Chapter 1

I keep on glancing at Camila beside me because she looks drowsy and her head keeps on falling on my shoulder but because she's still half-awake, she automatically sits properly right after even when our professor's voice from our minor subject was soporific.

When the bell rang, the professor then dismissed the class and left. It was our last subject in the afternoon and it doesn't help most of us because the subject was boring plus our professor's voice was pulling his students to feel sleepy. And the time scheduled for that subject is already a given.

Camila yawn while we are in the hallway. "Good thing, I didn't fall asleep back then!" She hissed while her eyes watered because of her yawning.

I chuckled. "You were dozing off."

"Anyway, are you going with me or... you still have somewhere to go with lover boy?" She asked with tease while slightly poking my side.

I nodded shyly as I felt the hotness on my cheeks.

Camila looked at me in awe. "You two lasted for this long yet you're still blushing like it's new?"

My lips parted and I then shook my head. "We'll just go out for a while but I'll go home right after," I diverted.

She snickered. "Oh fine! Take care."

We bid each other goodbye and we then parted ways. My boyfriend called in the morning and he said that we'll have our date this afternoon.

Our class for today ended early but he didn't text me again since his last message during lunchtime. Maybe he still has class so I decided to go to their plaza just right in front of their building and wait there for him until his class finishes.

I typed for a message but deleted it right away when I realized that it will just disturb him so I placed my phone in the small pocket at the bottom end of my white uniform blouse.

I met some friends and acquaintances along the way to Revi's building so it took me some time because we exchanged pleasantries and talked for a bit. It was a quarter to 5 when I reached the College of Sciences building and I still haven't received any message from my boyfriend, probably still in class.

People were hanging out in the plaza but it wasn't crowded because it's already five in the afternoon and most class has already ended or some are still in class. I sat on the table in which I could see the people going in and out of the building so that I could see Revi if he goes out.

Some students near me who are sitting on the patios of the plaza are constantly giving me glances. I awkwardly smiled at them which they returned with their forehead creased, confound. Maybe confused as to why someone who doesn't belong in this department was hanging out here.

From my all-white uniform-- from my blouse and my pencil skirt down to my white shoes, it is obvious enough that I am a Nursing Student. This is the building of the College of Sciences but Nursing students don't belong here because we belong to the College of Medicine so that explains it. But somehow or another, we're related to each other.

It's close to 5:30 and Revi hasn't texted me yet so I presume that he's still in class. This is not new though because sometimes it's me who takes longer in class and there are times that it's him. If I am the one who's late on our date or errand, he'll wait for me even if it takes an hour or more. We were used to this kind of situation so it's nothing tiring.

I snatched my reviewer from inside my shoulder bag and thought that it's better if I would read while waiting. We have an exam tomorrow and I already studied in advance yesterday but surprise exams are to be expected at the tertiary level so advanced reading would save me in times of crisis like surprise exams.

I was so engrossed in reading that I lost track of the time. If only Revi didn't nudge me, I wouldn't notice his presence.

"Hey," Revi called in his usual manly voice.

I smiled upon lifting my head to meet his eyes and his bright smile. "What time were you here?" He asked.

"4:30?"

His forehead creased. "You should have gone home first and I will just fetch you after I finish my class."

I raised my brow after putting my reviewer back to my bag. "I told you. I like to see us wearing our uniforms when we're out for a date."

He shot his brows up and snatched my shoulder bag from my hold and carried it himself.

"Was your back wet?" He asked in a worried voice before glancing on my back.

I rolled my eyes as I stood up from where I'm sitting. "I'm a Nursing student, for Pete's sake!" I cried which made him chuckle. And I could handle myself just fine. Wiping my back is something manageable.

"I found a good place for our date but that's far away and we don't have the time because we still have class tomorrow so we'll just go there the next time."

I nodded while we are walking our way to the university's gate. We are not heading to the parking lot so I supposed that we'll just hang out across the street.

This. This is what made me stay with him. Besides saying yes when he courted me when we were in Senior High School, everything about Revi made me stay. The way he decently carries himself made me like him and he's much more than that when he's with me. His principles are never-bending and strong and he always speaks his thought, never leaving anything behind. He's a 'this is what I think, this is what I feel' kind of a person. The way Revi talks that even foul comments or statements would never be recognized as one because he has this way of words.

And by just that statement, he cares for me, for us, and our studies. That's what I like about him. And there is so much more that I like about this man that I cannot express into words.

Even though it's already 6 in the evening, there are still a lot of students whom we've encountered while we were on our way to the gate.

"Hey Revi! With Miss Perfect again?" A guy with a familiar face said.

I don't know but some address me as 'Miss Perfect'. I don't want to be called like that because it makes me shy and besides, I somehow disagree with that. No one is perfect and I believe that. Even I, the person they referred to as the person of perfection, is flawed too.

"What's new?" Revi replied in a cocky manner which made the other guy laughed before bidding the both of us goodbye.

Revi held my hand swiftly, interlocking our fingers. "There's nothing new, right? Still you."

Heat then gushed through my cheeks that even my nose feels hot of a sudden.

Revi pinched my nose lightly. "Let's go?"

I nodded while touching my nose he just pinched.

"Mister, five kwek-kwek and 10 pieces of fishball," Revi said to the old man we happened to see selling street foods across the university road.

He then turned to me with a smile that didn't wear off since we're together.

"Fries and kwek-kwek for mine, Mister."

I watched the big frying pan on the cart with sizzling oil. I was watching the food we ordered which was currently cooked with hot oil.

"How's school?"

I snapped and turned to Revi who's now watching me, waiting for my reply.

I shrugged. "The usual. There's still surprise quizzes."

"Those are nothing new."

"Are you even studying?" I asked him for tease but I tried hard to sound suspicious.

He looked at me offended, obviously faking it. "Of course! Does that need to be asked?"

Oh right. I forgot. Revi is a very proud man but that kind of proud who could show something through actions and not just merely spouting.

"I just want to tease you, Rev." I giggled.

"Oh, that was a tease?" He asked as if he didn't notice that it was a tease.

When our food was cooked, I snatched coins from my purse and was about to hand the money to the vendor but Revi already paid for it.

"It was my food so it must be me who should pay for it!" I told him, annoyed, while we were on our way to my boarding house.

"Oh come'n! It was just 30 pesos and that wasn't sore to my wallet, Amelia."

I frowned. "I always value any amount-- small or big, Rev!"

I was just proving a point here but he didn't seem to get it.

Oh, I won't let this off easily. Even though it was just a mere 30 pesos, that doesn't change the fact that it was my food and I wasn't a fan-free of anything. My parents are well-off but I was raised decently and that includes the knowledge they instilled into my mind that there's nothing free in this world nor I would spend my money on anything nonsense!

I know I shouldn't make this big and I don't have any plans for doing so. I just want to let him know. Small or big, it could affect our relationship so as long as possible, I am already resolving it before it could become a problem.

He sighed before eating his last kwek-kwek. "Okay, fine. I'm sorry but this is just for today."

I hand him my bill of 20 pesos and a 10 peso coin, an exact 30 pesos. His mouth gaped at the sight of it.

"I insist on paying my food," I said with warning. I was just so serious about this matter, I couldn't just let it go. I couldn't let him have his way.

He massaged his temple, obviously not agreeing that I will pay but is giving up because I just won't budge. "Well, if you insist. I'll take that."

He accepted my 30 pesos money before pocketing it inside the pocket of his pants even though I could see from his reaction that he was really against it.

I smiled at him brightly which made him laugh.

"Yeah, right. I could add this 30 pesos to my gas."

I shook my head and before I could eat my last piece of kwek-kwek in my skewer, Revi forestalled me and snatched my kwek-kwek before bringing it near his mouth.

My grip on the hem of his short-sleeve tightened as I pleaded silently while looking at him who's now teasing the kwek-kwek to his mouth.

"NO!" I screamed.

After screaming 'no' in its full glory, he ate it without mercy. I immediately whack his shoulder which made him groan.

He immediately ran away from me and stopped just to wait for me even though we're now metered apart.

When I was about to touch his uniform, he ran at full speed, leaving me behind, leaving a huge gap between us.

I looked at the naughty guy with his light golden hair swaying along with the smooth wind who just stole my last piece of kwek-kwek and who happened to be my boyfriend, Revi Abracosa!

"You! How dare you steal my boiled quail eggs coated with an orange batter!"