Chapter 2

'Seriously… When did this start? When did things started going downhill?…'

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Nigel POV

'Shit! I'm late, again! This is the third time, this happened, Caite is going to be so mad at me...'

I raced down the stairs, mildly bumping against shoulders that hang on the corridors and stairs.

My hair was tussled in a mess, my scarf hung loosely against my neck and broad shoulders. I glanced at my watch, it was already 12:30.

'Shit! I'm really going to get it this time..'

I sprinted towards the restaurant, even though it was just a five-minute walk from campus.

Suddenly, I burst open glass doors, as if I wanted to break it from the way I recklessly opened it. As I did, the small bell that hang above the door rang, signalling a newcomer.

My hair was tussled in a mess even more now, my scarf hung loose on my broad shoulders, my chest heaving deep breaths as if I ran a mile. I roamed my deep oceanic orbs around the restaurant, looking for something or someone—and that was Caite.

I caught her, at the far left side of the isle, looking sad, 'She really waited for an hour again…' I quickly smiled and waved at her.

'At least... she waited for me'

I quickly walked to her direction and sat in front of Caite. I took out a small box and pushed it towards Caite. She gave me a look, a look I knew very well—she wasn't in a good mood.

"Sorry, I know this is the third time I've been late. I'm busy... But that's not an excuse for me to make you look like a fool. I'm sorry, Caite"

 Caite opened the small box, not really caring if the cover was destroyed, typical her. Inside, was a small keychain, a cute small cat keychain.

"It's adorable, I love it! Thank you, Nigel.. "

"Are you hungry? My classes are done now, anyway.. We can spend so much time together.. "

She had a sad look on her beautiful face, and I quickly understood and looked over at the clock—it was 12:48 in the afternoon.. there were only twelve minutes before her afternoon classes start. I breathed out a heavy sigh and scratched my nape.

"Sorry, Cait.. Guess I only have twelve minutes with you.."

Caite gave me a weak smile as I ordered us a quick lunch. I had a medium-sized steak and handed her a small one. We quickly ate lunch, and left the restaurant. We walked hand in hand towards the university a five-minute walk from the restaurant.

I felt Caite lean her head against my shoulders, breathing in the cold October wind as it brushes past us. Me—Nigel Mabalos has been in love with Cait Falchion.

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It feels like yesterday, like a summer cool breeze. I can still clearly remember, the very first time I saw her—Caite.

I walked gracefully, towards the flag pole of our campus. I was a fourth year that time while she—a third year junior...

I remember it well.. The very first time our eyes met. How her dark brown ones stared right through my deep oceanic orbs... Her pink soft lips, agape staring right at me. In her eyes, she had this look of shock and amazement.

Then, I gave her a smiled. A smile that I know melted her heart right away, a deep blush cover her cheeks as I walked up towards the flagpole and untied the rope for the start of the flag ceremony.

I knew she couldn't stop staring at me. I didn't want her to stop. I wanted to keep looking at me. I felt my lips curled up in a smirk as my eyes moved to the corner—looking at her.

That was the moment... That was the very moment.. I felt everything stop, time stopped... As if everything was in slow motion and we both—we're the only ones there.. My heartbeat so hard, as if it was trying to break out of my chest. As if it was just me and Caite.

The flag ceremony ended quickly. I caught up to her, she walked with her classmates and hand in hand with Anita.. When, I suddenly, brushed past them, walking gracefully.

Suddenly, I caught her eyes, staring at me… With that adorable shocked look plastered on her face. I was caught at the moment—I couldn't stop, didn't want to stop staring at her. Then, subconsciously I winked at her and walked off, too quickly.

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"Well, see you later.. Caite"

I grabbed her cheeks and kissed her forehead. It was a quick kiss, but it doesn't matter. To me—it meant so much, too much.

"Okay... See you later, Nigel"

I walked away and headed for the stairs towards my classroom. The second floor, it was just above Caite.

Xamantha POV

As I pack my things that was sprawled on my desk, I couldn't help but glance at Nigel—the guy I've been in love with... He was quickly packing his things. That was the third time this week, it was if he was trying to catch up on something or someone but who could it be...

'Could Nigel have a girfriend? But, that's impossible... If he did, then everyone would know... '

He swung his bag on his shoulders and ran out the door, not caring if he bumped into our classmates on the way out.

I wanted to race up to Nigel, I want to ask him about something—and it's always been plaguing my mind.

'Could I have a chance if I ask Nigel?'

I was about to run up to him, but someone grabbed my arm, it was Lizza—my best friend.

"Are you okay, Xamantha?"

I looked at her and glanced back at Nigel. I looked backed at Lizza and nodded my head. I grabbed my bag and sling my arm against Lizza.

Lizza and Xamantha walked hand in hand out the classroom.

Lizza noticed Xamantha was quite the entire time, she kept glancing around them, trying to find what or who Xamantha kept looking for.

"Xam? Who are looking for?"

"Uh… Oh… N-no one, Lizza"

Xamantha answered as she focused her gaze on the path in front of them. Oblivious to the stares she got from Lizza.

"You know, Nigel went that way..."

Lizza whispered as she side eyed Xamantha, as she pointed towards a direction.

"H-he... did..."

Xamantha stopped in her tracks and looked at her.Lizza had a wide grin on her face. Her eyes wide in shock, her mouth agape. The answer was already clear, as bright as day—there it was plastered on Xamantha's face.

"So you were looking for Nigel, huh?"

'Can't believe I fell for that!'

Xamantha quickly looked away from Lizza, embarrassed. Lizza giggles as she saw Xamantha's priceless expression.

"You don't need to it anymore, Xam... everyone knows you like Nigel"

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Xamantha POV

'Can't believe I fell for that! How stupid could I be?'

I can't believe I fell for that, I looked at Lizza for the eight time right now.

We were having lunch now, at my favorite restaurant, it was a five-minute walk from campus. Lizza was busy eating her lunch—chicken curry, it was her favorite, while I had a small steak.

"You know... you don't have to like everything that Nigel does, Xam"

Lizza broke the deafening silence between us. I blinked once, twice and nearly choked. She handed me a glass of cold water and I quickly drank it.

I gave her a look—that meant I wanted an explanation.

"Hm... I know that this is Nigel's favorite restaurant, Xam... why do you have to like everything he does?"

"Because I like him, too much"

"Just because you like him doesn't mean you have to like everything he does!"

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Lizza POV

Xam was packing up her things, and she kept glancing at Nigel—the guy she's been head over heels upon... He was quickly packing his things. That was the third time this week, and I knew why.

'He's probably late again...'

He swung his bag on his shoulders and ran out the door, not caring if he bumped into our classmates on the way out.

I caught Xam, and I knew she wanted to race up to Nigel.

'Should I tell her that he likes Caite'

She was about to run up to him, but I grabbed her arm, and she quickly whipped her head to look at me.

"Are you okay, Xamantha?"

Xam glanced back at Nigel, then back at me and nodded her head

We both walked hand in hand out the classroom.

I noticed Xamantha was quite the entire time, she kept glancing around us, trying to find him.

"Xam? Who are looking for?"

"Uh… Oh… N-no one, Lizza" Xam answered, stuttering a little.

Xamantha focused her gaze on the path in front of us. Oblivious to the stares I kept giving her.

"You know, Nigel went that way..."

I whispered as I side eyed Xam, and pointed towards a direction.

"H-he... did..."

Xamantha stopped in her tracks and looked at me, her eyes wide in shock, her mouth agape. The answer was already clear, as bright as day—there it was plastered on Xamantha's face..

"So you were looking for Nigel, huh?"

'Gotcha Xam... but I always knew you liked Nigel'

Xamantha quickly looked away from me, embarrassed. I giggled as I saw Xamantha's priceless expression.

"You don't need to hide it anymore, Xam... everyone knows you like Nigel"

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'I always knew that this restaurant was Nigel's favorite... I just can't believe Xam would like everything he likes...'

"Because I like him, too much" she answered too fast.

"Just because you like him doesn't mean you have to like everything he does!"

Xam started at me, with that stern look on her face.

'Why?... why can't you see that he has someone in his heart by the way he moves…'

"I just really like him, Lizza..."

She said, with that sad look on her face. I couldn't bear to see her hurt, not even once.

'Why?... Why? Why does it have to be like this?... why does my heartache... every time I get to see your hurt expression?'

I looked at her... she still had that hurt expression on her face, it specifically showed in her gentle brown eyes.

'I've had many girlfriends before... but Why? why do I only feel like this when it comes to Xam?... Do... do I really Xam, that way?'

I shook off the thought and comforted Xam, I shouldn't have raised my voice at her.

"I'm sorry Xam... I shouldn't have raised my voice like that... "

"It's okay, Lizza... You're right anyway, just because I like Nigel... Doesn't mean I also have to copy him..."

Xam smiled at me and placed her hands against mine. Suddenly, my heart flipped when our fingers made contact... I felt like a sudden electric wave rushed up to me. And I felt butterflies in my stomach...

Her smile... Xamantha's smile gave me butterflies!! I felt a sudden heat rush up to my cheeks.

I shrugged it off and smiled at Xam as we finished our lunch.

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Anita POV

I saw Nigel and Caite out the corridor of our classroom.

'Aww, look at these two lovebirds... such a shame they don't have a label on their relationship...'

I saw Nigel kiss Caite's forehead, he's really sweet when it comes to her.

"Guess he's late again today..."

Nigel left and walked upstairs, he's classroom was just above ours. Then, Caite walked inside the classroom, a sweet smile on her face.

'This girl is head over heels for Nigel...'

"Cait! Quick, there's still time… Let's share this citrus!" I called towards her, showing the citrus on my palm.

Caite sat down on the white stool and swiftly peeled off the citrus skin. When, I suddenly broke the happy moment between us.

"So…. How's it going with Nigel? Don't tell me you waited an hour for him again at the restaurant.. "

Caite couldn't look at me straight in the eyes, the only thing she could do was lower her head as she split the citrus into half and handed it to me.

"Seriously?! Caite, you waited an hour again?!"

"C'mon, he was really busy.. And we already had a talk about that.." Caite reasoned with me.

"Really?? Just busy?? That's the third time.. Caite"

"I know.."

I looked at her, a sad look on my face. I gave a sigh and patted her back as I hugged her.

"I'm sorry.. I'm just really worried about you, I'm your best friend after all, Cait. I don't want to see you get hurt.."

I smiled at Anita as I hugged her back, tight.

"How about you and Shane? How are you guys doing?"

I chuckled as she tried to change the subject. I look at her and ate one citrus.

"Don't change the subject, Caite. Anyways, we're fine... we're going on a date this Saturday"

Caite smiled at me, a sad one. I handed her a single citrus, and she gladly took it from my palm.

"Don't stress it, I'm sure Nigel has something planned for you..."

"I sure hope he does, Ani..."

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