Chapter 5

 

I left the house to go to school. It wasn't hard to remember the way to get there, so I got there right away. The guard there talked to me for a moment, and when he found out that I was a transferee, he immediately let me inside the school. 

 

I don't know where the professors' faculty department is here, but I'll just ask when I see someone inside. The school and university are quite spacious, but not as big as my school in Manila. There are also big buildings there, and there are benches and some trees. 

 

I parked where I saw other cars. It's very quiet in this place because there are no students today. I keep getting nervous because these are the scenes I watch in horror movies. I feel like I'm alone here! 

 

I took a deep breath and pushed out of my mind what was on my mind. I walked away from the parking lot to enter the building, even though I didn't know which way to go. It was as if I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw a man arranging things in a room. He was taking out some boxes from inside the room, so I walked closer to him. I couldn't see his face because he turned away from me. 

 

"Excuse me," I said. 

 

When he turned to me, my eyes widened slightly when I saw who it was. It was Brandon! He frowned for a moment when he saw me. 

 

"What do you need, Miss?" he asked. 

 

I then remembered the conversation between the two of us earlier in front of the church, and I felt ashamed. 

 

I took a deep breath before finally speaking to ask. 

 

"Can I ask where Ms. Daza's office is?" I asked him, a hint of embarrassment in my voice. 

 

He nodded and took a box by his side. I was a little surprised because it looked like he was going to take me there, so I immediately shook my head. 

 

"No, it's okay. Just tell me the right way to get there," I told him. 

 

"It's okay. I'm going to that floor now. I know a quick way to get there.

Just come with me," he answered me. 

 

I raised my eyebrows slightly and nodded at him before shrugging my shoulders. 

 

He walked first so I followed him. I couldn't avoid looking at how elegantly he walked, and his wide back didn't escape my gaze either. His biceps are also more defined because of the box that he's carrying. I remembered Braddy again. 

 

We walked for a while, and I saw him stop at the elevator. I read something on the side that only personnel are allowed to ride there. He entered first, so I frowned for a moment. Is he an employee at this school? 

 

"Will you ride, Miss?" he asked me bluntly. 

 

I immediately got ready and quickly entered the elevator. I just turned slightly to him and looked at the floor he pressed. Ms. Daza's office is on the fifth floor. The floors are not very high here, but I am thankful that there is an elevator. 

 

Neither Brandon nor I spoke until the elevator stopped on the fifth floor. He pointed to the door, so I immediately went out and waited for him. 

 

"Just go straight to that hallway after you turn left. Miss Daza's office is at the end. You can also see her name in front of her door," he said one after the other. 

 

I listened to him carefully and nodded to him before speaking. 

 

"Alright. Thanks," I said to him. 

 

He just nodded and immediately turned to walk. The two of us were going down the same hallway, so I turned around and started walking. 

 

I didn't have any trouble finding Miss Daza's office. I showed up to her and she just gave me my schedule. 

 

"Welcome to Las Espadas University, Zariyah. I'm sure you'll like it here," she told me. 

 

Miss Daza is beautiful, and I think she is only in her early thirties. She seems to be kind because she always smiles when I talk to her. 

 

"Thanks, Miss D. My only problem here is that there's no elevator for students," I said, then sighed. 

 

She laughed and shook her head. 

 

"I know, Zariyah, but don't worry. You'll get used to it!" she said laughing. 

 

"You managed to come here, didn't you?" she added. 

 

Now I'm the one who's shaking my head.

 

"No, Miss D. I just accompanied a man on his way here earlier. I think he's also an employee here," I answered, then shrugged my shoulders. 

 

"Oh! I think that's Brandon. He's a working student and scholar here, so he has access to the elevator. If I'm not mistaken, the two of you are in the same batch, and you might even be in the same class," Miss Daza explained to me one after the other. 

 

I smiled slightly and nodded. That's why he has access because he is a university scholar at this school. He's lucky in that he can ride the elevator compared to other students who have to climb every floor just to get to their class! 

 

I didn't stay long in Miss Daza's office. She was excited to introduce me to her class tomorrow, but I wasn't. I'm not excited about my future classmates here because for sure we won't be able to relate to each other. I'm a big city girl, and they're a big province girl. Of course, I know many things that are limited to their knowledge. 

 

I was rolling my eyes while going down the stairs. I was looking for Brandon to take me downstairs, but I didn't see him, so I had no choice but to use the stairs to get down! 

 

Fortunately, I was only wearing flat shoes, but my feet still hurt. I was also sweating profusely when I finally got off; that's why I turned on the air conditioner in my car. 

 

"Gosh! This university is not really for me!" I complain to myself. 

 

Even before I started studying here, I immediately experienced being haggard. 

 

When I got out of the university, I passed by a cafe, so I stopped there to eat my lunch. I just ordered blueberry cheesecake and one slice of pepperoni pizza. I also ordered a mango frappe for my drinks. 

 

I was just enjoying eating my lunch there until a group of friends came. I was facing the entrance of the cafe, so they grabbed my attention. There were many of them, and I spotted a familiar man. It was Brandon. He had three girls and four boys with him. It seems like just a while ago he was at the university, but now he is with his friends. 

 

I sighed, and both of my shoulders slumped as I continued eating. I suddenly miss my friends from my city. 

 

They passed by my side, and the girl in the middle looked at me for a moment. It was as if he was wondering who I was, but he immediately looked away and passed me. When Brandon's eyes met mine, I didn't know if I should smile at him or nod, but he himself avoided looking at me. It seems that he also avoids us having any more interaction. 

 

"I just heard that there is a transferee at our school, and maybe she will attend her first day tomorrow. What do you think of her?" I heard a woman who was with them say. 

 

They sat at the other table not far from me, so I couldn't help but listen to what they were talking about. 

 

"Her? You mean, it's a girl?"

 

"Yep! I just don't know the reason why she came here."

 

"In that case, she's boring. I thought it was a boy!"

 

I looked at their table and saw Brandon looking at me. I then remembered what Miss Daza told me earlier—that Brandon was my classmate. So that means that all the people with him now are possibly my classmates as well. 

 

"You have someone new to bully again, Karylle!"

 

They laughed, so I looked at Karylle with a frown. She's wearing a cropped top and blue skinny jeans. She has straight and long black hair. Her skin tone is also fair, and you can see in her face that it is covered with make-up. 

 

I couldn't help but look away. If she is the only one who bullies me, she might even cry because of me. I was not informed that bullying students is also a trend in a province like this. 

 

I just continued eating there and scrolled on my iPad. As usual, I still receive many messages from my friends; that's why I replied to them in our group chat. I have to update them because I know they are curious and worried about what happened to me. 

 

They couldn't believe that I was transferring schools immediately. Even I still can't believe that my first day at the new university that I will study will begin. I can go back to Manila now if I want to, but knowing my father, he might punish me worse if I disobey him more. 

 

I sighed and just shook my head. I gestured to the cafe waiter to bill out. It's only two in the afternoon, and I'm thinking about going home. 

 

"Four hundred twenty-five pesos, ma'am," the waiter said when I billed out. 

 

I smiled and nodded at him before taking the entire one thousand from my wallet. It's my first time here, and I admit that the food that I ate is indeed delicious and of good quality. Plus, the staff is nice and friendly, so I decided to give them a tip. 

 

"Keep the change. Thanks!" I said, then stood up. 

 

"Thank you, ma'am!" the waiter happily told me. 

 

"You're welcome," I answered and smiled lightly. 

 

I put the iPad in my bag before walking to the comfort room when suddenly a woman spoke at the other table, where Brandon's group was. 

 

"Looks like someone is richer than you, Karylle. She even gave a big tip!"

 

I frowned and looked at them. I knew the woman who spoke was referring to me, especially when I saw that they were all looking at me as if they were judging me. I only gave a small tip! 

 

"It looks like she's just pretending. Feeling like a main character!" said a woman who I think is Karylle. 

 

She looked at me steadily with one eyebrow raised until she looked at me from head to toe. 

 

"How many days did you save that just so you can pretend you're rich?" she asked me, and her voice was mixed with sarcasm. 

 

I frowned and looked at her from head to toe before I spoke. 

 

"Excuse me?" I asked her.

 

She looked at her friends, and they laughed at me, so I couldn't help but feel annoyed. 

 

"Stop it, guys. You're starting again." I heard Brandon say so I looked at him. 

 

He kept his eyes on his food and took a bite of it, not giving his friends a glance. 

 

I just rolled my eyes and shook my head before I finally left there. I have no time for them, and I don't want to waste my energy on them, especially since I haven't started attending my new school yet. It seems that I will be able to meet people like them for a long time! 

 

I went to the comfort room for a moment to put on my lipstick and some face powder, then I went out. 

 

A staff member at the cafe greeted me with a smile, so I stopped for a moment. He had an iced coffee in the takeout and handed it to me, so I frowned and looked at it. 

 

"This is a thank you drink, ma'am. Please see us again!" he said, smiling. 

 

"Oh! No need, but thank you!" I happily took the iced coffee. 

 

"Don't worry, I will definitely come back here," I said, laughing. 

 

"I apologize, ma'am, on behalf of at the other table. They are our regular customers," the woman said to me. 

 

I smiled and shook my head before speaking. 

 

"It's okay, but... May I know how much their bills are?" I asked curiously. 

 

He frowned as if wondering why I was asking, so I just smiled and approached the counter. 

 

"How much is the bill for that table? I'll pay for it," I said, then looked at Brandon's table. 

 

I left the cafe with a smile after paying their bill. I don't want to brag, but I don't want to be accused of pretending rich just to be famous!