Chapter 3 Three

• Every chapter is a mix of flashback and present time.
• Five years ago.
• I tightly held the strap of my bag as I walked down the long hallway, the surroundings unfamiliar to me. It was my first day as a college student, and I couldn’t help but feel nervous about what life would be like inside.
• My building was at the far end, and I was running late, so I hurried my pace. It was frustrating—why did I oversleep today? Mom didn’t wake me up, and they weren’t home when I left, so I also felt hungry since I hadn’t eaten since last night.
• When I arrived at the room assigned to me, everything was chaotic, although our professor was already seated. I took a seat at the front since it was the only vacant one left.
• Like the usual routine on the first day, there were introductions to the lessons for the whole semester and getting to know each other. I didn’t know many people yet, so I just kept quiet as I walked towards the canteen near our building. The weather was hot, making it lazy to walk, and I didn’t bring an umbrella—I rushed and forgot to bring one to avoid being late.
• “Bacon with rice, please,” I ordered at the counter. I really ate a heavy breakfast since my first class was only for one hour, so my stomach wouldn’t hurt if I ate something heavy.
• “Hello, you’re the one I was with during enrollment, right?” I paused in my eating because of the voice I heard.
• I faced her, a familiar face greeted me, so I nodded. “Adrianna, right?”
• She nodded and smiled, and then I noticed she also had a tray of food.
• “Is it okay if I sit beside you?” I almost laughed because she didn’t wait for me to answer and just sat down. “I’m Adrianna Savy Felicidad.”
• “Ah, hello,” I had nothing to say to her.
• “Why are you alone?” She stopped eating and looked at me with a spoon full of rice and viand.
• “I don’t want to talk with anyone.” I gave a simple answer, so she stopped talking and continued eating. I really didn’t want to be harsh; I was just too lazy. I couldn’t do anything if she misunderstood what I said.
• I just looked at the long hallway leading out of the canteen; there weren’t many people yet since it was only nine in the morning. You could still see the whole place. I estimated there were fifteen or sixteen long tables here and long metal chairs. Some students were sitting, probably just hanging out and waiting for the next subject.
• “Do you have a boyfriend, Elara?” She suddenly asked, so I looked at her.
• “No, how about you?” I asked back. It was embarrassing because she had been talking for a while.
• “I do,” she answered, and she seemed to be thrilled.
• “Just a few months, right?” She nodded and smiled. “Yep, how did you know?”
• “It’s obvious in your actions, the superb smile with giggle,” I gave a simple answer.
• “Wow! Hahaha! Oh my gosh! We’re best friends now!” She said and pulled my arm to hug me.
• “Stop it.” But she continued to hug my arm. “I said stop.” I repeated, and she finally stopped and moved away but still smiling.
• “Elyyy, just let me, I’m just really amazed at your skill. Okay, can you read me, even just half of my personality?”
• I just shook my head at what she said. Is this girl for real? Or is she just going crazy, or both?
• “Come on! Just do it!” She kept insisting, shaking both my shoulders.
• I sighed and nodded. “Fine.” I said, and she clapped and sat properly. I looked at her and took my candy from my pants pocket and ate while waiting for her response to what I said about her. Well, I didn’t know if all that was correct; I just based it on well-observed things about her.
• “What the heck?! How did you know that?! Are you a stalker?” I finally burst into laughter at what she said. With all the reactions I had thought of, I didn’t expect her to say that. What a funny girl. “Why are you laughing at me?”
• “It’s just, you’re too transparent; whatever you want to say, you just say it.”
• “Wait, how did you know that?” I lowered my hand on the table and faced her. “I just know.”
• “Oh, come on, girl. Okay, fine. I’ll find out, too.”
• After she said that, I stood up, adjusted the strap of my bag before putting it on. I wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore; I was just too lazy.
• “Hey! Where are you going?”
• “Somewhere.” I answered and walked out of the canteen. I checked my watch and saw that it was almost eleven; no wonder. I’ve been sitting there for a long time.
• “Can I come with you?”