"Akala ko ba rumors lang? E ano 'to?"

Habang nagpapalipas ng oras sa canteen, dumating si Kyla para i-accomplish ang everyday routine niya na mang-asar. She pointed us; Dillion and I, who's peacefully having our lunch. After that confession incident, he told me to be his boyfriend. Sinabi ko na pag-iisipan ko pero kinabukasan, pumayag din ako.

I mean, I see no point in taking it longer. He likes me so much, that's what he said. We both have feelings towards each other so, why not?

"Sus, bitter ka na naman, Kyla. Palibhasa, ginawa kang trial card ni bebeloves Liam mo. Sakit ba, 'te?" Carleen teased her.

"Tigilan mo 'ko, girl. Sungalngalin kita r'yan e. Gosh, bitter season."

They both took their seats in front of us. Naka-akbay lang si Dillion sa 'kin dahil tapos na rin naman siyang kumain. The two didn't mind us, thankfully.

"'Yong braso mo, mabigat." I tried to remove his arm around my neck but he tightened it more. "Dillion."

"Let me, okay? Kain ka lang." He patted my head. I sighed.

"Ugh! Sana sinaksak niyo na lang ako. Ayaw ko na talaga sa inyo." I chuckled after hearing what Kyla said. "Umalis kayo sa table na 'to. I need space."

"Kaartehan mo. Ayan, ikain mo na lang 'yang sama ng loob mo, Miss Trial Card." Carleen smirked.

Dillion is in his first week being an Engineering student. Nakikita ko ang saya sa mukha niya kapag nakikipagkita siya sa 'kin. Me? I'm still waiting for the result of my exam. I am confident with my answers but it somehow bothered me. Since my first year of college, I was one of those students on the Dean's List. Up until now, so I don't want to fail. Nobody wants to fail, anyway.

After that lunch, Dillion needed to attend his class. Hindi siya pwedeng ma-late dahil major subject ang first subject niya sa afternoon session. Kinailangan ko na ring bumalik agad sa room dahil hindi pa ako tapos sa research design. I thought, it would be easy for me to finish those but the professor's satisfaction is out of the universe.

"'Yong sa research design ba, puwedeng cartoons na lang?"

"Mamamatay ka ba kapag hindi ka nakapag-ingay, ha, Kyla?"

"Ikaw ang patayin ko d'yan e. Nagtatanong lang, grabehan sa attitude."

Napailing na lang ako nang magsimula na naman silang mag-asaran na dalawa. Their days really won't be complete without them, teasing each other. Hindi ko na lang sila pinagtuunan ng pansin at nag-focus sa ginagawa ko.

Nang maghapon na ay pinuntahan ko si Dillion para tingnan ang kalagayan niya. I saw how active he was in the class unlike when he's still on the Business Ad. Active rin naman siya noon pero iba ang energy na ibinibigay niya sa bago niyang environment.

I crossed my arms as I watched how he answered the equation on the board. A smile plastered on my lips when his classmates and teacher clapped their hands because Dillion got the answer correctly.

Iba talaga ang saya kapag gusto mo ang ginagawa mo.

Ilang minuto pa akong naghintay sa labas ng classroom nila hanggang sa mag-uwian na. Mabuti na lang at maaga kaming pinauwi ng instructor kaya napuntahan ko siya rito. I made my way through their classroom's door. His classmates greeted me so I greeted them back.

"Hmm, how was your day?" I asked him while we were on our way outside the campus.

"It's fine. Masaya naman ako sa bago kong course. And the environment is less toxic." He smiled at me. Naubusan na ako ng salita kaya tumango na lang ako. "How about you? You look like a potato."

"Jerk." I punched his arm when he pinched my cheeks. Tinawanan niya lang ako.

The next day, both of us became busy for different reason. Kailangan ko pa kasing asikasuhin ang ilang bagay sa isang minor subject namin. Hindi ko masyadong napagtuunan ng pansin ang minors dahil inuna ko ang mga requirements sa major.

"Patulong nga rito, Carleen-pot. Hindi ko ma-gets."

When I saw that Carleen is also busy with her things, I approached Kyla to help her. Madali lang naman 'yon kaya nakabalik agad ako sa ginagawa ko.

I wanted to curse this date for giving me a lot of headaches. From the uncooperative members, and merciless professor who gave us many tests. Parang gusto ko na lang mag-shift na rin. The only thing that gives justice to my day is that the professor finally accepted the Research Design I submitted.

Kahit na busy ang scheds ko, sinusubukan ko pa ring gumawa ng oras para makita o mapuntahan si Dillion. But sadly, our time couldn't manage it. He's busy in the morning when I'm free while he's free in the afternoon when I'm busy. But that's okay. I understand that we're both into something.

"Adi!"

Noong sumunod na araw, naabutan kong naka-upo si Dillion sa staircase ng building namin. Inayos ko ang pagkakasukbit ng bag ko sa balikat saka kunot-noong lumapit sa kanya.

"Who's Adi? Good morning, by the way." Like his usual routine, he went to pat my head while smiling. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko nang magulo ang buhok ko. Hindi ko na lang siya pinatulan.

"Good morning. Sorry, this is the only free time I have. It's a good thing that the teacher allowed us to have a break this morning." He scratched his nose as if he was embarrassed.

"I understand." I just gave him a nod.

"Nag-breakfast ka na ba? Hindi pa ako nakakapag-breakfast kasi... kasi gusto ko sabay tayo." I stared at him in disbelief. "But if you already ate, it's fine." Hindi na nawala ang ngiti sa mukha niya. Nag-isip naman ako sandali.

Honestly, kumain na ako ng breakfast bago pumasok. Pero ayaw ko namang malungkot siya dahil lang tumanggi ako sa offer niya. Agad niya akong inakbayan nang tumango ako. He didn't even let me drop my things in the classroom.

Hinayaan ko siyang kumuha ng pagkain namin. I busied myself with my phone while waiting for him but someone caught my attention. It's Shane. She entered the canteen wearing her white polo tucked inside her baby pink skirt.

Based on what I heard from Dillion's department, he and Shane hung out less when he announced that he liked me. And I know that one of the reasons is because of busyness. I smiled politely when she waved her hand at me before joining her circle.

"Hey, this is spaghetti. It's your favorite, am I right? Of course, I am right. I've been observing since the day first." He even smirks at me as if he said something he's proud of.

"You're observing me all the time? Creepy." I pretended that I shivered to tease him more.

"Bad, Callan." I just laughed at him.

Hinayaan ko siyang magkwento ng mga karanasan niya sa Engineering class. I listened to all his rants, good times with his blockmates. Natatawa na lang ako minsan kapag nilalagyan niya pa ng action ang narrations niya.

"I'm annoyed with our schedule." 

He held my hands like he didn't want to let go. Napatingin ako roon sandali saka bumalik ang tingin sa kanya. I chuckled lowly because of what he was showing. "No baby time." He pouted. "Gusto ko pang makasama ka but I really need to go."

"Hmm, I understand. You can go now." I smiled to show him that it was fine. "Pupunta na lang ako r'on mamayang hapon."

"Ihatid na kita sa building niyo. Ako naman ang nagyaya sa 'yo rito." We both stood up. Hindi na ako umangal sa sinabi niya dahil magtatagal lang kami. Hindi naman kasi siya nagpapatalo lagi especially when it comes to me.

Nang makarating kami sa building, hindi ko alam kung anong gusto niyang mangyari dahil hindi pa rin siya umaalis. Nanatili siyang nakatayo habang naka-krus ang mga braso sa dibdib. He looks like he's thinking of something.

That made me conscious. Hindi ko alam kung may nakalimutan ba akong sabihin o ibigay sa kaniya kaya hindi pa rin siya umaalis. I bit the inside of my cheeks, looking at him with puzzled expression.

"Do you... want to say something?" I asked him. Napatingin naman siya sa 'kin. Napakamot pa siya ng kanyang batok. "You can tell it now, Dillion."

Tumingin siya sa akin na para bang nahihiya siyang sabihin ang nasa isip niya. I raised my brow, urging him to spill whatever is inside his mind. He gulped hardly.

"Can you stay in my unit just for a week? Please?"