Sip 14

"Then I will be expecting you to submit the whole report by the next meeting. Class is dismissed!" The old professor shuts his record book and leaves the platform. The student groans at the pressure of deadlines and others complain though they have no other choice but to comply.

"Ugh… That professor is so stingy! How can he discuss half of the book and make us do a report in just a few days!" Cana complains as she skims the coverage that she needs to make a report.

"Well he is one of the terror professors in this university, he is a legend itself." Another girl commented as she stretched her arms from the pain of sitting for almost two hours.

"Well you are right, Caloan wouldn't be this prestigious if not for the well trained professors and other skilled personnels." she smiled back to her.

"By the way, Brigitte's group is having a drink tonight, would you like to hang out?"

"Oh, a drinking party? You know Clarice that I don't drink so I'll pass.'' It was a straightforward answer, ever since they started schooling Cana was a bit left out as the peers were actually either rich kids, influential or those who are easy-going. She finds it hard to fit in , until the only girl who approaches her is Clarice, her father is a manager of a bank and her mother is in real estate. Out of all the rich kids on the campus, she was the first to treat her normal and not look at her status or family background.

"You are no fun, when will I get you to join us?"

"Well, the bar you're going to will surely be an expensive one, I still have a few months left before I can apply for a job so I need to be thrifty." Cana explains herself, it is true that she has enough savings plus the apartment discount gave her a bit more allowance but who knows when she will need extra funds for an emergency.

"Hey Clarice, are you coming or not?" The group that she mentioned is already about to get going so she looked back at Cana.

"E-n-j-o-y!" she mouthed to her classmate and waved goodbye.

"I don't know why you keep asking her to come when you know the answer already." The one who is tall and blonde is Brigitte.

"She won't afford it anyways, not unless you treat her right?" Cana could hear it loud and clear as she packed her notes. It doesn't bother her since she is not here to have fun but to study. The group already left and there she saw the same car waiting for her.

"Samuel!"

" Hey, it's been a while." He smiled at her and gave a peck at her cheek as soon as she sat in the car. Lately he has been too sweet with her and a bit clingy, he likes to hug her and hold her hand. He is just so sweet that Cana wanted to be spoiled ever more. They planned to see a movie that day and eat dinner when Cana's phone kept ringing.

"I think you have important messages, go check on it." Samuel urges her, Cana has a habit of ignoring calls and messages when she is eating, like last time they had lunch together, she missed the notification that they have an early dismissal and still returned to the campus. So then on, Samuel told her to check the message and reply later instead so that she won't miss an important announcement like that one.

"So what is it?" He is curious as to why her brows frown.

"There is a welcoming party for the freshmen in our major."

"I see, are you going?"

"Well I don;t know, they say it is important since the seniors are there too, and that it is good to establish a good impression as they can help with the projects in the future." He laughed at how calculating cana has been ever since she started living independently, he loves how she weighs each situation and how the outcome would be, especially how she considers him first before making any decision. Like at this moment.

"What do you think Samuel? I can just eat a little then go early right? I don't like to drink so I'll be showing my face only." Her eyes are full of expectation waiting for his answer.

"Of course it's fine, if you want I can pick you afterwork so you can have excuses for them." He smiles at her, she never fails to surprise him with her ideas.

"That would be great!"

The night of the welcome party she went to the grill restaurant with Clarice, she was so fired up since it was the first Cana has ever agreed to come to a get together party.

"Let's sit over here." She guided Cana, who is a bit nervous and shy. It was her first time to be at a party, only she and Mia just spent the time together when they were younger. Although she saw familiar faces from the campus and some classmates, she still felt a bit uncomfortable.

"Oh it's a new face, are you a transfer student?" A sophomore approaches their table and grabs a chair to sit right beside Cana, making an odd number in the table.

"Hello there, I'm Jackie, a sophomore, what is your name?" He greeted her kindly so Cana replied to him in a good manner, "My name is Canary, I'm a freshman."

"You have a nice name! But why am I seeing you only now?" He continues to flood Cana with questions so she keeps looking at Clarice who is averting her eyes and has been looking around as if asking for her.

"That freshman, what a pity that Jackies laid his eyes on her." There are a few whispers at the other table worried at how Jackies has been bothering Cana and Clarice.

"By the way, I heard that he is coming tonight as well right?" The other table talks of another topic.

"He just came back from abroad so he enrolled late but still managed to have a high score in the entrance exam." the other girl added.

"Man, how nice it is to be an Austen!"

Austen

Cana clearly heard that name and she stared across the table. It's been a while since the party started, food and drinks kept coming , and since then Jackies has never left their table.

"I think I must go now." Cana declared, making Clarice panic as she will be left alone with the person.

"What? Is just at half, stay longer and drink with me!" He grabbed her left arm and pulled her down to be seated again. The other students just awed at the harsh action of their senior.

"Excuse me, let go!" Cana is irritated at him and slaps his hand away enough to let her arm go.

"Cana don't!" Clarice tries to stop her but Cana has a sharp look at the other person.

"You! How dare you do that? Aren't you disrespectful to your seniors?" Jackies has been known to have a bad temper and a pushover when drunk, there were also rumors that he would persistently bother girls that is his type until they give up and hang out with him. When he gets what he wants he will spread news about what he did to the girls he's been with. Everyone knew this on the campus but Cana, who has never been to any party, was just unlucky to become the target of this disgusting man.

"Aren't you the one who is disrespectful? I bid my goodbye properly then you just go grabbing my arm like that?" The students are speechless, for the first time someone talks back against Jackies.

"Rude b*tch, don't you know that I am the son of the biggest trading company?" It is clear that he is tipsy as he slur his words.

"So what? Does it change that you were disrespectful first?" Cana who grew up with three male cousins has been trained to talkback to bastards like him, that is how she was raised to fight back.

"You really want a piece of sh**" He grabbed her collar and pulled her Cana grabs onto his arm, remained calmly and looked sharply at her, not letting any intimidation from his strength affect her. By that time the students are in disarray, pointing fingers to stop the commotion but no one has the gut. It was the time the door opened and a newcomer entered the room, he immediately spotted the ragged jackies. But what surprised him more is the girl who is putting up a fight against the big man, he rushed to the two and stopped them.

"Senior Jackies stop that, you are scaring the freshmen." his voice is calm but authoritative, Jackies stoned and let go of Cana upon hearing the familiar voice. Luckily Cana was supported by the arm of the person who came to rescue.

"T-thank you." She looked up and saw a pair of almond colored eyes looking at her, she felt the increasing beating of her heart.

"C-Cadmium Austen! He is here!" The other student was in surprise to see him meddling in trouble.

"I-I was just knocking some sense to this disrespectful freshman, Austen I did not trouble her."

"What are you blaming me for? Wasn't it you who just barged unwelcomely to our table and acted like we were close and grabbing my arm?" Cana who just perfectly talked back surprised the man beside her and he smiled at how brave she is.

"Is that true Senior Jackies?" It was a threatening smile that sent shivers to anyone who saw it.