit masama na ang tingin sakaniya ni Naiah habang si Hailey naman ay abala sa pagtitipa sa cellphone niya.

"Umisa ka pa, isesemento ko na 'yang bibig mo." Naiah threatened him.

I bit my lower lip to refrain myself from laughing. Mukha itong seryoso kaya hindi na nakasagot si Ismael. I just tucked my tongue out to tease the guy.

It did not take long enough for the seminar to begin. I opened my notebook to start jotting down notes about the topic. The speaker introduced himself as the professor in Community and Preventive Medicine class which is an elective subject of third year students in AUM. Ten minutes have passed, and three men joined him on the speaker's floor. I was about to return my eyes on my notebook when I noticed a familiar figure standing among the four speakers in front.

It was the stranger I met earlier. Unlike in the hallway, he stood beneath the harsh fluorescent lights in a crisp white coat and a black, metal-framed specs. Ngayon ko lang napagmasdan nang mas malinaw at mas maayos ang itsura nito. The shining outline of the frames from the light that hits his skin made his features even sharper, but more unreadable. He seems neat and clinical, way too composed. Dangerous in a way that wasn't violent, but playful.

Despite the distance, his eyes found me, and I felt tugged at something nameless. He introduced himself along with the collaborative project that they are proposing to the SACE department. A playful smirk suddenly appeared on his lips but faded in a snap as if he never did. I'm certain about one thing. He has the power to silence a room and rob everyone's attention like a thief. The kind that could tighten a chest with one's breath held.

Cairo Zeidan Altamirano. A third-year student in doctor of medicine program from a medical school. He ranked 1st in Medical Technology Licensure Examination and earned the 98th percentile rank in National Medical Admission Test.

When his eyes returned to me, I smirked and stared back. Something strange knocked on my head, and my mood suddenly changed. I shifted in my seat, forcing my eyes to focus on the projector screen, on the lines, the sketches, the medical outlines of his proposal. Anything, but him.

I succeeded in shifting my attention to something else. My fingers curled around my pen tighter, jotting down notes I might need onwards.

"This proposal invites architecture students to take part in designing low-cost, eco-friendly mobile clinics and student wellness centers, with the goal of addressing healthcare accessibility in underserved communities." He explained. "We believe that healing is not solely a medical responsibility, but a shared vision that begins with inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered design. We envision and hope to build alongside the brilliant minds of Casa Estrella's architecture community."

"Saan tayo maglulunch?" Naiah asked after the seminar.

"We have 3 hours of vacant. I'll meet with a friend first." I informed them. "You should take your lunch first. I'll be back before class."

"Hala, ako rin! Sabay na tayong lumabas. I'm going to Wade's place." Mabilis na lintaya ni Hailey nang maibaba ang cellphone. "Kayong dalawa na lang ang magsabay." She told the two.

"I want to eat at peace." Naiah rolled her eyes, then looked at Ismael.

"Try mo sa langit. P'wede ka pang magrest in peace pagkatapos kumain." Sabat ni Ismael. I just sighed and held my temple. "Kaso sayang, hindi ka qualified doon."

"Excuse me?" Naiah raised a brow. "Mawala ka lang sa paningin ko, mapayapa na."

"What?" Ismael asked. Nang uulitin na sana ni Naiah ang sinabi niya ay muling nagsalita si Ismael. "Whatawat. W******p. Whatson. Whattatops."

The two did not stop arguing until a student approached me. Ipinapatawag daw ako ni Ma'am Sandoval sa office nito. I left Hailey with the two kid-headed. Nang makarating na ako sa tapat ng opisina ay dahan-dahan akong kumatok, binuksan ko lamang ito nang may sumagot mula sa loob.

I entered the office and formally greeted Ma'am Sandoval before the other two professors. As the head of MALAYA organization, I was called to discuss the proposal of those students from medical school. Pinakinggan ko nang maayos ang nagsasalita habang pasulyap-sulyap sa notebook na sinusulatan ko. This will be needed once I gather my members to plan for the project.

Sa muling pag-angat ko ng mga mata ko ay halos bumilog ang mga ito kasabay nang pag-awang ng mga labi ko. Zeidan was tightly seated on the couch behind our table. He was discussing the same project to the two other students rested in each single couch beside his seat. His eyes were piercing through mine, and he was not shocked to see me as if he's been watching me since I stepped in this room.

I was being watched all this time.