After my class, I decided to go to my professor's office to discuss about my topic. Gusto ko kasi maaga pa ay may masimulan na ako at for sure magiging hectic na ulit ang schedule namin. As I was waiting for Aeri, I saw a shadow behind me. Hinarap ko ito at si Ryujin lang pala, nakahawak sa batok at mukhang may sasabihin.

"Win, isa ka sa judges for the auditions next week, pinapasabi ni ate Seulgi." 

"Really? You should just have messaged me, malayo pa naman lalakarin mo pabalik." I said and checked my phone, malapit na pala ako ma-low battery.

"Ate Seulgi is texting in our group chats though..." she said and chuckled. Nagulat naman ako doon at nahiya dahil hindi ako gaano tumitingin sa aming group chat, "Pero pumunta din ako para kausapin ka, I'd rather say this personally than message you."

I raised my eyebrows at her, getting curious at what she might say. Siguro importante ito pero wala naman akong naaalalang dapat namin pag-usapan. I took a glance at Aeri's direction and immediately looked again at Ryujin.

"I want to say sorry..." she started, fiddling with her fingers while looking down as well. "You know, for acting that way to you noong mga nakaraang araw."

I kept silent because I didn't know what to say, naalala ko bigla ang pag-iwas niya sa'kin kung sakaling makikita niya ako. I really think it is because of Lia, her friend.

"Its fine, Ryu. It didn't bother me naman that much pero I appreciate na you said sorry for your actions." I said and patted her shoulder to tell her its settled dahil totoo naman na hindi ako nainis sa ginawa niya, siguro nagulat lang.

"Thank you for telling me this, kakausapin ko si ate Seulgi mamaya." she nodded and looked to my side, napatingin din ako at nakatayo si Aeri sa gilid ko. I saw her smiled very widely, I think she's being sarcastic.

"Ah s-sige. Bye Win and A-Aeri." she said and at lumakad na palabas ng hallway. Aeri went in front of me.

"Who's that girl, nautal pa." she asked and copied what Ryujin last said, natawa ito kaya pinalo ko ang balikat niya, "What? It's funny."

"It's not, kasama ko siya sa AUDEX. May sinabi lang."

"Tell me, pa-chika naman babe." 

I rolled my eyes and started to walk with her. "She just told me na isa ako sa judges para sa audition, she said sorry for her actions before towards me."

"What?! Inaway ka ba non?" she shouted and slapped my arm hard, napasigaw din tuloy ako at nag-echo sa hallway. Hinila ko siya sa may bench

"Hindi! She was just ignoring me and giving me a negative vibe, ganun." I explained and caressed my left arm kung saan niya ito pinalo, "Volleyball player ka talaga, ang sakit!"

"Deserve! Anyway, why did she say sorry at the first place?

"I don't know, maybe guilty? I really think it's because of her friend Lia, the girl was getting all smiley when we met noon eh."

"Oh my God! Lia my friend? Well, hindi naman kami gaano ka-close but she do parties so we vibe." she said and walked again, "Pupunta ako court for the meantime, ikaw ba? If may pupuntahan ka, text me babe."

"Pupunta ako sa prof ko to ask about certain matters, message na lang kita if we can still have lunch." she nodded and kissed my cheek like she always do, she went off and I waited for her until my eyes can't see her.

"I suggest you find Ms. Jeon, nag-usap din kami kanina and I think you both can work on this research since the topics are very similar." 

Nandito ako sa office ngayon, mabuti na lang at nakapasok agad ako. Mahirap kasi maabutan din 'tong si Sir, akala ko nga kakain na sila ng gantong oras. Many students were waiting as well so I want our talk to be fast but concise.

"It's better if you two are partnered, maganda ang ibinigay ni Ms. Jeon sa 'kin kanina, I also told her to find someone." I just nodded and thanked him, hindi pa rin naman ako sigurado. "If you have any concerns again, email me or come here."

Lumabas na ako, iniisip pa din if gagawin ang suhestyon ni Sir. I can work alone but there's nothing wrong working with someone too and maybe we can do this easily. I fetched my phone from my pocket to text Aeri.

Me : Hey, I'll be meeting someone. Have your lunch na.

Gigi : who? sige i'm with my friends din naman

Me : Ms. Jeon daw, the prof just gave me the surname.

Gigi : oh you mean somi? the quiet kid? nasa harap yun palagi eh

Me : Judger ka. But yeah, I think si Somi. Siya lang din nag-iisang Jeon.

Gigi : so what about her? ano gagawin nyo?

Me : She's my partner.

Gigi : WTH!! kailan pa??

Me : I mean sa research, she's my partner.

Me : Bold of you to assume that we're together, hindi ko nga alam first name niya.

Gigi : ay oo nga 'no? you stupid

Me : Ako pa?

I saw messages from Jimin so I opened it while walking to my room to see if Somi's there.

Rina : good morning!

Rina : i'm in a good mood, i hope no one ruin my day hay

Rina : mas gaganda ang mood ko kung magrereply ka!! jk hehe

Rina : we should hang out often

Rina : i like your

I got startled when the Apple logo came out of my screen, it turned black! Hindi ko tuloy nabasa yung buong message ni Jimin. She likes my what? What?!

Hinayaan ko na lang ito at pumasok sa room. At this time, nasa labas ang mga estudyante dahil nakain o may mga pupuntahan but my eyes immediately saw the girl in her specs, fixing her bag.

"Hey, Ms. Jeon Somi?" I said, slowly approaching her. Napatingin naman siya sa direksyon ko,

"Y-yes? Do you need notes?" she said, I shook my head when she was about to get something from her bag.

"No, it's about the research. The prof suggested that we should be partners."

"Ah..." she stood up from her seat and faced me, nagulat ako sa tangkad niya. "Can we discuss this in the library? Para makapag-focus din tayo." 

I nodded at her suggestion, "Sure, so it can be quiet din." she led the way and I followed. 

We had a space between us, I was behind her. Madami na ang naglalakad sa dinadaanan namin kaya tinabihan ko na ito. She took a quick glance on me and I did too, we focused again in walking. I heard fast footsteps behind us

"Alis!" A man shouted, I looked behind and they were running fast.

I held Somi's waist to remove her from a situation she was about to be in. I saw they bumped into her shoulder. Nakita kong nagulat siya sa ginawa ko so I removed my hand from her waist, hinarap ko ulit ang mga lalaking na nakatingin ngayon sa'min

"Wag kayo tumakbo dito!" I shouted at them and I sa