Sa gitna ng kasiyahan ay andoon kami sa gitna't nagpapalitan ng masasamang tingin at salita. Callum stood motionless with his hands around me, keeping me from breaking loose.

He lean closer to me as my brows shot furrowed at his sudden movement. I felt him sniffed almost on the side of my neck.

"You smell alcohol, Miss," he said.

"Bitawan mo nga ako." I pushed him off of me, but the grip tightened.

"Wala ka na ngang dalang ID, uminom ka pa ng alak. If you want to get out of her unscathed, stay close to me." Hinawakan niya ang kanang kamay ko bago ako hilahing muli, palabas ng dance floor--No, palabas sa venue!

I'm back with the view of his broad shoulders as he drags me out of the place. So, tell me, bakit niya ito ginagawa? I wonder what he is thinking about.

Yumuko ako at tinakpan ang aking mukha nang may nakasalubong kaming mga securities at facilitators na tila nagsisilbing crowd control. Iniisa-isa nilang hinahanapan ng ID ang mga nasa dance floor. Dammit! Madaming bumabati kay Callum habang hila-hila ako kaya't lalo akong nagtago sa likod niya.

Am I afraid of getting caught? No, duh. But my action awhile ago might drag the fraternity's name. Baka sabihing nag-uumpisa kami ng rumble at magka-record sa OSA.

"Now what?" singhal ko ng makalabas kami sa pool area gamit ang daan sa likod.

"Now, party is over for you." Hinila niya ako sa tapat ng isang itim na sport car. "Sakay."

Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin at 'di kumilos.

"Bakit mo ba ito ginagawa?" He just helped me escape from the guards! Or not. I don't freaking know. Baka naman ay ihahatid niya ako mismo sa opisina nila para magfile ng record.

"Does it matter?"

I was caught off guard. Anong klaseng sagot iyan. It's confusing. Does it matter? Yes, it does, since he's the President and an officer that should catch the felon like me in their held party, but instead did the opposite. And no, for I shouldn't give a flying fuck.

"No, it doesn't," sagot ko na lamang. "Uuwi na ako."

"That's why I'm asking you to get in my car. Baka naman gusto mong hilahin pa rin kita papasok?"

Is he serious? Ihahatid niya ako? That would be ridiculous. "I'm drenched in water, Dumbass." Hinawakan ko ang damit kong basa at tumutulo pa ang tubig. May mga bula pa sa ulo namin. Not that I care, but kaya kong lakadin ang pauwing Zoneville.

Hindi niya ako pinansin at binuksan ang pinto sa passenger's seat. "Sakay, Wren. Kung ayaw mong maabutan nila tayo dito."

I had no choice when we heard male voices coming near the backdoor we used. Pabalang akong pumasok.

"Must be hard to wear a mask, don't we?" makahulugan kong saad habang binubuhay niya ang kanyang sasakyan. What a bloody, luxurious car. At binabasa ko lamang ang upuan nitong gawa sa itim na leather.

"Mask?"

Isang tingin ko lang sa kanya ay alam ko ng may tinatago ito. What could it possibly be? "I wonder what is really behind those pile of masks you are wearing."

In front of many people, he's a novel one, but in front of me shows the otherwise.

"Don't be too curious, Kid. Baka 'di ka masiyahan kung malaman mo," he told me darkly. Is that a verification? Na meron ngang nakatago sa likod ng pangalan niya? Why hide? Is it too destructive...or evil?

"Kid!" sighal ko. Okay, isang taon lang agwat namin! I might be petite and small, but I could definitely smashed a face. "You wouldn't say that if I hit your goddamn face with my fist. Oh wait, I already did," I smirk smugly.

"I see you as an impulsive kid. And I wonder if you're drunk right now since you're blabbering about masks "

Tumawa ako. "Oh, Sweetheart, you'll be needing two cases of beer to get me drunk." Isang baso lang nainom ko kanina na binigay ni Val.

Speaking of Val, nahuli kaya ang bruhang iyon?

"Really, Sweetheart?" ngisi nito and managed a side glance at me. Isang kamay lang ang nakahawak sa steering wheel habang ang kabila ay pinaglalaruan ang kanyang ibabang labi.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

Lumiko kami sa Zoneville at nagulat ako nang tumigil kami sa tapat mismo ng building namin. I tried to open the door, but it was locked and I think it should be unlocked on the controls on his side.

"Open the door, Callum."

"Bakit? Tapos na ba tayong mag-usap?"

Bumuntong-hininga ako nang makita ang bored nitong tingin. "Ano pa bang sasabihin mo?" Why does he has to be a goddamned controlling freak?

"Just shower and sleep. 'Wag ka ng lalabas," he drawled like a king before unlocking the door. Kunot-noo ko itong binuksan.

"Whatever, Asshole." Bumaba ako at binagsak ang pinto. Hindi niya kailangang sabihin ang gagawin ko.

I went in straight to the building and didn't bother to look back when I heard the car roared and droved away. Pagdating ko sa room ay wala si Val. Hindi ako sigurado kung asaan ito ngayon. Whatever, matanda na iyon. Naligo ako at naghandang matulog.

What a crazy night.

"Wren!"

Ilang tapik sa aking pisngi ang nagpagising sa akin. Pagmulat ko ay umaga na.

"Wren, help me!" Val cried and crumpled on my bed.

"Ano ba, Val!" I grunted and close my eyes again. Istorbo.

"Ang sakit ng ulo ko. Gutom na ko."

"You're fucking drunk last night, Dumbass."

Napamulat akong muli ng maalala ang kagabi. Tuluyan akong bumangon at pinagmasdan siyang sapo ang ulo at gulo-gulo ang buhok. She looks like a freaking mess.

"Asaan kayo kagabi?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Ikaw ang nasaan! Binalikan kita sa dance floor pero wala ka na, Ate."

Nag-inat muna ako at humikab bago sumagot, "Were you caught?"

"No, nahila na ako nila Harris bago pa dumating iyong mga crowd control. We thought you're the one who was caught."

"Umuwi na ko."

"Sabi ko nga," kibit-balikat nito. "Tara na't kumain. I'm fucking starving."

Our typical weekend is just eating and sleeping. Actually, ako lang ang ganoon. Kahit papaano ay mas matinong estudyante si Val kesa sa akin kaya gumagawa ito ng mga plates o kung ano pang kinabi-busy-han ng mga engineering students.

The tiring monday went in. Pagpasok ko ng Business College ay nakasalubong ko si Stephanie. Nagawa niya akong samaan ng tingin at irapan pero hindi naman sumugod. Fucking bitch.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin alam kung bakit niya ako pinupuntirya.

Tinamad ako nong hapon at naisipang mag-cutting class. Tahimik akong dumaan sa likod ng room habang nakaharap ang instructor sa pisara. Nag-check naman na ito ng attendance kanina so I think that would do just fine.

Iniisip ko kung pupunta akong Engineering College since andoon ang dalawa. Pareho sila Harris, Val at Arturo na nagti-take ng Civil Engineering. I think they're so busy this coming periodic exam. Halos maging tulugan na nga ni Val ang study area namin, tsk.

I was checking my phone for any text messages when I spot a pair of black shoes hindered in my way. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at napabuntong-hininga sa nakita.

"Ano na naman ba ito, Callum?" He's in a glorious business attire na kadalasang suot ng mga Accounting students. Nang hindi ito nagsalita ay nagpatuloy ako. "I think you're the one who wants my attention. I have a boyfriend and I'm not open for any affairs with you. So, please, get the fuck out of my way."

Seryoso lang itong nakatingin sa akin at blanko ang kanyang ekspresyon. I rolled my eyes at him. Sa tingin ko'y nagsasayang ako rito ng oras kaya't nilagpasan ko siya, pero hindi ko inaasahang mapapatigil ako nang tuluyan itong nagsalita.

"Break up with Gonzales," utos nito na parang hari. Tama ba ang narinig ko? I glance at him over my shoulder.

"Anong sinabi mo?"

Hinarap niya ako. I slowly faced him too with a glare flustered on my eyes. Now, we look like two scorpions cautiously ready to kill each other with calculated movements.

"Break up with him. He is cheating on you."

For a fleeting moment, tinignan ko siya ng tila isang kumplikadong ekspresyon bago ako naka-isip ng sasabihin.

"What? 'Wag mo sabihing nakita mo siyang may kahalikang iba na sexy'ng babae sa Clinic at nagngangalang Beverly?" I fake a shocked face before turning it into a blank one. "Oh, wait! That's you," I smirk sarcastically and it didn't last long.

"I'm informing you beforehand, so you wouldn't get any more pathetic than what you are now. That would be so pitiful."

I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a blank mood. Bakit niya sinasabi sa akin it ngayon?

"Kung nangbabae man siya, ano namang pake mo?"

"Your loyalty with him will bring you anywhere but down, Ortiz."

"I think it's part of the constitution that we should respect each others' private lives so, Mr. President, stop spitting your lies here."

"The sad part is that, I'm not lying."

The frustration burned in my chest like a coal, not with just this annoying guy who looks so sure of what he is saying, but with my own thinking of the possibilities. I drew a step closer.

"With whom, then?" hamon ko. "Sino ang babae niya?"

He just stared at me looking unnaturally calm. For a moment, I saw that he's weighting his thoughts and my reaction.

"See? Wala kang masabi. Tigilan mo na i--"

"Mas maganda siguro kung ikaw mismo ang makakaalam," he cut me off.