Chapter 16 Passenger

Chapter 16 Passenger
I sat slouched in my chair, notebook open to the same blank page I had flipped to twenty minutes ago. At the front of the room, our professor pointed at the projector screen, her voice sharp and steady, as if she had delivered this lecture a hundred times before.

Because of how sleepy I was, her voice sounded like a swarm of bees buzzing in my ears.

“Now, class, when we talk about endoparasites,” she said, tapping the slide with her laser pointer, “we mean organisms that live inside the host’s body. Can anyone give me an example?”

A few students raised their hands. I didn’t even bother. My eyelids felt like heavy bricks, and I had to blink hard just to keep them from closing completely.

The past few days had flown by so fast. One moment I was in Japan, and now I was back in this classroom from hell.

When we returned to the Philippines, I had planned to give Ethan the bracelet I bought for him right away. But I couldn’t find him anywhere. I had checked all his usual workplaces, yet I never managed to catch him.

“Yes—roundworms, exactly,” the professor said, nodding approvingly at one of my classmates. “And don’t forget tapeworms. Both can cause serious health problems in dogs if left untreated.”

Her words blurred together in my ears, turning into nothing more than background noise. I rested my chin on my palm and glanced at the clock above the whiteboard. The second hand moved painfully slow, every tick stretching out my suffering.

Why was it that when you didn’t care about time, it passed so quickly, but when you watched the clock, it dragged on forever?

“Remember,” she continued, “symptoms like weight loss, diarrhea, or even dull fur can indicate a parasitic infection. These small details often make a big difference in diagnosis.”

None of it was sinking into my brain. I should have just stayed at Kuya’s house in Japan.

The only detail I cared about right now was the time. I sighed, shifted in my seat, and tapped my pen against the desk to stay awake. Everyone else was scribbling notes and nodding attentively. Me? I was just trying to survive until I heard the word “dismissed.”

Professor Villanueva glanced at her watch. “I still have twenty minutes left. Let’s have a short quiz.”

My shoulders slumped. I must have done something terrible in my past life to deserve this kind of punishment.

I forced myself to answer every question. My guardian angel must be working overtime today—I was sure he wouldn’t let me down.

“Buenavista,” one of my classmates called out after the papers were collected. “Perfect score,” he said. I knew my guardian angel wouldn’t abandon me. “Perfect zero,” he added with a grin, showing me my paper before handing it to the professor.

“Class dismissed.”

I had been waiting for those words the entire time. The quiz had come way too early. How annoying.

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and picked up the paper bag containing the bracelet I had bought for Ethan with my left hand.

Since I couldn’t find Ethan anywhere, I had no choice but to ask Angela for help at the last minute. She told me their classrooms were right next to each other, so I rushed straight to the Nursing Building.

Most of the students stared at me as I walked through the halls. They probably knew I was a veterinary student wandering around the nursing area.

I was walking down the hallway toward Ethan’s classroom when I passed a group of guys. One of them was James, my former basketball teammate.

“Where are you headed, bro? Looking for chicks?” he teased.

I just laughed and tapped his shoulder. “No, bro. Just a friend.”

I said goodbye and hurried up to the third floor, where Ethan’s room was located.

I was already standing outside their classroom. According to my watch, it was 10:30 a.m. Angela had said his first class would end at exactly 11.

I sat on one of the chairs outside, slouched back with my legs stretched out. The only thing keeping me occupied was spinning the car key between my fingers while I stared at my watch. Time moved at a glacial pace. The muffled voice of the professor leaked through the door, occasionally interrupted by the scrape of chairs or the rustle of papers.

My phone rang. It was Martin. I answered.

“Bro,” Martin said on the other line.

“Why’d you call?” I replied, still glancing at my watch.

“Your class is done, right? Are you still at school? Give me a ride, bro. I didn’t bring my car.”

This idiot wanted to turn me into his driver right now, of all times.

“Call one of the others. I’m not at school anymore,” I lied.

“Really? Then whose ass is that sitting outside Room 244? Did you switch departments or something?” I could hear him laughing on the other end.

I ended the call, sat up straight, and looked around. Sure enough, I spotted him not far away, grinning widely. He gave me a quick nod and walked off.

I was about to put my phone away when it lit up again. Martin had sent a message.

Martin Ashford
Nursing students, huh?

I didn’t bother replying. He would only tease me more. My eyes stayed fixed on the classroom door, waiting.

Then, finally, the door opened.

The professor stepped out first, adjusting his glasses while holding a stack of folders. A stream of students followed, talking and laughing as they passed. Many of them glanced at me curiously. I ignored them all. I was only waiting for one person.

And then, there he was—Ethan.

He walked out in his crisp white nursing uniform. It looked impossibly neat and clean, like it belonged on a mannequin, yet he wore it naturally, as if he was born for it. He stood around five-foot-eight, tall enough to command attention without being intimidating. His frame was lean, with shoulders just broad enough to give him a steady, grounded presence. His skin was fair, almost glowing under the fluorescent lights, and his dark hair was styled neatly to the side, not a single strand out of place.

His eyes—calm, sharp, the kind that noticed every small detail—swept across the hallway before landing on me.

I stood up quickly, almost too quickly, trying to make it look casual. But inside, my heart was racing after waiting so long.

“Lucas?” he said, his voice soft but clear, carrying a hint of surprise.

I gave him a half-smile, trying to hide how much I had been anticipating this moment. “Is your class done?”

His lips curved into the smallest smile, barely noticeable, but it was there. And that alone made all the waiting worth it.

“Why are you here?” he asked, glancing around as if looking for something.

“Can’t I be?” I looked directly into his eyes. He simply nodded. That actually hurt—being rejected so openly.

“I sent you a message the other day. You didn’t even read it.” I tried to make a sad face. He looked at my pout.

“I don’t remember it being my obligation to reply to you,” he answered sarcastically and started walking away.

I followed him. I practically had to jog to keep up with his fast pace.

“I have something for you, Ethan.” He didn’t turn around, so I ran ahead and blocked his path. He glared at me, but I ignored it.

I held out the paper bag containing the bracelet. “Here. I bought this in Japan.” He only stared at the bag before continuing to walk away.

I chased after him again and blocked his way once more.

I handed him the paper bag for the second time. “For you.” He looked at it, then finally took it from my hand.

“Thanks,” he said, then started walking away again.

I continued following him, looking like his personal bodyguard. Almost every student we passed stared at us.

“Do you have another class?” I asked. He ignored me and kept walking.

“Angela said you only have one subject today.” He stopped abruptly and shot me a sharp look.

“So?” He kept staring, waiting for my response. He looked different when he was angry—it actually suited him.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“No need. I still have work.” He started walking again, and I immediately followed. I couldn’t risk losing sight of him.

Because of everything Angela had told me about Ethan, I felt a deep admiration for him. How could he manage three jobs while still attending school? If it were me, I probably would have given up already. Because of that, I suddenly wanted to become friends with him. He seemed like the kind of person who could teach you important lessons in life.

“I’ll just drive you to work then,” I insisted, still walking beside him. “Where are you working today? Starbucks, 7-Eleven, or the restaurant?” He stopped walking and looked at me, as if trying to figure out how I knew his schedule. Well, it was basic information for me. When you want something, there’s always a way.

I had noticed how sharply he glared at me every time I mentioned something about him. His stare was so intense it felt like he could swallow me whole.

“I saw you at Starbucks and 7-Eleven, right? I also saw you at the restaurant last time when I was eating with my friends,” I lied. At any moment, it felt like he might actually punch me.

“I’ll just drive you there. I promise I won’t bother you.” I made a promise gesture with my hand. He simply nodded.

I slowed my steps as we reached the school gate. Ethan stopped beside me, his white nursing uniform bright under the warm sunlight.

“Wait for me here,” I told him, pointing just outside the gate. “I’ll get the car. It’s parked on the other side.”

He nodded, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder. I turned toward the parking lot. The walk wasn’t too far, but it was enough to leave him waiting for a bit.

My eyes landed on the sleek black Toyota Fortuner parked neatly near the trees. I unlocked it with a soft beep, slid behind the wheel, and felt the leather seats still warm from the sun. The engine purred to life with a steady hum that always gave me a sense of control. I adjusted the rearview mirror and caught a glimpse of myself—hair slightly messy from the walk, shirt clinging faintly to my back.

As I steered out of the lot, I couldn’t help picturing Ethan waiting at the gate—standing there with that calm expression, hands probably in his pockets, looking like he didn’t mind waiting but secretly counting the minutes.

I pressed lightly on the accelerator, eager to get back to him.

And there he was—Ethan—standing by the school gate exactly where I had asked him to wait. His white nursing uniform stood out brightly against the light. His bag was slung over one shoulder, his posture relaxed yet patient, as if he had been quietly waiting without complaint.

I stopped in front of him and rolled down the passenger-side window. He saw me. I leaned over, opened the door for him, and waited.

He raised an eyebrow and settled into the seat. “I can open it myself,” he grumbled while adjusting his position.

I just watched him get comfortable. When he noticed me staring, he raised an eyebrow again.

“What are you looking at?” he snapped.

“Seatbelt, bossing,” I said.

Once I saw that he had fastened his seatbelt, I started driving.

I couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting to the passenger side—where Ethan was sitting for the first time. That seat had always been empty—just leather and silence, no matter how many drives I took alone. But now, with him there, it finally felt like the car had found its purpose. He wasn’t just occupying the passenger seat. He was filling a space I didn’t realize I had been saving for someone all along.