That night after I drop Victoria home, I knew something wasn't right. I did follow her, again, even if she said she's fine on her own. But just like before I had to make sure she gets home safely.

I know, I'm too overly protective of her, as what Tristan always says. But I can't help it, she's like a sister to me. And on that moment when she suddenly disappeared, I got a minor heart attack, or it probably was a heart attack.

Panic rushed over me, that I even forgot how tired I was that day. I sprinted up to the alley where she disappeared but I never saw any signs of her. I must be paranoid but I know it in my guts something's up.

I even told Tristan about that but he won't believe me, and said the same thing my mind was telling me. "You're just paranoid." He said to my face.

I scratched my hair in desperation. I know that no matter what I say to him, his mind won't change.

Fuck.

I'm so pissed that I'm feeling another outburst of anger about to release itself. But I tried to hold the Hulk in, because I can't seem to forget how Victoria looked at me that day. She was scared, yet she understood me, more than anybody else. And I can't help but notice her eyes, the same eyes mom had.

I don't want to disappoint, or lose her too.

It was my fault my mother ran away. No matter how hard I want to forget, that memory still haunts me. Dad died because of me. I felt my tears welling up, so I hit the kitchen's counter with my fist, to distract my fucked up emotions with pain.

Tristan shot up and looked at me. "Bro, you okay man?" He asked while wiping his hands. Well, he's washing the dishes because I hate chores.

"Yeah." I said and took my keys. "I'm going first."

"You don't want to ride with me?"

"Nah."

I drove off to school still bothered by last night's incident. I'm just hoping I'm wrong, and I see Victoria today.

While on my way up, I saw one of her friends by the portal falling in line for the shuttle. So I stopped in front of her. "Need a ride?" I asked with my signature smile, that I knew every girl would fall for. To be honest, I didn't know her name, I just saw her once, that time when I helped Victoria bring drinks to her friends.

She looked at me with a straight face and said, "No." Then she turned her head away from me.

What the...

Other girls would jump for that opportunity to be with me. But this one... who does she think she is?

"Fine." I said to myself and drove off to Cafa in such speed, I know I'll get in trouble if I get caught.

***

"Boring." I said to my seatmate who never talks. We're having a minor class and the silence is starting to annoy me. So, while the teacher wasn't looking I sneak out of the classroom, and I'm off to the café to chill. There I could see a ton of hot chicks to distract me from my disturbing thoughts last night.

I was seating there alone when I saw Victoria's friends again, this time I know who they are. Immediately I stood up and went to them, as they stood in the counter about to order.

"Hey guys!" I said in a happy tone. Only the other one smiled – Sissy was it, or Dissy? Okay, I forgot her name, better not mention any or I might hit the wrong key.

"Hi." She replied. "What's up?"

"Uhm. Have you seen Victoria lately?" I asked straight to the point. The chubby one went for the restroom again, just like last time. I can sense she's shy around me, well that's a given. I was nicknamed Glitter by Victoria for a reason.

"No." She paused and made a thinking face. "But she did texted me a while ago. Said she's going back to the province to see her parents. Why?" She said it like a whirlwind that I wasn't able to catch up. I only understood two words, province and parents.

"Hey." Another girl's voice came from behind, we both looked and saw the girl from before. She too looked shocked when she saw me, but recovered almost instantly.

"You." I said but she ignored me and went straight to her friend.

"Can you buy me an iced tea? I'm going back." She simply said and walked away without even glancing at me.

"What's with her?" I said without thought. It's hard for me to control my feelings, especially when I'm pissed, like now.

Dissy or Sissy just laughed. "She's like that. Shy around boys. I'd better go." She said and walked away as well.

The rest of the day felt like a blur, and I went home totally drained. First, was Victoria's weird disappearance, though she just actually went on vacation, then this girl – who I can't stop thinking about.

How in the world could someone treat me like a ghost, and ignore me that easily? I am a force to be reckoned with!

"You okay?" Tristan asked me. While were hanging out in the living room.

"Yeah. I'll go out for a bit." I stood up without waiting for his answer. I took the keys on the counter and drove off to the mall. I need to refill my beer stash.

Immediately I walked straight to the grocery, I should be able to go home in an hour or so. I passed an aisle, when I saw someone familiar by the noodles section, I walked backwards to see if my guess was right – and I was. The girl from before.

"Hey." I stood right next to her, and intentionally put my cart to her other side, so she has no escape.

She looked at me with a poker face, but I knew her eyes portrays the opposite. She's pissed. "What do you want?"

Well, to be honest, I really don't know. I've been trying to get her attention all day and here she is, asking my intentions, which I have no answer. I scratched my head and looked to my side.

"Would you, uhm, pick out a noodle for me?" I said the stupidest thing. I don't know what's happening to me. I'm most likely the ladies' man type of guy. But this girl, she's like fighting gravity, my gravity.

Then she laughed for the first time, surprising me with her smile, which was magical like seeing a unicorn. The polar opposite to her serious demeanor.

And on that moment, I fell in love.

I know, it's weird how I can say things like that in an instant. But this feeling I have right now is unexplainable. My heart is bouncing like crazy, like it's been injected with heroine. I wanted to lay down for a second and control my heartbeat – yes I'm cheesy. But she's so beautiful. I want to put her in my pocket and bring her home with me.

To be continued...