It was Sunday morning, and with the university reopening on Monday, Philip had a free day to himself. Living alone now, with his mother still in Bern caring for his grandparents and managing the family business, he decided to take stock of his home.
He rolled out of bed, yawning—his sleep had been restless, and the fatigue from his journey still lingered. After brushing his teeth, he took a warm shower, letting the heat soothe his tired muscles. Once dry, he slipped into a pair of rugged jeans and a fitted black t-shirt that accentuated his physique.
As he combed his hair, a small smile crept across his face. He remembered something his grandmother had said during their last meeting in Bern. He studied his reflection again: tall, fair-skinned, with curly, silky brown hair and striking sea-green eyes—just like his mother's. His sharp jawline gave him a dangerously handsome look.
Heading downstairs, he realised breakfast was now his responsibility. He found a packet of instant noodles, quickly prepared them, and ate while scrolling through his phone. Then he jotted down a list of groceries he needed urgently.
After locking his apartment, he walked over to the Stalks' residence. Mr Stalk was just about to leave.
"Hello, Mr Stalk. How are you?" Philip greeted warmly.
"Oh, hello, my boy! It's been a while since I've seen you," Mr Stalk replied.
"I just got back from Bern yesterday. My mom's still there with my grandparents, so I returned to start college tomorrow."
"Ah, yes," Mr Stalk said, patting him on the shoulder. "Come in. Sheil and Cherry are inside. I've got to run—catch you later!"
"Have a good day, Mr Stalk," Philip said, stepping inside.
"Oh my, my! I can't believe it's you, Philip. You look so handsome today!" Cherry squealed, rushing to hug him tightly. Philip didn't resist, but his response was lukewarm. He gave a flat smile and gently freed himself before heading to the living room.
"Hello, Philip. How are you, boy? Come, sit," Mrs Stalk welcomed him.
"Actually, Mrs Stalk, I was heading to the grocery store and wanted to ask if you know of any caretaker who could help me at home."
"Oh dear, I haven't found anyone yet, but I'll send Grace over to help until we find someone permanent."
"Okay," Philip nodded and turned to leave, but Cherry grabbed his wrist.
"If you're okay with it, I'd love to come with you to the store. I can help you pick things out," she said, flashing her best puppy-dog eyes. She clearly wanted to spend time with him—something she rarely got the chance to do.
Philip wasn't keen on the idea, but grocery shopping bored him. After a moment's thought, he agreed—it was better to tolerate Cherry than shop alone.
"I'll wait in the car. Get ready quickly," he said.
Soon, they were on their way to the nearest grocery store. Philip remained quiet, while Cherry chatted away, lost in her own world. He was already regretting bringing her along.
At the store, Philip grabbed a trolley and began picking up items. He tried to stay focused, occasionally teasing Cherry when her antics got on his nerves.
Just as he reached for something, a loud voice rang out from another aisle.
"Hey! How dare you touch my stuff? I picked it first—don't touch it!" a woman shouted angrily at Cherry.
Philip rushed over with his trolley.
"What's going on here?" he asked, puzzled.
"I saw it first, so it's mine!" Cherry snapped back.
Both women paused when they heard Philip's voice.
"She's with you? Then please teach her some manners. She doesn't know how to speak to people," the woman said, clearly frustrated.
"Can you just tell me what happened—without beating around the bush?" Philip asked, his expression stern.
Before the woman could respond, Cherry interrupted.
"Honey, you know how these girls are. She's been eyeing you since you walked in. I swear she's trying to get your attention. Look at her—she's practically drooling over you," Cherry said dramatically, placing a hand on Philip's chest to draw his gaze.
Philip listened but didn't take her word for it. He turned to the woman.
"Is that true, miss? Is that why you're upset?"
The woman scoffed, her eyes blazing.
"Hold on, mister. Don't flatter yourself. If you think you're some kind of god of beauty, you're seriously mistaken—or just delusional."
She shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass.
For a moment, Philip froze—half expecting someone to scold him simply for being handsome. He quickly composed himself and asked again, "What exactly happened? I'm asking you."
His eyes locked onto the girl's face. Something about her felt familiar, but he couldn't place her. The feeling lingered, unsettling and unresolved.
"Actually," the girl began, speaking quickly to avoid being interrupted by Cherry, "I was reaching for the last pack of spinach on the shelf when she shoved me aside and grabbed it. When I confronted her, she smashed the eggs in my cart instead of apologizing. Then she started yelling at me."
Philip listened intently, then turned to Cherry with a baffled, angry expression, pressing a hand to his chest.
"I can't believe you're buying her story. She's lying! I can't believe you're trusting her over me," Cherry snapped, furious. She turned to leave, but Philip grabbed her arm firmly and, with a look of disgust, told her to apologise.
Cherry's expression shifted—fear flickered in her eyes. She knew if she didn't comply, Philip might cut her off completely, and she couldn't afford that.
With forced smugness, she turned to the girl and muttered, "Sorry. I apologise for my behaviour," before storming out through the exit. Shoppers nearby had been watching the scene unfold, intrigued by the drama.
Philip finished his shopping, still distracted by the girl's face. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen her before.
At the checkout counter, he stood in line, waiting for his turn. The cashier—a young woman—kept stealing glances at him, blushing every time he looked her way. But Philip wasn't interested. He just wanted to pay and leave.
After settling the bill, he exited the store. Cherry was glued to her phone, and Philip didn't mind—he'd never felt any spark or attraction toward her.
By the time they returned home, it was nearly dark. Philip was exhausted, his head pounding from the constant chatter. He stepped inside, ready to shower, when a knock at the door stopped him.
Who could it be at this hour?
He opened the door to find Cherry standing there, looking dejected.
"What do you want now?" he asked, clearly frustrated.
"Nothing. Just came to call you for dinner. Mom's asking for you," she said quietly, then turned and walked away.
Philip sighed in relief. At least she wasn't throwing another tantrum. He headed to the bathroom, showered, and changed into fresh clothes. Half an hour later, he arrived at the Stalks' for dinner.
"So, how was your day?" William asked at the table.
"It was... eventful," Philip replied with a smirk, glancing at Cherry. She gasped and quickly looked away, worried he might reveal everything to her parents.
"Good. College starts tomorrow. Are you all set?" William asked warmly, patting Philip's shoulder.
Philip nodded, finishing his meal. He stood to take his dishes to the kitchen, but sensed someone behind him. Turning around, he found Cherry again.
"What is it now? Why do you keep following me? Can you please stop?" he asked, clearly annoyed.
"I just wanted to thank you... for not telling my parents about what happened today. They'd have kicked me out," Cherry said, her voice low and unhappy.
"No problem," Philip replied, a playful smile forming. "But on one condition."
Cherry tensed. "What condition?"
"You'll stop clinging to me at college. Keep your drama to yourself. I need my space. And don't go around telling people we know each other—if you do, I won't hesitate to tell your parents everything."
His smile turned wicked.
Cherry was stunned. This wasn't how she imagined her first day of college would go. She stomped her foot and stormed out of the kitchen.
Philip followed shortly after, said his goodbyes, and returned to his apartment. He changed into his nightwear and collapsed onto his bed, exhausted. Within minutes, he was fast asleep—drained by the day's chaos.
The next morning, Philip woke up early to prepare his own breakfast. It was the first day of college, and he was determined not to be late. He rushed into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and changed into dark blue jeans and a white Henley-neck t-shirt. The outfit fit him perfectly, highlighting every aspect of his well-built frame.
He headed downstairs and began making his favourite quick bite—a mayo veggie sandwich. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a knock at the door. With his car keys and backpack in hand, he opened it—and there stood Cherry, accompanied by her mother.
Philip frowned slightly but quickly composed himself, greeting her with a polite smile.
"Oh, hello, Mrs Stalk. Good morning. You're here quite early—anything I can help with?" he asked, his smile slightly lopsided.
"Good morning, dear. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking Cherry with you to college today. Her father's caught up with work and can't drop her off," Sheil said, a bit hesitant.
Philip was caught off guard. He hadn't expected this, and now he couldn't refuse. Reluctantly, he nodded.
"Alright, let's go. We're short on time," he said, adjusting his backpack and heading to the car. He honked from the driver's seat, signalling Cherry to hurry up as she lingered, saying goodbye to her mother.
Cherry rushed to the car and slid into the passenger seat. She wore a tunic top and a mini skirt that barely covered her thighs, paired with heavy makeup. Though she looked good, the overall look felt more suited for a party than college. Philip couldn't help but wonder if she'd misunderstood the dress code.
After a twenty-minute drive, they arrived at the college gate. Philip parked the car and they stepped out, heading toward Mr Josh's office. Cherry strutted beside him, flaunting the fact that she had a handsome guy by her side. Philip, meanwhile, kept a slight distance, feeling embarrassed by her behaviour.
As they walked through campus, several girls turned to look at Philip with jaw-dropping expressions. His striking looks made hearts flutter, and many tried to catch his attention—though their smiles faded when they saw Cherry beside him. Her over-the-top appearance only added to their confusion.
Philip ignored the attention. He wasn't in the mood for theatrics, especially not this early in the day.
They asked a student for directions to Mr Josh's cabin and soon arrived. Philip knocked, and a voice called out, "Yes, please."
"Hello, Mr Josh. I'm Philip Mark, a new student here," he said.
"Ah, yes. Tony mentioned you," Mr Josh replied, then turned to Cherry. His expression shifted instantly.
"You must be Cherry. Tony told me about you as well. So, how can I help?"
"Oh, nothing major," Philip jumped in. "Just wanted to say hello. My mom asked me to thank you for helping with Cherry's admission."
Mr Josh smiled. "No worries, young man. You should head to class now—don't be late."
They left the cabin and walked to the notice board to collect their locker numbers and timetables from the front desk.
With only five minutes left before his first statistics class, Philip rushed to his locker, stashed his backpack, grabbed the necessary books, and sprinted toward the classroom.
"Bam!"
He collided with someone in his hurry.
Looking up, his eyes widened—and a big smile spread across his face. He quickly gathered his things and helped the other person, trying to hide his excitement.
His mood had shifted completely. He couldn't stop smiling, clearly thinking about someone special.
He entered the classroom—and froze again.
There she was. The same person he'd just bumped into. Standing at the front of the room.
She was their teacher.
Philip's heart sank. His emotions were in turmoil. What was he supposed to do now?
He was caught in a dilemma—one he hadn't seen coming.