Unedited.

- Hannan

🥀🥀🥀

Chapter Eighteen

First class in my first day of the new school year, it didn’t surprise me anymore when from the door, I saw a very bubbly pretty girl appeared. Hindi pa siya tuluyang nakakarating sa classroom ay rinig na rinig na rito sa loob ang malakas niyang boses mula sa hallway. She might be happily greeting anyone in the hallway.

Bago pa man tuluyang magtama ang mga mata namin ay yumuko na ako habang nagpapakawala ng buntong-hininga.

I didn’t want to choose who to befriend, I meant, I didn’t even have one, and the luxury of choosing wasn’t in my hands but Cali de Villa wasn’t someone who I wanted to have anything to do with… at least not again.

She came into my life so quickly and she disappeared just as quick, I wished to just stay as that.

I sat properly when from behind Cali’s enthusiastic and bubbly form, our first teacher for today appeared. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makilala si Miss Fionn, hindi na bago sa aming mga estudyante ng MCI ang maging teacher muli ang mga naging teacher na namin noon. Kakaunti lang ang mga estudyante rito kaya siguro kakaunti lang din ang mga teachers.

Someone from beside me loudly scoffed that made me turn to look. Nakita kong nakahalukipkip ang katabi ko habang umiirap sa akin. She didn’t even try to hide her disgust to me. Kung ayaw niya akong katabi, bakit dito niya piniling maupo sa tabi ko? It was me who first found this seat and it was her who chose to sit beside me when there were still a lot of vacant seats around the room.

She could still also go and find her seat away from mine. What was wrong with her? I knew her though, she was a part of the Velvet Hare, the MCI soccer team. One of Dawn Vonmorte’s team members.

“I seriously don’t know why do I have to be the one doing this…” She whispered in annoyance, enough for me to hear.

Imbis na pakinggan pa siya ay muli ko na lang ibinaling sa harap ang atensiyon ko para lang muling mapa-buntong-hininga nang magtama ang mga mata namin ni Cali. She instantly waved her hand at me, slightly skipping at her feet. Nasa kaniya na rin ang atensiyon ng ibang mga estudyante dahil nasa harap pa rin siya.

Bumagay sa kaniya ang school uniform ng MCI. A pair of white bishop sleeves blouse, and a knee-length maroon button-down suspender skirt. Mayroon pa iyong maroon cardigan na kasama pero karamihan sa aming mga estudyante ay ginagamit lang ang cardigan kapag may mga formal gatherings sa audtitorium kung saan dumadalo rin si Laarni Vonmorte, the chairwoman of Vonmorte Industries, grandmother of Dawn Vonmorte.

Kumikinang sa kanang dibdib ni Cali ang golden badge niya. It was framed with purplish metal just like mine since grade eleven, or juniors represented the color purple here. Her bouncy long black hair was neatly ponytailed in her back, showing her very pretty and welcoming features. Her cheeks were once again blushed in pink, her lips colored in shiny red and her big round eyes were so pretty with how her lips pulled upward for a smile.

Biting my lower lip, I refrained from raising my hand and waving back at her. I just quickly dragged my eyes to where Miss Fionn stood, behind her desk and getting ready for the start of the class. Kahit na sumakit ang dibdib ko dahil nakita ko mula sa gilid ng mga mata ko kung paanong malungkot na ibinaba ni Cali ang kamay niya at awkward na nginitian si Miss Fionn, ay hindi ako bumaling pabalik sa kaniya.

I really wanted to have a friend, but Cali just didn’t fit right as one.

“Okay, ladies. Eyes here.” Miss Fionn lightly tapped her glass table with her fingers to get the attention of the class. Mabilis namang iniwan ng bawat-isa ang mga pinagkaka-abalahan at itinuon ang atensiyon kay Miss Fionn. Before continuing, Miss Fionn spread her arm to reach for Cali’s hand who stood awkwardly in front of the class for every one of us to gawk at.

Her bubbly and enthusiastic vibe earlier was nowhere to be found anymore. Mabagal siyang humakbang palapit kay Miss Fionn habang awkward na ngumingiti, nabura rin naman kaagad iyon ng tila walang ngumiti pabalik sa kaniya.

That I felt bad about.

Pakiramdam ko, ako iyong dahilan kung bakit biglang nawala iyong confident and bubbly vibe niya. She also couldn’t expect these girls to smile back at her, they weren’t very nice as they looked. Hindi ako nang-ju-judge pero kilala ko ang mga kaklase ko dahil sa limang taon ko na rito sa MCI, sila ang kasama ko sa iisang silid.

“So I know that y'all have been together since you stepped foot in this school, you probably all know each other already so a new face or a new acquaintance may be a foreign case for all of you. It’s also not so often that MCI accepts transfer students but luckily, or fortunately for all of you ladies, you have a new classmate. Miss de Villa, why don’t you introduce yourself to your new friends?”

Growls and whines of protest around the room immediately stopped Cali de Villa from speaking. Naitikom niya ang bibig niya saka nakangiwing tinitigan si Miss Fionn na hindi napigilang ang pagbubuntong-hininga. Everyone then went back to what they were doing earlier, completely ignoring the awkward girl at the front. Nasa harap ang mga kamay niya habang hawak ng mahigpit ang shoulder bag niya.

“I’m sorry about that, Miss de Villa. Just go and find your seat so we can start the class…” Miss Fionn helplessly told Cali who instantly smiled widely. Parang hindi siya nakatanggap ng rejection kani-kanina lang.

“Can I seat next to Fraye then?” masayang tanong niya kay Miss Fionn saka ako nakangiting nilingon.

Gaping my mouth in surprise over her sudden bluntness, I failed to react when Miss Fionn just lamely nodded before taking her back to write something on the white board. Pinanood ko nang masayang naglakad palapit sa kinaroroonan ko si Cali.

My right side was already occupied but my left side, the seat near the window was still vacant. I wanted to put my bag on the chair just to let her know that I didn’t want her to sit beside me but she was quick as she sat, still smiling widely at me.

“Hi!” she giddily whispered to me, fixing her bag on her back.

Hindi pa man nag-uumpisa ang klase, nakikita ko na kung paanong hindi magiging maganda para sa akin ang school year na ito.

On my right side was a girl, who clearly didn’t want my very existence for she didn’t do anything but to scoff loudly showing me her disgust to me and on my left side was a girl, who I seriously didn’t want to do anything with.

If Cali wouldn’t be the one transferring out, it would probably be me soon.

She was hard to ignore to be honest, I was trying so hard to be polite and kind to her without showing her how I didn’t want her anywhere near me. Madaldal siya. She just had so much stories to tell and I was surprised she still didn’t feel how I was ignoring her.

I meant, nakalimutan na ba niyang iniwan niya ako sa Cypher Dos noon matapos niya akong ipasok doon?

I had gotten in because of her, and what if Kuya Yoongi didn’t come? For as much as I hated Kuya Yoongi’s appearance that night, I still couldn’t thank him enough because if it wasn’t him, I might haven’t found out how to pull myself out of that place! Or worst, baka mas malala pa sa paghawak sa likod ng mga hita ko ang nangyari sa akin doon!

Would she even take responsibility? Guess, she wouldn’t.

“Fraye, wait! Are you mad?!”

Pouting, I forced my feet to keep striding towards the direction the of The Min’s restaurant, too confident that Pagoda Blue wouldn’t let her near me again. Hindi maganda sa pakiramdam sa totoo lang. Wala siyang kaibigan dito sa MCI, at alam na alam ko ang ganoong pakiramdam pero paano naman ako? Hindi ako galit sa kaniya… hindi ko lang talaga gustong masangkot pa sa kaniya.

I wanted a peaceful life here at school, and with her, I knew it wouldn’t be possible.

“Ooops, looks who’s here?”

I softly put my silverware down, slowly munching on my food when a very disturbing presence appeared in front of me. Hinanap ko ang mga kagrupo niya at nang makita kong nasa malayong banda sila ng restaurant ay hindi na ako nagulat.

Pagoda Blue could easily manhandle other students away from me, but not Dawn Vonmorte. Just no one could touch her here, not even my bodyguards. Not even the most richest student here.

Siya iyong kaisa-isahang estudyante rito na kayang lumapit sa akin nang hindi hinaharang ng Pagoda Blue. For a reason that in this school, she was everyone’s precious. Kahit ang mga teachers, maging si Dean Ong ay hindi rin pumapalag sa kaniya. I understood them in that part. Kahit ako, kahit ako ay hindi rin gugustuhing bumagsak siya.

She already went through so much worst, and as a someone who had a vast understanding about her situation, I could only let her do thing she pleased for as long as it wasn't affecting me physically.

“Take a seat if you want to talk, Dawn…” I softly told her, sighing deeply as I gave her my full attention.

She scoffed loudly, crossing her arms in front of her chest, strands of her brown rings spreading prettily over her shoulder. “Nah, I have more interesting things to do than seat with you and talk. Just wanna tell you that I’m seriously very sick of you being a famewhore. Really? Daniel Kang? You must be happy someone so famous finally noticed you…”

I silently gasped at her bluntness. “I’m not a fame—“

“Oh save it. I don’t wanna hear anything from a famewhore. Girls! I lost my appetite, let’s just practice!” Hindi na niya hinayaang makapagsalita ako dahil tumalikod na siya at iniwan ako, diri-diretso siya palabas ng The Min’s.

Dawn Vonmorte knew too well that this was where I always ate my lunch, so she always tried not to even go near the restaurant. Hindi kami magkasundo, hindi niya ako gusto at hindi niya iyon itinatago. Minsan nga naisip ko, siguro kaya walang gustong makipagkaibigan sa akin dito ay dahil sa kaniya. When everyone seemed to love her and wanted to befriend her, then everyone felt the otherwise to me.

Did it sting for me? No. Sanay na ako. I just couldn’t understand why she hated me so much?

She was a year ahead of me. Graduating na siya ngayong school year. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang ikatuwa iyon o ano. I didn't hate her. I actually pitied her. Wala na siyang Mommy at Daddy, at ang tanging maitutulong ko na lang sa kaniya ay ang intindihin siya at hayaan siya sa mga gusto niyang gawin.

Sa aming dalawa, mas masuwerte pa rin ako. I couldn't even imagine what I would become if I lost my Mommy and my Daddy, no, I wouldn't want to imagine.

Suddenly losing my appetite, I lightly pushed my plate as I sadly gawked at my phone that lay by my glass of fresh orange juice. There were girls here at school who followed me on IG, also they weren’t nonchalant about what I always did online. Malamang ay nakarating na rin sa ibang estudyante ang tungkol sa akin at kay Daniel Kang, even famous actresses and other actors started following me.

Si Dawn pa ba? It actually felt like she always watched over my posts and live streams so she had something to mock me about. She didn’t need to do live streams or post anything because she was famous effortless. Mostly, puro about sa sport niya ang laman ng feeds niya sa IG at marami ang humahanga sa kaniya.

We just had this different personality and she also seemed to hate me even in the virtual world.

The subtle happiness I felt over the cute acknowledgement from someone like Daniel Kang instantly died down just because of what Dawn said. Sinabi niyang famewhore ako. No one had seriously told me that until her. Bukod sa siya lang naman ang may lakas-loob, hindi ko napigilang isipin kung ganoon din ba ang tingin ng iba sa akin. My ugly bees as what my roses said, my haters, they might also be thinking the same.

Si Dawn, hindi lang dahil galit siya sa akin pero alam kong hindi niya sasabihin iyon dahil lang gusto niyang sabihin. It might be disturbing for her.

Tama naman siya e. Hindi naman talaga ako mapapansin ni Daniel Kang kung hindi dahil sa mga pinagaggawa ko sa social media.

Was that how I wanted to gain a friend? No, but I didn’t have a choice. Sa mga roses ko, sumasaya ako. They gave me attention and appreciation. Did I ever ask for someone like Daniel Kang? I didn't. I never did. It wasn't my fault that he noticed me, it wasn't like I could be rude to him and tell him to stop following me.

“Why let that girl and not let me? We’re friends, you creeps! Fraye, ugh!”

And now I had the guts to refuse a friend who wanted to be friends with me?

Wow, Fraye, you have the guts.

Sighing deeply, I had to blink my eyes several times just to bring my tears back from their glands, refusing to cry here just because Dawn had managed to strike me hard again. May masama ba sa ginagawa ako? Nakakapagpasaya naman ako ng mga tao ah. Famewhore ba talaga ang tawag doon? I didn’t want fame, I just wanted friends…

“Fraye! Okay, fine! I’m sorry! Now let me explain!”

Finally bringing my head to turn back to look at where my Pagoda Blue decided to stand by, I finally let myself be completely soft again to Cali. Kanina pa talaga ako nasasaktan sa mga pangungulit niya, sa loob pa lang ng classroom hanggang sa tuluyan siyang mailayo sa akin ng Pagoda Blue, at wala pang taong nagpumilit na lumapit sa akin katulad niya.

No one even tried to voluntarily befriend me here, it was just her.

I lamely nodded my head at Totoro who stared hardly at me, not giving way first but when I pouted at him, he sighed and raised his hand to signal both Garnet and Aquamarine to let go of Cali. I watched guiltily as Cali instantly ran towards me when finally broke free from Pagoda Blue.

“Don’t run…” Nilunod na lang ng maingay na pagtama ng heels niya sa sahig ang boses ko hanggang sa matagpuan ko na lang ang sarili kong yakap-yakap niya.

“Fraye! I’m so sorry! I know why you’re mad! I just didn’t seriously expect that it would be a deal for you! I mean, if you’ll just let me explain!” She started rambling, her pair of thin arms groping tightly around my shoulder and her weight so heavy against mine that my back just had to lean on my chair.

She smelled like the mixture of sweet fragrance of cologne and cool mint of shower gel. Babaeng-babae ang amoy niya, pero kung kumilos siya, parang hindi babae.

I quickly shook my head when I spotted Pagoda Blue advancing towards us, probably to try to take the enthusiastic girl away from me. Marahang tinapik ko ang balikat ni Cali para sabihin sa kaniyang lumayo na siya sa akin.

Slowly, her arms around me loosened but she remained hugging me, hardly shaking her head.

“Cali, you’re squeezing me—“

“That’s for ignoring me! Napahiya rin ako kanina sa k-klase!” she screamed near my ear, her voice broke so it took me so much resistance not to wrap my arms around her to caress her back.

“At least, let me breathe—“

Shaking her head again, she just tightened her arms around me. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t leave you! I actually thought you were behind me! Nagulat na lang ako nang wala ka na sa tabi ko at nang muli kitang makita, hila-hila ka na ni Yoongi Min! Iyong may-ari ng Cypher Dos! Nito ko na lang din nalamang friends pala ang family niyo! Kung alam ko lang, sa iba na lang dapat kita niyaya!” She started eager and loud, but she ended frustrated and still loud.

It didn’t surprise me anymore when she mentioned Kuya Yoongi, a lot of people knew him, and it wouldn’t take them two cents to realize my relation to him when they saw us together. Alam ng lahat ang matatag na samahang nabuo ng mga Min at De Asis, hindi lang sa negosyo kung hindi maging sa pagkakaibigan. Kahit sa mga Min parties, our family was always expected to be present.

“You still shouldn’t have been careless. It was my first time to be in that place…” I softly said, remembering how scared I was back then when I found out Cali wasn’t around me anymore. Mas natakot pa ako noong makita ko si Kuya Yoongi. It made me vow to myself not to ever go back to that place again. Not even near the place…

Muling lumuwag ang mga braso niyang nakayakap sa akin bago siya unti-unting lumayo. Biting her lower lip, she managed to pull a chair she could sit on before staring sadly at me.

“Alam ko. I made my research about you upon seeing you leave Cypher Dos that night…” she apologetically said.

“To be honest, I planned not to ever do anything with you again. I planned to go the separate way from you,” I honestly said, bowing my head for the guilt that dripped within me.

She wasn’t that bad. Mali niyang dinala niya ako sa Cypher Dos, at mali rin niyang iniwan niya ako, pero kung hindi ako pumayag sa umpisa, hindi naman talaga ako mapapadpad doon.

It was partly my fault. She just wanted to have fun that night, she wanted to have fun with me and it just happened that we both ruined it. Ako, sa pagiging naïve ko, siya, sa pagiging careless niya. I guessed, we could really pass as friends.

“Ah, Fraye! Don’t! Nag-sorry na ako! Hindi na ulit kita yayayain sa lugar na iyon! Hindi mo alam kung anong pinagdaanan ko dahil lang doon!” She carelessly blurted out that made me stare confusedly at her.

“Pinagdaanan mo?”

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya saka mabilis na umiling. She tried to save the situation by focusing her attention on my foods on the table.

“Hindi pa ako nag-la-lunch! I planned to have lunch with you but your creeps wouldn’t let me!” Marahas muna niyang nilingon ang Pagoda Blue at sinamaan ng tingin bago dinampot ang silverware na hawak ko kanina saka mabilis na sumubo ng pagkaing nasa plato ko.

It was my time to widen my eyes, seeing her use the same spoon I used. “Cali, that’s my spoon!”

She just smiled widely at me, showing me how she happily munched the food on her mouth as I just pouted at her. Sure again, I wanted this so I needed to accept that Cali was now a part of my school year. She was now my friend, a rare one from nothing.

Napatunayan ko lang kung gaano siya kakulit at kaingay.

One week of being with her inside the school, it brought me into knowing her deeply. Siya iyong tipo ng taong kapag hindi na niya nagugustuhan ang mga pinagsasabi ng teacher sa harap ay mangungulit siya at kapag hindi niya ako magawang hilain para makipagdaldalan sa kaniya, tahimik na lang siyang magsusulat ng kung ano sa likod ng notebook niya.

She found it too fun and more interesting to mess her notebook with her ugly scribbles and doodles than to listen to the lesson.

"Cali, our teacher might throw a surprise quiz later, you should listen…" I softly nudged at her when I saw her scribbling names.

She shook her head and without looking she answered, "Pakopya na lang…"

I sighed with that. Hindi niya alam kung paanong nahintakutan ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. She said it so casually as if it was a normal thing students do.

Siya rin iyong tipo ng taong hindi gugugulin ang buong oras ng lunch sa pagkain lang, madalas niya akong hilahin sa kung saan parte ng school… mostly, nakikipagtaguan sa Pagoda Blue.

“I told you, we can’t hide from them…” Stopping to catch my breath, I bended my body forward to hold on my knees and have some air to breathe for my lungs. Natatawang ginaya niya ang ginawa ko saka malapad na ngumiti.

“You said? Then where are they?” she smugly said, pouting something behind my back. Nang lumingon ako ay wala nga sa likod ko ang Pagoda Blue na madalas ay hindi nalalayo ng tatlong metro sa akin. “I can’t believe you could run that fast!”

“It still isn’t nice to run around the school, Cali. We could’ve been detained inside the detention if a student body member caught us…” Hindi ako makapagsalita ng maayos dahil sa hingal habang sa isipan ko ay sinasang-ayunan ko ang sinabi niya.

I ran with her. Ni hindi rin ako makapaniwalang tumakbo ako. That was just so unladylike. Kapag nalaman ito ni Mommy ay paniguradong magagalit sa akin iyon. She taught me so many lady-manners that I shouldn’t break. At sa school pa! Ano na lang ang iisipin ni Dean Ong kapag nalaman niya ito?

I could only imagine his disappointed face while staring upset at me.

“At least, we’re not caught…” And she smiled playfully at me.

After that incident, Pagoda Blue's eyes on me just tripled as if they couldn't let me get away from their watch again. Indeed, hindi na nga kami nagtatagumpay ni Cali sa tuwing tatakbuhan namin sila kaya tumigil na lang siya at nagpasyang sa greenfield namin gugulin ang natitirang oras ng lunch.

Also, Cali de Villa was that someone who wouldn’t just let anyone bully her. A lot of students tried, scoffing at us when we passed by, staring weirdly at us or the most obvious, tripping her. Palaban siya, bagay na hindi ko kayang gawin kapag sa akin ginawa. Just no one would seriously dare to because I had Pagoda Blue but imagine if I didn’t have them, I might have been bullied physically.

“Cali! Cali, no!” Mabilis kong hinablot ang braso niya nang matapos siyang makabangon mula sa pagkakadapa ay tinangka niyang sugurin ang babaeng pumatid sa kaniya.

By the looks of it, the girl was still in her ninth grade, seeing that the colour of her badge was red. Ganoon din ang mga kasama niya. They even had the guts to smugly stare at us, as if not sorry about what they did to Cali, not even a slight bit.

“Ate Dawn’s a lot more beautiful compare to you! Daniel Kang may be blind! Hmp!” The younger girl angrily spat at me before flipping her prettily braided hair and taking her back on us, leaving with her friends who snickered as a side comment to her.

Mahigpit kong hiniwakan ang braso ni Cali saka ngumuso nang kunot-noong nilingon niya ako.

“Baliw ba iyon? Kung sa’yo naman pala sila may galit, bakit ako iyong pinatid?” she asked angrily.

“Cali!” natatawang sigaw ko sa kaniya.

She tried to throw punches to the air, as if punching those girls. “Dawn’s prettier than Fraye?! Hah, have your eyes checked, bitches! Inggit lang kayo!”

I just also realized that making friends isn’t easy. Naisip kong baka mahirap kasi iba si Cali, kasi hindi siya katulad ko. We were just too different in so many levels, our attitude didn’t even come near anywhere each other, we even had different perception and beliefs over just everything.

I was tamed, she was wild. I was very silent, she was very loud. I was too disciplined, she was too unruly. So it wasn’t easy for me.

The only comforting thing about it was I knew I was seriously considering her as a friend already when I realized how I managed to go through her attitude when in reality, I might have surrendered with her the first time.

“I can’t understand, I just can’t. It doesn’t give her the privilege to act so badly to you just because everyone in this school respects her. I mean, if she wants respect, why not act like it first?” Confusion and frustration rang through her voice while I read some topic for our next class.

Hindi ko siya makita dahil nakahiga ako sa damuhan ng greenfield habang nakataas ang mga kamay kong hawak ang libro ko pero alam kong nakahiga rin siya. My stretched legs were on top of one another, we were both careless about our school uniform when clearly, the grass beneath our bodies was a little wet since it rained yesterday. Paniguradong nadumihan na ang uniform namin.

It was fine. Kung may oras pa mamaya bago mag-umpisa ang afternoon classes ay baka magbihis muna kami. I had spare uniform in my locker, and other spare clothes. Ganoon din siya panigurado.

“Basta. When I said we should stay away from her, we really should. Let’s just stay away from trouble…” I answered, skimming through the page of my book to find where I stopped reading.

“Tss, we’re still not crossing paths again since the first time I saw her. I can’t promise to just let her be if she ever tries to pull again something like what she did back then. Ibabato ko talaga pabalik sa mukha niya iyong bola.”

“That’s just trouble, Cali.”

“Trouble if she tries to hurt me or just touch me, Fraye. That also applies when she touches you, I don’t like trouble but not when trouble asks for attention.”

One more thing, she could do anything for a friend. Ilang beses na niya iyong pinatunayan sa akin. Sa tuwing may mga estudyante ang magtatangkang palihim na mam-bully sa amin, o sa akin, talagang hindi nakakalagpas sa kaniya. She didn’t do trippings, throwing drinks and pulling hairs, she just dirtily raised her middle finger.

It was scandalous and very unladylike for me but I also couldn’t deny how hilarious and horrendous she made those bullies look with that.

Somehow, somehow, with all of that, she had managed to completely snatch my trust and comfort.

“They’re talking! We all know that he doesn’t smile often but he smiled at Dawn!”

“Why is he here anyway?!”

“Duh, what matter's he’s here! Only if you just saw him! Ang guwapo talaga!”

“Pero ‘di ba girlfriend niya si Mira Drewford?”

“Never heard of a playboy?”

Walking slowly with Cali along the busy hallway towards the exit, my brows instantly met as I felt Cali’s fingers on my hand grip tightly. Kahit na halos malayo na sa amin ang mga tiliang iyon ay umabot pa rin sa pandinig ko kaya dahan-dahan kong nilingon ang Pagoda Blue at agad na sinalubong ang mga mata ni Totoro.

Firm, stern and serious, Totoro’s eyes didn’t blink even when I threw him a questioning look, instead he just slowly cut the distance between us, somehow managing to leave a meter space. Si Cali na nasa tabi ko ay nagawa pa akong hilahin na tipong ipinagdadamot ako kay Totoro.

“Sir Yoongi texted earlier, he said he’d come to fetch you.” He fished something out from his pocket and he stretched his hand to me. I saw his black phone in its full brightness showing me the text Kuya Yoongi sent him.

Hindi na bago ang ganito. Kung minsan talaga ay siya ang sumusundo sa akin imbis na si Mang Estacio, panandalian iyong huminto nitong mga nakaraang buwan dahil siguro busy siya, nakalimutan na rin yata ng mga estudyante ang tungkol doon.

Now it made sense. During those months, he was busy with Ate Mira so he couldn’t go here to fetch me.

“He found out about…” Totoro shortly stopped to turn to Cali who instantly scowled at him. “About your friend.”

“Uh, is he mad?” mahinang tanong ko dahil ang pinakahuli kong gustong mangyari ngayon ay ang makasama si Kuya Yoongi ng galit siya. Pagkatapos ng mga nangyari noon sa Min Mansion, ilang araw din kaming hindi nagkita, almost a month at hindi ko alam kung anong ugali naman ngayon ang ipapakita niya sa akin.

I was also very done with his mood swings. Magagalit siya sa akin tapos magiging kalmado. Hindi ko na siya maintindihan. Hindi niya rin alam kung paanong ilang araw kong iniwasan ang mga magulang ko para lang hindi nila ako tanungin kung bakit ako umiiyak noong gabing iyon.

It wasn’t so much like me! Often times, I would open up to them and tell them all of my concerns but how could I seriously tell them about Kuya Yoongi’s unknown effect to me if I didn’t even know what was it? The last thing I wanted to happen was for them to inquire the cold man.

I knew I confused them and made them so worried so I just made sure to them that I was fine, that I just missed sleeping beside them. Luckily, they took into my reason and didn’t ask me anymore.

Totoro slowly shook his head. Mabubuhayan na sana ako ng loob dahil ang buong akala ko ay ‘hindi’ ang sagot niya kung hindi lang siya nagsalita. “I don’t know, Miss Fraye, but he didn’t look pleased upon knowing it.”

Kung kanina ay si Cali ang nakakapit sa braso ko, ngayon ay ako na ang nakakapit sa braso niya. It felt like I just wanted her to take me away from Pagoda Blue and bring me home instead.

Hardly biting my lower lip, my fingers on Cali’s arms tightening, I bravely stepped my foot back, alerting the men in front of me. Bago pa man ako tumalikod para hilahin si Cali palayo sa Pagoda Blue ay muling nagsalita si Totoro.

“And if he’s mad, we both know that you shouldn’t make him even angrier. Huwag nang matigas ang ulo, Miss Fraye.”

Of course, Totoro knew too well his boss. He was also aware about what his boss had been doing to me before!

My will to escape disappeared as I gave Cali a helpless look. Nakapag-research na nga yata siya ng tungkol sa akin dahil malungkot siyang tumitig sa akin saka dinala ang kamay sa balikat ko para haplusin.

“Fraye, my d-driver must be waiting for me a-already. I… I would want to meet Yoongi Min but m-maybe not today?” She desperately tried to take my fingers away from her arm, her voice high-pitched and loud than ever.

“Cali, no! You’re going with me—“

Her frightened laugh cut me off. “Shoot! My brother will look for me if I won’t be home on time!” Nagawa niyang makawala sa akin saka siya mabilis na umatras. Nang tinangka kong abutin siya ay hinawakan ni Totoro ang mga braso ko. “Maybe, s-some other time! See you on Monday, Fraye!”

Pouting helplessly, I almost teared up when Cali finally disappeared from my sight. Tinakasan niya ako! Akala ko handa siyang gawin ang lahat para sa akin! Laughing mentally at that, I thought, see? Even Cali de Villa, who was very brave and very blunt couldn’t also afford to mess with Kuya Yoongi. Alam niyang kapag nalaman ni Kuya Yoongi na siya ang nagdala sa akin sa Cypher Dos, alam niyang malalagot siya.

She must have researched so well about me.

“Let’s go, Miss Fraye…” Totoro’s deep voice just only heightened the fear that was starting to break me down inside.

“Can you just tell him that I can go home alone? I’ll just take a cab…” I helplessly told Totoro who hardly shook his head at me in the middle of my useless attempt.

Okay, I just tried. Alam ko namang hindi gagana pero baka maawa siya sa akin at hayaan akong maka-alis ngayon. I didn’t know anything about commuting, but I would rather take that than go home with Kuya Yoongi. Ayaw ko rin siyang makita. Just when he was finally showing me his good changes, he easily ruined that for himself, making me feel bad about even trying to think of starting a new with him.

Hinding-hindi na siya magbabago!

“After you…” Nang marahan akong binitawan ni Totoro ay lumikha siyang muling ng tatlong metrong distansiya sa pagitan namin saka ako hinayaang maglakad na.

It was funny how every girl in this school was very eager to see Kuya Yoongi who suddenly appeared here again, when here I was, hoping for the ground to open up and eat me whole so I wouldn’t need to see him.

Paglabas ko ng building, hindi ko na kailangan pang hanapin pa kung nasaan siya dahil ang umpukan ng mga estudyante ang nagdala sa mga mata ko para makita siya. It also wasn’t easy to ignore him when he stood by his cool black Palisade all clad in a white tight dress shirt and black pants. Even with the distance I could see his specs on his kitten eyes, some strands of his back smooth hair covering his forehead.

The bright daylight was framing his handsome features very well, his moon-kissed skin glittering under the rays of sun.

Hindi ko makita ang sinasabi ng mga babae kaninang nakangiti siya gayong ang nakikita ko ay ang mga mata niyang tila mahuhulog na sa antok habang nakatitig sa mismong direksiyon ko na para bang binabantayan niya ang paglabas ko.

Really, he didn’t have any plans of making me live in peace.

Walking suddenly felt too difficult for me too. Lalo na nang umayos siya ng tayo habang tamad na sinalubong ng mga mata niya ang mga mata ko sa likod ng mga salamin niya, ang dila niya ay lumilitaw sa kada-pagbasa nito sa mga labi niya bago siya lumunok.

Students who crowded around him, some trying to talk to him while some just gawked hopelessly, all turned to my direction, their smiles and sparkling eyes immediately disappeared when seeing me.

Kung sana ay kaya akong isalba ng mga masasamang titig nila sa akin ay baka natuwa pa ako sa kanila. Hindi lang sila ang may ayaw na nandito si Kuya Yoongi para sa akin!

Where was Ate Mira when I needed her to divert Kuya Yoongi’s focus from me? Ngayon ko siya kailangan!