Break Fresh Ground

12: ATTRACTED

The beam of light from the flashlight had long since disappeared, but Artemis and I were still standing close together, our bodies almost touching. The chill of the BER-months was bearable in each other's company. I couldn't deny that being this close to her was comfortable, but I knew that if anyone saw us like this, I would be in trouble. So, I stepped back, but she still had her hands on my waist.

"Artemis, what was that?" I whispered, pulling her into the washroom for privacy. "Hey..." I called out to her, trying to steady my nerves after the sudden embrace.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I'm sorry. Timothy was running after me..." she trailed off, not elaborating further. "I'm sorry."

I let out a sigh. "You're not in danger, are you?" I asked, concerned for her safety.

She shook her head. "What? No." She dismissed my worries with a gesture. Artemis was still catching her breath, her adrenaline still pumping from the chase.

"The way you panicked a moment ago was truly frightening," I said, my voice low and serious. 

She gave me a nervous smile, "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"It's fine," I replied, trying to ease her discomfort. I leaned against the sink, mirroring her position. "So, who's Timothy? If you don't mind me asking."

Her face twisted with disgust as she spat, "A douchebag. He's an ex." She added with a bitter tone, "And to think he was the Vice President of the Student Council this academic year. The irony is not lost on me." The way she spoke made it clear that the mention of him still left a sour taste in her mouth. The words 'douchebag' and 'ex' coming out of her mouth with such venom, it was clear that their relationship had ended on a bad note and that she held no love for him.

Huh. That ugly guy who I always saw looking and talking to her? Psh.

I nodded, sensing that she didn't want to talk about it further, but my curiosity got the better of me. "Why did the two of you break up?"

She let out a huff. "He said I didn't have time for him," she said, rolling her eyes.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "But you're an architecture student, of course your plates will consume most of your time."

"Ganiyan din ang sinabi ko pero hindi naniwala."

I huffed this time. "Asshole." She laughed when she heard my comment that caused me to turn my heads towards her. I smiled not only when her dimple shows but also when her panicked face a while ago lit up now.

"Sinabi mo pa. So, don't date someone na naimpluwensyahan ng barkada at nangingialam kung bakit hindi na kayo lumalabas para magdate at hihiwalayan ka sa araw ng examination day sa major subject." I was dumbfounded on how she summarized the reason of their breakup.

I was at a loss for words, unsure if I should laugh or not. I didn't know what to say, but what I did know was that I couldn't fathom why Timothy would do something like that to the girl in front of me.

"Can I curse him?" I asked, trying to contain my own anger towards the douchebag ex. She looked at me with amusement in her eyes, and eventually nodded her consent. "Tarantado siya," I spat, using a Filipino curse word. Her laughter was music to my ears, it felt like a release of the pent-up frustration I had towards the ex. I couldn't help but stare at her, wondering what was so amusing.

Her dimples showed, silently laughing. "You're cute."

My insides twisted and my heart rate quickened, why does she say things like that?! Does she know that my organs are panicking now?