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Vanessa was not having a good morning. Which is not impressive, considering nothing had technically gone wrong...yet.
She woke up at exactly 5:00 AM, trying to go back to sleep since her first class would still be around the afternoon. She stared at the ceiling for a solid five minutes, waiting for the weight of drowsiness to pull her back under, but nothing happened. Eventually, she accepted one simple truth: she was not going back to sleep.
For sure, Bloody Night had already ended.
Everyone else was still unconscious.
The room was heavy with the silence of the aftermath. Vanessa sat up slowly, the springs of her bed giving a faint, traitorous creak. She looked over at her friends and saw them still in deep heavy slumber.
Zein was sprawled across the bed like she paid rent for the entire dorm. Mia was curled up beside her (which Vanessa didn’t even notice when she transferred beds), breathing evenly, completely unbothered by whatever chaos happened last night.
Vanessa, meanwhile, felt like her brain was still running laps.
She groaned in frustration. If she couldn’t go back to sleep, she might as well cook something for the girls and the boys too, kasi sooner or later they’ll wake up eventually anyway.
So she got up.
Trying not to wake either of them
Knock. Knock.
She immedietly froze.
Her head snapped toward the door.
then another knock comes
Vanessa’s stomach dropped.
no good news ever comes knocking at this hour.
She stood up slowly and went out of their room and walked toward the door, each step more cautious than the last.
She reached for the knob when—
"What’s going on?"
Vanessa jumped so hard she almost screamed.
“MIA?! What the—?!” she hissed, clutching her chest. “Why would you scare me like that?!”
Mia blinked at her, her hair looking like a total mess, it was obvious she had only just woken up.
"I woke up because I heard someone knocking," she said.
They both looked at the door.
Then at each other.
Then back at the door.
Silently agreeing. This is kinda suspicious.
Slowly Vanessa opened the door and when she opens it-
“…s-supremo?”
Because standing outside
Like this was completely normal
was the SSG President Ace Craige.
All three of them looked equally surprised.
While Supremo stood there, he was holding two coffee with his both hands occupied.
Vanessa blinked once.
And then another blink.
Okay… maybe this is just a hallucination.
She blinked again.
He was still there.
Still holding the coffee.
With his intimidating presence.
Ah. So this is real.
Mia leaned closer and whispered,
“Si Supremo ba ‘yan… o multo niya lang?”
Vanessa whispered back,
“Kung multo ‘yan, bakit may props?”
“…fair point.”
Another pause.
Then Mia straightened like she just made a life decision.
“Pasok ka, Supremo.”
Vanessa turned to her.
Really? Just like that?
When Mia invited him, Ace stepped in, and I had to step back because I was blocking the doorway.
And now they were all inside.
which turns into an awkward silence.
Even Ace looked like he had walked into the wrong scene. He was perfectly put together, while Mia and I had just woken up.
He glanced at the coffee in his hands.
Then at them.
“You guys want…Coffee?”
Vanessa and Mia stared at the cups.
He probably just offered it because things were so awkward.
That coffee was not for them. obvi.
But refusing felt… dangerous.
“Ah—sure.” Mia said, taking one.
“Thank you,” Vanessa added, also taking the other.
As soon as he handed it over, another suffocating silence filled the room.
The three of them stood there.
Holding the hot coffee.
“Ah…”
Vanessa wanted to throw herself out to the nearest window.
“Please, have a seat,” Ace gestured toward the sofa behind us.
“Ah—eh—oo—ikaw din… maupo ka din, Supremo,” Vanessa said quickly, gesturing toward the sofa while eyeing Mia.
“Oo, maupo ka,” Mia echoed.
They moved at the same time and sat down.
Ace sat across from them.
Vanessa and Mia sat side by side, their posture straight like they were in a job interview.
Before the silence could stretch again—
Vanessa cleared her throat.
“Supremo…You’re here for Zein, right?"
which Ace nodded.
“Okay—gigisingin ko lang—”
“AKO NA.”
Mia stood up so fast, then placed the untouched coffee on the table and sprinted back to the room.
Vanessa stared after her.
Traitor.
Since ako yung naiwan, ako pa talaga yung kakausap sa kaniya
"Lord, send help. Naway maging matibay ang aking kaluluwa nang hindi ito umalis sa aking katawan," she mumbled to herself while saying a quick prayer.
Wala bang tutorials dito on how to talk to a Supremo?
Mahaba-habang katahimikan ang sumunod.
Vanessa sat there, quietly assessing everything that just happened.
Supremo.
In their dorm.
At 5 AM.
With coffee.
He’s dating one of my best friends, Zein Shion—the Queen of Hell U which she is also the SSG Secretary. Naks, iba talaga si Madam Sec.
Her gaze slowly drifted toward Ace. He was just sitting there stiffly, like a statue and then it clicked: Wala na pala siyang kape.
Vanessa glanced at the cup in her hands, then back at him. Should I give this to him? Without thinking too much about it, she extended the cup toward him again—the same cup he had tried to hand to Mia earlier. The same cup she only now noticed had “Darling” written on it in neat handwriting.
Vanessa almost laughed. Ah… this was definitely meant for Zein. Nakaramdam tuloy siya ng hiya.
Ace took it immediately, looking almost embarrassed that she’d seen it. I couldn't believe it. The Supremo… embarrassed? As if on cue, he quickly turned the cup just enough to hide the word from her view.
Vanessa blinked, then couldn't help but smile. This version of the Supremo—awkward, careful, and almost unsure—was something she’d never heard of before. The stories always painted him as intimidating and cold, the kind of guy who never even greets people.
Grabe, ang awkward.
They both started pretending the walls were suddenly the most interesting thing in the room. Ace took a sip of his "Darling" coffee while Vanessa began her official assessment of Ace Craige.
Mia was going to be out for a while, and Zein isn’t exactly a morning person, either. In their group of friends, Vanessa was always the protective—the first one to scrutinize whoever was dating her besties.
Vanessa is basically doing damage control while Zein is probably still snoring.
"You know..." she starts, desperately trying to break the ice.
She figured Supremo was probably expecting Zein to be the one greeting him this morning. They likely had an agreement to meet up early because it was the only time their schedules actually aligned. Honestly, who even dates at this hour?
Vanessa and her friends had seen it coming, of course. It was hard to miss the way Zein’s actions started changing whenever he was around. Between her duties as the SSG Secretary and his role as the President, they were practically glued to that office.
But when Zein eventually confessed the truth to her that Supremo’s number one rule was to never get involved with anyone, Vanessa felt pity for Supremo. How long had he been forcing himself to stay isolated? It wasn't just about avoiding romance ha, it was the idea of avoiding friendship, too. Vanessa couldn’t imagine a life without people to lean on.
Knowing that, she decided it was time to put in a little more effort. She would extend her patience and really try to get to know him. For Zein’s sake, she was going to push aside the fact that she was intimidated by Ace Craige’s presence and actually give him a chance.
"Sorry, Supremo, if Zein’s taking forever," she began, forcing herself to maintain eye contact despite her nerves. "If you guys had a deal to meet up this early, let me give you some advice: don't believe her. Even our plans to go jogging together only ever happens in her dreams."
Lord, please don't let this guy get turned off by her, Vanessa thought. Zein, you owe me big time. I’m out here trying to keep things smooth so he doesn't gets turn-off.
"She’s not exactly a morning person," Vanessa continued. "She actually turns into a dragon if you wake her up too early. Only Ate Allison can manage it, and even then, she basically has to kick Zein out of bed just to get her to move."
It was a long explanation, but surprisingly, he seemes to be listening. Okay......
If Ace Craige was finally willing to let someone into his life, it wouldn't hurt to give him a proper screening, right?
To Vanessa, there was no such thing as "Supremo" when it came to the well-being of her best friend. She took a slow sip of her coffee—which, to be fair, he did give it to her—and narrowed her eyes. It was time na kilatisin ko siya. If this guy wanted to be part of Zein's life, he had to pass the test.
First off, Hygiene? Check. Mukhang naliligo naman. He looked like he’d been photoshopped into reality, walang ka pores-pores; not a single wrinkle on his shirt, even at 5 AM.
Then there’s the Manners? Check. Siya pa ang nag-alok na maupo kami ni Mia kahit dorm naman namin ito. Pinaupo muna niya kami bago ang sarili niya—isipin mo, sa sarili pa naming dorm siya nag-host?
Intelligence? Check. According toLiam, siya ang pinakamatagal na naging SSG President sa kasaysayan ng Hell U. Oh, 'di ba? Hindi naman siya magtatagal sa posisyong 'yan kung hindi siya brainy.
Combat Readiness? Of course, Major Check. He’s the Supremo; he could probably defend Zein from a literal army without spilling a single drop of his coffee.
And finally, Scent? Absolute Check. Even from across the table, he looks like someone who smells of expensive cedarwood and "rich-person" soap. It’s the kind of scent that doesn't just smell good—it screams "I have money" scent.
Paldo talaga si Zeiin.
She was so busy checking the list on Ace that she forgot she wasn't thinking anymore. It was like her thoughts tripped and fell face-first out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“Sa lahat ng naging boyfriend ni Zein… ikaw ang pinaka-matino.”
The silence that followed was so heavy you could actually hear Vanessa’s heartbeat thumping in her ears. Her soul practically waved goodbye to her body. Hala, bakit ko nasabi ’yon?!
Ace paused, his cup halfway to his lips. Vanessa now had the Supremo’s complete, undivided attention. He turned his head slowly, his intense gaze pinning her to the spot like she was a specimen under a microscope.
“…boyfriends?” his voice was low, sounding dangerously.
“Ah—” Vanessa stammered, her hands flying up in a frantic wave. “Hala…” she added weakly, forcing a nervous laugh. “Hehe… joke lang!”
Ace didn't look like he thought it was a joke. He set the "Darling" cup down on the table with a deliberate, ringing cling.
“So, there were others,” he stated. It wasn't a question. It was a Supremo-level demand for an explanation.
And just like that, Vanessa’s survival instinct kicked in but instead of running. She shifted closer, now seated beside Ace like they’d been best friends for years.
All the awkwardness from earlier? Gone. Vanessa was now leaning in, her voice dropping to that conspiratorial whisper people use when they’re about to spill the best tea in the world.
"Alam mo, Supremo, kaya talaga ako nagulat sa 'yo," Vanessa started, shaking her head. "Kasi naman, si Zein? Noong huling naging boyfriend niyan, naku... para kaming nanonood ng indie film na walang budget."
Ace tilted his head, his expression still intense but clearly hooked. "Why? Is he a bad guy?"
"Bad guy? Nah," Vanessa scoffed, looking disgusted. “Actually, he is very nice naman"
Ace set his coffee down, his eyebrows slightly raised. "Then what seems to be the problem?" It was clear now—he was officially interested in whatever Vanessa was about to spill.
"The problem??" Vanessa lowered her voice even more. "Ang pangit niya, Supremo. As in."
Vanessa didn't even wait for Ace to react. "I am not kidding. Alam mo 'yung feeling na nakakita ka ng sobrang ganda na mala anghel, tapos ang katabi, mukhang expired na sardinas? 'Yun 'yun, eh. Feeling ko tuloy noong sila pa, parang may sumpa si Zein or baka naman nakulam lang siya."
"Pangit?" Ace repeated, as if he couldn't process the word. Of all the things he expected to hear, this was definitely not one of them.
"Oo! 'Yung level na mapapaisip ka kung may utang ba si Zein na hidni niya nababayran kaya siya pinarusahan," Vanessa added, waving her hand dismissively. "Supremo, you know that old movie with Vic Sotto and Alice Dixson? Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!? They were exactly like that. The only problem is, Zein was the only Fairy in the relationship... her ex? He was the Shokoy."
Vanessa leaned back, checking Ace's reaction. "Kaya noong nakita kita rito sa dorm, amoy mahal at hindi mukhang hihimatayin sa isang sipa... sabi ko talaga, 'Salamat, Lord. Nadinig niyo rin ang dasal namin para sa mata ni Zein."
Ace sat there, stunned into silence. He looked at his coffee, then back at Vanessa. For the first time, the terrifying Supremo looked like he was trying very, very hard not to laugh.
Just then, Mia walked back into the living room with her phone.
“Anong meron?” she asked cautiously, her gaze lingering on the Supremo. “Why did I hear you mention Zein’s ex?”
Vanessa didn’t even give her time to breathe. She grabbed Mia’s arm and pulled her into the sofa. “Mia! Perfect timing. Your phone is still working, right? Please tell me you haven't deleted the 'Evidence' yet.”
Mia’s eyes widened as she realized what Vanessa was doing. "Wait, let me find it in my phone. I kept it for moments exactly like this.”
“There’s no need—” Ace started to protest. But the corner of his mouth twitched in what might have been a suppressed smile. He tried to maintain his composure, but he was quickly learning that when Vanessa and Mia were hell-bent on showing him "the picture," there was no stopping them.
“Found it!” Mia chirped, her thumb tapping the screen with triumph.
She leaned over and shoved the phone right in front of Ace’s face. Vanessa hovered over his shoulder like a gargoyle, both of them holding their breath, waiting for the Supremo’s judgment on the man who came before him.
Mia leaned over and shoved the phone directly into his line of sight.
Now, Ace Craige wasn’t a rude man, not by nature, anyway. He didn’t find any satisfaction in belittling others for their appearance. Sure, he used intimidation and a sharp tongue whenever the situation demanded it, but that was the only time he uses it to run the council. He usually tried to avoid such pettiness whenever he could.
But as he stared at the glowing screen, his internal processor seemed to hit a fatal error.
The only words that came out of his mouth were:
"Oh, dear"
Zein's POV
The hallway was quieter than usual.
It was calm enough that every step echoed just a little louder than it should, it was still early, after all. I walked beside Ace, my arms loosely at my sides, still feeling slightly damp from my rushed morning routine. We actually had an agreement that I completely forgot about and I was nervous that he might be mad. But right now
Something feels… off.
I glanced at him. He hadn’t said a word since we left the dorm, which was strange. Because even when Ace was quiet, it was never like this.
"I’m sorry for whatever Mia and Vanessa said to you," I started, my voice small. "I know you’re not supposed to be seen being this close with people, and if they were rude, I’m sorry. I apologize on their behalf."
I slowed my steps slightly, studying him more carefully. Weird. Still no response. Kanina pa siya tulala.
“…Ace?”
No response. which made me frown.
“Supremo?”
That should have gotten his attention, and it did. He turned his head toward me almost immediately. I blinked.
“…Darling?”
That did it. He stopped walking—so suddenly that I nearly walked past him. I turned back, looking at him, completely confused.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
For a second, he didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped closer. Then closer. Until the space between us completely disappeared.
Ace lifted both hands and gently placed them on my cheeks, framing my face. I froze. His gaze lingered—longer than usual. Too long. I swallowed hard, my heart starting to drum against my ribs.
“Is there something wrong with my face?” I asked, half-joking, half-nervous.
“Nothing,” Ace said quietly. His thumb brushed lightly against my cheek, his touch feather-soft. “You’re just... really beautiful.” He emphasized the word as if he were seeing me for the first time.
I could only blink. "Oh... thank you?" I'm actually flattered.
Before I could even process the words, he leaned in and closed the distance. He stole a quick kiss from me before my brain could even register the contact.
Ace pulled back just as quickly, acting as if nothing had happened, though the corner of his mouth was twitching uncontrollably. He looked at me one last time, shook his head in disbelief and let out a soft chuckle he tried to hide by clearing his throat. Then, he adjusted his collar, cleared his throat, and walked past me without looking back, making a beeline towards the office. While he is still wearing an expression of amusement that I couldn't quite place.
I was left standing right here, completely clueless.
"...Huh?"