C3 - Ethan bribed them.

Ethan watched as Ally entered her classroom. She wasn't his classmate in that subject since they had different courses, although they were both in the same department. "Bro," someone tapped his shoulder, grabbing his attention. It was Zion, his best friend. The only person he could be comfortable with. He was also friends with Leio, but Zion was someone he'd known since time immemorial.

"Hey."

"What, you're already walking Ally to her class, huh?" Zion teased.

"You know me. I always do that," he shrugged. "--to anyone."

"To anyone who has got interest in you. But Ally? I doubt that," Zion shook his head.

"She likes me. Everyone does."

"Ally's a good girl," Zion tapped his shoulder again before walking ahead.

It was a warning from a friend, wasn't it? He wondered why he escorted Allison. Why did he go out of his way to find out her name after she initially refused to reveal it? It was unlike the other girls who gave their names willingly, which he wouldn't even care to remember.

It was amusing how he got her name. Was it through Lori or Eleanor, the girl Ally switched seats with? He had to please her first. Hopefully, he didn't give her a false impression that he was interested. If he did, that would be a problem.

He didn't do relationships. Just random hookups. No dating, no commitment. A simpler life.

'Allison Garcia. Student Assistant. Working student. I know right, she doesn't deserve you talking to her,' she said.

He intended to stop there. He was just curious about the name of the first girl who didn't take advantage of his conversation. He just accidentally caught her eyes for a split second before she dropped her gaze.

Then he decided to sit beside her to keep himself entertained during Ms. Basco's boring class. Most of the time, when he approached a girl, they would end up somewhere else. But with Ally, he ended up with someone else. Someone he was not interested in, just to get Allison's name.

And then he saw her working this morning. And there was a strange concern in his chest for the girl. Why was she up so early in the morning working when she was supposed to be sleeping?

Realizing how dangerous it could be for her, he had a sudden desire to protect her.

But Ally obviously dislikes his gut. At first, he thought she liked him. But it seems not. She got annoyed when he interfered with her.

Why, though? He has no valid intentions to begin with.

_____

"What's your order?" Allison tried not to be affected by Ethan's cute smile as he stood in front of her during lunchtime.

"It's time for lunch, and it's my turn to take orders," she said.

"Can I order you?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes and turned to the next customer in line, who happened to be Leio and Zion.

"Next, please," she let out an exasperated sigh.

"Hey, that's rude. I'm not done yet," he complained.

His two best friends placed their orders, outpacing Ethan in the queue.

"You're so slow, bro," Leio commented.

"And we're already hungry," Zion added.

"Shut up!" Ethan said, and it was his turn again.

She pretended to check her wristwatch while tapping her fingers on the cash register.

"Seriously, can I order you?" he flashed her a commercial-like smile.

"Next---"

"Wait! Do that again, or I'll complain that you're being rude."

"Who's being rude? And there are still people behind you, sir."

"Okay. I'll have two cups of rice and one order of this," he pointed to the viand. "What is it called? Whatever, give me this. And one large Coke, please?"

"Noted. Thank you. Please wait on the side."

He stepped aside where Leio and Zion were arguing about their orders.

"Have you eaten, Allison?" he asked after a while. "You know what? Add your lunch to my order."

"Thanks very much, but I'm fine," she replied without looking at him.

"Hey, I'm serious."

She ignored him. She used to be the one standing there most of the time, and Ethan would be lining up almost every day to place an order. What's with the sudden change? Is it because he sat next to her in class when she was late?

'Ethan is weird,' she thought.

"Ally, is Ethan interested in you?" Kattie asked when it was her turn in line.

"Of course not. He probably just wanted to annoy me."

"Okay," Kattie said as she finished her order.

"But I think he likes you," Michael chimed in.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes. "He would never get interested in me. Surely, Ethan just wants to play around."

______

"Ally," Kattie nudged her.

Allison arrived early, so she sat beside her friend in Ms. Basco's class. The instructor wasn't there, but she left a pile of lectures.

"Why?" she asked with a furrowed brow.

"It’s Ethan."

"Huh?"

"He's looking for you," her friend whispered.

"Why would he look for me?" She bowed her head lower.

"I don't know, but I'm sure he's looking for you. He's been glancing around."

"Hasn't he seen me yet?"

"I don't think so."

"Good. Don't look in his direction, Kattie."

She wasn't sure if Ethan was really looking for her, but it's better to be sure. There were fifty students in Ms. Basco's class, and she didn't want to attract attention.

When their class time was almost halfway through, three of her classmates on her right suddenly stood up, took their bags, and marched to the back.

"Geez, Ethan bribed them!" Kattie whispered and told her how Ethan handed money to the three.

"Let's switch, Kattie."

"Huh? Are you going to pay me too?" Kattie grinned.

"I don't have money!"

"Come on, Allison. Ethan is not that bad. In fact, you're so lucky!" her friend teased before Ethan took the empty seat beside her.

"Hi, princess," he greeted her.

She blushed but didn't acknowledge him. "I said, hi, princess," he whispered near her ear, making her shiver.

"Last time I checked, a princess lives in a palace," she replied, slightly moving away. She heard his amused laughter, and she was trying not to be affected. But her burning cheeks were traitors.

"Hey, you're blushing again," he teased.

"What do you want?" She pretended to remain calm while copying the lecture on the board.

"Nothing," he rested his left arm on her chair's backrest, making it seem like he was embracing her. "Do you usually sit here in front?"

"Yeah... It was just unfortunate that I got late last Monday, and you happened to sit beside me. Since then, you've been bugging me. Why, Ethan?" she asked, annoyed, while he just grinned.

"I guess I better be early next time, or my billions would run out bribing the person sitting next to you," he chuckled, ignoring her remarks.

"Hey, Allison," Leio interrupted. "Want to join us for lunch?"

"It's just eight-thirty in the morning," she rolled her eyes.

"It's more like setting an appointment, or is it a reservation? Because we heard you have such a hectic schedule," Zion joined in teasing.

Bored, she looked at the three guys who were acting cute before sighing deeply.

"Give me your hand," she told Ethan, who looked puzzled. "First off, I'm a very busy person," she began writing on his palm.

"What's this?"

"December 1, 3000?" Leio burst out laughing.

"I think I'm not busy on that date," he covered the pen and started fixing his things, already done copying.

"What the hell? Is that all you're writing? You could have used paper instead," Ethan complained while rubbing off the ink.

"So, you won't forget," she stood up. "And paper is expensive," she said, glancing at her friend. "I'll go ahead, Kattie."

She thought Ethan would leave her alone, but he still followed her.

"Where are you going?" he walked ahead of her, then turned to face her and walked backward.

"Somewhere without you."

"I hate to disappoint you, but you're not going anywhere without me."

"Really?" She challenged him.

"Really," he confidently replied.

"Let's see," she stopped and turned toward the ladies' room.

'Let's see if you can still follow me!'

She went into the restroom and locked herself in a cubicle. She didn't really need to use it; she just sat there, passing the time. She was sure Ethan would get impatient outside and eventually leave.

She stayed inside for a good fifteen minutes before deciding to come out.

"Do you really take that long to pee?" 

She almost jumped in surprise.

Ethan was inside the ladies' room, frowning at her with his arms crossed over his chest. He was leaning against the closed door of the restroom.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"What do you think?" he retorted.

"Get out or I'll shout!" she threatened.

"Oh? What are you going to say?" he asked, amused, approaching her with the corner of his lips tugging into a smirk.

"Y- you're impossible!"

"I told you; you can't go anywhere without me."

"You're not even allowed here!" she exclaimed, but before she could say anything more, the door opened, and a group of girls entered.

"Hi, Ethan!" They greeted him as if it were normal for him to be in the ladies' room.

"Hello, ladies," he flashed them a sexy smile, and they responded with giggles.

"Whatever!" Ally rolled her eyes and marched out.

"So, is it already a yes?" Ethan still followed her.

"What?" she fumed. "Were you asking me something?"

"Have lunch with me," he smiled, as if it were a mortal sin to refuse. He was undeniably gorgeous, making Ally swallow. Why did Ethan keep bothering her? "Please?"

She sighed and shook her head gently. Taking the pen from her hair that she had turned into a hairstick, she asked for his hand.

"Make sure you don't write the year 4000 there," he said.

She suppressed a smile after finishing writing and seeing him read it.

"Three o'clock to three-fifteen in the afternoon?"

She just shrugged and walked away. That was the only time she had.

"It's not even lunchtime!" Ethan shouted after her.

Luckily, he didn't follow her this time.