La Cuevas #1: When the Star Falls

“Mierda! Can I just skip these?! It's fucking long!” Yana exclaimed pertaining to the Philippine Constitution I made her read. “No.” I firmly said. She’s a third-year student taking Political Science at the University of the Philippines. She hired me as her tutor since I also need extra income. “But I already read the Australian Constitution! Mi fa male la testa!” “You’re here in the Philippines now and that’s just the fundamentals of your course.” She’s originally from Italy but studied in Australia with the same course. "What about you? You’re supposed to teach me, why are you just writing there?" She's really like a child. "I'm writing your reviewer so you won't have to read everything you need. Shut up and read what I told you to." I’m six years older than her. I’m taking law at the UP College of Law here in Diliman just the same with her. She frowned at her beautiful face. “Non Voglio.” I can’t even understand her. I heaved a sigh and nodded before closing her

Days passed and my path never crossed again with Loren’s. My performance in both work and law school went well, except for the multiple attempts of guys in getting my number. The landlady also had visited me twice already. I just can’t budget my salary for my daily expenses and school. I’m thankful that she somehow understands, though. I am now here at The Lib again, and as usual, I am doing digests and lots of readings and ghostwriting for extra income. Law school is probably the most consuming time of my life. So I ought to make sure that it’s gonna be worth it in the end. I was moving on to the next case when Kate suddenly sat in front of me. “You okay?” I asked. She looked pale and her nose is reddish. “It’s so cold outside.” She muttered after sipping on my coffee. I just looked at the transparent glass wall beside me and nodded before resuming my digests. I was handwriting them because it was ordered in our memo. During my first year, my penmanship sucks so I tho

I'm in The Lib with Yana for our session. She’s sipping on her milk shake while I make her pointers.“Anyway, Loren asked me yesterday about you.” She said.“About me?”“Yeah, he’s my only neighbor at the 15th floor in Rockwell since that’s exclusive. He told me he has something to tell you so I gave him your name and workplace.” I stopped writing and sighed. So she's his source of information. “You told me he carried me out of the bar last time, right? Did you two talk?”I creased my forehead. “No.” I resumed writing.“Really? Anyway he wouldn’t dare to hit on you.” She remarked so I looked at her. “Duh? You’re famous in Ateneo for being a man hater!” She snapped so I unbelievably opened my mouth.“What?”“Remember the guys you’ve turned down before? Most of them are from Admu and Feu. Loren’s at the top of Admu medicine and I’m sure he’s heard about you!” She added.I transfixed my gaze and sighed in disbelief. I know I’m always grumpy, but I never thought that people would take it

"How are you there, Celine?" My mother asked from the other line.I stirred the egg on the sardines in the pan before answering, "I'm fine here, how about you?" I asked back."We're doing fine here, too. Cole visits here often and brings us food." She answered so I nodded softly even though he couldn't see.Cole is my childhood friend in Nueva Ecija who is also studying Law now at the University of Cebu - Main Campus. We were both supposed to study here in Manila, but he didn't pass the LSAT of UP and he was lucky to pass there so he didn't go."I see. How about Gino? where is he?" I asked.Gino is my younger brother, he is only two years old because mom is still young. He was the son of her new husband, but left use too in the end. We found out the he had another family in another country. Anyway he also had no intention of holding sustaining Gino's needs so the child was not named after him. Mom was only 17 when I was born and Gino followed me when I was 24."He's already playing wi

It's another day today, as usual, there's a recitation later so I drank all night and reviewed last night. Fortunately, I still had beer in cans and junk foods left when I went to the grocery store because that's what really concentrates me.My head hurts a bit when I wake up so I drank coffee and recalled what I have read last night. I stopped on purpose when Loren's face suddenly entered my mind.While I was in his car last night I couldn’t help but smile because I knew it's gonna be the last. After that, he won't bother me anymore. I said in my mind.He glanced at me several times and sighed while driving. "You're really that happy to get rid of me?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.I nodded quickly and just looked out the window. "Why won't you even let me kiss you at least? A farewell kiss, maybe?" He bargained with me so I quickly turned to him and glared at him."Just fucking drive and never show up again." I harshly said that made him gulp. I stared at him and looked