Being LOVED

Chapter 1 Fateful Encounter

      Justine experienced an abrupt visual impairment caused by an intense light. Upon regaining his vision, he found himself in an unfamiliar setting—a carnival—amidst a crowd of onlookers.
"Justine!" a voice called out. Justine turned to locate the source of the call and found his colleague, Jasper. "Where are we?" Justine inquired as he approached Jasper. However, another burst of light momentarily blinded Justine, causing Jasper to vanish once again.
Justine began searching for Jasper amidst the throng of people. Suddenly, Jasper reappeared at a distance, urgently exclaiming, "Run!" before disappearing once more as light passed through him.
Confused by Jasper's cryptic warning, Justine noticed a figure approaching and following him. Growing wary of his surroundings, he pulled his hoodie over his head to conceal his identity and quickened his pace.
While running, Justine discreetly glanced back in an attempt to identify the mysterious individual. However, upon his second attempt, the person vanished only to reappear directly in front of Justine, grasping his hand. Justine swiftly removed the person's grip and resumed his escape.
"Excuse me, why is this individual pursuing me?" Justine exclaimed as he sprinted, his anxiety rising.

Noticing a potential hiding spot, he swiftly scanned his person for his mobile device to summon assistance. However, as soon as he located his phone, it began to emit a loud ringing sound, inadvertently revealing his concealed location to his pursuer.
"Oh, no," he muttered under his breath before resuming his frantic escape. Seeking refuge behind an electrical post, he held his breath, hoping to evade detection.
"I can clearly see you behind that post," the enigmatic figure pursuing Justine declared.
Spotting an alleyway, Justine made a split-second decision and bolted towards it, only to find himself trapped in a dead end.
"Unfortunately, today has not been favorable," Justine muttered to himself as he attempted to scale the wire fence. "Nevertheless, I am capable of accomplishing this task," he asserted with confidence.
As Justine attempted to climb by inserting his foot into the holes, the holes began to break, causing him to fall. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, closing his eyes in anticipation of hitting the ground. However, a few seconds later, he realized that he was not falling and opened his eyes to find himself being carried by someone who had caught him from his fall.
"Are you alright?" the mysterious figure inquired.
Justine immediately broke free from the person's grasp and attempted to escape, but the man grabbed him again. "Please don't run! You're only getting me more worked up," the man said, licking his lips.
Justine struggled to break free, but the man's strength was too much for him. He had not anticipated that the man would be so strong.
"I dont know what I have done to cause you offense, but. Please dont hurt me," Justine pleaded, closing his eyes in trepidation. The man responded with a chuckle.
Justine felt a warm breath on his neck and a hand moving down his chest toward his groin. He opened his eyes to see the man attempting to kiss him. All he could notice was a small scratch on the man's forehead.
"No!" Justine exclaimed as the man kissed him gently.
*Alarm rings!*
To his relief, it was merely a dream. He wiped his mouth and muttered, "Why am I wiping? It wasn't real." He then rose and prepared for his day at School.
Hi, I'm Justine, and today's a very special day for me—it's my first day of college! Just like you, I'm a regular student who studies, sleeps, and heads home early after school. Sometimes, I overdo it with iced coffees and milk tea, especially when I'm with my friends Jasper and Philip. Oh, and let's not forget Dean and Three. We met them at a school event and instantly clicked. We decided to attend the same university together. We're your typical guys, into comics and anime.
I'm starting a nursing course today, hoping to surprise my parents by following in their footsteps. I'm also a decent cook and quite organized. Since both my mom and dad are doctors, they weren't always around. I have a twin sister, Jasmine, who's incredibly smart. Unlike her, my grades were just average in high school. She could ace anything, while I had to work hard to get a scholarship. She's a few seconds older, so I call her Ate.
Breaking the fourth wall
And there you have it, a brief introduction to your friendly neighborhood college student.
Subsequently, Justine overheard her mother summoning both of them downstairs to bid them farewell on their first day. Justine descended from his room to the living room.
"Mother, I have exciting news to share. I have been diligently writing a novel, and an editor has reached out expressing interest in publishing it," Jasmine proudly informed her mother.
"This is an auspicious start to the day. You truly are a daughter worthy of my lineage," the mother responded, embracing her daughter affectionately. "Come, let us partake of the meal before it grows cold. Is your brother awake?" the mother inquired.
"I believe so," Jasmine replied, noticing Justine's arrival. She greeted him with a nod, which he reciprocated with a smile.
Jasmine then departed early, as her department, Engineering, had planned initiation activities for the first day of school.
"Justine, it's your first day. Do your best," she said, her gaze sweeping across the room, landing on jasmine, the perpetual overachiever, and your cousin Jerry, soaring towards an aeronautics degree. And let's not forget Shane, the budding legal eagle. "So, what's your course, anyway?" she asked, her impatience growing with each ticking second. Her watch alarm blared, a stark reminder of her impending lateness. With a hasty kiss on your cheek and a rushed "Breakfast is there, help yourself," she bolted out the door, the roar of her car engine echoing in the silence.
A wave of disappointment washed over justine. Just yesterday, he proudly declared his intention to follow in the family's medical footsteps. But now, as your phone buzzed with the insistent call of your friends, you grabbed a piece of toast and stepped out into the world, a world that seemed to be moving forward without you.
"Justine! Over here." He then noticed his friends waving at him.
"Are you ready, everyone?" Jasper inquired.
"It appears there is a missing sentence in your dialogue," Dean remarked while giving his friend a dramatic look.
"I believe he meant, 'Are you ready for the girls!'" Three exclaimed with emphasis.
"Just like in high school, another disaster for you," Philip teased his friend, and they all began to laugh. Except for Justine.
He was recalling his mother's face that morning, filled with pride for his sisters and cousin, as he attempted to motivate himself.
"Justine!" Philip called out, interrupting his thoughts. "Are you okay?"
The friends stopped and turned to Justine.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I'm just nervous," Justine replied.
"Don't worry, Philip and I are here for you," Jasper reassured him.
"Well, we are too, but please wait for us since we are in a different department," Dean added.
They then proceeded to the venue where students were called out department by department.
Dean and Three parted ways as they were from the Engineering Department, while Justine, Philip, and Jasper were from the Nursing Department.
“Justine, please be candid with me, are you genuinely well?" Jasper inquired. "Yes, trust me, I'm fine," he responded. "Guys, that's our booth," Philip stated, referring to the College of Allied Medical Professions.
As the trio made their way to their booth, Philip posed a question to Justine, "Are you serious about your chosen course?"
"Yes, my parents will be proud of me if I pursue this course," Justine affirmed.
"I thought you wanted to pursue culinary arts," Jaspher remarked, but Justine disregarded his comment and changed the subject.
"Oh, Philip, are you still employed at Thor's bar?" Justine inquired.
"Yes, he was kind enough to adjust my shifts so that I could attend college in the mornings and evenings while working at his bar," Philip explained.
"Let's go there later to commemorate our first day!" Justine suggested to her friends, who happily agreed.
The orientation concluded, and the friends were free to spend the rest of the day as they pleased. They headed straight to Philip's workplace.
"Welcome! I thought your shift was for the evening, Philip," Thor greeted them.
Justine ordered milk, while Philip and Japsher opted for gin and juice.
Hours later, Dean and Three arrived. "Sorry we're late, guys. There was an initiation," Three explained.
"What are you doing, guys? Shot!" Justine slurred, his eyes heavy. "Wait, is Justine okay? He looks drunk," Three observed.
"Oh no, he must have mistaken the cocktail for juice," Japsher realized.
"What? In just one sip?" Dean chuckled, then they rushed to catch Justine as he stumbled.
While the others headed to the dance floor, Justine was left behind, looking increasingly unwell. When they returned to their spot, they discovered he was missing.
"Shit! Guys, Justine is missing!" Japsher exclaimed frantically. They immediately contacted Philip, who was on shift, to help them search for their friend.
MINUTES AGO
Justine groaned, his head pounding. The room spun as he sat up, the lingering taste of last night's excess filling his mouth. His friends were gone, vanished into thin air. With a sigh, he stumbled to his feet, a desperate need to relieve himself urging him forward.
A glass of water, a quick fix. He grabbed it from the table, the liquid sloshing as he navigated the blurry world around him. A collision, a rough hand steadying him. He looked up, bleary eyes meeting a stranger's. A familiar face, yet wrong. The scar on his forehead, a stark contrast to his friend's smooth skin.
A sudden wave of nausea swept over him, a violent expulsion staining the stranger's shirt. The room fell silent, eyes turning towards the spectacle.
"Sorry," he mumbled, his vision clearing. The stranger's grip tightened, a dangerous glint in his eye.
Then, darkness. His last image, a blur of furious faces and a familiar voice pleading, "Sean, let it go."
*MORNING*
Justine blinked against the morning sun, a familiar figure silhouetted against the window. The man was shirtless, a towel draped casually around his neck. As he moved closer, Justine couldn't quite make out his face, the light blinding him. The towel dropped, revealing a lean, muscular body glistening with water droplets.
                              HORSE AND COW SOUND
"What are you doing in my room?" Justine mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. The stranger didn't answer, just smiled. As he got nearer, Justine could make out a faint scar on the man's forehead. He closed his eyes, a shiver running through him.
Strong hands pinned him to the bed. A rough finger traced his lips.
"Good morning," the stranger whispered, his breath hot against Justine's ear. "I want my breakfast, now."
A strange, electric sensation shot through Justine. He trembled, heart pounding. What was happening to me? He opened his eyes to find the stranger leaning in, their lips inches away. He tried to push them away, but his body felt heavy, unresponsive. The stranger's kiss trailed down his neck, then lower. The blanket was pulled away, exposing his chest. The stranger's teeth grazed his nipples, sending a jolt of pleasure through him.
“Justine jolted awake, heart pounding. “Ahhhhh! Stop!” he yelled, his voice echoing in the quiet room. Another dream. As he sat up, the lingering effects of last night’s indulgence hit him. His head throbbed, and a wave of nausea washed over him.
He glanced around the the room, a foggy memory of the previous night surfacing. A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered a vivid dream, a dream that had left an unsettling mark on his mind.
A glance at the damp sheets confirmed his worst fear. The dream had been all too real. A sense of embarrassment and confusion washed over him. He tried to piece together the fragments of last night, but the details remained elusive. All that was clear was the image of a forehead scar, a striking feature that had haunted his dream.
Hours later, still shaken by the events of the night, Justine forced himself to go to school. As soon as he entered the classroom, his friends started teasing him about his disheveled appearance.
“Look at what that one shot of alcohol did to you,” Jasper chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Justine groaned, “I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.”
Subsequently, they hurried towards their designated classroom, cognizant of the stringent nature of the day's instructor. "Colleagues, do you recall the events that transpired last evening?" inquired Justine, his thoughts still preoccupied with the enigmatic individual from his morning dream. "Indeed, I believe that scar bears a striking resemblance to one I have encountered previously," he mused, on the verge of contacting Philip and Jasper. However, fate intervened, causing him to stumble into an unexpected collision with another individual. Lo and behold, the scar he had noticed earlier was prominently displayed on this very person.
As he prepared to inquire about the scar's origin, the individual swiftly seized Justine's collar, expressing palpable anger. "Remarkably, it is you once again, from last night's encounter," the individual exclaimed. This unexpected confrontation drew the attention of fellow students, who paused to observe the unfolding events.
Amidst the commotion, Philip interjected, seeking to divert attention. "Guys, what are your impressions of the professor? Is he truly as stringent as rumored?" he inquired, promptly retrieving his mobile device. "Justine?" he called out, realizing Justine's conspicuous absence. Their attention was drawn to a commotion involving Justine, prompting Philip and Jasper to rush forward. To their astonishment, they witnessed Justine firmly grasped by the collar of the same individual from the previous night's encounter, who exuded an air of evident annoyance.
“That is Senior. Sean!” Dean exclaimed as they rushed to Justine.
“Are you always this clumsy, constantly bumping into people?” Sean inquired. Justine removed the hand that had grabbed his collar as he drew close to Sean, beginning to feel irritated. "What are you talking about last night? I don't even recall meeting you,” Justine responded.
“Well, I was the one who you puked after you became intoxicated last night,” Sean explained. Justine paused, trying to recall the events of the previous night, but his head continued to throb. Fragments of what had transpired the night before came to mind, but all he could remember was that it was Jasper who he had troubled and he couldn't seem to recollect the individual standing before him.
Before Philip and the others arrived, Sean's friends intervened. “Sean, my friend, that's enough,” they said, separating the two.
Sean simply stared at Justine with a serious expression before turning his back and beginning to walk away. Then, one of his friends approached Justine and his companions.
“Oh, hello! I'm Tight, and the individual who is upset with you is Sean, my friend. We are third-year students in the engineering department,” Tight introduced himself with great enthusiasm. “Your name is Justine, correct? I must say, I admire your boldness; not many individuals would dare to engage with Sean in such a manner.” He then spent some time socializing with Justine's friends.
“Good morning, Senior Tight,” both Dean and Three greeted Tight. “Ah, you two. I recall you from the initiation. So, you are acquainted with Justine?” Tight inquired.
“Yes, we have been friends since high school,” Dean replied. Just then, a student approached and informed Tight that he was needed in room 201 of the Leviste building. Tight paused. “Ah, so that’s today. Okay, okay. Tell them I’ll be right there,” he said to the student. Then, before Tight left, he added, “It was nice meeting you, Justine and friends.” He then proceeded to leave, while Dean and Three followed him to their department.
“He is kind,” Philip remarked.
“Jaspher, I thought you were the one I vomited on last night?” Justine asked.
“No, bro! It was that senior student. You threw up on his shirt,” Jaspher clarified as he showed Justine a video on his phone of his antics the previous night. (Dancing and singing off-key) Justine hurriedly tried to grab the phone but failed.
"Fortunately, Senior. Tight was present that evening to intervene and prevent a potentially serious situation from escalating," Philip stated. "However, Justine, your actions last night were quite disruptive, and I urge you to be careful in the future regarding your alcohol consumption."
Jasper remarked, "On the positive side, it was an entertaining spectacle," as the group shared a laugh over Justine's videos. "Nevertheless, we must make haste, as we are in danger of being tardy," Philip reminded them, prompting them to swiftly head to their designated location..
MEANWHILE  
Sean expressed his annoyance towards Justine while conversing with his colleagues near the engineering department on campus.
Tight, who unexpectedly joined the conversation, pointed out that Sean's own emotional response contributed to the situation.
Charlie found amusement in the situation and mentioned his positive impression of Justine. Shon confirmed Charlie's observation, and Tight agreed, expressing his own liking for Justine.
As they continued their discussion, several students approached them seeking signatures for an initiation event. Snacks were also offered, which all of them, except Sean, happily accepted.
However, when two male students approached for signatures, Sean reacted differently. He demanded that they run 10 laps around a nearby field in exchange for his signature.
One of the students expressed his dismay at the challenging request, but Sean overheard and increased the demand to 15 laps, insisting that the student complete the task while wearing only his boxers. The student was taken aback and reluctantly agreed, proceeding to run with his boxers exposed.
"In all seriousness, Senior," the other male student responded, glancing at his friend.
"Do I appear to be joking? What exactly are you doing here? What did I say?" He then joined his friend as another group of girls arrived and overheard Sean's demands to the previous students.
"Oh, Senior, how about us?" a girl from the group inquired in a timid and hushed tone.
"Ah, no, no, girls like you don't need to run like that." He then took their pamphlet and signed each one individually. "I've also included my number so you can contact me if you require anything," Sean stated while handing each of them their pamphlet.
"Yay! Thank you, Senior!" The two responded, overhearing them chat and giggling while admiring Sean and his friends for their kindness and attractiveness.
Charlie, Sean's close friend, smiled tightly. "It appears you have another admirer," Shon remarked while shaking his head. "Well, I rather like that one," he said, referring to one of the girls, Jasmine.
The group then departed and proceeded to their respective classes.
(In the field where the two student runs)
A student with a shiny pin in the collar of his uniform approached the two male students. "Why are you running and looking like that? Is Sean the one who told you to run like that?" The figure asked.
Panting, "Yes, senior." As the two stopped, sweat rushed down their bodies.
"I'm sorry you had to experience something like this. Sean tends to do this when he's in a bad mood." The figure said, "Come on, you're good to go. Come with me, I'll treat you to a refreshing meal in the cafeteria." The figure insisted, "By the way, I'm Gram, the President of the Student Council. Nice to meet you." Gram introduced himself and shook the hands of the two students. The two were hesitant to go with Gram since they had not finished their task. However, Gram insisted that it was okay.
"Engineering can be harsh in these situations sometimes because they want to discipline you. Talking back to your seniors is a big no-no, just like when you're in the workplace someday," Gram explained to the two students while eating in In the cafeteria, Sean and his group encountered two male students. Gram, standing up, approached Sean and expressed his disapproval of the excessive punishment. Sean defended his actions by stating that the students had talked back and deserved the consequences. Gram reminded Sean of the agreed-upon limits for disciplinary measures.
Meanwhile, Tight and the group approached the two students and offered them a conciliatory gesture in the form of free meal access to the cafeteria for an entire month. This offer significantly improved the students' mood, and they eagerly rushed to use the coupon.
"Sean, that was overly excessive. If the superintendent discovers these actions, there will be severe consequences not only for you but also for your entire department," Gram stated.
"Yes, yes, I understand," he replied, appearing disinterested as the two students returned and handed snacks to Gram, expressing their gratitude. This brought a smile to both Sean's friends and Gram.
As Justine walked in, he could feel the tension in the air. His mom was sitting there, her face stern and her eyes filled with anger. She played a video, showing him in a bar, looking troubled.
"I can explain," Justine tried, but his mom cut him off.
"I don't want excuses! Does this look good to you? Picking a fight? Look at your cousins, they're so responsible. Why can't you be like them?"
Her words hurt him deeply. Feeling defeated, he went to his room and lay on his bed, too tired to even change clothes. Later, he heard noise downstairs. It was Jasmine, his sister, coming home with an award.
Justine had skipped school for a whole week. Instead of studying, he had spent his time at malls, arcades, and bars, making bad choices.
One day, as Philip began his part-time job, he found Justine asleep in a bar chair. Concerned, he called Jasper and gently woke Justine. "Justine, Justine," he said, shaking him shoulder. "Oh, Philip, hi! Long time no see," Justine replied, startled.
"Justine, we've been trying to reach you. What happened?" Philip asked, worry evident in his voice.
Thor approached them, "Philip, take the day off. Your friend needs you. Go to the back room," he said. Jasper joined them as they retreated to the quieter space.
Once alone, Justine poured out his frustrations. He talked about feeling constantly compared, the pressure from his sister, and his mother's lack of understanding about his chosen nursing course. His eyes welled up with tears as he confessed feeling useless and overwhelmed.
Philip and Jasper were surprised and confused. Why had Justine chosen nursing, a field that clearly wasn't his passion? But as soon as hearing justines confesionnthwy began to piece the puzzle why.
"Don't go home today," Philip suggested. "Come with me and Jasper to my apartment."
"I agree," Jasper added, knowing it was a weekend and they had no classes.
"Justine, I don't know what to say, except to keep persevering," Jasper said.
"Yeah, me too. I kind of understand," Philip replied, both of them offering sympathy to Justine.
As they arrived at Philip's apartment, they found his grandmother, Elen, waiting for him. She had brought homemade food and snacks.
"So, that's why I had a feeling you were bringing friends," Elen said, finishing cleaning Philip's dishes. Noticing Justine's sadness, she approached him. "Child, you seem troubled. Come, sit down, talk to me."
Justine complied and poured out his heart to her.
"Well, that's a problem, child. Your feelings are valid, and you have every right to feel that way," Elen said, pulling Justine into a comforting hug. "I don't know your parents, and this is a culture we've all grown up in. Maybe your parents' parents were the same way. They might not know how to express themselves in these situations and resort to what they experienced as young people. All you can do now is strengthen your will and focus on your goals. You may not get the attention you want from them, but at least you have your own path to pursue. Don't let your parents cage you in. There are countless possibilities and connections you can make outside."
Elen gently rubbed Justine's hair as he sniffled, calming him down and bringing smiles to Philip and Jasper.
"You really think I'm Philip's grandmother?" Elen asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement as Justine and Jasper’s surprised expressions mirrored each other.
"What? No offense, but who are you?" Jasper stammered.
"Well, I've been Philip's nanny since he was a baby. He was really attached to me, especially since his parents weren't always around. He sort of feels the same way Justine does—unrecognized and overlooked." Elen explained, her voice filled with empathy.
Philip, who had been listening silently, stood up to get some drinks.
"Wait, so your name is Philip Uy? And you're the son of the university owner?" Justine and Jasper exclaimed, their shock palpable.
"Why do you use 'Mendez' as your surname in class?" Jasper asked, still bewildered.
"Well, that's Elen's surname," Philip replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "It's a long story. I'll tell you more later."
As Philip returned with drinks and snacks, Elen shared the surprising reason behind his part-time job and modest living situation. Jasper and Justine were stunned, their earlier shock turning into a mix of sympathy and respect.
The mood shifted from somber to lighthearted as Elen took her leave. Justine thanked her for the advice and gave her a warm hug. As they waved goodbye, the three friends were left to process the revelations of the evening.
IN THE MORNING
Justine quietly walked into the house, his head down. His dad's voice, sharp and angry, broke the silence.
"Justine, what's going on? Last week you were drunk and fighting with a stranger. Now you're skipping school. What's wrong with you?"
His mom came over, looking serious. She held up her phone, showing Justine's bad grades.
"Your grades are terrible, Justine. And the nursing school is worried. You could lose your scholarship."
Justine felt angry. He thought, "Why is it always me? When Jasmine messes up, you're nice to her. But when I make a mistake, you're really mad."
His parents were friends with the university's director, Philip's father. They often served as temporary doctors on campus, forging a close bond with the administration.
The nursing department sent an email:
Greetings, Mr&Mrs Salazar.