PROLOGUE

Celeztine’s Point of View

“Lez have you seen my gloss? I put it on here.” Emily asked while looking under my table.

“No, I haven’t,” I replied in a low voice and put back my gaze to the man I was staring at for about a minute now.

“Of course, you haven’t, you’re too focused on Zeus.” She muttered.

“Hey what if they hear you,” I replied in a low voice looking at our classmates busy with their own lives, a good thing no one heard it, I was a bit embarrassed.

Emily raised her eyebrow at me.

“Why? Are you afraid they would know that the so-called demure and modest woman in this class is eyeing someone from the Architecture department? Not just an unknown guy Lez, but the famous Zeus Lincoln of Architecture department huh?”- She whispered in full of sarcasm.

I heaved a sigh and put my gaze back at him, he was playing basketball on the court. The court is covered with a transparent glass wall that’s why I could see him clearly playing, wearing a gold and black jersey, moving swiftly like Tim Duncan.

“You know what why don’t you just ask him to date you? I heard he hasn’t dated anyone yet, he’s so hot isn’t he?” She continously whispered that made me frown at her.

“Are you serious Emily? There’s no way I would do that.” I replied firmly but in a low voice.

“Yeah of course I’m not expecting a Celeztine Dior to do that, but I’m just giving you some suggestions you know, Zeus is the dream guy of most girls here on the campus you better remember that.” She shot back.

“Yeah I know, and I’m not planning anything on him Emily. I’m fine in this situation, if he finds his girl of life then it’s okay.” I replied. Even though a part of doesn’t agree with what I’ve said, I won’t do the first move either, that wasn’t me, besides he won’t like me either.

“As expected. But you know what, they said that Zeus likes a demure and modest woman like our Sancha Pastrana, why not give it a try?” She asked teasingly.

“Stop it, Emily. He won’t notice me.” I replied. Everyone also knows that he’s a snob and won’t bother to look at you.

“Yeah probably, your Architect is a snob you know.”She agreed. I shook my head at what she said, it’s a good thing that our conversation blended with our classmate's nose.

Then our professor came.

“Good afternoon class.” Mr.Rivera greeted us, he’s our physical education teacher. We’re also wearing our p.e uniforms, a plain white T-shirt and black shorts above the knee. I look taller as my long legs were flexed.

“Good Morning Mr.Rivera.” We greeted back.

“Alright, so our activity for today is a ballroom dance called Jive. Find your partner so we can proceed to the gymnasium for your practice.” He announced.

I put my long hair in a bun as I look at our class mirror, my cheeks turned pink rose already, so I put a gloss on my pink lips to compliment it.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you that some of my students from the Architecture department will join you.” He added.

My heart beats fast when I heard the words Architecture Department.

“Oh, here they are.” Mr.Rivera added and our attention was got when the newcomers entered our room. I was stunned when I saw the man wearing a jersey earlier now wearing a white shirt and black jogging pants paired to our p.e uniform. I gulped. He was looking blankly at us and when our gaze met, I immediately look back to Mr.Rivera.

“So, have you found your partners already?” I was taken aback when Mr.Rivera asked.

Damn, where’s Emily? My eyes immediately roamed to the entire room just to find her clinging to her boyfriend Ethan. They are partners already.

I saw Emily look at me and gave me a grin as she points her mouth at Zeus. I get it but it will never happen.

“So times up, those who haven’t partnered yet please stand up.” Mr.Rivera said.

I sighed and stands up.

“It’s either you girls would select your partner or vice versa.” He added.

I was stunned for a moment when my classmates immediately move and went to the Architecture students, I even see Claire get rejected when she approach Zeus to be her partner.

In the end, it’s only Zeus and I standing.

“So what are the two of you waiting for? A storm?” Mr.Rivera growled sarcastically.

Our classmates laugh.

“Sir, you will never see Celeztine walk to a guy and do the move first.” One of my classmates exclaimed.

I bowed my head in embarrassment, I didn’t expect this to happen. I don’t want to make a scene, this is so embarrassing.

The whole class became silent for a while and because of curiosity, I move my head up just to see him standing in front of me. My heart was beating so fast, I might melt staring at those light brown eyes at him. I can even smell his manly scent.

“Let’s be partners.” He whispered but was good enough to be heard by the whole class.

This is insane, breath Lez. I need air. I gulped.

“Y-yeah sure.” I wanted to slap myself for stuttering.

***

“Perfect! That’s right! Miss Dior, what are you doing?” Mr.Rivera growled at me when I cannot cope with the steps at the same time I am freaking inside having Zeus in front of me.

“What the hell? Mr.Lincoln teach her the right thing!” Mr.Rivera whined.

I can’t look at Zeus, I am barely breathing.

“Can you please calm down?” He whispered, that’s when our glaze met but I frowned when I saw him roll his eyes at me.

“Don’t you know how to dance?” He asked this time, my gaze was at my classmates who were enjoying the practice.

“Not really,” I replied, I only dance for grades.

“Poor woman.” I heard him whisper, but I know he incidentally let me hear it.

I froze for a moment when he hold my hand and position it to where it should be, the moment our skin touched sent shivers to me. I bit my lip, my heart was pounding so fast.

“Look at me.” He uttered which made me anxious more, but when our eyes met, it seems the world stops spinning for a few seconds.

“Jive is a lively and fast-paced dance, you shouldn’t think the step too much, let your body do the move, don’t be too pressured, stay calm, focus and presence of mind is a must.”- He added, his cold voice seemed music to my ears. Those two green eyes were so hypnotizing.

“Are you even listening?” He uttered sounds annoyed.

“S-sorry. Come again?” I replied, damn I’m so spaced out when he’s so near.

“Nevermind.” He snorted and went back to the bench. I didn’t notice that Mr.Rivera called us for a break.

“What the hell is that Celeztine Dior?”Emily whined at me when I got closer to her.

“W-what?” I asked. Even though I have an idea about it.

“Don’t embarrass yourself to the front of the guy you like!” She whispered sounding annoyed.

“I didn’t,” I said plainly.

“Oh really? Then what just happened earlier? You thought I didn’t say it? You’re not in your senses.” She whimpered.

“Don’t make it a big fuss, Emily, we both know that I don’t dance,” I replied.

“Yeah right but atleast act normal! It’s Zeus Lincoln for Pete's sake! Your ultimate crush since day one here in the university!” My eyes widened when her voice was loud in her last sentence.

“Hey, they might hear you!” I warned her but she just ignored it.

“Alright, class please fix your things, let’s resume our practice next week, and you better practice at your homes so you could dance properly especially you Miss Dior! Don’t be so demure and give me a good performance so I could have reason to give you a well-deserved grade!” Mr.Rivera exclaimed mentioning my name again so I just look down and felt embarrassed, dancing isn’t my thing.

“Hey girl ignore what he said, he’s just insecure over your beauty,” Emily whispered at me.

I half-smiled, I know she’s just cheering me up but I also know how to suck I am in dancing.

***

I am now on my way home, it’s a tiring day to the fact that Mr.Rivera shouted at me twice today.

I smiled and remove all the negativities when I entered our humble home.

“Dad I’m home. ” I called him, he’s probably in the kitchen cooking for our dinner. It’s only the two of us, my mother left me when I was still young and I don’t have any siblings.

I put my bag on the couch in the living room as I cheerfully went to the dining area.

“Dad where are you…” I haven’t finished my sentence when I saw my dad lying on the floor.

“D-dad? Daaaaaad! Help! Somebody help us!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping for someone to rescue us. I didn’t know what to do! F*CK Celeztine think!

I immediately went to the sala to get my phone and dialed 911. I was trembling in fear as I press the numbers and went back at my dad, he was barely breathing, my tears were pooling in my eyes and started to flow down my cheeks.

“D-dad, come on, don’t do this to me please.”

“Dad! Wake up!”

I didn’t know how we ended up at the hospital, I’m still in shock with what just happened.

He’s in the emergency room now, I was shaking and numb at the same time, I didn’t know how long I was sitting here, waiting for the doctor to come out while my tears are still dripping.

I think God hear my prayers when the doctor finally came out. I immediately went to him.

“Are you his relative?” The doctor asks.

“I-am his daughter doc,” I replied stuttering.

“Alright please calm down, your dad is safe now, however, we found out that he has Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) also known as Ischemic Heart disease.” He muttered, my world break into pieces with what I heard as tears started to flow down again.

“W-what should we do Doc? Please do something!” I burst out, I can’t control my feelings right now, I need my dad.

“Please calm down. Well, we can conduct Cardiac Catheterization since there’s a blockage that requires treatment, a balloon can be pushed through the catheter and inflated to improve the flow in his coronary arteries. We also have to conduct Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery where the surgeon creates a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of his body, this will allow his blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery.” He explained it clearly but I didn’t understand everything, all I know is he needs treatment and surgery and that requires a large sum of money for sure.

“H-how much do we need Doc for his surgery?” I asked.

“Around P 700,000 - P 1 million.” He replied. I felt my knees weaken, where I would get that huge amount of money. I heard the doctor say that the surgery should be done as soon as possible before he left. Damn what’s happening to us Dad, what did we do to deserve this?

I don’t know how long I was crying sitting beside dad’s hospital bed, I was just staring at him the whole time thinking where can I get the money for his surgery.

I’ve decided to have some fresh air outside and clear my thoughts. I went to the chapel first asking for a miracle from him.

When I went out, I bumped into a man who was about to enter the chapel.

“Are you alright?” He asked. He seemed familiar, but I’m not in my right mind to think where I saw him. I just nodded at him and continue walking outside but I was surprised when he followed me.

“Uhm excuses me, is this yours?” He asked handing me a paper.

It’s the bill that the staff handed me earlier.

I nodded and took it.

“T-thanks,” I replied and was about to turn my back I felt his hands on my arms.

“Uhm sorry to stop you, but here’s my calling card. If you need some help just call me, anything.” He stated and smiled at me before walking out of my sight. I stared at the card for a couple of minutes. My eyes slowly widened when the name slowly sank in.

“Governor Isaac Guevarra.”