Chapter 1
A wide smile flashed on the lips of Nikka Bianca — or Ian among her friends — as they walked down the aisle to the SVU university gym. He is a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineer course. He is diligent in his studies so that is why the course he is taking is difficult.
But despite that he still loved the course he took because that was also the course his dad finished. His father Nikolas Bernabe was an engineer, so he took the same course when he went to college. He idolizes his dad and he loves it dearly. Daddy's girl, that's what her mom called her because she was so close to her dad.
Her dad dreams of accompanying her on the stage on the day of her graduation. That is why he worked so hard to fulfill his dad's dream. But unfortunately it will no longer see him go up on stage to get his diploma.
His dad had a heart attack and at the last attack his heart and body could no longer handle it. Her dad died without her next to him. Her dad died without even seeing her. His dad died when he was not even seen climbing the stage.
Such was the grief he felt when he learned that his father had passed away. If it weren't for her mom, she might not be able to cope with everything. But she has to be strong back then, for her mother as well. Because no matter how much suffering and hardship she goes through, her mother feels twice as much. For her mother lost her other half.
When her dad died, she was forced to be strong for both of them by her mother. He is only a child so he has no other helper while taking care of his mother. Not that her mother was invalid, it was far from it. Her mother is strong but she seems to have lost the desire to live since her dad died. That is why even though she was hurt and still grieving during those times, she put it aside first to give strength to her mother.
But it seems that a lot has changed since her dad died. Suddenly her mother became distant from her. It treated him coldly. He does not seem to exist. He did not know what happened but suddenly his mother changed. The funny, smart, and witty Beatriz Bernabe suddenly vanished. The successor there is a sad, cold, and lifeless Beatriz.
He was hurt by the change when his mother treated him but he just understood that. He understood that his mother was like that because she had lost her husband. But sometimes he couldn't help but sulk because it seemed to have forgotten him. It seems to have forgotten that there was an Ian who also lost his father. After all, it seems that not only his dad is gone, but also his mom.
If it weren't for his insistence on living on his own, he might have given up forever. He was also hurt but he put it aside. If not for Aiden's help, he might have given up too long, not only to his mother but also to his life.
Ah, Aiden. Ian smiled as he remembered his boyfriend's smiling, clear and handsome face. He met Aiden at the height of his grief over the death of his father. It has supported him from the beginning. It did not abandon him and left him even though his mother left him in the air. He was always there for her when she needed him. He never experienced that he was alone because of Aiden. That is why she loves this boyfriend of hers so much.
Aiden was also a student here in Saint Vincent University. His course is Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and like him he is in his fifth year and graduating this year. The man is also a member of the basketball club. In fact, his classmate Mico is even his teammate.
Because Aiden is a member of the varsity, many also like it. Add that her boyfriend is handsome. Aiden Lee was half Korean-half Filipino. Tall man is common among people with mixed blood. Many people like her boyfriend so sometimes she wonders what she liked about him.
She is just an ordinary woman. In fact, he was even boyish when he acted. Because maybe it was under the influence of his dad. If she wears only a simple blouse or shirt she wears jeans. Her long hair was always tied up and she even put a cap on it once. Her friend Arianne said that she was beautiful, she just said yes and she was too proud to act.
He just didn't do that anymore attention because in his heart he knew she was a woman. If not then why would he love Aiden, right?
Speaking of Aiden, he is going to it now because he wants to surprise it. He was going to the university gym because he knew Aiden was sleeping there now. She wants to surprise him because today is the fifth month since the man became her boyfriend. He wanted to show her his gift for it, the cake he baked himself — from scratch!
He even worked hard to do that last night because he wanted the fifth month of their romance to be memorable. See? Somehow there was cheesy blood flowing in his liver and ballooning.
When he got to the gym he had already prepared his sweet smile. He saw Aiden inside the gym with his teammates. They were still wearing jerseys and playing in the middle of the ring. Because Aiden turned his back on him, he did not see him immediately. But he, he could clearly see it.
Her proper calling to the man was stopped when she heard a voice from the side of the gym. He did not know why but suddenly his heart pounded.
"You're really great, Aiden."
He turned to the source of that voice and Opal's smiling face appeared to him. He knew the girl because she was Aiden's classmate. Aiden once introduced him here and because he was naturally remembered on his face he immediately remembered the woman.
"That shot was for you, babe."
It was as if he had been pushed to his feet when he heard Aiden say that. From Opal his eyes focused on Aiden and he could clearly see the look and smile he was throwing at Open. His narrowed eyes still seemed to twinkle as he looked at the woman.
What does this mean?
It was as if a knife had pierced his chest because of what he saw. He does not want to give malice to what he hears and sees but he is already blinded by jealousy and pain. Jealous because he sees Aiden smiling at that woman, a smile as far as he knows it is exclusive to him. Pain because of the twinkle in his eyes that only meant one thing, he was happy.
"Thanks, babe. Go! Shoot some more!"
That cry of Opal aroused his thoughts. It hurts to look at but he can't take his eyes off Aiden. He and Aiden are lovers, aren't they? He has a girlfriend but why is he flirting with Opal? Doesn't it love him anymore? Is it just fooling him?
"I will, babe, for you."
He heard something fall so Aiden turned to him. He could clearly see the shock on its face and the passing of guilt in its eyes. But you also immediately lost the opportunity. Maybe that was just his imagination.
For the first time he saw Aiden cold in the eyes.
