It's You I Fell Into

II

That's how it ends. For a while, at least.

It's not like he really sought out King's sister after that brief meeting. He'd only said those things to piss his teammate off, and like always, he'd succeeded. King has a short temper, a thing Niles loves to take advantage every chance he gets.

So there, he's not interested in King's sister. Hell, he'd already forgotten what she looked like. King, on the other hand, remained tight-lipped on his sister after Niles had indirectly hit on her. In the course of two months, Niles had only heard two things about the elusive Escaño girl: her name is Queen and she's a freshman Communications Research in the same university.

Niles almost died in hysterics when he realized how lame the Escaño siblings' names are.
Pucha, he'd told himself after his laughing fit, mapapakanta ata ako ng King and Queen of Hearts pag nakita ko ang magkapatid na 'to. Ang corny talaga putangina!

No trace of laughter comes out of his mouth when he sees her again two months later.

In a rowdy college party, of all places.

It's a Friday night without practice and he is supposed to spend the entire night drinking his ass off. He has been a permanent fixture to college parties, a thing King hated about him every since they joined the team two years ago.

(Niles thinks King is just secretly jealous because he can handle his alcohol like a fucking champ. Wish he can say the same about him, though. King Escaño is lightweight as fuck.)

But that's not going to happen tonight as someone decided to ruin his plans.

"Nileeeeees!"

He stiffens at that voice. He sets down the cold beer bottle and turns slowly, only to find Dien Katrina Dean smiling at him. His smile is instant.

"Dee!" he greets. "Musta? Himalang andito ka ah. Akala ko ba bagong buhay ka na?"

Dien flips him off and snags his beer bottle on the table. "It's Friday night, Niles. Tapos na ang mga klase ko. Instructor Dien is here to play."

His eyes narrow. "Oy hinay lang ah. Baka mamaya isumbong ka ng students mo sa faculty kapag nagwawala ka na rito."

"Then let them. Alam naman nilang ganito ako no'ng hinire nila ako eh. Don't worry, behave na ako tonight," she says, throwing a saucy wink.

Niles can't still wrap his head around the fact that Dien graduated cum laude two months ago and the university hired her as an instructor. In his eyes she will always be his platonic drinking/party buddy Dien, his only girl friend who never tried to hit on him. Having a friend like Dien is such a rare occurence in Niles' life, and he will never ever fuck this up.

"Nga pala, Niley. May kasama ako tonight."

It is only then Niles notices the girl hiding behind Dien. The curly hair should be a dead giveaway, but he does not realize it until Dien speaks up again.

"Come on, Q!" Dien links her arm around the girl and moments later, she stands beside him. "Niles, meet Q. She's my roommate. Q, meet Niles Fabellore, my gwapong friend. And ngayon ko lang nalaman na may kapatid si King, ha. I feel cheated! Aware ka ba rito?"

Roommate?! Shit shit shit.

Niles clears his throat. "Y-yeah. Pumunta siya sa isang practice namin months ago." He spares her a glance. Q looks at Dien, then back at him.

He takes her in, too. She's wearing a worn out denim jacket over a shirt-jeans combo, and she meets his gaze without any hesitation. He tries not to blush.