Chapter 6

"Really? Is that what you’re saying?" she said, incredulously. I usually only treat people when I have extra money. I’ll just deduct it from my salary for what we’re eating now because I’m already hungry. Besides, the food here isn’t too heavy on the wallet.

"Yes, I’ve already ordered our food; Kuya Mack is just cooking it. It should arrive soon." Now, I’m going to be a customer at Kuya Ray’s restaurant. "What are you doing on your phone that you can’t put it down?" I asked curiously.

"I’m chatting with my engineer," Sheila said without looking at me, clearly focused on her conversation.

"You’re flirting again, and when you get tired, you ghost them? Try to deny it; I know you, Sheila, don’t lie to me." I looked at her with furrowed brows.

"I’m just playing with them, and you’re just jealous. You should try flirting too, even just once. It’s a waste of your beauty if you’re not using it. If I were you, I’d have flirts left and right."

"I don’t need that, and besides, what would I do with them? Also, we’re different," I explained.

"Your life is boring. I don’t know about you," my friend replied, rolling her eyes. What’s the problem if I’m not like them? We all have different personalities; we’re not the same.

"Oh, here’s your order," said Ate Fait as she placed our food on the table. I smiled at her and thanked her.

"Come on, let’s eat. Put down your phone for a moment; it can wait," I said as I took my food and started eating. Before Sheila ate, she took her phone and snapped a picture of the food. I just shook my head.

We finished eating at exactly ten forty. I cleaned up our table before we left the restaurant. I also said goodbye to Ate Fait since I would be back after my class later.

"My stomach hurts; I ate too much. The food at the restaurant is really good. I used to hang out there but never ate there. I just realized their food is delicious," Sheila said, clutching her stomach as we walked. I couldn’t help but touch my own stomach from fullness.

"You might regret it during class with how much you ate," I said, helping her walk since she said her stomach hurt. "Why did you eat so much?" I reminded her. You’d think she hadn’t eaten in weeks with how much she devoured.

"The food was just so good that I ended up eating a lot," Sheila pouted in front of me.

"Let’s hurry; it’s ten fifty-two already. We only have eight minutes before our next class starts, or we might be late." I pulled Sheila toward the university. She complained that her stomach hurt, but I kept pulling her until we reached our classroom. Just as we arrived, our next subject teacher came in. We sat down before Ma'am greeted us.

"My stomach hurts even more; you’re so annoying," Sheila whispered to me. I chuckled softly because my friend had let out a quiet fart, which I regretted because it felt like I inhaled all the bad air she released.

"It stinks, Sheila," I whispered back, covering my nose. That was a unique fart—deadly.

"Don’t be dramatic; you’re the only one complaining while you’re sniffing," my friend replied, to which I laughed quietly.

Ma'am just discussed the lesson and introduced herself. Luckily, she didn’t give us any assignments right away. After she finished teaching, she left immediately.

It was already past one.

"I’m not going with you anymore. My stomach still hurts. I might need to relieve myself," Sheila announced, and I nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I’ll go ahead," I waved to Sheila before leaving. I waved back and headed back to the restaurant to work.

"Are you done with your class?" Grace asked as I entered the restaurant. I just nodded and went to the restroom to change into my uniform.

I had just changed when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and checked the notification. It was from F******k, and out of curiosity, I opened it.

I almost screamed when I saw what it was.

Vincent Suitarez accepted your friend request.

I couldn’t believe he accepted me. Oh my gosh, I was so giddy.

I immediately stalked his profile. I went through his photos one by one. I saved several of them and made one of his pictures, where his abs were visible, my wallpaper. Wow, he was hot!

"I’m swooning," I slapped myself suddenly because of what I just said. I was surprised by my own words. I was picking up a few things from Sheila. My flirtatious side was coming out too.

I faced the mirror. Sheila was right; I was indeed beautiful, but what was the point if I didn’t use it? Is my life boring? Should I try flirting with a guy? Can I flirt with Professor Vincent? I know it’s forbidden, but no one would find out.

I grabbed my phone and opened my camera. I posed in front of the mirror, holding my hair and looking elsewhere. I just wanted to use it for my display picture.

After uploading it, I stalked Professor Vincent again. I felt nervous about pressing the message button. I was about to press it when Ate Fait called me to deliver orders, interrupting what I was planning to do.

I left the restroom and started working. "Aren’t you tired, Cath?" Ate Fait asked, sounding worried.

"I’m fine; I can manage both studying and working," I replied, starting to deliver the orders I was carrying.

"I’m the one struggling with you. If I were you, I would have given up a long time ago," Ate Fait said with a faint laugh before returning to work.

I needed to work hard because I had already spent all the money I saved on supplies needed for architecture. Thankfully, we didn’t have to pay tuition fees because I applied for a scholarship here before the school year started.

I finished my work, so I sat down at an empty table since there weren’t many customers at this hour. I almost choked when I opened my phone and saw Professor Vincent’s six-pack abs.

So hot.

I swallowed hard and opened my F******k to continue what I was going to do earlier. When I opened it, a message popped up for me. My eyes widened, and my heart raced.

P-Professor Vincent messaged me—like, what the heck. I nervously opened his message. It was just an emoji saying "Hi." I took a deep breath before replying, "Hello." Within minutes, he replied.

From: Vincent

So it’s you, the one who works at Ray’s restaurant? And one of my students.

To: Vincent

Ahmm, y-yeah, it’s me.

My heart was racing with each reply. I flipped my phone over. I didn’t want to see his response, so I turned it off and returned to work. But I was anxious; I wanted to know what he would say.

I took my phone again and slowly checked Vincent’s reply.

From: Vincent

I’m expecting you to submit your plate on time.

His reply made it feel like I really needed to work on my plate because of what he said. I didn’t even think about why Professor was chatting with me just to say that. All that was on my mind was our brief conversation that I couldn’t help but feel giddy about.

I tucked my phone back in my pocket. I didn’t reply because I didn’t know what to say. My mind was floating all day until I finished work and went home, still feeling dazed.

I was inspired to work on my plate!