Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

The Crush I Couldn't Hide

Chantal's POV

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa akin.

Since Professor Adrian Lister walked into our classroom, parang may sariling buhay ang mga mata ko.

Every time he turned toward the board, napapatingin ako.

Every time he walked around the room, sinusundan siya ng tingin ko.

And every time our eyes met—

I looked away.

Mabilis.

As if mahuhuli niya akong gumagawa ng krimen.

“Chantal.”

Napalingon ako kay Mia.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You've been staring at him for the past five minutes.”

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

“I wasn't!”

“You were.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

I looked toward the front.

Professor Lister was writing something on the board.

I immediately looked down at my notebook.

“I'm just listening.”

“Listening with your eyes?”

Napakagat ako sa labi para hindi matawa.

“Shut up.”

She giggled.

“First crush mo kasi.”

Napahinto ako.

First crush.

Tama siya.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon lang.

I had met so many people.

I had attended parties.

I had been introduced to sons of businessmen, politicians, and investors.

But none of them made my heart behave this stupidly.

Maybe because Professor Lister wasn't trying to impress anyone.

He wasn't wearing expensive accessories.

He wasn't acting like someone who knew his worth.

He was simply—

him.

Calm.

Confident.

Intelligent.

And somehow, iyon ang mas nakakaakit.

“Miss Villareal.”

Napatingala ako.

Professor Lister was looking directly at me.

“Yes, Professor?”

“What is the answer?”

I froze.

“Answer?”

A few classmates chuckled.

He pointed at the board.

“The question.”

Napatingin ako sa board.

Oh.

Right.

The question.

I swallowed.

“It's… supply and demand?”

He stared at me for a second.

Then nodded.

“Correct.”

My cheeks warmed.

“Thank you.”

He turned back toward the board.

I immediately covered my face with my hand.

Mia whispered beside me.

“Girl.”

“Don't.”

“You're blushing.”

“I said don't.”

She laughed silently.

I wanted to disappear.

---

After Class

The bell rang.

Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone began packing their things.

I slowly put my notebook inside my bag.

Maybe I should leave last.

Maybe—

“Miss Villareal.”

Napahinto ako.

I looked up.

Professor Lister was standing beside the desk.

“Yes, Professor?”

“Your answer earlier was good.”

I smiled.

“Thank you.”

He nodded.

“Keep participating.”

“Yes, Professor.”

He walked past me.

And just like that—

my heart went crazy again.

I waited a few seconds before leaving the room.

Paglabas ko sa hallway, hindi ko inaasahang makakasalubong ko siya.

He was walking in my direction.

I stepped to the side.

He did the same.

I stepped the other way.

He did too.

We both stopped.

Then he smiled.

I laughed awkwardly.

“Sorry.”

“It's okay.”

We passed each other.

But before I could walk away, I heard him say—

“Have a good day, Chantal.”

I stopped.

He remembered my name.

I turned around.

“You too, Professor.”

He smiled once more before continuing down the hallway.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko.

Why did that make me so happy?

---

The Studio

“Come on!”

Hinila ako ni Mia sa braso.

“Where?”

“My studio.”

Napakunot-noo ako.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Dinala niya ako sa private studio wing ng university.

Sa campus namin, may mga exclusive studio spaces para sa selected students and families who had major investments or longstanding contributions to the university.

Private lounges.

Study rooms.

Mini kitchens.

Entertainment areas.

Basically, parang second home.

At dahil isa rin ako sa mga anak ng major university investors, may sarili rin akong access.

Pagpasok namin sa studio ni Mia, bumagsak agad ako sa sofa.

“Finally.”

She threw a pillow at me.

“So…”

I caught it.

“So what?”

“Professor Lister.”

I groaned.

“Again?”

“Of course.”

“There's nothing to talk about.”

“Sure?”

“Yes.”

She smiled.

“You like him.”

I stared at the ceiling.

“I don't know.”

That was the truth.

Hindi ko alam.

Hindi ko pa alam kung crush lang ba ito.

Or curiosity.

Or admiration.

Pero alam kong may kakaibang saya tuwing nakikita ko siya.

At iyon ang bago sa akin.

---

A Few Days Later

Hindi ko alam kung kailan nagsimula.

Pero napansin kong lagi akong may dahilan para mapunta malapit sa faculty room.

“Professor, ako na po magbibigay nito.”

“I can submit the papers myself.”

“It's okay, Professor.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled.

Another day—

“Professor, ito po yung activity ng group namin.”

“Thank you.”

Another day—

“Professor, may naiwan pong notebook si Daniel.”

“Could you leave it on my desk?”

“Yes, Professor.”

And then another.

“Professor, ako na po magbibigay ng attendance sheets.”

He looked at me.

“You don't have to do that every time.”

“It's okay.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“Of course.”

I smiled.

Then I walked away.

The moment I reached the hallway—

I covered my face.

What am I doing?

I was volunteering for everything.

Submitting papers.

Collecting assignments.

Delivering documents.

Even offering to bring things to the faculty room.

Hindi naman ako ganito dati.

Pero ngayon?

Every little opportunity to see him felt like something I couldn't refuse.

One afternoon, Mia caught me carrying another stack of papers.

She stared at me.

“Again?”

“What?”

“You're submitting their papers again.”

“I'm just helping.”

“Chantal.”

“What?”

She crossed her arms.

“You're not helping.”

I frowned.

“Then what am I doing?”

She smiled.

“You're flirting.”

My face immediately heated.

“I'm not!”

“You are.”

“No!”

She laughed.

“Girl, you're basically creating reasons just to see your professor.”

I looked down at the papers in my hands.

Maybe she was right.

Maybe this was what having a crush felt like.

Wanting to be noticed.

Wanting to be remembered.

Wanting to hear that person's voice, even if you had absolutely no reason to.

And the worst part?

I was beginning to enjoy it.

I didn't know yet that every little effort I made to get his attention…

would eventually become something I could never take back.

Because sometimes—

the most innocent crush…

is the beginning of the most dangerous obsession.