Chapter Five

My fingers that were busy typing on my laptop's keyboard and were working for my paper work to be submitted later stopped when from the corners of my eyes, I saw a figure stand by my side. Bumuntong-hininga ako saka nag-angat ng tingin kay Totoro na hawak ang milk tea na pinabili ko sa The Min's Café, umaasang matatagalan siya pero wala pang limang minuto ay nakabalik na siya.

I was also hoping he would bring with him both Garnet and Aquamarine so I could have my time alone but he smartly left the two to watch out for me while he went to buy my drink. I wasn't being bothered by the three of them by my side because for all the years I had them, I had come to get used to them but not the people around me.

Pakiramdam ko, kaya hindi ako magawang lapitan ng mga tao ay dahil bantay-sarado ako ng tatlong naglalakihang lalaki.

With Totoro's big and bulk body, tall height and hard expression, no one would seriously try to even get near me. He actually reminded me of El Toro Fuerte or mostly known as Toro from the Chinese animated series, Jackie Chan Adventures but my Totoro was more formal looking and scary. Idagdag pa sina Aquamarine at Garnet na pareho ring malalaking tao.

It was like they were smartly chosen by Kuya Yoongi himself, with those common denominators as a qualification.

Iyong mga guards namang na-italaga para sa De Asis family ay hindi naman katulad nila. Though alam kong hindi basta-basta ang mga iyon dahil may field of specification ang bawat guards ng Min Agents. They were generally trained with firearms and martial art skills, but also separately trained with their expertise.

My own set of Min Agents guards, which was Pagoda Blue, as what Kuya Yoongi said were one of the bests.

Kaya hindi na nakakapagtakang ilang beses ko mang subukang takasan sila ay parati pa rin nila akong nahuhuli. Para bang pinaplano ko pa lang ay alam na nila.

I was eleven years old when Kuya Yoongi planted Pagoda Blue to guard me, and I could still remember how my parents almost praised the cold man for that. Kung alam lang nilang parte iyong ng pangmamanipula ni Kuya Yoongi sa buhay ko, hays.

"You can occupy a nearest table from me, Totoro. I'm not going anywhere so you can ease up," banayad kong sabi sa head of security ko saka ko itinuro ang iilang bakanteng table malapit sa pinupuwestuhan ko rito sa Student's Corner ng school.

The place was obviously built for students who only wanted to idle or work for paper works. There were study tables scattered around the wide hall, matched with bean bags and comfortable couches. Also the place was perfect for students who wanted to take a peaceful nap since silence was always observed. Mas marami ang narito kumpara sa library dahil puwedeng magpasok ng snacks dito, but not heavy meals.

Hindi maganda kung tatayo sila sa likod ko buong magdamag habang hirap na hirap ako sa pag-iisip ng mga ilalagay ko sa word sheet para sa report paper ko. Kailangan ko na itong ma-ipasa ngayong araw dahil ayaw ko nang pumasok bukas. Isang pirma na lang ang kailangan ko para sa ledger ko, at makukuha ko lang iyon kapag na-ipasa ko ito.

I wasn't idling, I was doing my paper works on time but my English teacher had given us this work just yesterday.

Napatanag naman ako nang sumunod sila sa sinabi ko. They occupied the nearest table from me and I almost pouted in secondhand embarrassment when I saw how their looks and appearances mismatched with the fluffy bean bags they were sitting on. Ang ibang mga estudyante sa loob ng hall ay napunta sa kanila ang atensiyon. I even saw some of them chuckling silently and some were staring weirdly.

Occasionally having a sip on my milk tea, I hardly typed words and ideas on the word sheet until I reached the minimum five hundred words required. Pagkatapos ay in-edit ko sa istilo at sukat na gusto ng English teacher namin, gumawa rin ako ng front page para sa pangalan ko at title ng paper work ko saka ko iyon si-nave at ipinasa sa flash drive ko.

It was almost lunch, halos tatlong oras ko ring ginawa iyong paper work ko na normally ay isang buong gabi kong ginagawa.

Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng rush projects sa mga estudyante.

Nang magsimula na akong iligpit ang laptop ko maging ang iba pang gamit ko ay nakita kong sabay-sabay na nagtayuan ang Pagoda Blue. Both Aquamarine and Garnet standing tall behind Totoro who stood formally and intimidating, waiting for my next move.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. They were so alert they were scaring the other students sometimes.

"I'll just print this out. You should wait for me outside." Ipinakita ko sa kanila ang flash drive ko bago ko isinabit sa mga balikat ko ang itim kong square backpack.

Totoro nodded at me while taking my sky-blue laptop backpack from the table before leading his team out of the hall. Sumunod siya dahil iisang exit lang naman ang puwede kong labasan. Magka-iba ang daan ng entrance at exit ng Student's Corner kaya alam niyang hindi nila ako ma-iwawala kapag sa labas sila naghintay.

Nang mawala sila sa paningin ko ay pakiramdam ko mas dumoble iyong mga matang nakatitig sa akin. They all didn't try to befriend me or even try to get near me for a conversation because of Pagoda Blue but they always stared at me like I didn't belong in this school and that I was different from them.

Pare-pareho naman kaming mga estudyante. Nagbabayad din naman ang mga magulang ko ng parehong tuition fee na binabayaran ng mga magulang nila at kumakain din naman ako ng mga parehong pagkaing kinakain nila rito sa loob ng school. Magkaiba nga lang ang mentality nila sa mentality ko.

I wouldn't ever understand why there were people who liked to outcast or isolate other people. Ikinasaya ba nila iyon? Because I surely didn't. Hindi lang naman ako ang nakakaranas ng ganoong treatment dito sa school, marami kami, ang iba ay scholar.

May access ang bawat estudyante sa lahat ng machines na nandito sa Student's Corner, kailangan lang munang i-log in sa SC database ang student's account for verification. Isa pa, for security purposes, I used one specific flash drive para sa lahat ng paper works ko na ina-access sa lahat ng databases sa school. Lahat ng estudyante ay ganoon ang ginagawa.

After printing, I got my project ringed with hardbound covers just what like my English teacher instructed. Isang oras ang ginugol ko roon kaya saktong paglabas ko ng Student's Corner ay oras na para sa lunch. Naisip kong mag-lunch muna bago magtungo sa Communication Arts Office para ipasa ang project ko.

I was sure, the faculty staffs were also out for lunch, seeing as a lot of students in their casual clothes were everywhere the school grounds.

Since huling linggo na ito dahil summer break na ay pinapayagan na ang mga estudyante na huwag mag-uniform. Hindi na rin namin kailangan lumabas para lang mag-lunch dahil may mga in-house restaurants sa loob ng school. And The Min's Restaurant just stood competitively with the other establishments.

The Min's Restaurant and The Min's Café were both accessible inside MCI. Kahit na nagsasawa na ako sa paulit-ulit na menu sa The Min's Restaurant ay doon ko pa rin piniling mag-lunch dahil pagagalitan ako ni Kuya Yoongi kapag nalaman niyang sa ibang restaurant ako kumain.

I didn't know if he was just being really competitive that he wanted me to eat at The Min's for the sale or he was just being a strict guardian again. He wasn't even here! Bukod pa roon, hindi rin matutuwa sila Mommy at Daddy.

"We should only go to what's already trusted, sweet pea…" At siyempre, sinabi iyon ni Mommy kaya susunod ako.

Hindi na talaga ako magtataka kung magkakaroon man ng Loyalty Award ang pamilya namin mula sa mga Mins. Hindi ko rin naman puwedeng isipin na kailangan ng pamilya namin ang pamilya nila dahil kahit wala sila, ang De Asis family ay kayang tumayo ng mag-isa.

De Asis Holdings might be just a small company compared to Min Industries, it didn't measure how powerful the De Asis family was. Ang De Asis Holdings ay personal company lang ni Daddy, hindi iyon ang pinaka-business ng mga De Asis dahil naka-base sa Europe ang lahat ng mga pioneer businesses ng mga De Asis.

My father wasn't the eldest son of my grandlolo so it was understandable that only properties and bank accounts were handed to him when my grandlolo died. Both Tito Santi and Tito Luigi were also handed their fair share of the inheritance since they were the youngest, they were my twin Uncles. May mga sarili rin naman silang mga businesses na sila mismo ang nagtayo at nakapangalan din sa apelyido namin.

I heard, it was for the privilege held by the surname itself since it was known as a veteran in the business.

The only thing that first bonded Mins and De Asis was business, ever since my family had partnered with Min Agents for both our personal and corporate security. Natural lang na piliin ng mga magulang ko ang Min Agents dahil sila ang nangungunang security company sa buong Pilipinas. Also, PSG and other political guards nowadays were Min Agents people.

With Pagoda blue silently trailing behind me, I strode inside the restaurant feeling familiar and comfortable since it was what I was used to. Iyon lang yata ang natatanging bagay na pabor sa akin. Ang mga staffs ay kilala na ako kaya hindi na nila ako kailangang salubungin pa, though the aloofness still remained.

Naintindihan ko iyon dahil natural na nasobrahan sa professionalism ang mga tauhan ng The Min's. Para silang iyong amo nila na tila ikina-iinis ang lahat ng kamalian sa mundo kaya pinong-pino kung kumilos.

I occupied my usual table as Pagoda Blue also sat on their usual spot. Sa tuwing kumakain ako ay parati ko silang niyayayang kumain din, palagi kong ni-ri-reason out na hindi ako kakain kung hindi sila kakain kaya wala silang choice kung hindi ang um-order ng makakain nila.

How could I forget Totoro's usual menu? He always resorted to one cup of Espresso and that was it.

"I'll pay for your meal so order a decent food…" I remembered telling them that one time only to get their shaking heads.

"May inilaang credit card si Sir Yoongi para sa amin at para sa'yo pero wala siyang sinabing puwede kaming kumain habang nasa duty." Totoro's voice was deep and firm that it seriously angered me.

Hindi ko maintindihan noon kung anong klaseng mentality mayroon si Totoro para isiping hindi sila puwedeng kumain dahil lang walang sinabi si Kuya Yoongi but as I grew old, I started realizing their essence. They were trained, as if they were designed to only follow what they were told to and only that.

Yes, ikinagalit ko iyon kaya lumakas ang loob kong tawagan si Kuya Yoongi at pagalitan siya tungkol doon. It was a reckless act. He was in the middle of the class when I called so he got angry. He said I couldn't get careless like that, he said I couldn't just get angry like that and that I needed to learn.

Yes again, I learned when he appeared to fetch and got me spank again inside his car. It was just one of the painful reminders that I should always think before getting mad at him. Ipinaliwanag din naman niyang hindi niya ipinagbabawal na kumain ang Pagoda Blue at natural na ganoon nga ang gawin ng mga ito dahil may protocol and instructions silang sinusunod na hindi ko na raw kailangan pang malaman.

Simula noon, binigyan ko na ng buhay ang rule na kailangan nilang kumain kasabay ko. At first they were hesitant since it wasn't a direct order from Kuya Yoongi pero sa huli, sinunod din naman nila.

It was like, I needed first to install them rules just so they would oblige.

I raised my hand to call for assistance when their heads were quick to turn to my way. They were really alert and very much aware of everything I did, it was hard to trick them. Bumuntong-hininga ako na na-uwi sa pagnguso saka ko sila binalingan.

"Totoro, I'll just order an additional food since I'm hungry…" mahina kong sabi.

Aside from they were very strict when it came to my activities, even personal, they were also very particular when it came to my meal. Alam nila ang usual meal ko rito, alam din iyon ng mga The Min's staffs kaya hindi ko na kailangang magtawag ng waiter for assistance.

Nakita ko ang pagliwanag ng mukha ni Totoro bago siya sumenyas para payagan ang isang waiter na lumapit sa akin. I just ordered my usual meal and asked for a single serving of strawberry waffle, it wasn't included in my usual meal but I kind of felt like eating a sweet dessert because my mind was tortured earlier.

Inulit ng waiter ang order ko bago siya umalis. Nang dumating ang lunch ko ay inilabas ko ang phone ko para kuhanan iyon ng picture at i-post sa IG para ipaalam sa mga roses ko ang ginagawa ko.

Fraye: Lunch @TheMin's.

Iyon lang ang nilagay kong caption saka ko i-pinost. Wala pang isang minuto ay dinagsa na kaagad ng mga hearts and comment ang posts ko. May ilang mga hateful comments na talaga namang hindi na nawawala pero mas pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ang mga comments na mula sa mga halatang roses ko.

'enjoy ur lunch, @Fraye!'

'strawberry waffles ♥'

'was @TheMin's earlier! youre at school @fraye?'

'also eating lunch sabay tayo @Fraye!'

'so manyyyyy ugly bees! @Fraye, youre so beautfl they fish for ur attention'

Napangiti ako sa huling comment na nabasa ko.

My roses called my haters ugly bees. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan nila iyon nakuha, basta bigla na lang iyong parang naging instant nickname para sa mga taong wala magawa kung hindi ang sundan ang bawat posts ko para lang mag-iwan ng mga bashful and hateful comments.

Hindi na ako nakapag-reply sa mga iyon dahil narinig ko na ang mahinang tikhim ni Totoro sa kabilang table pero sinigurado kong pinusuan ko iyong mga comments na nagustuhan ko.

Nakangusong ibinaba ko ang phone ko sa mesa na paulit-ulit na nag-bi-blink para sa mga bagong notifs. Nagsimula akong kumain nang makita ko sina Aquamarine at Garnet na kumakain na rin habang pasimpleng himihigop si Totoro sa kape niya.

Minsan ipinagpapasalamat ko na sa school ko lang sila nakakasama dahil hindi ko yata kakayanin kung pati sa bahay ay nakasunod at nakabantay sila sa akin. Our family were also secured by Min Agents guards, siguro ay naisip ni Kuya Yoongi na hindi ko na kailangan pa ng bantay sa bahay kaya sa school lang ang scope ng Pagoda Blue.

Hindi pa ako nangangalahati sa pagkain nang marinig ko ang marahas na pag-atras ng inuupuang silya ni Totoro saka ko nakita ang malaki at malapad niyang likod sa harap ko. Instantly, Aquamarine and Garnet stood alertly behind me. Nagtatakang binitawan ko ang silverware na hawak ko saka itinagilid ang ulo ko para silipin sa gilid ni Totoro ang dahilan ng biglaan nilang pagiging alerto.

"Tss, why are you all so paranoid?" A girl in a casual pink off-shoulder dress stood in front of Totoro, irritation reflected her beautiful face that was framed by her long brown hair. "Do I look like someone who brings harm to people? God, I hate this!"

"Pasensya na, Miss. Kung may sasabihin ka kay Miss Fraye, sa akin mo muna sabihin at makakarating sa kaniya," pormal na sagot ni Totoro sa babae pero inirapan lang siya nito bago tumagos ang iritado niyang tingin sa akin.

I bit my lower lip as I sat properly, once again taking my silverware from the table. Hinintay kong may sabihin siya kay Totoro habang mabagal na nginunguya ang pagkaing nasa bibig ko. Naintindihan ko kung bakit biglang tumayo ang Pagoda Blue, sanay na ako kaya hindi ko na iyon pinansin.

"Pinapatawag siya ni Dean Ong. Tss, napaka-arte!" Nakarinig ako ng mararahas at malalakas na yapak kaya nalaman kong umalis na iyong babae.

One of the reasons why I didn't have friends, maybe because I was surrounded with Pagoda Blue. They were just like their boss, scary.

Matapos akong batiin ng butihing Dean ng Maria Cresencia Institute na sinuklian ko rin naman ng magalang na pagbati ay naupo na ako sa single couch. He formally yet kindly offered me that seat which was just across another single couch, between was a coffee table and to complement the set, he sat on the long couch.

This wasn't my first time to be invited here in the Dean's office. Hindi ako outstanding student pero active ako, sumasali ako sa mga organizations kaya hindi malabong kilala ako ni Dean Ong, isa pa, my parents were both a shareholders of this institute. That went for most of the students here.

Maria Cresencia Institute wasn't a big school, but it was prestigious and exclusive. It was an all-girl school, and had less than two hundred students. Sa bawat classroom ay may twenty students lang, at wala kaming sections dahil isang klase lang ang mayroon sa kada-grade levels.

I heard from my parents that the slots were limited so the school didn't really accept transferees in higher grade levels, kaya kung magkakaroon man ng bagong mukha rito ay paniguradong freshman iyon.

Isa pa, hindi basta-basta nakakapasok sa school na ito. Family background and business ang una at pinakamahalagang qualification para sa bawat estudyante. You were rich, then you were in. You were smart? Then pass the entrance exam and you would get all the benefits a regular student could get.

Wala namang favouritism or bias treatment ang mga teachers dito para sa mga estudyante. Lahat ay pantay-pantay, hindi dahil nagbabayad ka ng tuition fee at ang mga scholars ay hindi, makakakuha ka na ng magandang treatment.

Students to students, puwede pang may discrimination and bullying. But faculty staffs to students, all was fair.

Kusang gumuhit ang tipid na ngiti sa mga labi ko nang dumako ang mga mata ko sa single couch na kaharap ko. Naroon naka-upo ang isang magandang babae, she was sitting properly with her one leg on top of another, her palms placed on her lap and her face so bright because of the wide smile on her lips.

She looked too carefree yet so beautiful in her pair of girly white polo with two upper buttons opened, revealing her pink tank-top undernneath, and tight faded jeans, she prettily matched it with a clean white rubber shoes. Maayos na naka-ponytail ang mahabang buhok kaya sobrang linis niyang tingnan, idagdag pa ang maliwanag na ngiti sa mga labi niya. On her earlobes were a pretty dangling crescent earrings, they were color gold.

Surely, Dean Ong didn't have a daughter the same my age. Naalala kong nasa kindergarten pa lang iyong anak niyang babae.

"So, how's your parents, Miss de Asis?" pormal na tanong sa akin ni Dean Ong na pumutol sa paninitig ko sa babae.

I hardly pursed my lips in embarrassment knowing the beautiful girl caught how I was gawking at her face. Mabilis kong ibinaling kay Dean Ong ang atensyon ko saka umayos ng upo, ang mga palad ko ay agad na nahanap ang isa't isa sa ibabaw ng mga hita ko. They fumbled with each other, tensed and uncomfortable.

It was fine if I was the one giving the look but not if I was the one being looked at! Na-iilang talaga ako sa tuwing tinititigan ako kasi pakiramdam ko, may naghihintay parati na magkamali ako.

"Uh, they're f-fine po. They're currently out of the country for something like business convention…" magalang kong sagot, pasimpleng nililingon ang pinto kung nasaan paniguradong naghihintay ang Pagoda Blue.

Hindi ko sila puwedeng isama rito sa loob dahil hindi sila allowed, lalo na at mukhang may mahalagang sasabihin sa akin si Dean Ong.

Nang dumating ako kagabi sa bahay ay nalaman ko sa mga kasambahay na nasa labas ng bansa ang mga magulang ko. Bago matapos ang araw kahapon ay nakatanggap naman ako ng tawag mula sa kanila. They just reminded me stuff and made me promise to take care of myself.

"Of course, your parents are very busy. Anyway, it's clearance week. Do you have any problems with your ledger? May project kang tinatapos?"

From the corners of my eyes, I saw how the girl in front of me switched position. Ibinaba niya ang isang binti niya saka siya sumandal sa back rest, nakahalukipkip na pero nakangiti pa rin.

It was hard not to notice her face when she couldn't seem to take the smile off her face. Isa pa, ang ganda-ganda niya. Only if she wasn't staring at me like she was very blessed for seeing me. She made me feel weird about her presence at all.

"I just finished it po. I was planning to pass it to Miss Fionn after lunch, but you called me here…" Yumuko ako at itinoon na lang ang atensiyon sa mga kamay ko.

"I'm sorry for that—"

"No, no, no!" Nag-angat akong muli ng tingin saka mabilis na umiling. "I mean, it's not that Miss Fionn will go anywhere. Bakit niyo po pala ako pinatawag?"

Bringing my eyes again to look at the girl, my heart fluttered when I saw her holding back a giggle, instead, she just happily waved her hand and excitedly mouthed, "Hi!"

Siguro nga lumaki akong wala masyadong nakakasalamuhang mga tao, iyon din siguro ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako komportable sa tuwing nasa akin ang buong atensiyon ng isang taong hindi ko kilala o ng crowd pero iyong bigyan ako ng ganoong klase ng pakikitungo… isa iyon sa mga hinahangad ko.

I wanted a friend, I wanted someone to get along with here, someone I could drag to The Min's to eat and to the library to study. No one was willing to give me that so I was happy when she acted so friendly towards me.

It felt foreign but very refreshing… she suddenly lifted up the weird feeling I was feeling earlier.

"Miss de Villa."

Pareho kaming natigilan at napabaling dahil sa malalim ngunit pormal pa ring boses ni Dean Ong. Seryoso siyang nakatitig sa babae pero nang dumako sa akin ang mga mata ay agad na kumalma ang hitsura.

"I was just being friendly, what's wrong with that?" The girl said in a huff, crossing her arms again.

"You promised your parents you'd behave. I chose Miss de Asis to be your student guide because I think, you'll be shy enough not to act so messy since she's very proper."

Ngumuso ako dahil sa compliment na iyon ni Dean Ong pero napatigil din kaagad nang makita kong inis na umirap sa direksiyon ng Dean ang babae. The bright smile and carefree expression on her pink thin lips disappeared just like that.

"I'm behaved, I just greeted her. Ni hindi mo muna kasi kami ipinakilala sa isa't isa…" inis na sabi niya.

Dean Ong exasperatedly sighed before turning towards me. Mabagal siyang tumango na tila napagtanto niyang tama ang sinabi ng babae. "I'm sorry about that, Miss de Villa," he apologetically said.

Excited na umayos muli ng upo ang babae, ang buong atensiyon ay nasa akin na. May ngiti na ulit sa mga labi niya, maging ang mga mata niya ay ngumingiti rin. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang makaramdam din ng excitement dahil wala pa akong na-mi-meet na kahit sinong kagaya niya.

Everyone would have sent me daggers look or ignored me.

"So, Miss de Asis, please meet Miss California de Vi—"

"Hi, I'm Cali de Villa! What's your name?" Hindi na niya pinatapos pa si Dean Ong dahil agad na niyang ipinakilala ang sarili niya saka mabilis na naglahad ng kamay.

Walang nagawa si Dean Ong kung hindi ang bumuntong-hiningang muli saka ako tinanguhan kaya tipid akong ngumiti at naglahad din ng kamay sa babae.

"I'm Fraye de Asis, nice to meet you…" I low-key told her, letting her softly yet quickly shake our tangle hands.

"Fraye? Fraye… hm, your name sounds familiar." Nang binitiwan niya ang kamay ko ay tumayo na siya, inayos niya ang backpack niya sa balikat niya saka ako tinulungang tumayo. "Let's go, I can't wait to see my new school!"

"Miss de Villa, you promis—"

"Yes, yes! I'm not forgetting! Geez, you're so serious!"

Wala na rin akong nagawa nang hilahin niya ako palabas ng office ni Dean Ong. In respect to the kind Dean, at least, I managed to leave him a slight nod of my head which he exchanged with also a slight nod of his head before the door closed in between us.

"Finally! Masyadong nakakasakal ang formal atmosphere sa loob!" Cali exasperatedly let out as soon as we got out. "So, where shall we go first?" And she excitedly turned to me.

Seemed like I had to come to my wishes since what God had given me was someone very… very extrovert and out of my comfort zone.