A Beautiful Mess

PART 2: A Place for Hotness

Part II: A Place for Hotness

SHE was late as expected on her second class.

Now, even if she took everyone's attention when she stepped in, she had a chance to explain herself. Her next class was two hours away so she had enough time to get a cup of coffee after lunch and to have a more graceful entrance on her third class. She would be joining the first block she was with earlier that day.  

Since it was a long time that she had available, she decided to go to the nearest coffee shop within the parameters of their university and sat on the farthest table to get some peace. She decided to open her secret notebook and started scribbling on it. It was just an ordinary notebook she purchased in National Bookstore so in case it would get lost, it wouldn't be of too much interest to be read. Assuming that it wouldn't be opened.

She felt dim-witted up to this time for having a diary at her age and the only way she could think of to save herself from other people's mercy was to rename it as a secret notebook, which anyway sounded like a diary. She got her pen and started writing with the line - Did I just saw my ultimate crush? - when she saw on the corner of her eye a figure about to sit down on the chair opposite her. She closed her notebook right away and lifted her gaze.  

Cute. Two points!  

"Do I know you?"

"I don't know. Maybe yes, maybe no. Most students do," he said. "This is the first time I have seen you here. I bet this is the first time you dropped by."

"I guess it's because this is the first time I've stayed around the area without moving too much," she said.

He smiled and she immediately noticed his dimples. It was but one of her unwritten beliefs that guys with dimples were the 'Unreachables' - the perfect guy for perfect girls. "I am always here so I am familiar who goes in and out most of the time."

"Should I know you?" she asked unknowingly.

He laughed. "That sounded as if I am not worthy to be known. My name's Chad. Chad Lewis," he said and extended his hand.

She took it. "Raffy."

"And Raffy stands for what?"

"Sophia Rafaella Castillo."

"I have always loved that name. I always think of a pretty girl with light brownish hair who smiles 24/7 when you say Sophia."

She smiled. If she blushed, she knew she was given away by her rushing blood. "I guess I qualify for the girl who is named Sophia, but the rest? I don't know."

"You do. You're even a better picture than I have imagined all this time. What brought you here?"

"I just thought of getting space and some peace. I didn't know I would end up with a culture shock on my first day," she told him. "I feel so alienated."

"What were you expecting?"

"People who would leave you alone. People who wouldn't be so blatant staring at you asking which mushroom you erupted from. It's rude to stare."

"I love staring at you," he smiled. "I guess you are a transferee then?"

"Exactly. I am on my second year. I was from a different university but then it was too far from where I live. I got this scholarship and the place is more accessible. It would be more practical for me so I moved," she said. "Why Lewis?"

"My Dad's American, my Mom's Filipina," he explained.

"You study?" she asked him.

"Yes. Same as yours. I am on my last year now," he said.

"How did you know where I study?" she asked but realized it was a wrong question. "Forget it, I realized I am wearing my uniform."

He laughed. "I surely would miss school and basketball."

"The country never runs out of basketball courts. I know there'd be a place for you," she said. "It doesn't have to be the university court at all times."

He laughed. "Yes, you're right. It's just that I play for the university-"

"Wait, you're a varsity player?" she interrupted.

He nodded and smiled. She saw his dimples yet again.  

I love it. I guess I have to revise my entry to my dia - no, to my secret notebook - to My University Is a Guy's Haven. That's it.  

"So you play basketball for the school?" she asked again as if she didn't confirm it yet.

"Yes. Since my first year. It's really a passion," he said and looked at his watch. "My lunch is almost done. You want me to walk you to your next room? It might help you feel less alienated."

"Sure, why not?"  

They left the cafeteria together and went back to their university. It was on the same building where she first went to and being a senior, he knew the place by heart. She didn't have to run like what she did that morning. All she had to do was to smile and let everyone around them see that she was with this guy so blessed to have a dimple etched on his face since he was created walk her to her next class. She sure had a trophy walking with her.  

When she got to her room, he bid her goodbye. The students she saw earlier that day were there chatting and the moment she stepped in, it caused silence. If it was because of Chad or because of her being an alien, she didn't really care. She took the seat at the back she took earlier and waited for the next professor. They were staring at her still and one had the courage to ask her.  

"Hi," the girl smiled. "I'm Allison. Allie for short."

"Hi. Raffy."

"I guess you're a transferee?" she asked.

"Yes," she smiled and nodded.

"We didn't really expect you. I'm sorry if people around here can't cope right away with changes. The last time we checked, we were just the same old group. Now we see a girl who was almost late when she came and disappeared when the class was done."

She laughed. "My second class was on a different building and I needed to run. Otherwise, I would end up the same like what I did to your class."

The two continued talking until the next lecturer came in and again, made the introduction. It was different this time since the man on his glasses made them introduce themselves to the class.  

Okay, now we are all equal, she thought. We all don't know each other.  

When it was her turn, she was surprised when he asked her. "You're new here, right? I haven't seen you before."

"Yes," she smiled.

"Would you mind introducing yourself to us?"

"No, not at all," she said and stood up from her seat. "Hi, I'm Raffy. Sophia Rafaella Castillo. I'm 21. I want to take this chance too to apologize for a not-so splendid entrance I made earlier. I was late and it's not acceptable for me if it's my first day. I am a transferee and a second courser too. I am a Nursing graduate but not a nurse by profession. I want to study again so here I am. I got an academic scholarship here in case you're wondering. I decided to take a turn because it is more accessible compared to my previous college. Plus, you don't get a chance to study at all times for free so if you have it, take it."

"Why didn't you work for a hospital?"

"I didn't really want it. I was forced to do it. I am the type who wants to do so many things so I always end up exploring so many ideas and practices even if I don't like it. Like, I also do theater. I sing, I dance, I act. I play musical instruments. I guess I am a variety of everything."

They laughed. "How did you acquire all the talent?"

"That one, they were all learned. I only have one inborn talent, and that is to cook."

Her professor smiled. "Great. Thank you for introducing yourself. Hope you will be able to make a great contribution to this class. I know this set of students. They were my students last year too."  

I guess I am never right after all.