Chapter 7 - The Girl Beside Liam Castillo
673 Words
By the next morning, the rumors had already spread across Saint Valencia University like wildfire.
"Liam gave her a ride home."
"They were together all night."
"I heard she held onto him on his motorcycle."
Ophelia wanted to disappear.
She walked quickly through the hallway while students whispered around her.
"This is so embarrassing," she muttered.
Beside her, Elise Navarro looked far too entertained.
"No," Elise corrected. "This is entertaining."
Mira Solenne nodded dramatically. "The campus prince finally notices someone and it's you."
"He does not notice me."
Both girls stared at her silently.
Then together-
"Sure."
Ophelia groaned.
Unfortunately, things became worse the moment she entered the cafeteria.
The entire room suddenly quieted.
And sitting near the center tables was Sofia Velente.
Waiting.
Great.
Sofia crossed her legs slowly while watching Ophelia approach.
"Well," Sofia said loudly enough for nearby students to hear. "Looks like scholarship girls are getting bold now."
Kiara laughed beside her immediately.
Kiara Dela Cruz smirked. "Guess motorcycles are cheaper than diamonds."
Several students laughed quietly.
Ophelia tightened her grip on her tray.
"I'm not in the mood today, Sofia."
Sofia stood up slowly.
"But I am."
The cafeteria atmosphere became tense instantly.
Sofia stepped closer until they stood face-to-face.
"You really think one motorcycle ride means something?" Sofia asked softly. "Girls like you always misunderstand attention."
Ophelia forced herself to stay calm.
"I never said anything about Liam."
"No," Sofia replied coldly. "But everyone else is."
The room remained completely silent.
Then suddenly-
A chair scraped loudly across the cafeteria floor.
Everyone turned immediately.
Liam Castillo walked toward them with one hand inside his pocket.
Behind him followed Theo Ramirez, Ethan Velasco, and Marco Villanueva.
Theo whispered dramatically, "And here comes the problem."
Sofia's expression softened instantly when Liam stopped nearby.
"Liam," she said sweetly, "tell your little admirer to stop embarrassing herself."
Ophelia's chest tightened painfully.
But Liam barely looked at Sofia.
Instead-
He stepped beside Ophelia.
Close enough for their shoulders to almost touch.
The entire cafeteria froze.
Even Ophelia stopped breathing for a second.
"What's happening?" someone whispered loudly.
"No way..."
Sofia's smile disappeared immediately.
Liam looked down at Ophelia briefly.
"You ate yet?"
Ophelia blinked rapidly. "What?"
"I asked a question."
"N-No."
"Then sit."
The command sounded casual, but somehow impossible to ignore.
Sofia stared at him in disbelief. "You're seriously defending her?"
Liam finally looked toward Sofia.
"I'm eating lunch," he replied flatly. "You're the one making noise."
Several students nearly choked trying not to react.
Theo looked seconds away from laughing to death.
Sofia's face burned red with humiliation.
"You're unbelievable," she snapped before grabbing her bag and storming out of the cafeteria with Kiara following behind her.
The room immediately exploded into whispers.
Ophelia remained frozen beside Liam.
Then quietly-
"You didn't have to do that," she whispered.
Liam pulled out the chair beside him casually.
"Sit down before people start staring harder."
"They already are."
"Hm."
Ophelia slowly sat beside him while trying to ignore the hundreds of eyes around them.
Theo grinned immediately.
"So," he said dramatically, "should we start planning the wedding?"
"Shut up," Liam muttered.
But Ophelia noticed something surprising.
Liam didn't move away from her.
In fact, his arm occasionally brushed hers whenever he reached for his drink.
Small accidental touches.
Brief.
But enough to make her heart race stupidly fast.
At one point, Ophelia reached for her tray at the same time Liam did.
Their hands touched again.
Warm.
Neither pulled away immediately.
For one dangerous second, the noisy cafeteria faded into the background.
It was just Liam looking at her quietly.
Close enough for her to notice the faint scar near his eyebrow.
Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from him.
Then Theo ruined everything.
"Oh my God, they're staring at each other again."
Ophelia immediately pulled her hand away, face burning red.
Liam leaned back lazily afterward, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
A tiny smile.
And somehow-
That felt more intimate than the accidental kiss in the rain.
- Writer
