Chapter 3

"Brother, faster please, I'm gonna be late."

That's what I told my driver, yes, this is the first day of school yet here I am, going late, I totally forgot that today is our first day, yep, I completely forgot that today is Monday, I thought, it's only Sunday, good thing our maid came in my room earlier that's why here I am now, about to go to school

The reason why I stayed up late all night was that I saw the class list and I did some research about my classmates to know if there's someone whose good-looking, you know, girls' thing.

I'm currently at my 2nd-year college here in Lakewood International School, my course is BS CE, meaning, Civil Engineering, I chose this course not because I am good at math because I actually don't, I chose this because I love to see a construction that's why I wanted to explore this kind of course.

To be honest, I'm not that good at math, I just like the idea of me struggling to solve math problems, yes it's kinda weird but I guess, that's just how it is

Anyway going back, I immediately go to my room, I'm also a bit nervous because as I remembered, the professors here in the second year are much stricter than my professors in my freshman year.

When I arrived in my room, my professor looks so irritated so I knocked on the door carefully, trying to not disturb her but I guess, I failed.

"Surname?" She asked as soon as I entered the room, I got scared for a bit because I don't like the idea of me being scolded in front of many people but luckily, she just wants me to answer some questions.

"M-Montero" I answered

"Okay answer first the equation written on the board and then go to your seat," she said while pointing on the whiteboard.

I was about to panic but when I saw that the equation given was easy, I immediately calmed down.

When I finished answering the equation, I got happy because she was amazed at me, because of that, her irritation slowly faded that's why she just gave us our requirements for her subject, and then we got dismissed early.

"Hey, why are you late? I know there's a reason behind it so, go, spill it," My best friend Leah asked.

"Of course you know, hmm, anyway, I just did some research about our classmates, It's nothing important, come on let's just talk about other things," I said, trying to divert her attention

"Whatever Kaye, to be honest, I also did some research and I bet, we found the same results about a good looking man so I won't ask anything about it now," She said and we just talked until the bell rang, meaning, it's time for our first break

I do have a circle of friends with Leah, we are 6, one guy and 5 girls, the guy named Vince and the other 5 girls are Leah, Brianna, Aaliyah, and Audrey, we are all studying here in the same school and we decided to meet in the cafeteria every first break since our first break's schedule are all the same.

Leah and I are both engineering students, Bri and Audrey are both medical student, Aaliyah is an accounting student and Vince is an architect student, we're all in the second year of college and yet we're still clingy with each other, we don't want to let a week passed by without us gathering in one table or something, we just can't get enough with each other's arms, I guess.

A few minutes after we arrived at the cafeteria, they all came and Audrey is so loud because he's talking about a transferee guy named Bryce Atticus Roque, I'm a bot interested in him because according to Audrey, he's cute and to be honest, I like his name, I find it pretty and elegant.

"Oh, Audrey wait, it seems like someone's interested because hmm, let's say, she's a bit quiet?" Brianna said and switched her gaze on me which made my eyes roll, it's obvious, she wants to tease me.

All their gaze switched on mine which made me a little shy, yes, I have an introverted personality, that's why I don't want to gain so much attention but to be honest, because of my squad, I improved. We're all sisters and brothers here, so we cannot really hide anything from each other so I just told them that I'm interested in him so that they can go on with their own lives.

"Fine, yes, I'm interested in Bryce, I find his name so pretty and elegant so I want to at least know him, is that okay now?" I said without looking at them.

I got nervous because they did not say anything, they looked surprised but when they recovered, they immediately gave me warm applause.

"Finally! After a decade, someone finally met your standards, go for it girl, we'll support you" Leah said giggling

All of them agreed to what Leah said and they even told Vince to introduce me to Bryce, yes, I didn't know that Vince knew Bryce and it was because they are best of friends since high school, actually, a lot from my squad knew Bryce, Aaliyah said, Bryce was their family friend while Bri and Leah also knew about him because Vince introduced them to Bryce once.

Audrey and I are the remaining ones without connections with Bryce and I guess, that's still okay.

Time passed by and we went to our own rooms after the break, Leah and I had 3 minor subjects before the dismissal, the professors just gave us requirements and reviewers and they dismissed us early so we had a free time

After how many minutes, I just found myself standing in front of Audrey's room to pick her up and to take a look to a guy named Bryce, I don't really know why I am really interested at him, maybe I do have a crush on him? bu,t, is that really possible? I mean, we never met, I just heard his name.

When I came to their room, it was also their dismissal, after their professor went out, there's a guy following him, he's in a rush, I guess. Since I'm on my way to Audrey's seat, he didn't saw me coming that's why we collided, he got shocked at what happened so he stared at me, I met his dark brown eyes. When he realized what happened, he helped me to pick up my things. He's actually a gentleman.

"Miss I'm really sorry, I was in a rush, I'm sorry I didn't notice you," He said and then smiled at me. I even saw his dimples when he smiled. I must admit, he's cute.

"No, no it's okay, you go ahead, maybe it's something important, don't worry about me, I'm fine," I said and smiled at him and after that, I immediately went to Audrey.

When I met Audrey's gaze, she was giggling as if she was teasing me

"Sis, omg, he's Bryce, the one who said sorry to you," she whispered giggling

I just gave her a nod and a smile and we went out to find our friends since our schedules are not that hectic yet, we can still enjoy our lives here. As soon as we sat down at our table, Audrey can't even stop talking about what happened earlier.

"And then, you know what? Bryce was so gentlemanly, he's in a rush but when he saw what happened to Kaye, he still helped her" Audrey said, teasing me.

I just didn't mind them, later on, I'm sure she'll stop her mouth so I just let them talk about me, I don't care anyway. After a few hours, they got tired of talking so everyone decided to go home.

I just patiently waited for my driver to pick me up and after a few minutes, he arrived.

When I arrived home, I looked for my parents even though I'm not sure if they are here, as expected, they're not here, it's almost a week since I saw mom, she's actually managing our business here in the Philippines while my dad's abroad, managing our business there.

This is my main struggle as a Montero, yes, they can give whatever I want except their time, my mom is the CEO of the Montero Shipping Company, of course, understandable that she's busy, to be honest, she's my only hope since she's here in the Philippines, I badly want to spend time with her but I always can't, well, I guess, that's just how life is, they really love their job and I also understand their reason, it's just that, i'm also here, waiting for them to come home but it's okay, it's always okay.

Anyway, I went to my room to take a shower and to do my skincare routine. After doing all of that, I just browsed at my social media accounts while eating my favorite lasagna for dinner.

After eating, I went back to my room to brush my teeth and lay down on my bed. I just continued watching my favorite series on Netflix until I feel like I'm very sleepy.

The next morning, I was excited to go to school and I'm very early so I decided to go first to Starbucks near our school to grab some breakfast, I just ordered a Frappe and a slice of flatbread. While eating, I saw a familliar guy at the counter, and unfortunately, there's no other vacant seat aside from the one on my left side, I got nervous when he went in my direction and asked if he can stay there. I just said yes to him and continued eating my flatbread.

"Hi, I'm sorry about yesterday, I got an emergency so I'm in rush, I was running and I didn't see you so forgive me," he said smiling at me

"It's okay, I understand " I replied, gosh I almost stuttered, I don't know what to say, one more thing, I feel like I can't breathe, it's suffocating when he's near me.

We both mind our own business, I just ate peacefully and he was reading a book about biology and I got curious so I started a conversation with him

"So, you're from college of medicine, what a nice course," I said smiling at him.

I actually don't know why I said that because it's obvious that we met yesterday on their building but I just let that passed.

"Ah yes, and thanks, of course it's really a nice course, hmm you? What's your course ? are you also a meds student? because you were there yesterday" He asked

"Nope, my course was Civil Engineering, I just went to your building to meet my friend Audrey," I said

"Oh I see, by the way, I'm Bryce. Bryce Atticus Roque and you are?" He asked

"Kaye. Zeira Kaye Montero" I said almost stuttering, gosh I don't even know why I'm stuttering for petes sake .

"What a nice name, can I call you Zee instead of Kaye? I don't know but you're name's kinda weird though" he said

I really hate it when someone calls me by my first name so I didn't know what I've done the moment I answered a yes on his question.

When my phone rang, I just said goodbye to him because that was my cue that it was almost time for my first subject.

The classes went well and after a few hours, finally, all of my classes ended, when we arrived at the cafeteria to meet my friends, I was shocked because Bryce was also there, he's talking to them.

When they can't think of any topic to talk to, Vince suddenly told Bryce that I like him, I don't even know what to say because personally, I don't know if I really like him, maybe crush?

After Vince said that, he immediately tells stories of my embarrassing moments to Bryce way back in high school. He even mentioned one moment where my mom decided to go to us at the mall because she'll buy something but then, we saw my ex-crush, and then my mom knew about him so she told me face to face "oh Kaye, your ex-crush?"

Bryce on the other hand can't even stop laughing, I just let them be happy. When they actually stopped telling Bryce about my embarrassing moments, I thought it's all good, it's all done but then Aaliyah on the other side told Bryce about my ideal man. She even described Bryce as an example!

"You know what Bryce, Kaye's type is a good boy, studious and a cute one," Aaliyah said

"Bryce, dude, you're Kaye's, type," Vince said

I actually don't know what to reply so I just focused on what I'm eating. After a few minutes, I didn't expect what Bryce asked me.

"Hmm, Zee? Is that true? Do you like me?"

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