Chapter 3

Chapter 3

My anger didn't subside fast and I even brought it to school. My forehead was all creased when I went inside our first room. I couldn't help but think of him when I saw Kelly formally seated on her seat. I walked towards the seats and sat beside her. She was confused when I faced her.

"What?" she asked with my action.

"What did you like about that guy?" I asked her, remembering what that guy did to me.

"Heron?" she asked with a hint of suspicion. "Well, he's handsome and very passionate with his career. I love seeing him skate like an ice prince."

I saw how her eyes was glinted by light of happiness and she let herself drowned with her dreamy thoughts. Like a dream for her, but whenever I think of him, I see nightmare.

"Well, he's not good. Worst, I can say," I complained. Perhaps it's best to warn her before something causes their paths to collide.

"Why?" she asked, sad and confused.

I was about to answer her with paragraphs of hatred, but the door suddenly opened, showing my friends and Mr. Sarmiento. I almost forgot about him. My friends were smiling while talking to our instructor. They got to talk to him and I didn't! I was pouting when I looked at my friends walking towards our seat. Rita smiled proudly at me, but I only groaned and listened to her faint laughs. Okay, she got it first.

Like the usual, I only stared at him the whole class. That's also the disadvantage of having such a handsome teacher. The discussion becomes useless. I look around and noticed most of the girls also doing the same thing. I guess I'm not alone. We might fail this subject together.

Our classes went on and I did not make an effort to follow the man. I think I need a rest. I love handsome guys, but I love myself more. I have to rest for today, or so I thought.

"Are we going to proofread our work or not?" Fionna suddenly appeared in front of me, asking me such a mood-ruiner question.

"Oh, yeah. And you need to redo your part too. You haven't even cited some references!" I replied, making her masked a poker face.

"Whatever. Let's just do it today. I'll be busy tomorrow." She just left after saying that.

Wow. She really acts like she's the one who contributed a lot to our work. I shook my head and prevented myself from getting tensed up again. Today is my rest day from all the crazy things I do. I just figured I needed one for myself. The plan is still there, I'll just take a break. A new plan, not the last one including that guy. I sighed when I felt that familiar annoyance again.

I ate lunch with my friends and end my day in silence.

"We'll go to Marty's. Aren't you coming?" Rita asked while I'm arranging my things in my bag.

The image of that guy suddenly flashed in my mind when I heard "Marty's".

"No, thanks." My friends were shocked with my sudden tone, so I decided to continue. "I'll be finishing my paperwork with Fionna."

"Oh, good luck with that," Brenda teased. They all know how I was so annoyed with that girl.

"Yeah. I hope I don't explode."

I proceeded to the library when they went out the campus. When I got there, Fionna was already facing her laptop. I walked towards her and put my things on the table.

"I thought you'll choose handsome guys again over paper works," she suddenly blurted out.

I just ignored her and sat in front. When I opened my laptop, I quickly scanned my eyes to my document. I'll start proofreading it now, so I can help her with her part later. This girl only knows nothing but annoy people.

I was busy reading and editing my work when I suddenly noticed her eyes on me.

"What?" I asked, glaring at her.

"Nothing. I just wonder how your three friends are now without you. Who might be their topic?"

My forehead creased at her question.

"Are you implying that my friends like it more when they're without me? And topic? Do you think they're talking about me?" I hissed.

Now, I'm tensed. I don't know what was she thinking to ask such question.

"I just noticed that they looked happier without you yesterday," she said, shrugging my annoyed tone.

I heaved out a sigh, trying to calm myself, before I sat straight and looked at her.

"What are you trying to mean?" I asked in cold expression.

"That eyes might be placed near the brain, but they're still different," she replied.

I gave her a confused look, but she just shrugged and continued encoding on her laptop. I sighed again before standing. I can't stand the sight of this girl. She keeps spewing strange things. As if my friends will betray me.

I decided to just take a walk. Walking along the spaces between each shelves, I graced my hand to every book I'll pass through. It's already evening, so there are only few students in the library, particularly the shelves section. They are all on their own tables, busy doing things. I went to the section that light couldn't reach anymore. I love the darkness. I grew up having darkness as my own comfort. If other people feel safe with light, I feel safe in the dark.

I was walking slowly when my feet suddenly bumped on a hard thing below. I'm pretty sure it's not the shelf anymore. I tried kicking it, only to hear a groan. My eyes widened and I quickly took my phone from my pocket to switch its flashlight on.

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed when the light hit a familiar face. His one eye is closed and the other is half-open while covering his face with his hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said when I noticed how bothered he is with the light.

The zoo in my stomach rejoiced and threw a party for seeing the man here.

"I'm really sorry, sir," I repeated, trying to get a sight of his face despite the darkness.

"It's okay. It's also my fault for sleeping here," he said before I heard a faint chuckle.

Even his chuckle sounds so sexy. It brought so much excitement in me, adding more creatures in my stomach causing so much mayhem.

"I understand, sir. I also like sleeping in the dark. It feels so safe," I initiated to make our conversation longer.

"Really? But other people loves light more. Darkness feels like danger, how can you feel safe with it?" I heard a hint of confusion in his tone. I know. It's also strange.

"Of all the things in this world, darkness is the only one who won't leave us. They hide when we needed light more. But when light gets tired, it remains blinding us from things we shouldn't see. The one we don't like but is always with us," I said, suddenly remembering how darkness has comforted me in my whole life alone.

Silence came after I said those, which made me feel awkward. Did I just kill the chance?

"But yeah, people can like whatever they want," I quickly uttered.

I felt him move, making the shelf creaked a bit.

"That's cool. You like darkness, others don't. Maybe, that's why we have different eyes." I don't know if I'm just too imaginative, but I felt like he's smiling at me. "Anyway, are you in one of my classes?"

"Yes, sir. 8:00 to 9:00 am. Mythology and Folklore," I dictated.

"Oh, then you might want to tell me your name so I could recognize you in our class," he suggested.

I mentally screamed with his suggestion. He just asked my name. I know it's just nothing, but he still asked my name!

"My pleasure, sir. It's Aurora Lynne Lopez, but you can call me Aurora or Rora."

"Or babe," I mentally said and screamed in my own craziness.

"Okay, Rora. See you tomorrow in my class. I think it's time for me to go now," he said. I felt him stood, so I also did.

I slightly bumped at him which made my face heated up and him, chuckling. This was probably one of the most beautiful things that happened in my life.

Even with the annoying face of Fionna, I still head home happily. I was smiling as I got off the taxi. No one could ever change my mood today. Even when a sudden lightning hits me, I'll probably die with a smile. Or so I thought...

Like magic, my mood suddenly changed when I saw a guy, standing in front of our building. His eyes were on the ground, but when he heard the taxi's noise, his eyes swiftly diverted to me. He, then, stood straight.

I marched towards the building and decided to just ignore him. But when I was about to get through, he suddenly grabbed my hand.

"Wait," he said.

I let out a sigh before facing him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, still with my anger.

"I just came to hand you this," he responded, handing me a 300 peso bill. It's my change from yesterday.

I looked at him emptily before grabbing the money.

"How did you know where I live?" I asked when I realized it.

"I asked your friends. They were in the store earlier."

My eyes widened at what he said.

"What did you ask them?" I squealed. He was taken aback because of it.

"I asked where you live?" he answered, confused.

Oh, no. They might misunderstand it.

"Why did you do that?!" I yelled at him.

"To know where you live!" he also yelled back.

I only gritted my teeth and mentally want to punch this guy.

"You could've just handed it to them!"

He halt, unable to say anything. I rolled my eyes on him before marching my way inside our building. Now, how am I going to explain myself to Kelly?

I planned my explanation to Kelly the whole night. I even got just few hours of sleep, thinking I probably hurt Kelly. But when I arrived at school, I heard no complaints from my friends. I just sat beside them and they did not ask anything. I shrugged all the worries away. Of course, how could I think that they will doubt my genuineness?

We fixed ourselves when Mr. Sarmiento entered the room. I immediately smiled and remembered what happened last night. He went to the table in front and placed his book before facing us. He scanned the whole room.

"Aurora Lynne Lopez?" he asked, making my heart raced.

I quickly raised my hand. "Sir."

He, then, turned to me. "Oh, there you are, Rora."

He flashed me a smile, making my knees weakened. If I'm standing right now, I'll probably stumble and fall off the ground. How can his smile be so deadly? I also smiled back, making my classmates groaned. I know they think I did it again. I just ignored them and focused on our instructor instead.

The class ended, but my friend didn't ask anything, even about Sir Keifer's smile. They just smiled and nodded at me when I tried talking to them, which is just their usual selves. I just let it all passed and went on the day.

When our classes for the day ended, I immediately went outside to start walking. My friends also are busy with their papers. We've done ours already, so I decided to just head home. But before that, I want to see him again. I walked in front of the sport's university to see if he's there. I scanned the parking lot, but there's no signs of his car. Maybe, he doesn't really go often here.

I just continued walking until I was near the store. I noticed a man's back in front of the store. With its broad shoulders, clean cut hair, and perfectly ironed clothes, I figured it's Sir Keifer. I guess I'm lucky today.

"Sir!" I called him. When he turned to me, I quickly waved my hand at him. He laughed and also waved his hand.

I smiled while walking towards him. I was in front of him when the annoying guy suddenly went out of the store and approached him. We both exchanged looks, mine is a glare and his is a question.

"Why are you here?" he asked with eyes directed to me.

"Why do you even care?" I shot back before facing Sir Keifer. He was also confused and I caught him staring at the two of us.

"Do you know each other?" he asked.

"NO!" we replied in unison.

I glared at him again before facing back Sir Keifer.

"Why do I feel like you're both lying?" he asked, laughing.

I just smiled at him and prevented myself from taking a glance at the annoying guy beside me.

"What are you doing here, sir?" I asked to change the topic.

"Oh, I only asked Jatt something." He looked at the guy beside me.

"Jatt? I thought his name is Heron?" I asked unconsciously. When I realized my curiosity, I covered my mouth. Too late.

"You want me to explain it to you?" he asked, teasing.

I didn't answer and just ignored him. I focused on Sir Keifer. We talked and he even bought me food. The other guy couldn't bother us because he's tending the store.

"Why do you know that guy, sir?" I asked him when I realized that they might be so closed to each other.

"Nothing. I just happened to know him," he simply answered.

I nodded. Yeah. There's no way they're siblings or cousins. By the looks of that guy, his family probably doesn't know how to be nice. But I remembered his father, Mr. Harry, smiles a lot. Maybe he's adopted? I shook my head from all the crazy thoughts I have.

I saw him looking at his phone. Right! I don't have his number yet. I wonder if it's okay to ask for it. Will he refuse? If he does, will his treatment to me, change? Whatever. It's just a question and the answer will be up to him. Embarrassment is better than regret. Let's get his number!

"Can I a-- ouch!" My words are cut off when something suddenly hit my head.

An empty can of soda was already on the ground. I turned to where it came from and my gut is right. It's that guy again. I gritted my teeth and showed him my fist. He just looked at it without even apologizing. He, then, looked away and continued wiping the tables.

"I'm sorry, Rora, but I have to leave now. There's an emergency. Don't worry. Just eat before you go home, okay?" he said. But because he's in a hurry, he did not even wait for my answer. I only watched as he slowly vanish from my sight.

I turned to the reason why I didn't get my crush's number. He's still wiping the table. I grabbed that opportunity to pick up the empty can beside my feet and threw it to his head. I, being eagle-eyed, hit the bull's eye. He immediately turn to me with furious eyes. I only flipped my hair and walked away carrying all the food Sir Keifer bought.

Serves you right!