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

Chapter 41

Today would be another tiring day, I suppose.

It was just the second day, but at the same time, Valentine's Day, too, so the fair would surely be packed. Umaga pa nga lang ay ang dami ko nang nakikitang couples. Kahit sa classes ko ay may mga nag-i-invite sa mga crush nila at sige naman ang pang-aasar ng iba,

"Steff!"

Napalingon ako at nakita kong kumakaway sa akin si Alice habang nakasunod naman sa kanya si Yna. We decided to eat our lunch in the garden. Wala nga lang si Jess dahil may class pa siya.

I narrowed my eyes when I noticed that Alice couldn't stop smiling. "Did something good happen?" tanong ko.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Grabe kasi 'yang ngiti mo. Did Kevin ask you out?"

She gasped in surprise. "I can only wish!"

"Then why are you smiling like that?"

She gave me a teasing look. "Secret. Pero gusto mo ba ng clue—"

"Ya," (Hey,) warned Yna in a lowered voice.

They exchanged suspicious looks, and I could tell that something was going on. Pilit namang iniba ni Yna ang topic at mukhang hindi ko rin naman sila mapapaamin sa kung anong meron kaya hinayaan ko na lang.

After that ay naghiwa-hiwalay na rin kami at pagpatak ng 5 p.m. ay pumunta na ako sa fair. I went straight to the dating café and wore a sailor uniform since that was our theme today. I quite liked it, too, since it had been a while since I last wore a uniform.

Dahil Valentine's ngayon ay ang dagsa ang customers namin. Buti na lang talaga at marami kaming kinuhang katulong, kung hindi ay magsa-suffer kami ni Lalaine.

"Daming couples, medyo nakakainggit na," bulong ni Lalaine sa akin nang kunin niya ang order ng bagong dating na couple.

Natawa na lang ako sa patuloy niyang pagrereklamo. Meanwhile, I continued getting orders and serving them. Medyo nakakahiya nga lang kapag nagre-request na magpa-picture sa akin ang ilang couples. Ganoon din kay Lalaine. Siguro dahil campus princess kami o 'di kaya ay dahil nakasuot kami ng sailor uniform.

Around 7 p.m., I noticed the customers murmuring while stealing glances at one table when I got out from the kitchen. Agad ko naman silang pinuntahan dahil mukhang bagong customers pero napahinto ako nang makita ko kung sino ang mga iyon.

"Oorder po kami!" natatawang sabi ni Jess habang kumakaway sa direksyon ko.

She was with two guys, and despite their backs facing me, I could tell that they were Patrick . . . and Darryl.

I drew a deep breath and walked toward their direction. Halos samaan ko naman ng tingin si Jess dahil halatang nang-aasar ang pagngiti-ngiti niya. Nang kukunin ko na ang order nila ay bigla namang tumayo sina Jess at Patrick at lumipat sa kabilang table. Suddenly, I was left with him, and he was staring at me.

Gusto kong sigawan si Jess dahil sa trip niya at hindi ako makapaniwalang pati si Patrick ay sumakay roon. I cleared my throat and tried to maintain my composure even if I wanted to collapse already.

"G-good evening," I nervously greeted. "What's your order, sir?"

He remained silent for a few seconds, and my heart continued pounding loudly against my chest because he wasn't breaking the eye contact.

"Steff," he tenderly called. "Puwede ba tayong mag-usap?"

God, I missed his voice. Sa totoo lang, gusto ko rin siyang makausap para linawin ang lahat pero hindi ito ang tamang lugar. Everyone's eyes were on us, and I couldn't help but feel conscious. Besides, hindi pa ako ready, lalo na at may hinanda ako para sa kanya.