**Sebastian's POV**
"Jasmin!?"
I suddenly stood up, shocked, and looked at her.
What is she doing here? Why is she here?
"I saw her outside, looking lost. She said she studies at Harrington University—didn't you say you study there, Jassy?" I nodded. "I brought her here, thinking you might know her... and it looks like you two know each other." Mang Pedro said.
I looked at Sebastian, whose gaze was lingering on... Jacob!?
I walked up to him and dragged him away from the crowd.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him.
"Nothing! My motorcycle broke down, and I happened to see Ped—"
"Mang Pedro, you have no manners!" I cut him off.
"That's what I was going to say, but you interrupted me!" he argued.
"It broke down here!? Of all places?" I couldn't believe it.
"Well, it's not my fault! How would I know you'd be here... and that you know Pe—Mang Pedro?" he replied.
I shot him a glare. "Are you following me?"
He chuckled. "Huh! Hell no, why would I do that?"
"Tsk! Just leave," I said, turning my back and walking back toward Jacob.
"Do you know him?" Jacob asked me.
I glanced at Sebastian, who was still following me. "No!" I snapped.
I went back to what I was doing, frustrated.
By the afternoon, we were done decorating and preparing the tables and chairs for the guests at Grace's wedding tomorrow.
We were now sitting outside with Grace's friends from Manila. Helen, Thea, Jacob, and Sebastian were also with us.
Sebastian really had the audacity to stay here.
"Hey, Jacob, I heard you want to court Jasmin again?" Grace said with a grin.
Ugh! Why is the conversation about me again?
"Yes," Jacob replied, smiling.
"Yieee... I knew it... Jasmin is still the one in your heart, that's why you're still single," Thea teased.
The others started to tease us, saying I should just accept Jacob's courtship and not drag it out.
I just smiled at them, but then I caught Sebastian looking at me. His expression was serious.
"You, Sebastian, do you have a girlfriend?" Maya, one of Grace's friends from Manila, asked.
I had noticed the way she looked at Sebastian earlier—her gaze full of desire. I wasn't used to it, since almost every girl in school seemed to be attracted to him... except for me!
"No," he answered shortly, still looking at me.
I felt a little uncomfortable with his gaze, so I looked away and focused on something else.
"Wow, the girl who gets to be your girlfriend is so lucky," Grace said.
"Here," Jacob said, handing me a paper flower.
"You've gotten better at making these now. Before, you'd almost tear the paper apart trying to make one, even though it's so easy to do," I said as I took it.
"That's because you taught me how to make them. You told me, 'I'll accept you if you can make this,' so I never gave up. But when I finally made it, you left." He suddenly went quiet.
Did I really say that before?
"It's okay if you forgot. But I'm serious about courting you," he added.
I gave him a small smile.
Jacob was handsome, kind, respectful, and helpful... almost everything I wanted in a guy was in him.
I thought there was nothing wrong with giving him a chance to court me.
They say I should give myself time for other things too, not just school and work.
By evening, there was a drinking session, and of course, since I'm weak with alcohol, I just focused on the snacks.
"Sebastian, have you ever tried this lambanug?" Mang Pedro asked, placing a big bottle of lambanug on the table.
"I've never tried that before!" he answered.
"We don't have imported alcohol here like the ones you drink in Manila, but this one packs a punch and tastes good," Mang Kanor said.
"I'm not picky when it comes to alcohol," Sebastian replied.
"Let's see who'll be the first to get knocked out by this lambanug!" Mang Pedro laughed.
They started pouring drinks and chatting. At every drinking session, there are always stories, boasting, and corny jokes!
"Well, when I courted Cora... oh, her father was a real pain. He made me chop wood, fetch water from the mountain, wash clothes, and do all sorts of things. That's why I really lost faith in the younger generation because they want everything so fast," Mang Pedro started, and I was sure he was already drunk, as he was repeating stories about his past with Aling Cora.
"You're right. Some men today just care about the woman's body," Mang Kanor added.
I looked at Sebastian, who suddenly choked. Serves him right...
He glanced at me, but I quickly looked away.
By the time they finished drinking, some of them were already asleep, and others had gone home.
Only Jacob, Helen, Thea, Sebastian, and I were left.
Grace went to bed early because her wedding was tomorrow, and she needed to be fresh when she woke up.
"Jasmin, I'll take you home," Jacob said.
"Basti, why don't you just stay here at my place?" Thea said, swaying as she stood up.
I quickly supported her. "Can you take Thea home instead? She looks like she can't go home on her own," I asked Jacob.
He hesitated but eventually nodded.
He helped Thea up and started leaving.
"I'll go ahead too," Helen said and left.
I looked at Sebastian. We were the only ones left here now.
"Let's go, I'll take you home," he said and grabbed my hand.
**Sebastian's POV**
"Why are you following me?" she snapped, pulling her hand away from mine.
Tsk! Why is she so grumpy?
When she's talking to Jacob, she's all smiles!
"Why are you so grumpy with me?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips in front of her.
"I'm not grumpy."
"Maybe you have a reason for being grumpy!" She shot me a glare, just like she always does.
"Move aside!" she muttered and pushed past me. I almost stumbled because of the dizziness from the alcohol.
Mang Pedro was right—lambanug hits hard.
I followed her as she walked, but she suddenly stopped and turned to face me with an angry look.
"Don't follow me!" she snapped and quickly walked away.
"I have nowhere to stay!" I shouted.
She stopped and faced me.
Now I'm here at her house... I couldn't resist, so she let me stay here.
As time passed, she started to impress me. She gets mad at me, but she still let me stay here. She's so kind...
Her house is small and made of bamboo. I don't know if her parents are still here because I didn't meet them earlier.
"Are you living here alone?" I asked.
"Yes," she answered briefly. She handed me a pillow and blanket.
I took them. "Where are your parents?"
Her face suddenly became sad. "They're both dead."
So, she's been living alone. No wonder she has so many jobs—just to provide for herself.
She's so brave to face life alone.
"Uh... sorry to hear that," I said.
Like her, I lost my mother.
I sat down on the wooden floor, hugging the pillow. It's so quiet here, all you can hear are the sounds of insects.
I just watched Jasmin as she moved a chair to the side of the wall to make space on the floor.
Is she planning to make me sleep on the floor?
'Don't complain, at least she let you stay here,' my inner self reminded me.
I never really planned to stay here, but damn!
I suddenly changed my mind when I saw her with another guy. My blood boiled every time they were close or talking. The way Jasmin smiled at him made me want to grab her and kiss her hard.
That smile should be mine!
And what's going on between her and that guy? Haist! What do I care?
'You care because you traveled all this way just to see Jasmin,' my inner self again.
Tsk!
It's her fault that I came here. She's making me miss her, leaving without a word!
I was just curious because she didn't go to school, so I visited the house she rented. Her landlady said she went back to her province, and luckily, Jasmin told her where she was from.
And I found myself riding my motorcycle to this place. If only she knew what I went through just to get here to this secluded area.
I got lost, went through all sorts of places. I even met a snake...
I don't know why I did all that. All I know is I just wanted to see her because it felt like my day wouldn't be complete without seeing her.
She's become so ingrained in my system.
"Are you listening to what I'm saying?" she suddenly asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Huh?"
She shot me another glare. "I said, sleep there," she pointed to the floor, where there was a mat.
"Fine, whatever. I'm going to sleep," I said, standing up and quickly kissing her on the lips.
"Good night!" I said and lay down on the floor.
That's for making me miss you.
I woke up early the next morning. I reached for my phone, which I had placed beside the pillow before going to sleep, and turned it on.
It was exactly 3 in the morning. I tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn't.
I got up and sat down when I heard something strange outside the house.
There was rustling, and suddenly something thudded on the roof of Jasmin's house. I looked up and saw someone walking on the roof.
I suddenly remembered Mang Kanor's story about aswangs. I never believed in them, thinking they were just made-up stories to scare children.
"Holy shiiitttttt—"
I quickly stood up, hearing a groan. I ran toward Jasmin's room...
I held my chest, feeling anxious...
F*ck! Why am I scared!?
I entered her room, but there was no door. Just a thick curtain served as a barrier.
I looked around the room. It was bright enough due to the light coming from a lampshade. She probably couldn't sleep without the light. It wasn't too bright, just dim.
She probably didn't hear the noise on the roof because she was sleeping so soundly.
I walked over to her and gazed at her face.
How can she be so beautiful!? Her face is so gentle... she has thick, long eyelashes, a small but sharp nose, and rosy lips.
I stared at her for a few seconds until I started to feel sleepy again.
I stood up, took off my jacket, and placed it on a small table in her room.
I walked to the other side of her bed and lay down next to her.
I think it's more comfortable if I sleep beside her.
I turned on my side and hugged her from behind. I closed my eyes until I finally fell asleep...
**AUTHOR's POV**
Jasmin was sleeping soundly, her face pressed against Sebastian's muscular chest. She had no idea that the one she had been hugging earlier was none other than Sebastian.
Sebastian, on the other hand, was also sleeping soundly, with his arms wrapped around her.
Until Jasmin woke up... she blinked a few times, staring at Sebastian's face. She couldn't tell if she was dreaming! Because, as far as she knew, she had left Sebastian lying on the floor outside her room, and now, he was beside her, holding her tightly.
She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't hallucinating or dreaming. Once she confirmed everything was real, she quickly stood up, but was immediately pulled back down when Sebastian held her even tighter.
"Hey! Sebastian!?" she said irritably while trying to wake him up, desperately trying to remove his arm from around her.
"Hmm... I'm sleepy," he mumbled, still with his eyes closed, pulling Jasmin closer until her face was nearly pressed against his chest.
Since she was uncomfortable with their position, she bit Sebastian's arm and kicked him with all her might. But instead of Sebastian falling off the bed, Jasmin fell instead because she was already near the edge of the bed.
"Ouch!" Jasmin groaned, holding her bottom.
Sebastian, waking up, quickly stood up to help Jasmin get back on her feet.
"Are you okay?" he asked, once he helped her stand.
"What are you doing here? And why did you sleep here?" Jasmin asked in rapid succession.
"I... I don't know... I think I sleepwalked last night and ended up here in your room," he replied, smiling awkwardly at Jasmin.
But the truth was, he had been too scared to sleep outside.