Chapter 1

I keep on glancing at Camila beside me because she looks drowsy and her head keeps on leaning on my shoulder but because she's still half-awake, she immediately sat properly even when our professor's voice from our minor subject is soporific.

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

I heard Camila yawn while we are in the hallway.

"Buti na lang talaga at hindi ako nakatulog kanina!" She hissed while her eyes watered because of the yawn.

I chuckled. "Muntikan na."

"Anyway, sasabay ka sa akin pauwi ngayon o... may lakad kayo ni 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.

"Matagal na kayo tapos namumula ka pa rin?!"

My lips parted and I then shook my head.

"We'll just go out for a while pero uuwi din ako," I diverted.

She snickered. "Oh siya! Mag-ingat kayo."

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 today. Maagang natapos ang klase namin ngayong araw at hindi siya nag-text ulit simula noong huling mensahe niya kaninag lunch time. Maybe he still have class kaya nagpasya akong pumunta sa building nila at doon na sa katapat na maliit na parke maghintay hanggang sa matapos siya.

Nagtipa ako ng mensahe but I deleted it right after when I realized that it will just disturb him kaya ibinulsa ko na lamang ang cellphone sa maliit na bulsa ng aking puting blouse.

I met some friends and acquaintances on my way to Revi's building kaya medyo natagalan din ako sa paglalakad dahil may kaunting kumustahan at usapan pa. It was quarter to 5 when I reached the College of Sciences building and I still haven't received any message from Revi.

May mga tao namang tumatambay sa parke pero hindi gaanong marami dahil uwian na o hindi kaya'y may klase pa. I sat on the table where I can really see the people going in and out of the building so that I will see Revi immediately if he goes out.

Napapatingin naman sa aking gawi ang iilang estudyante na kagaya ko'y nakaupo din sa ibang patio. I awkardly smiled at them which they gave back with their forehead creased, siguro nababaguhan na may hindi taga-dito na tumatambay sa parke katapat ng building nila.

From my all-white uniform-- from my blouse and my pencil skirt down to my white shoes, it is obvious that I am a Nursing Student. This is a building of college of sciences pero nahihiwalay dito ang Nursing dahil nasa building kami ng College of Medicine.

It's close to 5:30 and Revi didn't text so I presume that he's still in class. Hindi na naman to bago dahil kadalasan ay ako ang may klaseng matagal matapos at kadalasan ay siya. 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. Nasanay na rin kaming dalawa sa ganitong sitwasyon kaya hindi na ito bago pa.

I snatched my reviewer from my shoulder bag at napag-isipan na magbasa muna. May isang exam kami bukas at nakapag-aral na naman ako kahapon pa pero dahil uso ang surprise exam sa Nursing ay hindi masama ang advance reading at nakakatulong pa nga.

I was so engrossed in reading that I lost track of the time. Kung hindi lang ako kinalabit ni Revi para malaman ko ang presensya niya ay siguro naabutan na ako dito ng gabi.

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

I smiled upon lifting my head to meet his eyes and his bright smile.

"Kanina ka pa?" He asked.

"4:30?"

His forehead creased. "Sana umuwi ka na lamang muna at susunduin naman kita sa boarding house mo."

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 he carried it himself.

"Hindi ba basa ang likod mo?" 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.

"I found a good place for our date but that's a bit far away and we don't have time because we still have class tomorrow kaya sa susunod na lamang tayo pupunta."

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 carries himself in a decent way made me like him and he's much more than that when he's with me. His principles that 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 are never recognized as one because he has this way of words.

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

Kahit ala-sais na ng gabi ay marami-rami pa rin ang estudyante kaya may nakakasalamuha kami habang naglalakad papunta sa gate.

"Hoy Revi! With Ms. Perfect na naman?" A guy with a familiar face said.

Ewan ko but some always addresses me as 'Ms. 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 say that a person of perfection, is flawed too.

"Ano pa bang bago?" Revi jokingly said which made the other guy laughed before bidding both of us goodbye.

Revi held my hand swiftly, interlocking our fingers.

"Wala namang bago, hindi ba? Ikaw pa rin."

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

Revi pinched my nose lightly.

"Let's go?"

I nodded while touching my nose he just pinched.

"Manong, limang kwek-kwek at sampung 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 which didn't wear off since we're together.

"Fries at kwek-kwek ang akin po, Manong."

I watched at the big frying pan on the cart with sizzling oil. Tiningnan ko ang order namin na kasalukuyan na ngayong niluluto ni Manong sa mainit na mantika.

"How's school?"

I snapped and then turn to Revi who's now watching me.

I shrugged. "The usual. May surprise quiz din."

"Hindi na naman bago ang mga ganoon."

"Nag-aaral ka naman ba?"

He looked at me, faking his offense.

"Oo naman! Ako pa. Kailangan pa ba iyang tanungin?"

Oh right. I forgot. Revi is a very proud man but that kind of proud na panigurado namang may ikakabuga at makabuluhan at hindi puro salita lamang na walang laman.

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

"Oh that was a tease?" Kunwari'y hindi niya alam.

Nang natapos na ang nilutong pagkain ay kumuha ako ng barya sa aking pitaka pero nang iaabot ko na sana kay Manong ay nakapagbayad na pala si Revi.

"Pwede ba? Pagkain ko iyon kaya dapat lang na pera ko!" Naiinis na saad ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa aking boarding house at sinasabayan niya ako.

"Oh come'n! It was just 30 pesos at hindi naman masakit sa bulsa."

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

Oh, I won't let this off easily. Kahit 30 pesos lamang ay pagkain ko pa rin iyon at hindi ako tagahanga ng libre. My parents is well-off but I was raised decently, kasali na doon ang hindi magpalibre o gumastos sa mga bagay na hindi naman makabuluhan!

I know I shouldn't make this big and I don't have any plans to do so. Gusto ko lang siyang pagsabihan. Small or big, it can affect our relationship kaya hanggang possible ay nireresolba ko na bago pa magkaproblema.

He sighed before eating his last kwek-kwek.

"Okay, fine. I'm sorry but ngayong araw lang naman."

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 in warning.

He massaged his temple, obviously not agreeing that I will pay.

"Well, if you insist. I'll take that."

Tinanggap niya ang 30 pesos at isinilid sa bulsa ng kanyang pants kahit na'y talagang tutol.

I smiled at him brightly which made him laugh.

"Oo nga naman. Pwede ko ng pandagdag ang 30 pesos sa gas ko."

I shook my head at bago pa matusok ang huling kwek-kwek sa aking maliit na paper plate ay natusok na iyon ni Revi at kaagad na dinala sa kanyang bibig.

I gripped the hem of his short sleeve and I pleaded silently as I looked at him who's now teasing his mouth to eat the kwek-kwek.

"NO!" I screamed.

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

Kaagad naman siyang tumakbo palayo sa akin at huminto para hinatayin ako kahit ilang metro ang layo niya.

When I was about to touch his uniform, he run in full speed, leaving me behind in 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 who happened to be my boyfriend, Revi Abracosa!

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