XANDER

CHAPTER 1

"What school are you enrolled at?" She asks as she watches me lock my door.

"Xander State University," I answered and kept the keys in my bag. "How about you?"

"There too. That school is really something. Big-name… big tuition." She shrugged her shoulders. I kept my eyes on her, questioning what she said. "Well, you will know the business in that school sooner or later."

I was about to walk when she held my arm and told me to wait. My brows furrowed at that, so I looked in the same direction as her eyes were.

In front of us, a black Ford pick-up truck, probably the newest model, parked beside a red pick-up too, but a different model. I am in love with the black one; it is so dashing and bold. The one who lives across from my apartment obviously has a damn good amount of dollars.

"What a big nice ass car," Chelsey says while shaking her head slowly.

"You know who owns those?" I asked out of curiosity.

She nods. "The faces, but I do not know their names. But I also know that a police officer owns that black one while the one is probably his brother's. They look like each other. "

I was about to ask her if we could go now, but the apartment's front door, the ones who own those beautiful cars, opened, and two men came out.

And I had not seen such beauty in a man before until now. There are two of them, but this police officer made me forget to breathe for seconds. He is a god. His police uniform fits perfectly on his big muscular body. Add the thought that the first three buttons of his uniform are unbuttoned. His sunglasses made him look sexier and more intimidating. That pointy nose is really something.

"You drooling, huh?"

I looked away from him at what Chelsey said. "That face knows how to capture eyes, though." And we both chuckled.

I was busy checking the policeman for that I forgot he was talking to someone. Chelsey is right. They look like brothers. The guy beside him looks almost like him but shorter and definitely younger.

"The shorter guy also studies at XSU. Fresh man too, I guess," Chelsey said.

I stepped in front of her, blocking the view, and smiled. "They might catch us looking at them."

"Surely they are used to things like that."

"We had better get going. I'm starting to feel my hunger." I said, more like a beg. Because it looks like she does not want to go yet and just wants to stare at them.

We started to walk, and she pointed to her apartment, so I knew that our apartments were only separated by one apartment. She talks a lot, and I am starting to be comfortable with her. I knew that she was already twenty-two but still a sophomore because she parties a lot. But she said she is being serious about school now.

"So you grew up in another country. How come you are here?" She asks.

"My father lives in Canada, while mom is a pure-blooded American. When they separated, mom decided to go back to America... in Augustine. We actually stayed in a house she bought in the other town near here, but we knew she was scammed and the house was not ours. So we went to my grandmother's place, and so far, I hope that we will be staying there for good." I explained.

Leaving our home in Canada was so hard for me. It built me; it has a big part of me. Before leaving, dad told me countless times that he would come back to me to get me. God knows how close I am to my father. Mom never liked me at all. Every day I pray that he will just come by the doorway and be able to hug him again, but every time I pray for that, mom brings my hopes down.

I smiled bitterly at the thought and knew I was too occupied. Chelsey is talking to the police officer now. Yes, the police officer who owns that fine pick-up truck.

His head is poking out of the window while his smile makes the weather hotter. "Where are you guys heading to?" He asked. His voice is so manly, and the way he moves and speaks says fine, disciplined… but gentle. "I'm Hiro."

"Yeah. I'm Chelsey, and she's Nica. We're on our way to a restaurant nearby."

This girl beside me is obviously trying her best not to giggle. I cannot blame her. This guy right here is gorgeous. Okay. I compliment him a lot. After all, I have a guy, and I know to myself that I love him.

"What restaurant, the one across from the police station?" He asks.

I am trying my best not to look into his eyes. Behind those glasses, I know he stares deep.

"Yeah, they serve the best fries and burgers in town," Chelsey says as she pulls me by the waist, closer to her.

"Hop in." He smiled even more and stepped out of the car. And wow. He towers over us. I know I am tall for a girl already; even Rodney does not need to tower over me, for he is only a few inches taller than me. But this guy here looks like he's six feet in height or more. "I'm on my way to the station anyway." He pulled his glasses from his face, and I am damn right about the eyes he had; dark blue eyes. Probably the most beautiful blue eyes I have seen my whole life.

"Sure!" Chelsey exclaimed.

I am so lost admiring his eyes. He had to raise his brows for me to look away and know that he noticed my love for those eyes. Ugh! What am I thinking?

"Sorry. Those eyes are too… Uhm… you know." I choked.

He laughed, and why would it be so sexy? His teeth are perfect and white. I wonder what is wrong with this guy when we talk about physical appearance.

"Sorry. I was amazed at how straightforward you are. Come on, I'll drop you at the restaurant." He opened the car doors for us, and I was surprised when he asked me to stay in the passenger seat. Chelsey even secretly pinched my arm from behind.

"Thanks," I said when he secured the seatbelt for me. My ignorance for not tucking it too profoundly because who knows how delicate and expensive this car is. Okay, I am overreacting.

I can see him smiling even from my peripheral vision. "You are welcome." He faked a cough. "So you girls just moved into this subdivision?"

"Yeah. But I've been living in Xander for years already." Chelsey answers.

"Where are you from?" He asked, looking at Chelsey through the rearview mirror.

"I am from Corine. And she is from Agustine." He nodded his head, like saying, 'okay I get it'. "You live in that subdivision too?" Chelsey asked.

She has good communication skills, though. Remove the part of her voice that is deep. It is like she is confronting you for crimes.

"No, only my brother. My house is far from this town. I live in my car and in the office." He chuckled sexily. "But my things are in my brother's apartment. I stay there if I like to." And he glanced at me, so I immediately looked away.

Why do I even end up staring at him?

"How old are you?"

I hid my face as I smiled because of Chelsey's nosiness.

"Twenty-five, madam."

Chelsey really gasped while my eyes got big upon hearing his age. He is young and looks very successful.

"Oh! There!" Chelsey exclaimed upon seeing the big burger logo of the restaurant.

There are police cars parked, and indeed, most of the customers are policemen. Obviously, because it is only across the police station.

Hiro calmly parked his gorgeous car and smiled at us. "Here you go."

"Officer, have you eaten? You know you can eat with us."

I shook my head as I unclipped my seatbelt when Chelsey asked that. I feel a bit shy. How can Chelsey quickly get comfortable with this nice-looking officer? Like... well, despite the looks, he is nice, but I am not sure of that yet.

"I would love to if you would let me order and pay for your food," he said.

…

"He really paid for our meals," Chelsey says like it is a very unbelievable thing while putting the food down. "He is charming." She took a seat in front of me.

"Where is he now?" I asked.

The two of them ordered the food, so I went to the seats beside the windows alone.

"He is talking to some police officers. There are so many gorgeous policemen here! That is also why I am never leaving Xander." She laughed. "You know what? He asked a lot of questions about you." She said and tucked a bunch of fries into her mouth.

"Why did he? What questions?" I asked, dipping two fries in ketchup.

"He likes you, simple as that. He asked me if we've been friends for long, if I know your story, if you have a boyfriend, what year level you are now-"

"Okay, enough. Don't say that he likes me already just because he asked those. It can be that he is like surveying for his brother's sake in the subdivision?" I seriously said, but she just laughed at me like she was talking to a kid. "Really?"

"Sorry." She said while chuckling.

I was about to speak again, but a waitress with an oversized tie on her head excused me and put down waffles with a white rose beside them. "Officer Rivera wouldn't tip me if I didn't give you that white rose."

…