Lahat ng Kabanata ng Submitting Series (one shot): Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

The house was quiet, the only sound coming from the faint rustling of trees outside and the distant chirping of birds. The dim lighting in the living room cast a warm glow around them.Theo and Ella sat close, they were speaking softly with each other, unspoken tension building between them.“You were so different as a kid,” Ella murmured, running her fingers lightly over the edge of a book on the coffee table. “Seeing this place… it makes me wonder how you became this Theo.”Theo watched her closely, his expression unreadable. “Maybe I’m still figuring that out myself.”Ella turned to face him, and suddenly, the air shifted. Neither of them spoke, but the silence was thick with something electric.Then, before she could think, before either of them could second-guess, he leaned in. His lips brushed against hers softly at first, testing, waiting. When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, his hands finding their way to her waist. Ella melted into him, her fingers sliding into hi

Morning sunlight filtered through the hospital windows, casting a soft glow across the room. Theo sat in the chair beside his father’s bed, his fingers interlocked, his mind split between two things—things that he needs to discuss with his father and the gnawing worry in his chest about Ella.She had left.Not just left—she had slipped away without saying goodbye.Theo had woken up at dawn after dozing off for a short while, and the first thing he did was check his phone. That was when he saw her message:Ella: Hey, I left early. I had some things to take care of back in the city. Thanks for everything. Hope your dad is okay.That was it. No warmth, no explanation. Just a simple, distant message that left an ache in his chest.His father stirred in his hospital bed, shifting slightly before his eyes fluttered open. Theo put his phone away and leaned forward.“You’re awake,” he said, trying to push aside his thoughts.His father gave him a tired look. “Didn’t sleep much, did you?”Theo

The night air was crisp, carrying a slight chill as Ella walked toward her dorm. The streets were quieter than usual, the faint sound of cars in the distance blending with the occasional rustling of leaves. She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she had brought a jacket.She had spent the evening at a café, finishing up some final touches on her assignments. Now that midterms were over, she finally had time to breathe. Everything in her life felt… peaceful.Except for one thing.Chole.He had been acting strange lately. Clingy. Restless. Almost desperate. She had noticed the shift in him ever since she started pulling away. What used to be casual—drinks, occasional hookups, meaningless fun—had become something suffocating.She thought he’d take the hint. That he'd move on.But he wasn’t letting go.Ella sighed, shaking off the uneasiness creeping up her spine. He’s just being annoying. Nothing serious.Or so she thought.Just as she reached the street leading to her dorm, she he

Ella walked through the university gates, and immediately, something felt wrong. It wasn’t anything obvious at first, just an odd, heavy sensation settling in her chest. The kind of feeling that made her skin prickle, like when someone was watching her. She tried to shake it off, telling herself she was overthinking things, but as she moved deeper into campus, the feeling grew stronger.Then she noticed the looks.People weren’t just glancing at her in passing; they were staring. Some pretended to be busy on their phones but would sneak quick glances in her direction. Others didn’t bother to hide it at all. Their eyes followed her as she walked, whispers trailing behind her like shadows. A few students exchanged smirks, nudging each other as if they were all in on some kind of secret.Ella’s heart pounded as she tightened her grip on her bag. She didn’t understand—why was everyone looking at her like that? What was going on? She tried to keep her head down, but the weight of their eye

A few days later, Ella received a formal notice from the university. It wasn’t just another warning or a request for a meeting—it was an official disciplinary hearing regarding her "misconduct."Her hands trembled as she held the paper, her breath hitching in her throat. She had been dreading this moment ever since the pictures leaked. But now that it was here, a heavy weight settled in her chest. Ella bit her lip. “What if… what if they actually expel me?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, the fear in it clear.Across campus, Theo read the same notice. His fingers tightened around the letter, his jaw clenching. He knew this was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. “They’re pushing this too far,” he muttered and his mind raced with possibilities, searching for a way out of this mess. However, he knew that this isn't going to be easy.Soon, Ella found herself sitting beside Theo in the meeting room, her hands clenched together on her lap to stop them from shaking.