Chapter 5: Ang University Gala

The Grand Ballroom of the university’s heritage hall was a sea of crystal chandeliers, smooth classical music, and the low, sophisticated hum of elite donors and faculty members. For the College of Architecture, tonight was the biggest fundraising event of the year. Every professor was expected to attend, and a select few honor students were invited to act as student ambassadors.

"Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit ako pumayag na sumama sa 'yo rito," bulong ni Zelyth habang inaayos ang dulo ng kanyang asul na gown sa gilid ng isang malaking haligi. "Pakiramdam ko, anytime, hihingan ako ng mga matatandang 'to ng architectural layout ng sementeryo nila."

Lauren laughed softly, sipping from her glass of sparkling water. "Zelyth, mag-enjoy ka na lang. Masarap ang catering, at bihira nating makitang hindi mukhang haggard ang mga tao sa department."

Lauren herself was wearing a sleek, minimalist emerald green evening dress. It wasn't overly grand, but the clean lines of the fabric accentuated her height and athletic frame. Her long dark hair was styled in soft waves falling over one shoulder, a stark contrast to her usual messy bun during frantic studio nights.

Habang nagkukwentuhan sila ni Zelyth, biglang natahimik ang paligid ng main entrance ng ballroom. Lauren turned her head, following the gazes of the crowd.

Professor Anne Clair Montgomery had just arrived.

Lauren’s breath caught in her throat. Anne was wearing a breathtaking black velvet floor-length gown with a subtle, elegant off-the-shoulder neckline. Her dark hair was styled in an immaculate, sophisticated chignon, showcasing the sharp, aristocratic slope of her jaw and her pale, flawless skin. She wore a simple diamond necklace that caught the light of the chandeliers with every movement. She looked regal, untouchable, and utterly devastating.

"Grabe," bulong ni Zelyth, na halatang napatulala rin. "Si Professor Montgomery ba talaga 'yan? Para siyang vampire queen na ready bumili ng buong unibersidad."

Lauren couldn't take her eyes off her. In the dark basement archive, Anne looked human and vulnerable. But tonight, in her natural element of wealth and prestige, she was a goddess. Lauren watched as the Dean and several high-profile real estate moguls immediately flocked to Anne, eager to get her attention. Anne handled them with effortless grace, offering polite smiles and witty, sharp responses, but her eyes remained characteristically guarded.

As the night progressed, Lauren found herself trapped in a conversation with a wealthy alumnus who kept talking about his real estate investments in Manila. While nodding politely, Lauren’s eyes subconsciously tracked Anne across the ballroom.

Suddenly, as if feeling the weight of Lauren's stare, Anne turned her head.

Across the crowded room, through the sea of tuxedos and gowns, their eyes met.

Anne’s expression frozen for a split second. Her gray eyes swept down to take in Lauren’s green dress, lingering on the exposed collarbones before meeting Lauren's gaze again. The intense, unreadable stare lasted for what felt like an eternity, completely erasing the noise of the ballroom around them. Then, Anne gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod of her head before turning back to the donor beside her.

Lauren’s heart hammered furiously against her ribs. She excused herself from the alumnus and walked toward the open terrace at the side of the ballroom, needing fresh air.

The terrace was empty, illuminated only by the soft moonlight and the distant amber lights of the campus gardens. The cool night breeze instantly washed over Lauren’s warm skin, calming her erratic pulse. She leaned against the cold marble balustrade, looking out at the dark trees.

"The emerald green suits you, Miss Miller."

Lauren jumped slightly, turning around. Anne was standing at the entrance of the terrace, her black velvet gown absorbing the shadows of the night. She held a glass of champagne in her hand, her posture as elegant as a statue.

"Professor," Lauren whispered, her voice carrying a sudden nervous tremor. "Hindi niyo po ba kasama ang mga donors sa loob?"

"Masyadong maingay," sagot ni Anne, habang dahan-dahang naglalakad patungo sa pwesto ni Lauren. The clicking of her heels against the stone floor felt dangerously intimate. She stopped right beside Lauren, leaning her side against the balustrade, looking at the younger woman rather than the view. "They don't care about architecture. They care about profit margins and tax write-offs. Naubusan na ako ng pasensya para sa kanila."

Lauren smiled faintly, her eyes dropping to Anne’s elegant hands. "Akala ko po sanay kayo sa ganitong buhay sa Europe."

"Sanay, oo. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na gusto ko," matabang na sabi ni Anne. Inilapag niya ang kanyang baso sa gilid at binalingan nang husto si Lauren. "You look beautiful tonight, Lauren."

The sudden compliment, paired with the soft use of her first name, made Lauren’s face flush bright red under the moonlight. "Salamat po, Professor. Kayo rin naman... halos lahat ng tao sa loob, sa inyo nakatingin."

"I don't care about everyone else," bulong ni Anne, her voice dropping into that deep, velvet register that always undid Lauren’s defenses. A gust of wind blew a stray strand of hair across Anne’s face, and without thinking, Lauren reached out, her fingers gently tucking the lock behind Anne’s ear.

The moment Lauren’s warm fingertips brushed against Anne’s skin, time seemed to stop.

Anne gasped softly, her gray eyes widening slightly at the boldness of the gesture. But she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into the touch for a fraction of a second, her gaze locking onto Lauren’s lips. The distance between them was barely inches now. Lauren could smell her intoxicating lavender perfume, mixed with the sharp scent of champagne. The unspoken tension that had been building up in the classroom and the archive room was now a living, breathing entity between them on the dark terrace.

"Lauren..." Anne warned softly, though her voice lacked any real authority. Her hand reached up, gently grasping Lauren's wrist, but instead of pulling Lauren's hand away, her fingers simply lingered there, feeling the rapid, frantic beat of Lauren's pulse. "We shouldn't. Someone might see us."

"Wala namang tao rito, Anne," mahinang sagot ni Lauren, dropping the title for the very first time. The sheer thrill of saying her name out loud made Lauren's blood run hot. "Bakit ba palagi mo na lang iniisip ang sasabihin ng iba?"

"Because I have to protect you," Anne whispered, her eyes filled with a sudden, agonizing conflict. Her grip on Lauren’s wrist tightened slightly. "Dahil kung may makakita sa atin dito... kung may makapansin kung paano kita tinitingnan, ikaw ang unang masisira. And I won't allow that."

Before Lauren could reply, the sound of laughter and approaching footsteps echoed from the ballroom entrance.

Anne instantly dropped Lauren's wrist and stepped back into the shadows, her expression locking back into a cold, polite mask within a blink of an eye. Two senior professors walked out onto the terrace, holding wine glasses.

"Ah, Professor Montgomery! Nandito ka lang pala," sabi ng isang matandang lalaking propesor. "Hinahanap ka ng Dean. Gusto niyang ipakilala ka sa CEO ng Megaworld."

"I was just getting some fresh air, Professor Santos," Anne replied smoothly, her voice completely devoid of the emotion it held just seconds ago. She gave Lauren a brief, professional nod. "I will head back inside. Have a good evening, Miss Miller."

"Good night po, Professor," mahinang sagot ni Lauren, her heart heavy as she watched Anne walk away, flanked by the senior faculty.

Lauren was left alone on the dark terrace, her wrist still tingling from where Anne had held it. She turned back to the dark gardens, a profound sense of longing and fear twisting in her gut. Tonight, she had seen the vast, dangerous world that Anne belonged to—a world of rules, expectations, and high walls. But she had also seen the crack in those walls, and she knew that no matter how risky it was, she was ready to climb over them just to get to the woman inside.