CHAPTER 3

It was already late in the afternoon when Sean’s last class ended, concluding as smoothly as he had expected. It was the first day back after all, and most professors kept things light — introducing themselves, handing out syllabi, and giving a glimpse of the academic road ahead. As soon as the dismissal bell rang, Sean stretched, slung his bag over his shoulder, and double-checked that he had all his belongings before leaving the room.

There was no time to linger or catch up with classmates. He made a beeline for the Performing Arts building, where Lareina’s classes were held. His pace was brisk, purposeful, his mind already picturing the familiar sight of her waiting outside the building, probably waving excitedly when she saw him coming.

As he walked through the busy hallways, students noticed him immediately. Being handsome, charming, and one of the well-known seniors in the Arts and Design program, Sean was used to the attention. He exchanged smiles and waves with both girls and boys who greeted him, his approachable personality only making him more popular. Some whispered his name, others giggled, but Sean was too focused to pay them any real mind.

“Sean! Hey, Sean!” a familiar voice called out from behind, followed by an arm casually thrown over Sean’s shoulders. “Where are you off to in such a hurry? I thought we were going to hang out today! It’s the first day back after break, and we haven’t seen each other in over a month!”

Sean glanced to his side and chuckled. It was Darren, his oldest friend from university. They had met as freshmen in the same program, but Darren had shifted to Performing Arts a year later to pursue his passion for acting. Despite the change in paths, their bond remained intact, strengthened by shared memories and countless gaming sessions at each other’s houses.

“Not today, Ren. I’m picking up my best friend,” Sean replied, not slowing down.

Darren clicked his tongue in mock disappointment and removed his arm. “My, my, what’s gotten into you? Rejecting me on the first day back, my heart is crushed!” He clasped his chest dramatically, pretending to stagger.

Sean snorted. “Save the theatrics for your acting classes. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow.”

Darren’s curiosity was instantly piqued. He quickened his steps to keep pace with Sean. “And who is this lucky person worth ditching me for? A friend? A cousin? Or — wait, is it a girlfriend?” he asked, eyes gleaming with playful suspicion.

Sean’s cheeks heated slightly at the word ‘girlfriend,’ his mind briefly whisked away by the thought of holding Lareina’s hand, walking her home while their shadows intertwined under the setting sun. The idea alone made his heart skip.

“Whoa, whoa! Are you blushing?!” Darren teased, nudging Sean’s side. “Now I need to meet this person. I need to see the girl who has managed to capture Sean Zhan, the boy whom everyone wants but no one gets!”

“Tch. Don’t start with that nonsense. It’s my best friend, Lareina. The one I always talk about,” Sean muttered.

“Ah! The girl you’re secretly in love with?” Darren raised an eyebrow, grinning.

Sean halted abruptly, spinning to face him with wide eyes. “When did I ever tell you that?”

Darren stared at him like he was the most oblivious man alive. “Seriously? You’re asking me that? You didn’t have to tell me, Sean. It’s all over your face whenever you talk about her. Your eyes practically turn into little hearts. Even a blind man could see it.”

Sean groaned and rubbed his face, feeling the heat of embarrassment creep up his neck. “Is it really that obvious? Then why hasn’t she noticed?”

Darren shrugged, a more serious look crossing his face. “Either she’s completely dense, or she’s pretending not to notice. Sometimes, when it comes to childhood best friends, one of you stays quiet because you’re afraid of ruining everything. Maybe that’s her.”

Sean was about to respond when a familiar voice called out, cutting their conversation short.

“Sean!”

They both turned to see Lareina hurrying toward them, her smile bright and infectious, her hair bouncing with each step. She looked happy to see him, waving as she ran across the open space of the campus courtyard.

“Hey, I was just on my way to pick you up,” Sean greeted her, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I figured as much. But our professor let us out early, so I waited with the others. Then I saw you walking, so I ran over.”

She paused, noticing Darren standing nearby, watching them with keen interest.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had company! Who’s this?” she asked with a curious tilt of her head.

Sean slapped his forehead lightly, realizing his lapse. “Right! This is Darren, one of my closest friends from the first year. We were classmates before he shifted to the Performing Arts. He’s your senior now.”

Lareina’s face lit up. “Oh wow! I love acting. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two someday.”

Darren laughed. “Anytime! Though I must say, Sean here never mentioned how pretty his best friend is.”

Lareina chuckled bashfully. “Thank you! Oh, by the way...” She glanced around. “Where’s Yvo? He was just with me a minute ago.”

Sean’s pleasant mood instantly soured at the mention of that name. Darren, picking up on the shift, leaned close and whispered, “Who’s Yvo? Her boyfriend?”

Sean’s scowl deepened. “Of course not! He’s just a classmate,” he snapped defensively.

“Yikes. Touchy,” Darren muttered under his breath.

Before the air between them could get tenser, Lareina returned with a boy trailing behind her. He was tall, pale, with sharp eyes and a stoic expression that seemed permanently etched on his face.

“Darren Gege, this is Yvo, my friend starting today. Yvo, this is Darren Gege, Sean’s friend and our Performing Arts senior.”

Yvo barely glanced at Darren. “Nice to meet you,” he said flatly, his tone devoid of warmth or interest. Without waiting for a reply, he turned back to Lareina. “Your friend’s here. I’ll leave now.”

Without another word, he walked away, his presence like a cold gust of wind that left an uncomfortable chill behind.

“What a rude bastard,” Sean muttered under his breath, glaring at Yvo’s back as he disappeared into the crowd.

“Don’t mind him. He’s always like that, cold on the outside but a nice person once you get to know him,” Lareina explained, still trying to defend Yvo.

Darren, however, was not fooled. He smirked and whispered close to Sean’s ear, “Looks like you’ve got yourself a rival, buddy.”

Sean clenched his fists at his sides, his gaze lingering where Yvo had vanished. Rival? Maybe Darren was right. Maybe Yvo was more than just a classmate to Lareina, and that thought alone made Sean’s stomach twist in knots he could not easily untangle.