Chapter Twenty-seven

"Okay, Christmas break is approaching so fast. And instead of holding a Christmas ball like what we used to, our beloved dean has granted the ideas of the student body regarding the fundraising for less fortunate kids. We'll open our field for outsiders for a bigger audience. Your participation isn't mandatory but will be much appreciated, your attendance will be counted as a peso. Activities are already posted on MCI's website, also on the VTR."

As long as our adviser had announced what she had been wanting to tell us since last week, since December already entered the year, since some of us had really looked up for the Christmas ball, faint growls of protest could be heard around the four corners of the room along with faint voices of approval.

Hindi ako nagsalita pero tumango ako dahil ayos lang naman sa akin kung anong activity man ang maisipan ng school faculty namin.

We barely had student body since at the end, the decision would still be coming from our dean, but for formality's sake, our student body was built. Sila pa rin naman ang dahilan kung bakit walang violence dito sa school, aside from MCI's students were naturally disciplined and properly well-mannered, the student body didn't tolerate such violence or trouble. May nakalaang sanction sa kada-offense na malalabag oras na mahuli ka ng kahit na isa sa kanila.

Well, kung mahuhuli ka, because most of the times, they were just inside their office for no one knew why. They weren't also just your typical student body, they were the scholars of MCI, every one of us respected them. Makikita lang sila tuwing oras ng klase sa loob ng kani-kanilang mga classrooms pero kapag oras ng break, parati silang nasa office nila. I didn't personally know any of them but from what I heard, they were geniuses.

Papasa ba namang scholar kung hindi? I was sure, before this school year would end, we would be needing new set of student body since some of the officers were graduating this year.

They had also been raising that event to our dean, hoping for it to be granted.

"Any question regard-" Hindi pa man natatapos ng teacher namin ang sinasabi niya ay mabilis nang nagtaas ng kamay ang katabi ko sa kaliwa. Sighing when her eyes landed on Cali, she lightly nodded her head as if letting my friend throw her inquiries.

"Where did the activities come from? I mean, we, students, should be the one running an activity, right? Like booths, café and such?" The moment Cali let those questions slip out of her mouth as her eyes stared confusedly at the front, laughter then followed. Nagtatakang nilingon ako ni Cali, halata sa hitsura niya ang sobrang pagtataka.

Pouting embarrassingly at her, I turned my head towards our teacher who instantly told the class to keep quiet. Tumahimik din naman kaagad ang mga kaklase namin pero may mga ilang nililingon kami tapos palihim na tatawa. I didn't want to feel ashamed with her but I couldn't help it. Ayaw ko talaga kapag kami ang nagiging sentro ang atensiyon.

It always happened because she was just a very attention-magnet. Bukod sa hindi siya nangingiming ihayag ang opinion niya, her unawareness and obliviousness of things about our school seemed funny for the other students.

"Miss De Villa, since you're new here and this is probably the first event you'll be experiencing here, I understand your confusion. I advise you to go to the auditorium and check out the activities and how they work."

"Weird..." Cali whispered from beside me. "Sa school namin may mga clubs kami, we do our own activities to serve people. We also do fundraising..." She added, it seemed like she was talking to me so I again turned to look at her.

"Not here, Cali. We also have clubs here, but activities being held here don't depend on them. Only the student body has the say about activities being held before they get signed by Dean Ong. We, we'll stand as an audience also," mahinang paliwanag ko sa kaniya dahil mukhang mayroon pang sasabihin ang teacher namin sa harap. Hindi ko alam kung naintindihan niya ang sinabi ko pero hindi na siya sumagot kaya itinoon ko nang muli sa harap ang mga mata ko.

Every one of us was also waiting for what our adviser would say next.

"And class, no donations from your pockets. We strictly follow no collection policy here. Kung gusto niyong mag-donate, the entry should come from and permitted by your parents. Permission still needs to be granted by our dean."

Mukhang iyon nga ang hinihintay ng lahat dahil bahagyang umingay na naman ang room, ang iba ay nakikipag-usap sa katabi samantalang ang iba ay nagbabato ng informal inquiry sa adviser namin. Nagkakaroon lang kasi kaming mga students ng kakayahang makapag-donate sa mga orphanage under MCI sa tuwing may events.

Hindi tumatanggap ang MCI ng donation directly from our pockets because it needed to be legalized by having our parents' permission with it. It had also been a usual thing for us.

"Battle of the bands, colour run, book fair, literature war, drawing art exhibit..."

When lunch came, Cali had managed to drag me towards the auditorium in where the VTR located, replaying the set of activities that was going to be happening next week. It would be a whole week. A whole week for us students being away from our paper works... mas maganda nga naman ang ganito kaysa sa Christmas ball na paniguradong exclusive lang para sa aming mga MCI students. I could also invite my parents to join the event, their participation would really be a huge help.

Maraming activities ang ipinakita sa VTR pero iilan lang ang tumatak sa akin dahil iilan lang din naman ang familiar ako. It was amusing how the ten-member student body had managed to come up with a lot of activities.

"None of them sounds fun for me! Wala bang booths?" inis na sabi ni Cali nang matapos ang video at muling bumalik sa umpisa. Her definition of fun of course would be very out of the box. Anong klase ba ng mga activities ang papasang fun para sa kaniya?

"Colour run seems fun for me..." mahinang sabi ko, iniisip na iyon lang naman ang medyo bagay para sa pagiging enthusiastic niya.

"You joining?" Nilingon niya ako saka pinameywangan. Her perfect made brows rose up, her pair of round big eyes staring confusedly yet amusedly at me. "You don't run, Fraye. Ang arte mo kaya."

Instead of feeling offended, I just laughed at her teasing attempt, lightly shaking my head to answer her. Madalas ko kasi siyang sawayin sa tuwing tumatakbo siya sa hallway tapos dinadamay pa ako.

Hindi ako sasali sa activity na iyon. I just thought that it would somehow fit her knowing her enthusiastic personality. Isa pa, malaki ang participation fee. Hindi birong mapaliguan ng body paint at matapunan ng colored powder, ni-require pa nilang white t-shirt ang isusuot kaya sana lang ay bumenta ang activity na iyon.

"Ano sasalihan mo? I might just join you..."

Naalala ko kung bigla iyong pag-uusap namin ni Dean Ong noong nakaraang araw na pinatawag niya ako sa office niya. I already knew about the set of activities so it didn't surprise me anymore. Ipinakita na Dean Ong ang mga iyon sa akin dahil gusto niyang sumali ako sa isa. He wanted me to include my drawings into the Drawing Art Exhibit.

"I'm not forcing you, Miss De Asis, but you see, I've always known your talent in art, drawing to be specific. The student body has personally requested you to me, hoping we'll get you to present your drawings. They only needed three artists and you're one of them. The other two are easy to negotiate with, it's only you they're concerned about. They don't think you'll agree..."

It wasn't like I didn't want to join. Putting more drawings into the exhibit meant more bids and more donations but I just didn't feel like making my drawings go to public. Hindi naman ako ganoon kagaling mag-drawing, isa pa, nakakahiya namang ibigay sa kanila iyong mga drawings ko kung mukha ng iisang tao lang ang lahat ng iyon. I could also draw for them but I hesitated for a bit.

"Don't worry, we'll make sure not to reveal your identity. We'll make everything anonymous, even those two other artists."

Hindi na ako nakatanggi dahil masyado nang nakakahiya kung hanggang doon ang kayang gawin ng student body para lang mapapayag ako. I meant, what if those other artists wanted their identity to be revealed? Nadamay pa sila sa kaartehan ko.

"It's... y-you don't need to make us anonymous. I'm in..."

It had been a week already since Dean Ong talked to me and they gave me one week to draw. I gave them my concept which was nature and they were fine with it. It even intimidated me having to meet three of the members of the Student Body, I would admit they were very stiff and pretty intimidating. Para akong nakikipagnegosasyon habang kausap ko sila.

Nakilala ko na rin ang dalawa pang kasama kong artists. They were both from lower grades, one from freshmen and one from juniors. Nagkaroon kaming tatlo ng sarili naming session, we brainstormed for each other's concepts so we wouldn't have the same concepts, and we landed into different things. Nature for me.

Noong unang beses kaming nagsama-sama ng kaming tatlo lang ay halos hilingin kong lamunin na ako ng sahig dahil sa sobrang awkward. I meant, no one had dared to break the uncomfortable and awkward bubble first, we were all very shy to each other. We would give each other awkward exchange of smiles and clearing of throats. Kaya nang magsalita ang junior ay pare-pareho kaming nakahinga ng maluwag.

It really just took one brave from us to put down the walls that guarded us from each other.

"Y-You draw better than us..." She honestly yet shyly complimented my drawings, her lips were stretched for a sweet shy smile.

Nahihiyang ngumiti ako sa junior dahil sa sinabi niya nang magbigay kami ng impromptu drawing namin as a sample. Gumuhit lang ako ng simpleng imahe ng falls samantalang parehong mukha ng tao ang idinrowing nila.

"Thanks..." nahihiyang sagot ko. I was happy that they weren't included into those students who seemed to despise my very existence. Nagkaroon kami ng maikling usapan na labas sa gagawin namin.

"I'm actually following you on IG. I d-don't understand why people here seem to hate y-you. You s-seem nice..."

I took in that she was a freshman, I knew her perception of me would change along the way but I couldn't help but feel happy and grateful that she found me nice. Bukod kay Cali, wala na talagang ibang estudyante ang may gusto sa akin dito. I just got tired asking myself what I did wrong.

"Will it be weird if I admit now that I'm o-one of your r-roses?" the junior one then seconded, exchanging shy stares with the freshman. Nag-ngitian sila mayamaya nang malaman nilang pareho silang roses ko.

They didn't know how they made me feel very happy and appreciated. Our little simple yet awkward banter then ended with both of them asking a photo with me after they showed me their phones where they had my IG account followed. Iyong freshman ay may nakalagay pang rose emoji sa bio niya representing na isa nga siya sa mga roses ko.

"Some of my classmates also like you, Miss Fraye, we're all just a-afraid to be out casted..." the junior honestly admitted to me.

Hindi ko alam na may ganoon pala. I was out casted, so probably, they were thinking they would be too if they attempted to befriend me.

"Having at least one friend doesn't mean being an outcast, you can always go to me so we can hang out." Tinanguhan ko sila pareho nang sabay na manlaki ang mga mata nila bago sila magtinginan muli. Fluttering, my heart warmly swelled on joy when they both turned to me with big smiles in their lips as they both nodded happily.

What happened made me wonder if there were also other people who wanted to be friends me with inside the school and were just afraid to approach me.

Staring at the long ponytailed hair of Cali, I pouted while thinking if telling her about the activity I joined wouldn't spoil the surprise. Hindi kasi nakalagay sa details ng Drawing Art Exhibit ang mga pangalan naming mga artists. In the end, I thought I should tell her because I couldn't also lie to her about it.

"Actually, I already joined Drawing Art Exhibit..."

Instantly turning to look at me, her round eyes were bigger than normal when looking shockingly at me. I couldn't decipher if that was a look of betrayal or a look of disbelief. Cali was one unpredictable lady so I didn't really know. She was easy to read for me, though not when she was giving me expressions too far from what I would expect from anyone.

"You draw?!" Her voice was a little bit loud, enough for anyone near us to hear. She made it sound like it was something impossible.

"K-Kind of..." sagot ko, marahang tumatango.

"For real? I mean, I'm not referring to those house sticks and human sticks like how I do it, you really can draw?"

Nodding still, I stared at her, making her feel like she was offending me for real. Hindi ko dini-degrade iyong mga taong human stick lang ang kayang i-drawing pero sino bang hindi marunong noon? I could do it even with my eyes closed. Gulat na gulat siya na para bang hindi siya makapaniwala.

"I understand that you can only draw human stick, Cali, but when I say I can draw, I mean, real drawing and not some lines, circles and any other shapes. Marunong akong mag-drawing." Sinubukan kong irapan siya na ikinasinghap niya. Mabilis niyang inabot ang mukha ko at ipinaharap sa kaniya, nagpipigil ng tawa.

"Ulitin mo! Nakita ko, umirap ka!" she accused me kiddingly.

Rolling my eyes again, I let loose of myself as I laughed with her.

We had our lunch then, still talking about the upcoming event. Pinag-usapan din namin kung kukumbinsihin ba namin ang mga magulang namin na mag-donate. We visited MCI's website called Cresencia. Naroon ang list ng lahat ng mga orphanage under MCI, their details and everything were also there. Napagdesisyunan namin na kung mag-do-donate kami ay sa magkaibang program. Mayroon na akong specific orphanage na noon ko pa inaabutan ng tulong kaya tinulungan ko na lang siyang mamili ng sa kaniya.

For the next days, along with classes, everyone was also preparing for next week's event. Nagsimula na rin akong mag-drawing ng mga isasali ko sa exhibit, tuwing pagkagaling sa school ay dumidiretso ako sa leisure ko para ubusin ang oras hanggang dinner sa pag-do-drawing lang.

I didn't know that drawing for a cause could be so much frustrating. It was different from just drawing because I felt like it, from just drawing because I was fine with whatever my hands would come up to. Ilang beses akong nagtapon ng mga unfinished touches sa ilang pilas ng sketch pad ko dahil hindi ako satisfied sa tuwing nakakita ako ng mali.

In the middle of concentrating, I stopped drawing. Nagtungo ako sa closet ko kung nasaan ang mga sketch pads ko na puno ng mga mukha ni Kuya Yoongi. Before, it was too confusing for me to find the reason for whenever I was holding a pencil, the first thing my mind was capable to picture was his handsome face, it was the only thing my hand was excited to draw.

Inisip ko noon na baka dahil sa sobrang pagkamuhi ko sa kaniya, gumagawa ang utak ko ng isang rason para hindi ko siya tuluyang kamuhian. My mind found him beautiful so it subjected his face to draw to give me reason that he wasn't bad at all, there was also something good in him.

It was physical but I settled, now I somehow understood, a slight bit, that I had always found him attractive that was why he was always the subject of my drawings. At ngayon nakatitig ako sa dami ng sketch pads sa ibabaw ng table ko, hindi ko mapigilang pag-initan ng mga pisngi dahil bata pa lang ako, ginagawa ko na iyon.

Probably, what those pages contained was the perfect transition of Yoongi Min growing up, down from a fifteen-year old Yoongi Min up to the present Yoongi Min. Baka kapag nakita niya ang mga ito, isipin niyang baliw ako. It felt creepy to me, I felt like a stalker...

I would never want him to see these, aside from I knew something was wrong with how I drew his pair of kitten eyes, some with spectacles, some without and some closed... it was embarrassing if he would ever find out.

It was decided that we should include at least ten entries so I really needed to break a bone in finishing at least ten drawings within the given short period of time. I only had like four days to draw, six if weekends included!

Kumuha ako ng ilang ideas sa favorite art site ko saka nag-email to give them credits for using their ideas, sa kada-drawing na matatapos ko ay naglalagay rin ako ng maliit na hand written watermark sa dulong bahagi ng pad, nickname ko iyon kasama ang source.

"Sweet pea? Fraye..."

Watching as the door of the room slowly pushed open, I stopped my hand from moving as I waited for Mommy to appear. When she finally showed herself to me with a tray of glass of milk in her hands, wearing her lavander night gown, I straightened my back, realizing how cramped it was already for sitting long.

"It's late, you should be sleeping now." Lumampas muna siya sa akin para ilapag sa mesang nasa likod ko ang tray saka siya tumabi sa akin at sumilip sa ginagawa ko. A warm smile spread across her lips when she saw the page I was working on. "That looks like a vast garden in the middle of nowhere..."

I slowly nodded my head. "It is. I got the idea from DeviantArt, Mommy."

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pag-do-drawing dahil ilang sketches na lang naman ang kulang. It was again monochromatic since I didn't use colored pencil when drawing, I just wanted the dullness of it and only seeing the life through my mind. Pagkatapos kong mag-drawing ay inabot sa akin ni Mommy ang gatas na agad ko namang ininom. Sinamahan niya rin ako sa kuwarto ko at nag-stay hanggang sa matapos akong mag-shower.

I knew she just wanted to kiss me goodnight that was why she stayed and waited.

"Your Kuya Yoongi came here earlier but upon knowing you're working on a school work, he just told me to let you know." Mommy lately informed me while pulling the comforter up my chest when I had laid down. "He clearly didn't want to disturb you..."

"He was h-here?" Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko pero hindi ko napigilang ngumuso, iniisip kong baka mas ginanahan pa akong mag-drawing kanina kung nagpakita siya sa akin. I wasn't really that busy, I still could give him attention, talk to him while I was drawing.

Hindi kami madalas magkita at aaminin kong caught up ako ngayon sa school event na paparating pero kaya kong ibalanse ang oras ko para sa kaniya. Siyempre kaya ko... huwag ko lang iisipin ang mga puwede naming gawin.

"Hm, are you still hating him, Fraye?"

Slowly shaking my head while staring intently at her, her face was beautifully framed by some strands of fallen hair, I opened my mouth to speak. "N-No... I'm already trying to get a-along with him, Mommy."

So far, that was the most honest and the most restrained thing I had told my mother regarding my relationship with Kuya Yoongi. And it was comforting.

Monday, one day before the full blast of the event taking place for the whole week, my entries for the exhibit were already being arranged at the auditorium. Mayroong maliit na hallway doon kung saan magandang i-display ang mga drawings, one narrow hallway lang siya na may dead end. Our drawings would be scattered, not by artists so the bidders wouldn't focus only on one place.

"DeviantArt! I also love Deviant!"

"Artists there are great," sagot ko kay Nelle-she told me to call her that-habang tinitingnan ko ang mga drawings in frame na nakakalat sa bawat puting dingding.

The student body had arranged them properly and very artistically. We weren't professional artists but it looked like the exhibit would turn like of those professionals.

Sobrang gaganda rin ng drawing nina Nelle at Cheese, hindi katulad ng sa akin, may kulay ang mga drawings nila. Sinabi rin nilang may mga sites din silang pinagkuhanan ng ideas pero hindi na nila nilagay as watermark. I thought that was fine for as long you didn't completely copy the whole thing, ideas are shareable anyway.

Hindi pa bubuksan ang Drawing Art Exhibit ngayong araw. The student body representative told us that it would be opened on the third day up to the last day. Magkakaroon kasi ng program kung saan bibigyan ng acknowledgement ang pinakakumitang activity, maging ang mga organizers pati kaming mga artists. Certificate of participation naman sa lahat ng mga estudyante.

Since wala na masyadong gagawin ngayon ay hinayaan na kaming mga estudyante na maglibot-libot sa mga activities na nakakalat sa field. There were one member of student body handling one activity but they didn't need to stay because they had people to look out for it. I guessed, volunteers.

I invited my parents and they said, they would still see if they could go. Puwede naman silang pumunta kahit na anong araw since isang buong linggo ang event. Tents were already scattered around the MCI fields, students wandering around to visit them. Mayroon ding mga shops na itinayo kung saan lahat ng mga products ay for-a-cause. Public vendors were also invited, I even saw a cotton candy machine on a corner, a stall that sold varieties of stuffed toys, and a bubble balloon stall across. Iyong lang ang mga pinakatumatak sa isipan ko dahil gusto ko silang puntahan.

"You have them since freshman? De Asis Holdings isn't that big for you to have those men. I seriously don't understand..."

Kailangan ko na rin siguro talagang masanay sa tuwing pinupuna ni Cali ang Pagoda Blue. Naiintindihan ko ring hindi siya sanay na may nakasunod parati sa kaniya at sinusubukan niyang magtiis dahil gusto niya akong makasama. I gave her that. We were friends, she was considerate enough for me and for as much as I wanted to be considerate to her, I couldn't really ask Pagoda Blue to stop doing their job.

Maybe, just maybe, Kuya Yoongi had reasons why he wanted me to be watched over by his trusted people.

Buong araw ng lunes ay naglibot lang kami sa buong school. We visited stalls that offered fun activities and treats, we both liked cotton candy so we enjoyed those different shaped cotton candies in stick. Iba't iba rin ang kulay ng mga iyon. I would sometimes get a conscious and warning look from Totoro but I would just give him my pleading look and he would cave in. He did if he thought it wouldn't be bad for me.

Maraming activities and stalls ang hindi pa nagbubukas pero ayos lang iyon dahil nag-enjoy naman kami sa mga napuntahan namin. Outsiders also were slowly filling the school, it was so refreshing to have different people inside the walls of MCI. Kapansin-pansin kung sino ang mga estudyante ng MCI dahil naka-uniform pa kami, though for sure bukas, naka-freestyle na lahat.

"My family's friends with the Mins. It just became a natural thing for us to have the privilege..." sagot ko sa kaniya habang nakatitig sa gilid ng mukha niya. She was staring blandly at the direction of Pagoda Blue, the nonchalance on her face showed how she didn't want what she was seeing.

She had become easy to read for me. Kapag masaya siya ay mabilis iyong lumilitaw sa mukha niya at lumalabas sa pananalita at pagkilos niya. If she wasn't pleased, she would either get so moody or silent... worst, wild.

When her head slowly turned to me, her pretty big round eyes narrowed at me. "Then why Yoongi Min treats you so differently?" The question slipped out of her mouth so naturally but sounded eagerly. Para bang noon pa niya iyon gustong itanong pero hindi niya magawa.

We had been friends for months now, enough for me to know things about her and enough for her to know things about me. The past months, there were times that instead of Mang Estacio, it was Kuya Yoongi who was coming to fetch me. Hindi pa naman sila formally nag-mi-meet ni Cali but they had had casual and civil exchange of glances plus Kuya Yoongi once asked me about Cali.

"I knew her. Younger sister of the Boyz With Fun's vocalist."

Naalala kong miyembro pala ng personal band ng The Min's resto-bar ang Kuya ni Cali. Naalala ko ring noong hindi pa kami close ni Cali, kilala na niya si Kuya Yoongi. I had also told her things about Kuya Yoongi, not the extremes but only those little fights I always had with him before, his punishment and the reason.

She wasn't pleased.

"Dapat nagsusumbong ka! I always fight with Kuya Cody but that's normal because we're real siblings, e 'di naman kayo magkapatid ni Yoongi Min." She was too furious back then, even threw death glares to Pagoda Blue when she found out they were planted by Kuya Yoongi.

I just shrugged my shoulder at her because I couldn't really tell her why Kuya Yoongi was treating me differently before. It was still a little bit confusing for me but somehow, just somehow, I just looked at it like some of his misled affection. Iba ang pagkaka-intindi ko o sadyang iba lang talaga ang intensyon niya.

She knew when to drop a topic when she felt like I was not comfortable. It wasn't like I didn't want to talk about Kuya Yoongi with her. I just couldn't talk about the man with anyone with the restriction of not telling them about the real score between us. I wanted to have someone to share my feelings for Kuya Yoongi with but it still very impossible for now, it was difficult and insanely hurting...

Ngayon ko pa nga lang nararamdaman ang ganito, tapos sa ganitong sitwasyon pa.

"Anyway, Kuya Cody's band will be participating the battle of the bands." Humalukipkip siya saka umirap sa kawalan. Kulang na lang bumuga siya ng marahas na buntong-hininga para ipakita ang frustration niya.

"Don't you think that's good? Joining the battle of the bands means more audience," sabi ko dahil paniguradong maraming mag-pa-participate sa event ng MCI na mga outsiders at paniguradong maraming makakanood sa kanila

Pursing my lips hard when she stared disbelievingly at me, my eyes stared back at her, getting myself ready for her remark.

"Not to compete, Fraye! They're invited to perform, they're highly requested by our schoolmates. I can't believe it! Kung alam ko lang, sana ay kinausap ko si Dean Ong na huwag pumayag!" And she already blabbed about how she hated the fact that her brother would be joining our event, she even told me how she had a fight with her brother because she told him not to go but it was already arranged.

Natawa na lang ako dahil hinding-hindi ko maiintindihan kung bakit inis na inis siyang nagpupunta rito ang Kuya niya. Gusto kong isipin na possessive lang siyang kapatid at ayaw niyang pinagpapantasyahan ang Kuya niya. Somehow, I found it cute.

Nang dumating ang uwian ay ihahatid ko muna dapat siya sa sasakyang susundo sa kaniya pero in-inform ako ni Totoro na naghihintay na si Kuya Yoongi sa akin sa parking lot.

It would always surprise me every time he would come unannounced, I would just know from Totoro since we didn't do texting. I didn't even have his number! Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa niya sa IG account niya dahil wala pa rin iyong development simula noong ginawa ko iyon.

I constantly visited his account since I had followed him already but it was still zero post, a thousand followers, and one following! Tingin ko talaga hindi niya iyon binibisita.

Naghiwalay kami ni Cali papasok ng parking lot dahil malayo-layo pa ang madalas na pinag-pa-parking-an ng driver niya. Katulad ni Kuya Yoongi, palitaw-litaw lang din dito si Cody De Villa para sunduin si Cali, dahil madalas, iyong driver niya ang sumusundo sa kaniya.

Like the norms, or maybe I just got used to it, Cody De Villa was still so aloof and very snob. Wala siyang mintis palagi sa pagpapakita ng disgusto niya sa buong pagkatao ko pero nagpapasalamat naman akong hindi niya iyon idinadahilan para huwag sunduin si Cali.

I would just give him little and awkward smiles though he would always slam me his broad back, not really giving a damn about me. That was fine, I was used to people hating me.

Pinigilan ko ang magtatalon sa tuwa, ang dibdib ko ay tila sasabog na sa likot ng puso ko sa loob nang makita ko na ang imahe ni Kuya Yoongi na prenteng nakasandal sa isa sa mga sasakyan niya. The cold savage man never failed to flash his luxury cars for everyone to gawk and marvel at. Masyado siyang flashy in a low-key way.

He looked too dashing and impeccably beautiful in his black dress shirt and black jeans, his pale moon-kissed skin was glittering, his super black hair that was shining under the shades of the daylight messily fell down his face, portion of his forehead was covered. May kumikinang na diamonds sa magkabilang tainga niya.

He seriously looked too dreamy, someone who was supposed to be in anyone's dreams.

Bumagal lang ang paglalakad ko palapit sa kaniya nang makita kong hindi siya nag-iisa, ang mga labi ko ay mabilis na nanulis at ang mga mata ko ay mabilis na naningkit habang nakikipag-usap siya sa babaeng nasa harap niya.

Her beautiful long curly hair hung prettily down her back, her romper uniform perfectly hugged her skinny torso and her tall height competed with Kuya Yoongi's tall height. From a not so far distance from us, I saw the other members of the soccer team, obviously having fun watching the two. Kinukuhanan pa nila ng pictures ang mga ito.

My heart completely sank to my stomach when I saw how his thin bloody lips slowly stretched into a smile, his tongue appearing to daringly poke at the side of his lips. His gummy smile blessing my over all existence once again, and probably the existence of the girl he was smiling at.

It wasn't like that smile was different from his any other beautiful smiles, it wasn't, he actually looked so beautiful still, but the ugly part of it was he was smiling at someone else.

I didn't want it.

"Miss Fraye..." From behind me, I heard Totoro's firm but soft voice. Napagtanto kong huminto pala ako sa paglalakad kaya nagpatuloy akong muli.

I never wanted to invade anyone's conversation. I was taught to wait for when until I couldn't interfere between but not my heart, my heart wasn't taught.

"K-Kuya..." I hardly bit my lower lip when my voice came out soft and broken, interrupting their talk, I didn't even spare Dawn Vonmorte a glance for my eyes couldn't seem to look away when Kuya Yoongi's small kitten eyes from behind his specs met mine. Pinigilan ko rin ang mabilis na pagtataas-baba ng dibdib ko kahit na halos hindi na ako makahinga dahil sa paninikip nito.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Dawn step back a bit. Mas nagsalubong pa ang mga kilay ko nang humalo sa pamilyar na bango ni Kuya Yoongi ang matamis at matapang na bango ni Dawn. It didn't smell good! It wasn't such a good combination! Kuya Yoongi's smell was sweet and cool, hers was sweet too so it was redundant!

"Ooops, I think I should go. Thanks for the nice chat, Yoongi. Until next time..." The hint of humour and sweetness through Dawn's soft voice irritated me more. Hindi pa nakatulong nang maramdaman ko ang pagdaan niya sa gilid ko palapit kay Kuya Yoongi.

A faint gasp instantly escaped from my mouth when I saw her quickly lean on to him and sweetly bumped their cheeks together. Pagkatapos ay nilingon niya ako ng may matamis na ngiti bago siya naglakad paalis. I was surprised she didn't melt from how the way my eyes glared at her back.

Nang tuluyan siyang mawala ay humarap ako kay Kuya Yoongi na ngayon ay nakahawak na sa pinto ng passenger's seat. He already had it open, waiting for me to get in, being remotely oblivious about my sudden irritation. I hardly pouted at him as I held my sling bag in a huff and went into the car. Padabog kong ikinabit ang seatbelt ko saka humalukipkip habang pinapanood ang pag-ikot niya hanggang sa makasakay siya.

While fastening his own seatbelt, he was staring amusedly at me as if he was having fun watching me annoyed at him. Hindi man lang siya nag-react nang lumapit si Dawn sa kaniya! Their cheeks touched! It was like Dawn had touched a very important part of me that I didn't want anyone to touch! And he was smiling at her!

"I'm... I'm n-not happy!" I poorly defended myself from his playful stares, honestly giving out what my heart was feeling. Imbis na hayaan siyang makita ang tuluyang pagbuhos ng mga luha ko ay ibinaling ko sa bintana ang mga mata ko para lang makitang may mga estudyante ang nakatitig sa sasakyan. The car was heavily tinted from the outside so they couldn't see us.

My hand fisted tightly as I brought them to my face, harshly wiping the tears off my cheeks. Why I was crying, I didn't know. Basta ang alam ko, hindi ako natutuwa. I had always known how casual he was to other girls, he wasn't the snob type if girls would approach him first. It would only take more courage for girls to approach him. Kaya lang naman siya napapagkamalang suplado ay dahil nakakatakot siyang tingnan.

You would think twice before approaching him. So in the end, you would have to settle for what you wanted to believe about him. And Dawn Vonmorte was a very independent and brave girl. Hindi ko rin naman kasi inaasahang si Kuya Yoongi ang naunang lumapit sa kaniya para makipag-usap...

Narinig ko siyang gumalaw, mayamaya lang ay muli ko na namang naaamoy sa malapitan ang matamis niyang bango. Flinching a bit at my seat, my spine shivered when I felt his fingers trail on my waist towards the lock of the seatbelt. Ang tunog ng pagkakatanggal ng seatbelt ang nagpalingon sa akin, kasabay ng pagluwag ng seatbelt sa katawan ko ay ang paghawak niya sa mga baywang ko. As if confiding with him all over again, my hands flew to his shoulders to grip, I let him strongly and effortlessly lift me towards his lap.

He perfectly settled me on top of his lap, the wheel lamely touching my lower back from behind. My knees were folded on his sides as they anchored against his seat. Bahagya ring umaangat ang dulo ng romper uniform ko dahil sa pagkaka-upo ko sa kandungan niya.

Mabilis akong yumuko dahil kahit na hiyang-hiya ako madalas sa mga ikinikilos niya, kahit na madalas akong pag-initan ng pisngi sa tuwing hahawakan niya ako ng ganito, hindi ko maitatangging mahina ang katawan ko para sa kaniya. I couldn't help but let him do whatever he wanted because I wanted it too.

"Choose, I'll kiss you here so your schoolmates will suspect what are we doing inside the car, or you'll stop giving me that jealous look and let me drive in peace so no rumors, hm?" Marahang humaplos sa baywang ko ang mga daliri niya habang unti-unting kumakapit ang mga daliri ko sa parte ng damit niya sa balikat. "We can have the backseat all you want if you'll choose the first one, Julie..."

My heart leaped from how the way his kitten eyes lazily blinked at me, his head arched back against his seat and his lips were parted a bit, the lower one getting wet due to his lickings.

How dare he give me options when clearly, we both knew what we both wanted?! Gusto kong halikan niya ako at hayaan siyang gawin sa akin ang lahat pero hindi puwede dahil talagang maghihinala ang mga schoolmates ko kung bakit hindi pa kami umaalis! How dare he make me suffer like this?!

"So I guess, it's the backseat-"

"Drive!" I embarrassingly screamed, instantly dipping my head on his left shoulder just so he wouldn't see how embarrassed and frustrated I probably looked right now.

"Are you sure, Julie? Drive while you're on top of me? Can't believe you have kinks..." And he chuckled, obvious that he was enjoying seeing me like this, his hands started leaving tight presses and pinches on my waist.

He managed to send my jealous heart into a very different waves of gut-clenching and spine-shivering sensation, it was hard to hold back because aside from I was naturally driven by my heart, my mind wasn't very strong and independent when it came to him.

He managed to divert my heart from the jealousy but not my mind from revisiting the images of him smiling to Dawn Vonmorte.