“SHEN could you please calm down?” Roha shook her shoulders and forced her to retake her seat. They were in the benches along the deserted main school grounds because almost all of the students at Perfect University were busy participating in the school fest at the soccer field. “How will I be able to understand what you’re trying to say if you’ll cry and screamed first before telling the whole story?”

Shen covered her face and cried again. “This is insane! This is crazy!” she shouted again and stomped her feet on the ground. “I really hate that Charlie Yun!”

“`My gosh,” Roha blurted out. “You looked like a mental case, Shen.”

She removed her hands on her face and looked at her friend. She knew that what she saw in her eyes now are desperation and hopelessness. “That Charlie Yun drank the potion!”

Roha gasped. “What? H-how?” She caught her head. “I thought you gave it personally to Sir Yohan?”

“I did!” she said. “But, Sir Yohan gave it to Charlie…” She cried again. “Roha, I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I’ve waited for this moment. I will not let anyone stopped me, but that Charlie Yun, that bastard transferee, he ruined my plans so easily!”

Roha rubbed her back. “Calm down, Shen…” she said. “Where is Charlie now? What happened to him?”

Shen stopped crying and remembered that her bigger problem is yet to come. She looked at Roha in wide eyes. “I don’t know… I left the bleachers after I saw him drained the bottled water.”

“Oh, my gosh, maybe he’s looking for you now,” she said and looked around the school. “By the way, what’s Sir Yohan reaction when he saw you in shocked?”

“He didn’t notice because he was talking to Charlie.” She slopped her shoulders and distorted her face in so much stressed and frustrations. “I really don’t know why that man kept on ruining my day. Did I do something wrong to him? He’s just a transferee here, for chrissake! I don’t even know him!”

“I don’t know the answer too,” Roha said in a worried tone. “He started to be acquainted with us after you accidentally hit his face with your hand.”

“What? That was just days ago,” she said with a knotted forehead. “He should mind his own business. And, of all the businesses that he’d meddle, why he chose mine?”

“And, Shen, I don’t know how did he found out about your plan on going to Quiapo and buying a potion for Sir Yohan,” Roha told her. “Remember, he just suddenly appeared when were about to get the potion? He’s not living near that area, there’s no reason for him to be there or dropped after his class.”

“And, to think that he’s a celebrity, he didn’t hesitate to follow us on a crowded place,” Shen added with furrowed brows. “It was as if he already knew what we’re about to do in Quiapo Market.”

Roha blew her breath. “That’s right, but why?” she asked in a knotted forehead. “Now, we have to wait for the potion to take effect on him.” She looked at her. “Are you ready if Charlie started to chase you?”

Shen wanted to throw up with the thought of Charlie chasing her in the university. Seeing him smiling and talking to me calmly already kills me, what more if he started to say sweet words? Shen covered her mouth at the bile rose on her throat. “Gosh! No way!”

Roha gave her a frowning look. “Don’t be so choosy, Shenaida Shin. Charlie Yun is the Mr. Popular in Bloom University, and he’s not just handsome and rich, he’s also intelligent. He’s the perfect boyfriend of Perfect University. That’s why our dean accepted him even it’s the last year of his college course.”

“I don’t care about how handsome, how rich or how famous that Charlie Yun is, I don’t like him, and I will never fall for him—”

“Miss Shin.”

Shen covered her mouth and turned to look at Sir Yohan. She almost stepped back when she saw Charlie standing behind him. “Ah, Sir… What can I do for you?”

The professor looked at her in furrowed brows. He then raised the empty bottle of mineral water. “What did you put in here?”

Shen’s mouth fell open. “Huh? W-what do you mean, sir?”

“Mr. Yun had an upset stomach after drinking this,” he said in a serious tone of voice. “I want to see your parents at the office tomorrow.”

Shen fell speechless, she looked at Charlie and noticed that his lips went pale. “I-I don’t know anything about it, sir.”

“Explain in the office tomorrow,” Sir Yohan said. “Mr. Yun volunteered to do the lab tests on the water. And, if he confirmed that you put something on the bottle, I have no choice but to give you a suspension.”

“Sir, that’s not fair,” Shen countered. “If there’s something in the bottled water, then the other professors that took the bottled water from us should also experience what Charlie had.”

Roha cleared her throat and stood beside Shen. “Shen is right, sir. And, I’m with her when we picked up the chilled bottles in the store.”

“And, sir, why would I wanted to poison the water that I will give to you?” Shen asked, her voice was soft. “If I have plans on doing something bad to you, do you think I’ll give it to you myself? Isn’t it an act of stupidity?”

The professor didn’t answer. He looked back at Charlie, who was just looking straight in her eyes. “Whatever happened in that bottled water, I need to see your parents tomorrow.”

Shen’s face distorted. “Sir, please, let’s fix it without calling my mommy.” She clung on the professor’s arm and begged for him. “Please, sir—”

Charlie suddenly pulled her away from Sir Yohan. “I’m the victim here, Shen. You should be asking for my forgiveness, not to Sir Yohan,” he said and waved the empty bottle in front of her face. “I have the evidence.”

Shen glared at him. It looks that the potion didn’t take effect on him. “I’d rather bring my parent than to apologize to you!”

“Miss Shin!” Sir Yohan scolded her. “Did I teach you that kind of manner? I guess I really need to speak with your parent. Regardless of Charlie’s case, I want you to bring your mother to my office tomorrow.”

When the professor left, Shen slopped down on the bench. “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”

“So you put that fake potion in this bottle?” Charlie smirked. “If I tested positive for amoeba, I’m sure that you’ll be kicked out here, Shen.”

Roha sat beside Shen. “Girl, I think the potion is not taking effect on him?” she whispered to her. 

But Shen doesn’t care. Her problem now is much bigger than that failed potion. She covered her face and started to cry again. Her Mommy Lodih will undoubtedly pluck every hair in her body after that meeting tomorrow.

“Shen,” Roha nudged her shoulder. “Charlie threw the evidence bottle in the trash bin.”

Shen looked up and saw Charlie walking away from them. “Huh? I thought he’s going to bring it to the lab and test the water for amoeba?”

***