Chapter 1
The Near Death Experience

"Calling you is like asking God for a miracle." Inis kong sigaw sa kabilang linya.

"Kuya, I told you na a million times earlier na may project nga kaming ginagawa." Katwiran ni Elise.

"In the middle of the night?" Dagdag kong tanong.

"What do you expect me to do? Finish it in a minute?" Sagot pabalik ni Elise.

Biglang nanuyot ang aking lalamunan at tumaas ang kabila kong kilay. "Watch the tone, you are my sister. All I think of is your safety."

"Blah. Blah. Blah. Yeah I know, see you at lunch. Uuwi ako sa dorm natin." Rinig kong saad nito. I calmed my system and pressed the end-call button before I put down my phone.

Humilata ako sa kama namin at tumingala sa kisame. Today is Monday, unang bungad sa panibagong karera ng mga buhay natin.

I took a bath after moping for almost 15 minutes. I put my baon inside the bag and went outside the dorm as soon as I was done preparing. I smelled like a flower dahil sa pabangong binili ni Elise.

Lumabas na ako sa compound habang aligaga sa pagte-text sa kapatid ko na nauna na akong umalis sa dorm at di na ako sasabay sa kaniya mamayang tanghali. Naalala ko rin na may quiz pala akong kukunin ngayon sa time ni Sir. Almond. Binilisan ko ang aking lakad at nagmamadaling makasakay ng masasakyan. Nang makahanap humayo na kami at nang makaabot na kami, ibinaba ako nito sa may tapat ng tindahan malapit sa paaralan ko.

I took a step and before I knew there was a flash coming and almost hit me but I luckily avoided him and twirled around.

I stumbled and fell, scattering all of the papers from my case on the road. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib out of shock. It was a near death experience.

Nilibot ko ang aking paningin sa paligid para hanapin ang taong muntikan nang bumangga sa akin. I stopped at the guy na nakasakay sa kaniyang motor and is looking straight at me.

He was wearing a black leather jacket, a mask that covers half of its face and a black helmet. May kataasan ang kaniyang motor na animo'y mga higante lang ang nakakasakay. Well he was a giant for sure dahil naaabot nito ang lupa ng kaniyang mga paa ng walang kahirap-hirap.

He took off his helmet and a wet messy hair was revealed. His brows arched together bringing out an angry expression.

"What's your problem, dude!" Giit nito. Tumayo ako at marahang inayos ang nagusoy kong uniform. I felt the burning range inside my heart dahil sa ginawang pagsisigaw nito. The audacity of this pr*ck.

"Ikaw ang may problema. Di mo ba tinitingnan ang dinadaanan mo? Muntikan na akong mamatay dahil sa paharurot mo!"

"Ikaw yung tumatawid diba? Edi ikaw ang mas may kakayahan na sumilip kung may dumadaan ba sa bawat gilid." Giit nito habang dinidiin niya sa akin ang kaniyang pagkakasala.

"Okay. If you say so," sarcastic kong saad. "Di mo man lang ba ako tutulungan--" And before I knew he drove off the scene leaving me with this mess. Isa-isa kong pinulot ang mga papel na nagkalat sa sahig nang biglang may isang kamay na nagpakita sa harap ko. Tiningnan ko kung kaninong kamay iyon at nalula ako sa taong nasa harap ko.

"Do you need help?" Jerald.

"Ah. No, I'm fine." Mabilis kong pinulot ang bawat kalat at iniligay lahat ng iyon sa suit case kahit na nagkanda-lukot-lukot na ang nga iyon.

"Are you sure? I just saw you kanina and you almost got hit by that rider. Are you sure your okay?"

"Yes, okay na okay ako." I smiled abd hurriedly left off without taking another glance. I can feel my face fluster as I rewind the scenes inside my head.

Si Jerald, as in Jerald Peterson, the varsity player and valedictorian in my batch lended me a hand kanina. Umiling-iling ako sa mga thoughts na pumasok sa isip ko. Aminado akong medyo nababakla ako pagdating kay Jerald pero masisi niyo ba kung bakit grabe ang paghanga ko sa kaniya.

Aside sa academic achiever siya kilala rin siya bilang isang athlete na nagdala na ng karangalan sa academy namin. Anak rin siya sa mga naging alumni ng school namin at likas silang mayaman. Kumpara sa isang tulad kong scholar lang at nag-aaral ng maayos. Walang masyadong ganap sa buhay.

Being a Senior in this prestigious school really pressures you to be an achiever kahit di naman bagay sa'kin iyon. Dito kasi sa Lake Side University lahat mga achievers at bilang scholar obligado kaming mag-aral dahil halos lahat ng benefits dito libre na.

Nakakapanghinayang naman kung di ko aayusin ang pag-aaral ko. Gusto ko kasing pauwiin si mama dito at patigilin na siya sa pagtra-trabaho abroad. Plano ko ring mapag-aral si Elise lalo na't grade 9 palang siya.

***

"In communication, there are a lot of factors of which communicating can be tested. Understanding can be a good barrier, if one is close minded or simply stupid enough to fail comprehending the message of the sender," Turo sa amin ni Ma'am Vanessa.

Tahimik akong nakikinig habang isinusulat ang mga importanteng info na nakuha ko sa leksyon ngayong araw hanggang sa biglang niyanig ang presensya ko ng isang pamilyar na mukha.

Pati si maam Vanessa ay napatigil sa pagtuturo nang dahil sa taong pumasok sa loob.

Black leather jacket. Messy hair. Tall and masculine - like a giant.

He removed his black mask and revealed himself fully to the whole class.

He has a perfectly chiseled jawline. A perfect cheek bone and a very godly arched nose. My heart stopped when his eyes landed on me, as if it was like he was pinning his stare on me.

"And who you might be?" Ms. Vanessa asked.

"Mr. Torres suggested that I go by with this strand. I didn't expect that this would be a court hearing." Biro nito na nagpatikom sa bibig ng karamihan at nagpainit sa ulo ni Ms. Vanessa.

"How dare you talk to your teacher like that. Wala bang nabibiling manners ang mga parents mo?" Naiiritang pangaral ni Ms. Vanessa.

"Apparently, my parents funded the construction of these sh*t hole you worked on. So, answering your question, yes, we can afford to buy manners." Ew, he's such an assh*le. I don't like his guts, I hope di siya dito mag-sstay.

"Ow? Are you Mr. Levarde's son?" Casual na tanong ni Ms. Vanessa.

"Duh? Are you dumb or something?" Angas na sagot nung lalaki.

"Wala lang. You don't seem to embody class. Siguro pati yun di mo nabili," Everybody inside the class saw how Ms. Vanessa roasted that guy's guts. Buti nga sakanya. Napaismid siya nang makita niya ang mga reaksyon namin. Nawala rin na parang bula ang kaninang kumikinang-kinang nitong confidence. "Sit next to Mr. Alvarado." Diin ni maam.

Ako?! Tatabi siya sa akin? NO!

Lumihis lahat ang kanilang tingin sa akin. Ayaw kong may isang g*go na tatabi sa akin. Please.

I took a glance at him and I saw how enraged he was but at the same time he kept that anger in his stares; contained. Agad akong nagputol tingin nung umupo na siya. The first thing that came into my senses was his sandalwood scent. He seems serious and I guess this is not to be disturbed with.

"Okay, Let's ignore the elephant in the room," Nagpatuloy na si Ms. Vanessa sa kaniyang lecture and she doesn't seem to mind the hot mess kanina. Speaking of that hot mess, kanina pa siya tahimik. We are one space apart pero randam na randam ko ang bawat hininga nito.

Sa buong klase puro phone lang kaniyang inaatupag and he doesn't seem to be interested sa mga lectures ni maam even though he was caught numerous times. Nakita ko rin ang katabi kong si Xia na panay ang tingin sa bago naming kaklase.

Later, after a couple of discussions, ma'am Vanessa ordered us to bring out a piece of paper. When I was about to pull out from the bag the specific amount of paper needed my pen flew to the side directly hitting him on the forehead. He flinched when the ball point marked his forehead and he furiously turned his head on me. Sh*t.

"Are you f*cking annoying me?" He angrily whispered.

"N-No...Hindi. It was an accident. Sorry." I was about to pick the pen from the floor when suddenly he purposely stepped on it, breaking the upper plastic of the pen.

"What the?!"

"That's what you get from messing with me."

"Ano bang problema mo? Maninira ka ng gamit ng iba when you throw tantrums. Stop throwing tantrums you old-baby-man."

"What the f*ck did you just call m-."

"Mr. Alvarado and Mr. Levarde! Don't let your pride take over because you will both need each other for this activity," Saad ni maam Vanessa na nasa may gitnang parte na pala ng classroom.

"Ms. Vanessa, whatever you are going to say, better not be with this guy." What? He is so cocky.

"Excuse me? Ikaw kanina pa ako nagtitimpi sa'yo ha! You almost hit me kanina with your reckless driving. Tapos ngay-."

"Mr. Alvarado, refrain. 'Wag kang papatol sa taong mas mababa pa sa iyo," I shut my mouth and settled myself on my sit. "Mr. Alvarado and Mr. Levarde, and so are other students here in this class should compose an essay tackling how important communication is in your life, discuss it with your pairs. Submissions will be passed on Monday."

"What the actual f*ck." Dinig kong bulong nito.

"F*ck." Me mocking him. #PakyuKangInamo!

"Go grab your desk and form a discussion. I don't want anyone to be doing nothing."

I have no choice but to grab the edge of my desk and place it next to him. As I slowly approach him I can see how he tries to avoid me. Well paniguradong ako lang mag-isa ang gagawa nito. Sige na nga, ako na ang gagawa.

"Ako nalang bahala. No need to worry." Saad ko. He finally turned himself to my direction.

"Meet me later this evening, I'll give you my address,"

What the?! Ba't bigla siya naging ma-amo.

"And I am not acting nice."

Akala ko nga. eme.

✒️ INKMAGINE.