LEO WAS done preparing. Lahat ng gamit niya ay kumpleto na sa bag niya, even his wallet was loaded, all thanks to his hard work during summer. He kept on playing with his phone, editing the photos he took yesterday, pagkatapos ay papalitan ulit niya. He can't decide kung anong klase ng edit ba ang gusto niya.

"Pwede ba, Leo? Pumirmi ka nga! Para kang inasinan na bulate!" Sinamaan siya nito ng tingin.

Sa kasamang palad, ang ate niya ang maghahatid sa kanya sa School. He's not a toddler anymore but they'd usually act na parang mawawala siya anytime. Leo inwardly sighed and sat properly. Inayos din niya ang pagkakalagay ng seatbelt niya kahit na maayos naman na 'yon.

Ngayon pa lang niya malalaman kung saang section siya mapupunta. And he's praying hard to God na sana ay kaklase niya ang babae na nakita niya noon. She was the reason why he changed his mind after all.

"Malapit mo na ba matapos ang pinapagawa ko sayo?" Pisces asked.

He sighed and showed her his phone screen. Obviously, dahil hindi siya mapakali, hindi rin niya natapos ang pinapagawa nito. And that was to layout the Café Instagram account.

"Mamaya, tatapusin ko 'to." Leo said like he was promising.

In his mind, gusto niya na manalangin ang kapatid niya na makakuha siya ng kahit kaunting inspirasyon mamaya sa klase. Sunod sunod na lumilitaw ang mga ideya sa utak niya sa tuwing naiisip niya ang dalaga.

Sometimes, he thinks that he's using her for his own benefits. He earned the money he has right now with his own sweat, pero kung hindi naman dahil dito, wala siya ni isang magagawa sa pinapatrabaho sa kanya.

When they arrived in School, hinayaan na siya ng kapatid niya na hanapin ang classroom niya. It wasn't that hard, lalo na at palagi siyang nandito noon. His sister was a former student here.

He clicked his tongue when he finally saw his name. Ilang minuto niya pa 'yon na tinitigan habang pilit niyang inaalala ang pangalan na tinawag sa babae.

"Kuya, umuwi ka na please? Kaya ko na."

Leo's head instantly looked back when he heard that familiar voice. May kasama ito na lalaki, he looks like her, in some angles. The man was tall, halata na tambay ito sa gym dahil sa klase ng katawan na mayroon ito. Leo wondered if girls at their age likes a man like him.

His question in his mind got an immediate answers when girls at their age started to whispered and some were already yelling how handsome and nice the man body was.

Hindi niya pinansin ang mga ito. His eyes were already set on the girl beside the man, looking for her name. His breathing hitched when she stopped in front of him. Agad siya na tumabi at pumasok sa loob ng classroom and find a vacant seat.

"Kuya, you don't need to—"

"Shush, baby. I'm just checking..." his brother said when he enter the room with her.

Nakapamulsa ito at iniikot ang tingin sa buong classroom. Lalo na sa mga kaklase na lalaki ng kapatid nito. Of course, he's not an exemption. Nakita niya kung paano umiwas ang mga kaklase nila sa tuwing napapatingin ang kapatid nito sa gawi nila.

And as for Leo, he can proudly say that he's a brave rat for not avoiding the Lion's gaze. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin niya ang pagtaas ng sulok ng labi nito sa kanya.

Was that a warning? Leo wondered.

"Damn, his presence is no joke! Kinilabutan ako bigla!"

Leo heard someone said from his back.

"Hi, is that your brother?" Someone asked her.

"Yes," matipid na sagot nito.

"I heard from my brother... he's a terrible man. But I don't think so, ang gwapo niya masyado para maging bad boy right?"

Leo's brows furrowed. So, some of his classmates were delusional? Who says handsome men can't do something terrible?

"Sigurado ka ba?"

Tinakpan ni Leo ang bibig gamit ang palad niya pata itago ang ngisi sa mga labi dahil sa sagot nito.

"Your brother is right. That brother of mine is terrible. So much." She added.

Natahimik ang mga ito at iniwan ito na mag-isa. Leo watched her as she plugged her earphones and slumped on her seat. Mukhang hindi pa rin nito tanggap na hindi HUMSS ang strand nito.

"Sayang, balak ko pa naman sana pormahan."

"Retreat, pre. Angas nung Kuya, kahit kapatid ko hindi kakayanin 'yon. Narinig mo ba? Baby pa raw e,"

Nakaramdam ng inis si Leo nang binuntunan nila 'yon ng tawa.

"Her brother looks so scary. Kahit may kaya na kami sa buhay or kung sino man ang lalaki na lalapit sa kanya... I'm sure, patay ang lalaki na 'yon."

Leo played with his lower lip. Hindi naman nakakatakot ang kapatid nito, maybe he was just being protective. Kahit sino naman, hindi hahayaan na masaktan ang kapatid nila. Pisces, his sister even slapped some kids back when they're young just because they're making fun of him.

Senior high school pa lang sila pero panliligaw na ang nasa utak ng mga ito. Hindi man lang naisip kung pasok ba sila sa standards ng babae na pinag-uusapan nila.

He sighed softly. Baka nga kagaya lang siya ng mga ito, mga naligaw.

Leo was watching her silently. She's now reading a thick book, bago may dumating na teacher, ginawa na lang din niya ang mga dapat niyang gawin. Including the marketing plan of their Café. It was his hobby, natutunan niya 'yon sa kapatid. Hanggang sa mahalin na niya. Photography and Marketing were his first love.

Tsaka lang siya tumigil nang makita ang mga kaklase nila na nagsi-upuan at tumahimik. Tinago niya ang cellphone at notebook sa bag niya at umayos na rin ng upo.

The homeroom teacher introduced herself first. Leo was trying his best not to yawn, ang bagal kasi nitong magsalita. Nasabi rin nito ang journey nito sa kanila, her course before and why did she chose it, at kung paano ito naging teacher. It was an interesting story, the only problem was the way she talked.

"Okay, it's your turn now. Hindi niyo na kailangan tumayo dito sa harapan. Tell us your name, how old are you, why did you choose your strand and what are your possible plans after graduating."

Sunod sunod na tumayo ang mga kaklase nila. He's having a hard time memorising all of their names, or maybe he wasn't really interested. Isang pangalan lang naman ang inaabangan niya.

Some of them introduced themselves clearly, habang ang iba naman ay idinaan sa biro kaya mas lalo silang nagtatagal. Some were nervous to speak. It's natural though.

Leo fixed his posture when it's finally her turn. Nakalugay ang buhok nito. Her fair skin was glowing, lalo at nakatapat dito ang araw. He heard his classmates again praising her beauty.

Even him, was silently praising how gorgeous she was.

She was stunning. A beautiful subject to a great masterpiece.

If only he can use his camera and captured this moment.

She stood up and proudly raised her head. Dominance was overflowing within her.

"My name is Vraiose Cay Lopez Clemente—"

What a beautiful name...

"Clemente?" The teacher asked. "Are you related to Jyrelle Vraxx?"

"He's my brother, ma'am." She honestly answered.

"Kambal mo ba yung nasa ABM?"

"Obviously, ma'am."

"Like brother, like sister. Make sure na hindi mo pasasakitin ang ulo ko, quota na ako sa kapatid mo." Tila pagod na sabi nito.

Some of their classmates chuckled.

"Why did you choose STEM?" The teacher asked.

Vraiose sighed cutely, "I have no choice, ma'am. Puno na po ang slot sa Humanities, and as for my plans after graduating... I'll take Bachelor of Science in Psychology."

"Hmm, a Doctor?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Tumango lang ang teacher nila at lumipat ang tingin sa kanya. Silang dalawa na lang pala ang hindi pa nagpapakilala.

"Leo Erese Davis, 17 years old. I choose this strand because I wanted to explore, I want to learn something new. And... may sinundan ako." He simply said.

Mukhang pagod na ito sa kakatanong kaya pinalagpas siya nito.

Their teacher started to discuss what will be her subject all about and asked them what were they expecting from her. May iba na sumagot, habang nakikinig lang sila.

Wala siya sa mood para mag participate. He was playing with his pen until she finished her time. Leo was bored and couldn't find the exciting part the teachers were telling them.

Nang oras na nila para sa recess. Agad siya na tumayo at mabilis na sinundan si Vraiose. Leo was wondering why was he acting like this towards her. He's acting desperate.

"Vraiose!" He yelled. Maski siya ay nagulad sa biglaan na pagsigaw niya para lang mahabol ito sa hallway.

Tumigil ito sa paglalakad at lumingon sa kanya.

"Vraiose, right?" Leo asked, smiling. While his hands were resting on his knees, catching his own breath.

She titled her head a little while looking at him. "Yes?"

Leo inhaled a large amount of air before he offered his hand to her. He was smiling brightly, not minding if she'll think he's weird.

"Leo Erese Davis." He introduced himself to her. 

☕