"You sure you don't want me to walk you to class?"

Tapping my foot against the floor, I waited as the couple finished talking before we bid goodbye to Lexie and Zoey who have become what I can call companions. It's weird to say we are friends after two days of hanging out.

Julius and I are together since we are both taking nursing, Lexie made it clear for him to stick with me which Julius had no problem with, surprisingly. I thought he would've complained and want to join her girlfriend instead.

As we walked along the corridor to go to our first course, I took the initiative to start a conversation and asked him how he met Lexie. He seems excited telling me about their relationship. And I wondered why his eyes shine as he talks about her. Why his voice sounds so happy and why he is smiling at the thought of her.

I wondered how he knew he's in love.

Despite the many books I've read and films I've watched that falls under the genre of romance, I'm still left wondering how people fall in love and how they knew. And how they know which type of love they are feeling. Sometimes it makes me think how they know whether the love they have for someone is platonic or romantic.

What confuses me more is the concept of love at first sight. How do they fall for someone they just met? Is it possible? More importantly, how do people fall for their best friend? After a long-standing platonic love, how come it changes into a romantic feeling? It baffles me when people say it. Or maybe it's because I haven't experienced it.

Are there signs to look for that I'm not aware about?

"How about you, Aiden? Do you have someone you like?" Julius' question brought me out of my confusing thoughts.

I shook my head, "I don't."

"Well, what kind of person do you like?"

"I've never really thought of it," I scratched the back of my neck shyly. "I've never been in a relationship."

And I don't think I will ever be in one. Not that it matters.

Julius patted my shoulder after noticing my embarrassment. "That's okay, you're not required to be in a relationship. If I didn't meet Lexie, I would've been happily single too," he said with a smile, easing my shyness. "But I'm glad I met her. She's the love of my life."

"That's cute," I commented, smiling genuinely.

"Enough about that, I'm curious. Who are you attracted to? Gender wise."

"I am attracted to women," I started and couldn't help but chuckle when he gave me a high-five. "It's just that relationships aren't my priority."

Besides, who would want to date me? I thought to myself.

"Family?" I nodded. "Same, I'm taking nursing for my family instead of pursuing music. It has better opportunities, you know."

"Maybe you can do both if an opportunity comes," I suggested.

"Hopefully in the future."

Once we arrived at the room, we took the seat next to each other at the middle row. A lot of students already seated as they talked among themselves. Julius and I started our own conversation about Marvel as we waited for the first professor.

The morning classes went by fast, we got introduced to some of our professors and their minor courses as well as our classmates. For my afternoon schedule, I only have one major course with 3 units, making me sigh out of tiredness.

I stared down at the image on my phone, it was taken a year ago after I visited my mama in the Philippines. The officer, as always, was kind enough to let me bring my phone inside and have contact with her to take a picture. Although she looked tired, her lips displayed a wide smile, her dark brown eyes shining with happiness as her arms wrapped around me. I printed out the picture and gave it to her, a routine we always do whenever I visited. It was a promised we made to each other before she was taken by the officers.

Hugging me against her chest, mama begins to sing one of my favorite songs. Her melodic voice echoing around the empty room. My lips trembled and eyes getting teary as droplets of wet liquid fell on my back. My mama's voice wavering as she tries to hold back her cry. I tightened my arms around her waist.

"You can cry, mama. I'm here," I whispered, repeating what she always tells me. That it's okay for me to cry and she'll always be there to cradle me.

Her cries were silent as she stopped singing. I let my own tears fall, not used to seeing my hero falling and breaking down. She is the strongest and kindest person I know and I hated how this is happening to her now.

"You shouldn't have protected me, mama. This is all my fault," I mumbled.

"Hey, hey," She pulled away from our embrace, hands cradling my face. "This is not your fault, okay? None of this is. I chose to do what I did and I don't regret a single thing. I just wish I would've done it sooner. I'm sorry it took so long for mama to step up, baby."

"I love you, mama."

"Mahal na mahal din kita," She leaned down to kiss on top of my head.

Not only a few minutes after, the trial started for the ruling of her case. I sat beside my Tita, staring at mama. 'We will win', I mouthed, earning a smile from her.

"I will announce the ruling," my heart started to beat rapidly upon hearing it.

"The defendant, Natalie Gomez, committed an atrocious act and crossed the line in trying to protect herself and her child from domestic violence. Her husband, the victim, is still fighting for his life after being stabbed with a knife. The defendant attacked behind her unarmed husband with the intention of killing. And such act is not socially tolerated, thus self-defense does not apply. But we must also take into account the 2 years of domestic abuse they experienced. Therefore, I find the defendant guilty of attempted murder and is sentenced to 10 years in prison with a chance of parole."

The crowd gasped as murmurs enveloped the court room while I stayed still on my seat, staring at my mama as she cries against her lawyer's shoulder.

My jaw tightened upon remembering the ruling. Bastard judge. I wish he dies.

I shaked the dark thought out of my head, scolding myself for wishing someone's death, mama would've been mad.

I typed out my tita's name in my contacts, she is my mama's best friend. One of the few people who helped us and who I'm grateful for.

Not waiting for a reply, I shoved my phone back to my bag before going into the library to look for a book required in my major course for later. Planning to do a light reading to familiarize myself with the subject.

Scanning the shelves, I found what I was looking for. Anatomy and Physiology, one of my major courses. I took a seat at the far corner and began my reading, writing down important terms.

I was in the middle of browsing when a familiar figure caught my eyes. The same long and dark natural hair from yesterday, beautiful dark skin and graceful posture. Her presence screams elegance. She was holding a book, leaning against the shelves as her finger glides down the side of the page.

Exquisite.

Her head looked up from the book and turned to me. I blushed in embarrassment when our eyes met. Silently scolding myself for being caught staring at her again. She must think I'm a creep.

Groaning, I wanted to facepalm. Instead of furthering my embarrassment, I gathered my stuff and start to walk out of the library. But was stopped with a hand touching my shoulder. I flinched at the contact.

"Y-Yes?" I stuttered, turning to face the woman.

"You're the one from the elevator and at the cafeteria, right?" Her warm voice reached my ears.

I nodded dumbly, not being able to utter a single word for some reason. I waited if she wanted to say anything else, after a minute of awkward silence and staring, I mumbled a small 'bye' and left the library hurriedly.

Why do I keep staring at her?

I shook my head out of my thoughts and went to my next class, taking the seat at the front where Julius already sat. He introduced me to the guy on his left, one of his friends.

Bouncing my right leg up and down, I reviewed my notes to prepare myself in case the professor decides to make us do a pre-test. Although I was scanning my material, my mind drifts towarda the woman unknowingly and it made me feel confused.

Why was I thinking of her now?

Is it because I find her really beautiful? That must be it then. I think.

After a few minutes of overthinking, the door of the room opened, the clicking of heels heard from every step the woman takes, the sound stopping as she reached the desk and proceeded to place down the book she was holding down the table before turning to us. We are granted with a charming smile from red-painted lips.

"Good afternoon, class. You may call me Professor Peterson. Welcome to Anatomy and Physiology."

It's the beautiful woman.