acads || jolina dela cruz & reader

i

It was a normal night with you hunched over your laptop, typing out another essay that you were sure wasn't making sense anymore.

The sound of your fingers filled the lonesome air of your studio unit, as the night sky in front of your desk grew darker.

Suddenly, the sound of your phone vibrating against your wooden desk broke you out of your solitude.

You let out a yelp of surprise, until you realized it wasn't a ghost trying to steal your soul.

Marionne Alba

The caller ID read.

She's a big deal now, and you definitely didn't know that would happen when you met her 2 years ago.

The girl was smart, sporty, and far more well-rounded then you ever hoped to be.

You met at a 6-session book club for Senior High students in La Salle. The problem was she always arrived 40 minutes late because of training.

As a result, she ended up sitting next to you most of the time because, quite frankly, you joined without friends, leaving a gaping space beside you every time.

Yes, rising volleyball superstar Marionne Alba reads classic international literature in her spare time.

You became close enough, but eventually developing a friendship based on "Hi"'s and "Kamusta?"'s in the hallway, especially once college rolled around.

Nonetheless, you picked up.

"H-Hello?"

"Hi! Sorry, na-istorbo ba kita?" You cringed at the loud noises accompanying her voice at the same time.

"'Di naman Ionne, bakit ka napatawag?" You asked.

You weren't that close to her, so you were a bit confused.

Something sounded like giggling and screeching behind her, a severe change from your quiet atmosphere.

"Hindi, eh, pwedeng mang-hingi ng favor?" She asked, sounding slightly unsure.

You scrunched your eyebrows together.

"Sure, ano yun?"

She laughed and continued, "Eh kasi, yung masipag kong teammate--" You could have sworn you heard someone yell 'Gago!' in the background "--Charot! Kasi nga, yung teammate ko, kulang-kulang units niya sa Psych. Para ma-maintain grade niya, running for dean's list nga eh, kailangan niyang mag-debate." Marionne sighed.

"Ah, okay, buti nabigyan pa siya ng consideration." You listened.

You could almost hear her nod. "Oo nga eh, pero, problema niya ngayon, 'di siya marunong. Ako naman, 'di rin masyadong keri ng powers ko, so, uh, nag-tu'tutor ka pa rin diba?"

Tutoring was a way to earn some extra money and free food on the side, as well as a productive means to use your spare time. You began in Senior High when you first got into DLSU, and you've been giving help here and there on essays and researches, even getting recommended by profs to struggling students. You also felt like it was a good way to both give back and receive, which was always nice.

"Uh, oo naman." At least she remembered who you were despite becoming famous. (You almost teased her, but you figured you didn't really want her to spike you on the back the next time you encountered her.)

"Busy ka ba? Sana naman hindi kasi kilala kita, at kung sinuman ang kunin namin, baka ma-pa'no pa, alam mo naman..." She trailed off.

You smiled, even though she couldn't see. "Sige ba, wala namang ibang naka-schedule sa'kin soon, so, G."