Chapter 15

" I don't know yet, mom.. I can't drop out of school because I'll lose a lot if I miss even one day. But maybe I'll be able to go home soon." I said and turned off the stove.

" Is that so, go ahead and study hard. Don't worry about us too much. I'll tell Cole you're coming soon and he'll be glad for that." I smiled and nodded at the

phone.

" All right, bye mom ..." I turned off the call and put my cellphone down. I quickly put my cooked sardines with egg into the container.

I started eating and prepared for admission. I just wore a loose shirt and pants and then tucked it in.

When I arrived on campus I noticed that other students were looking at me. I just shrugged and ignored it. I went straight to our room and slowed down when I saw that almost all of them were glancing at me.

I frowned as I walked to my seat and was silent, soon after Jessie came running towards me.

" Girl!" She sat down next to me and her eyes almost shone with delight. " Is what I heard right? Are you dating with Loren?!" Her voice got a little louder so my classmates turned to us and I heard a whisper.

My eyes widened and automatically shook my head.

" No, where did you hear that?" I asked while frowning.

I can't even imagine myself being close to that man, and worst to be one of his women.

" W hew? The colleges said you were together in the condo of.. was it was Tatiana? The beautiful?" She says.

" It's her birthday, we're both invited." I explain.

" But they said Loren still seems to be sleeping with you! Oh my gosh, not you two— "

" Jessie." I stopped because we were already grabbing attention. " It's not like that. He's drunk and just mumbling shits, don't believe them." I just said and took a deep breath to calm myself.

Damn that Atenean, I think my quiet life will be ruined.

When I entered work I did not expect to see him. His white polo was naked and hanging on the back of the chair, he was wearing a gray t- shirt and white slacks. I walked slowly as I looked at him seriously while he's reading.

Yes, the Katipunan is close to Diliman but there are many cafés there so why does he have to stay here to study?

I sighed and approached him. I stood by his side so he looked up. I saw his eye glasses again that only seemed to suit him. He closed the book he was reading and laid it on the table.

He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair while looking at me. " Can you stay away from me? We're already the talk of my campus, I'm so tired of it." I told him.

He raised an eyebrow and grinned, " Why do you even care? Do you actually care about gossips around you?" he asked so I stumbled.

What is this many saying? Last night we just had a good conversation, and now I'm going to be annoyed again.

" W hat do you mean?"

" Don't mind them, you're not my girlfriend anyway."

I gasped in the air, " Do I still have to be your girlfriend to care about it?" He was stunned and grinned even more, " Try then."

The strong wind blew me away and gave up. I turned my back on him and went straight to the locker room to get dressed. I frowned working all night because he wasn’ t leaving and focused on reading.

" Looks like Loren is getting here a lot?" Annie whispered as I got dressed in the locker. I didn’ t answer and continued dressing. " Seriously, he looks perfect, doesn't he? He's handsome, smart, rich, has a sense of fashion, I just heard he's a bit rude. But that's okay! I like it better if he's rude to others and only kind to me! " She added so I was shaken.

" W hat if he's a playboy?" I asked.

" Hmm, but Loren doesn't look like a playboy, does he?"

I smiled at him sarcastically and closed my locker. " You bet," I whispered and left her there.

" Ha? W ait what are you saying? Celine!"

When time went on and my shift was done. I passed Loren who had his belongings put away and was ready to leave. I went out of the café and waited for the tricycle.

" W ait for me here." he said so I turned to him who was already close to me. I didn’ t answer him and let him get into his car.

He quickly brought the car in front of me and he opened the front seat from the inside, I didn't have the tric I had expected but I didn't enter.

" Go inside,"

I shook my head and glared at him, " Will you please stop this? It's annoying."

Instead of leaving I saw him grin because of the little light inside his car. " Just get in. I'm tired too."

" Oh that's right, just go home!"

" I want you here, Celine. Come in." " I do not want."

" W ill you come in or will I drag you?"

" W hy? Can you?" You challenge. He's talking as if he can carry me here in public.

" Try me."

" Shut it."

I folded my arms and was startled as I watched him get out of his car. My eyes widened as I watched him quickly approach me.

I shouted in protest and punched his shoulders several times but to no avail, because seconds later, I found myself inside his car— breathing heavily and looking at him dangerously.