Chapter 2: Nikki

Ito ang unang araw na pumasok ako sa bagong klase ko sa Philosophy. I chose to sit at the back upang hindi agad ako makita ni Sir Neo but I guess it can't be helped. I know that he's aware that a new student is on his class. Gayunpaman, pinili kong sa likod maupo dahil sa likod din naman ang pwesto ni Nikki.

"Bakit ba rito ka sa likuran pumupwesto Nikks?" I asked her. Hindi katangkaran si Nikki kaya hindi convenient sa kanya na maupo dito sa likuran.

She pulled me and whispered into my ear. "Nasa likuran kasi ang mga gwapo. Example ha, Richard, Errol, Silver, yung ex mong si Daven at... Si Semper."

"What?!"

"Oo si Semper!" Excited niyang bulalas.

"No! I mean, kaklase mo si Daven?!" Bakit hindi ko alam ang tungkol doon? Sabagay, we broke up last semester kaya hindi ko na alam ang kanyang class schedule sa semester na ito. Why would I be as surprised as this? Lumipat ako ng schedule, and this is the schedule of engineering students kung saan ilan lamang kaming estudyante na mula sa ibang college at department ang naliligaw sa sched na ito. Silly me.

"Why? Hindi mo alam?" She covered her mouth in surprise. "Oh my God, oh my God! Sorry Violet, I forgot... Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" Her reaction was exaggerated so I pulled her hand from her mouth and looked around.

"Ano ka ba, ayos lang. Huwag ka ngang magpahalata!" Wika ko sa kanya. Nope, it wasn't okay. Kung alam ko lamang na magiging kaklase ko si Daven dito, I shouldn't have rescheduled my class. Baka kasi isipin niya na sinusundan ko siya o baka isipin ng buong school lalo na nina Iradessa na sinadya kong lumipat dahil kay Daven.

"Paano 'yan ngayon?" Tanong ni Nikki. Well I was also asking the same question to myself. Paano na ngayon? This isn't a win-win situation even if I choose one. Kung babalik ako sa dating klase, that would be a hassle on the part of the professor. Sigurado rin na hindi lamang iyon ang magiging huling clash namin ni Iradessa. And if I leave this class, it would appear that I'm a loser dahil umiiwas pa rin ako sa kanya. And to think, he's the one who cheated on me!

Kung hindi naman ako aalis, how can I deal with Daven's presence? Paano ako aaktong normal sa harapan niya? Hindi pa ako handa.

Just then, the door flung open at pumasok doon ang grupo ng mga lalaking maingay. Daven's friends. My knees weakened and my hands became cold habang isa-isa silang pumasok at nag-ingay sa loob. I immediately look at my clean notes in front, stared at it like there were something there that I should memorize.

"Woah..." Isang kamay ang humampas sa mesa ko, and it made me flinch. Minsan lang may napapadpad na estudyante mula sa ibang college, on my case, I am in the philo class of the engineering students. My ID lanyard tells them I wasn't from the College of Engineering.

It was Silver Torres. "A babe. Hey dudes, a new babe's here—" Hindi niya natuloy ang sasabihin dahil nagulat siya nang makita ako. He forced a smile and walked backward.

"Where?" Boses ng lalaking kasunod ni Silver.

I exhaled heavily and raised my face towards them, meeting Daven's eyes. For a second, I thought I'll be lost in those eyes, but it only took a second or two before he looked away.

"Hello Violet!" Masiglang bati ni Errol. Among Daven's friends, Errol is the one who usually talks to me. Isang pilit na ngiti ang ibinigay ko sa kanya bago siya umupo sa upuang hindi kalayuan sa amin. Daven sat beside him and his spot gives me a perfect view of the side of his face. Pinilit ko naman ang sarili kong huwag siyang sulyapan but I guess it can't be helped. Daven is physically unforgettable. He's got the striking features that leaves an image of him in your mind. Kahit papaano ay naging mabuting boyfriend din naman siya— except what happened before we broke up.

The door opened and Mister Demetrio entered. He walked inside the classroom while his eyes roam around as if he is searching for something... Or for someone. When his eyes were on me, I saw his lips twitched, and a smile emerged. It was a smile with a thousand meanings on it.

"I see we have a new student."

It wasn't funny but the class laughed, especially the girls. Palibhasa kasi ay may gusto sila kay Sir Neo. Truth is that may hitsura talaga ito at ilang taon lamang ang tanda sa amin.

"How about introducing yourself to the class Miss..." He paused and looked at the paper that he was holding. Meh, he doesn't need to act as if he doesn't know my name. "Violet. Violet Dizon."

I wanted to protest. This isn't elementary or high school and introductions aren't necessary. Wala akong nagawa kundi tumayo na lamang at akmang magsasalita nang muli itong nagsalita.

"Here. In front." I looked at his fingers pointing on the area beside him. I felt Nikki's hand pressed mine kaya nginitian ko siya. Humakbang ako papunta sa harap at hinarap ang mga kaklase ko. On my side, I can sense Sir Neo's x-ray looks from my head to foot.

"Hi I'm Violet Dizon. I just transferred to this class." I looked at everyone around and even at Daven. Only that he wasn't looking at me. His eyes were on his phone while a sweet smile was on his lips. It would have been a wonderful sightseeing him smile ngunit masakit iyon para sa akin. I know they're waiting for me to add more on my introduction, but I started to step back to my seat. Nakaisang hakbang pa lamang ako nang bigla akong napatigil dahil marahas na bumukas ang pinto.

A guy in an all-black outfit entered. His black shirt hangs loose on his body, and I took a glance at his muscled arms. He was wearing a beanie on his head but despite the black beanie's presence, I can see his bed-made hair.

My eyes were now on his face which almost gave me a heart attack. Those coal black lackluster eyes were familiar. It was the same eyes that I saw the other day who was standing behind Nikki. I can clearly see his tiny mole on the tip of his nose, just above his nostrils.

Bigla na lamang akong kinabahan. Kung naaalala ko ang lahat ng detalye ng mukha niya, then he must really be behind Nikki that day! Imposible kasing mapansin ko ang maliit niyang nunal habang nasa field siya. I cannot see those eyes in that distance! Ngunit papaanong nangyaring sa isang kurap ko ay nasa kabilang bahagi ng field na siya?

It's impossible. It can't be true. Then the side of his lips tilted up. Hindi iyon ngiti, it was a smirk. He smirked at me and then he looked into my eyes, in a steady gaze which suddenly made my hair on my neck stand. It was a scary smirk coming from a gorgeous face that didn't seem simple to read through.

Biglang nanghina ang mga tuhod ko. Bakit may nakakatakot siyang presensya? His eyes were still fix on me and I don't know what I should do. Nanlalambot na ang tuhod ko kaya ipinasya kong maghanap ng anumang mahahawakan bilang suporta ang gagawin ko. I think I will fall any moment from now.

Don't fall.

The voice was deep and sexy. But it is more dangerous than the previous adjectives that I used. Hindi iyon boses ni Sir Neo... o ng kahit sino. It was a voice that I heard for the first time. Is it Semper?

But his lips weren't moving. It was still tilted on the side, annoying me. But... Where did I hear that voice? He wet his lower lip with his tongue while his eyes were not blinking, still maintaining a steady gaze at me.

Is he talking in my head? Alam kong imposible iyon ngunit... My eyes grew wider as I felt my knees wobble upon such thoughts. The next thing I knew was that my sight became blurry and my knees couldn't support the body.

***

"Patawarin mo ako Violet... Gumising ka na! Gumising ka lang, ililibre kita ng maraming fries!"

Ang boses na iyon ni Nikki ang narinig ko. Nang iminulat ko ang mga mata ko ay nasa school clinic ako. I slowly got up and felt my body, but nothing hurts.

"Gising ka na?" Gulat na wika ni Nikki. "Hinintay mo ba talaga sabihin kong ililibre kita ng fries? Hoy joke lang iyon!"

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya at muling pinakiramdaman ang sarili. No wound, no cast in my head, not even a single bandaid. I am really fine, but what am I doing here?

"Nikks?"

"Joke lang 'yung fries, wag mong seryosohin!" She said with a wide grin.

"Bakit ako nandito?" Tanong ko na ikinalaki ng mga mata niya. Her mouth dropped open as she blinked fast.

"Hindi mo alam?" Paninigurado niya.

"It's unclear." Masyadong nalilito ang isipan ko kaya ayaw kong mag-isip kung paano ako humantong dito.

Her lips frowned. "Hinimatay ka. Sa kamay ni Sir Neo!"

"What?" Bakit naman ako hihimatayin? Nag-agahan naman ako, and I wasn't the weak type. And of all people, bakit kay Sir Neo pa?

"OA mo girl! Disgusted na disgusted 'yang reaksyon ng mukha mo eh yung ibang babae nga halos magkunwari na rin na hihimatayin, mahawakan niya lang!" Sagot ni Nikki. "Sabagay, hindi ka naman ibang babae. Ikaw si Violet. At si Daven lang ang gwapo para sa'yo kaya crash out na 'yang si Sir Neo."

I do not understand. Why did I pass out? Tinanong ko iyon kay Nikki at bahagya akong nagulat sa sagot niya.

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Matapos mong makipag-eye to eye kay Semper, hinimatay ka na!"

Semper? That guy? Yes, I remember it now. His eyes, his smirk and his voice. In my head. Sigurado akong nagmumula nga sa ulo ko ang salitang naririnig ko. It wasn't directly from his mouth.

"Sinong nagdala sa akin dito?"

"That is a very interesting question," she replied like she's answering a beauty pageant's Q and A. "Guess who?"

"Nikks—"

I silently wished that it was Daven who brought me here. I want to think that he still cares for me kaya dinala niya ako dito.

"May tama ka!" She replied with joy. "Si Daven nga!" Pumalakpak pa siya samantalang natigilan naman ako. Daven brought me here? But why? I thought he doesn't care for me anymore?

"Anong tama ako? I wasn't thinking of Daven!" I denied and looked away. Mind reader ba 'tong babaeng ito?

"Jusko Violet, alam na alam ko 'yang pagba-blush mong 'yan ha kaya wag kang mag-deny. Iniisip mong si Daven ang nagdala sa'yo dito, well tama ka naman," wika niya. Nakaturo pa sa namumula kong pisngi ang daliri ni Nikki.

"Tell me in detail."

"Ganito kasi," kwento ni Nikki. "Hinimatay ka," she acted out the part that I pass out and landed on the bed. "Sinalo ka ng matitipunong braso ni Sir Neo." Uh, I hate the dreamy look in Nikki's eyes. "Pagkatapos ay sinabi ni Semper, Dadalhin ko siya sa clinic." Nikki even imitated a deep voice. "At! Alam mo ba ang sagot ni Sir Neo?"

I rolled my eyes on her storytelling style. Pwede bang ituloy-tuloy na lamang niya ang pagkukuwento? "What?"

"No! I can manage." Again, Nikki's eyes became dreamy. "Oh Violet! If only how many girls are jealous at you kanina!"

Inayos ko ang unan sa likuran ko. "It's nothing to be jealous of."

"Girl, wala pa tayo sa exciting part. Nag-insist pa rin si Papa Semper!" My eyes grew wider habang naghihintay sa karugtong ng kwento ni Nikki. "Ngunit nagmatigas si Sir! At nagsukatan sila ni Sir Neo ng tingin until...."

"Until what?"

She made a face and pouted her lips. "Until Daven stood and get you from Sir Neo's arm, carried you here and..."

Isa na lang itong si Nikki. Baka masapak ko na ito sa susunod. "And?" I wriggled my brows to show her how curious I am.

"And left. Umalis siya pagkatapos kang ilapag dito. Tapos."

My shoulders fell. Akala ko naman kung ano na. That's natural. Hindi naman obligasyon ni Daven na bantayan ako. Maybe I should thank him for his kindness.

Tumayo ako mula sa kama ngunit pinigilan ako ni Nikki sa pamamagitan ng paghila sa akin pabalik sa kama.

"Teka, teka... Saan ka pupunta?"

I stretched my arm to show her that I'm fine. "Magpapasalamat lang ako kay Daven."

"Wag na. Nagpasalamat na ako ng sobrang dami." She gently pushed me back to the bed. "Diyan ka lang. Mahiga ka lang diyan."

Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa pagtataka. I tried getting up again but still she pushed me back to bed. "Diyan ka lang kasi. Wag ka munang lumabas."

Now I'm more curious. Kapag pinigilan ka sa nais mong gawin ay mas lalo mo lamang nanaisin na gawin ang nais mo. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my shoes and back pack.

"Violet!" she shouted as I head towards the exit of the curtain.

The moment I step outside, I silently wished I should have listened to Nikki. Dahil paglabas ko ay si Iradessa at Daven ang natanawan ko. Iradessa was on the bed while Daven was feeding her. Hindi man lamang nila isinarado ang kurtina na para bang sinadya nilang huwag iyong isarado upang makita ko sila.

I dropped my shoes and it made a sound kaya napalingon sila sa akin. Daven look at me with a blank expression while Iradessa let out a naughty smile like she's saying she scored. Nikki pulled my back inside and pushed me to bed.

"Sabi ko naman sa'yo, 'di ba?"

I tried to compose myself. As I expected, hindi ko pa kayang makita si Daven na may kasamang iba. It still hurts.

"Yung babaeta talagang yan! Alam mo bang nang kumalat sa campus na dinala ka ni Daven dito, nagpa-collapse-collapse din 'yang babaeng 'yan?" Nikki said in a low voice. "Sana nga natuluyan at nabagok ang ulo!"

"Nikks!" Kahit na nakakainis si Iradessa, hindi naman mabuting isumpa siya. I do not believe in putting things the way I wanted it.

"Ano? Totoo naman eh. Nakakainis 'yang babaeng iyan! Sarap tusukin ng walis tingting ang mata!" nanggigigil na wika ni Nikii.

"Hindi mabuti 'yang ganyan."

Pinaikot niya ang kanyang eyeballs at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "Amen! Ikaw na mabait! Bakit kasi hindi ka na lang ginawang anghel eh!"

"Sana nga no..." If I were an angel, I wouldn't be feeling pain right now. It would have been great to be an angel. You couldn't ask for more.

"Joke lang! Naniwala ka naman sa anghel! Hindi naman 'yan sila totoo!" wika ni Nikkii.

"Angels are real," protesta ko.

"Amen ulit!" she said and sat beside me. "At kung totoo man sila, I want to meet one. Pero saka lamang 'yon kapag patay na ako."

"Who knows there are angels around here," I said. Nakikita ko pa sa isipan ko kung paano sinubuan ni Daven si Iradessa. Noong kami pa ay hindi ko maalala na nasubuan ako ni Daven. Well, I wasn't sick so maybe that's the reason. Hindi rin naman ako sobrang sweet na nagpapasubo, may sariling kamay naman ako at hindi baldado. But... I must admit it is one of the sweetest things a guy could ever do to his girl.

"Kung may anghel nga sa paligid, I think I will stick to humans," wika ni Nikki. "Angels are good and I like bad, therefore I cannot like angels."

"I like good. I think I will like angels," wika ko naman sa kanya at niyakap ang unan.

"But not all angels are good. Oh, I like vampires than angels! I wouldn't mind being bitten kung mala-Damon ng Vampire Diaries or Edward Cullen ng Twilight ang kakagat sa akin," Nikki said.

"I prefer the werewolf Jacob." I tried to grab the pillow from her ngunit naiiwas niya iyon.

"The bottom line is; angels, vampires and werewolves do not exist, okay? Huwag kang magpapaniwala sa mga ganyan."

"They exist!" Protesta ko.

"Oo na! Oo na! Pahinga ka na lang muna diyan," she returned the pillow and pushed me to lie down. "Matulog ka na muna. For now, I'll be your angel hangga't nasa labas pa 'yung bampira at werewolf."

Nikki winked at me at napahiga naman ako. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at nagpahinga na lamang doon.

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