Chapter 2 – Crush

Three years later...

“Sir, the finalist students are already waiting for you at the conference area,” Marie – his secretary notify him.

“Do the honor to announce the winner to them,” Axel handed her the data of the winner.

Axel Aiden Hodreal is a twenty-eight-year-old interior designer with his own business, A's Creative Design Co. He also owns the Philippines' largest vineyard, which is located at La Union. Axel is usually quiet, distant, and a workaholic since his grandparents died. He’s still a bachelor despite his charismatic look and good physical characteristics.

She examines the papers and casts a doubtful glance at him. She couldn't help but question him, "Did you pick up the incorrect file by mistake?"

“No. I'm certain about it.”

“Are you serious? You picked her?” She presented it to him just to be sure.

“Yes. Is there something wrong with my decision?”

Marie cleared her throat before saying anything, "I thi—nk she's not appropriate and she doesn't deserve to win this contest."

She stares at him, but he turns around and sits in his swivel chair, ignoring her, saying, "OK. If this is your choice, I will follow through.” Marie relented and walked out of his office.

Marie face the students from different campuses who have joined in the contest for computer science ideas about designing they have presented and whoever wins can be exchange students for internship in the United States plus half a million allowance and for the consolation prize, will be given a chance to do the internship in their firm.

Marie looked at the document she’s holding and hesitating to announce the lucky winner of the contest, she forced her smile and announce, “for the consolation prize, we have Ms. Schina Louise Mallari and the winner for today’s contest is … Ms. Hailey Cruz.”

Schina was skeptical upon knowing the result, she thought that she made a mistake in announcing the winner so she waited.

“Ms. Mallari and Ms. Cruz, please stand and take a photo with us,” Marie invited them.

Schina look at Hailey stands from her seat and smirking in all of them and confidently walks through Marie.

“Ms. Marie! I am not questioning the company’s decision but I can’t find a word to describe it so my tongue ended up slipping. For me, the result is questionable…” She protested as she stood from her seat.

“Is it questionable to you because I won over you?” Hailey rebutted, rolling her eyes and smirking.

“Let’s say, I am not convinced in your BRIGHT BRIGHT ideas.”

“Huh! I won because I am better than you!” Hailey hissed. The students borrow the documents that Hailey submitted to them, everyone is casting at her work while Marie is getting nervous.

“What are you staring at?” they all asked. “Are you now persuaded of my abilities?”

“Hey! Who will be persuaded by this dreadful work?!” One of the participants expresses himself frankly.

Hailey was taken aback by their response, while Schina laughed at her, saying, "What do you expect them to say to you? You are incredible, creative, lovely, and clever. Oh, those phrases don't fit you,” Schina sneered.

“Please be seated and I’m going to announce the prizes of the winners,” Marie tries to stop the commotion between them.

Axel was waiting for his secretary to come back and reported what happened, “I finally return my debt to you,” he whispers while looking at the necklace he kept for years.

He was surprised when his secretary rushed into his office, “sir, we have a problem.”

He swayed his chair in her direction to ask, “what is it?”

“The participants are protesting about Hailey being winner, they told me that she doesn’t deserve to be the winner… And I agree with it sir, now I want to ask you why did you choose her? I can read on your expression that even you can’t accept this fact,” she firmly interrogates her boss.

“They didn’t trust our company because of this and… some of them think that you have a relation with the winner. Is it factual?” She added.

“Enough of that, Marie! Just do anything you can do, if they don’t trust our company then be it,” he anxiously responds.

Marie stepped out of Axel's office and think of an idea on how she can handle the problem, she went to her office and ask the participants to come one by one and talk to them patiently. She pleaded to them by satisfying their wants to not ruin their company’s reputation. She has convinced them except Schina, she didn’t bother to accept everything she offers and refused to have her internship in the company.

"Schina, Schina! Wake up, the teacher is calling you," her seatmate tries to wake her up, but there’s no response. Her head was bowed on her desk and she slept soundly during their class, "SCHINA LOUISE MALLARI!!!" The teacher called out loud, making her open her eyes forcefully and stand from her seat, raising her hand, "present!"

"Are you sleeping again in my class?!" Schina shakes her head at her teacher as a response, giving her a slight smile.

"Come down, and answer the question on the board," Mrs. Mariano instructed her. Schina shook her head looking at her seatmate, asking for an answer from them, but all she got was just a shrug of their shoulder.

"Come on, Ms. Mallari. My time is running out, "the teacher impatiently said.

Schina glanced at her seatmate and glanced back at her teacher, who was walking down the stairs hesitantly. Their classroom is quite big, and the same as the auditorium wherein the teacher is standing at the center below. "Okay, ma’am," she shyly replied. She could feel all of her classmates’ eyes were doting on her while she was walking near to her teacher.

She faced the board as she was holding the marker, staring at the sentences carved on it. She easily answered it, even though she didn’t know what she wrote.

Schina Louise Mallari, 22 years of age is a cheerful fourth-year college student at a prestigious school in Baguio City, Philippines. She’s a genius computer science major and a swimmer unlike any other geniuses who are cold and aloof to others, Schina is kind, bubbly, and approachable, she is also a righteous person despite her pitiful childhood. She was well-known at their university as a result of the accomplishments she had brought to their institution. 

Schina placed the marker on her teacher’s desk. "I’m done, teacher," she informed Mrs. Mariano.

"Very good! But next time, stop sleeping in my class even you know what I am teaching," she reprimanded her. Schina nods at her teacher, "alright! Go back to your seat!"

She turned around and walked back to her seat as the teacher continued her lectures. A few minutes later, their class ended and their teacher left.

Schina returned to sleep, resting her head on the desk and closing her eyes. "Schina... Schina, Schina," she heard her name called.

"What exactly do you want, AC?" She asked sluggishly, not raising her head.

Aicko Claudette Lopez is her best friend, classmate, and campus beauty. She is a track and field athlete on their campus and constantly brings medals and awards, yet she struggles with academics.

"What's bothering you?" She waited for her reply but she didn't speak any, "I thought you are not affected about--" Schina raised her head to make her shut her mouth, "tell me, what do you really want to say?" She begs.

"I heard that Fabian Del Mundo is at the coffee shop," she became energetic after hearing her crush’s name. She stood from her seat and clutched her backpack on her shoulder.

Fabian Del Mundo is a hunk varsity player who also happens to be the team captain of their university football team and has a major in aeronautical engineering. He is the most handsome guy in their school; he stands approximately 6'2 tall, has natural slicked-back curly hair, and has a fair complexion. Even though he’s always playing under the sun, he never gets tanned.

"Let's go," Schina said as she ran down the stairs. She raced into their college's cafe, ecstatic to see him. She felt recharged whenever she saw him. She stopped at the entrance of the shop when she spotted him inside. He was dashing wherever he was.

Aicko walked in without noticing her friend was still standing at the door, "Let's—" When she looked behind her, she discovered that Schina had not followed her. "Schina, please come here!" She yelled. Everyone in the coffee shop was staring at her and her friend. 

"Is that our campus beauty?" She heard a guy ask.

"Yes, she is," someone confirmed it.

"I didn’t know that she was a friend of Schina," she heard a guy say. Aicko averted her eyes on them, "What’s wrong with being friends with Schina?!" She scowls, the two men shut their mouths and leave the coffee shop.

"Hi, Schina," the men said as they exited the store. She smiled at them. "Are you coming or are you not?" Aicko asked anxiously inquires as she placed her hands on each of her waists.

She observed that Fabian had been staring at her. Her heart skipped a beat when their eyes met. She quickly walked inside without being careful, making her stumble on the floor.

Her buddy rushed through her and assisted her in standing; she had noticed her crush from a distance standing worriedly staring at her. "How come you slipped?" Her anxious friend inquired.

She beamed a smile, replying to her, "It’s nothing. I’m alright. "

"Are you sure? Would you like me to send you to the infirmary?" She added.

"No, no, no. Thank you very much "She noticed Fabian heading in their direction. She panicked, looked at her phone's clock, and dashed away "AC, I forgot to do something. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you!!" She overheard her friend yelling.

"What exactly is she up to?" She whispered, "excuse me, you’re blocking my way." She stepped aside when she heard Fabian’s voice. She noticed how he was staring at her friend to walk away.

"Oh my goodness! Why did I stumble when I noticed him gazing at me? Was he actually staring at me?" She smacked her head and urged herself to wake up from her dream.

Her feet dragged her to the field without realizing it. She was going to sit on the green grassy field when a ball landed on her head, "ouch!! It hurts!" She shouted as she felt the force that felt like shaking her head, making her have slight dizziness. She squatted down slowly, covering her head, "What a day? Has the universe retrograde?!" She expressed her displeasure.

"I'm sorry, Miss." She overheard him apologize to her.

"Are you permitted to practice during class time?!?" She recognized the voice of a man scolding the players.

"No."

"If you are not allowed, then what are you guys doing?!! Return to your classrooms!!" Schina lifted her head slowly. She noticed Fabian reaching out his hand to her. "Let me assist you," he said then she accepts his hand and stands.

She swiftly let go of his hand and hid it behind. "Thank you," she spoke as she turned back to flee from him.

"Are you okay?" He's curious.

"Did he care for me?" She whisper. Her heart was pounding rapidly.

"I—I’m alright," she replied without glancing at him because she knew that she would be doomed once she looked at him.

Fabian noticed that she was wobbling.

"What's the matter with you?" She abruptly collapsed on the ground.

Fabian worriedly squatted and carried her in his arms as he was trying to wake her up.

"Schina???"

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