C2 Prologue

Mahaba ang pila papuntang cashier, this made Charlie frown as she sweats from the heat. Wala pa namang hangin, Charlie uses the brown envelope she's holding as a fan. She ties up her hair in a ponytail and continues waiting in line. She peeks at her phone and realized that it will take her an hour or two before she gets to the cashier. Thankfully, she's not standing as she waits, buti na lamang at may mga upuan para sa kanilang mga nag e-enroll.

Charlie's eyes wandered around the area and she can't help but notice how huge the university is! But it bums her out when the university can't afford three or five air conditioners to beat the heat. The cashier is located next to a hallway and it's an open area, kaya mainit.

Thirty minutes has passed, Charlie still has a long way to go. She got hungry but she can't risk leaving the line. Wala pa naman siyang kilala sa paligid. Charlie's also hesitant to bother the woman in front of her, naka-headphones pa at mukhang ayaw ng interactions, kaya she didn't mind suffering from hunger. Good thing is that her brother texted her, saying that he will come to the University to talk to one of his professors.

As Charlie's brother arrived, he gave her some snacks and water before he left to continue his errands. It wasn't long before Charlie called his name. He turned his back to face his sister, and there he saw how her sister's face screams an urgent need!

"What?" He asked as soon as he's near her. Charlie leans in to whisper in his ears.

"I have to pee," Sebastian laughs and took Charlie's line.

"Dalian mo, ah?" Aniya. Charlie nodded and ran to the nearest comfort room.

Pag balik ni Charlie, she heard a lot of murmurs from the people in line. She tapped her brother's back, agad namang gumilid si Sebastian at binigay na ang mga pinahawak ni Charlie. She looked at Sebastian.

"Bakit medyo umingay?" She asked curiously as she scanned the area. She noticed four men walking in the hallway.

"I don't know," answered Sebastian. "I have to go, text me if you need anything." He tapped Charlie's back and went on his way. Though, curious, Charlie didn't bother to check whoever the reason is for these murmurs she's hearing.

"Number 8" The cashier called. It was Charlie's turn, she stood up and head to the cashier. After almost two hours, it's finally her turn! As Charlie was paying her tuition, a man who's also waiting in the line unconsciously landed his eyes on Charlie's back. His favorite number is the number eight, he thinks that it maybe is the reason why he unconsciously looks to the woman who possesses the number.

"Thank you," Charlie thanked the cashier woman, she turned her back and faces the people waiting in line. Her eyes wandered the area, hoping that she will see his brother. Instead of his brother, her eyes met someone unfamiliar. Awkward, Charlie looked away.

Looking at Charlie's back for a while and when Charlie turns her body the man was perplexed by meeting Charlie's eyes. He now only realizes that he's been staring at her for long! He hopes that she wouldn't think of him as a creep, that's the least he wanted to be called as.

The time went by so fast. It is now the first day of class, Charlie's excited but also nervous as she's aware of what challenges will come to her. Charlie made friends with Evangeline and Brandon. They were fun, Charlie enjoyed their company. Their friendship instantly grew to a healthy one, a solid one. Charlie's been with them for two months now.

"Ang intense ng exam sa uts," Reklamo ni Brandon habang walang ganang nagbubuklit ng libro. Evangeline nodded as a response.

"Kaya naman," Evangeline commented. Brandon felt offended, in a joking way. Napa-hawak ito sa puso niya habang umaaktong nasasaktan.

"Sorry naman. Porke hindi ko maintindihan sarili ko. Edi nawa'y lahat ay naiintindihan ang sarili. Sana all." Brandon said coldly and even rolled his eyes. Evangeline laughed, Charlie too.

"Ang drama? Ang sabihin mo magulo ka lang na tao," Ani Evangeline. Brandon snorted.

"Foul!" Tapos ay binato niya si Evangeline with his gtech pen.

They decided to eat sa canteen after their small bangayan. Maingay si Brandon at Evangeline habang papasok sa canteen, Charlie remains silent but listens to her friends bardagulan.

Napa-tingin ang isang lalaki sa entrance ng canteen. He was drinking a water but stopped when he saw Charlie comes to the entrance. Charlie was scanning the area, kaya agad na yumuko ang lalaki which his friends eventually noticed. Naging kabado siya, iniisip niya na kung mag tama ang mga mata nila ay baka iba ang maging reaksyon ni Charlie. He's nervous as if he just committed a crime!

"Napano ka?" Asked by Cal. Umiling ang lalaki.

Evangeline saw the four hot guys when she entered the canteen. The guys are known for how serious they are when it comes to their studies, gwapo na nga tapos seryoso pa sa acads kaya sobrang sikat din nila sa University.

"OMG, OMG!" Evangeline clings on to Charlie and whispered her shrieks. Curious, Charlie glanced at her.

"Bakit?" Asked Charlie.

"Nakita mo sila?" Pa-simpleng tinuro ni Evangeline ang apat na lalaking nasa table malapit sa entrance. Charlie's eyes followed Evangeline's hand, she met the unfamiliar man's eyes.

Panicking, the unfamiliar man quickly stood up and left the canteen. He didn't know that Charlie's going to look back! He felt ashamed and weird when he touch his chest and felt how fast his heart is beating! His friends went to check on him.

"Napano ka nga?" Pag ulit ni Cal ng tanong niya kanina lang.

Charlie tilted her head, curious.

Eventually, Charlie's attention drifted to Brandon who's been calling their names for about a minute. Nasa malayo na si Brandon habang sila ni Evangeline ay nasa malapit pa sa entrance.

A whole month has passed and the unfamiliar man starts looking for Charlie. He has been seeing Charlie sa canteen, every Monday. Tapos bukas at sa susunod ay hindi niya na Ito makita. Kaya every Monday ay inaaya niya ang mga kaibigan na tumambay canteen. Eventually, he learned to know the name of the woman he's been eyeing. Not everyone knows that he likes Charlie pero kumakalat na. He didn't care, in fact pabor pa siya na kumalat.

The news was heard by Evangeline. Some of her friends told her and she was shocked and happy for Charlie. Nagmamadali itong pumunta sa bahay ni Charlie after malaman ang balita. Evangeline even called Brandon and told him to come.

"OMG!" Evangeline shrieked as soon as Charlie opened the door for her. Sebastian heard her shriek and he started touching the side of his ears.

"Hinay lang, Eva." Seb pleaded pag tapos niyang sumilip sa pinto. Evangeline laughed and apologetically smiled at him. Charlie, on the other hand looks curious as to what reason Evangeline is this excited.

The news reached the target, Charlie. Natawa lang siya and even told them na trip lang siguro.

But...

No.

She was wrong.

Now she's here having a coffee with the man who likes her.

"Henry Rodriguez, 23." Henry introduced himself. Sa loob niya ay sobrang nahihiya siya sa mga pinagsasabi niya.

'Seriously? That's all I can think of to introduce myself?!'

Mula pag dating ni Charlie, she does not utter a word, yet, and it's been 10 minutes since she arrived. Henry's nervous and felt awkward. Puro lang tango ang response ni Charlie, Henry is not the type of person who would talk a lot but because he's with Charlie, he wanted to entertain her, but he's now in dilemma. Wala na siyang maisip na pwedeng sabihin.

Truth is, Charlie's also nervous. It's been weeks since Henry and her started texting each other. Wala siyang experience, pero hindi niya alam kung bakit todo naman ang reply niya kay Henry. Aminado naman si Charlie na Henry's the first guy na nagpapapansin sa kaniya, and yes, he succeeded getting her attention. Though, Charlie's still unclear kung saan nga ba patungo ang kalagayan nila ni Henry.

"Nag order ako ng carrot cake," Henry stated, he gulped when Charlie's eyes met his. Umiwas siya ng tingin. "Gusto mo ba 'yon?" Charlie nodded and whisper a soft 'yes' . Mahina but Henry heard it. Sapat na 'yon sa kaniya, hearing her voice made him weak.

"About the rumors..." panimula ni Henry and he's indicating to the rumors about him liking Charlie. Charlie looked into Henry's eyes. Although he's surprised, Henry didn't avoid Charlie's stare. He thinks that it will be rude if he avoided eye contacts when talking to someone, especially if it's an important conversation.

"Are you comfortable with it?" He asked. Charlie didn't answer.

"I mean... sorry, dapat hindi ko hinayaang kumalat pa-"

"But, is it true?" Charlie. Napa-ubo si Henry sa pagka-bigla. Umiwas din ng tingin. Nang mahimasmasan ay tumingin na siya ulit kay Charlie.

"Bakit bigla mong natanong?" His question made Charlie stiffen.

"Sht! Bakit nga ba?!"

"Curious." Simpleng sagot ni Charlie. Tumango-tango si Henry, hindi alam ang sasabihin.

Well, it's better to take the risk!

"T-Totoo" Henry tried to sound cool but he stuttered at his word. Kinuyom niya ang kamao na naka-patong sa kaniyang hita. Mariin siyang pumikit.

"Sht lang! Dapat cool ako, eh!" Henry's thoughts.

Napakurap-kurap naman si Charlie. Ang straightforward ni Henry! But now... realizing that Henry do really like her, bigla siyang pinagpawisan. She heard about the rumors but hearing it from the person itself is... nakakabigla!

Bigla tuloy siyang naging conscious sa sarili.

"Bakit ako?" With Charlie's question, kumunot ang noo ni Henry. Yumuko si Charlie.

"I mean... I don't know if I can like you back"

Umiling si Henry. "Hindi mo naman kailangan, eh." Charlie met his eyes.

She saw how sincere Henry is.

"Hayaan mo lang ako, promise, I won't be a bother"