For the first time, someone else texted Amaury’s phone. Usually, it was only Claire who messaged and called him, though he barely paid attention.
“Looks like Claire’s at it again, huh?” teased his ever-curious friend.
“No,” he replied curtly.
“No? Then who?” Gio asked quickly.
“Don’t tell me it’s another girl,” Elton chimed in.
“It was Deanna. She’s the Vice President of the club I told you about,” Amaury explained.
Both friends raised their brows in unison. “Really? Count us in! We’d love to get to know Deanna better,” Elton said with a playful grin.
“Bro, why do you sound so interested?” Gio teased.
“I’m kidding! I just want to join to support the club since our bro here is the president,” Elton backtracked.
“Ah, I thought you were serious. But I did hear something… Apparently, a lot of guys are into Deanna, but there’s something off—they’re making bets about her,” Gio revealed.
“Bets?” Amaury’s brows furrowed, his hands clenching into fists.
“Yeah, Claude seems to be involved in it. That’s what I overheard from some students in the architecture department.”
Amaury’s jaw tightened. I thought he was supposed to be protecting her. He took a deep breath, fighting the urge to message Deanna about what he just learned. He knew she was tough and could handle herself, but still, something about it gnawed at him.
“You’re deep in thought, bro,” Elton interrupted.
“It’s nothing,” Amaury mumbled. He wanted to confront his brother about the bet, but something held him back. Interfering would only make things worse.
---
“Why are you dressed like that?” Claude asked Deanna when he ran into her.
“Ugh, long story,” she sighed.
“Did someone mess with you again?”
“Who else? Your childhood friend, Claire. She poured water on me and smeared cake on my face. I lost control and did the same to her,” she admitted.
“I’ll talk to her—”
“No! Don’t get involved. I don’t want to drag anyone else into this. I’ll handle it myself,” she cut him off.
Before Claude could respond, Amaury suddenly appeared, stepping between them.
“What are you doing here?” Claude asked, glaring.
“Stay away from Deanna,” Amaury snapped.
“Who the hell are you to say that?”
“Do you want me to spell it out for you?”
“Back off, Amaury! I’m not interfering with your life, so don’t interfere with mine!” Claude barked.
“Amaury! What are you doing? Stop it! Claude and I aren’t doing anything wrong,” Deanna shouted, pushing Amaury aside. “You have no right to tell him what to do!”
“Didn’t you hear her? Leave!” Claude added.
“Yeah, Amaury, get lost! I don’t want to see your face!” Deanna yelled.
Amaury clenched his jaw but turned and walked away.
---
“Claude, what’s going on?” Deanna asked as she watched Amaury leave. “Why is he always like that?”
Claude sighed, avoiding her gaze. “He’s just… like that. Maybe he’s jealous because we’re close.”
“I feel like there’s more to it,” Deanna pressed.
“Don’t get involved. It’s between me and my brother,” Claude muttered.
“Fine. But you know, you should really try to patch things up with him. He’s your brother.”
“I can’t forgive him. Not after what he did.”
“Whatever it was, you should at least try to talk.”
Claude paused before asking, “Deanna… if I had done something terrible to you, would you still forgive me?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course, I would! We’re friends. I don’t hold grudges.”
“What if—”
“Ugh! Enough with your ‘what ifs,’ Claude!”
“I’m serious. What if I told you I liked you?”
“Stop joking! How many times do I have to tell you that we’re just friends? Besides, there’s someone I really want to meet and be with.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“You don’t even know the guy? How’s that going to work?”
“I’ll know when I meet him.”
“By then, I might already be your husband,” Claude teased.
“Ha! You wish. Anyway, I need to head back. I was sent on an errand.”
“Alright. Take care. Call me if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine. Oh, and don’t wait for me later—I’ll have Manong pick me up,” she said before heading off.
As Deanna walked back to class, her mind buzzed with thoughts. Something’s definitely off with Claude and Amaury. Why does Amaury always seem so angry? She sighed heavily. Maybe I should just move out of the mansion. But where would I go? If I return to Bicol, I’ll be all alone and won’t be able to finish college.
She entered the classroom, feeling drained, and slumped into her seat.
“You just stepped out and now you look like that? Spill it!” Kendra nudged her.
“Nothing happened. I’m just tired from the stairs,” she fibbed.
“There’s an elevator, you know.”
“I don’t like elevators. What if it breaks down while I’m inside? That’s terrifying!”
Kendra shook her head. “You’re scared of elevators but not of people?”
Pamela laughed. “You’re one of a kind, Deanna.”