Jordyn's POV

I don't like it when a person knows so much about me. I hate it when people want to be involved in my life. Ayokong may nakakausap ako o nakakasalamuha palagi. It's annoying.

But then, here's Kairo Ezequiel Eugenio, son of the famous fashion designer and late owner of the most known restaurant here in the Philippines, casually holding my hand as if it were his property.

I don't care about the people looking at us right now, all I care about is Kairo being unbothered. Is it because this act is scripted? Like, parang lokohan lang kaya wala masyadong saysay sa kanya? In that case, it's unfair because me holding his hand makes my heart somehow happy.

This shit that I'm feeling is unusual and I don't know what or how to react to it.

Matapos ang ilang minuto ng paglalakad, we have to part ways dahil hindi naman kami pareho ng class na papasukan. I was the first to let his hand go then I looked into his eyes.

"11:30 lunch break ko, how about you?" he asked, waiting for my answer. "Pareho lang tayo pero sa dismissal, mas mauuna ka yata. My last class is until 6pm," I informed him at napaisip naman siya. "Okay, let's just see each other at the cafeteria later," he responded at tumango lang ako.

I'm currently walking alone to go to my class. Ramdam ko pa din ang bigat ng mga tingin ng tao sa paligid ko sa'kin pero hindi ko nalang din sila pinansin dahil ano bang pakialam nila?

Audio-visual communication ang unang klase ko ngayon at agad din naman akong nakarating sa room. Humanap ako ng upuan na nasa dulo at doon umupo. While waiting for my prof, I put on my earbuds, played some music and I suddenly felt my eyes heavy causing me to shut them close.

"Ms. Clemente. Jordyn Alexis Clemente," a voice called out which shocked me at napatayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo. Tsaka ko lang napagtanto na nakatulog ako. WHAT THE HELL?

Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at nakita ko lahat ng tao na nasa loob ng kwarto ay nakatingin sa akin. I wiped my mouth and fixed my hair. Tumingin ako sa relo ko and it's 10 am. Shit

"Good morning, Sir. Sorry I fell asleep, it won't happen again," I compromised and lowered my head. "Are you still sleepy? To wake your body up, define audio-visual communication," he said in a serious tone which made me gulp.

"Uhmm, I'm not really sure but last night I ran through the lesson guides and I read that audio-visual communication is a combination of sight and sound. It uses audible and visual techniques both for transmitting message, information, or idea to create a meaningful picture that is communicative" I responded and I saw him nod to acknowledge.

"Kindly give us an example" he asked authoritatively. I cleared my throat before answering, "A great example would be an advertisement. When a product or a specific service is being displayed on the television, many people that would see it can possibly have an interest as they are seeing infos and a visual representation of the product" I paused to breathe before continuing,

"Furthermore, the ad may leave an impression on the audience and they will have the possibility to remember it" mahabang sagot ko and I immediately saw the impressed face of my professor as well as my classmates'

"Great job, Ms. Clemente. Thank you for sharing that knowledge of yours to us" he casually said at bumalik na din naman ako sa pagkakaupo.

I spent the rest of this class hours, focusing on what our professor is teaching. Nagnote din ako ng mga important words and definitions sa binder ko. These notes will be useful kapag finals or may biglaang exam na paganap ang prof.

"Next time, we will have an activity that will be by group. So, I would suggest to all of you to be friends or just casually talk with your block mates. Having connections or closure with one another will be helpful to the activity that you'll be doing," the Prof explained seriously.

Group activities are my weaknesses. Tambakan nyo na ako ng maraming gawain basta individual, ayos lang sakin but to work with groups? Damn, ibagsak nyo nalang ako kaagad pls.

"This will be the end of this class. You may now take your break" paalam ng prof at tuluyang lumabas sa classroom namin. Mabilis na nagsitayuan ang mga kaklase ko at naiwan naman akong nakaupo pa din dahil aayusin ko pa ang mga gamit ko.

While I was fixing my things and myself, my phone vibrated. I checked it and it was a message from Kairo saying that he's on his way to the cafeteria. I just replied, 'good. i'll just fix my things. see u'

Nang matapos sa pag-aayos ng gamit, tatayo na sana ako pero may biglang humila ng upuan na nasa unahan ko at umupo siya doon. Iniharap nya sakin ang sarili nya at tinitigan ako. "Clemente.. What's your first name?" he casually asked.

"Hmmm, sasagutin ko na sana pero naalala ko, it's none of your business," I answered and got up from sitting down. Alam ko din na tumayo siya dahil narinig ko ang paggalaw ng upuan pero dirediretso lang ako sa paglalakad palabas ng room.

"The cold type girl. Nice," he whispered when he caught up with my walking pace. Hindi ko sya pinansin, not until I felt him grabbed my ID and looked at my name. "Gago ka ba? Akin na nga yan," I started at pwersahang binawi mula sa kamay nya yung ID ko.

"Geez, calm down Jordyn Alexis" he arrogantly said. I pulled his ID with force at bakas sa mukha niya ang gulat nang gawin ko 'yon. Joziah Leonel Palacio. Tss, mas pogi pa din pangalan na Kairo Ezequiel Eugenio.

Binitawan ko ang ID nya at nakabawi siya kaagad sa pagkagulat.

"So, Palacio, what's your problem? Kung sinusunod mo ang sinabi ni Prof kanina, wala kang mapapala sa'kin, okay? You may leave me alone" tuloy tuloy na banat ko sa kanya. "Let's have lunch together," he said. "No, thanks. May kasabay na ako" sagot ko tsaka lumakad papunta sa cafeteria.

'Di kalayuan ay nakita ko din naman agad si Kairo na nakaupo at naghihintay sa bench malapit sa canteen. "Eugenio!" tawag ko sa atensyon nya at nakita naman nya kaagad ako. I walked faster to get close to him.

"Bat ang tagal mo, Clemente?" tanong nya at ipinalibot ang braso nya sa balikat ko. "Some guy walked towards me to ask my name then pulled my ID kaya binawian ko din pero mas malakas yung hila ko syempre" kwento ko sa kanya at tumawa lang din siya.

Sayang-saya 'yan?

We decided to not eat at the university's cafeteria. Kaya andito kami ngayon sa isang thai restaurant na malapit lang din naman sa uni kaya nilakad lang din namin.

We are currently waiting for our order, pad thai and cha yen. Pareho din kami ng pagkain na inorder dahil ewan ko ba dito, napakaarte.

"So, anong ganap sa first class mo?" he asked as he turned off his phone. "Nakatulog ako for about half hour sa first class ko but thankfully I reviewed last night kaya hindi ako napahiya nung bigla akong tinawag ng prof" sagot ko at pinalakpakan niya ako, sarcastically.

"Galing naman. Pagpatuloy mo, Clemente. Tulugan mo na lahat ng klase," pang-aasar niya kaya inismiran ko lang siya. "Pero ang daldal mo pala 'no? Kapag tinanong ka ang dami mong sinasagot or sakin ka lang ganyan?" he added at napaisip naman ako. Ganon ba kahalata ang mga ipinapakita ko?

It was just yesterday and we're already somehow close. Nagkkwento ako sa kanya kapag nagtatanong siya. Komportable ako kapag kasama ko siya, I'm happy when he's around.

Umayos ka, Jordyn Alexis. Umayos ka.

I shrugged to remove my thoughts out of my mind. "At bakit mo naman naisip na sa'yo lang? Ginto ka ba? Hindi naman 'di ba?" nanghahamon na sagot ko. "Para sa ngayon, hindi pa. We'll know soon kung gold nga ba ako para sa'yo," he confidently answered. "Oo, tapos kapag gold ka na, ibebenta kita," pambabara ko sa kanya.

After a few moments, our orders arrived and it looked so good. Nagsimula ako kumain ng mapunta na sa harap ko ang pagkain ko ganon din naman si Kairo.

"Anong oras next class mo?" I asked him while chewing my food. "Mamaya pang 1:30, I have lots of time to do what I want but I'll go to the library later," sagot naman nya kaagad sa akin at uminom. "Good. Sama ako sa'yo" I implied and I felt his confusion because he put down the chopstick that he's holding. "Why? What time is your next class?" he asked. "Same as you" maikling sagot ko at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Matapos kumain naglakad din kami kaagad pabalik sa university at dumiretso kami sa library. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit ba ako sumama sa kanya pero saan ba naman kasi pa ako pupunta 'di ba? Tsaka wala pa naman akong ibang kakilala na gusto ko talaga kasama.

I took out my textbook and turned it to the chapter we ended off with earlier. I want to keep my grades up by reciting and being active in class. So I'll advanced study, cause my Mom did everything so that I could study here in Manila. To be honest, I was supposed to stop studying due to the lack of budget. But my Mom did everything for me to have a degree.

While reading my textbook I felt his stare at me so I met up with his gaze. He was resting his face on his palm while looking at me as if I was his precious little trophy. Stop, Kairo. You're making my heart flutter by just staring at me with those eyes.

"You have a really nice side profile." sabi niya sa akin at namula ako agad. He really knows his way through me huh? Bigla naman siyang lumapit sa akin at inakbayan ako. Agad naman ako huminga ng malalim and playfully removed his arms around me.

"That's getting really old, you should stop hitting on me Eugenio." I told him before bringing back my attention to my book. "No no, I can't do that. You and I are destiny, Jordyn." he told me and my heart started to beat so fast as the butterflies on my stomach fluttered.

After a few minutes he spoke, "Why are you even studying so much? You're already good at everything." he told me and I rolled my eyes at him before closing my book. Information overload na kasi ako masyado, break muna mga 10 minutes.

"I have to study because I am running for latin honors, hindi porket matalino ka at pa chill chill lang ay gagaya na ako sayo." I told him at kinuha niya naman ang notebook ko at tumayo. Kumunot naman ang noo ko, bawal mag-ingay sa library pero gago 'tong isang 'to eh. "Ano ba Kairo, akin na yan!"

Tumawa naman siya bago ibalik sa akin yung notebook, "Galit yan? Paano yung galit? Sample nga." he chuckled as he sat down beside me. I also laughed before fixing my things.

"I'll go to class na, ikaw mauunang umuwi so we can't go home together. Drive safely okay?" sabi ko sa kanya at tumango naman siya bago ngumisi. "Yes, babe." tinabig ko na lang siya bago nagtungo sa klase ko.

Saktong pagpasok ko ay nagtext si Kairo, 'Text me later when you are home na'

Tinabi ko na lang ang cellphone ko bago makinig sa Prof. para sa discussion. This class is feature writing at kailangan ko mag focus dahil dito ako nahihirapan.

Natapos ang discussion namin and it took us a lot of time before we were dismissed. Ang dami pa kasing alam nitong Prof. namin. Maraming daily reminders baka gusto niya ng sapak, gusto ko na matulog!

Also bebe time with Kairo ehe.

Paglabas ko ng campus ay tumigil ako sa tapat ng stoplight. Tatawid pa ba ako o hindi? Sige dito na lang, ganon lang din naman yon eh. Medyo nakakatakot pala dito sa campus pag gabi, feeling ko any minute now may tatabi na sa akin na multo.

But I'm not paranoid, I really don't believe in ghosts. I don't believe in those fucked up theories, kaya hindi.

I was about to take a cab but someone tapped my shoulder. Muntikan na akong sunduin ni Saint Peter sa pagkagulat. Nilingon ko yung tao at tinaasan ko ito agad ng kilay. It was Joziah. Sinubukan niya akong akbayan pero lumayo ako sa kanya. "Come on, Jordyn. I'll take you home." Sambit niya at umiling ako.

"I don't need a ride. Also, 'di naman tayo close please? Don't talk to me." mataray na sabi ko at tumawa naman siya. He was about to lean in and whisper something pero nasampal ko siya, it's like instinct but he deserves that. Invading my fucking personal space.

"Please, stop. Go home you asshole, I have a boyfriend." ayan na, ginamit ko na yung I-have-a-boyfriend card ko. Bahala na siya kung sino gusto niyang akalain. He chuckled bitterly, "Eugenio huh?" he mentioned and I scoffed.

"Get lost, manigas ka dyan kung ayaw mo." I told him and walked the other direction.

I'll walk until I find another cab. I don't need him to take me home, si Kairo lang ang pwedeng maghatid sa akin. It's just him whom I trust so much.

And yeah... Kairo's my boyfriend, but it's a lie. I just don't want to drag his name down because of a rumor.