Haven't I learned my lesson with Phil? Guys shouldn't be trusted. But more than that, my
feelings shouldn't be trusted.
I shouldn't be attracted to any guy again. For all I know, he's just like Phil. A liar. A spy.
I found the notebook I've been looking for but pretended to still be busy finding it. I wasn't
eavesdropping on them, it's just I didn't want to face them. Anthony, that is.
"Near-sighted, huh?" I heard him say. I didn't stir. Then I felt a tap in my shoulder. I froze. He repeated. "Near-sighted?" I faced him.
"Uhh. Yea." I answered nervously.
"Looks good on you," he complimented. I felt my face heat up. As if on cue, my phone vibrated.
I turned away, thankful to whoever it was calling.
I checked my phone and found an unregistered number.
I answered it.
"Be careful."
Those two words again. But there was something funny with the way the caller said it.
"Hello?"
"Be. Care. Ful." He emphasized every syllable but I still recognized the voice and the accent.
"Hello?" I repeated, quite amused that I blowed up his cover.
Silence.
"I'm expecting a call from someone named Andrew Joseph Hamilton, so if you wouldn't speak
now, I'm going to hang up," I said casually.
Pause. "Okay okay, Drei. You got me," Drew admitted, his British accent heavy.
I smiled. "The number's local. You here?"
"Well, yea. In your campus parking lot, to be exact."
"WHAT? REALLY? I'm coming!" I hung up excitedly.
"Hey you guys,I have to meet someone. I'll catch you later!" I ran towards the entrance and out to the grounds.
I searched for the familiar hunky Englishman and found him in no time. The girls around had
their eyes on him. As usual, he seemed cool despite the attention. He was fidgeting his phone
when I neared him.
I cleared my throat.
"May I ask what a fine young man like you is doing out here?" feigning his accent.
"Out to catch girls like you who try to carry an accent," he faced me and enveloped me in a big bear hug.
"I missed you Drew!" I said when he pulled away.
"Same here," he said, ruffling my hair.
"I see you have friends already," he looked at someone behind my back.
"What? Who----?" I turned to see Kris and Anthony's confused faces. The scene must've been odd for them.
"Oh. I didn't know you followed me," I returned their confused gazes. "This is Andrew Hamilton, my---"
"Friend. Nice to meet you---?" he extended a hand to Anthony. He took his hand. "Anthony Tierro. And this is Kristian Wong." Andrew shook his hand too.
"I guess we'd get going Drei." Kris said after the introduction. "Nice meeting you Andrew."
"Nice meeting you too, Kristian and Anthony!" Drew replied enthusiastically. I waved at them.
"See you later!"
When they got out of earshot, Drew faced me with an are-you-thinking-what-I'm-thinking look.
"What?"
"I think I smell jealousy." Drew teased.
I narrowed my eyes in confusion.
"Silly little girl. I think they fancy you," he said.
"What?" I repeated. "What do you mean 'they'?"
"They. Both of them. You know I smell attraction easily. Especially with you."
"You really have a nose for everything."
After talking for almost ten minutes, he left. I was getting used to the curious glances of the girls passing by. This was the Philippines after all. It's not everyday they get to see an Englishman.
I entered the school and went to find Kristine. It wasn't difficult to find her.
"Hey Drei! You saw the new student?" I sat beside her. Was she talking about Drew? But he was old to be a student.
"No. Is it a he or a she?" I asked, without the slightest interest.
She eyed me. "He." She smiled naughtily.
"Oh." Was all I could say.
We were on our way to our classes just as the bell rang.
"There's a general assembly this afternoon." Kristine informed me.
"Are we required to attend?" I asked honestly.
"Yes, unfortunately."
~
I didn't realize the population of the school was this large. The school gym was filled with
students.
We sat in the front row, the only seats available. I turned to Kristine, who seemed uneasy in her
seat.
"Is everything okay?"
"So okay!" She smiled. "I saw the new student! He's there, three rows from us." She nodded with her head.
I looked and saw the backs of excited girls trying to get a glimpse of him.
"I can't see him."
"Just wait. The girls will get tired soon." She sounded confident.
I continued to look at the direction and when the girls finally sat down, I couldn't believe my
eyes. The boy making such a fuzz was a Korean boy that looked so familiar. I tried to look at
him properly. I blinked, thinking maybe my eyes were just fooling me.
"Hey Kristine, Drei!" Anthony suddenly squeezed beside us, Kris right behind him.
"Wait here okay? I'll be right back." I said, leaving them, just as they arrived.
"Where's she going?" Kris asked his twin.
Kristine shrugged.
I squeezed past the crowd and finally got near him. I wasn't mistaking.
"Park Ju Won?" I asked him.
"Andrea Ham---!"
I hugged him before he could blurt out my old surname. "Tullieno now, Ju Won. Tullieno." I whispered.
"Oh. Right. Sorry." He said and hugged me tighter.
"Ow!" I pulled away.
The eyes of the people around were on us. I felt uneasy.
"Err. Are you with anyone? I mean a friend."
"No. Good thing you found me. I was getting a little uncomfortable." He whispered.
"Let's sit there, beside my friends." I offered.
We returned to where I sat, past all the curious gazes.
"Hey guys. This is Park---"
"Jonathan Park," he said. "I use my english name now." He whispered to me.
Anthony and the twins looked confused, but still welcomed him.
By the time we settled, the assembly started.
"I heard there's a new teacher." Kristine told Jonathan and me.
"Really?" I answered.
Then the program commenced. "Drew's here too." I whispered to Jonathan.
"I know." He smiled.
Then the new teacher entered the stage, causing the girls to giggle.
I looked up and saw a familiar Englishman waving and smiling to the delighted audience.
My jaw dropped. Jonathan patted my leg.
**
Chapter 3
"You didn't ask about Drew's present job, so I thought you knew!" Jonathan protested.
I sighed. Whether I like it
