"Hey, what's the problem with you two?" Jade asked worriedly as she sat beside me.

I glanced at Stephen who was sitting at the other side of the classroom with his guy friends. He still wasn't talking to me after we argued about Miguel's phone call. I already apologized, and I was still trying to explain to him but he wouldn't listen to me.

I sighed. "He's still mad."

"He's really jealous about your friend."

"Well, you and your friend are really close. That's why," Jam commented.

I looked up at her and frowned.

"You don't know what you're talking about," I snapped. "Did you study at Eastview with us? No."

Jam pressed her lips together and remained silent.

After our last class, I approached Stephen and asked him if the two of us could talk. He agreed even though he was still giving me the cold treatment.

We went to a nearby café and ordered a bowl of fries, burgers, and soda.

"I'm sorry," I apologized as I looked him in the eye. I wanted him to know that I was sincere.

I noticed his expression softened. He reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Please, please, stay away from him," he pleaded and I almost agreed to him because of the look in his eyes. "I really don't like that guy."

I nodded, only to show that I was listening.

We ate and talked like we hadn't had a fight for a couple of days. I was thankful that we were finally okay.

Stephen excused himself and said that he would just go to the restroom.

I watched him walk away from the table. After a few seconds later, his phone beeped. I reached for it to see who texted him.

+63906: Babe, I'm already here. What time are you coming?

An unknown number sent him the message. Obviously, this wasn't me. But who else would call him babe?

I put his phone down, and I felt like I was suddenly paralyzed.

"Babe what's wrong?" Stephen asked as soon as he was back on our table.

I glanced at his phone before looking up at him. My throat felt dry but I was able to utter a few words, "Someone texted you. Who's that?"

I watched Stephen as he glanced at his phone and quickly picked it up. He read the message and said, "Ah, that's for Dex. He borrowed my phone earlier to text his girlfriend. I'm just gonna inform him."

***

"Miguel, you're coming with us later right?" Tim asked as he sat beside me.

Earlier today, my college friends Tim, Karl, and Bea had asked me if I want to come with them and have some drinks after class. When I was still dating Charlotte, I barely had time to go out with them because I always waited for Charlotte's dismissal.

"Yeah, sure," I nodded.

"So, this is how it is when you're single huh," Karl teased me.

I laughed.

Our instructor entered our room and began the discussion. In the middle of our class, my phone buzzed. I discreetly checked the screen to read the message.

I broke up with Stephen.

"Shit," I muttered.

Tim glanced my way and looked at me, asking for an explanation.

"Bro, I can't come with you tonight. There's an emergency," I whispered to him.

"Oh, man. What happened?" he asked.

"About my best friend..." I trailed off when I noticed our instructor glancing at me. I sat up straight and pretended to focus on our discussion when in reality, my mind was somewhere else.

As soon as our class was over, I bid goodbye to my friends and hurriedly walked to the parking lot. I drove as fast as I could to Bianca's house and after almost an hour, I arrived at their house.

I parked on their driveway since their gate was open. I hopped out of my car and walked towards their house. Her older brother and his friends were hanging out in the porch.

"Hey Miguel," Dominic greeted me.

"Hi," I smiled uncomfortably as Dominic's friends watched me walk up the porch. "Uh...Is Bianca here?"

"Yeah she's inside," he replied, then called out Bianca's name.

I walked inside the house and found Bianca standing outside of her bedroom. She closed the door behind her and slowly walked towards me.

"I was with Kane earlier," she whispered, and her voice was barely audible.

I noticed her eyes were puffy. As soon as she was within arm's reach, I pulled her into a hug.

"Hey, everything will be alright," I whispered to her as I stroked her hair.