The Engineer (Batchelor Series #2)

Epilogue

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Thank you so much po, namamasko po, eme. Hi this will be the last and final chapter of Batchelor Series #2. This is all Renz POV. Ohayo! Thank you for reading. See you po sa series #3, love lots ✨ 100k for two special chapter. See yah!

Renz Saadvera Salarza
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The campus was buzzing with the usual chatter of students hurrying between classes, but all I could focus on was him. The one arrogant guy just bumped me. Eh sakto kasi nag-iinit ulo ko kay coach, nadamay pa siya.

Standing by the courtyard, Drakon was effortlessly drawing attention—hindi lang sa akin, kundi sa halos lahat ng dumadaan. His dark hair, tousled just enough to look natural, framed his sharp features. His uniform clung to him in all the right ways, showing off a body that was clearly made for more than just academics. Sikat na sikat s'ya, dahil sya lagi ang nag rank one sa exam and lalo na sa qualifying exam sa PUP.

Kahit pa siya ang top student sa med school, hindi puwedeng itanggi na para siyang model sa magazine covers. Lean but muscular, shoulders broad enough to carry the world, and legs that looked like they could run a marathon without breaking a sweat.

But it was his eyes—those dark, intense eyes that seemed to see right through you—that really got me. There was something almost unreachable about him, like he didn’t even notice how many people were staring, hoping for just a glance.

Of course, that didn’t stop me from wanting his attention.

Well, kung hindi ako mapapansin, gagawa ako ng paraan, I thought, smirking to myself. I wasn’t just some random guy in the crowd. I was Renz—mayabang, oo, pero confident, and that confidence had never failed me before.

“Pansin ko, tatakbo siya sa student council,” one of my friends mentioned casually.

I grinned, an idea already forming in my mind. Drakon had the looks, the brains, pero hindi ibig sabihin na siya lang ang may karapatang mangibabaw. If he was running for student council, well, maybe it was time to have a little fun. I could play that game too.

The next thing I knew, I was signing up.

Drakon’s campaign posters were everywhere—him looking all serious and professional. Gusto ko rin yan. Kaso, sa masaya na paraan. My posters had to be different, loud, playful, me. While he probably gave speeches about academic reform and student welfare, ako? I made sure everyone laughed. Sabay banat ng jokes, kaunting pakilig, because that’s who I was. Where Drakon was all mystery and depth, I was the guy people wanted to hang out with.

But every time I stood in front of the student body, pretending na hindi ko siya pinapansin, I could feel his eyes on me. And for some reason, knowing that he was watching made the game even more fun.

I wasn’t just here to win. I was here to see how far I could push him.

—

It started as a game. Laro lang ito, I kept telling myself, watching Drakon from a distance, his eyes scanning the crowd like he was always thinking ten steps ahead. He never paid attention to me, not in the way I wanted him to. That was the whole point of my little plan, di ba? I just wanted to get a reaction out of him. That was all.

But somewhere along the way, the game changed.

At first, it was fun. I flirted with girls, laughed loudly during campaign rallies, made sure everyone knew who Renz was. Drakon, though? He remained untouchable, his eyes barely flickering in my direction no matter what I did. He’d nod at people, shake hands, and smile just enough to seem friendly, pero alam mong may distansya. A coldness I couldn’t break through.