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

Chapter 25

Their rest house was a two-story glass house villa sitting atop a hill where you could see the picturesque view of the famed volcano. There was also a plunge pool and an infinity pool that overlooked the mountains and lake at the side. The high-ceiling interior and cozy ambiance also made the place relaxing and warm. Pinaparentahan din nila ito kapag summer pero dahil nandito kami ay exclusive sa amin ngayon ang place.

Our group occupied three deluxe rooms good for two people, and three single rooms. Ven and I shared a room as well as Jess and Roj, and Yna and Alice. Sa single rooms naman ay sina Patrick, Darryl, at Tricia.

Inaantok pa ako nang makarating kami sa resthouse kaya naman natulog muna ako sa room namin ni Venice. It was already 7:30 a.m. when I woke up at napahinto ako nang ang maabutan ko na lang sa baba ay si Tricia.

She was sitting on the couch in the common area and quietly reading a book. Babalik na lang sana ako sa room ko pero nagtama ang tingin naming dalawa. I awkwardly nodded at her and she smiled at me. Dahil in-acknowledge namin ang presence ng isa't sa ay parang ang rude naman kung hindi ko siya kakausapin lalo na at magkasama kami sa iisang bahay.

Bumaba ako at umupo sa dulo ng couch. "Uhm, hello. N-nasaan pala sila?"

She closed the book she was reading and looked at me. "Nagluluto sina Alice ng breakfast sa kitchen," sabay turo niya sa kabilang side. "Not sure kung nasaan ang iba."

"I-I see. Thank you."

I had always hated small talks, and this one was not an exception. Ang awkward at hindi ko na rin alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Maybe I should leave already before this becomes more unbearable.

"Sige, balik—"

"I'm sorry for making it awkward for everyone," she suddenly said. "I shouldn't have come here."

She was wearing the same expression as Darryl before. That wistful look that carried a lot of pain and regrets. When I first learned about her, I had this uncertain emotion toward her, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I thought it was just an ounce of jealousy when I discovered my growing attraction toward Darryl, but I realized it was curiosity and pity.

I was curious about her. She was the top student in our batch and seemed to be the studious and serious type. I wondered how the two of them became a couple. And I also felt a bit of pity because I was sure she suffered from Darryl's antics, too, during the first semester.

"S-sorry, I'm making you uncomfortable again—"

"No!" I interjected. "N-no, you're not."

She stared at me for a moment and sighed. "I don't really have friends to talk to, and Patrick is the only person who talks to me in class." A miserable smile escaped her lips. "I just . . . I just want someone to listen."

Hearing her pained voice was enough for me to feel guilty for even thinking that she was someone whom I shouldn't talk to.

"You can talk to me," I said after a moment. "I-I'll listen."

"Really?"

"Yes," I replied. "Let's take a walk, shall we?"

Lumabas kami sa rest house at naglakad-lakad sa paligid. The morning October air was cool, so walking around the woodland surrounding the villa was not a problem. Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang puno kung saan kita pa rin namin ang view ng Taal. We sat under the shade, and she started telling her stories.

Apparently, Tricia and Darryl were academic rivals during high school, but they also grew closer because of that. Hindi rin siguro maiiwasan dahil conscious sila sa isa't isa lalo na kung competitive pa sila. Their relationship bloomed during their junior year, but they broke up right before graduation.