The One I Wasn’t Supposed to Love

Chapter 2

If I had a peso for every time Liam Rafael Dela Cruz acted like my bodyguard, I could probably afford my own driver.

This morning was no different.

The moment we reached the university gates, he was already carrying my bag over his shoulder, strutting around like some VIP escort assigned to me. He even had that smug half-grin plastered on his face, like he was proud of this ridiculous role.

“Liam, give me my bag,” I muttered for the third time, tugging on the strap. “I have arms, you know.”

“Not happening, Santiago.” He adjusted it on his shoulder like a soldier with a rifle. “This is my sworn duty as your best friend. Think of me as your official guard-s***h-chaperone.”

“Chaperone?” I raised a brow. “You make it sound like I’m a child who can’t go anywhere alone.”

“Not a child,” he corrected, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “A princess. And princesses need guards. I’m basically your knight in shining armor.”

I rolled my eyes, though a smile tugged at my lips. “You forgot the part where knights are supposed to be paid.”

“Paid?” Liam gasped in mock offense. “Excuse me, I get compensated daily with your sparkling presence. That’s priceless.”

He even clutched his chest dramatically, causing a couple of passing students to chuckle. Someone muttered, “These two again,” and I groaned.

That was Liam for you—loud, playful, and shamelessly proud to show off that we were always together. He didn’t care if people whispered, if they teased, or if half the campus thought we were secretly dating. He thrived on the attention.

We walked through the corridors of the BioChem building, weaving past groups of students waiting for their classes. Some were scrolling through their phones, some chatting animatedly, others just leaning against the walls pretending not to people-watch.

Of course, whispers followed us.

“Is he her boyfriend?” one girl asked not-so-quietly.

“No, that’s Liam Dela Cruz. They’re inseparable,” another answered knowingly.

Liam smirked when he heard that. He leaned closer and whispered, “Hear that? We’re the campus headline again.”

“Headline?” I muttered.

“Yep. ‘Unstoppable Duo Spotted Again: Is Love in the Air?’” he said in his best announcer voice.

I elbowed him lightly, laughing despite myself. “You seriously need a new hobby.”

“This is my hobby. Protecting you from the cruel, cruel world.”

By the time we reached my classroom, Liam marched straight inside and placed my bag down at a desk near the window. He tapped it twice, like he was delivering some sacred treasure.

“There you go, Santiago. Delivered safe and sound.”

I crossed my arms, trying not to smile. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet, you’d be lost without me.” He reached out and ruffled my hair like I was five years old. “Alright, I gotta head to my own class. Don’t miss me too much.”

“Not a chance,” I shot back, but I already knew the room would feel quieter without him.

He was halfway down the hall when I called after him, “Good luck in class!”

Liam lifted one hand in a mock salute without even turning around, making me laugh.

That was us: me and Liam. Simple. Effortless. Just two people who knew each other like the backs of their hands.

Or so I thought—until I turned back toward the classroom and froze. Because sitting two rows ahead, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed like he owned the place, was none other than Adrian Marcus Dela Cruz.

Liam’s older brother.

The same Adrian who always found a way to irritate me when we crossed paths. The same Adrian who seemed born to smirk at my existence.

And now… my classmate?

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath.

Of course, he noticed me right away. His eyes flicked toward me, sharp and assessing, before narrowing just slightly in amusement. Then—there it was—the corner of his lips curved into that infuriating, arrogant smirk.

Like he’d been expecting this. Like he already knew how much it would throw me off.

“You’re in this class?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

“Last I checked, yes.” His tone was smooth, deep, laced with mockery. “What’s wrong, Cami? Not happy to see me?”

I forced a shrug, though my pulse betrayed me by quickening. “Thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.”

“Good.” He leaned back further in his chair. “Then this semester is already looking interesting.”

Before I could retort, our professor walked in, calling the class to order.

“Good morning, everyone. Since this is a mixed class—students from different programs—we’ll start with introductions. Name, course, year. A little background if you want.”

One by one, students stood and introduced themselves. Most were nervous, stumbling over their words.

When it was my turn, I stood quickly, keeping my voice steady. “Aira Camille Santiago, BS Biology, second year.”

Simple. Straightforward. No nonsense.

Then it was Adrian’s turn.

He stood with lazy confidence, shoving his hands in his pockets. His voice rang out clear, deep, and annoyingly magnetic.

“Adrian Marcus Dela Cruz. BS Chemistry, fourth year. I only took this class because it’s my last unit before graduation.”

Graduation?

My head snapped up so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.

He’s… graduating? Already?

For some reason, that word—graduation—echoed in my head louder than it should. Liam never mentioned that Adrian was that close to finishing.

I must have looked surprised, because Adrian’s gaze found mine, and that smirk of his deepened. He looked smug, like he’d just pulled off a successful prank.

I quickly sat down and scribbled nonsense in my notebook, pretending to be busy.

The introductions wrapped up, and the professor dove straight into the first lecture. Normally, BioChem was one of those subjects I loved. But with Adrian seated near me, it was… distracting.

Too distracting.

He was the type who didn’t bother writing anything down, just sat there like the whole thing was beneath him. Every so often, his elbow brushed mine when he shifted. I moved away each time, but it was useless—he kept “accidentally” invading my space.

“Are you always this jumpy, Santiago?” he whispered once when the professor turned to write on the board.

“I’m not jumpy. You’re just annoying.”

“Annoying?” His grin widened. “I call it charming.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Well, I call it irritating.”

“Funny,” he drawled, leaning just slightly closer. “You didn’t look irritated when I introduced myself earlier. You looked… surprised.”

My cheeks burned. “Shut up.”

He chuckled under his breath, clearly entertained.

I clenched my pen, trying to focus on the formulas the professor was explaining. But every time Adrian shifted, every time he whispered something under his breath, my concentration wavered.

At one point, when I was scribbling down notes, he leaned sideways again and murmured, “You know, you’re taking notes too seriously. Relax. It’s only the first day.”

I shot him a glare. “Not everyone is a know-it-all like you, Adrian Marcuz Dela Cruz.”

“Ouch,” he said, though his grin didn’t falter. “I think you like me sitting here. Keeps you entertained.”

“I’d rather sit next to a broken fan.”

“Too bad. You’re stuck with me.”

The nerve of this guy.

By the time class ended, I felt drained—not from the lesson, but from enduring Adrian’s constant presence.

As the professor dismissed us for the first hafl of the class, students began packing up. I stuffed my notebook into my bag quickly, eager to escape before he could say anything else.

But of course, he beat me to it.

“See you around, Cami,” he said casually, slinging his bag over one shoulder.

Then he left—just like that—slipping out of the room without waiting for a response.

I stared at the door longer than I should have, then shook my head furiously.

Annoying. That’s all he was.

And yet, as I left the room, my heart was still racing like I’d run a marathon.

I told myself it was from irritation. Nothing else.

Nothing else.