Who Are You in the First Place?

“I’m not lying.”

Cj is chuckling as he watches Cheska's amusing reaction. Among everyone else, she has the most priceless reaction.

How long is she standing there? Half a minute? She’s silent for almost a minute. She still hasn’t said any words since his introduction.

Is his introduction that surprising? In fact, he still hasn’t said who he really is.

But what if he did? That would be really epic.

“Cheska!”

She flinched, back to earth again. Was she staring at him for so long subconsciously? Again? Just what's with the guy in front of him?

He looks fine, sure but he's not her type. Why is she so absorbed in him?

She nearly forgot Brittany's presence. Right, they are on their way to that garden.

For one last time, she looked at Cj who didn't even remove his gaze from her.

“The garden,” she paused, feeling shy. “Is it open for everyone?”

“Yes. It’s for the students. You’re just not allowed to ruin it.”

She only nodded to it and bowed politely. She feels like she has to do it because of the guy in front of her—the president of the university.

Now she understands the whispers earlier. They all know who’s the guy in front of her.

She feels...quite regretful for what she acted earlier. She shouldn't have stared at him.

That was...really rude. Lucky for her, the president doesn't mind it at all.

Or he does?

“I didn’t know there’s already a president…”

“President?” Brittany turned her head to see the guy. He just started to walk away in the opposite. “Name?”

“Christian James…” she paused, hesitant. "...Lee."

“Perhaps it's because of his name? That he was chosen as the president?"

“That's an absurd reason.”

“You still can't say that...?”

That's the end of their conversation about the president. She just let it go. She even doubts there's something meaningful behind it. Lee University is a strange school, strange reasons isn't that...strange at all.

They stayed in the garden only for ten minutes. It's not a place for hangout either since there are no chairs or benches. It's just a pure garden.

Perhaps the university is avoiding littering and loitering. It's too impossible that they just 'forgot' to buy those.

After a couple of minutes of taking pictures, they proceeded to the cafeteria.

“I heard the foods here are like the ones from the finest restos! What will you buy?"

Her hazel brown eyes inadvertently went to Brittny's phone. She's currently looking at their pictures earlier. Most of the pictures are hers and some are theirs.

It's still a mystery to her how Brittany manages—always manages to make her participate in picture takings when she really really hates it. She doesn’t know how to smile in front of cameras. She doesn’t know exactly what to do.

For short, she’s awkward in front of it. As long as she can, she avoids it.

“I ate my breakfast," she answered. "You eat first. I'll still join you."

But that thought made Brittany frowned. "Pass. I'm on diet."

“It’s breakfast,” there's an authority in her voice, then she sighed. “You must not miss it. It's a very important meal of the day.”

"Oh, I didn't miss it," she waved her hands, looking more defensive. "I actually ate two breads! I'm still full. Let's just find a place to stay. It's too cold back in the room..."

Brittany gave her no chance to speak more. She knows there's a long chastise inside Cheska about her diet.

On Cheska's side, Brittany is always on a diet though she doesn’t look like she needs one. Her body is in perfect shape. She's not thin nor fat.

She's fine. Perfectly fine. What’s the need for a diet?

They're just about to walk away to look for a place when she felt something wrong inside her body. It made her stop walking. She placed her palm at the top of her chest to feel it.

“I’ll just buy some water.”

That's when Brittany only stopped. Her eyes slightly widened when she saw Cheska in a very familiar scenario. “Is it happening again?”

She only nodded to it and waved her hand before walking away. “Just find a place. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Hand still at the top of her chest, she closed her eyes as she takes deep breaths. In the middle of deep breaths, she can’t help but think why.

She doesn’t understand why. She was just fine a while ago.

Perhaps because she got too excited? Because of that garden? Really?

She immediately drank the water she bought. She drank it without stopping as if she never had water for a month. She feels fine now, better than seconds ago.

That’s good. She thought the worst-case scenario is about to come. She wiped the side of her lips and started to walk away when she suddenly bumped into someone.

They both tsked, unpleased with the bump. Just how many students are there in that university that bumping is normal? This isn’t the first time today.

Was she just being reckless? Or aside from not whispering properly, they don’t also know how to walk properly?

When they meet each other’s eyes, only her eyes gave a sudden reaction. Her brows raised in surprise. That was the guy earlier, the one who’s sitting behind her row and the guy with whom she made eye contact.

“I’m sorry...” then she bowed her head.

If it’s a different guy, she would feel irritated. But it’s that guy, the guy who effortlessly looks intimidating, and also the one who walked beside her when she was about to leave her seat.

She can tell he’s not easy to deal with and he won’t be that easy. He looks difficult by just taking a glance.

Not to mention, he’s closer now which means…his presence is worst than what she felt before.

“’Sorry’?” there’s amusement in his tone. “You glared at me.”

And…she doesn’t know how to get away with that. She did glare at him and glaring is rude—she knows that.

But she’s not the only one who glared? He glared at her too.

The next thing she knew, everyone around them is looking at her.

“She was with the president just earlier, right? Now Lorenzo is talking to her?”

“What’s wrong with her? Is she new?”

“I think she is.”

“Well, I feel so bad for her…”

She once again felt something wrong inside her body. It’s starting to beat fast again. She managed to make it calm but now it’s getting out of control. Again. She was about to drink but then realized she consumed all of it on one go.

She’s about to walk away to buy another one when the guy they call Lorenzo held her wrist. She quickly swayed it and glared at him but this time, she purposely let him see it.

“Don’t touch me!”

“Who told you to walk away? I am still talking to you.”

“I told myself.” the furrows on her brows deepened, wondering what it is with him if she walks away or not. Frankly, they’re not even really talking. “Now if you please—”

Lorenzo didn’t falter as if he heard nothing nor sees anything at all. He grabbed again her wrist and violently pulled her back to where she was.

Cheska failed to do something. He’s just so strong and his grip is so tight. It’s like her bones will be broken if he won’t stop his tight grip right away.

“Who do you think you are?”

“Let go of me! Who do you think you are to do this to me huh? Let me go!” she pushed him hard making him lose his grip. She used that chance to walk away and buy another bottle of water.

She’s clenching her uniform as she waits for it to come. Even her lips are starting to dry up.

“Are you fine miss?” one of the students asked. “We have a clinic—”

“No,” she said strictly. “I don’t need it.”

She can’t go there. Not on her first day. What if her mother heard about this? It’s not yet even half of the day and she’s already failing.

No way. She must not go there. She can handle herself. She can do this.

But will she really be able to do it? She’s not in the perfect situation to handle herself.

She hopes something different would happen. She hopes that guy would vanish behind her miraculously. That university is a place of peculiarity, right?

Is it possible something peculiar would happen at any minute?

Lorenzo held her shoulders and forcefully turned her to him. Cheska pushed him hard again but this time, he didn’t step back.

“What’s the matter with you?!”

Now, it’s not just her heart that is out of control. She is too. She knows her voice can be heard all over the place. She’s getting more irritated and it’s just making her situation even worse.

It was just a bump. Sure, she hates being bumped too but she will never ever act like how the guy in front of her is acting.

Is he crazy? That’s what she only sees now—a crazy guy.

“Learn where you stand.” he stepped closer and she stepped back. She only stopped when she's already leaning against the counter.

“What did I ever do to you?!”

His eyes narrowed into slits. He leaned closer and rested his palm at the counter behind her. Their faces are even closer than the time when they bumped each other.

Cheska was left with no choice but to look away.

“You don’t really know who I am huh?”

Tears fell out of her eyes. She’s crying not because of that guy. But because of what’s happening inside her body. She can’t get enough air.

Her schoolmates just don’t care. They’re only after the scene. They’re like watching a movie.

And the guy Lorenzo…she’s just too close to her. It’s suffocating. He’s inhaling all of the air she badly needs.

“Who are you in the first place?”

All of the students turned in the direction where the voice is coming.

Lorenzo’s jaw clenched and closed his eyes tightly. Just a voice, only a voice but he’s getting more irritated than what he's feeling to the girl he’s locking between his arms.

Cheska’s eyes squinted. She knows that voice. There’s no way that’s not him. She just had a talk with him an hour ago.