Campus Royalties (Kingdom University, #1) | Published under Psicom Publishing

Chapter 4

"I think she likes me."

I still couldn't believe that he did that. This guy just took boredom and revenge to another level. Halos sinusumpa ko na siya sa utak ko pero ayaw ko namang mag-eskandalo. I took a deep breath and stood up.

"Sorry, Ma'am, for the disturbance. Don't mind him. He said your class is boring so he's doing this."

I shot a glare at him and our professor's expression turned grim. Halos nagbubulungan na rin ang classmates namin at ang iba ay nakuha pang humiyaw.

Ma'am Cruz cleared her throat and she looked . . . angry. I realized what I just did and wanted to take back everything I had said. Ang sabi ko hindi ako gagawa ng bagay na maglalagay sa akin sa spotlight, but here I am, doing exactly what I said I wouldn't.

"Being Elites does not give you the rights to disrespect your professors," Ma'am Cruz said and I just knew she already had a bad impression on us. "Am I clear, Mr. Garcia? Ms. Damian?"

"Yes, Ma'am," sagot ko.

Dahan-dahan akong umupo habang nakayuko. That was indeed disrespectful. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil nagawa ko 'yon. I shouldn't have responded to this freak's absurdity.

I took a deep breath and reassessed my priorities. Right. Kahit na bwisit pa rin ako sa rankings and titles na 'yan, my academic performance would still take precedence.

For the whole duration of the class, I only paid attention to the lecture. Fortunately, he didn't bother me anymore, but his silence was kind of unsettling. Pakiramdam ko may binabalak na hindi maganda ang lalaking 'yon.

Right after our prof dismissed the class ay nagmadali ako sa paglabas sa room. Finally, I could breathe. God, that was suffocating.

Agad kong tinawagan si Alice dahil ang alam ko ay vacant period na rin nila. "Saan kayo?"

"Garden," she answered. "By the way, kasama namin si Jess."

Her words didn't sink in for a few seconds and I was surprised when I realized what she just said. Wow. Nagkita na sila? At close na agad sila?

"Dalian mo, Steff, malapit ko nang ikwento high school life mo sa kanya."

"What?!"

Alice chucked. "Heto na nagtatanong na siya about sa kung sinong naging crush mo—"

"Fine, I'm running, okay?"

Agad kong in-end ang tawag at halos patakbo na ngang pumunta sa garden.

The school garden was one of the few things that I like in the university. Each table has a wooden shade, vines coiling around them, and different kinds of shrubs and flowers between spaces. You'd feel like you were in a fairytale setting, especially with its aesthetic touch.

I looked around, trying to search for my friends, and a grin grew on my face when I saw Yna waving at my direction. Agad akong naglakad papunta sa kanila pero bigla akong na-conscious dahil nakatingin sa akin ang ilang nasa garden din.

"You're finally here," Yna remarked.

Umupo naman ako sa bakanteng upuan. As expected, we were receiving attention because of Jess and I. Paano ba naman, dalawang "Campus Princess" ang nandito. After all, we were treated as public figures in this university. I hope people would come to realize that we were not the people that they should admire. Estudyante lang din naman kami katulad nila.

"Don't you think that guy's hot?" bulong ni Alice kay Yna.

"Eh? Hot? Where?"

"Hay naku, magkaiba talaga tayo ng type!"