The Professor's DEATH

HER BIRTHDAY

The next day I went out of my shower room, fully energized. I had enough sleep last night. I cooked my breakfast and silently eat the foods afterwards. I'm about to wear my uniform when I received a text from Mr. Wits.

'Go to the office. Excuse yourself in the class. We have something important to talk to.'

My mind was perplexed after reading his text message. How can I excuse myself in the class? Especially now that I am Froilan's student assistant. It's hard to convince that man for just a lame reasoning. I had to think of a better reason for my absence. f**k this!

'What should I say then?' I typed then tapping the send button after that.

'It's up to you.'

"Tss." I scoffed after seeing his reply. Well, what should I expect with this man? Why am I so formal anyway? I can just leave without telling the reason why. Right! Anyone can leave the class without writing an excuse letter. I'm not that important so being absent today is no big deal.

Instead of wearing uniform, I grab my white shirt and tucked it into my tight faded blue jeans then I put on my rubber shoes. I got my jacket and grab my car keys above the table. I turned my cars engine on and drive my way to the office as fast as I could. While on my way, I turned the radio on and listened to the music.

"Good morning Ma'am." Said by the guard and I just replied by nodding my head.

"Is Mr. Wits already here?" I asked his secretary but she just said that "He's on his way." Should I buy myself a medal and print a certificate containing a citation about self-appreciation hereby awarded to Kaorie for being an early bird? That sounds so childish, tsss.

"Okay, thanks Lionel!" I said then started walking through my office. To my great horror, I found out that the door isn't lock, 'Suspicious'. Did I forgot to lock my office? But I doubt that. I locked my office after meeting Dash a week ago. Did someone barged into my office without asking for my permission?

Whatever it is, let me find this out. As I opened the door, I slowly went inside and I found myself being welcomed by blinding darkness. I was about to open my phone's flashlight when suddenly,

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you!" After that, all the lights went on and I found all of my teammates together with Mr. Wits standing few steps away from me. I'm speechless. My mouth gaped in awe. I cannot describe how happy I am with this kind of surprise.

There was a long pause of silence not until

"Happy Birthday." Dash said with a smile plastered on his lips. My eyes darted on the roses that he is holding. I went again to his face and clse my eyes a bit, trying to calm myself.

"Did we scare you, Kaorie?" He asked and as soon as I went back to normal, I pinch Dash cheeks and smile widely.

"Thank you everyone!" I sincerely said. I appreciated all of their efforts. I saw different foods on my table and a cake with a candle above it.

"I'm just surprised, no worries." I again said with a smile of assurance.

I completely forgotten about my special day because of different thoughts on my mind. Thanks to them for reminding me about my birthday. 'Well, they don't just remind you, Kaorie, they even brought great surprises for you.' My inner voice argued.

"Kaorie, I bought your favorite cake worth 500 pesos for your birthday." I looked at Juniel in disbelief.

"These flowers worth 200 pesos each." Dash said which makes me frowned.

"I was the one who bought the spaghetti." It was Carlo, the computer geek on the team.

The others also told me about the things they contributed in order to surprise me on my birthday.

I sighed exasperatedly. I'm about to say a thing when Mr. Wits spoke.

"And don't forget that I was the one who organized and planned this surprise for you." That's it! Should I just choke each of them to death? Or maybe I can just kick them all out of my office.

"So since Mr. Wits was the one who planned this out, why not ask him to give back the money that you all spent for me?" I said while grinning my teeth.

"I owe you nothing." With my last words, I then step back and about to leave but someone grab my hand.

"We're just joking." Said by Calderon

"Not a good joke though." I said using my serious tone. Even if I knew that it was just a joke, I can't help myself to get a little bit annoyed.

"We're sorry. Can you blow the candle now?" Juniel asked as if she was excited for me to do what she wanted.

"Blow it yourself." I said then rolled my eyes at everyone. How should I be able to get myself out of this office? I just wanna attend my boring class than to be with these morons.

Steff hold my hand and forced me to sit on my swivel chair. As I sat on it, I already have a clear view of different foods on the table. 'They did know me well.'

My table was full of my favorite foods and drinks. I suddenly got famished upon seeing those. I closed my eyes and make a wish then blow my candle.

After that, I got my plate, spoon and fork. I was about to get something to eat when Dash already gave me one. He put a slice of cake on my plate which made everyone gasped. I looked at them and caught them staring at us.

"Stop staring." It's making me uncomfortable.

They then looked away and we ate our foods in silent.

Afternoon came and Dein suggested if we could go to Elite's Bar. Everyone agreed and so I am. I guess it's time for me to enjoy this day without worrying what might happen after. This is my day so I'll do what I want. It's time for me to get wasted.

We got inside our respective cars and drove off to the location. We all went to the VIP room on this bar.

It's not my first time to enter on such an exclusive bar, so it's not new to me. Drake raised his hands calling for the waiter.

"Good afternoon Ma'am and Sir. Welcome to Elit—" Steff cut the waiter's statement.

"Too formal, man. Loosen up a bit." Oh, I smell something fishy.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. May I take your order, please." They then recite their orders and give money to the waiter as a payment.

"One tequila, please."

"Mojito for me."

"Mine is s*x on the beach."

"Margarita."

They went on saying their orders and now it's my turn.

"Your order, Ma'am?" Asked by the waiter.

"A bottle of Carlo Rossì Red Wine will do." I didn't bother to hear what he says after that.

I looked around, the room was huge and neat. Worth for its price.

The waiter came back bringing our drinks. "Here's your order, Ma'am." He said and I just replied, "Thanks" then give my payment.

"Keep the change." The waiter smiled at me. He looks so young, maybe twenty or twenty-three. Probably, a college student.

"Thank you, Ma'am." I just nodded, poker-faced

They continued ordering drinks while mine was still half a bottle. They're already drunk and I'm just a little bit tipsy.

My co-workers asked for some entertainment and the manager provide us one. A videoke! Oh damn!

"Yuhooo! Let's party!" Shouted by Steff

"Can I go first?" Asked by Drake.

"Yeah, you're the one who asked for it." A cold intimidating voice of Dash echoed in my mind. I sometimes can't understand him, he can either be playful or cold. Depending on the situation or perhaps his mood.

He then starts singing and somehow, his voice is good. Manly. The song isn't familiar to me but I can say that he has the talent when it comes to singing.

Steff and Juniel did sung and they're both good. Everyone's eyes turned to Dash.

"What?" He asked, seems irritated

"Can you sing?" Carlo asked

"Tss." He scoffed and went on tapping his song's number. When his finger hit the play button, the song starts.

'I met you in the dark

You lit me up

You made me feel as though

I was enough

We danced the night away

We drank too much

I held your hair back when

You were throwing up', His deep and cold baritone voice filled the entire room. He sounded like James Arthur, the original singer of that song. All eyes were set on to him. How did he managed to hide such kind of singing voice? Well, it's my first time to hear him sing. Not bad for a birthday surprised, right?

'I knew I loved you then

But you'd never know

'Cause I played it cool when

I was scared of letting go

I knew I needed you

But I never showed

But I wanna stay with you

Until we're grey and old

Just say you won't let go', he's so lucky for having a voice that would make every woman fall in love with. Except me, of course. Dash is a kind man but most of the time, it's only us who can understand each other's thoughts and personality.

When the song finally reached its end, our eyes then met and there he sing the last part, "Oh just say you won't let go."

A loud applause is what he gets from them after he finished the song. He earn different praises from the team but he just went back to the sofa and sat beside me.

"What do you think of my voice, hmm?" He whisphered into my ears and did not utter a single word.

"Hey." He tried to make me speak. So I say, "Not bad." I looked at him only to find him pouting.

"You look like a duck." True to my words, he really looks like one.

"And tonight, we want to hear the voice of our birthday girl, Kaorie!" Jace announced and that made me glare at him.

"Oh c'mon! It's only the seven of us here. Don't be shy." Drake added

"I'm not in the mood." I said but my ears bleed upon hearing what Dash have said. "Maybe you are tone deaf. Oopps, sorry, blame my tongue for that." Out of annoyance, I stand up from my seat and enter the number of my song.

Now playing:

'Sometimes (by: Britney Spears)'

I got a voice. It may not be as good as Britney but what important is that, I am not tone deaf. I have a good quality of voice and I'm proud of that.

The song ended and to my surprised all of them, except Dash are now asleep.

I looked at my watch and it's already 10 o'clock in the evening. I must go.

"You're going?" Asked Dash and I said "Yes, take care of them."

I paid the remaining bills at the bar counter and bid my goodbye to him. I know he can take care of those drunken fellas.

As I went out of the room, I saw a familiar figure of a man with a girl sitting on his lap. Wait, are they kissing? The girl was wearing almost nothing. I shook my head and went outside the bar.

I can't be wrong. It's him! Froilan!

So this is also his haven, huh? Seems like he's having fun today, eh? Well he's a man and he has needs.

I just went inside my car and starts driving. As soon as I got inside my condo unit, I changed my clothes into something comfortable and drift off to sleep.

'Happy Birthday to me.'