Our Late Night Story (Ours Series #1) (Epistolary)

Before The Late Nights (Part One)

June 25, 2018

Jes was walking briskly papunta sa pinakamalapit na Mini Stop sa kanila where his friend, Belle, is waiting. He's already thinking of riding a pedicab but he thought na sayang din ang 15 pesos niya kaya 'wag na lang. Hindi rin naman masyadong mainit at hindi pa naman hulas ang BB Cream sa mukha niya.

"Oh, god, Jeslog! Ang tagal mo!" Jes was greeted by Belle's sermon pagkapasok niya ng Mini Stop. "The bridging class starts at 9 am! It's almost 8:15 tapos traffic pa 'yan for sure."

"I'm sorry, okay? Hindi ko kasi makita 'yung phone ko kanina," he reasoned out though the truth is, tinanghali siya ng gising because he forced himself to finish reading Adam Silvera's History Is All You Left Me last night.

"And, chill, Belle," he added, trying to console his friend. "Bridging class lang 'yon. Recorded ang attendance pero hindi naman required umattend."

The Victorian Summer Program is a one-week bridging class held at Josefino Victorino University. It aims to help freshmen and transferees to establish connection with JVU and build rapport with their future schoolmates. Hindi naman talaga required but the students are highly encouraged. At gusto lang talagang rumampa ni Belle sa Victorino.

"I know! Pero kung grand entrance na naman tayong dalawa, nakakahiya!" Belle told him and rolled her eyes. Jes just laughed at her reaction.

Lumabas na sila ng convenience store and waited for a jeep to stop in front of them.

Belle and Jes have been friends since they were in seventh grade. Four years silang seatmate nung junior high school since Belle's last name is Bernardo and his is Bueno. Nagkahiwalay lang sila ng school nung senior high and ngayong college, schoolmates naman sila.

They often joke that naging friends lang sila kasi nga walang choice dahil seatmates but the truth is they have a lot in common. From the boys they're crushing on hanggang sa hilig nilang manlait at magsungit.

Habang nasa jeep ay napagkwentuhan na nila kung gaano karaming possible crushable guys sa mga courses nila. Lamang si Belle, siyempre. Tourism kasi ang course niya. Si Jes, psychology. Bihira ang lalaki sa psych at lalong bihira ang gwapo pero alam niyang maraming matalino at nice.

"Alam mo ba kung saan ang venue ng bridging class na 'yan?" Jes asked Belle nang makarating sila sa Victorino. It's just quarter to 9 ang OA talaga ni Belle minsan.

"Sa sixth floor daw, sa building ng School of Business ang Computer Sciences," she replied.

Ang building ng School of Business and Computer Sciences ang pinakamalaki sa apat na buildings ng JVU. Followed by the building of School of Tourism and Hospitality then School of Health Sciences. Pinakamaliit ang building ng School of Arts and Sciences na hanggang fifth floor lang yata. And Jes thinks it's fair naman. Kasi pinakamarami talaga ang students ng Business, ComSci at IT sa Victorino compared to the Psychology, Education at Multimedia Arts students.

They reached the room in no time. "See? It hasn't even started yet. Konti pa nga lang students. OA mo kasi."

Belle just rolled her eyes at Jes's remark. "Bakit ano bang gusto mo? Yung pagtitinginan tayo pagpasok?"

They chose the seats farthest from the professor's table, sa bandang likod.

While waiting for the professor, nagkwentuhan pa sila ulit. They're checking out a student seated at front na hula nila ay med student dahil sa green na logo ng School of Health Science sa ID lace niya.

After a few more minutes, may pumasok na naman sa room.

And he immediately caught Jes's attention.

Chinito, tall-around 6 feet, he thinks-has a white complexion. Naka-under cut ang buhok niya and the hair from the top of his head are tied into a man bun.