Sudden Love (English Version)

Chapter 1

(FLASHBACK 6 YEARS AGO)

There I was, practicing with my best friend Efrick. Both of us were varsity players for the university's basketball team, and we’d been inseparable since childhood. We had been teammates since elementary school, and our bond only grew stronger through the years.

My parents were always supportive of my sports passion, even when I wasn’t feeling my best. They believed in me wholeheartedly. In fact, after one of our games at the City Sports Complex, where we faced off against our rival university, they increased my allowance by nearly 70%. It was their way of showing their support.

They were even the ones who encouraged me to try out for the PBA, but I wasn’t interested. I still had my studies to focus on, and honestly, the thought of becoming a public figure didn’t appeal to me. With my height, good looks, and natural talent, I was bound to attract a fan base. And honestly, I didn’t want that level of attention just yet.

My name is Godric, a sophomore Civil Engineering student at our university. Efrick was on the same academic path, though he initially considered Architecture before switching majors. I’m tall, good-looking, fair-skinned, smart, and—if I’m being modest—one of the campus heartthrobs. Efrick and I were both well-respected on campus. I was the president of our course’s organization, PICE, and he was the vice president.

We were surrounded by attention from all sides—mainly from girls who would giggle and cheer whenever we passed by. But I had made up my mind: I wouldn’t start a relationship anytime soon. I wanted to enjoy my popularity without being tied down. After all, if I had a girlfriend, people would stop fantasizing about me, and that just wasn’t the right time for me.

So, here we were—deep in practice, no distractions, and our team was focused. The university campus sprawled over 30 hectares, with the basketball court located right in front of the Oval, away from the main campus, giving us the perfect space to concentrate.

“Hey, bro, what’s our strategy?” I shouted across the court to Efrick. There were only 30 seconds left, and we were in the lead.

“Yeah, yeah! Be like The Flash, bro!” Efrick teased with a grin.

“Shut up, i***t! I’m serious!” I yelled back.

“Okay, okay, here we go!” he replied, now taking the game seriously.

I made my move, dodging every opponent in my way, my eyes on the prize. I bounced the ball with perfect precision, sending it toward Efrick.

And then, out of nowhere, I heard a voice.

“Hi, guys! Are you practicing? Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to cheer you on,” Alyssa, the captain of the cheerleading team, chirped from the sideline.

She had a thing for Efrick, and it was pretty obvious with the way she was acting.

“We’re not practicing! Doesn’t it show, Alyssa? Besides, what are you doing here? This area is exclusive for the players today. No one else is allowed,” Efrick snapped, his tone sharp, clearly annoyed.

“You’re so hot, Ef. I was just dropping by to visit,” Alyssa said, holding up a towel and snacks as if it would make everything okay.

She knew she was getting under his skin. She was doing it on purpose, and honestly, I was getting irritated too. But I also knew that she wouldn’t stop.

“Shove off, Alyssa. Leave me alone, or I might do something I’ll regret,” Efrick said, his irritation clearly evident, his hands tightening into fists.

I could see that Alyssa was about to tear up, so I stepped in and went over to her.

“Don’t mind him. Why did you have to surprise us like that? You know how quickly he gets irritated when startled.”

“I’m just trying to be nice to him, and he’s making me feel bad,” she said with a pout, clearly frustrated.

“Just go. And if you want to get his attention, you need to stop being so... well, you know, a flirt,” I said, jokingly trying to lighten the mood.

“Fine! I’ll leave. But I’ll leave this here for you. Godric, you can give it to him,” she smiled mischievously, her eyes twinkling as she blinked at me. I rolled my eyes, inwardly.

“Take it with you! He’s not going to touch it. You know the drill by now,” I said, pushing her playfully out of the way.

“Ugh, fine! Whatever!” she huffed sarcastically, then turned and walked off.

I quickly made my way back to Efrick, who was still packing up his things in the corner.

I ran toward him, then slowed down as I neared.

“Hey, bro, I thought you were focused. One shout from your admirer, and you get distracted,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Stop it, Godric! You’re pushing it!” Efrick growled back.

“Come on, calm down. I’m just making things more interesting. Honestly, I think it’s hilarious that Alyssa’s still chasing after you. Just give her a chance!” I laughed, holding my stomach from the chuckles.

“Godric, you know I’m not into aggressive girls, especially those who flirt,” Efrick said, looking at me like I was insane.

I stepped up to him, putting an arm around his shoulders as he continued packing his things. “Let’s go, i***t! We need to change in the locker room. We’ve got a Discrete Calculus quiz later, and you’re taking forever to pack,” I joked, nudging him along.

We had just finished organizing our things when we entered the classroom, just in time for the arrival of our instructor, Ma'am Sabito. My seatmate, Efrick, and I sat side by side. My last name is Beaurlington, and his is Brynight. Ma'am Sabito began calling out the names in roll call.

The moment she finished calling out the name “Ayokot,” the door suddenly swung open. All eyes in the room turned to the figure standing in the doorway. And let me tell you, I was struck by the sight of her. Despite being considered somewhat of a campus “star” myself, I had never seen anyone like her.

She was breathtaking—tall, radiant, with a delicate porcelain complexion, long hair cascading like a waterfall, and a presence that could only be described as otherworldly. She moved with such grace that it felt like time had slowed down the moment she entered. Her beauty—God, it was overwhelming.

Without missing a beat, she walked towards Ma’am Sabito, who greeted her warmly.

“What can I do for you, hija?” Ma’am Sabito asked in a caring tone.

“I’m the new student, the transferee,” the girl replied politely. “Dean mentioned he’d already informed all of you instructors about me.”

“Ah, Miss Berqez, right? The Dean’s niece. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Ma’am Sabito said with a smile, extending her hand for a handshake.

The girl returned the smile and handed Ma'am Sabito her certificate of enlistment. After a brief exchange, Ma'am Sabito turned to the class and said:

“I’m afraid, Mr. Godric Ivan Beaurlington and Mr. Efrick Igor Brynight, you’ll need to split up. Miss Aphrodite Berqez will be sitting between you two. Mr. Brynight, please take the seat next to your previous one. The rest of you, follow suit.”

And with that, the goddess herself—Miss Aphrodite—walked towards the seat between us. Just before she sat, she flashed me a smile, sending my heart into overdrive. I was on cloud nine for a moment. But being the “star” that I am, I played it cool and pretended not to notice.

She took her seat, and I caught her glancing at me again, offering another smile. This time, I couldn’t help but smile back, just a little. Then, Ma'am Sabito’s voice broke the spell.

“So, Miss Berqez, would you mind introducing yourself to the class? I’m sure many of them are eager to get to know you,” Ma’am Sabito said with a playful tone.

And just like that, Aphrodite stood up, radiating an aura that made everyone’s attention fixate on her.

“Hi everyone, I’m Aphrodite Mionefleur Berqez. I’m from UPLB. My parents are living abroad, so I’m staying with my uncle here in Manila. It’s so nice to meet all of you, and I hope we can all become fast friends,” she said sweetly, her voice almost melodic. She accompanied the words with a smile that could melt anyone’s heart.

I swear, I was completely captivated. It felt like my brain stopped functioning. The rest of her introduction was a blur. It was the first time anyone had made me feel this way.

Her name suited her perfectly—Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. She was truly intoxicating, impossible to resist.

I snapped out of my daze when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was a text from Efrick. I couldn’t help but chuckle at what he had to say.

MESSAGE FROM: EFRICK

"Man, you’re so obvious! You like her, don’t you? Come on, own up to it! Hahaha."

I groaned inwardly. I was caught, but at least it wasn’t a complete disaster. I quickly typed back a response, hoping to cover up my slip.

MESSAGE TO: EFRICK

“Shut up! No way! I was just thinking about Alyssa shouting earlier. You should’ve seen your face, it was priceless! LOL, stop it. I have a reputation to maintain.”

I hit send, then looked at my phone again. Another message popped up.

MESSAGE FROM: EFRICK

“Hahaha! You’re a joke, man. It’s so obvious. I’m actually glad you like Miss Beautiful. You can have her, bro. I’m out! Hahaha.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his reply. But honestly, I felt a bit weird. Was I that obvious? Maybe I had to be more careful.

MESSAGE TO: EFRICK

“Shut up! What if Alyssa finds out? What do you think she’ll do? Forget it, I’m taking this one. No strings attached, unlike you. Don’t reply. Seriously.”

I sent the message and looked back at Aphrodite. She seemed to be glancing our way. Her smile was still in place, and my heart raced again. It felt like time had stopped, just the two of us in that moment.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my phone buzzed again. I knew it was from Efrick, so I opened it without hesitation.

MESSAGE FROM: EFRICK

“LOL, I knew it! This is historic. First time I caught you, bro! But fine, I’ll admit it—I like Miss Beautiful too. You win this one. Hahaha.”

I was speechless for a moment. So, Efrick liked her too? My world turned upside down. A rivalry? Nah, I wasn’t going to let that happen.

MESSAGE TO: EFRICK

“You’re unbelievable! Did you have to rub it in? And by the way, she’s not just ‘Miss Beautiful’ anymore. She’s "my" Miss Temptation now. Good luck competing with me, monkey! Don’t reply, I’m serious. We don’t want to get caught by Ma’am, or worse, by Miss Temptation herself.”

I sent the message with a smug grin on my face. But as I glanced at Aphrodite again, I saw her giggling to herself, and by default, I was giggling alongside her.

Suddenly, Ma'am Sabito’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Ahem... I see you, Mr. Beaurlington and Ms. Berqez, getting to know each other quite well. Care to join us in class?” she said with a teasing laugh.

The entire class burst into laughter, including Efrick, who practically fell out of his seat. He was laughing so hard, holding his stomach like it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen.

Aphrodite turned away, obviously embarrassed, and sat down, her cheeks slightly flushed. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. I quickly adjusted my position, trying to regain my composure. The laughter in the room echoed for what seemed like forever.

And in that moment, I realized—this was just the beginning.