"Are you hungry?" He asked hesitantly turning to see how she was feeling, for some reason he was even more embarrassed. She gave him a quick glance and he thought she suddenly looked different than before. Not only was she a nice girl who came for Clinton, but she was somehow more beautiful."Uhm... yes." She nodded.Standing up, he held out his hand. "Since today is our first day as a loving couple, we can hold hands."For a second, he was afraid that moving too fast would make Vivian uncomfortable but the moment she took his hand, his nervousness and tension disappeared. A kind of happiness swept over him and he smiled, holding her fingers.As they started toward the road, he asked. "Is it okay if we walk or do you want to ride?""No problem." She nodded, walking close to him. Unable to restrain himself, he stole a glance at her, feeling his heart flutter. Laughing maniacally again, he turned his attention to the road they had just passed, feeling as if he were in heaven. His heart
"What are you doing anyway?" The man raised his voice."I don't want to," Jaime replied.His father's eyes widened at his son's absurdity. Raising his fist, he almost leaned in to hit Jaime but he stopped before falling onto the bed. Mr. Miro shouted. "Don't want? What does that mean?"Looking at his father bravely, Jaime said. "I have a girlfriend."Everything was quiet. Jaime could be heard gasping before quickly walking out of the room to avoid what would happen next."You..." His father was angry, raising a finger to point at Jaime's face, his face turning red. His eyes widened, and he put his hand on his chest, coughing a few times.Panic hindered Jaime's steps, causing him to stop immediately. The only thing on his mind was that he didn't want to be the cause of his father's death. And the second thought was how relieved he might feel if his father wasn't around anymore.His mother quickly went to the table, took out a pill from the blister pack, and gave it to the man along wit
Avoiding Clinton's eyes once more, Jaime exclaimed in a harsh voice. "I'm not going on a date.""What?" Clinton asked. "I didn't hear you. What's wrong with you? Can't you speak louder?"Turning suddenly to his friend, Jaime blurted out. "I said I didn't go on a date last weekend."Eyes wide open, Clinton looked straight into Jaime's face and saw the unmistakable sign of remorse."Uhm..." Clinton breathed a sigh of relief, a bit confused as to why Jaime acted like that. "I know, you don't want to go anyway, so...""I was with Vivian." Jaime confessed his sins, his eyes still elsewhere.Now the atmosphere has changed."What?" With a quiet voice, Clinton asked. "Did you...""I and..." Somehow finding courage, Jaime looked at him. "...Vivian. We... we're dating."The noisy conversations around them were like a bustling wave, students were busy entering and exiting the building, walking back and forth."I'm sorry." Jaime apologized seriously. "I know you like her, you care about her a lot
Even though it wasn't what she expected, she was grateful that he thought of her.Jaime looked at her as if surprised to hear that from her. A feeling of confusion rushed through Vivian's body but she tried to push it away."Nobody else?" He asked quietly.Vivian shook her head. "Nobody.""Then I'm the first."She looked back at him and smiled. "Yes, you're the first."Smiling shyly, he turned away, and they continued to eat in a sweet, silent atmosphere.For about two and a half hours, they sat there, Vivian listening to him talk about classes, essays, and exams before graduation next month. As the horizon turned the color of water, he walked her home, once again, bravely holding her hand."Tomorrow, what's your schedule like?" Vivian asked as they entered the elevator of the apartment complex where she lived."I don't have class, so I'll come find you." He suggested."Okay." She smiled.They walked out as the elevator reached her floor. They continued walking until they stopped at t
To Vivian's disappointment, Jaime did not show up to her work the next day as he promised. As soon as her shift ended, she immediately headed towards the university and wandered in front of the economics department to wait for him. She waited patiently for 10 minutes after sending him a text that she was waiting for him on campus but received no response.That hit her for a few minutes as to why she felt frustrated and needed to come find him. She could have gone straight home to take a nap as usual, but here she was, acting inexplicably. The kiss on the cheek yesterday was simply a light kiss but she remembered it for a long time. Jaime is her boyfriend, of course, he should act like it.Standing up from the stairs after justifying her thoughts for nearly fifteen minutes of argument, she started to walk away. Her heart suddenly jumped when she heard someone call her name. She quickly turned around and saw Clinton hurrying toward her from the upper steps. The hope that had soared in h
"You must be very hungry," Clinton commented as Vivian shamelessly devoured the food on her plate.She watched him push another basket of cheeseburgers and fries toward her. "Why don't you eat?""If you're hungry, just eat." He tapped his hand on the table. "Is work busy today?""As every day," Vivian replied deliciously while munching on her food. After finishing the remaining burgers on the tray, she leaned back in her chair and listened to him laugh with delight.“You are definitely a girl with a foodie spirit.” He said then continued. "You must have been looking forward to meeting Jaime, how long you've been waiting for him? Next time I see him, I'll beat him for making you wait so long."Vivian glanced at him, not knowing how to react, she smiled awkwardly."Actually..." Clinton leaned forward and said. "Jaime admitted he was with her last Saturday.""I'm sorry." She said quietly."No no." He shook his head. "Absolutely okay." Smiling brightly, he said. "Jaime told me. I know he
"What are you marking those for?" She asked. Hodja never made a mark in his books."Because those things matter," Jaime replied."Really?" Vivian commented, impressed. "The book must be very expensive.""That's right. I plan to give it to a friend after graduation."Her eyebrows rose. "You are so kind."She would die of happiness if Hodja received a book from an upperclassman."It looks complicated. You're smart but why do you do it?" She speaks."I'm not as smart as you think." He shrugged off her comment then looked at her. "Do you want to try?""Huh?" She asked in surprise, feeling him sitting closer to her. Not less than a second later, he stuffed the pen into her hand and then wrapped his arms around her, holding her hand and marking the page."I'm just highlighting important terms and instructions, like this..." He explained slowly, his voice close to her ear. Vivian looked at the yellow pen, her hand moving with his while her body remained bound in the safety of his arm.This..
Vivian glanced at him curiously."So..." He continued. "If you do anything even the simplest of things like doing the laundry or cleaning the bathroom, tell me and I'll help you do it."Vivian laughed, he must be joking, she was so amused."I'm serious, I'm not joking." He added with serious depth, watching her expression darken. Vivian looked away almost uncomfortable at his suggestion."Just trivial things. You don't need to worry." She turned away, placing the last of the dishes next to his sink. "But, thank you."As he washed the last of the dishes, he wondered if she was upset. He didn't have the courage to stand and speak clearly in front of Chairman Evans and his daughter. As for her, to raise her younger brother alone in this cruel world without relying on anyone, Vivian knows she needs to be strong. He's not sure about his future with anyone. Vivian may not trust him because he can't even trust himself.Is he really ready to commit to her, to what they have right now?"I know