Eliz's Point of View
Thanks to that guy, my mood is completely ruined. How dare he trip someone like Eliz Cortejo?! I thought my grandpa's campus was peaceful, but it turns out it's just like any other school.
"Hey, Eliz? Do you want to take it easy on that bottle?" Nathan suddenly said, making me look at my hand. I was holding a plastic bottle, and it was almost crushed. Was I that angry at that guy? Well, he was really annoying!
"You go ahead, I just need to rest," I said, standing up.
"It's already time, you know?" he said, checking the time on his phone.
Why does it feel like time flew by? It seems like we just arrived. Well, we did waste a lot of time earlier. "Just go ahead," I said, quickly leaving the cafeteria.
Where should I go? Class is about to start... cutting classes is real. Besides, it's not strict here; you can be absent, but you just have to make sure you pass the tests and quizzes they give.
I headed to the garden Nathan and I passed by earlier. It was spacious and airy, with lots of flowers and plants, so it was a garden. Maybe I should suggest to Grandpa Sevastian to put a big fountain here so it won't be boring.
I kept walking until I reached an area with many trees, where I saw a gate with a "Do Not Enter" sign.
Why is there something like this here? Is this a haunted garden? The gate looked scary like it hadn't been opened in weeks because of the plants surrounding it.
Did Grandpa close this off? Why?
Something seemed to be pushing me to open it. Would I still be scared? I've been in danger many times, so I'm not afraid to die. That's where we're all headed anyway; it's just a matter of who gets there first.
I was about to open the gate when someone grabbed my arm.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked the guy—the same guy who tripped me earlier.
Do we really have to see each other again? Can't it be just once?
"You don't care," I said, moving away from the gate and heading towards the big trees. It was like a forest.
As I walked away, I glanced back at the guy who was just staring at me.
Annoying.
I looked for a tree and quickly climbed it. It was quite tall, so I struggled a bit. Luckily, it had many branches, making it easier to climb.
I sat carefully so I wouldn't fall since it was really high. Not too high, just enough to break an arm if you fell.
"Eliz? Where are you?" said the guy, looking around. I looked down, and there he was.
Does he know my name? I shouldn't be surprised. He's quite handsome. Yes, he's handsome, but his attitude... just forget about it.
"Eliz? Geez, Grandpa Sev was right... you're like a mushroom, disappearing and suddenly popping up," he said, continuing to look for me. Occasionally glancing up.
"Why do you know my Grandpa?" I suddenly asked, making him look up at where I was sitting. He crossed his arms, seemingly thinking about how I got up there.
"Get down from there. You might fall," he said, but I ignored him.
I felt relieved as the cool breeze blew. It feels so good to be close to nature.
"Get down from there now," he ordered. What's with him and wanting to mess with my life?
"Why do you care? I like it here!" I snapped, giving him a dirty look.
He moved closer to the base of the tree and held out his hand. "What's that?" I asked. Was he going to do the Macarena? Sorry, I don't know that dance.
"Jump, I'll catch you." I don't know why, but I suddenly felt different. Argh!
Thump thump thump.
My goddess! Why is my heartbeat like this?! Am I that fragile? Is he serious about catching me? This tree is high. This guy is crazy, I can get down by myself.
"Are you out of your mind?" I said, laughing, and he laughed with me.
God, his smile. It can melt my liver and gall bladder.
"I'm serious, jump now," he said again.
"No! I can get down by myself!" I yelled.
Why should I jump when I can get down on my own? This guy is really crazy.
"What if I told you there's a tarantula right by—"
...
T-there's a—a spider! There's a spider!!!
"Ahhh!! Why didn't you say so?!" I screamed as I saw a huge spider near me, getting closer. It was really big and scary!
What should I do???!! I'm scared of spiders!! There's nothing I can do!
"Hey, guy! Catch!" I said and jumped. He was surprised and quickly moved to catch me.
I... I'm alive?
"Ah... you c-crazy idiot.." I felt like I came back to reality when I heard his voice. When I opened my eyes, I saw an angel—am I in heaven? A well-defined nose and a nearly perfect face. Eyes that make you feel like you're falling into an abyss, lips that I want to kiss—Ah! What am I thinking!? Erase! Erase!
I quickly stood up and dusted myself off, as my clothes were covered in dirt. Damn spider, I was sitting so comfortably up there.
"You're not even going to check if I'm okay after fantasizing about me?" he said, smirking, making my eyes widen.
"Stop it! I'm not in the mood to argue with you!" I snapped, turning away from him. Jeez! Did I really stare at him that long?
"Calling the attention of my granddaughter Ms. Eliz Cortejo and Mr. Ruhan Night Pedraza. Please proceed to the Dean's Office."
I closed my eyes at the announcement. Really? Did they have to announce it to the whole campus?!
Wait... I glanced at the guy with me who was just silent. I discreetly looked at his ID, and I wasn't wrong. Why are we being called to the Principal's Office? Just the two of us?
Why does it have to be with this—Ruhan Night, huh? His name suits him because my vision darkens when I see him.
"Let's go?" he invited, and I had no choice. We walked together, even though I was a bit irritated with this guy.
"What's with them?"
"Are they together?"
"Didn't that girl just arrive?"
"She's the principal's granddaughter!"
"They were called, why?"
"Gossips..." I muttered. Almost all the students were looking at us. I just ignored their stares. In a few minutes, we arrived at the office.
When we entered, Grandpa was there, sitting and busy with his laptop.
The day I arrived in the Philippines, I saw Grandpa's laptop filled with Korean drama files. He even beats me at it! At his age, he's still a K-drama fan?
"Good morning, sir," Ruhan greeted, and Grandpa smiled at us. Wow, he's polite?
"Why did you call us?" I asked directly, but Grandpa didn't answer. What does he need from me?
"Sit down first," he said, and we followed. He had us sit in the chairs in front of his desk.
"So Ruhan, you already met Eliz, huh? How was it?" Grandpa asked the guy next to me.
What does he mean by 'How was it?'? I'm a good girl, right?
"Your granddaughter is quite the handful. In fact, earlier—Ouch! What the heck?!" he complained as I kicked him. Serves him right! He was about to spill the beans to Grandpa?! Geez, he can't even keep a secret! I'm not talking to him!
"I knew my granddaughter would be up to no good, so... Ruhan? I want you to keep an eye on Eliz."
What.
the.
hell?
My eyes widened at what I heard. What? Keep an eye? Like a bodyguard?
"What, sir?" Ruhan asked in disbelief, looking at me.
"I want you to keep an eye on my granddaughter because she's like a magnet for danger."
"But Grandpa! I'm not a kid anymore! Don't you trust me?" I asked with matching puppy eyes. What am I, 7 years old that needs a babysitter?
"When you were a child, you were kidnapped, taken hostage in a shop, and involved in an accident. What do you think I'm supposed to think?" Grandpa yelled in frustration, making me fall silent. Well, back then, kidnappings and ransoms were common; it's probably different now.
It's a good thing I'm still alive. Even though I've been in danger many times, I'm still here.
"But why did you choose this Ruhan guy to watch over me? We have plenty of bodyguards, right? Out of the twenty bodyguards guarding me, you still find it lacking?" I asked, crossing my arms and glaring at the guy.
"Well, he's one of the people I trust here on our campus, and besides..." Grandpa paused and looked at Ruhan, seemingly waiting for permission.
"...Ruhan is a leader of a gang group," Grandpa continued, making me gasp.
Gangster... Gangster?!
"G-gang? You mean he's a gang..ster? The kind that brawls in the streets and beats people up—What the heeeck!" I yelled in disbelief, looking at Ruhan who just covered his face with his hand.
What? Is my description of a gangster wrong?
"Is that what you think of me?!" He was clearly annoyed by what I said.
"Well, that's what's in my head," I said, giving him attitude. How should