Chapter 2

“M****a! 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 notes. It’s also about time for my part-time on-Voglioin work at the cafe. She immediately smiled “Grazie! Do you want me to drop you off?” she offered and I nodded. Of course.

  “Sure, thanks.”

  When I arrived at the cafe, there are only a few customers, so I took my time wearing my uniform at our locker room.

  “Hi, Celine.” Steven, my workmate greeted me.

  I just nodded at him and smiled before proceeding to my post.

  “Hi sir, welcome to Cafétearia, may I take your order now?” I sweetly asked when a customer came to the counter. Our manager taught us to be sweet and polite to everyone and it somehow helps. Especially to male customers.

  The guy stared at me for a moment and blinked several times which isn't new, so I just did what I usually do.

  "May I take your order now?" I repeated. It happens a lot of times, I don’t know what’s so special about my face. My skin is tanned, my eyes are not that big, I have the average kind of nose and my lips aren’t that good either. Are they fooling around or what?

  “Oh, uh, one double espresso and iced latte.” he smiled shyly.

  “Do you want to add up dessert, sir?” yup, strategies.

  “What would you recommend?”

  I faked a smile. “Cinnamon crumb cake is our best seller sir, you should try it.”

  He smiled excitedly, “I’ll get that.” Yes, jerk.

  When 12 o’clock came, I immediately pulled off my post and went back to the locker room to change. I informed my manager that my shift is done and ran out of the café to go home.

  On my way home, I stopped at a convenience store to buy some noodles and canned beer so I could focus on my review later. Atty. Felasco sent an email to all of us regarding the schedules of the cases each day. And by that, of course, the undying and nerve-wracking recit every day. I can’t attend unprepared.

  When I got what I want to buy, I walked to the counter to pay but I stopped myself when the door opened and a man in his white dress shirt, folded until his elbow, and his first three-button unbuttoned, I mindlessly lost my breath.

  I don’t like men, God, I hate them. But this man at my front has this dark and sharp aura that prevents me from breathing fine. He’s taller than me, fair skin, clean-cut, dark and serious eyes, pointed nose, rosy plump lips, and yes, his smell. He smells mixed alcohol and mint. No wonder he looks reddish on his face down his neck--

  “If you’re not paying, then move,” he said with a snob.

  The fuck? I automatically stepped back to give him the way which I immediately regretted because duh?! why would I do that? Who does he think he is?! How could I get intimidated by this jerk?!

  I held my patience and surveyed him with my dagger eyes. He bought a box of condom with a ‘trust’ on it so I almost choked with my saliva.

  “C-come again, sir!” The cashier said with obvious admiration.

  He smirked and whispered, “I’m almost cumming.” Before he ran out of the fucking store and went inside a white Mercedes.

  What did he just say?! I found myself parting my lips open in shock after getting back to my senses. That.. that pervert jerk!

  My classes were early dismissed after I was once called to recite. It went well, but I’m not quite satisfied.

  “Are you sure you won’t come?” It was Kate, my org-mate at the UP Law Student Government. They said that there’s gonna be a party tonight at the Red Black Club, it's a club made exclusively for students around Manila. And she's bugging me to come after my work.

  “Pass. That’s the only time I could rest.”

  “You’re always a workaholic! You should try partying sometimes! And it’s gonna be organized by the BOC so our tickets would be free!” UP Law Bar Operations Commission is the adjunct org of UP LSG, I know some of them but I never got close to anyone.

  “Whatever. I’ll think about it.” I reasoned so I could get rid of the topic. I don’t have any interest in going.

  Since I still have enough time before my session with Yana later, I just decided to go to The Lib where students go to study. It wasn’t a library but more like a café too, just more quiet and review friendly I guess.

  When I got to my seat, I didn’t waste any time and brought out my yellow papers, books, and laptop. I started digesting the cases that need to be done this week. There are also group digests that I need to accomplish tomorrow so my groupmates could read them early.

  While I was reading, my peripheral vision caught a familiar face from the table not so far away from mine. My eyes instantly widened in shock when I realized it’s that man from last night in the convenience store! He’s wearing a medicine uniform now and he’s also reading something from his thick medicine book. So the jerk is a med student, huh? With creased brows and serious eyes, he seems to be focused and ruthless.

  I tried to find the school logo of his uniform but there’s none. He’s not even wearing his id. I’m certain that he’s not from UP because I only saw him last night. Fuck, why am I even studying him? The fuck I care?

  I shrugged and shook my head in disbelief with myself before inhaling deeply and going back on reading. But damn it, I can’t. I can’t fight the replay in my mind of how he snubbed me last night, and how vulgar was his words and actions. I’m sure he’s about to fuck somebody that’s why he looks in a hurry.

  Huh, a man of his kind…

  “Excuse me.”

  “Jesus!” I held my chest when he suddenly appeared in front of me. My eyes widened again to see him up close. What? Why is he here? Did he recognize me? What does he need from me?! “Y-yes?” I asked to stutter. Fuck it.

  He Placed a piece of folded paper on my table “You dropped this.” He said monotonously. His voice is so low and round, it suits his figure.

  My eyes went down to his arm, it looks firm and has a lot of visible veins.

  “Oh.. t-thanks,” I said and looked up to his face. He’s expressionless and his face looks better today and his color is now normal, compared to his drunk face last night.

  He didn’t say a word and left me watching his back. He’s holding two of his books in his left hand while his right hand is holding his black backpack hanging on his right shoulder.

  When I looked at the paper on my table, it’s a white notepad and not yellow which I was using, so I’m certain it’s not mine.

  I creased my forehead and opened it. Only to lose my breath again with what’s written inside.

  ‘You shouldn’t stare at someone who wants to focus on studying. Nice eyes, though.’

  I cursed countless times in my head upon reading it. What the actual fuck?! He caught me staring! He fucking knew I was examining his face! Oh my God, Celine! This is so embarrassing!