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

Chapter 39

Lumipas ang Christmas break at simula na naman ng klase. Mukhang ako nga lang ang excited bumalik sa campus dahil panay ang reklamo ng tatlo habang kumakain kami.

The truth was I wanted to distract my mind from him, and the only thing that could overpower those thoughts were acads. Kung magiging busy ako sa pag-aaral ay hindi ko na siya maiisip from time to time. Of course, hindi ko maiiwasan na hindi siya makita sa campus, but I could always ignore him when something like that would happen.

"So, kumusta ang Christmas?" sabay taas ni Jess sa kilay niya. "I heard doon nag-celebrate sina Darryl sa inyo?"

I wasn't sure where she heard that, but since the secret was out, I had no choice but to tell them what happened. Umamin na rin ako sa kanila dahil wala na rin namang saysay na itago. But it was hard to narrate everything because they would squeal and hit my arm for every single thing that I'd say.

"Oh my god, so na-fall ka nga for real?!" tanong ni Alice habang nakatakip ang kamay sa bibig niya.

"The Steff who would rather pick strawberries over guys?" added Yna.

"And here I thought si Darryl ang mauuna," Jess commented.

Ikinuwento ko rin sa kanila ang nangyari noong birthday ko at noong Christmas. Kung sino si Andrea at kung bakit gusto ko nang mag-move on.

Nang hindi siya bumalik noong gabing 'yon ay tinanggap ko na rin na wala talaga siyang nararamdaman para sa akin. Na ginawa niya lang 'yon para asarin ako o 'di kaya dahil naaawa siya sa akin. Na hindi ko na kailangan pang ipilit ang sarili ko sa kanya.

I was tired of that cycle. Aasa tapos masasaktan. Aasa ulit tapos masasaktan na naman. I told myself that that was the last time I would allow such pitiful act. Ayaw ko nang umiyak nang dahil sa kanya.

"Pero friend lang naman siya, 'di ba?" tanong ni Jess matapos kong ikuwento sa kanila si Andrea. "Malay mo na-misunderstand mo lang siya."

"Hay naku, may ibang girl best friends talaga na 'di makaramdam," dagdag ni Alice. "O, baka naman may gusto talaga siya kay Darryl kaya ayaw niya sa 'yo."

"Maybe Darryl doesn't see her that way?"

I heaved a sigh. "Please. Kinuwento ko sa inyo dahil gusto kong matapos na. Wala na akong pakialam sa kanila ngayon."

"Sure ka ba?" taunted Jess.

"I am," sagot ko. "Besides, I do not want to cross paths with her anymore. She and I are the worst match. I can't handle her attitude."

"Gusto mo ba—"

Hindi naituloy ni Alice ang sasabihin niya dahil bigla akong napasigaw. Someone just pulled my hair from behind, and if it weren't for Yna holding my back, I would have tumbled backward. Maging sina Jess at Alice ay napatayo dahil ro'n. Paglingon ko ay nakita ko si Andrea na nakatingin nang masama sa akin.

"Stop talking about me, would you?" she said with a haughty look on her face.

I was left speechless because I did not know how to react. I mean, who in their right mind would pull someone's hair all of a sudden? At hindi ko nga alam na nandito siya sa campus. Sure, last year, it looked like she was able to enter the grounds as a visitor but judging by her ID and the bag she was carrying, she seemed to be enrolled here now. Gulat pa rin ako at naghalu-halo na ang emosyon sa isip ko. Instead, Alice stood up for me.

"What the heck is your problem?" sabay harang niya sa pagitan naming dalawa. She towered over Andrea, but the latter did not budge.

"Tell your friend to stop badmouthing me," she retorted.