3. Ethan bribed them.

Ethan watched as Ally entered her classroom. Hindi niya ito kaklase sa subject na iyon dahil magkaiba sila ng kurso. He's also in the same department though.

"Bro," tapik sa balikat niya ang umagaw ng atensyon niya.

It was Zion. He was his best friend. The only person he could be comfortable with. Komportable din naman siya kay Leio. He was his friend too. But Zion- they've been together since time immemorial.

"Hey."

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

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

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

"She likes me. Everyone does."

"Ally's a good girl," tinapik siya ulit ni Zion sa balikat bago nagpatiuna sa paglalakad.

It's a warning from a friend, isn't it?

"I know," siya na lang ang nakarinig sa sinabi niya.

Bakit nga ba niya inihatid si Allison? Bakit nga ba niya ginawan ng paraan para malaman ang pangalan nito after she refused to give it away? So much unlike those girls he never asked for names but they still gave it to him like he would even care to remember.

It was funny how he was able to get her name. Was it through Lori? Or Eleanor? The girl Ally switched sits with. It wasn't easy as he needed to please her first.

Hopefully, he didn't give the girl a false hint that he's interested in her. Kung hindi ay problema iyon.

He doesn't do relationships. Just random hookups. As casual and as fast as it could be. No dating. No commitment. Easier life.

So there, that girl told him Ally's name.

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

He intended to stop there. Na-curious lang siya sa pangalan ng unang babaeng hindi sinamantala ang pakikipag-usap niya. 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 the boring class of Ms. Basco. Most of the time, kapag lumapit siya sa isang babae, they would end up somewhere else. But with Ally, he ended up with someone else. Someone he was not interested with, just to get Allison's name.

And then he saw her working this morning. At may bumangong kakaibang concern sa dibdib niya para sa dalaga. 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 likes him. Pero mukhang hindi naman. She got annoyed na pinapakialaman niya ito.

Bakit nga ba kasi? He has no valid intentions to begin with.

-----

"What's your order?" Sinikap ni Allison na 'wag magpaapekto sa paraan ng pagngiti ni Ethan sa kanya habang pa-cute itong nakatayo sa harapan niya.

Lunch time at siya ang nakatoka na kukuha ng orders.

"Can I order you?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes tapos bumaling sa kasunod ni Ethan sa pila who are none other than Leio and Zion of course.

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

"Hey, that's rude. I'm not done yet," reklamo ng binata.

His two best friends gave their orders at inunahan nga si Ethan sa pila.

"Napakabagal mo kasi, bro," ani Leio.

"And we're already hungry " dugtong ni Zion.

"Shut up!" sabi ni Ethan and it was his turn again.

She pretended to look at 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? Andami pa pong nakapila sa likod nyo, sir."

"Okay. I'll have two cups of rice and one order of this," may itinuro itong ulam. "What is it called? Whatever, give me this. And one large coke, please?"

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

He stepped on the side where Leio and Zion were fighting who ordered what.

"Have you eaten, Allison?" tanong nito mayamaya  "Know what? Add your lunch to my order."

"Thanks very much but I'm fine," hindi lumilingong aniya.

"Hey, I'm serious."

Hindi na niya ito pinansin. Dati pa naman na siya ang tumatayo doon at halos araw-araw ay pumipila ito para um-order. What's with the sudden change? Dahil nakatabi niya ito sa upuan noong ma-late siya?

'Ethan is weird,' she thought.

"Ally, is Ethan interested in you?" tanong ni Kattie nang ito na ang nasa pila.

"'Course not. He probably just wanted to annoy me."

"Okay," tumabi na ito nang masabi ang order.

"But I think, he likes you," singit ni Michael.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes.

Real talk. He would never get interested in her. Sigurado gusto lang mang-trip ni Ethan.

-----

"Ally," siniko siya ni Kattie.

Maagang dumating si Allison kaya katabi niya ang kaibigan sa klase ni Ms Basco. Wala ang instructress pero nag-iwan ng sangkatutak na lecture.

"Bakit?" Kunot noong tanong niya.

"Si Ethan."

"Huh?"

"Hinahanap ka ni Ethan," bulong ng kaibigan niya.

"Why would he look for me?" binabaan niya ang pagkakayuko.

"I don't know. But I'm sure he's looking for you. Kanina pa siya palinga-linga eh."

"Hindi pa niya ako nakikita?"

"I think so."

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

Hindi naman sure kung hinahanap nga siya ng binata pero maigi na yung sigurado. They were fifty students in Ms. Basco's class. Ayaw niyang nakakakuha ng atensyon.

Nang malapit ng makalahati ang oras nila sa klase, biglang tumayo ang tatlong kaklase niya sa kanan niya, took their bags at nagmartsa papunta sa likuran.

"Geez, Ethan bribed them!" bulong ni Kattie at sinabi sa kanya kung paano inabutan ni Ethan ng pera ang tatlo.

"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 bago sumalampak ng upo si Ethan sa tabi niya.

"Hi, princess," he greeted her.

Namula siya pero hindi niya ito pinansin.

"I said, hi princess," inilapit nito ang bibig sa tenga niya and Ally almost shivered at the gesture.

"Last time I checked, a princess lives in a palace," sagot niya, bahagyang lumayo. She heard his amused laughter. Sinikap niyang 'wag magpa-apekto. Pero traydor ang nag-iinit niyang mga pisngi.

"Hey, you're blushing again," he teased. So, for sure, hindi siya nagtagumpay na 'wag magpaapekto sa presensya nito.

"Ano na naman bang kailangan mo?" she pretended to remain calm habang kinokopya ang lecture sa board.

"Wala naman," inilagay nito ang kaliwang braso sa sandalan ng upuan niya so that it was as if akbay siya ng binata. "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. And since then you've been bugging me, why Ethan?" annoyed na tanong niya sa binata na ngumisi lang.

"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," singit ni Leio. "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," nakisali na rin sa pangungulit si Zion.

Bored na tiningnan niya ang tatlong binatang nagpapa-cute bago siya humugot nang malalim na hininga.

"Akin na kamay mo," sabi niya kay Ethan na napakunot noo pero inilahad naman ang palad. "First off, I'm a very busy person," she started writing on his palm.

"What's this?"

"December 1, 2030?" Leio burst out laughing.

"I think I'm not busy on that date," tinakpan niya ang ballpen at inumpisahang ayusin ang mga gamit, tapos na siyang mangopya so pwede ng umalis.

"What the hell? 'Yan lang pala isusulat mo. You could have used a paper instead," Ethan complained while rubbing off the ink.

"So you won't forget," tumayo na siya. "Saka mahal ang papel," binalingan niya ang katabing kaibigan. "I'll go ahead, Kattie."

Akala niya lulubayan na siya ni Ethan. Pero sumunod pa rin ito sa kanya.

"Where are you going?" nauuna ito sa kanya tapos haharap sa kanya at maglalakad nang paatras.

"Somewhere without you."

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

"Really?" she challenged.

"Really," confident na sagot nito.

"Let's see," huminto siya at pumihit papunta sa ladies room.

'Tignan natin kung makakasunod ka pa rin.'

Pumunta siya sa restroom at nagkulong sa cubicle. Hindi naman siya gagamit talaga, naupo lang siya roon at nagpalipas ng oras. Sigurado siyang maiinip si Ethan sa labas at aalis na lang.

She stayed inside for a good fifteen minutes bago siya nagpasyang lumabas.

"Do you really take that long to pee?"

'Wth?'

Muntik nang mapatalon sa gulat ang dalaga.

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 comfort room.

"What do you think you're doing?" malalaki ang mga matang tanong niya.

"What do you think?" he asked back.

"Get out or I'll shout!" pagbabanta niya.

"Ow? What are you going to say?" amused na tanong nito, 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 are not even allowed here!" no sooner had she uttered those words nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang grupo ng mga babae.

"Hi, Ethan!" they greeted him like it was normal to see him in the ladies' room.

"Hello, ladies," he flashed them a sexy smile and they were like super kilig after that.

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

"So, is it already a yes?" nakasunod pa rin si Ethan sa kanya.

"What?" gigil na aniya at hinarap ito. "Were you asking me something?"

"Have lunch with me," nakangiti ito na para bang mortal sin ang tumanggi. He was so gorgeous. Really, really gorgeous. Napalunok si Ally. Bakit nga ba kasi kinukulit siya ni Ethan? "Please?"

She sighed and shook her head gently. Kinuha niya ang ballpen sa ulo na ginawa niyang hairstick then she asked for his hand.

"Make sure you don't write 2031 there," he said.

She suppressed a smile nang matapos siyang magsulat at basahin nito ang isinulat niya.

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

She just shrugged her shoulders and walked away. That's the only time she's got.

"It's not even lunchtime!" pahabol pa ni Ethan.

Luckily, hindi na ito sumunod.