4

Celine wasn’t expecting too much from Callahan. But every time they have some short-lived interactions at the university, it flutters her heart.

After a month of being there, Callahan is kind of persistent in making her remember that he exists. She continued being on her own, living her life independently in the university without having a wide group of circles as she enjoyed her own company, while she noticed how Callahan immediately had a wide set of friends, and most of them were girls; some were boys who were part of a group he’s in as well.

She was not sure what else Callahan was taking but he was able to join so many stuff at the University, even the sports one. 

He was now getting so much attention at the university that sometimes Celine would think he was naturally approachable to pretty girls

Callahan:

Do you want to come to a house party?

She was already in her condo unit when Callahan texted her.

One thing that Celine hates when it comes to parties is that they are too crowded, and she would only cause trouble whenever there were men who would try their luck on her. It was because the men sent by her father, and were set by Gaile to watch over her, would suddenly punch those guys who would approach Celine. So she wouldn’t rather be in there.

Celine:

No. I’m quite busy on the weekend. I won’t be here.

A minute later, Callahan suddenly called. Celine was a bit shocked that he called. She stared at it for a while. When the ringing didn't stop and he wasn’t ending the call, she picked it up and cleared her throat.

“You have other plans?” he asked in his slurry voice. Celine could hear the giggles in the background, as it seemed like he was with his circle.

“Ah yes. I’d be coming home to my parents,” she reasoned.

“Oh yes. The farm, right? Harvest?” he concluded.

Celine was a bit stunned by what he mentioned—that she had been silent for a while.

“You mentioned it during the vacation,” he repeated as if he was trying to make her remember the reason why he knew about their farm.

“Oh yes… yes…” Celine leaned against the fridge as she pinched her forehead and closed her eyes, wanting to curse for her nonsense make-up stories that she had already forgotten.

“Then, can I come with you? I’ll give you a ride,” he offered.

The offer startled Celine, who opened her eyes. She was making up those excuses in order not to come to the party. But to hear from Callahan making another plan to be with her flutters her, and she is now nodding.

“Oh, sure. That’s…actually…so nice,” she whispered, still amazed by how Callahan was doing her a favor.

“Then how about the party?” she asked.

“Oh, they could start it without me,” he chuckled.

Celine’s lips stretched. The thing Callahan does makes her stomach churn. She has no idea if Callahan is aware of his moves toward her, but she really finds him smooth.

That night, she immediately called Janna to get the address of the place. She has only seen the place in photos sent by Gaile herself, which she approves of since it’s the same description, such as the land with a farm owned by her parents, and is suited for her alibi.

“Yes, Miss Celine?” Janna answered formally.

“Janna, I’ll be going there on the weekend. I’ll bring a friend. Always remember that you are my mother. And please don’t call me Miss Celine. Act like I am your daughter, okay?”

“Okay, miss,” Janna replied.

Celine gasped.

“I mean Celine,” she said inaudibly, as she wasn’t used to calling Celine like she wasn't their boss.

“Are there some fruits there that we could harvest?” she asked.

“Yes, miss. The farm has fruits that weren’t harvested yet.”

“Okay, thank you. Tell Roel what I told you. And then send me the address of the place. I mean the whole map from my university to there.”

“Okay miss…”

Celine was a bit nervous about her pretentious act about her new self. But at the same time, she’s quite excited because she will be with Callahan for the rest of the day.

She might not have looked so excited when Callahan picked her up on a Saturday morning, as she wore a plain white top with puff sleeves. 

She tied her hair into a ponytail, and the lazy waves of the tip cascaded down prettily. She paired her top with blue jeans and white sneakers. 

She put her little pack-back against her back as Callahan looked at her from head to toe while opening the front seat for her, but deep inside, she was screaming hysterically, thinking about the long trip she would be on with Callahan.

“Morning,” he said.

“Morning,” she said back, slipping herself in.

Callahan closed the door and jogged to the driver’s seat as he slipped himself inside and handed her a brown bag.

“Here. I bought you a snack. You might not have eaten yet. You can eat it during the trip,” Callahan offered.

Celine looked at the brown bag and was stunned that Callahan had thought of it. She slowly took it from his hand as Callahan started the engine of his car.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

As the car started, Celine’s eyes were fixed on the road, and he could see her from her peripheral vision, glancing at her.

“I haven’t seen you hanging out in a circle. You haven’t made friends yet?” he asked.

Celine slowly shook her head and glanced outside the window. Being in a friendship is quite hard for her because she is used to having everything she wants to be spoon-fed to her. So it was hard for her to approach someone on her own.

Other than that, it was because of her cold demeanor that the people around her mistook her for being a snob or less interested in things, when deep inside, she actually wanted to have some circles too.

“You could join my circle of friends,” Callahan said, which made Celine glance at him.

Celine would always notice that Callahan’s circle was pretty fun and outgoing. She could see them in the parking lot outside the school, at the back of the Ford Ranger, talking and laughing about things that would make their circle cool. Other than that, most in their circles were kind of popular, so being in Callahan’s circle is quite a good catch.

But for Celine, it wasn’t. She doesn’t want Gaile to dig up each of their backgrounds from the root just because Celine is hanging out with them.

“It’s fine. I’m quite used to myself being alone.” She smiled.

“You’re pretty cold and distant as a person,” he pointed out.

“Maybe it’s just my expression.” She shrugged. 

Callahan tilted his head to see her face clearly. Celine glanced at him slowly and found his eyes watching her like a puzzle.

“You’re pretty mature for your age,” he commented.

Celine arched her brow. “What do mean?”

“Well, for starters, even though we're still at the University, you seem not to enjoy things being done usually by university students. You aren't as active as them,”

“I was hyper when I was a kid,” she pointed out.

“Ah, so you are now being silent because you aren’t a kid anymore?”

“Perhaps?”

Callahan barked a laugh and shook his head. His chuckle amused Celine so much that she lost herself in admiring how charming and attractive Callahan was as a man.

With his waves of hair, the beautiful shade of his eyes, and the smirk he flashes that seems so captivating, no woman could resist his charm.

Celine slowly took her eyes off him and glanced outside the car as she was stifling her smile.

“That’s kind of a cute excuse,” he said, chuckling.

Celine remained silent and didn’t glance at him anymore. It was her own silence that made her less interested in everything around her. People would assume that she was being distant, but she wasn’t. It’s just normal to her.

“Do you like music?” Callahan asked.

Celine glanced at him, who was now doing something on the dashboard until music boomed.

“I like this band. It’s kind of therapeutic to listen.” He smiled.

“What’s the name of the band?” she asked.

“Cigarettes, sex, and candies.”

The name shocked Celine. She slowly nodded.

“Do you smoke?” She asked, curious that it might be the reason why he liked it.

Callahan licked his lower lip. “I do. But I like all three.”

She was a bit curious as to why he answered that way. But when she remembered the name of the band, her eyes slowly widened.

Callahan flashed a smirk and looked at the road as the music boomed while he slowly opened the window and rested his elbow on the side.

He was damn attractive. A danger zone, Celine.

“Got a boyfriend?” he asked curiously.

Celine glanced at him. She wanted to say yes, but he might ask who, and she would be making up another story again about his non-existent ex-boyfriend.

“I don't,” she replied as she cleared her throat.

“Hmm. That's pretty much like you. It seems less interested in everything.” He chuckled meaningfully.