Xyla’s POV

“Why can’t I? It’s my dress right? Oh, let me rephrase it… it’s used to be my GOWN for my birthday. Why can’t I see it?”

“You can’t Laur. It’s a surprise.”

“Oh I hate surprises then. What if I didn’t like the design? What if it isn’t good on me?”

“What if you’ll sit and calm down?” Ugh! I hate this! I have given my measurements but they can’t at least let me see or have a peek with my used to be called gown on that day. I cross my arms rolled my eyes as I sit on the couch.

“You’re totally unfair Laurence. You saw yours but mine’s can’t? That’s… that’s UGH! I’m freaking going out of here!” Tumayo na ako’t lumabas ng stall ni Madame Klein.

“Laur! Where are you going?” I didn’t bother to look back.

“Acad I guess. Still have classes and you tug me here where I won’t supposed to be having a little peek with my… whatever. Just leave you behind.” I said and continue walking. Every birthday I haved, I always have a little peek with what I’m going to wear but now I can’t? What a joke right? Bahala sila. If I didn’t like it then they wore it by themselves.

Luhan’s POV

Nagpalinga-linga ako sa bintana. Where is she? Chen said she didn’t attend their first two subjects, tapos ngayon wala rin siya dito. Where did you go Xyla? Napatingin ako kay Sehun dahil panay siko niya sakin.

“Oh?” Tiningnan ko yung tinitingnan niya’t halos mangatog ang tuhod ko ng Makita ko sa harap namin si Mr. Panof. He’s just looking… seriously at biglang tumaas ang isa niyang kilay.

“Stand up.” He said eyeing at me. I stood up as fast as I can. Napatingin ako kina Sehun and they give me a ‘bahala-ka-diyan’ look. These guys, kung kailan ko kailangan nang tulong mukhang dun ko sila hindi maaasahan. I smiled awkwardly to Mr. Panof.

“S-Sir?” I stammered.

“On the board. Answer equation number one.” He said pointing the board. I look on it. How I hate Calculus… I love Math but not Calculus. Aish! I frown as I took the chalk on his hand. I walk slowly on the board.

“You can do it Prince Luhan.”

“Geesh… I’ll capture the moment.” I heard murmurs around. I look at the side and I saw some girls smiling giddily. I just smiled at them and they act like fainting or something stupidity, OA in short. Tss.

“Oh man, this is ludicrous of you Luhan.” I whispered as I look at the equation written on the board. What’s with this Math problem? Ugh! I don’t have any idea answering this. I’m not listening because… because I’m focus of… Arghhh! I mess my hair and heaved a sigh. I look at the back.

“The time is running Mr---” Mr. Panof was cut off by the sudden noise made by the slamming of the door. We all eyed to it and I saw her. It’s her… my heart was rumbling oddly again and I felt a little weirdness… what’s with the feeling that you’re giving me?

“Ms. Salvador? Do you know what time is it?” I’m just looking at her while wearing a little smile. She looked at me blankly as she always does and turn her head to Mr. Panof.

“Don’t you have watch Sir? It’s 1:20 in the afternoon.” She said sarcastically as she rubs her brow. Xyla… what’s with you that makes me feel this way? The whole class laughs a little.

“Ms. Salvador I know the time and I’m not asking for it. I was saying is, why you’re late? It’s almost in the middle of the hour and you have guts to enter my class?” Napatingin ako kay Mr. Panof and he’s dead meat… I mean, serious. I look at Xyla who was just standing still giving Mr. Panof a blank expression.

“The mere thing Sir is, I made it and still willing to listen to your oh-so-bewildered intellectual class.” I chuckled slightly. This girl isn’t afraid. Mr. Panof was just gritting his teeth and soon sighed.

“Fine. But because of being late, mind helping your classmate answer the problem on the board?” She then looked at me and I grin. I heard her hissed and walk closely to me.

“Hi.”I said and rub my nape. She was just looking at me straightly.

“Is it a two letters word? Is it an abbreviation as of humidity index? Hawaii? Or is it a four letters word means elevated? Or is it a term used due to being excited or stupefied by or as if by a drug?” Seriously? Whats with her? I chuckled sheepishly. She then gets the chalk on my hand and pushed me a little on the side and she starts answering the problem on the board. I was just looking at her.

“What did I tell you Lu? Didn’t I say that you should be close to this Math friend of yours? Did you even listen to me?” We were just talking low. Murmuring that was it is, I think. I shook my head a little and face the board but my eyes were on her. She was just covering her nose while writing.

“Where have you been? Why you’re out of sight?” She looked at me but then look back at the board.

“My cousin picked me up and I’m expecting that… Aish! Just don’t ask. I’m not in the mood.” Tinapon niya lang yung chalk sa chalkbox and turn her back on me. She walk at her seat leaving me… stunned. What’s with the sudden actions?

Xyla’s POV

*Whistling a song while kicking the air a little with both hands on the coat’s pockets*

Why life is as boring as this? I was just standing, no, leaning in front of Snoe while waiting for the others. Bat ba ang tagal nila? I want to go home already. I’m tired. I stretched my arms and rotate my head 360 degrees. Nah, I just turn it around, side by side, up and down and hold my nape. I’m stiff here but nobody’s coming till now.

“5 more minutes and I’ll leave them.” I get my phone on my pocket and was about to call one of them but I notice someone in front of me so I put it back. I give attention to that someone and he’s giving me a silly smile.

“Hi.” He said. I shrug my shoulders and ignore him but he keeps getting into my sight. Nagpapapansin ba ‘to o ano?

“I don’t entertain strangers so if you mind, just leave.”

“I’m Jackson. You are?” He offered his hand but I give him a I’m-not-interested-just-go-away look.

“I’m not asking your name neither do I, giving mine to yours.” He chuckled and put his hand back to his pocket.

“You’re so hard to tame.”

“I’m not wild.”

“Yes you are. And maybe I don’t have a choice but to do this.” I was surprised when he suddenly lift me and put me on his shoulder like as if I was a sack of rice. I hit his back.

“Put me down you idiot! Where are you bringing me?! You’re insane! Put me down! Ahhh! Heeelp!!” I keep screaming but no one’s around. Sino nga bang makakarinig sakin kung nagsiuwian na ang mga estudyante di ba? Kung bakit ba naman hinintay ko pa yung mga lalaking yon? Is this a kidnapping? Shocks! Help! Tao! Luhan! Chanyeol! Somebody! I tried reaching my phone on my pocket and call whoever I can call. Shit! Ang tagal naman sumagot nito.

“Hello?” Walastek! Ba’t nakaloudspeaker ‘to?!

“Give me that phone!” This guy tried getting me my phone.

“Xandria?! Hello?! What’s going on? Sinong kasama mo? – Is that Xandria? –” I
 heard Chanyeol’s voice on the line.

“Creature, help me! Chanyeol help! Someone’s trying to kidna---” I didn’t finish what I’m going to say when he gets the phone on my hand at itinago yon sa bulsa niya.

“You jerk!”

Chanyeol’s POV

“Matagal pa ba yan? Baka hinihintay na tayo ni Xandria.” I said as I looked at what Chen and Kyungsoo’s doing together with their groupmates. Di na kasi pwede sa bahay dahil baka maulit yung nangyari noon. At wala na akong tiwala sa dalawang babaeng ‘to.

“Sandali nalang ‘to. Sisave nalang namin.” I sighed and get out of the computer room.

“Hintayin ko nalang kayo sa baba.” I yelled from outside and leave them. I walk downstairs and I accidentally saw this guy. Nagkatinginan lang kami pero nilagpasan ko lang siya.

“Hello?” I heard him said on the line.

“Xandria?!” Automatic akong napahinto at napalingon sa kanya. Xandria? Isa lang naman ang kilala kong Xandria.

“Hello?! What’s going on? Sinong kasama mo?” Kasama? May nangyayari ba?

“Is that Xandria?” Napatingin siya sakin at sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin. His phone was still in his ear.

“HELLO?! HELLO?! D^MN!” Binaba niya yon at nagmamadaling bumaba pero pinigilan ko siya at hinawakan sa braso.

“Si Xandria ba yon ha? May nangyari bang masama sa kanya?” Seryoso ako’t seryoso rin siya. We’re just giving each other’s killing current.

“May problema ba dito Chanyeol?” I look upstairs to see the five going down. Hinila ni Khier ang braso niya mula sa kamay ko.

“KHIER! GUIZ!” Napalingon kaming lahat sa tumatakbong si Allaine. She’s gasping when she stop in front of us. Nakahawak pa siya sa mga tuhod niya’t pawis na pawis.

“Not now Nerd.” Khier was about to pass her but she holds his arm.

“Khier… guiz…” Pabalik-balik lang ang tingin niya samin and she looks lurid.

“Spill it out Nerdy! I’m in a hurry!” I saw her gulped.

“Xandria…”

“What about Xandria? Can you say it straightly?! Don’t go dilly-dal---”

“Hoooy! Mga buang na kaibigan ni Xandriaaaa!” Napako ang atensyon namin dun sa dalawang tumatakbo palapit samin.

“O! Ano na namang ginagawa mo dito big-mouth?” Tanong ni Chen kay Treshia.

“Manahimik ka muna pwede?! Wala akong oras sa inyo! Kailangan niyong tulungan si Xandria!”

“Bakit? Anong nangyari? Kung may sasabihin kayo, pwede, sabihin niy---” Inis kong sabi.

“Someone kidnapped her!” I was cut off by what they said. Kid---WHAT?!

“KIDNAPPED?!” We all exclaimed except for this guy. Yun ba ang itinawag ni Xandria kanina sa kanya? Bakit siya pa ang tinawagan?

“BY WHOM?! DID YOU SEE WHERE THEY BROUGHT HER?!”

“I saw only one and I think he’s an upper class. I don’t know. I can’t see his badge clearly. I think he’ll bring her at the back of UCB and---” Di ko na pinatapos si Nerdy at kinaladkad ko na siya ng Makita kong nagmamadaling tumakbo si Khier. Bakit hindi niya sinabi agad? Alam niya pero ayaw niyang sabihin, para ano? Para maging taga pagligtas ni Xandria? He’s a total idiot!

“SANDALI! MADADAPA AKO!”

“KAKALADKARIN KITA KAHIT MADAPA KA PA! GET ON YOUR FEET NERD AND RUN FASTER! XANDRIA NEEDS US!” I yelled still tugging her. Narating naming lahat yung likod ng UCB pero wala kaming nakita. It was an empty field.

“Sure ka bang dit---” Napatakbo kami kung saan nanggaling yung sigaw. It’s her.

“You let go of me you d^mn stupid freaking man!” Susugod na sana ako pero pinigilan ako ni Tao.

“Don’t interrupt. Just watch first. Sayang naman yung mga naituro ko sa kanya kung hindi niya magagamit. Makialam tayo pag di niya kaya.”

“E g^go ka pala e! Kita mo namangADFGHJKL@^&*!” Tinakpan agad ni DO yung bunganga ni Treshia.

“Tumahimik ka pwede? Kahit ngayon lang.” Di ko nalang sila pinagtuunan ng pansin.

“Seryoso ka ba Tao? Paano kung masaktan siya?”  Tanong ko.

“Lower your voice kung ayaw mong magfreak out ang lalaking yan at gawan siya ng masama pag nakita tayo.” I ignore him and look at that guy. Upper class nga siya. Anong kailangan niya kay Xandria? Ibinaba niya na siya pero hawak niya parin ang mga kamay nito. Nagngingitngit ako sa inis. Walang pwedeng basta-bastang humahawak sa kanya.

“Let go or you’ll taste my fury!” She said eyeing at the guy. That crazy bastard just chuckled. I was surprised a little when she kicked him leaving him lying on the ground while holding his stomach.

“You deaf. I told you to let go, now you’re in pain.” Nawala nang kaunti ang kaba ko. Mukha ngang kaya niya ang sarili niya.

“You really are not just Xandria.”

“Oh yeah. Because I’m Xandria Salvador you fool!” She said as she cross her arms looking at the man.

“What she’s doing? She’s supposed to be running.”

“Oo nga. Chance niya na yan. Sagipin na natin siya!” We all hushed Allaine and Mey.

“You can’t hide anything from me. Even you change your hair or eyes, I know it was you.” Kumunot ang noo ko’t nagkatinginan kaming lahat.

“What is he talking about?” Chen asked and I shrug my shoulders.

“Yeah, it was really me. Hindi naman siguro ako ikaw di ba?” I chuckled a little. She’s right.

“What do you want from me? Why an upper class like you, tried to run away with me? No, you tried to kidnap me inside the school premises.”

“Kidnapped? That’s absurd. I run you away but I didn’t kidnap you.”

“Oh really? Then how do you explain this? Tell me the truth, what do you really want from me? I have no time listening to your paragraph form message because there are still others waiting for me kaya pwede ba? Pakibilis bilisan lang?” That guy stood up and removes the dirt from his pants and look directly at Xandria.

“I just need you.” What? Her?

“You got to be kidding me. Is that how important I am?” Kung alam mo lang kung gaano ka kaimportante Xandria… Mahalaga ka pa sa kayaman sa mundo. Tumawa lang ulit yung lalaking yon.

“Yes you’re that important and I want you to marry me.” MARRY?!

“Marry his d^mn face! Di ako papayag!” Saad ni Luhan at tumango-tango kami.

“HA-HA. Are you kidding me? And why should I marry a man like you?”

“You should because I know something big about you. Let’s just say that I know your little darkest secret.” Secret?

“What about my secret? What do you know about secrets if it was a secret?” We just keep listening.

“I know you’re hiding your true identity. So if you want me to shut my mouth, you better marry me. I’m doing you a big favor.” He said. Favor eh? He’s blackmailing her. Kating-kati na talaga ako’t susugod na sana pero may pumigil sakin kaya napaharap ako’t itong Creature pala na ‘to kung tawagin ni Xandria.

“Don’t interrupt. Just keep listening.” I ignore him and look at Xandria. She became silent. Are you hiding something from us? I saw her walk towards him

“An upper class wanting a middle class, eh? Let me think of it… Don’t tell me nalulugi na ang kumpanya niyo’t the only key to continue striving is to marry a big person?” Pulubi pala ‘tong lalaking ‘to eh. Alam niya sigurong mayaman sina Xandria. Tumawa lang ang lalaking yon. Bakit ba panay tawa niya? Putulin ko na kaya yang ngala-ngala niya para di na siya makatawa?

“Napakatalino mo talaga.” Xandria come closer to him and pinned him on the tree. What she’s doing?

“How many times should I tell everybody that I am not intelligent? Correction, it’s gifted you idiot.” She suddenly touched the guy’s face making his face turned red. Sino bang hindi kung mahawakan ng malambot niyang kamay di ba? Kaasar! Nanggagalaiti na talaga ako!

“You’re so pathetic wanting my attention. You want to save your company Jackson? By marrying me? Of course…” Tumalikod na siya’t nilagay ang mga kamay niya sa bulsa ng coat niya.

“What i-is your answer?” Lumapit sa kanya yung Jackson… teka nga lang… magkakilala ba sila?

“I will…” She answered.

“What?! Lala would marry him?! No!” Pinigilan namin si Sehun dahil akma siyang susugod.

“Kumalma ka pwede? Maghintay pa tayo. Alam kong hindi basta-basta papayag ng ganon-ganon lang si Xyla.” Kyungsoo said and we nods. Binalik nalang namin ang tingin namin don sa dalawa.

“Yo-you mean… You’ll marry me?” I saw a smile plastered on that Jackson’s face.

“Yes, I will…” She then turn to face that man.

“Never marry a son of a b’tch like you!” She gave him a hard punch.

“See? Told you.” We all chuckled. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I knew she’ll not accept it. Now that guy is sitting on the ground again while holding his face.

“If you’ll going to black mail me, next time, make it more convincing. Ano naman kung ilabas mo ang sikreto ko? I’ll make sure that your company will remain at the bottom. So you better keep your feet on the ground.” Tumalikod na siya ulit at naglakad palayo. The guy chuckled again. Hilig niya na talagang tumawa. Nababaliw na ata siya.

“Then I wouldn’t mind telling everyone that Xandria Salvador, a middle class student is the oh-so-famous upper class princess.”

“What? She’s an upper class? Why? When? How?” We all muttered in confusion.

“Shhh… Just listen.” Natahimik kaming lahat at nakikinig lang.

“Shut up Jackson.”

“That the princess that everyone thought was in England was just here in the Acad hiding herself as someone else.” Is he telling the truth? Or he mistook Xandria for someone else? But she knew him.

“Shut up you moron!”

“I wouldn’t mind telling everyone that you’re the dominant daughter of one of the twin shareholders of the Acad… Laurene Grayson.” Natahimik kaming lahat.

“I-I h-heard it ri-right? He s-ays, s-she’s Laurene...” Utal na sabi ni Mey. Pakiramdam ko huminto lahat pati ang paghinga ko. Is it true? That she’s… Laurene?

“I said, shut the hell up you dork!” Sinipa niya lang ulit yung lalaking yon pero tumawa lang yung Jackson.

“Are you afraid? Afraid that someone knew your little dark secret?” Hinawakan niya sa kwelyo yung lalaking yon.

“You know what? I’m not afraid to murder you right here, right now so you and your big mouth would shut up!” She was about to hit him again when we all walk towards them.

“Hold on Xyla… Xandria, Laurene or whoever you are.” Tao said and they both looked at us. I saw her eyes widen and the guy just grin on us. I put my hands on my pockets. Baka hindi ako makapagpigil. Mukha siyang gulat pero nagbago ulit ang ekspresyon niya’t naging seryoso.

“I think they knew who you really are now.” The guy said and she eyed at him.

“Thanks to you. No need to hide anything anymore. See you at your funeral Jackson.” She gave the guy a hard punch and he’s lying dead on the ground. Tumayo rin siya’t pinagpagan ang suot niya’t inilagay ang mga kamay niya sa mga bulsa ng coat niya. I look at her. So she’s really Laurene? Hindi niya ba ikakaila yon? All this time kasama lang namin siya? Pero bakit? Why did she hide it from us? She didn’t look at us and was about to pass us but Tao hold her arm.

“Tell us the truth.”

“You heard it all don’t you? Then you heard the truth. Nakasanayan niyo na talagang mageavesdrop. Let’s not make it ambiguous.” She yanked Tao’s hand away and passed us. We look at her.

“Are you really Laurene, Xandria?” Tanong ko sa kanya. I want to hear it coming from her. Huminto siya pero di niya kami nilingon.

“Ulit-ulit nalang ba tayo? Sige. You want to hear it from me? Then yes.” Humarap siya samin wearing her famous blank expression. That expression na nakita ko dati sa babaeng bagong dating sa bahay ni Auntie. That old expression of her.

“I’m the famous upper class princess Xandria Laurene Salvador Grayson. Happy?” Natahimik kaming lahat. So siya nga. Ba’t kailangan niyang maglihim? Bakit kailangan niyang magsinungaling? Noong pinipilit namin siyang siya si Xyla, ibig sabihin, siya talaga yon?Tumalikod na siya ulit at naglakad palayo. I don’t know if I would be happy. I felt… betrayed.

~~~

A/N : Waaaah~ Alam na nila! OH EM GI! What will happen? Is this a Clash?