Chapter 5

LILA woke up with a start. She took a quick peek on the window and there she saw the sun, already up in the sky. She checked the time on her phone, it was already seven o'clock. Her alarm clock didn't wake her up but knowing that she will be late already, she just continued to lay on her bed for a few more minutes.

The memories of the time she bumped into Lucas last week kept on bugging her mind. She smiled, Lila can't help it. Lucas's face is still vivid in her memories, his smell, his hands and his voice, she can still feel it.

"Ahhh! What are you doing to me, Lucas?" Lila shouted. Thank God her room is sound proof so no one will hear her. Lila felt her cheeks heated as the memories filled her mind. This is the reason why she wasn't able to get a good sleep last night. Aside from the stress she had with the fact that she'll join the quiz bee, it is still Lucas.

After laying down for five more minutes, she decided to stood up and then she started to prepare for school. Knowing that Lucas might know her, Lila decided to apply a little make up for today. Why not? Since it's their civilian day, she just chose a simple pants to be paired with a white shirt and a jacket. 

After preparing, she looked at the clock. It was already seven forty-five o'clock. It took her forty-five minutes to prepare, not bad. Knowing that she's already late, Lila did not bother to eat breakfast anymore. Her first class will start at eight o'clock and the grace period is only fifteen minutes so she is aiming for that. Her long hair is hanging loosely at her back and for the final touch, she simply wore her glasses that doesn't actually compliment her face.

Unlike the other day when she walked going to school, today, Lila decided to took a cab. All throughout the ride, she was just thinking about one thing. To meet Lucas. She just want to see him even for a short period of time. Lately, Lucas wasn't coming to school that much, the reason why everyone wants to see him and now Lila is already one of them. She shook her head, this can't be, she is already starting to be one of those girls who are obsessively into Lucas and she can't let that happen. She's already fourth year and she can't let any distraction come into her way. "This has to be over," Lila whisphered to herself.

Trying to not think about Lucas, Lila finally arrived to school. The whole university is filled with so much silence, only few students were scattered around the hallways, those who are late just like Lila. It was already eight o'clock so she she started running towards their classroom. What a way to start the day, she thought but she just kept on running. Thank God, she didn't brought any books so her bag is kind of lightweight.

"Good morning miss, I'm sorry I'm late." Trying to catch her breath, Lila held her chest and interrupted the lecture. The professor checked her wrist watch, "You're ten minutes late but it's fine. Just don't be late next time, okay? Come in." Lila smiled and bowed but before she entered the room, her eyes looked at this specific spot and there she saw the guy who keeps on bugging her peaceful mind, Lucas, who was clearly looking at her as well. His bored, emotionless but perfect face is looking at Lila who, on the other hand, is smiling.

On the other hand, Nathan, who was very worried about Lila followed Lila's gaze. He was hoping Lila would look at him but to his dismay, it wasn't him. With an aching heart, Nathan still managed to smile for Lila, who is approaching their direction, in order to hide the pain.

Lila instantly smiled at him. It's those smiles that makes him fall for her even more but he knew in his heart, it is impossible for Lila to notice him. He took a deep breath and started talking to her as their professor went out for a bit. "Hey, you've been late these past few days. Are you okay?" he worriedly asked Lila who on the other hand, simply smiled at him. "Yes, I'm fine. I just can't sleep, the quiz bee kept on bugging me." Lila lied. Yes, it was partly the quiz bee but it was mostly because of Lucas. Lila is a good liar, Nathan believed him. "Oh, don't think about it that much, do you want to review later?" he asked and she just nodded her head because their professor entered the room and started discussing about the lesson.

Time flew so fast, next thing they knew is that it is already the break time. Lila, Sasha and Nathan immediately stood up and fixed their things as they prepare to go to the cafeteria. Since Lila is bending over as she pick up all of her things, she didn't notice that Lucas was approaching their direction. Sasha, being the excited friend, poke Lila and pointed Lucas who was almost close to where they are. With a furrowed eyebrows, Lila looked up and saw the person she was always looking for. Her heart started beating fast.

"Lila right?" a cold, deep voice escaped from Lucas. Lila wasn't able to reply because her mind seems to be filled with so much thoughts to the point that she can't even construct the proper words to reply. She was just looking at Lucas with shocked evident from all over her face. It was Sasha again who broke the silence. "Girl, we'll just wait for you in the cafeteria." She immediately grabbed Nathan's arms who was very hesitant to leave Lila at first. But Nathan didn't had a choice, Sasha is a very strong girl.

When the two left, Lila and Lucas was left inside the room. No one was talking and Lila was just looking up at Lucas who was a lot taller than her waiting for him to utter a word. "I just want to say thanks for the activity," he emotionlessly said to her that made her get back to her senses. Lila felt her hands starting to be cold and it's as if her heart is beating out of her chest. "No worries, it's fine," her lips curved upward and a gummy smile flashed from her face just like how she usually smiles with other people, but this time, it was more special. Lucas, on the other hand, remained on his poker face and nodded.

With a one meter distance, Lila can still smell Lucas and it brought butterflies to her stomach. She wants to ask him about his perfume but she knew, Lucas might see her as an obsessed girl just like any other female students in the university and Lila doesn't want that. She doesn't want anyone to know about her feelings towards Lucas, especially him. Yes, she has a crush on him, she likes him but there's this voice inside her telling her to be contented in seeing Lucas from a far because she knew in her heart, she would never stand a chance especially to the hundreds of girls whom are vocal with their feeling about him.

Just like on the first time they met, their surrounding was filled silence. No one wants to say anything and no one wants to leave either. For the first time, Lucas also don't know what to do. There's something about Lila that is making his world stop and he doesn't know what is that.

Confused and hungry, Lila picked her bag from the table and started to walk out of the room. "Sorry for bumping you last time," Lucas said which also caught him off guard. He is not fond of saying sorry but he doesn't know why he said that. It made Lila stopped from walking. She was surprised as well. The one and only Lucas Andrew Dela Vega is saying sorry to her? Wow. When she looked back, Lucas was there looking at her as well. He is saying sorry but his face doesn't look sincere at all, she thought. But it's the thought that counts. She smiled again, and nodded. "All is well and forgotten." It took her a lot of courage to say that and then she waved her hand to said good bye. 

With a pounding heart, Lila left the room and there was Lucas, standing and can't believe with what just happened. Unbelievable, he thought. Almost all the girls in the university is dying to talk to him and then there's this girl, a girl named Lila who seem to be uninterested to him? He simply just can't believe it. For the past four years, Lila is the first ever woman who doesn't show interest to him. He shook his head. Little did he know, Lila's heart is beating so fast and in fact, she was just so good at hiding her emotions. It's effective.

When Lila left the room, she immediately went to the comfort room. She entered one cubicle and locked the room where she held her chest and smiled like a fool. She can't help it, Lucas talked to him. He said thanks and sorry and for her, it's really a lot. Up until now, her heart is still pounding and beating so fast. She can still smell him and his eyes, his dark eyes with long lashes, they are still vivid in her memories. "He knows my name, he called me Lila," she whispered and smiled again. She can feel her cheeks heating but she tried to compose herself. She took three deep breaths and went out.

"Lila, here!" a voice echoed in the cafeteria which made Lila's cheeks red, it was Sasha. Everyone looked at her direction and she is not used to it. She looked down and went straight ahead to the table where Sasha and Nathan are seating. "Sasha! Why would you shout my name?" Lila pouted and sat down. Sasha, on the other hand was just laughing. "You're cute," Nathan laughingly said because Lila acted like a baby. "I already bought food for you." Nathan handed Lila a pasta together with sandwhich and a bottle of pineapple of pineapple juice. Nathan always buys Lila food whenever she is late for the break time but Lila is still not used to it. "Oh, that's really kind of you. Thank you Nathan, how much is this?" she asked smilingly. Nathan, on the other hand, shook his head. Despite Lila insisting to pay, she wasn't able to do anything because Nathan insisted it. "I'll be late tomorrow so that Nathan would buy me food as well," Sasha said which made the three of them laugh. It's always Sasha who takes away the awkwardness of the surrounding between them.

"Hey! What did Lucas said to you?" Sasha was very excited to know about what happened earlier. Nathan was shocked, he doesn't want to listen but he didn't said anything. Lila simply smiled and acted as if it's not a big deal. "He just said thank you for the activity and he said sorry for bumping me last friday," Lila said casually. Sasha stood up with her eyes wide open. "And you're so calm? How can you be so calm?!" she almost shouted but she kept hew tone down since there's a lot of people inside the cafeteria. "What? He just said sorry and thanks, what's with it?" Lila was really trying her best to show that she was unaffected but deep inside, her heart is still pounding so much. "You're so unbelievable. If that was me, I instantly hugged him!" Sasha pouted. Lila and Nathan simply laughed at her. The three of them continued eating because it was almost time.

"Hey, Lila. Do you want to review after class?" Nathan asked Lila on their way to the classroom. She nodded because she also want to review, luckily, both of them has a work later at the burger stall so they will be able to review during their free time.

Lila almost tripped because her shoe lace was untied. "Go ahead, I'll follow," Lila said as she bowed down to fix her shoe lace. Nathan and Sasha entered the room without hesitations since they are almost there anyways. After fixing it, Lila stood up and continued walking but she once again, almost bumped into someone. And yes, it was Lucas. Her eyes opened widely but she stepped back because they were too close with one another. "Sorry, go ahead," Lila paved way for the door as she lets Lucas enter the room first but Lucas shook his head. "No, you go first," he answered but she refused. A moment of silence and when Lila was about to enter, Lucas also unexpectedly entered the room so they had to stop. Unconsciously, Lila laughed. This time, Lucas paved way so she entered peacefully. "Thanks," she mumbled but she did not looked at him.

Nathan saw all the things that happened and his heart, once again was shattered. He saw a glimpse of happiness in Lila's eyes he never saw before but he ignored it.

"It seems like you and Lucas are getting closer and closer each day," Sasha teased Lila but she nodge her. "Stop it," Lila replied and sat on her arm desk.

She rest on her armchair and a smile escaped from her lips. Just in time, the professor entered the room and started writing something on the board.

"Lucas, you're distracting the hell out of me," she thought to her self and she lets out a deep breath.

With a pounding heart, she took her notes and started writing.