II

I can still faintly hear Pluem calling my name as I was running in the corridor, I've never bothered to look back. Heck, I don't know what's gotten into me and did that back there. Pluem looks like he's into me. He's straight, right? He's really confusing me or was it my mind playing tricks on me? Was it? Am I crazy? I think I'm going crazy for him. 


I fished out my phone in my back pocket to check the time, "03:01". I still have a few minutes left before the next class starts. Pluem dragged me to the south wing of the campus, and my next class is from the west side, so I had to run to keep up on time. At this point, I'm sweating bullets from running away. I decided to visit the nearest washroom to freshen up a bit, I still have a reputation to uphold. Not to brag but I've been the Nursing representative to last year's university-wide pageant; although, I did not win the title, yet I did bag the school's popular award. I am just that good looking, I guess. On the other hand, Pluem has his fair share of his popularity as well. He's the university's basketball team captain, and basketball is a big thing in this school. He's been extremely known ever since he started playing.  I've never been to any of his game, he's not mad about it tho, he knows that I've never understood how the game works. It's just shooting the ball in the basket, right? Hence, the name. I don't get why people are so into it.


Someone bumped into me taking me away from my thoughts. "Argggh," he groaned, his things fell on the floor which I recognized as Architecture thingamabobs. It's odd to see an Architecture student strolling in this campus alone, usually, if they visit this campus they either go in bulk for classes or they bring the whole student body for a game. You see, the university has 3 other campuses aside from this one, our campus holds the largest student population and tons of program courses. Meanwhile, the campus that this Arki student came from only hold 2 programs: Arki, and Interior Design. Arki and Engineering students have a long history of war, especially during sports fest. Both of the colleges are extremely competitive. That's why it's odd to see an alone Arki student roaming this campus. "I'm sorry, I haven't seen you walked out the washroom's door," I said, as politely as I could.


"If you're paying attention to your surroundings, you might've not bumped into me." He said while kneeling down to pick his things up.


"Err," I replied, kneeling down as well helping him out. "Look, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean this to happen."


"Buy me dinner." What?


"What?" 


I looked at him stunned. I wasn't expecting him to say that. I've regretted to look at him the moment I laid eyes on him. He was too close that I could smell his breath.  This has caused me to move back and falling with my arse first on the ground. 


"Excuse me, what?!" I repeated.


He didn't reply to me instead he took all of his things and put everything in his bag before he stands up and offered a hand to me. I was hesitant to take it, so I swatted his hand and stand on my own. He looked at his hand as if wondering why did I refuse it, and shrugs away his thoughts. He put his right hand in his pocket while the other is tucking his bag to hang on his shoulder. He looks cool standing there.


"Go out on a date with me." He smirked.


"Why would I do that?"


"To repay the trouble you've caused us both."


"And what exactly did I do?"


"Aside from ruining my plates," he said as he took a step closer causing me to move a couple of steps backwards. "you also caught my heart." That caused me to blush to a 30 different shade of red.  I pushed him away, so I can escape his manly presence.


"And why is that my problem?"


"It's not, it's mine but you're the one who've caused it," He snickered. "so you are part of it Chimon."


"How did yo-," He cut me by pointing his hand on my id that is facing towards him. 


"You are last year's Mr. Popular that makes you easy on the eyes."


Instead of replying to what he said, I just walked away. I don't know what time is it, but I'm probably late anyways. I didn't bother checking the time again. It still amazed me as to why there is an absence of student body in the hallway. 


"Nanon," he yelled. I didn't stop in my tracks. "that's my name, and you'll see me more often." 


I didn't bother looking back and took a left at the end of the corridor. I exited the south wing and crossed the wide walkway towards the west wing of the campus where most of the Health Sciences programs are located. I reached the designated classroom for the Psychiatric Nursing class, I searched for the clock to see if I was late, and sure it was, it's 3:21. I didn't bother greeting the professor in front and just sat on an empty seat in the back of the class. Our professor in this class does not want to be interrupted whenever she's in the middle of teaching. She doesn't mind you getting up and take a leak, snack or stretch as long as you will come back for attendance 30 mins before the class ends. 


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All my class ended around 7:30 in the evening, as I was exiting the last class I heard a commotion outside the room. Majority of the voices were from my female classmates, I think I knew who the source of the excitement from the outside is. It was my best friend, Pluem. He usually waits outside after every last class I have, but I told him not to. I remember when we had this arrangement.


"What are you doing here?" I asked when I saw him waiting in the rear door outside the room.


"Picking you up" He smiled.


"I don't recall that we had this kind of arrangement." 


"Well, now we do," I could hear my female classmates bickering behind my back. "I'll be picking you up, every single day if I have to." He said as he focused his attention on my classmates and shared a wave with them. You can hear their defeaning shrieks that the sirens of the ambulance becomes jealous.


"I'm not a girl" I rolled my eyes at him then dragging him away from the prying eyes of my classmates. He gave an apologetic smile to the ladies before we head down the stairs.


"No one says you are, Chim."


"How about your basketball practice?" I  differed stopping us in our tracks. "won't this cause you any trouble since you are vying for the position of captainship." I questioned him.


He shook his head, "I talked to coach that some times I would be leaving early or arriving late due to that I have a special someone to take care of," He said smiling sheepishly. I hit him hard in the head. I couldn't believe this guy. He doesn't know how his words affect me.


"Why would you say that?" I exclaimed. "You'll get yourself in trouble."


"Nah, you're worth the trouble," He winked at me that makes my heart flutter 1000x "and, they think I'm whipped, so they let it go without any questions." He laughed. Oh his laugh, it's like music to my ears. "Boys understand boys" He added.


"Chimon," Someone spoke, knocking me out to my memory. "aren't you leaving yet? Pluem is waiting outside." She said while looking out the front door. We can still see some of our classmates talking to him, and a girl flung her arms around Pluem's biceps. That made me winced.


Pluem looked at me and smiled which I rolled my eyes in return. He then continued talking to my classmates.


"I'll leave in a minute, thank you for asking," I told her. She smiled in reply. I stood up and fixed my things on the table and stowed it in my bag. "See you tomorrow." She just waved her hand and left the room. I looked around the abandoned room and sighed. I plan to avoid Pluem as much as I can because he's making it harder to not be me.


I took a glance at the direction where Pluem is, and there he was... still occupied with my pretty classmates. I swear if looks could kill, they would be dead right on that spot. I'm glaring at them like how a lion looks at its prey. I know, I have no right to be jealous, but damn he makes it more complicated each passing hour.


Since both of them are still occupied, I took that as a cue and exited through the rear door. The classroom is located near the stairs making it an easy escape route. I could run there and escape Pluem's charm.


When I thought I escaped the wrath of him... Pluem yelled at me but of course, I played the deaf game agaun and ignored him. I was on the second flight of stairs going down when someone grabbed my arm, stopping me in mid-air. I swear I almost die if I hadn't held the hand rail. Automatically, I glared at the person who held me and almost killed me.


"Are you trying to kill me, Pluem? What the fck is wrong with you?!" I yelled at him, wiggling my arm free from his grasp.


"You're avoiding me."


"Well, Einstein food thing you've figured it out!" I sarcastically replied.


"Why?"


I didn't bother answering him, instead, I looked down and plead "Let me go," I tried to wriggle my arms away, but he won't budge. "...please."


That seems to convince him cause he let go of mine. I looked up to him and slowly descend from the stairs. He's not moving nor speaking. He just stood there and thinking god knows what.


"10..."


"What?" I asked.


"Nine,"


What the hell? I looked at him again, asking him what it meant? He mouthed 'run'.


"Eight," I didn't think twice and sped off to the next flight of the stairs.


"Seven," his voice but a bit higher, making sure that I heard it. He's giving me a chance to escape, so I can have some space. And space for him is 10 seconds. What an idiot?!


"Six," at this point, I'm in the hallway on the first floor. I didn't bother listening anymore cause Im pretty sure he's 3 flights high.


Although I slowed down my pace, I made sure I half-run, half walk. I can't afford Pluem catching up on me, he's an athlete after all.


I'm almost at the parking where the exit is when I heard Pluem said "One." holding my shoulder to stop me once again from walking away from him. He's still panting from the run he did, it did surprise me as to how fast he reached me.


With all my strength, I wriggled myself free from him and fled towards the exit. Good lord, I will be exhausted from all this running. "Chimon, you little!" He cried out of belief. He must understand that I don't want to talk to him for now.


Maybe avoiding him wasn't a greatest idea that I've planned, but what can I do. I don't want myself falling for him even deeper.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Hi guys,


I'm happy that this book reached almost 30 people. That's a lot!


Anyways, here's another chapter. Sorry, it took me almost a week to update. I was in an interview few days ago, so I needed to prepare. Hopefully, I got in


Any thoughts on the last chapter and this?


Also, this book has reached #9 on SUN. How awesome is that?! I'm ecstatic.


See you in the next chapter!


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