HEART UNDER CONSTRUCTION

PROLOGUE

He’s a good guy, he’s a good son, a good student, but a bad boyfriend. He is Dior Klent Elizaga – Tiueco. He is the typical playboy with looks of charms. Tranquil eyes, pointy nose, thick eyebrows, and curly eyelashes. His skin is fair that everyone envies. He has a towering height that attracts every girl he dates.

He’s just eighteen but the number of girls he had is more than the number of his age. Now he is wearing a white school polo and maroon slacks. He’s a second-year engineering student and he loves mathematics dearly. He dates every girl he is attracted to and eventually leave her after a day or two.

It is lunchtime already and he is sitting beside a high schooler whose height is just about his shoulder. “Aren’t you ashamed to date someone like me who’s five years younger than you?” the girl asked. DK shrugged, “I’m not” he simply said. The girl’s eyes sparkled with romance.

“Does that mean, we can celebrate our weeksary next week?” she asked with excitement. “Weeksary what? That’s not going to happen” he said that made the girl’s excitement vanish. He ate a spoonful and added, “I’m not ashamed to be with you because I plan right now to cut ties with you”. After that, he left the girl alone in the school’s cafeteria and went inside his classroom.

Jash – his ultimate friend tapped his shoulder. “I know that face. You broke a girl’s heart again, am I right?” he asked. “I suddenly got bored. You see, that girl makes me feel old all of a sudden. She’s just a kid and I know she’ll learn more. Besides, she is so petty and she asks everything from me. Home works, math tutorials, even the things she wants to buy in the mall!” he complained.

Jash replied, “So you’re saying that she is leeching off your money?” he asked. DK slightly nodded. “I don’t love her anyway” he replied. Jash sighed, “I don’t know why am I friends with you. You’re a bad influence in the first place. DK chuckled, “Don’t talk as if you’re not changing girlfriends weekly also” he said.

Their whole class went down to study infrastructures when the nursing class were also downstairs practicing medical aids. The girls and the gay nurses squealed when they saw DK. Truthfully, he is a heartthrob. Everyone screamed to his presence except for one girl - Joanna is her name. DK looked at her. She’s a fine and simple woman. He went near her and read out her name. “You are Joanna Nievez, a first-year student” he said.

Joanna looked away. She hates being intimidated by a stranger. For DK, one thing is for sure – Joanna is his next target. From his type, he transitioned into a standard of liking less gorgeous and simple girls. He is attracted with her natural look partnered with a not-so-showy adoration for guys like him. Joanna replied, “Yes, you read it right”.

DK smiled. For Joanna, it is her first time to be stared like this by a handsome guy. This guy in front of her is like a heaven-sent angel that stole her attention. “You’re cute. Can I get your number?” he asked quickly. “I don’t give my contact details to a stranger” she simply replied, face looking away. She felt a gentle push in her back, “Get it girl. Everyone here wishes to be in your spot, you know” Dolan – her gay friend said.

DK looked at Dolan, “He’s right. Take this as your lucky day. Besides, everyone is a stranger and it is only up to you if you’ll give me the chance to know you better, more than your name and your course” he said and showed off his attractive smile again.

Joanna sighed and fetched her phone in her uniform’s pocket. DK also did the same to copy Joanna’s number. It’s 2014 but DK’s social media accounts were flooded with followers and admirers from the city. “Got it. Do you have an i********:? I want to be your follower” he said but Joanna shrugged. “I don’t have a social media account. I am contented with plain calling and texting”. DK wowed; he feels like he’s more civilized upon seeing Joanna’s phone. He’s using an iPhone 5 while Joanna still uses the first iPhone model.

He didn’t mind, at least he got her number. “Mr. Tiueco, please demonstrate the flows in civil engineering” their professor commanded. DK smirked at her, “I’ll catch up with you later” he said and winked at her. Just like earlier, the others squealed while Joanna just kept silent. Dolan talked, “Seems like you don’t know Dior Tiueco”. Joanna looked at him, “Is he that famous?” she asked. Dolan nodded, “His family is wealthy. They are armed with militaries and they are so private. Dior is a smart guy and he is a lover boy” he explained.

“What do you think of him?” Dolan asked her. She replied, “I am nothing compared to him. I know he is rich right from when I smelled his scent. His wristwatch costs more than our semestral tuition fees”. Dolan sighed, “Joanna, the fact that he got your number means that he is interested in you. Grab the opportunity before it’s too late” he said.

She looked at DK from afar, he is so smart that’s why the professor is always in favor of him. While she, is just a commoner whose life is at worst. She whispered, “I don’t deserve this kind of person”. Joanna was about to go upstairs when she heard a beep in her phone. She opened it and saw DK’s first message. It is an unregistered number but she knows that it belongs to the guy she met earlier.

“Want to grab something for a snack?” he said in the text. Joanna replied, “No thanks, I’m saving up”. DK quickly replied, “No worries, my treat”. She was about to continue making her way upstairs when a soft-skinned hand touched her wrist. “You look like you’re feeling so down. Can you accompany me even just for today?” he invited.

Without Joanna’s permission, DK pulled her to the cafeteria inside their school. “Are you sure you want me to eat with you? I mean, everybody’s looking at us. This is so intimidating” she said. DK glanced at her, “Don’t mind them. They envy you that’s why” he replied. “Why should they envy me?” she asked. DK smirked, “You’ll know soon enough when you get closer to me” he said and ordered the snack they preferred.

DK volunteered to carry the tray of snacks. They sat on a cafeteria table and started talking. Joanna started, “Who are you really? What do you want from me?” she asked. DK bit a piece of fries and replied, “I am Dior Klent Tiueco, eighteen, second year, school of engineering. I don’t want anything except you. Your looks and simplicity made me move. I feel like I am loving your presence”.

Joanna didn’t expect DK’s answers. “You want me? But we just met!” she replied. “Yeah, and this is what you call a love at first sight. Such an innocent girl” he replied. “If you’re just going to play with me then I will gladly decline on what you want to happen” Joanna replied. “I am not playing. I am serious this time” he simply said.

Joanna wowed, all the gossips she heard was about Dior breaking up with girls and some of them are her classmates. “Dead serious?” she asked. DK nodded, “I want to know you better. From your life, to the future you want” he said. Joanna is still clueless about DK’s motive but one thing is for sure – he wants to build a relationship. “I don’t mind saying those things to you. Don’t judge me ‘coz I live a miserable life” she replied. DK answered, “Bring it on. If you open up, then I’ll do the same”.

“I live alone and I live for myself. I don’t have a family to call and I don’t have connections. I am a scholar here. I clean this school every morning in exchange for my tuition fees. I do part-time jobs in a*****e. I have a house that is a property of my late parents so I have a shelter to go to” she directly said. DK was amazed by her story. He didn’t expect that to come out from Joanna.

“That’s so awful. I got ashamed telling my own life now” he said. Joanna replied, “You must tell yours. It’s unfair you know”. DK sighed and started telling his own story, “First of all, just call me DK. I am living a comfortable life. I live alone but I don’t live for myself. I live for my family because their expectations are so high. I can’t even reach it. I am always pressured but still, I am alive. I think I am well-known but I also have limitations” he stated.

“Yeah, and you’re filthy rich” Joanna added. DK smirked, “It’s not me, it’s my family” he said and consumed his snack. “What made you choose this course?” Joanna asked out of curiosity. “Passion and interests. And you?” he asked back. “Passion and the salary” she directly answered. “Isn’t it surprising?” DK asked. “What?” she replied. “We just met hours ago yet I feel strong connections between us now. Or maybe I am just assuming things?” he asked.

Joanna chuckled, “I feel the same. Your presence is also nice. It is my first time flexing my whole self in front of a stranger” she said. DK replied, “Sometimes, it is better to open up to a stranger because a stranger won’t judge or spread the issue you have”. Joanna replied, “You have a lot to say. You and your words of wisdom will definitely attack a woman’s heart”.

DK looked at her eye to eye, “Aren’t you attacked?” he said. Suddenly, the mood changed. From a friendly to an awkward vibe, it is. “Sorry for that” DK immediately said. He thinks that it is above their limits. “You don’t need to. I understand” Joanna replied.

“So, should we go now? Break time is almost finished” Joanna asked. “Yeah, but I’m not breaking up with you” he replied. “You what?” Joanna confusedly asked. “I said… let’s go” DK denied. They parted ways in going to their own buildings. Joanna turned on her phone and saw DK’s name on the notification panel. “Goodluck on your class” he said with a smiley face. She replied, “You too… DK”.

She registered DK’s phone number using his initials. “His name is cute” she said and made her way to the nursing building.