"Good to see that you've managed to make it to my class, Mr. Beltrami," Professor Feargus Seaghdh states plainly, a little pissed off that his first day of discussion of the subject syllabus must be interrupted by someone wishing for a special treatment. "You must take note, young lad, that I don't tolerate tardiness. Rather be absent for the day than to come late."

"Noted, sir," Sam replies with his usual easy smile, but I could also hint some tremor on his side.

Anyway, what is he doing here? And hell, why is he in this university? College, to be precise? There are countless of universities that won't doubt take him as their student if he so badly needed to enter in one, and his father will wish him to graduate at one prestigious school. Though University College Dublin is also one famous and a great university, there's the Trinity College of Dublin that will equate for his heritage from lines of counts and barons. Another thing, why would he take up a course in Chemical and Bioprocessing Engineering? He was an actor. He should be... no, his father won't even allow that one. But he could simply choose law, or history, or culture.

"I don't want you to mess up with my class, Mr. Beltrami. If you would be so kind to finally find a seat you want to," Professor Seaghdh offers dully, turning to face the whiteboard again for him to continue his discussion. "And please, please... don't cause a riot in my class. Everyone, spare the rest of the time in what I am saying. I am sure that Mr. Beltrami will be so open to answer all of your questions later."

Sam chuckles softly as his eyes finally scan the room, ending to meet my own. As he slowly ascends the stairs, he smiles at me, and sits on the vacant seat next to me, causing few murmurs to heighten much more from both girls and boys inside the room. He greets as quietly as he could, "Hey."

"Hey to you, too," I counter back softly. "What are you doing?"

"Taking up Chemical and Bioprocessing Engineering, starting my first day on a class of Chemistry."

"I know that. What I mean is that, what had gotten into you?"

Professor Seaghdh clears his throat. All the hush voices inside the room quiet down at the threatening move.

Next to me, Sam runs his hand onto the locks of his dark hair. For others, it might be an ordinary movement. But me, knowing him for more than half of my life, I know too well what that means. It's a secret code that we've made when we were kids.

Talk to you later.

# # #

The remaining twenty-five minutes after Sam arrived for class turns out to be one complete dangerous and tepid one. The tick of the clock's hand seems to slow down five times fold that I almost have an itch of wishing to get out of here.

Not to mention that Sam remains listening attentively at whatever Professor Seaghdh is saying, probably in order not to get the professor's nerves again after his tardiness on class' first day, and casually keeps on glancing at me and scanning his eyes onto the rest of the people around the room. But he's no longer smiling at all since then. On the other hand, I though successfully finished one round of writing a music sheet that I want to play already because of boredom.

A minute before class ends, I've already fixed all of my things and way so ready to be out of this room; all ready to head for my next class. But at the exact moment that Professor Seaghdh announces the dismissal of his class, Sam has his hand close around my wrist already and hastily drags me out of the room. I am no longer able to shout at him why, when all of my limbs has the every urge to run.

"Come on," he tells me, urging me to come along with him.

"Why should I come with you? I just want to talk with you," I reply back as we head down the halls of the college littered by students of different courses for engineering who stops mid-way of their walks and conversation to see the commotion.

"There should be some secret place around here, don't you think?" he questions as he casts a quick glance behind us as we continue running on, before finally returning his stern glare right ahead of us. "I hate them."

"Them?" I finally dare myself to look behind us, and I didn't expect that I'll see a huge crowd of fans, mostly girls, dashing to where we are heading. All of them are screaming on and holding banners with Brión Siadhail's name written on it. Others though have cameras along with them, snapping pictures already, and the flashes almost blind me.

I turn to Sam again and I am catching my breath. I am tired already, and I can feel my heart about to burst from my chest if we are to run another turn. "Why do you need to drag me along with this? You're practically letting them know that we know each other personally."

"I've already retired from the industry, and I expect that they'll stop following after me. It appears that it became way too mainstream for them not to do so right away," he replies. He stops abruptly that I almost bump against his back. He continues holding my hand as he drags me to another turn and then to a door. "In," he orders as the two of us slip from everyone's eyes.

It appears that Sam had led me to a fire exit.

He keeps his hold onto my hand tight as he urges me on to descend one floor. A second later, the two of us are both catching on our breaths. He leans against the concrete wall with his hands against his knees, and I helplessly sit down by the corner clutching against the front of my shirt, trying to ease the uneven beating of my heart.

"I don't think we'll make it to our next class," he tells me between his heavy breathing. "I've never run that far and fast for a long time."

I haven't run that way just as he does, either. I am never that athletic, and this completely makes my heart seems to clench its surrounding veins tightly. It hurts. I call for him softly, "Sam..."

The visible weakness on my voice is possibly the reason why he suddenly snaps and walks to where I am sitting. He kneels in front of me and holds my hands. He says, "Shit, I forgot. I am sorry. Just... just focus on breathing right now. It'll be okay, I promise."

I close my eyes and do as he says. I try to focus on breathing. I try to forget everything and clear my mind. I push away the troubles that I am to face from my mother, searching for me among the number of students she'll be having for Physics today since I am not present. I think that it's only me and Sam here, that there are no fans of his trying to find us or what. I force myself not to blame Sam for having me be caught up in such a chase. I just need to accept the fact that everyone in campus just doesn't know still that we've known each other, and they want to be with him.

"Easy there," I hear him whisper. "I've got you." I feel an arm of his surrounding my shoulders and his other hand behind my knees. I let my senses overpower my mind as I realize that he'd keep me on his arms as he settles on one of the steps for him to sit on. His hold tightens comfortingly.

I don't know how many minutes have passed before I finally open my eyes and stare straight into Sam's brilliant grayish-green eyes. I realize that he's looking right into me as well as his brows furrow in worry.

"Feeling better?" he inquires.

I nod timidly, even though I could still feel a little clutching in my chest, it doesn't feel too hard to breathe than before. That's a relief to find out as well that the beating of my heart slowly returns back to its normal rate.

Sam seems to realize how awkward and intimate the two of us that he decides to gently and slowly let go of me, placing me on where he previously sat like some fragile glass before sitting next to me. He starts, "I'm sorry. I have countless of things to apologize for."

"You didn't tell me that you're entering UCD. Not to mention at the same course as I do," I mutter.

He smiles softly. "That's my fault. We've been together for the rest of the day yesterday, and it somehow slipped my mind to tell you. Perhaps, I really like surprises."

"This is the reason why you've retired from acting, do you? You wish to enter university peacefully with no one following your trail."

"It ends up that it doesn't go as planned. I won't be surprised if the news has scattered already that I am a College student of UCD, and that you are my childhood friend that I've been keeping under their lashes for too long already."

"What's wrong with it?"

Sam looks at me with a curious frown. "You're asking me what's wrong? Everything. I want some privacy in my life. I thought that after almost three days, the news would die already and that people will finally move on with the fact of my wishes. It appears that I am wrong. I've been keeping you from the media knowing about you because I owe your father that much. The two of us know how much you don't deserve to be under the watchful eyes of the media. I want to protect you. And the only way I can do that is not to worry about the privacy of your life meddling with the publicity of mine. Believe me, if the news were leaked about these things, people will try to judge you."

"Whatever we do, people still judge us," I counter. "We just need to accept that that's how the world works."

He places his hands on my shoulders and helplessly looks at me. "I don't want to destroy your future."

"You're not destroying my future. We're making a future for you where you no longer need to hide."

"You make it sound way too easy."

"Because there's only one way to make it clear to everyone then. You need to face them."

"I don't know if I could."

"You could. You faced a huge crowd before. Right now, you're answering the questions they have."

In the silence that followed my words, my phone ringing instantly echoes in the dullness of the fire exit. I and Sam share a long look at each other before I finally reach for it from my backpack and answer it, forgetting to look at the caller's ID.

I answer, "Hello?"

"ADA!!!" Airin's voice rings out too loudly that I need to pull away from my phone from my ear for a moment before settling it closer again. "Breaking news, breaking news! Did you received a text message from a so-called person calling himself or herself as 'Chitchatted UCD Gossip'?"

I cast a look at Sam for a moment. I could bet that he can also hear whatever Airin is saying for him to check his own phone, and almost curses against his breathe, but he freezes in his place, upon seeing something. He furrows his brow for a moment and shows me his phone.

It is a message. The sender's name doesn't reflect a series of numbers, but a fixed name.

The message reads:

- - -

     "RECENTLY RETIRED FAMOUS YOUNG ACTOR ENROLLED IN UCD; FOUND RUNNING WITH A FRESHMAN GIRL

     It had come to my attention that recently retired famous young actor that most girls fantasized to be their boyfriend, Brión Siadhail, was caught entering Professor Feargus Seaghdh's Chemistry class in UCD's School of Chemical and Bioprocessing Engineering earlier today. Gossips said that he arrived late for his first class, and Professor Seaghdh called him as 'Mr. Beltrami' than 'Mr. Siadhail'! We don't know what's behind this, but the man was no doubt to be Brión Siadhail himself!

     According to sources, Siadhail sat down next to a red-headed beautiful and charming girl, and that she looked familiar. Girls, what do you say about this?

     And did I also forgot to mention that just at the very second that the class was dismissed, Siadhail held the girl's hand and simply ran off the room? Yes, you've read right. Our sweet pairing ran off like they are shooting some movie at that very moment. But might I remind you that they ran off because of Siadhail's fans trying to catch him?

     Everyone, you are not alone to have countless of questions about what's going on, and what's currently happening. But if it is indeed true that Siadhail is enrolled in UCD as a Chemical and Bioprocessing Engineering student, and for him to simply hold the girl's hand to run with her, it means that we are slowly in the brick of finding out who is Siadhail's famous childhood friend or lover. Also, we might finally know more about Siadhail's family heritage and his real identity in the days that are to come.

     After all, we'll be seeing Siadhail around campus much more often then. We'll keep you updated about Siadhail, and about his mystery girl.

     —Chitchatted UCD Gossip

     * Want to be the frontrunners to hear the latest gossips about our most popular students in UCD? Download our latest application as well in your phones, like right now!"

- - -

I already anticipate that news or even gossips will start appearing, and that will also involve me. But I didn't realize that it will be this fast. Not to mention that a group calling themselves 'Chitchatted UCD Gossip' will release such. And not to question that they probably know every student's number for them to send such message.

"Hey, you still there, Ada?" Airin inquires me, snapping me out from my own trail of thoughts.

"Uhm, yeah," I answer. "I've seen their message as well."

"I wonder if the gossip is real, but if it is true... I really want to see Brión myself! But that red-haired chic is one lucky gal!" She comments, "That somehow reminds me of you. It is not uncommon to find a red-haired girl in Dublin. Not to mention that is one trademark of a born Irish girl!"

"Yeah. There's countless of red-haired girls enrolled in UCD."

"You think the gossip is true?"

I shudder and cast a look at Sam, who nods at me. I can see it in his eyes that there's no denying anymore. I finally answer, "It's true. My first class is Chemistry with Professor Seaghdh. Siadhail arrived late."

"And then?" Interest sparks on her voice. "Is it true that he sat with a red-haired girl? That they ran away after the class?"

"I didn't pay attention to him. Professor Seaghdh won't tolerate such chaos."

"Anyway, I gotta go. Next class is on. My professor in Music Theory and Musicianship is such a hottie, and the one for the Introduction of Music is one old hag!"

"Watch your words, Airin," I remind her, trying to play it cool still.

"Later then, Mi Adá." And then, she finally ends the call.

I sigh heavily as I lower my phone and see the same message of Chitchatted UCD Gossip. Upon finding it, I instantly delete it. I then look at Sam, who appears to be looking at me.

"We can't hide to Airin, as well as to Peter, the truth for a longer time," Sam explains as he stands up and crosses his arms across his chest. "I shall tell them the truth."

"I don't think I'm ready. I share this secret with you, and then... Airin won't forgive me for keeping the truth from her." I didn't realize that my voice breaks in a sob. I didn't even feel my eyes water, not until I cover my mouth to hide my sobbing against my hand that I feel the trickle of tears down my cheeks. "It's my fault that you need to keep it. I just need to let Airin not freak about it. I... I don't think..."

"Trust me," Sam insists as he suddenly cups my face on his hands, urging me to look at him straight to the eye. His thumb brushes the tears on my eyes easily as he continues, "So... I'll face this crowd of people, tell them that I don't want to answer any of their questions. I'll completely divert it away."

"How about your real identity?"

"I'm still contemplating about that. But, since I've enrolled here on my birth name, my father wanted me to clearly end everything and tell the truth of my real heritage." He smiles and squeezes my cheeks. "So no, brush away those tears. We head separate ways—me, a floor below, you at this floor. No one would even realize that we're together at all. I'll clearly play it cool, but I can't promise that I'll arrive on time for our next subject. That's..."

"Mechanics," I reply as I slowly urge him to remove his hands from me and I brush away my tears with the back of my hand.

"Ah, right. Mechanics. By the way," he says.

I watch him removes his jacket. After all, I didn't realize that he's wearing one. I take it when he hands it to me.

"It's reversible," he explains. "Wear it the other way around. Another thing, put on your glasses so they might not easily recognize you. Change the style of your hair as well, put on some earphones, and..." He reaches out for my bag and starts removing its content.

"Hey!" I demand to him. "What are you doing?"

"You won't be needing this bag until this issue finally dies and everything settles. That leaves you to carry this one."

I stand up from my seat and silently slip on his jacket on the reverse way. As it appears, the jacket is leather on one side and cotton on the other. Right now, I have the leather one out to see. Afterwards, I realize that Sam had put on his usual disguise, but instead of dark tinted sunglasses, he is wearing some weird reading glasses.

"I need this," Sam answers my unspoken question. "If I don't, I won't make it to our next class relatively safe."

"Oh."

After setting his disguise, not daring to turn away when he lifts his shirt over his head. I instantly lift my hands over my eyes, tightly closing them up for me not to see more of him, even if I already did few times before. I hear him chuckles as he reaches for a hoodie and finally pulls on the hood over his blonde wig. He then places my bag inside his and clutches his bag in just one shoulder. He reminds me, "If I ever didn't make it to class, just text or give me a call. I must meet with you along with Airin and Peter after class to be true."

"Okay," I reply with a heavy sigh as I clutch onto my books, notebook, sketch pad, and music sheet book closer to my chest.

He smiles at me again and ruffles my hair, which style I've changed from one French braid to a messy low bun. "See you later, Óinseach."

"Later as well, Amadán."

———————————————

Translation guide:
* Óinseach - Idiot (feminine)
* Amadán - Idiot (masculine)

Vote, comment and share. Also, follow me on twitter @23meraki for more updates, trivia about the story, aesthetic boards, and etc. Love, love, love! <3