Chapter 5

Finally! It’s Monday and the school year is starting!

I don’t know why I’m so excited to go to school today. This is my first time at Zector State University. In my first year of college, I studied at Meloni University, and now that I’m in my second year, I ended up here at Zector State University because I received a lot of perks. Their scholarships are better than those offered by other universities.

“Cath!” I heard Sheila calling me from a distance; her voice was loud enough to know where she was. I turned around to look for her. I quickly spotted her waving her hands and signaling for me to wait for her. I need to wait for her.

“What’s your room?” she immediately asked as she got closer, a smile evident on her lips. She was holding a milk tea, already cold this early in the morning. I wonder if she’ll have a stomachache from drinking that.

I shook my head. “Arc bldg, second floor, room 2,” I replied as we continued walking. That’s my room for my first subject today.

“Really?!” Sheila exclaimed in surprise, suddenly shouting. I looked around because people started staring at us.

“Why are you shouting? Lower your voice,” I whispered to her. Sheila giggled at my reprimand.

“Oh my gosh, can you believe we’re in the same class for our first subject? And do you know how lucky we are? Do you know who will be handling that subject?” Sheila asked, clinging to my arm, her voice filled with excitement and a hint of thrill.

“I don’t know, who?” I answered, seemingly uninterested.

“Clevincent Madriano Suitarez! He’ll be our professor for our major subject all year. Oh my gosh, I’m definitely not going to be absent,” my friend said, still holding onto my arm. But I couldn’t help but smile at what Sheila said, good thing she didn’t see it.

I had hoped that the guy would become her professor, and now it’s coming true. The thought of adding Clevincent on F******k crossed my mind again. Even now, he hasn’t accepted my friend request, and it’s been days. I’m about to cancel it soon. How dare he ignore my request!

“Let’s just go in,” I said, pulling Sheila toward our classroom. “What’s our schedule going to be?” I asked as we walked inside the room.

“I don’t know yet; maybe they’ll give it later. Sometimes our schedule changes depending on the teachers,” Sheila replied. We sat by the window to enjoy the breeze. I was at the very edge of the window while Sheila sat next to me.

I was staring outside when a husky baritone voice full of authority echoed through the room. My hair stood on end from the chills his voice brought.

“Good morning, class!” My gaze immediately turned to him. His voice resonated throughout my body. As I laid my eyes on him, I felt my heart pounding in my chest.

He didn’t need to introduce himself since almost all the students here know him. I couldn’t take my eyes off Vincent as he arranged his things in front. Sheila, sitting next to me, seemed to be pinching herself because of her excitement.

“So, I’ll be your first major subject,” he began teaching. I just stared at him as he lectured. Occasionally, our eyes met, but I quickly looked away; I couldn’t keep our gazes locked.

“The deadline for your plate is on Friday, only. Nine-thirty a.m. Your plate should be submitted by ten a.m., and when you’re late, I will not accept your plate anymore. That’s all; goodbye class,” he concluded the discussion and left the room. What’s this? On the first day, we already have work! I complained, along with some of my classmates.

“Wow, Sir Vincent is really handsome,” Sheila said excitedly beside me. She seemed dazed, imagining while her eyes were closed. “Where can I find a guy as handsome as Sir Vincent?” Do I need to find a man like him? If he’s the one I want to be mine.

Only a few of us were left in the room as the others had already left. I organized my bag and slung it over my shoulder to prepare to leave.

“Where are you going?” Sheila asked, surprised as I stood up. Her eyes followed my movements, wondering what I was going to do.

“I’m going to work, what else? Our next subject is at 11, right? So I’ll work first while I still can; it would be a waste otherwise,” I explained, stepping out of the room. Just as I told Ate Fait before, I hang out at the restaurant during my free time so I can still earn a bit.

“Cath, wait! Wait for me!” Sheila shouted from inside the room. She quickly ran out and followed me to the restaurant.

“When are you going to do your plate?” I asked Sheila, who was busy playing on her phone. I had just delivered orders for the customers, so I went straight to where Sheila was sitting to rest. We had been there for over an hour, and Sheila wasn’t bored while I worked because she was busy with her phone.

“I don’t know, maybe when I feel like it. I’m too lazy to do it; the deadline is on Friday anyway,” she said, putting her phone down on the table. “When are you going to do yours?” she asked in return.

“Maybe later, so I won’t have to worry about assignments in the coming days, and to avoid piling them up,” I leaned back in my chair and looked outside. Good thing the restaurant is close to the school because we can walk there and won’t be late if I lose track of time.

“There are so many customers today; the restaurant is full, and the customers are mostly students. For sure, the restaurant will earn a lot because of the number of students eating here,” Sheila remarked, leaning back in her chair. Sheila is right; for sure, Kuya Ray will earn a lot at the restaurant because we’re never short of customers. Plus, it’s the start of the college students' school year, so many are flocking to the restaurant.

We can only take breaks when the restaurant is full, like now, with all the seats occupied. I hope Kuya Ray increases our salary this month.

“Let’s eat first before we go in,” I suggested to Sheila as I moved closer. I sat across from her and leaned back in my chair.

“Where?” she asked, glancing at me briefly before returning her gaze to her phone.

“Here at the restaurant; it’s on me.” I quickly caught Sheila’s attention; she stared at me intently. There was a sparkle in her eyes from what she heard from my lips.