Chapter 1

Jeyah's POV

I was sitting alone in the school's cafeteria at that time when I heard a group of students laughing while teasing someone in the group. Everyone around in that place was looking at them, especially the girls. I landed my gaze on them since I heard someone speaking, "Guys, the group of Darren is here!"

These guys were sitting opposite to each other at a table not far from me. And as I counted them, they are ten—five males and five females. Unintentionally, my gaze landed on someone who was sitting at the center. My eyes were locked on him as he was also staring at me. And oh my God! He is undeniably handsome. He has those deep and expressive blue-grey eyes and finely chiseled features that could make any woman go crazy over him. He was wearing a dark polo that was rolled up to his elbow.

But to my surprise, he has similarities with Ryle. I felt the pain creeping gradually inside my heart when I remembered him. How could I ever forget my first love? I quickly set aside those sad thoughts because I'm afraid I might give in.

"Go, and approach her, Darren." The voice was coming from a lady with blonde hair, wearing a fitted pink blouse and blue jeans.

I know she was referring to me because she was looking in my direction. I averted my gaze and continued reading my book.

"Go ahead, bro, c'mon, you can do it," it was coming from a guy with semi-wavy hair who was wearing a plain blue polo shirt.

I shook my head and I started fixing my things. I need to go because I still have to attend my class in my major subject. I stood up, and I could feel they were all looking at me, as I passed by. But since I have this aloof attitude, I did not look at them because, in the first place, I didn't know them.

As I was heading towards the E-classroom, I was thinking about that guy's name. Sounds familiar because once I heard a group of female students, mentioning his name as they giggled to the bones, "Darren Laurel, the campus heartthrob!"

I forgot about it for a while when I noticed I was already inside the E-classroom. I went straight at the back and pulled a chair for me.  I don't want to sit in the front even before when I was still in elementary because it would make me feel conscious when someone behind is looking at me.

I looked at my watch, and it was almost time. Yet, our professor has not yet arrived. I opened my book for a while and did a quick glance at the topic for my class report. Suddenly, I felt a little tense for no reason. It's not my first time doing class reporting, but why did I feel nervous?

After several minutes, our professor came in. A man in his early 40s who used to wear thick eyeglasses entered the room, with an intimidating personality. He has been very strict in the class, especially when it comes to reporting. He has a high standard since he graduated summa cumlaude from this institution, that made him a perfectionist type of person.

"Good afternoon, class, who is assigned to report today?" he asked as his eyes looked around.

I raised my hand and stood up. Since the overhead projector was already set up, I just inserted my flash drive, and then, I started my class report. All their eyes were fixed on me as they listened intently to my discussion. My report did not last too long because each reporter was only given thirty minutes to discuss his/her topic.

"Well done, Miss Arguello. It was an excellent report", Professor Arnold Sabandal complimented and smiled at me. I think he really liked my report because if not, he would not smile like that. I saw some of my classmates clapping their hands, while others were just wearing a smirk on their lips. It's not new to me, anyway, that most of my classmates don't like me. The fact is, I cannot please everybody, no matter how much I've tried my best.

"Thank you, sir,"  I responded and smiled. I removed the flash drive, and then took my seat at the back.

"I heard one of my classmates softly saying, "She's not that intelligent! She was just trying hard to impress our professor!"

I know she was referring to me, but I pretended I did not hear it. It's not my problem anymore. I did not say I am intelligent. I was just trying my best to deliver my class report because that was expected from me by Mr. Sabandal.

My tears started to form in my eyes because even when I told myself not to get affected by whatever people would say to me, I still couldn't help but get hurt.

Well, this is me. This is my personality. And being emotional is already embedded within me. I was in the midst of deep thought when someone sitting beside me called my attention.

"Hi, I never thought we were classmates in this subject!"  she said, smiling at me.

I looked at her and suddenly remembered she was one of those guys in the cafeteria. I also did not expect that she was my classmate in my major subject and that we were taking the same course.

"Hi, I'm Jeyah Abby Arguello. You can call me Jeyah," I said and shook her hand.

"My name is Clarisse Rofero,"  she said in a soft voice. She is pretty with her blonde hair, and I think she stands 5'5 like me. She has a fair complexion and a slim body that makes her sexy to look at.

We chitchatted for quite some time while waiting for our next subject, but someone informed us that our professor was on leave, so he could not meet us today.

Clarisse and I went out of the E-classroom together, but later we parted ways since I still had to drop by the library to return the book I borrowed last time.

I enjoyed reading some books in the library, that I forgot that I'd been there for two hours already, and it was time for me to go home. I looked at my watch, and it was already 5 p.m. I hurriedly went outside and headed towards the parking lot. I took the keys to my Toyota Fortuner and started the engine.

Because it was peak hours already, I was caught by the heavy traffic for almost an hour. I felt I was already starving like I wanted to eat my favorite chicken adobo and beef steak. So, I decided to drop by at NINYO Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge to order some of my brother's favorite food. While waiting for my order, I sat for a while on a vacant chair and took the cellphone from my bag when I heard its beeping sound. My brother texted, asking me if I was already on my way home.

Suddenly, someone approached me, and I was surprised when I recognized that it was Clarisse. I looked around and noticed that she was with her friends. And I saw him again. That guy whom they called Darren

"Hi, Jeyah, I never thought I would see you here!", Clarisse spoke as she softly thumped my arm.

"Oh hi! Clarisse, it's good to see you here!" I responded, and we softly chuckled.

"I'm with my friends now. You know this is our favorite hangout," she said, pointing her fingers in her friends' direction. Then, she pulled my hand as we headed to where her friends were.

"Guys, this is Jeyah Abby Arguello, my classmate in Psychology 104. You know she is smart in the class,"  Clarisse expressed a compliment.

Then, she introduced her friends to me, starting with the girls. I just nodded and smiled at them.

"And now, the last but not the least is the most handsome among these men, the leader of this group, our boss, Darren Laurel," she uttered, with a genuine smile.

"Hi, nice to meet you, Jeyah," Darren said as he stood and offered his hand for a handshake.

"Hi, nice to meet you too, Darren," I responded. I felt some butterflies in my stomach as he held my hand and met his eyes. I realized, why he is called the heartthrob of the school campus because he has this compelling and overpowering charm that allures women.

"Sorry,"  he apologized when he realized he was still holding my hand. He pulled a chair for me and offered me a seat, but my name was already called at the service counter for my order, so I excused myself and told them I needed to go.

When I was inside the car, I couldn't help but think about Darren. Now that I have seen him up close, I could totally say he has similarities with Ryle. And if Ryle were still alive today, perhaps they would be mistaken as siblings.

Finally, I arrived home. I hurriedly went out of the car, after parking it in the garage. I took a long step, heading towards the entrance door. I looked at my watch, and it was already 8 o'clock. I know my brother was already waiting for me and has not yet taken his dinner. Of course, a lengthy interrogation was waiting ahead since it was my first time coming home at this hour, except if there were school activities.

"Good luck, Jeyah,"  I whispered and flipped the doorknob.