Chapter Two

SUDDENLY, her eyes widen and covered her front. "Oh. My. Glasses—are you staring at my boobs?!"

"What—N-No!" I said defensively. I mean, NO! Defensively? Seriously? I was shocked, you weirdo. "Geez. I was caught up by your nice shirt. It's cool." I drag back my hoodie so that she could see me—my face. I feel like my face is still burning of the thought that she thought I was enjoying a fun view.

Over my dead body.

I let my hair out of my hoodie. There. See my black long hair now? A complete evidence of my femininity?

"I like the color—blue. It's my favorite." I added flatly.

"Ohh..." she raised an eyebrow and calmed back her hands, as if my hair justified things for heaven's sake. "I see."

Sigh.

People are always like this, especially girls. They would think I am a guy, or worse, a lesbian, because of my get-up. Plus, my alto voice that is just quite deep, but not too much like guys though. And later, they will realize I am not. Well, it's nothing new to me. I can even mess with them the way they mess with me.

And that, I think, is what I call—don't judge the thing by its cover.

Okay. I don't like books. I'm a lazy reader. When I have read The Little Prince it took me a week to finish it and so I was so late with my reaction paper. But I don't hate them either. And it's a thing. So... it's a thing.

"Oh! By the way, I'm Aira," she smiled politely giving her hand. I can see her blue marbled eyes feeling sorry of her accusation a while ago.

"Oh. Pip," I reached her hand and did the usual shaking hands. "About your question. Um. I am going to Grigori University, I study there."

"Really? Awesome! We can go there together. I'm a transferee student going there, just now," she cheerily said, squeezing my hands with hers, her face in complete excitement, "I'm kind of late to be enrolled and attend classes, but I have to, for some personal reasons." She shrugged. I feel like my little bones in my hands are going to break cause she never let go of it.

"Ow!"

"Oh my. Sorry!" Aira hastily let my hand free from her grip. "Did I hurt you?"

"Nah, really, I was just playing. But, almost," I giggled. But my giggle is not that cute. Trust me.

"I'm so sorry Pip,"

"Well, at least my hands are still breathing. Yay," I played with my hand as if it is a talking puppet.

"Silly," she chuckled, "What year are you now? And your college?"

"I'm on my second year in Computer Science,"

Before I know it, Aira hugged me so tight I became too conscious of the other passengers in the jeepney. They stared at us long enough that it made me feel uneasy.

I like staring at people blankly, just for fun or whatever silly reason I have in mind... but I hate people staring at me that way. The kind of way like, stare-in-disgust way. I hate it... and so it wakes the other side of me.

I glared back at them and they shifted their faces away from me.

And hugging. I hate hugging. If ever you get a long hug from me, then you are certainly rare. As far as I'm concern, I have only done that with my parents and relatives. And I rarely get a hug from my friends since they know me—they know I will get mad. And they understand that even if they don't.

I hurriedly break off in her tight hug.

"Why did you do that?" I hissed, glaring at her coldly, not minding that she is just being friendly. So much friendly for people who just met, and did what I hate the most. For a moment, I think my temper is on its sixty percent ready for explosion.

"Cause we are classmates! I took Computer Science and I'm on my second year!" Aira said giddily, not minding my furious face. "I'm so lucky today!" She sang on high pitch.

"Hush, Aira. Keep your voice down, would you? People have been staring at you ever since you have ever opened your mouth here." Some guy behind her scolded.

"What-ever, Bryan," She just rolled her eyes and touched her glasses, not facing the one who talked to her.

My mood got distracted. I was curious of the familiar voice that I heard. So, I leaned a little and peeked at the guy sitting beside Aira.

He is wearing his white earphones while his hands busy, scanning his smartphone. I noticed his dark hair is in gentleman's cut, and he is wearing a folded long sleeves that is tinted grey at the bottom.

He is wearing a folded long sleeves that is tinted grey at the bottom. It's—

When he noticed that he is being looked at, he lifted his face. His hazel eyes pointed directly at me while I stare at him ice-cold.

It's the jerk.

"You!" We yelled in perfect unison. And the other passengers were also in perfect unison that stared at us, surprised. I hastily go back to my seat properly. He turned his head to peek behind Aira while unplugging his earphones. I eyed him intently.

The jeepney suddenly stopped, and I have to run my life up the stairs before it's too late. Before I become surely late.

I put my phone and earphones inside my bag and get my dark denim-covered wallet.

The jeep is divided in two rows of seats—the left side and the right side. If you are sitting in either of the sides, you will be facing the person sitting on the other. In my case, I am sitting at the right side, so does Aira and that jerk. I am still blessed that I am not facing him. Thank God.

"Here, please pass my fair, Sir," I gave my money to the man across me. He accepted it and passes it again to the woman near the driver, where the driver's hand is reaching out. It is mostly like this in the jeepney: passing your fair to the person near you and they will pass it until it can be reached by the driver. It's almost like a friendly game in every ride of the jeep.

Aira and her friend also paid for the fair after I gave mine.

That dude... Easy Pip, easy.

I will let this morning pass. It shouldn't ruin my day. That guy should not ruin my day. I hurriedly went out of the jeepney and ran toward the school gates, trying to forget everything but our classroom.

"Hey, Pip! Wait for me!" Aira ran after me while her friend just walked casually, not caring of our rush through the corridors.

The building is surely a long run. I was panting already when I reached the second floor. So, I slowed down and checked the time in that big round clock that was placed just above the stairs. I still got two minutes and I know it's enough for me to reach our room. I decided to walk. "Pip," Aira caught my shoulder, she is breathing heavily. "Are you a runner or something? Gosh, you were so fast for a lady," she fanned herself, sweating.

I just looked at her, not saying a word or any hint of interest in talking to her.

"So, where is our room?" She smiled at me. Doesn't she understand a kind of facial expression called pissed? "You're not yet my classmate," I pointed out and continued walking up the stairs leading to the third floor.

"Hmm? Why not?" She pouted, following me.

I almost rolled my eyes.

"The Second Year of Computer Science Department has two blocks. You didn't tell me which block you're in," I said nonchalantly and stopped on my track to face her. "I'm in 2CS-Block1." "But how will I know?" A worried face replaced her sunny face earlier.

"For Facebook's sake! You don't know?" I reached for my forehead. I don't know if I was pissed or annoyed of her innocence. I don't even know if the two can just mean the same.

And I know I need air to calm myself. Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts.

I exhaled heavily, "Check your Assessment Form," I said. "Oh. Okay," she rummaged her backpack and got what she needs inserted in a notebook. She examined the paper. "It says, 2CS-Block2—" Aira raised an eyebrow.

"Hey! Where is this 2CS-Block1?" Someone at our back shouted.

We both turned our heads to see the guy in folded long sleeves with his backpack hanged to his right shoulder, walking towards us.

Oh Good Lord... Not him.

I know the question was not for me. He is Aira's friend. So, I started walking again, just twelve—nine steps to our room. And I'm not yet late. And I'm wearing my favorite pair of six-pocket denim jeans. It is a good day. It should be a good day.

"Hey, Aira. You know it?"

"Yeah, it's not a where, it's actually a what—" Aira turned to her side and just realized that I am not there already. She turned around and saw me walking away. She sighed. "It's your section. Just—follow that girl in denim."

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