When Stars Collide With Hate

Chapter 29

My heart was pounding loudly inside my chest. I can't stop my hands from trembling. I could feel my uneasiness with every tick sound of the clock. Shit. I know I shouldn't be scared because Raphael won't leave my side but there's still a small part of my mind thinking, everything could go wrong with just one single sentence from us.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng office niya at naglakad papuntang office ni Dean. Ramdam ko iyong bawat titig ng mga estudyante sa aming dalawa. I saw Prita and Shaira giving me a look of approval. Habang 'yung ibang estudyante halatang hindi masaya na makita ako. Those eyes full of judgment or maybe jealousy because I was dating the most handsome professor of our school?

I almost slap myself for having that thought. Kanina lang halos mamatay na ako sa kaba, tapos ngayon parang tanga akong nakangiti. I must be really going crazy.

"Thinking of me?" Raphael asked, as if he's reading my mind.

"What made you think that I was thinking of you?" balik tanong ko sa kanya.

A grin appeared on his face. "Ako lang naman ang laman ng isip mo tuwing nakangiti ka," he said with a lot of confidence. I was fighting the urge na sipain siya dahil nasa harap kami ng mga estudyante.

His grin widened nang nakita niyang hindi ako sumagot. "See?"

I rolled my eyes. "Wala talagang pinipiling lugar ang kalandian mo, noh?" I muttered. I saw him tilting his head to the other side. He pursed his lips tapos lumingon sa akin.

"I can't help it," he said. "My self control is close to zero when I'm with you."

My lips parted. "Tanginamo," pa-angil na sabi ko sa kanya.

He just chuckled. For a moment, nalimutan ko na may problema kami. With him, everything just felt easy. Tuwing nandyan siya sa tabi ko, matic lahat ng mga isipin at problema ko ay nawawala. He just always magically hypnotize me na mag focus sa kanya.

"We're here," biglang sabi ni Raphael.

Napinto ako sa paglalakad. Iyong kaba ay biglang bumalik. Ramdan ko iyong bahagyang paghawak ni Raphael sa kamay ko.

"Julian, trust me. Everything will be alright," he said, giving me assurance. But I already knew... everything wouldn't be alright pero may tiwala ako kay Raphael. Kapag sinabi niyang magiging okay lang lahat, magiging okay talaga.

"Thanks," I whispered before going inside. Nauna ako pumasok. Sabi ni Dean ay ako na muna ang unang kakausapin, pagkatapos ay si Raphael naman.

"Dean Garcia..." I called after I entered the office. God, hindi mawala ang kaba ko. Parang sasabog na iyong puso ko sa sobrang kaba. "Good morning po," bati ko.

"Have a seat," sabi ni dean at iginiya ako sa upuan na nasa harap niya.

I slowly took a seat. Napatingin ako sa paligid at nakita ko iyong ibang member ng school committee. Most of them were professors I knew and had talked to before. They just stared at me, waiting for what would happen next.

"Mr. Villasanta," panimula niya. "I'm sure you're aware of the rumors circulating around campus."

Dahan dahan akong tumango. Of course, I knew. It wasn't just a rumor anymore—it was a full-blown scandal, and I was in the center of it. Alam na alam ko dahil kahit saang sulok ng school ay rinig ko ang pangalan ko.

"There's been a lot of talk about you and Professor Yapchengco," he continued. "We've even received a photograph of the two of you together. It's caused quite a stir," Dean said. "I need you to tell me what's going on, Julian. We need the truth."