"Oy, what with that sour face? Mukha kang lutang! Hangover?"

Napabalik ako sa reyalidad nang sundutin ako ni Olivia. Doon lang ako gumalaw at mabilis na umupo sa upuang nakatalaga sa akin.

I then immediately rolled my eyes when I remembered what she did last night.

"Well, salamat sa hindi pagsipot, Olivia. Thanks to you, I'm alone and so lonely!" I sarcastically answered.

She chuckled. "My God, Kelssey. It's not like you don't know how strict my parents are nowadays, after what happened months ago. I wanted to go out too, but what should I do? Akyatin ang bakod namin para makalabas? That's so risky and eww, babe."

I sighed because of annoyance. "I was alone last night. Gosh, pamatay na nga agad ang law school tapos nakikisabay pa ang boredom. Party is my only escape, tapos ngayon? Gosh! Tapos mag-isa pa ako! Imagine my grief, Olivia!" Reklamo ko.

Olive shook her head and tried to tap my shoulder, maarte ko namang inilayo iyon sa kanya.

"If only Gigi is here, 'di naman siguro ganito ka-miserable life natin. Damn those people and damn law school!" Gigil kong saad.

Olive sighed. "But this is the path we chose, Kels."

Napabuga ako ng hangin. My choice? I'm not sure about that though.

I just have no choice or maybe I have, but I just don't know yet what I really like to do. It's quite complicated or maybe I just have no dream at all, because to be honest, I only thought of becoming a lawyer when I met Olivia and Gigi. They became my guide. Their dreams became my dreams, that's why I am here.

But maybe Olive's right, this is indeed the path I chose. At mukhang wala na akong ibang magagawa kundi ang panindigan ito hanggang matapos. Gusto naman ng mga magulang ko na maging lawyer ako, they are in fact very supportive about this.

"Stop being grumpy already, Kelssey. At tsaka maiba nga tayo, sino ba iyang kasama mong pumasok? That good-looking guy with hazel eyes! Grabe, muntik nang malaglag 'yong panty ko. Share mo naman 'yong name sa akin, nakita ko kayo kaninang nag-uusap sa labas e." Olivia asked at muntik na akong masamid sa sarili kong laway. Mas lalo namang lumala ang inis na nararamdaman ko.

"W-What? I don't know! We don't know each other! M-Malay ko ba kung sino 'yan! May tinanong lang naman!" I immediately denied and tried my best not to look at Lazarus na nakatayo pa rin sa gilid ng pinto dahil wala yatang mauupuan.

Ghad, I hate this situation. I don't want Olive to find out that he's my bodyguard because she will tease me for sure, or even try to flirt with him.

Agad akong napairap dahil sa naisip. Flirt with him? What was that? Hindi ko yata kayang iimagine iyon!

"Really?" Olive smirked. "But why do I feel like you're being defensive right now?"

"I'm not!" I hissed.

"Talaga ba? Kung gano'n, ayain ko palang maupo dito sa tabi ko ngayon para hindi ako ma-bored." Aniya at muling ngumisi.

I immediately got alarmed. Pauupuin niya si Lazarus sa tabi niya? No way!

"No! You have a seatmate! Si Jello!" Saad ko, trying my best not to sound obvious na kilala ko nga si Lazarus. But Olivia being Olivia seemed so suspicious of me already.

"Nagdrop na si Jello last week, magmemedschool na raw." Aniya at nagkibit-balikat.

What? Bakit hindi ko alam 'yon?

"Kaya free na talaga itong seat na 'to. Wait, I'm gonna call him lang."

Olive stood. Mag-aapila pa sana ako but I already ran out of words to say and I also think na baka mas makahalata lang siya kung magrereklamo pa ako. That's why I just decided to shut up. Kahit na labag na labag sa kalooban ko ang gagawin niya.

And fuck, is she really serious about flirting with him?

Hindi pwede! I can't let my friend flirt with a jerk like him. Kahit na pareho naman yata silang red flag.

I pouted when what happened flashed into my mind again.

Ano ba kasing pumasok sa isip niya at ginawa niya iyon? Kissed me and then left me hanging?

I've never been so humiliated like that. Nakakainis!

Bakit ba kasi? I'm gorgeous, hot, and I have sexy lips. Magaling din ako humalik, kaya bakit?

It's not like hayok na hayok ako, that I'm craving so much. Ang akin lang naman, bakit niya ako nilapitan at hinalikan gayong wala naman pala siyang balak na panindigan 'yong ginawa niya?

"Hmp. Annoying." Bulong ko, ngunit tila narinig yata nilang dalawa iyon.

Olive eyed me but I just shrugged my shoulders. I know that Lazarus is watching me but I didn't dare look at him dahil baka matarayan ko lang siya sa inis.

Salamat naman at dumating na ang prof namin pagkatapos no'n, Lazarus was then called in front, pinakilala bilang transferee.

"Lazarus Urien Alejandre." He introduced himself using his deep and cold voice that immediately sent shivers to my spine.

Inis naman akong napairap no'ng mapansin ang bulong-bulungan ng mga tao sa paligid, lalo na ang mga kaklase kong babaeng halatang inaadmire siya.

"Grabe, pangalan palang moanable na." Olive chuckled which made me frown more.

Isa pa 'to.

Thankfully, the classes went okay. I'm actually quite impressed with how Lazarus behaved in class.

I get that my dad is paying him to take the same program as me but he didn't seem to be bored earlier. Well, blangko lang kasi ang kanyang ekspresyon habang nakikinig sa professor and when he was called ay agad ding nakasagot which earned a praise from the terror prof.

I sighed as I looked at him stood and picked up the a crossbody bag na ngayon ko lang napansin na dala pala niya.

I suddenly wonder how big of a salary my father offered to him para gawin ang trabahong ito. It seems to be very huge para gawin niya ang lahat ng bagay na 'to.

And how old is he? I'm sure he's older than me.

"Gosh, Kelssey! We should invite him for a snack before going home!" Olive smiled and held my arm.

Agad naman akong napangiwi. Alam ko na rin naman kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

"No, 'wag na. Hayaan na natin 'yon. Baka may plans. Let's just mind our own business." Tanggi ko sa ideya niya but Olive's eyes immediately started accusing me of something.

Oh, c'mon.

I pouted and thought of something to divert Olive's attention habang pababa kami ng hagdan.

"Grabe, hindi mo na nga ako sinamahan kagabi tapos ngayon gusto mo pang may iba tayo makakasamang mag-snack? Ayaw mo na ba akong kasama, Olive? Am I a boring person to you now?" I uttered and made sure that I sounded really sad.

Olive immediately rolled her eyes and acted like she's going to puke.

"My gosh, Kelssey! Stop being childish!" Mataray niyang saad.

Mas lalo naman akong sumimangot. "Bakit? It's true naman ah! Mukhang ayaw mo na talaga akong kasama. Mas gusto mo pang kasama 'yong Laz—."

My eyes literally widened at pakiramdam ko ay humiwalay na ang kaluluwa ko sa katawan nang bigla akong madulas sa hagdan.

I tried to grab the railing ngunit dumulas lang din ang kamay ko doon. Olive also tried to reach me but she didn't succeed.

I closed my eyes as I felt myself falling. I was waiting for my body to hit the tiled floor but it didn't happen. Instead I felt a warm arm snaked on my waist to keep me place, itinuwid niya rin ang tayo ko at iniabot sa akin ang designer bag na nabitawan ko.

His warmth enveloped my whole being as he stood behind me. Then slowly he leaned and whispered to me.

"Be careful, young miss. Or else, you'll fall." Bulong niya na nagpatayo ng mga balahibo ko sa katawan.