Chapter Three

            ‘Who said that I’m playing a game? I’m not fond of games too Tiara. I’m not acting like a jealous boyfriend of yours because I’m more than that! Why don’t you try to remember IT?!....’

I could foresee the emotion lurking in his eyes while saying those words.

At that moment, I could foresee the emotion lurking in his eyes while saying those words.

And those words never left my conscious mind since the night he had left me at the lobby.

 “Tiara!” a voice called out that broke me out of my thoughts.

             Breaking free from my trance, I turned my head toward the direction of that voice. “Zein!” I said out of surprise upon recognizing who it was.

 I definitely freaked out for I thought that it was someone else. I held my chest to help me calm myself but it is not effective. I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack! Stupid me, I forgot about Zein’s presence beside me.

            “Is something bothering you?” she asked softly.

            “Ah, nothing.” I said, trying to convince her and myself too.

            She looked at me as if checking me out so I diverted my gaze, trying to focus my attention to Professor Esquerra.

            Prof. Jeremy Esquerra is also a good-looking guy like Prof. Trystan Fortez. Both of them are also good friends. Prof. Esquerra is our school doctor. He smiles often and more approachable than Prof. Fortez but I still find the latter more attractive.

            I am wondering why Professor Fortez is not yet here.

            “I came here and borrowed ten minutes from Professor Fortez’s time to ask you to fill-up and sign these papers. The information that are being asked are essential for your medical record in my clinic. So be sure that you will not leave a blank.” said Prof. Esquerra while distributing the papers.

            We used to call him Professor instead of Doctor because that is how he prefers it.

            “A-tchoo!” I sneezed before I could touch the paper to be filled up. I hissed frustrated.

            “Tiara, are you okay?” Prof. Esquerra asked.

            I smiled at him. “Yes Professor. My nose is just kind of itchy. Hehe…” I flashed him a forced smile.

            “You sure?” he asked.

            I nodded and took the paper from him. He, then, continued distributing the papers to my classmates. I feel a little dizzy but decided to ignore it.

            ‘Not now… I need to finish my class first.’ I pressed my eyelids together “Oh no it’s bad.” I whispered to myself.

            “Tiara? Are you alright?” a voice asked.

            I immediately opened my eyes and looked at the face of the owner of the voice. I smiled.

            “Y-Yeah.” I answered her but I know that I’m lying.

            “You’re not.” said Zein then she raised a hand to touch my neck. Her eyes grew wide. “You’re burning!” she said in panic.

            “I’m okay!” I argued but it was too late. Professor Esquerra is already beside me to check me out.

            “You need to go in my clinic.” he said

            “No, I’m not going.” I protested.

            “Why? You’re not feeling well. I’ll bring you there. Let’s go.” he said and helped me to get up on my chair.

            “Class, continue what you are doing. I’ll be back. Professor Fortez is on his way too so don’t be noisy.” he said to my classmates.

            My face turned to a frown.

            “Professor, I don’t want to stay in your clinic.” I tried to protest again but he didn’t let me.

            ‘I want to see him.’ I said in the back of my mind.

Professor Esquerra gently pulled me out of the classroom and led me downstairs. I bit my lip when a surge of questions flooded my mind.

            ‘Shit! Where are you?’

            ‘Why are you not here yet?’

            ‘Are you with somebody?’

            ‘Why am I missing you, jerk?’

            ‘Why I bloody want to see you right now?!’

            Shit! Why am I being like this? Something is off! And I don’t have a single hint where those embarrassing thoughts came from.

“STOP!” I shouted out loud and put my hands in my ears. It’s as if someone is whispering those questions in my ears to corrupt my head so I covered it.

            Professor Esquerra halted and turned his questioning face at me.

            “What happened?” he asked, oblivious of what is happening to me.

            ‘My God! Did I say it out loud?! Shit.’

            I felt ashamed of myself. I shook my head right away as if I was saying nothing. I feel that my face is burning. I just wished he won’t notice it but I have no luck.

            “Why are your cheeks red?” Prof. Esquerra asked while pinching both of my cheeks. He has this stupid expression that makes me want to punch him right in the face. How could he look so innocently?

            “Hahahah… you look cute!” he’s laughing, reveling those two cute dimples he has on both cheeks. “I miss Scarlet now.” he said then pouted his lips like a grade-schooler does.

            ‘Seriously? He’s capable of pouting?! I wonder how Professor Fortez will look like if he pouted his lips too…’

            Sheesh… Tiara! Still thinking about him? I rolled my eyes.

“Who is Scarlet, Professor?” I randomly asked instead, to divert my attention.

            “Well she is a cute little pup and she’s like you.” he answered while smiling from ear to ear.

            Hell what?! A pup?! He’s comparing me to a pup?!

            I glared at him but he just paid me his innocent gaze. The heck!

            “What?” he obliviously asked. “Hahaha… pft… you really look like my Scarlet. Hahaha.” he said laughing his ass out.

            “Do I look like a pup?!” I said angrily at him. This Professor is getting into my nerves! My fists are itching to punch his pretty face.

            “Yes. Hahaha! Pft… hahaha…hahaha.” He laughed his ass out in front of me. The nerve of this man! I crossed my arms in my chest while my eyes are busy throwing daggers at him.

            “Oooopppss! Hehe… pft! Sorry Tiara. Haha… pft. Let’s go you need to rest. Pft!” he said, trying his best not to laugh again.

I just raised an eyebrow at him.

“Ehem!” he cleared his throat and tried to look serious. “C’mon I’ll bring you to my clinic. You’re sick remember?” he said coolly then smiled.

‘At last! He remembered that I’m a patient! Sheesh.’

I followed his pace towards the main building of our University. Along the way, there are students who greeted him a good morning, which he returned with a lively smile on his face.

“Good morning, Professor.” a group of teenagers greeted him with wide smiles on their faces.

I frowned. They are admirers. What’s new?

Professor Esquerra smiled and the teenagers giggled. I rolled my eyes. Charms! He has lots of those.

“A-tchoo!” I sneezed again.

“We’re here!” Professor Esquerra announced as if I haven’t noticed. I hissed.

As I stepped inside the clinic, I hugged myself. Whoa! It’s cold. Brrrr!

‘Why it has to be air-conditioned at extremely low level of temperature?!’

“Wait, I’ll turn off the air-con.” Professor said. Phew! I thought I was going to turn into a frozen popsicle in no time.

I find my way to the ward in his clinic and look through the series of comfy hospital beds locked in thick navy-blue curtains for patient’s privacy.

I chose the last bed located at the corner of the ward to sleep into.

Now that I have thought about it, a flash of pain strikes my back and head. My eyes become blurry and I feel like an earthquake is knocking me down.

“Let me help you.” said the voice.

I tried to see through the shadows hence of my blurred eyesight. Base from his voice, I know that it is Professor Esquerra. He helped me to get into the sheets.

“You’re really hot.” he said in a low voice. I don’t think it’s I he’s talking to. He’s probably saying it to himself.

“I know Prof.” I said mocking him and flashed a mischievous grin.

“No, not that kind of hot. I mean you’re burning with fever. You should take your medicine… here. Can you swallow this?” he asked pertaining to the tablet of drug.

I nodded and took it. He made me drunk a glass of water too.

“Take a rest. I’ll be back later.” I heard him said those before I drifted off to sleep.

I don’t want to open my eyes yet. My muscles are aching all over. My temples are throbbing like hell-shit. My throat is sore and I’m feeling cold. Yeah, I’m sick--- definitely sick! I need someone to take care of me but hell no!

'Tiara you should learn to be independent now because no one is to look after you at this moment.' I reminded myself.

I feel that there’s someone caressing my hair, fondling it gently.

“What do you think? There is really something!” a high-pitched voice said.

“You’re just over reacting, there isn’t duh!” another voice said.

“Are you blind?! Can’t you see those eyes? Those are something oh gosh!” the first voice said.

“You’re being stupid Flora. Stop that, will you?!” said the second voice.

“Fauna, you’re MEAN!” shouted Flora. I bet she is pouting.

“Oh! just be RATIONAL!” Fauna shouted back.And I bet she is rolling her eyes by now. My friends are here. I feel better just by their mere presence.

These two... I really adore them.

“Shut up you two!” an intimidating voice said.

Huh?! What is he doing here?

“C’mon Flora, let’s munch our lunch now.” said Fauna.

“But… Alright let’s go.” said Flora. I bet Fauna’s giving her a death glare.

'But hello friends, I’m still here. Don’t leave me!'

I want to stop them from leaving but I don’t have the strength to do so.

I heard a door closes. My eyes are still close because I still don’t feel like to open it.

“Tiara, open your eyes now.” said he.

‘Can’t you see I’m sleeping?!’ I almost rolled my eyes if I haven’t remembered that my eyelids are close at the moment.

“I know you’re awake already.” he added.

So, he knows.

‘The hell you care? I still don’t want to open my eyes.’ I wanted to sneer at him but decided not to. That would only be a waste of energy.

“Tiara… you’ll open your eyes and talk to me or….” he said hanging the next words.

‘I’m not going to buy that Professor Fortez. Who are you to order me around anyway? Tss!’

“… or I’m going to kiss you senselessly right here, right now?” he said

He isn’t serious about that, is he?

'He can’t do that!' I shouted in my mind.

Wait…can he?! Oh God!

I could almost hear the thundering heartbeat of mine. Feeling the sweats, which unusually cold, cascade down my neck added to the intensity of the heavy air surrounding us. I don’t know what has gotten to this guy. Doesn’t he have a reputation to protect? Why is he doing this stunt? And of all the girls in this university, why me? I’m not the kind of a glamorous model-type of girl. I think he’s into that type so, it is confusing the hell out of me!

I don’t know how I managed to get into his radar though.

“I’m serious here, hon.” he said. Oh shit! He’s really serious!

I’m doomed! What am I going to do now?!