ZEKIAH XYRIEL'S POV

"Oorder po ba kayo, maam?"

I immediately rolled my eyes on her because of that stupid question. Malamang, ano bang dapat kong gawin sa isang cafe?! Magrosaryo? Ewan ko! Hindi ko na maintindihan ang mga tao ngayon.

"Obviously! Sino bang naghire sa'yo dito?! Seems like you're new here based on how you act." Mukha kaseng siyang ignorante, sana hindi niya man lang pinahalata. Gosh!

She scratched her head, giving me a light smile."Sorry po maam. May lagnat po kase yung pinalitan ko kaya napilitan nalang akong pumalit. Actually, I don't have an experience on this."

"Whatever. Just act formal, don't be such a dumb when you ask for some questions. Marami nang tanga sa mundo, 'wag ka nang dumagdag pa." I just ordered a cappuccino before leaving the cafe. I still have some researches to do in the library because tomorrow's our due.

Agad akong pumunta sa library dahil may 30 minutes break pa kami bago magsimula ang next subject before lunch. I went to the section of bookshelves where I can find the books that I needed for my research. May reporting kase kami bukas kaya kailangan kong gawin 'to mag-isa. It was supposed to be by pair but since it's girls and boys, I declined to have a partner. They were also afraid of me so they felt relieved when no one of them was chosen to be my partner.

Hindi naman mahirap sa'kin 'to dahil dati akong top 1 sa mga previous schools ko at first din ako last semester. I have beauty but I also have brain. And in that case, no one could underestimate me whenever I'm being myself. Alam ko namang may maipagmamalaki ako kaya hinahayaan ko lang ang sarili kong gawin ang gusto ko. Besides, I don't underestimate people because of what they are. Maldita lang ako pero mahilig lang ako sa away at may pagka-prangka at hindi ko hinuhusgahan ang pagkatao nila.

"Will you mind if I sit here?" I heard someone who talked beside me but I just pretend that I didn't hear anything.

Hindi niya man lang hinintay ang sagot ko at umupo sa harap ko. Well, I don't have a plan or answering her. I'm not fond of socializing with others because I'm not friendly.

"Maldita mo talaga, 'no? Mukha mo palang halata na." Tumawa pa siya ng mahina kaya nilapag ko ang libro ko sa lamesa at tiningnan siya.

My brows furrowed when I realized it was her."So what?! Ganito na talaga ako, ano bang pakialam mo?!"

She just shrugged her shoulders and continued reading her book. Wattpad, huh?! So, she also love fictional characters to escape from reality or maybe it was just her hobby. Whatever it is.

"Thesis ba 'yan?" she suddenly asked when she saw that I'm writing.

I didn't answer her and continued writing but when it comes to the middle of the paragraph, I was confused. Hindi ko na alam kung anong kasunod at kung ano ang magiging daloy nito. Parang na-mental block ako saglit at wala akong maisip na idea.

Oh shit! I already started it so I should finish this. I'm just wasting my time and efforts if it would turn out to be nothing.

"Argh. Ano ba naman 'to! I can't think of something," inis kong sambit at pabagsak na nilapag ang ballpen ko.

"Keep quiet. You're in a library," Katria said gestured me to keep quiet."Ano ba 'yan?! Ba't hirap na hirap ka?" she added and take a look at my work.

"I'm a BAC student and I bet we don't have the same course so you won't understand our topic," I sighed heavily and comb my hair using my hand.

I saw her rolled her eyes on me."Duh. Alam ko naman 'yon pero English yung major ko kaya baka maintindihan ko 'yan. Patingin nga!"

Hinablot niya sa'kin yung sinulat ko kaya wala akong nagawa kundi ipatingin nalang sa kanya.

We're not even close but she treated me like we really know each other. Ngayon ko pa lang naman siya nakausap ng ganito tapos parang chill lang sa kanya. Is she really like that?! Ang feeling close niya naman!

"Akin na nga 'yan! You can't help me for sure. Just mind your own business or you should find a new sit." I get back my paper and read it again, trying to focus on my thesis.

"You should calm yourself and focus on what you're doing. Dapat rin naiintindihan mo talaga ng mabuti yang topic ng sinusulat mo para hindi ka mawalan ng ideya. Trust me it'll work." She get her things and stood up because the bell just rang. Ang ibang students rin ay tumayo na para lumabas kaya niligpit ko narin yung akin.

Bahala na. I'll just finish it at home and I'm going to bring this book with me. Kailangan ko pa rin ng informations dahil hindi ko pa naman tapos basahin yung libro. I just hope that there would be no projects to do in my upcoming subjects.

Kailangan ko pang daanan 'yong dalawang building bago 'yong akin kaya nagmamadali akong naglakad sa ilalim ng init ng araw. I don't have an umbrella because I'm not a kid anymore. Though, my skin would remain the same because I applied skincare. Medyo namumula lang siya ng konti pero mawawala din naman 'yan agad.

'Nilagay mo ba yung mga love letters natin sa locker ni Shael?'

'Yesyuf. I even put the box of gummies on the top of it so that he would know that it was from me'

'Gaga! How could he know if he doesn't even know you?!'

'Bahala na, at least may makakain siya mamaya bago magstart ang basketball practice nila'

I heard some rumors beside me about the basketball practice of Shael's team. Almost all of them said that they went to his locker first to put some things that they usually do. Well, he has many fangirls so it's expected that it would happen. Para sa'kin, nagsasayang lang sila ng oras nila dahil alam ko namang walang pakialam si Shael sa mga pinaggagawa nila.

An idea popped up on my head and I'm sure that it would be really exciting. Medyo namimiss ko narin kaseng mambully kaya baka eto na ang chance ko. When the students were slowly going back to their respective buildings, I immediately went to the boys locker to find his name. It was by surname in alphabetical order so I searched for the letter 'H'. Nang makita ko ang locker niya ay lumingon muna ako sa paligid para tingnan kung may tao ba. As much as possible, no one should know what I'm going to do. I want it to be a secret so that they would be confused who did it.

I opened his locker and I saw many letters on it. Ang gulo talaga ng locker niya tapos naghalo-halo pa yung nga pagkain na nasa box o di kaya ay nasa plastic. Eww, looks like a trashcan.

Ugh. Kahit labag sa kalooban kong hawakan ang mga papel na 'yon dahil kakapalit ko lang ng design ng manicure ko pero wala akong ibang choice. I get the scissor from my bag and cut all the papers or should I say, love letters. I even get those foods on its box and scattered all of it with the papers. Rude isn't it?

I accidentally saw his shoes in a box and it was a brand new. Maybe he would use this later for their practice. Whatever it is, I should consider this as a part of my plan. Ayaw ko kase ng may ititira dahil nasasayangan ko kaya mas masaya kung isasali ko 'to.

His locker was really in a mess right now. Pati ang sapatos niya parang hindi na makilala dahil sa istura nito. I just wonder what would be his reaction after seeing what I did. I heard from the rumors that everyone could watch their practice because they have the permission from the principal. Alam ko naman na ginawa lang nila 'yon para magpasikat sa lahat. Maybe I should bring Alina with me so that she would witness the most embarrassing incident in his life. Gusto ko talagang makita 'yon ng lahat.

"Why are you in a rush, Zeriel?" Alina asked me while I'm pulling her wrist.

"We're going to watch their basketball practice, Ali. Come with me." I find a seat on the third layer of the bleachers to make sure that he wouldn't see me.

"You're so weird. Kailan ka pa mahilig manood ng basketball?! Don't tell me--- Oh god!" Tinakpan niya ang bibig niya na para bang may naisip siyang imposibleng bagay.

I just rolled my eyes on her and face in front."Stop it, it's not like that. May ginawa lang akong tiyak na ikasasaya ko. Focus your attention in front, Alina."

She signed a cross like she was praying for something."Susmaryosep! What did you you?! Pinapakaba mo na naman ako! You're so warfreak. Argh!"

We just waited for their team to show up in the court. Dumadami na rin ang mga estudyanteng pumapasok at halos mapuno narin ang buong court. It's just a basketball practice right? Why is it like they don't want to miss it? Para namang sobrang importante talaga.

"DAMN IT! WHO DID THIS TO MY LOCKER?!" We heard a loud shout coming from the entrance of the covered court. Palihim naman akong napangisi ng makita ang galit niyang reaksyon.

He's really scary but I didn't feel any single fear on him. Simply because he didn't even know that I did it.

"I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN AND BE SURE TO ANSWER OR ELSE YOU'LL BE DEAD IF EVER THAT I FIND OUT WHO DID IT," he was pertaining to the things that his teammates throwed on the floor.

Nando'n lahat ng mga papel na ginupit-gupit ko kasama narin 'yong mga pagkaing naghalo-halo dahil tinapon ko at pati yung sapatos niyang punit-punit na. Everyone gasped after seeing those things scattered in the ground. Some whispers were kept on spreading all over the covered court.

'Yong iba nanginginig pa dahil sa takot nang makita nila ang reaction ni Shael. No one even talked about it because they were afraid of him. 'Yong iba ay nagtutulakan pa na umamin pero tumatanggi naman sila dahil nga hindi siya ang gumawa kundi ako. It's just fun watching them arguing for something they didn't know who did.

"Zeriel! Pa'no kapag nalaman niyang ikaw yung gumawa, ha?! I'm sure he would take revenge," she whispered to me nervously.

I shrugged my shoulders and cross my arms."He wouldn't know if you won't tell him. Right, Alina? Hindi mo naman siguro sasabihin sa kanya 'di ba?"

Napasapo nalang siya sa noo niya at umiling."You're really a spoiled brat, couz. Walang sekretong hindi nabubunyag, tandaan mo 'yan. Kaya 'wag kang pakampante dahil baka may nakalagay na CCTV sa iba't-ibang sulok ng university."

That made me think and played my hands repeatedly. Right. I didn't know if there was a CCTV attached in the lockers room. Wala naman kase akong pakialam do'n at hindi ko rin 'yon naisip. But maybe he wouldn't recognize me because we have the same uniforms.

At saka hindi naman siguro kita yung ID ko saka yung mukha ko 'di ba? Baka meters away ang layo no'n sa'kin kaya hindi ako masyadong kita sa camera kung gano'n. There are also students that has the same hair as me but not the beauty I have. Chos! Or maybe that CCTV was used years ago and it wasn't functioning anymore but if it is, maybe it was blurry and has a damage or something.

Why am I over thinking?!

"Fine! I'll check the cameras on the lockers room so better hide yourself. Mas malala pa sa gagawin ko ang ginawa mo," he said seriously before leaving the court.

I don't think if he could to anything. Siya pa eh pambababae lang naman ang alam niya, tsk.

"The basketball practice will be postponed today because of a sudden incident. You can now go back to your respective classrooms," Daron announced that made everyone disappointed.

'Nakakainis naman kase 'yong gumawa niyan kay Shael. She deserves to be punished'

'Yah, right. Ang kapal naman ng pwet niya para gawin 'yon'

'She's not afraid of him, I think. Pero alam ko namang malalaman din natin kung sino ang impostor na gumawa niyan'

'Because of her, hindi na matutuloy ang basketball practice nila. I'm excited to watch them pa naman'

Siguro kung walang ibang tao dito, baka hinila ko na ang buhok nilang apat. Like, how did they know that the person who did that was a girl?! Pwede namang lalaki din kase marami naman ang ayaw kay Shael dahil nakukuha niya lahat ng atensyon ng mga babae kaya wala nang lumilingon sa kanila. Pero kahit gano'n, sisiguraduhin kong walang makakaalam na ako 'yon. I'm not a badgirl for nothing.

Besides, may naisip narin akong idea para hindi nila malamang ako 'yon. I'm going to accuse these girls in front of me because they went to his locker earlier. Narinig ko kaya sila kanina sa hallway kaya pwedeng pwede ko silang isumbong. Well, mukhang sila naman din ang huling pumunta sa lockers room ng boys bago ako kaya sila talaga yung mapagbibintangan. How smart I am, right? I'll just tell them if ever that they already found out. Kaya kong paikutin ang lahat kaya humanda sila. Ha!

"Let's go, Ali. I have many things to do."

During our lunch, I was just eating by myself because Alina was having a meeting with her partner for their project. May nakakapagduda rin sa mga kinilikos niya pero binalewala ko lang.

They were in a cafe while I was just here in the cafeteria because I'm tired to walk. The rumors kept on spreading all over the university and it was the talk of the town. Sabi nila, hindi pa raw kilala kung babae ba o lalaki kase nga hindi pa nila nache-check yung cameras. Baka mamaya pa daw'ng hapon kase hindi pa pumayag 'yong principal na pumasok 'yong lima sa security room.

I hid my smile while eating the blueberry cheesecake with macaroons and soda. I'm not used in eating many foods during lunchtime but it's just a little celebration for my little success. Ang cheap niya lang kase eh. Galit na siya no'n kahit 'yong sapatos niya lang naman yung ginalaw ko?

Uhm... let's count those nonsense things on his locker. Alam ko rin namang naiirita siya sa mga gano'n kaya tinulungan ko lang siyang malinis. Though, I already expected that it would be his reaction.

"Ah, Zeriel. Pwede bang pakibantay saglit ng upuan ko, nandyan kase yung project ko eh. Don't worry, I'll be quick."

"Whatever." I was busy browsing on my social media because I'm having fun reading with their comments on Shael's post. Nagpapasikat na naman siya dahil pinost niya sa instagram 'yong mga gamit sa locker niyang hindi na makilala pa.

Our subject just ended and we only have 1 subject left before we dismiss. Hinihintay pa namin yung next teacher namin dahil hindi pa dumarating. It's so boring, ugh. Some of my classmates went out after our subject and we're just around 15 students left.

Maybe they're going to buy snacks or something but I'm sure that they would run later if our teacher arrived. Lumingon ako sa likuran ko kung saan nakaupo 'yong kaklase kong lumabas muna at inutusan akong bantayan ang upuan niya.

There was a folder placed on her desk and I bet it was her project. Binasa ko yung title at sa subject pala namin 'yun sa 'Broadcasting Principles and Practices' kaya hindi ko na lang pinansin. I already submitted that one yesterday because I know that today's our deadline. Kapag kase nagpasa ka before sa deadline, may additional points kang makukuha pero kapag sa deadline na ay normal grades lang ang makukuha mo.

I let out a sigh when my gum tastes nothing because I've been chewing this since afternoon. Iluluwa ko na sana kaso naalala kong hawak ko pala ang project nung classmate ko at nakita ko siyang kakapasok lang. When she saw me holding her project, her eyes widened and immediately came to my direction.

"Owemji! Thank you talaga sa pagbabantay ng project ko, Zeriel ah." She was about to get it on my hand when I moved it away from her.

I pointed the fries and burger that she was holding that made her confused."Give me your foods, I'm hungry. Kung gusto mo palit tayo netong gum na nginuya ko, wala na kaseng lasa eh."

"B-But... I'm also hungry. Ganito na lang, bibilhan nalang kita sa labas ng gusto mo. Promise, babalik ako kaagad." Alanganin naman siyang ngumiti habang mahigpit ang hawak sa pagkaing dala niya.

I shook my head, definitely disagreed."Nah. I don't want to wait because our teacher might arrive. Besides, I keep watching for it since you left so you owed me that foods. Kung ayaw mo naman, ididikit ko nalang 'tong gum ko sa project mo."

"No! Pinagpuyatan ko yang gawin kagabi kaya please, 'wag mong gawin. Here, I'll give you my foods. It's all yours, just give me back my project." She pleaded in front of me that's why we got our classmate's attentions.

I smirked as I accepted her foods and gave her project back."Marunong ka pa lang makinig, eh. Next time, don't made me wait if you don't want to be in trouble. Is that clear?" I asked her and she just nodded like a puppy.

The next day, I woke up late because of the thesis that I wrote since I do really have to finish it. Good thing I remembered what Katria told me that's why it didn't took 3 hours when I finished writing. I don't even know if I'm wearing my P.E uniform completely because I'm really in a hurry. I even got some missed calls from Alina and she just texted me that she'll go first. Wala akong nagawa kundi gamitin ang Mercedes SLS na kotse ko, ayoko pa namang madumihan 'to.

Mom even told me to eat first but I don't have time for that and I'm not hungry at all so I just skipped breakfast. I doubled the speed of my car so that I would arrive immediately into the university. There was only one space in the parking lot and I think it best suits my car. Nang ipark ko na sana 'yong kotse ko ay may nakasabay akong isa pang kotse kaya napahinto ako pati na rin siya. Binaba ko ang bintana ng kotse ko dahil hindi parin siya umaalis sa tabi ko. I'm getting late now and this person will be the reason.

"What?! Are we going to stay like this?! Time is running so you should step your fucking car right now," I yelled because of anger. Para naman kase siyang tanga eh!

The window of the car slide down that made me recognize that person. So it was him."Ikaw pala 'yan, Ms. Maldita. It's nice to see you but it's my property so you're the one who needs to step back."

"It's never nice to see you fucking asshole! I came here first so I should be the one to claim that place. First come, first serve." Binigyan ko siya ng mapanghamong tingin at hindi naman siya nagpatalo. Does he want me to do something bad on him again?!

"I don't believe or even follow your motto, Ms. Maldita. I have my own rules and that's what I want to do. Fine, I'll date you if you wa----"

"Oh! Shut up," I cut off his words."Who cares if you have your own rules. At saka, ayoko ngang hawakan ni katiting ng damit mo, i-date ka pa kaya?! Dream on!" I raised my middle finger on him before getting inside of my car and drive it on the other side.

"Grabe ka talaga sa'kin, Zeriel. Pansin ko ngang palagi kang galit sa'kin eh," he shook his head and closed the window of her car.

I just waited for him to enter the university before I get out of my car. Lumapit ako sa pwesto ng kotse niya at nilabas ang nail cutter ko na may dalang maliit na kutsilyo. I make sure that there's no one here and after that, I slowly pricked the wheel of his car. Binilisan ko ito hanggang sa mabutas ang gulong ng kotse niya at na-flat. Pinagpagan ko pa ang kamay ko bago ngising-ngisi na pumasok sa gate.

I wonder if he's reaction would be the same as yesterday. Mukhang wala pa namang resulta sa paghahanap nila sa taong may gawa nun sa locker niya. Little did they know, it was all me and my plan. Ang saya talaga, really.

And if ever that he finds out, still I don't care. Magtutuos kami kung gusto niya.

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