[Shane on media.]

***

"Drink."

Wyatt looked up and saw Shane smiling down at him.

"Wala yang lason, don't worry."pagtawa nya.

He reached out for the bottle of iced tea she's offering and she beamed, bago umalis.

Wyatt began drinking, at hinanap sa classroom ang babae.

Naroroon sya, nakikihalubilo sa iba na parang matagal na silang magkakakilala.

She had everyone attracted to her like a magnet. Her presence was indeed heavy...compared to anyone else-- to him.

Hindi naman sa naiinggit sya. He just figured that he somewhat has respect for her. Lahat ng hindi nya kayang gawin, lahat ng wala sya nasa kanya. Pero kahit na sikat sya, hindi parin sya nakalimutan ni Shane.

Siguro nga seryoso si Shane noong sinabi nito na gusto niyang makipagkaibigan sa kanya.

'Pero, siguro sa simula lang yan.'Isip nya.

The bell rung, and everyone went back to their seats for their first class.

Pumasok ang tatlong naggagandahang mga lalaki at tumakbo papuntang upuan nila na kinatawa ng klase. Saktong pumasok ang guro.

"I see you're in time, Mr. Bautista."

Von winced.

"Okay, so..."he began writing down on the board, at kinuha itong pagkakataon ni Von para sikuhin si Yuu.

"Madaya? Bakit ikaw hindi rin pinagalitan dahil hindi ka pumasok kahapon? Aba, galit yata talaga sakin si sir?"

"Syempre," bulong pabalik ni Yuu."I used my injuries as an advantage. Said there was an explosion--which is true--when I was on my way to school and I was hurt so I was given a special exam."

"Aish."

Napatawa nang pabalang si Hack na kumuha ng attention ng guro ngunit nagpatuloy parin sa pagsulat.

"Mr. Bautista, quiet!"

"Hala? Hala?? Eh sir di nam--"

"I said keep quiet!"

"Ako nalang palagi." Von pouted. His two friends surpressed their laughter.

***

Their third teacher for today rambled in front, habang ang isip naman ni Hack ay lumilipad.

Naalala niya ang napag-usapan ng Lower Dive kahapon.

"5,000,762 pesos in all," Von looked up from the calculator, a couple of bills on the other hand.

"Lang?"Pagtataas ng kilay ni Cenon."Siguro kung ako yung na-assign--"

"Excuse me?"Pag tingin ni Yuu kay Cenon."I was at a disadvantage-- Hack was busy! Buti nga naka5 mil pa ako?"

"It's my fault, I'm sorry."Pagaako ni Hack sa kasalanan.

"Ikaw Yuu. You're to blame. You're weak." Cenon smirked and Yuu's mouth fell open with eyes wide.

Tumayo na si Yuu sa upuan nya para sapakin si Cenon ngunit hinawakan sya sa braso ni Von.

"Wag, Yuu," Von shook his head."Don't let him get into you."

"Pikon ka pala e?"Cenon taunted, then bumaliktad ang table.

Their leader flipped the table, and the money flew all around, nagkalat sa kwarto which made Cenon's smirk fall and everyone silent.

"Did you just fucking fight in front of me?"

Hack and Von winced at his tone.

"Naiinis na ako sa inaasal nyo ha? Sige gawin nyo pa, then I'll blow your brains out. Sit the fuck down."

The rest did as they were told, and went silent until Qyll calmed down.

"I'm sorry for my behavior earlier," Yuu apologized, and Qyll waved his hand in dismissal.

"Anyway," Qyll started."You've worked hard Yuu. I believe you can do more next time."

Napatango si Yuu at napatingin naman si Qyll kay Hack na napalunok.

"Ikaw rin Hack. It must be hard, isn't it? Being the only one behind the screen."

"Yes, it is..."sagot nya."It's really hard."

"Don't you think you'll need a helping hand?"

Napatingin tuloy si Hack sa mga mata ni Qyll sa kaniyang suhestiyon.

"I..."

Qyll tilted his head, waiting for his answer.

"I think so..."

Qyll smiled.

"But... so does this mean magkakaroon tayo ng new members...?"

"I don't know." Qyll shrugged before getting his jacket na nasa sofa."It's your helper, afterall."

Qyll went to the door, before stopping.

"Siguraduhin mo lang na hindi siya sabit,"he said before turning the knob and leaving.

Cenon left next, habang si Von nagsimulang sermunan si Yuu pagkatapos ay naginarte sa inasal ni Qyll.

Hack only looked down at his feet, deep in thought.

"Mr. Fabella, hindi nakikinig."

He snapped out of his reverie bago nginitian ng tipid ang teacher."Sorry po ma'am..."

She sighed."You should answer question number three."

"Hala lagot," Yuu mouthed at him while Von snickered. Napairap nalang si Hack at pumunta sa harap, accepting the whiteboard pen she offered to answer the equation given.

'Good thing I already know this,' he thought before scribbling down.

Everyone had their eyes wide when equations were presented in front of them. A lot of them, and complicated at that.

Once finished, he faced the class."And that's the first way to solve. But there's another way..."

The teacher cut him off."L-Let's give Mr. Fabella an applause. You can now go back to your seat."

"Thanks po," he smiled then went back with them staring in awe.

"Ayan yung mga estudyanteng dapat iniidolo nyo. Di man sya nakikinig pero alam nya ang topic..."

"...I still don't understand." Yuu frowned at the whiteboard.

Von, who was sitting beside Hack, shook him.

"I need lessons. Ako na nagbabayad ng pamasahe mo't lunch." He bribed.

Hack smiled at him apologetically.

"Sorry but I have money."

"Pero--"

"You're bothersome go away." Hack tried to remove his arm from Von's grip but he refuses to let go.

"Ayaw."

"'Tong batang 'to..."

Yuu tried solving the problem on his paper but he lost grip of his pen.

"Ay yung ballpen ko nalaglag,"

'k share ko lang'

Gumulong ito papalayo, kaya napatayo sya sa upuan nya para habulin ito papuntang back row.

"Ma'am kunin ko lang po bolpen ko," pagpapaalam nya.

The ballpen came to a stop when someone bent down to pick it up.

"Is this yours?"

"Ah yes, thank--"

He looked up and his smile fell when he saw the girl he saw the other day, at the vending machine.

"Yeah...?" She tilts her head slightly in confusion at his state.

Agad naman siyang ngumiti pabalik at kinuha ang bolpen na nasa kamay niya.

"I think we've met before?"Tanong niya sa babae na kinakunot ng noo nito.

"...Have we?"

"Mr. Koshy get back to your proper seat!"singhal ng kanilang guro.

"S-Sorry!"

Bumalik sya sa upuan niyang pasulyap-sulyap sa kaklaseng nakapulot ng bolpen nya.

"Dude," pagsiko ni Yuu sa katabing si Von."Kilala mo ba siya?Familiar but I don't know the name..."sabay nguso doon.

Lumingon naman sa babaeng nakikinig sa guro si Von na napanganga. "Pre chics. Ikaw ha."

"Ano ka ba. Sino ba?"

"Ewan ngayon ko nga lang sya napansin sa room. Bakit kaya?"

"Bobo kasi kayo."Sighed Hack.

"Luh,"

"I heard she just transferred here yesterday from the lower classes."

"Oh? Wow,"Von beamed.

"Ano nga pangalan?"

"Ba't kasi di nyo tanungin?"iritang tanong ni Hack.

"Namo di mo rin alam. Bobo ka rin kasi."Pag-irap ni Yuu.

"Hindi naman kasi sukatan ng talino yun tss."

"Wala wala~."

"Well I think it's Laine. Laine? Laine."sagot ni Hack.

"Laine," pag-ulit ni Yuu.

"I heard she's a famous... pianist? Yeah she is."Dagdag information ni Hack.

"Yeee chics,"Pag hampas ni Von sa braso ni Hack.

"Nakakainis ka kayang kiligin," Pagsapak pabalik ni Hack sa braso niya.

"Ako? Kinikilig? Yuck."

"Mr. Bautista you're disturbing the class!"

"Okay sorry po..."sabay tawa ng buong klase.

Meanwhile, naismid sa iniinom niyang tubig si Shane sa likuran.

Napatingin si Wyatt sa kaniya nang nakakunot ang noo, and she laughs it off.

"It's okay, I'm fine,"she says,"It's my fault."

'Hindi ko naman tinatanong...' Isip ni Wyatt.

***

Shane glanced at the wall clock, before raising her hand.

"Sir? May I use the comfort room?"

"Sure, go ahead," he nodded and she smiled back.

Nang makalabas sa classroom, nagpunta sya sa CR ng girls.

She turned on the faucet to wash her hands then lifted her head to see herself on the mirror.

She inspected her features first, then scoffed.

"Shane?"

Gulat na napatingin sa pinto, but her features instantly softened.

"Hi...Risa?"

'Who would've thought Risa would show up...'

"Yes! I'm glad you remembered me. To think you'll use this restroom too..."

Bumalik ulit ang tingin ni Shane sa salamin at doon pinagmasdan ang kaklase pumasok ng isang cubicle, all the words she said were drowned by Shane's adrenaline running through her veins.

Before leaving the bathroom, she washed her hands a little bit more.

***

"Sorry I took so long, sir."Shane smiled apologetically at their English teacher who sighed.

"Go back to your seat,"

Pag-upo sa upuan, sumulyap sya ulit sa wall clock ng classroom.

***

Lunch time came and students were scattered at the academy.

Wyatt preferred to eat at the garden. Oo, medyo malamok pero at least hindi ka nila tatanungin ng masyadong personal na mga bagay di katulad ng mga kaklase nya.

"Bakit ba kasi ang kukulit nila..."

Umupo sya dun sa bench sa tapat ng fountain and started to open his homemade meal but a voice called out to him.

"Wyatt!"

Pinigilan nya ang sariling umirap bago lingunin ang may-ari ng boses.

'It's her again.'

Shane smiled at him and waved, burger on the other hand as she neared him.

"Pwede akong umupo sa tabi mo right?"

'She knows that I have social anxiety but okay'he thought sarcastically.

Hindi sya sumagot and she invited herself and sat beside him. Good thing she gave him some personal space and sat a wee bit farther.

"Are you following me?" Tanong nya sa babae bago sumubo ng isang kutsarang kanin na may ulam.

She laughed."I admit. I just..."

Ngumuya lang si Wyatt nang nakatingin sa fountain na nasa harap, sa malinis na tubig na binubuga nito.

"I can't just leave you alone."

Muntik nang mabulunan si Wyatt. Lumunok muna sya.

"Ano?"

She looked worried."Are you okay? I have water--"

Akmang lumapit si Shane sa kanya ngunit umusog sya palayo.

"No."

"A...sorry."she apologized.

Hindi sya pinansin ni Wyatt, pero marami talagang iniisip ang binata.

'Ano ba kasi ang gusto nya saakin? Hindi ko naman sya inaaway... pero teka hindi ba pang-aaway yung ginawa ko ngayon? Aish! Aish! Eh pero kasi...'

"I got carried away, sorry. You just strongly remind me of someone..."she shyly scratched her cheek with a finger before taking a bite of her burger.

They both sat in silence for a while, just eating and admiring the pretty garden view, at noong natapos na si Wyatt, tapos na rin si Shane.

"Sabay na tayong pumasok sa room," sabi nya at pumayag naman sya sa pamamagitan ng pagtango.

***

"Lower Dive,"

"Yes po kuya. Lower Dive."

"Hmmm," the man sat on the couch and crossed his legs.

"So this....'Lower Dive' is causing an uproar at the south."

"Yes Kuya."

"Interesting."

"...kuya...don't tell me-"

Napangiti nalang siya and blew on the phone's speaker before hanging up.

His younger brother on the other end looked at his phone incredulously.

"Hala--Kahit kelan talaga napakabastos..!"

"Fucking Lower Dive. All of this is on you."he muttered under his breath as he pocketed his phone and entered his class.

***

Sabay na naglalakad si Wyatt at Shane papuntang classroom sa hallway, nang biglang nag-sound ang bell na bumingi sa lahat. Noong una, akala nila nagsi-signal na next class na--ang iba pa nga ay nagreklamo dahil masyado pang maaga para tumunog ang bell--ngunit nagsalita sa speaker ang principal.

"Everyone, please go to the gymnasium. This is an emergency. Everyone, please immediately rush to the gymnasium, this is an emergency."

Ang ilan ay tumakbo paalis, at ang ilan kalmadong naglakad papuntang gymnasium. They were also people who hesitated, all wondering what is up.

Wyatt and Shane looked at each other with questioning eyes before silently agreeing to go there together.

***

"You might be all wondering, what is happening,"the head of the school said in front of hundreds of students.

"Some of you might not take this in very well, but it is important for all of you to know about this for your safety."

Marami ang nagbulungan, kinakabahan man o curious lang.

"Ano kayang nangyari..."bulong ni Shane na narinig naman ni Wyatt.

'Surely wala namang sumabog na part ng school..?''isip ng binata.

Hinanap naman ni Von ang mga kagrupo nya at natagpuan naman sa di kalayuan ng malaking gymnasium, sa pinakalikod.

"Aye,"he greeted, and they either nodded or greeted back.

"A student is found dead."

There was a two-second silence before everyone gasped at the information.

"Her name is Risa Ferrer, from Class A."

May ilan nang nagbulungan, at unti-unti itong lumakas hanggang may mga estudyanteng nagsimula nang tawagan ang magulang nila sa takot. Majority of the students feared for their lives. May mga nagalit.

"This is a fucking private Academy! What kind of security do you offer!?"

"Fucking stupid people!"

There were people who are crying or starting to get hysterical, kaya napatikhim ang principal.

"Nobody expected it, but everyone please calm down, we called the authorities already."

Von widened his eyes at the news, at tumingin sa mga kasama nya.

Qyll was looking at them darkly.

"Magsabi kayo sakin ng totoo."Qyll lowered his voice, and Hack immediately assumed the position of a lookout for anyone in range.

"Did any of you...did that?"

Everyone was silent, before their eyes went to their most troublesome member, Cenon.

"What? No,"he raised both his hands in the air."It's on the rules. No killing if there's no gain."

Masuring tinignan ni Qyll si Cenon.

He didn't waver.

He looked at the others one by one.

"I swear if I found out that one of you did that I'll slit your goddamn throats,"

"But..."pasimula ni Hack."what if someone already knows who Lower Dive is, at sila ang gumawa nyan as a warning...for us?"

They went silent.

Wyatt stared in front, sweat trickling down his forehead.

'May...namatay?'

"Kaklase pa natin sya..."Shane widened her eyes beside him as she covered her mouth in shock."I...I was just with her a few moments ago..."

Wyatt looked at her, before he looked down at his hands, heart thumping fast.

'I only came here to learn...bakit may ganyan? I knew this was a bad idea...'

Nagsimulang manikip ang dibdib ni Wyatt.

'I...I don't want to die...'

He needs to drink his meds. He needs to go back to the classroom to g--

A warm hand slipped onto his cold, sweaty ones to his surprise, and he looked up and saw Shane looking back at him with soft eyes.

"Stop trembling. Hindi ka masasaktan, it's okay."

Gusto nyang maniwala sa mga sinabi nya. Pero mahirap.

          Mahirap magtiwala.