Chapter 1

chapter 1 [The Accused Mistress]

I know that it is a bold move of me to admit. But then I realized that just like what Swami Vivekananda says, 'All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. therefore love for love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you breathe to live.'

Therefore, Sir, love me so that your life may last—

I stopped writing when my best friend Hope took the bondpaper I was writing on.

he grinned widely as he quickly read what was written on it.

"What a shame, JC! Is this a love letter or a death threat? Are you going to confess to him? You really used the law kemerut huh!"

I glared at him while reaching for the bond paper in his hand. when I glanced at the librarian who was not far from our table, I saw him give us a bad look.

"Keep your voice down!" I whispered while sticking a piece of bond paper inside the folder, "The librarian will let us out later."

He moved to where I was sitting and sat next to me. He couldn't get rid of his smile.

"So what? Are you going to admit your feelings to your ultimate crush?"

"No!" I immediately refuse. "I just wrote down how I feel about him so I don't end up going crazy from harboring it."

His face soured and he shook his head in dismay.

"Oh, your case is really hopeless."

"I just don't want to be rejected. You know I don't like rejections."

"Is that why you feel that when you confess to Sir Mendez, you will be like the other girls he rejected?"

I didn't move and just opened a thick book that was lying on the table. Yes. My friend is right. I am afraid that he will reject me. Who would not?

It is not unknown to everyone in the entire university that its youngest male teacher is too outspoken. I hear a lot of news about women who like and confess to him, whether they are students or part of the faculty, they are all rejected.

I was in my first year of college when he entered the university to teach. And now that I'm in my second year, no one still knows his real background. All we know is that he came from law school.

Cold. if I were to describe my ultimate crush in one word, that would be it. Lake Jacobe Y. Mendez is as cold as ice. He is intimidating. He is unreachable. He is still far away from me even though he is in front of me and explaining.

"..John Finnis even argues that the common good of political society does not itself instantiate a basic human good; that is not in particular, the object of a natural inclination, as to something intrinsically good..."

"As long as I'm good to you," I whispered to myself abundantly in my dreams while watching him.

I screamed because of Hope sitting behind me lightly kicking my chair. I looked at him in disgust.

"Landi," his lips twitched. He heard me earlier.

I ignored what he said and continued to watch Sir Mendez happily. He was wearing a blue long sleeve and black pants. He is really very formal and very smart looking. Behind him is the PowerPoint presentation of what he was teaching earlier.

Hope said, I might have a crush on Sir Mendez because of his looks. I do not deny that. Lake Jacobe Mendez is attractive. The type that is not boyish but of a man. He is tall. A little dark. Dark hair and thick eyebrows. his dark eyes are also deep and when the light hits them, they change and become brown. Her long and thick eyelashes only made it more beautiful.

What makes him more manly is his prominent jawline. They say he has the blood of an Italian. Maybe. it can be noticed in his pointed nose and thin lips.

"...members of political society should work together to attain such things as..." He suddenly shuddered when his sharp gaze landed on me. I sat up and straightened up. Did he notice my stare?

"Ms. Villarejas," he said my name as if he was freezing. Very different from his emotionless eyes.

I swallowed loudly and left. "S-Sir?"

"Can you tell me what the members of political society should attain?"

Everything got quieter. I have their attention. I didn't blink but returned his straight gaze.

"A military and police for protection against the aggressor for both external and internal, Sir."

I want to pat myself on the shoulder because of the lack of vibration in the answer. It is full of confidence. I want him to praise me just once. He stared at me for a few seconds. The pounding in my chest didn't stop.

he effortlessly broke his gaze and turned it to someone else. I was once again disappointed with his treatment.

"Prepare for a long quiz tomorrow," he announced coldly, which was echoed by the groans of my classmates.

Sir Mendez came out first. he was our last class in the afternoon. I immediately noticed the sticky gazes of my female classmates following his retreating back. He didn't even look back for a second.

"Are you sure you won't be joining Jok and me at the Retro Club tonight?" Hope while we both put things back in the bag.

I winced and slightly raised an eyebrow at him.

"We have school tomorrow, ah. Are you going to be absent again just for the club?"

"Of course not! It's a little late, but at least, right? It's still present!"

"You know I can't. We have a family dinner and I don't want to disappoint Papa." I took the bag and stood up. We were the last to leave the classroom.

He put his arm around me and playfully patted me on the back.

"You are really such an obedient step-daughter, Jean Caitlyn. I'm so proud of you, babe!"

I laughed softly and shook my head. They say, I am a perfect child. I excel in my studies. I follow my curfew obediently. I act properly in front of other people. Sometimes I think that maybe it's because Mommy raised me this way. but the truth is, I only want my step-dad to be proud of me.

Attorney Apollo Villarejas has been good to me. Since he married Mom when I was just eighteen years old, my life has changed a lot. he gave me not only a last name but also a true father's love. Not even for a moment do I forget the goodness he showed to my mother and me. I owe everything that I have to him.

when we got to the school parking lot, Hope and I said goodbye to each other. Our driver opened the car door for me.

We only traveled fifteen minutes on the way. The gate of the mansion owned by my stepfather appeared before my eyes. we have lived here since he married Mommy.

The maid opened it so we went inside. The mansion is old enough that the structure is derived from the spanish medieval era. My stepfather also inherited it from his parents who have Spanish blood.

After Kuya Benj parked the car, I got out of it. I automatically looked up at the porticoed court light house where I see Mommy sitting here and obviously drinking wine again because of the wineglass in her hand. I sighed and walked into the mansion.

The corner of my lips quickly curved upwards when I saw Papa in the living room. He was sitting again in his favorite rattan chair near the large sliding window. View from here of the fountain outside.

he is wearing his glasses again. He is a good looking man despite his age. One of the reasons why Mommy liked him right away. He always looks aristocratic but approachable.

I didn't even hesitate to approach him to rule. maybe he heard the footsteps of my feet so he looked up from the thick book he was reading.

"Are you hanging out with John Maxwell and his book about success again, Papa?" I smiled and waved at him.

he laughed softly and placed the book on the center table. Now I have his full attention.

"How's school?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "It was fine. A bit tiring."

"It's good and you said it was tiring too. i thought a day wouldn't come without you complaining just even once. Just shows your human too. Anyways," he stood up and nodded to our maid who was on the side before he looked at me again, "go upstairs now and change. We're going to have dinner."

"Okay!" I said and quickly went up the long stairs.

"That is so not ladylike, Jean."

I stopped in front of the door of my own room because I heard Mommy's stern voice.

I slowly turned to him and adjusted my stance.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

He nodded at me once and continued walking towards the stairs. I opened the door of the room and quickly went inside.

After getting dressed, I went downstairs again and went to the dining area. I saw Mommy and Daddy who had just started eating. I sat quietly on Papa's right side.

"I heard that that, Domingo boy is always seen hanging around your circle," Mommy elegantly cut her steak.

I first glanced at Papa who was currently sipping his wine before answering the mother.

"He's just a friend, Mom."

"His father is just a real estate broker, isn't he?" he continued calmly but the tone was obviously critical.

"Yes."

"Then, just being strictly friends with him is fine. don't forget the standards in men to date that you should have, Jean," he said and smiled sweetly at his wife. "The standards that I've found in your Papa."

Papa gently patted Mommy's hand that was resting on the table. He returned it with a smile full of adoration.

sometimes in times like this, my heart always warms because of the love and adoration that Papa shows to Mommy. But I also feel chills every time it crosses my mind that my mother is a retired actress. I still wish Mommy was sincere every time she caressed my stepdad.

I didn't move and continued to eat quietly. He and Papa talked about business.

one of the reasons why I took the Business Administration course was because Mommy encouraged me. He said I need to hone my business skills to help the family. even though I wanted to be a teacher, I didn't insist because I knew that I would never win with Mommy's wishes and plans for me.

I went up to the room after dinner. I sat down at the study table and opened the laptop to do the reaction paper that Sir Mendez is asking us to do because it will be passed the next day.

After studying, I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I got ready for sleep. just like I used to, I didn't turn off the light because I have a phobia of the dark.

I was nervous the next morning because I was about to be late for class. I think I stayed up late studying last night. carrying the white folder that I always carry and where the reaction paper that was made was stuck inside, I entered the classroom. I commented on how tense everyone was even though it was due to be delivered this afternoon.

Right after I sat in the chair, our Accounting teacher, Mrs. Belaro. I couldn't see Hope and Jok either. Maybe those two are still awake.

My whole day in class went normal. It was noon when Hope arrived. obviously very sleepy and became clumsy.

"Pst! Do you have a reaction paper yet?" he whispered to me while we were waiting for Sir Mendez.

"Sure. Why? Don't say you didn't?"

He fell on his forehead.

"Why did I ask? Of course you already have it." I noticed him glancing at the folder on my desk.

"Hey! You don't have a reaction paper?" I repeat. Worried about him.

He turned away. "Nothing. What if I ask Sir for an extension?"

we stared at each other for a few seconds and finally sighed together. We both know it's highly unlikely. Second chances are not in Sir Mendez's vocabulary. Everyone knows this.

"Jean!" I turned around because of a call from one of my classmates. "Dean is calling you."

I frowned while glancing at the watch I was wearing. Just five minutes and it's Sir Mendez's class.

"Huh? Now?"

"He said yes. He's just going to give you something about the org you're handling."

I looked at Hope again and saw her looking at the folder on my desk. I sighed tiredly, picked up the folder, and handed it to him.

"In case I'm late. Just pass it on to Sir," I instructed.

"Sure, babe!"

I left the classroom and went to Dean's office. my classmate was right, Dean just gave me an extra agenda for the meeting of the organization where I am the chairman.

When I got back to the classroom, I immediately felt the silence of the whole class so I knew that Sir Mendez was there. I slowly walked towards my own seat just to not make any noise. Sir didn't pay attention to me because he was busy critically checking the obvious reaction papers that my classmates passed.

Since I was sitting in front of Hope I had to look back at her. I noticed that he is now busy writing.

"Have you passed it on to me?" I whispered.

"Not yet! Just a moment because I'm still getting ideas!" he said without even glancing at me and just continued writing quickly. Probably will chase the pass. that's when I noticed that my reaction paper was lying on his desk.

I slowly turned to my own desk and then looked at his desk.

"Eh, where's my folder?" I pronounced each word softly. staring at his desk with only bondpaper on it.

"I put it on your desk! I only took this reaction paper," he replied absently.

My lips gradually parted as my whole body became cold. I gasped when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I slowly turned around and saw my classmate Ireen sitting in front of me.

"I passed your folder," he said with a smile and then turned his attention back to the front.

I swallowed and looked up at the front. I was right when I saw Sir holding my folder. Cold water was poured over me. Because something was left stuck inside the folder and it was the love letter I wrote for him.