Huminto rin ako kalaunan sa mabilis na paglalakad at pilit na hinabol ang hininga. I angrily wiped the tears away and calmed myself.

You have no right to be jealous, Czarina Saorsie. You and Rigor are not exclusive.

Paulit-ulit ko itong itinanim sa isipan ko hanggang sa tuluyan nang kumalma. So what if he's kissing other girls on the day of his graduation? For someone who prohibited him from touching and kissing me, I have no right to judge the man.

No right...

Swallowing, I slowly turned back to the escalator where I descended. I bit my lower lip as I gathered the courage to go back. Rigor is expecting me... at least that's what I think if he's not very busy kissing Megan right now. Anyway, the ceremony is about to start. Maybe I'll just show up and say hi then disappear before I see anything unpleasant again.

Dahan-dahan akong umakyat ulit. The lobby is now empty and the graduates are lined, marching inside with that graduation march song sounding in the background. I went to the other entrance where parents and guests are led. The graduates, given the numbers, have to sit alone in the middle of the event hall while the parents and guests can watch them from the elevated bleachers. Doon ako nagtungo.

Naghanap ako ng mauupuan. Sobrang dami na palang tao at halos walang bakante. From the corner of my eye, I saw Rigor leading the march. Natigilan ako. I'm pretty sure he should be in the last of the line because of his surname. He walked confidently, like he owned the stage. Maybe he's one of the top students in his class, hence the order?

Ah, whatever. My blood still boils every time I remember how they kissed in front of everyone. Sa inis ko ay nag-iwas na ako ng tingin at badtrip na naghanap ng mauupuan.

Dinala ako ng paningin ko sa dulo ng bleachers. A tall guy is sitting there, alone. He's wearing eyeglasses and looks bored with his legs spread apart. He looks very intimidating. May makapal na libro sa hita niya. The army green wifebeater shirt he wore complimented his skin nicely, flaunting the torso and biceps he must've worked so hard in the gym. Kanina pa ito patingin-tingin sa relo na para bang may hinihintay.

From the left, I saw girls giggling at the sight of him. They are younger and very noisy. Malamang ay nagagwapuhan sa lalaki. Oh well, I should be immune with these type of bad boy faces. I marched directly to him and pointed to the vacant spot next to him.

"Can I sit here?"

Nag-angat ng tingin ang lalaki. He eyed me from head to toe, then his lips curled downwards.

"No."

"Thanks." I said cheerfully, sitting next to him. Mas lalong lumalim ang kunot ng noo niya.

"I'm waiting for someone." He insisted.

"Well, since she's not yet here, let me sit here for the mean time. Nangangawit na ako."

He sighed, tapos ay hindi na ako pinansin. Out of curiosity, my eyes hovered to the book. He's fingering the corner of the plastic-covered book unconsciously.

Criminal Law

Concepts and Jurisprudence

BOOK II – REVISED PENAL CODE

Ako naman ang kumunot ang noo sa nakita. He's a law student? Bumalik ang tingin ko sa suplado niyang mukha at lalong naguluhan. He doesn't look like one! He looks more like school jock or an athlete, someone who's throwing crazy parties every night and has slept with half the female population in this town.

Me and my prejudice.

"It's rude to stare."

Hindi ako nilayasan ng kahihiyan at patuloy na nakatitig sa kaniya, di tulad ng kapag si Rigor ang sumisita sa akin. He reminds me of an actor, but I couldn't even remember the name! I studied his face as an attempt to put words into my mouth but failed. For some reason, I am drawn to this guy... but not the romantic attraction that a normal female would feel towards an extremely hot guy. I couldn't even put it into words.

"You're a law student?"

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Seryoso lang siyang nakatingin sa ceremony. Pagkatapos ng march nila ay nagsalita ang school director para sa opening remarks. Mukhang hindi naman siya nakikinig at umaakto lang na ganun para hindi ako pansinin.

"I've never seen you here before. Taga Elyu ka ba talaga?" I prodded.

Again, I'm talking to a brick wall.

"Sungit." I murmured and crossed my arms over my chest. "I hope your date ditches you."

This time, he turned to me just to glare. I'd be lying if I say I wasn't intimidated by his burning stares. He has the eyes of a man who'd never hesitate to break another man's skull. With all my fake courage, I smirked.

"Made you look."

Wala pa rin akong sagot na nakuha sa kaniya. Ngayon pa ako nagsimulang makaramdam ng kaba dahil sa talas ng tingin niya sa akin. But it's too late to move now and all the bleachers are occupied. If I move, I'd be force to go down or I'll be blocking the view of the parents and other guests.

Dahil mukhang hindi naman interesadong makipag-usap sa akin ang lalaki ay itinuon ko nalang ang atensiyon sa baba. The dean started calling the names of the graduates. The march song went on. Some were crying, most of them are smiling as they accepted their diplomas. May isa pang babaeng graduate na nag-split nang makuha ang diploma kaya nagtawanan sila. She did it so gracefully, so I think she's a dancer. The poor graduate next to her seemed out of place in the stage.

Napailing ako at natawa rin. Nang binalingan ko ng tingin ang katabi ay seryoso pa rin siya. Kumunot ang noo ko. Napaka-weirdo. Hindi ba nangangawit ang panga nito?

I leaned closer to him and whispered because the background song is too loud. "I bet you're not fun at parties!"

Iritado siyang bumuga ng hininga. I giggled. Even if he looks and built to break someone's bones, I don't think he can lay a hand to women and children. It's just my guts telling me.

"Rigor Vaughn Treveron."

Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko nang tinawag na siya. The rest of the students cheered on him. On the other side of the bleachers, I saw Thyron shouting at the top of his lungs. Silver looks embarrassed while Elton is grinning and recording a video of him. Tita Sidra and her husband are at the back, whispering and smiling at each other. His father is just sitting silently.

He walked seriously to the stage, accepting the diploma, then shaking hands with the higher ups in the stage. He paused for a moment as a swarm of photographers quickly took photos of him. His eyes roamed the crowd and saw his family. Hindi nagbago ang ekpresiyon sa mukha niya. He scanned the other side of the bleachers and saw... us.

I didn't know what went through my mind when I hooked my arm with the guy sitting next to me. it gathered a silent flinch from me when I felt his hard muscles twitching under my skin. Tinatagan ko nalang ang sarili ko at nilingon ulit si Rigor. Even from afar, I could see the muscles in his jaw twitching as a flash of hot anger went through his forest eyes while staring at us.

"What the hell are you doing?" the guy next to me scoffed. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko para sana tanggalin sa braso niya pero ginamit ko ang isang kamay at ipinatong sa kaniya. I looked up and faked a laugh. "Baliw ka ba?"

"Just go with the flow, please, you killjoy." I said while still laughing like an idiot.

Nakababa na si Rigor sa stage. He's gripping his diploma too hard that it's starting to wrinkle under the pressure of his fists. Nang mawala na siya sa paningin namin ay kaagad kong binitawan ang lalaki.

We both glared at each other angrily.

"Ikaw pa ang may gana magalit, ah?" he scoffed.

"Napaka-KJ mo! Malamang nahalata na nun na nagpapanggap lang ako."

"You're a terrible actress in the first place."

"Ang sakit mo magsalita, ah? Well, you are stiff like a supermarket chicken!"

"The fuck?" he looked at me as if I grew another head. "Did you just compare me to a supermarket chicken?"

"And your biceps are not as hard as it looks. I bet it's just steroids." Pang-iinsulto ko pa, kahit na hindi naman totoo.

He drew in a deep breath, as if he's trying to contain himself.

Hindi kami nagpansinan ng lalaking katabi ko hanggang sa matapos ang ceremony. Mukhang hindi talaga darating ang date niya. The Magna Cum Laude were asked to come on stage and give a farewell message to the students. Marami na ang nag-iiyakan sa baba. When he was done, they started throwing their caps on the air and hugging each other.

Nilingon ko ang katabi at nagulat nang makitang bakante na ang upuan. Nagpalinga-linga ako at nakitang papalabas na siya, kasama ang iba pang mga magulang at kaibigan na excited puntahan ang mga anak nila sa baba.

Out of curiosity, I followed him but quickly got lost in the crowd. Kahit na matangkad siya ay hindi ko na siya mamataan. Nagpalinga-linga ako sa entrance. There's no trace of him anymore.

Sighing, I went out and headed for the exit, determined to go home. Ganun nalang ang gulat ko nang maramdaman ang kagat ng kamay sa braso ko. I turned and saw Rigor.

He looks unhappy... hot, but unhappy. I craned my neck to get a better view of his face, then faked a smile.

"Congrats!"

"Come with me." was all he said as he dragged me back to the stadium.

"Rigor..." pilit kong kinuha ang braso dahilan upang mahinto siya. Nilingon niya ulit ako. "Sorry, but someone is waiting for me. Ite-text lang sana kita..." I trailed off.

"Bullshit, Czarina."

I raised a brow. Sa tuwing naaalala ko ang nakita kanina ay mas lalo pang lumalakas ang loob ko na pikunin siya.

"I mean it..." nag-isip kaagad ako ng pangalan para sa lalaki kanina. "I came here with Eric and he's waiting for me outside." I smiled sweetly.

"Nice try, Czarina. His name his Eros, and he's not waiting for you." He smiled sarcastically for a moment.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. Seryosong-seryoso pa rin ang mukha niyang nakatingin sa akin.

"Kilala mo siya?"

He scoffed. "You don't even know him, and you sat next to him, playing games and acting silly. What are you trying to pull off?"

Numipis ang mga labi ko sa sinabi niya. What? I didn't know that he knows the guy! Malay ko bang kilala niya pala iyon eh ngayon ko lang nakita ang lalaking yun dito sa lugar namin. I'm just painfully unlucky today.

"Maybe you should go back. Megan must be waiting for you." I said bitterly instead.

This time, siya naman ang kumunot ang noo. "Megan?"

Hindi ako sumagot at nag-iwas ng tingin. I could hear the sick, sweet cheers of the graduates ringing inside my head. Naiinis ako na hindi ko matanggal sa isipan ko ang imahe nilang naghahalikan gayung hindi ko naman nakita sa sariling mga mata!

Lumambot ang pagkakahawak ni Rigor sa braso ko. "Cherié—"

"Don't cherié me!" I hissed through gritted teeth. Nakaharang kaming dalawa sa daan kaya naman maraming ka-batch niya ang nakikinuod sa pagtatalo naming dalawa.

Humakbang si Rigor palapit sa akin at bigla nalang akong binalot ng yakap. My eyes widened. His batchmates' eyes widened. Lahat kami gulat sa bigla niyang ginawa. Ipinatong niya ang baba sa balikat ko. Then slowly, he buried his face on the place where my neck and shoulder blades meet. I went stiff.

"I'm sorry, I think I know what you're talking about..." he murmured.

Pilit ko siyang inilayo sa akin pero hindi nagpatinag ang lalaki. "Rigor..." I complained. Hiyang-hiya ako na pinipicture-an pa kami ng iba niyang ka-batchmate. May iba na kinikilig, may iba na nagtataas ng kilay.

"We didn't kiss, I swear."

"Oo na, hindi na. Pakawalan mo muna ako!" angal ko.

"You're still mad."

Nararamdaman ko ang pag-akyat ng dugo sa ulo ko. I tried pinching him, to no avail.

"Rigor!" I stomped my feet like a kid. "The school director is headed this way! Nakakahiya!"

"You have to forgive me first..."

I grunted out loud and sighed. Pinilit kong kalmahin ang sarili.

"If she didn't kiss you... what happened, then?"

"I didn't know she was going to do it. Iniwas ko nalang ang mukha ko. Her lips landed on my cheek."

Ah, kaya pala nagsigawan ang mga haliparot kanina. Still, that was a kiss!

"Fine. I hear your side. Now, let go of me..."

Slowly, he detached himself from me. Nakahawak pa rin ang dalawa niyang kamay sa mga balikat ko na para bang tatakbo ako palayo anumang oras.

"I just wasn't... expecting it." I admitted, a bit embarrassed now.

"I wasn't expecting it, either."

"Sorry."

"I'm sorry, too."

Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "Hindi mo ba ako tatanungin tungkol kay Eros kanina?"

"It's obvious you just met him." He rolled his eyes. "He's not the type to cling into a woman he just met, either."

I rolled my eyes. Eh di plano ko na ang palpak!

"But Czarina..."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Rigor. His eyes turned a bit darker.

"Don't do it again... even if it's just for show, it still makes my blood boil."

His family quickly found us after the little show we put up for all the graduates to see. Silver is already complaining that she's hungry while TIta Sidra tried to gather everyone for a picture. I was about to volunteer to take the picture pero hinila na ako ni Rigor sa tabi niya. My mouth gaped for a moment, but he just tightened his grip on me.

Wala akong magawa kundi ngumiti nang kunan na kaming lahat ng litrato. Thyron is acting goofy while Elton and Rigor's father both looked serious. Tita Sidra and her husband shared a sincere smile. Silver, on the other hand, is glaring at me.

The family members took turns in congratulating Rigor after the picture. Naunang magpaalam si Elton sa pamilya.

"Diretso nalang kami mamaya sa bahay mo," pahabol ni Thyron.

Elton nodded and jogged towards the exit, obviously in a hurry. Nagtaas ng kilay si Tita Sidra.

"Are you guys partying again?"

"Sama ako—"

"No." halos sabay ang magkapatid na Rigor at Thyron sabay tinitigan si Silver. She stomped and complained all the way to the restaurant.

"I don't get why the boys only have the fun!" she kept on repeating. "I'm a grown lady. It doesn't make sense!"

Kahit nang matapos na kaming kumain ay hindi pa rin tumigil sa pagrereklamo si Silver. Rigor has taken off his black toga. He's wearing a plain white shirt and maong pants. Katabi ko siya pero hindi ko gaanong makausap kasi sabat nang sabat si Thyron. I turned to him and stared. He's still talking to Thyron. Nang mapansin niya ang paninitig ko ay nilingon ako ng lalaki.

He leaned closer and my body automatically backs away. Before I could even plan to escape, he placed a hand on my shoulder to draw me back to him and then whispered on my ears.

"You're coming with me, cherié."

I blinked and stared at him again. "Coming to what?"

Thyron rolled his eyes. "The celebration party. Nauna na si Elton para asikasuhin ang bahay niya. Most of the graduates will be there tonight."

I hesitated for a bit. Their parties are always wild and fun and expensive and something always happens on one of their parties. But it wouldn't hurt to try and take a peek, right? Besides, Rigor will be with me.

"Sure."

Nagpaalam na ang dalawang lalaki kina Tita Sidra. Silver and her father went back to the car and the couple followed after congratulating Rigor one last time.

Elton sent the three of us on an errand before coming to his house. Ngayon ay si Thyron naman ang nagrereklamo habang nag-grocery kami. Nalulula ako nang makitang halos puro alak ang nasa listahan. We pushed the cart full of alcohol, got some strawberries and chocolates, and a hula hoop? Nagtaka ako pero hindi na nagtanong. The boys went to the counter to pay for the items and we drove to the house.

I know the Treveron's are loaded, but it still remains a mystery to me why the only child of Sidra and Antonio Treveron moved out. None of them looks bothered about it, so I shut my mouth even though I am dying of curiosity.

The three-story house is located near the beach. I bet the property he bought has lifetime access to the beach and it made me jealous. There are already people as early as 6 pm. Lahat sila ay halos nasa rooftop.I saw a thin haze of smoke going towards the dark sky so I'm assuming they're grilling or something. Nagpatulong sina Rigor at Thyron sa mga lalaki doon upang ikarga ang mga binili namin.

I followed the men inside. Pillow Talk by Zayn Malik blasted everywhere. There are people lounging in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass that provides the perfect view of the ocean. May mga tao ding nakatambay sa kusina. The spiral staircase leads to the rooftop. After helping a bit in the kitchen, we all went upstairs.

The rooftop is just as magical. Malamig at medyo may kalakasan ang hangin ngayong gabi. Elton must've installed the fairy lights blinking softly in the dark of the night. Sa pinakadulo ay ang infinity pool. Grilling stations are scattered everywhere and some wooden chairs that are empty because most are dancing or talking and just playing silly games.

"Rigs! Congrats!"

Nilingon ni Rigor ang pinanggalingan ng boses. Megan is staring at us, her cheeks flushed. Mukhang nakainom na ata siya. She grinned widely, completely ignoring me standing next to Rigor.

"At long last! Graduate na tayo!" she stepped closer and was about to lounge a hug attack when Rigor swiftly caught her arm before she could fall. The woman giggled.

"I think a handshake would be fine, Megan." Rigor said cautiously, eyeing me from the side. I frowned.

"Oh!" she blinked and then looked at me. Then, she smirked. "I didn't see you there, Czarina. Sorry." She giggled again.

Sighing, I turned away from her. Ang aga-aga lasing na agad. Gusto ko pa naman sana siyang bwisitin para makaganti man lang sa ginawa niya kanina pero mukhang ako yata ang mab-bwisit. Just seconds after I left them, I heard Rigor's footsteps following after me.

"Zari..." malambing niyang tawag.

I froze and then turned to him, my eyes going into slits. Is this the first time he's called me by my nickname?

Grinning, Rigor reached for me and engulfed me into a hug. "No need to be jealous. Megan's drunk."

Drunk or not, I think she will never hesitate to flirt with you again. Gusto ko itong ipambuska sa kaniya pero pinigilan ko ang sarili.

"Rigor! Congratulations!"

We both turned and saw Sorcha, bouncing to us with a happy face, hand in hand with a guy I am not familiar with. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Rigor.

"Sorcha. Salamat," he nodded and observed the two of them silently.

Grinning, Sorcha pulled the guy closer to her. His face is pale and he's very tall. I couldn't say he's ugly because clearly, the guy is attractive. Something is just... off with him. Maybe it's the bloodshot eyes or the injection marks in his elbows? I don't know.

"This is my boyfriend, Collin, by the way."

Hindi ko naitago ang gulat sa mukha dahil sa sinabi niya. Tipid na ngumiti si Rigor.

"Rigor."

The guy nodded and shook hands with him. His other hand is gripping Sorcha's waist possessively. Hindi ako mapakali sa kinatatayuan ko.

"C-Czarina..." I stammered when it was my turn. Ayoko sanang iabot ang kamay ko but it would seem impolite. When I reached for his hand, my entire body trembled. Using his index finger, Collin caressed my hand discreetly with a playful grin plastered on his face. Kaagad kong binawi ang kamay.

"Nice meeting you..." was all he said before he whispered something to Sorcha. My friend laughed and then nodded.

"Well, I'll see you around, I guess." Sorcha said and then trotted off with her newfound boyfriend.

Even if he's already meters away from us, my heart wouldn't stop pounding. Rigor must've noticed that my face morphs into a combination of fear and disgust.

"Czarina, ayos ka lang?"

Hindi ako sumagot at patuloy na pinagmasdan ang dalawa. I suddenly felt hopeless. Why do I feel that something bad is about to happen?

-

#HanmariamBFLChap14