UNANG tingin pa lang, alam na ni Leo na si Rayos ang kausap ngayon ng lalaki na kinaiinisan niya. He balled his hand into fist. He can tell that Rayos was feeling uncomfortable, the way she played with her flasks, and the kind of facial expression where she couldn't hide how displeased she was.

"Kapatid 'yon ng girlfriend mo 'diba? Si Vyrlle?" Marco, his friend, asked.

He wanted to say that was his girlfriend, his baby, but his head was aching by the sight of Russel talking comfortably to her. As if wala itong ginawa.

"What kind of bullshit is he saying to her? I've heard, wala 'yan matinong sinasabi sa mga babae sa building nila." Marco added.

Wala talaga. His existence alone was bullshit.

Binilisan niya ang lakad para mapalapit kay Rayos. He was harassing Vyrlle with his offensive jokes, repeatedly asking her to date a guy like him, passing sexual comments and too many to mention. He told him once to stop and report him, kaya lang, kagaya nila ay nakalusot ito dahil sa connection ng mga magulang nito.

Vyrlle told him that she's fine. But the next day, after nila itong i-report sa office at hindi man lang na-suspend ang lalaki, he showed up in school full of bruises.

It turns out that Nicha, their cousin, paid some men to do her bidding. And that was to teach that guy a lesson.

"Marco, ilayo mo agad ang upuan." Utos niya sa kaibigan bago sila makalapit sa pwesto ni Rayos.

Marahan niyang hinawakan sa siko si Rayos at hinila papunta sa likuran niya. He didn't hear it all, but the guy was saying nonsensical words.

Alam niya sa sarili niya na si Rayos ngayon ang kasama niya. Ang nasa tabi niya. But the idiotic guy doesn't know any damn thing, that he kept on spouting offensive words.

He threw a punch and Russel was lucky enough for the reason that his fist did not land on his bruised ugly face. His friends were right on time. Nakahawak sa magkabilang braso niya si Marco at Lancell, habang si Geo naman ang sumalo sa suntok na pinakawalan niya.

Geo shook his head as he massaged his palm using his other hand.

"Gago, sakit nun!" reklamo nito sa kanya.

"Kalmahan mo, Leo, baka ikaw ang ma-suspend niyan." Lancell jokingly punched his stomach.

May humila kay Russel para ilayo ito sa kanya. Which was good, dahil kapag nakikita niya ang mukha nito, mas lalo siyang ginaganahan na gawing punching bag ang mukha nito.

"Vyrlle… you good?" Marco asked his girlfriend. Mali pa nga ang pangalan.

Leo sighed. He's not a fan of PDA but he needed to calm down. Rayos warm body was all he needed.

Akmang yayakap na siya kay Rayos nang gumitna si Marco at hinawakan ulit ni Lancell at Geo ang magkabilang braso niya. Right, walang alam ang mga ito. Especially that Rayos was wearing Vyrlle's red ribbon.

"Leo, may girlfriend ka." Lancell said.

"Kambal niya 'yan. Kamukha lang pero nasa kabilang kanto— I mean, building yung girlfriend mo!" sabi ni Geo.

Leo rolled his eyes when he saw Rayos covering her mouth. He scoffed. She's enjoying the show.

"Let go. That's my girlfriend. She's Rayos, not Vyrlle."

Lumingon si Marco kay Rayos. "Is that… true?"

Rayos pressed her lips together before she nodded her head.

"Hi, I'm Vraiose Cay Clemente. Vyrlle's twin. Leo's girlfriend." Rayos introduced herself. "Nice to meet you!"

A proud smile crept up to his lips. Lancell sneered at him, Geo cursed, and Marco's mouth hung open.

Now that his friends knew. Leo thought that he could pull Rayos in his arms and hug her tightly. He sighed heavily when he noticed all eyes were on them.

Tumingin siya kay Rayos. "Come with me."

"Tang ina… Kami na ang bahala sa gamit mo!" Sigaw ni Lancell.

Tumango lang siya sa kaibigan. Thanks to them, he's not the timid boy he used to be. They treated him as equal. Like how real friends treat each other. They don't call him names. Zodiac. They didn't befriend him just so they could copy his homework.

Diretso lang ang lakad ni Leo hanggang sa mapunta sila sa likod ng abandonadong building. Swerte pa siya dahil nakakita pa siya ng maayos na upuan at lamesa sa mga classrooms.

Nasa tagong parte sila pero pumapasok pa rin ang liwanag.

"Nauna ang kambal ko na napunta dito?" Rayos asked.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Leo sa mga sunflowers na nakatanim.

"Hm, pinupuntahan ako dito kapag kailangan niya ng tao na pwedeng ibuhos ang sama ng loob nito kay Light.  Unfortunately, ako ang tao na 'yon." Leo pulled the chair, saka niya 'yon pinagpagan bago niya ito pina-upo.

Rayos chuckled softly. Inabot ni Leo ang kamay niya at marahan na hinawakan 'yon. It calms him. As expected.

"Mas madalas pa rin na si Lorev ang kasama ni Vyrlle…" he added.

"And the sunflowers?" Rayos looked up at him.

He clicked his tongue and placed his other hand on her shoulder. Gently patting her.

"She planted those sunflowers here and let me took care of them. Para naman daw may purpose ang pagtambay ko dito," aniya at mahinang bumuntong hininga.

Tumawa si Rayos. He doesn't mind taking care of Vyrlle's sunflowers. Kaya lang, he doesn't know how. Kinailangan pa niya na mag re-research para maalagaan ang mga ito nang maayos. Para pa naman pinapatay ang kambal ni Rayos kapag may isang sunflower na nalanta.

"You always find a place to hide…" Rayos said.

He didn't answer. Instead, Leo rested his chin against her head and let his hand slide on her chest to hug her. The smell of her shampoo was addictive. Hindi pa siya nakuntento, he buried his face on her neck and smelled her vanilla scent. She's sweet and that makes him want to eat her.

"Leo, we're still in school…"

He laughed and played with her fingers.

"Alam ko naman. Hindi naman ako gagawa ng ikakapahamak nating dalawa…"

"You almost… punched him," sabi nito.

Kumalas muna si Leo kay Rayos at mabilis na hinila ang upuan para may maupuan siya. Saka bumalik sa pwesto niya kanina. Him, on her back, hugging her.

"Good thing, dumating ang mga kaibigan mo… Wait, are they…?"

"My friends?" tuloy niya sa tanong nito. Leo slowly nodded his head. "Yes, baby, they're my friends."

"You actually found a good friend. I'm glad."

Pumikit si Leo nang dumampi ang palad nito sa pisngi niya. Rayos was softly caressing his face and that actually feels good. He feels like floating. Hinayaan niya lang ito.

He felt her fingertips tracing his nose, from its bridge down to the tip. Pagkatapos ay ang mga labi naman nito ang pinag-tripan. Leo chuckled as he caught her finger, trapping it in between his lips.

"Leo!" gulat na tawag nito sa pangalan niya nang dilaan niya ang dulo ng daliri nito.

He slowly opened his eyes and met hers. How lucky he was to be her boyfriend. To be able to touch and have a moment like this with her. To appreciate her beauty this close. To love her and have a chance to be with her in this lifetime.

"May dumi ba sa mukha ko?" nakangiwi na tanong sa kanya nito.

Leo answered, "Wala naman."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Rayos sa kanya at bahagya na sumingkit ang mga mata.

Natawa siya nang bigla na lang itong magtanong, "Ayun lang?"

"May kasunod pa ba dapat?" biro niya.

Umikot ang mga mata ni Rayos. "Hindi mo sasabihin na maganda ako? Sa paningin mo?" sunod-sunod na tanong nito.

Leo licked his lower lip and stared at her face intently. "Baby, given naman na 'yon.".

Rayos playfully slapped his cheek and pushed him away. Pero kahit anong tulak nito sa kanya, Leo would always find a way to come back.

Humigpit ang yakap niya kay Rayos nang maalala ang nangyari kanina. Hindi narinig ni Leo ang buong pag-uusap nila, pero base sa ekspresyon sa mukha ni Rayos kanina, sigurado siya na hindi 'yon maganda.

Leo knows that Rayos can handle herself just fine. She is a Clemente. She was born to be brave and make them kneel to do her bidding.

"How are you, baby?" Leo finally asked. Hinalikan niya ang pisngi ni Rayos.

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Huh?"

He chuckled and shake her body a little. Studying was enough to drained them physically, mentally and emotionally. Dumadagdag pa ang mga hindi naman dapat nila pino-problema.

Having a conversation with a guy like Russel— if they could call it 'conversation'—was draining them real good.

"I'm asking… how's my baby? May sinabi ba siya sayo na hindi mo nagustuhan?"

He didn't mention a name but Leo heard her sighed.

"I'm good. And next time, please… Mahal ko, malapit na tayong matapos. Konting tiis na lang. Until then, as long as possible… Iwasan na lang natin siya, hm? He's not worth our time."

Leo lips thinned.

"I am becoming a violent man when someone disrespect my family. I could kill if someone touches and says something unacceptable to you…" He sighed. "But, for you… sure, I'll try to avoid him."

☕