Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

The Stranger at the Gate

Chantal's POV

“Miss, hindi ka puwedeng pumasok.”

Napahinto ako sa harap ng university gate.

“Excuse me?”

Tiningnan ako ng guard mula ulo hanggang paa bago nito itinuro ang dala kong bag.

“Your ID, please.”

Napahawak ako sa leeg ko.

Doon ko lang naalala.

My ID.

“Wait…”

Binuksan ko agad ang bag ko at hinanap iyon.

Wallet.

Phone.

Lip balm.

Notebook.

Charger.

Pero—

Wala.

“Shit.”

Napapikit ako.

“Sir, naiwan ko po sa bahay.”

“I'm sorry, Miss. No ID, no entry.”

“Pero student po ako rito.”

“I understand, pero policy po.”

Napatingin ako sa malaking orasan sa gilid ng gate.

7:47 A.M.

My first class was at eight.

At ngayong araw pa talaga?

“Sir, please. Late na po ako.”

“Hindi po talaga puwede.”

Huminga ako nang malalim.

“Can I call someone? I can show my student portal. I have my registration form. I can even—”

“Miss.”

Naputol ako.

“Rules are rules.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

Great.

First day of the second semester.

And I'm already having a problem.

“Is there a problem?”

Isang malalim na boses ang narinig ko mula sa likuran.

Napalingon ako.

At doon ko siya unang nakita.

A man.

Tall.

Clean-cut.

Wearing a simple dark polo shirt with black slacks.

Hindi siya mukhang estudyante.

Pero hindi rin siya mukhang professor.

He looked… young.

Too young.

Maybe late twenties?

At higit sa lahat—

Gwapo siya.

Yung klase ng gwapo na hindi mo kailangang tingnan nang dalawang beses para mapansin.

Unfortunately, tumingin ako nang tatlong beses.

“She's a student,” sabi niya.

“Sir, she doesn't have her ID.”

“Then verify her identity.”

The guard shook his head.

“Sir, policy po. No ID, no entry.”

“Does the policy say students can't enter even when their identity can be verified through other means?”

Napatingin ako sa lalaki.

Huh?

The guard seemed caught off guard.

“Sir, we need to follow the university regulations.”

“And you should.”

Napakunot-noo ako.

“Then what's the issue?”

“Her ID.”

“She said she left it at home.”

“Exactly.”

“Then ask for another form of identification.”

The guard hesitated.

I stared at the stranger.

Why was he arguing for me?

“Sir, we can't just—”

“You're not letting her in without checking whether there's an alternative.”

His voice remained calm.

But firm.

“That's different from following the rules.”

Tahimik ako.

For some reason, parang may knight in shining armor na biglang dumating para iligtas ako sa pinaka-badtrip kong umaga.

“Miss.”

Napatingin siya sa akin.

“Do you have your student number?”

“Yes.”

“Phone?”

“Yes.”

“Open your student portal.”

I immediately did what he said.

After a few seconds, I showed the screen to the guard.

The guard checked it carefully.

Then looked at my face.

“Chantal Villareal?”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

Finally, bumukas ang gate.

“You may enter.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako sa sobrang relief.

“Thank you.”

Napatingin ako sa lalaki.

“Thank you. Seriously.”

He simply nodded.

“Next time, don't forget your ID.”

Napangiti ako nang bahagya.

“I won't.”

He started walking away.

“Wait!”

Huminto siya.

“What's your name?”

Lumingon siya sa akin.

For a moment, nagkatitigan kami.

Then he gave me a small smile.

“You'll know soon enough.”

At nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad.

Naiwan akong nakatayo roon.

You'll know soon enough?

What kind of answer was that?

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko.

Why was my heart beating that fast?

“Chantal!”

Napalingon ako.

My friend, Mia, was waving at me from across the hallway.

“Come on! We're going to be late!”

“Coming!”

Mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa kaniya.

Pero bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa building, napalingon pa ako sa direksiyong nilakaran ng lalaki.

Wala na siya.

And somehow…

I wanted to see him again.

---

Later — Inside the Classroom

“Girl!”

Halos mapatalon ako nang marinig ang boses ni Mia.

“What?”

“Who was that?”

“Who?”

“The guy you were talking to outside.”

Napangiti ako nang hindi ko namamalayan.

“Ah…”

Napaupo ako sa chair ko.

“He helped me.”

Mia immediately leaned closer.

“Helped you?”

“Yes.”

“Details.”

Napatawa ako.

“Naiwan ko ID ko. Ayaw akong papasukin ng guard.”

“And?”

“And he argued with the guard.”

“Wait—seriously?”

I nodded.

“He literally debated with the guard just so I could enter.”

Napahawak si Mia sa dibdib niya.

“Girl…”

“What?”

“Knight in shining armor.”

Napailing ako habang tumatawa.

“OA.”

“Gwapo ba?”

Tumahimik ako.

Mia narrowed her eyes.

“Chantal.”

“Fine.”

I smiled.

“Medyo.”

“Medyo?”

“Okay. Gwapo.”

“Crush mo?”

“Hindi!”

Mabilis kong sagot.

Pero nang maalala ko ang mukha niya—

I smiled again.

“Maybe… slight.”

“Girl, kakakita mo pa lang!”

“I know!”

Tumawa kami.

Hanggang sa may isa sa mga kaklase namin na sumingit sa usapan.

“Guys, narinig n'yo ba?”

“Anong chika?” tanong ni Mia.

“New professor daw ngayong second sem.”

“Again?”

“Yep.”

“Anong subject?”

“Business Management.”

Napalingon ako.

Business Management?

I was enrolled in that subject.

“Gwapong prof daw,” dagdag ng kaklase namin.

Nagkatinginan kaming lahat.

“Really?”

“Apparently, yes.”

“Single?”

“Hindi ko alam.”

“Age?”

“Twenty-something daw.”

Napangiti si Mia.

“Chantal, baka siya na.”

“Hoy!”

Tumawa ako.

“Hindi nga!”

“Malay mo.”

“Stop.”

Pero deep inside, naalala ko ulit ang lalaki sa gate.

His voice.

His eyes.

That little smile.

And the way he defended me.

Could he really be the new professor?

I shook the thought away.

Impossible.

He looked too young.

Too…

approachable.

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

“Okay, enough.”

“Why?”

“Let's just wait for the professor.”

Tumahimik na kami.

A few seconds later—

Click.

Bumukas ang p***o.

“Good morning.”

The room instantly became silent.

Napatingin ako sa harapan.

At nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

My heart stopped.

It was him.

The man from the gate.

The stranger who had helped me.

The man I had just called my—

crush.

He placed a folder on the desk.

Then turned toward the class.

“Good morning, everyone. I'm—”

Hindi ko na narinig ang kasunod.

Because his eyes found mine.

And for one terrifying second…

it felt like everyone else disappeared.

Parang kaming dalawa lang ang nasa silid.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

Then his lips curved into the faintest smile.

The same smile he gave me at the gate.

“I'm Professor Adrian Lister.”

My heart pounded harder.

Professor.

Professor.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang biglang uminit ang mukha ko.

Oh, no.

No.

No, no, no.

Siya pala ang professor.

Ang lalaking ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas ay tinawag kong gwapo.

Ang lalaking tinawag kong knight in shining armor.

Ang lalaking sinabi kong baka crush ko.

Siya ang bago naming professor.

At habang nagpapatuloy siya sa pagpapakilala sa sarili niya, hindi ko maiwasang maramdaman na bawat salita niya ay para lamang sa akin.

“I'm looking forward to knowing all of you.”

His eyes remained on mine.

My heart skipped.

Then he smiled.

“Especially those who arrive without their IDs.”

Napayuko ako sa hiya.

Nagkatawanan ang buong klase.

Samantalang ako—

Gusto ko nang lamunin ng lupa.

First day.

First encounter.

First crush.

And now…

my professor.