Mine Alone

Chapter 1

I have fallen for someone who was too unreachable. I dreamt that one day, he would notice me. Constantly being a headache to him was all I can do except from watching him from a distance. I promised to be by his side until he wants me gone. I would never get tired of being his number one fan, I said. The time I met him was the only moment in my life when I looked at someone and realized that perfection could be a person. For three years, I loved this guy desperately to the point that my heart aches for his smile.

Even he never considered me in his life, he was the center of mine.

The first time I saw Zander Tee was when he represented the College of Business for the school festival way back on my first year in college. He has always been popular to girls, but he was never a playboy. He has dark eyes that when you stare at, you'd get chills. His nose was in perfect shape while those lips have always been seductive. He's a rich, tall and mestizo gentleman with the perfect frame. He doesn't have to smile to attract girls, you just have to observe him. From head to toe, he looks smart and the future father of my children. Ooops.

I was in my third year college when I got elected as the Executive Secretary for Student Council. My family and friends were proud as they didn't know my real reason for striving to be in that position. Behind my excited smile and ecstatic mood on that day, I was celebrating my victory of getting closer to Zander's world. With his influence in the Stallion University, everyone who knows him never doubted the obvious result that he would be this year's SC president.

I am Viel Francesca Gardiola, twenty one years old. Although my parents give everything I need and want, I endeavor to seek for the things I want. As much as I can, I don't rely on my parents especially when I know that I can get what I want using my way. My network of friends is pretty large, but I hang only with the

most absurd crazy girls in my life. I am bitchy at times, but I am definitely the nicest to kind people.

Everytime I come across the people I know in the campus, they greet me congratulations. I keep roaming around hoping to see the only guy I was waiting to smile at me and tell me that 1-word appreciation of my little success.

I wouldn't be this pathetic if my brother helps me even just a little bit to get closer to his friend, Zander. Yup. My brother, Dylan, is a good friend of the person I've been following from afar since first year. Nonetheless, Zander greets me when we bump into each other and he's with Kuya Dylan. On other words, we were not close, we were never close to begin with. But still, at this moment when I really exerted effort just to be noticed by him, I hope he would congratulate me for once.

It's 12 in the afternoon when I saw Dylan walking to the canteen. My eyes immediately look for the guy who's always with him. I am not disappointed when I saw him walking beside Conrad Uy, one of his closest friends too. I cursed ten times in my head as I watched him walk to my direction. He's in white long sleeve. His hair is kinda messy as if he was in riot before going here. Again, he's wearing that kind smile and sparkling eyes which he never showed to me. I'm really jealous of my brother right now.

He is the youngest among his siblings. He came from a wealthy family with an oil business. I never met their parents, but according to Dylan, they are nice. I have always been dreaming of being introduced to them as their son's girlfriend. Anyway, Zander's siblings have their own family and his parents are soon to retire. Needless to say, this man in front of my eyes gets everything he wants either by money or family's influence.

2 years ago, there had a fake news roaming in the campus about him. Whoever the b***h started that rumor defamed Zander, but I used my connection with the people inside the official publication of school to eliminate the issue. He never had a girlfriend, and that made everybody believed he's actually gay. There were pictures of him kissing different men which in the end have been proven edited. Even he didn't take that issue seriously, I didn't let it slide. It was just disappointing that I couldn't find the culprit in the end.

My jaw dropped as they walked to the table baside ours. I fairly kicked Shaye's legs to tell her about this moment that is about to kill me. Without overreacting, I am close to hyperventilating. My eyes met Zander's. And even that didn't last for 4 seconds, I'm barely holding my breath. He has that impact on me.

The 4 of them sat in the table making it look small when it's actually for 6. They are getting too much attention from the girls in the cafeteria, as usual. I took a deep sigh and continue eating my food. He's always with his friends who also happen to be his business partners. Dylan is his closest friend, and if my brother ain't a playboy, I would've thought that they are a couple. Conrad Uy is the opposite of my brother in terms of character. He's always silent and mysterious, but if Zander isn't here, I would fall for him. Lastly, Levi Zobel is the most approachable man in their circle. He loves playing instruments and girls' hearts.

They're around 23 and 24 years old, but they showcase a DON lifestyle. They started a business 2 years ago, and now they have several branches in other cities. They have long proven that they are not just rich and handsome, they are driven in life, and are capable of using their power and name to soar.

My heart pounded fast when Zander and Dylan left their seat to go to me. It felt like all my blood went up to my face.

"Congrats, Viel! That was unexpected!" My brother sarcastically blurted. I gave him a look of disgust.

"Whatever!" I said while rolling my eyes. I focused on Zander who's now looking at me straight in the eyes. There are some strands of hair that fell on his forehead. I was tempted to fix it for him, but my dear brother would surely mock me to death.

"Congrats, Zander," I said smiling. Here's the undying feeling of butterfly on the stomach whenever he's near. Even he's just staring, I'm dying.

"We'll work together, Viel. We are now for the service of fellow Stallion students." That was casual and cold. He didn't even smile, but that doesn't matter. Getting this close to him is new to me. I am looking forward to the next days.

When they returned to their seat, Zander's face became serious. He's always like that. I hate to admit it, but he seemed disgusted to me. I always try to hide that I admire him a lot because it would be awkward between us, but everybody in the campus knows that I have my eyes only at him. I just congratulated him, but it turns out that I ruined his day.

"You're done eating?" I looked at Dave who's now sitting beside my bestfriend. I rolled my eyes when I saw him. He's also a close friend and classmate since high school. I didn't mind when he pulled my plate close to him. I could not finish the fries.

"Thanks for the fries," he said before devouring it. I didn't really pay attention to Dave.

I rejected all my suitors because of Zander, but he won't even smile at me. Is it that hard to like me or even just to show appreciation to me? People compliment me for the beauty that I actually inherited from my parents. My height is above the women's average height as well. Though I look up when I talk to Zander and my brother. They're just so tall. But the point is I don't understand why Zander never looked at me the way other men would.

I glimpsed at their direction and my jaw dropped again when I saw him looking at me. I blinked several times to make sure that was not imagination. I withdrew my eyes from the steamy eye contact because I felt like I was going to burst with my face so hot. I slightly turned around, enough for him to not see me, and I smiled while biting my lower lip. Goodness gracious. I don't deserve this good feeling. But maybe I do deserve this after all those years I spent being his fan.

The next time I looked at his way, they're eating, but Zander looked like he was spacing out. He stared at the table while chewing his food. Dylan and Levi were almost dying in laughing while Conrad and Zander seemed to be out of this world. That's the moment I knew I don't want a man with humor; I am more than satisfied with a serious one who is attractive effortlessly.

"Stop staring. You're being too obvious again." Dave caught me there.

I smiled when I turned to him. He's not done eating my fries yet.

"Why are you even here?" Shaye interfered before I could even say a thing. I smiled and watched them fight like kids.

The whole day went smooth.

After my last class on that day, Shaye and I decided to stay in the classroom to finish the homework. I was almost speaking for 10 minutes, but she hasn't said a thing. I glared at her, but she's smiling wide while texting. I rolled my eyes. She must have found a boy to play with again.

"Shaye," I called. She didn't even take a look at me.

"Hmm?" She answered lazily.

"You should go to whoever you're texting. You look like you're about to go inside the phone." She didn't hear what I said.

As soon as I stood, her eyes focused at me asking what I'm doing.

"Where are you going? Are you done? Let me co..." She stopped speaking and her jaw dropped as she stared at something in my back.

I slowly turned to see what she's looking at. Zander was looking in our way as he talked with someone outside our classroom. His right hand is inside his pocket. He's still wearing the white long sleeve but he folded it to his elbow. But why is looking at us?

When he walked away with the person he's talking with, I walked outside. I bid my goodbye to Shaye, but I only earned mocking from her. I went out to follow him, but he's no longer nowhere to be found.

Zander threw a party at night, and he invited all his close friends and the newly elected officers of Student Council. I also received an invitation, but my brother didn't allow me. Dylan did not permit me to go with them because he thought I would only cause trouble there when I get drunk. I tried to be dramatic to convince him, but that didn't persuade him. He's stricter than dad. Damn.