Chapter 3: He's the same as before

****Flashback****

"Quiet down please!" the professor slams down his book making a loud thud as it hits the table in an attempt of getting the full attention of his students.

"Settle down!" he tried one last time.

As he was about to announce something, the door suddenly opened wide. A young lady appeared gaining the attention of everyone inside.

There was nothing special in the way she dress. A plain white polo paired with dark pants and sneakers. Her hair cascaded down her shoulder with wide curls.

She looked up, her dark brown eyes not meeting anyone else's prominent stare. Her full attention was on the professor who beckon her to come in.

"Get in young lady. Alright people she will be joining this class from now on." the professor started but got interrupted when someone raised his hand.

"Doesn't she seem lost in here?"

The professor just chuckled as if there was a hidden joke about her being in the class.

"Actually, she is here because she's taking extra classes for her requirements. It'll be nice for all of you to learn from her. She is two years your junior afterall."

Her face turned red as a tomato because of what the professor said. She silently went to an empty seat at the back not noticing the stare of the guy sitting next to her.

The whole time his gaze never left her and the whole time she didn't give any slight sign that she noticed his presence.

Once the class was over she immediately left the room not wanting any unnecessary attention on her.

"Who would have thought we'll get to have the department beauty in our class," a blonde guy exclaimed in joy.

"Department beauty?"

"Seriously Jeremy, you don't know her? That's Laila, she's the beauty of the college of the art department. As soon as she got here, she was voted as the top beauty in her department. Even got nominated for University beauty but was only runner up."

"How did she even got admitted to this University without money?"

"She got in here because of her brain and talent actually. Her beauty was just a plus. Apparently, she was attending special classes when one of the professors from her department took notice of her talent and introduced her to the dean. "

"And how come I never knew about her?" Jeremy raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"Well you hardly took notice of anyone outside your circle and there's the fact she just got here and that she's not in the same field with us."

"But you already knew her?"

"That is because I'm active at the campus forum. Anyway, people just speculate about her. She's rather a reserve and not the type of girl you prefer."

And that was it. She was not the type of girl Jeremy prefer but he knows he was already enticed by her.

L A I L A

"But I think you wouldn't be happy with what I'll do to that hands of yours if it stays where it is."

Please let it not be who I think it is.

I turn around and saw Jeremy, his arms crossed and eyes narrowed at Henry's hands that still got a hold of me.

"Jeremy, nice seeing you again," Henry stated breaking the awkward silence. He lets go of me and extended his hand for a shake but Jeremy just ignored it.

I cough getting their attention, "What are you doing here Mr Malarkey?"

I can see the irritation in Jeremy's eyes as I call him by his last name. Something I know he remembers I did whenever I'm mad at him.

"Last time I check this place is under my property and I happened to have a business here today as well," he answered me. "I'm surprised you'd be here. You never attended this kind of thing."

I just shrugged, "I guess I'm too busy."

"Well, you did accompany me to most of your travelling around," Henry stated before Jeremy could say something.

I took a glance at Jeremy and saw him deep in his thought. It was as if he was starting to understand a puzzle his been solving for a while now.

At that moment Clarisse decided to show herself. There was a huge grin on her face that quickly faded when she saw who I am with.

"Malarkey," she greeted him as she positioned herself in front of me in a protective way. I haven't mentioned to her yet about the recent incident and I'm sure I'll hear an earful when I do.

"This suddenly feels like we're having a reunion," Henry said.

"I don't recall ever meeting you at college," Jeremy snap at him.

"Because you never did pay attention to anyone," I finally speak up. "You've already graduated when I became acquainted with him. Thankfully."

All eyes suddenly were on me. They were looking at me like I'd suddenly grown horns on my head.

"Why does it sounds like you're happy I didn't meet him then," Jeremy bemusedly said.

"Come on, I know how you are. You're an idiot who assumes things and gets easily riled up by jealousy. You act impulsively before thinking."

"Why would I be riled up by jealousy?" I then felt like I was hit by lighting.

I've said things I shouldn't have. Remembers what should be forgotten. How can I let myself be careless like that?

I avoided their looks on me. I tried to think of ways to change the topic but there was a look in Jeremy's eyes that says he won't just drop the matter alone.

"You can really do have a sharp memory," I let out a deep breath I was holding. Henry winked at me as if sharing a secret I should never tell.

"What's more surprising is how you all met when Jeremy is in a different department than yours?"

And just when I thought he is helping me.

"I just met him through Laila. They were in the same class when she took advanced classes. And worked on a project," she nonchalantly said. "Anyway, Laila I've looking for you. Reporters want to interview you already. Your announcement earlier feels like a bomb to them."

She bid goodbye to the guys before dragging me along with her. It took her less than a minute to see who she was looking for and introduced me to them.

It went on for an hour. Clarisse dragged me around to every reporter in there covering the event. After a while, she excused herself to answer a call probably from my agent. I was busy talking with a reporter when Jeremy showed up.

"Mr Malarkey nice meeting you," he extended a hand for a shake which Jeremy took.

"Likewise. Do you mind if I take my date back?" he blurted out of nowhere.

The reporter's eyes look like it's gonna fall off their socket as he turns to me. "My apologies. I didn't know you two are together."

Now it's my eye's turn to fall off their sockets. I didn't have a chance to clear things out when he decided to leave me to Jeremy.

"I guess I should go. Don't forget what I said Ms Condes, it will be fun," he said as he leave.

I was about to go when Jeremy grabbed my arm holding me back.

"What will be fun?" he inquired. His eyes narrowed at me the way he always does whenever he feels like I'm hiding something from him.

"What the hell are you thinking saying I'm your date?" I snarled at him.

He only shook his shoulder, "What fun is he talking about?" he repeated.

I sigh in defeat knowing he wouldn't stop asking until he get the answer he wanted.

"He was just asking me about wanting to work together because apparently he wanted to cover one of my booksigning event and want to do a special about me." He lets go of my hand seeming content with my answer. I looked at my arm and saw redness.

"Shit! I forgot how easily you get bruised," he tried to hold my arm again to inspect it but I moved away.

"I'm used to it," was all I said.

"Laila, I really want to talk to you. Can you just please stop running away," he pleaded.

"There's nothing we need to talk about." I snapped at him. I don't want him to realize that he still had an effect on me even after all those years I thought I erased everything about him in my life.

Just then a camera flash caught our attention.

"Mr Malarkey, what a surprise you know Ms Laila Condes. She's not in your usual preference," a reporter said too casually.

Jeremy just laugh before answering, "If I say she's my date tonight will you believe me, Luke?"

Huh? Of course he knew who that reporter is. They chat as if they are old friends seeing each other again.

I just rolled my eyes at him. He's the same as before, he always wanted to get things his way.

I let him talk to the reporter because I know I'll be wasting my time trying to correct what he is saying. I honestly don't care anymore. It's not like they'll take his nonsense seriously.

He kept looking at me and then smiling.

Why am I even staying here?

Without a word, I left him. Going as far away from him as possible until I bumped into Clarisse who looked really pissed.

"What the hell happened? I was gone for like ten minutes and then I heard people talking that Jeremy announced you are his date!"

"Just let it go. It's no use anyway besides no one will actually believe it considering I'm always with you," I explained.

She still had her arms crossed over her chest, "That moron. What was he thinking? Suddenly showing his face around you. I mean I do meet him from time to time at events but this is the first time we actually interacted and in not so good way. He better stays away from you."

Her eyes then narrowed down in slits as she looks at me, "YOU! Need to stay away from him."

She warned me in a way that says if I didn't follow she'll kill me. She knew me well enough to know that I sometimes tend to be stubborn and go do things anyway.

I nodded my head in agreement. She doesn't have to tell me twice about it.