"BE GOOD, okay? This is the last university na tatanggap sayo dahil sa record mo. Malapit na tayong itali ng mommy mo."

Ayze rolled her eyes playfully, and Vane, her little brother, who saw them shook his head. Siya ang babae, hindi dapat siya ang sinasabihan ng ganito.

She should just focus on her studies and do good only. Pero kabaliktaran no'n ang nangyari.

Being the first born of Jyrelle Clemente put so much weight on her shoulder. It wasn't really a burden. More like pressure. Bata pa lang siya, people were already expecting so much from her and got disappointed after. One wrong move, and they'll judge her so harshly.

And if she was going to be honest, wala siyang pakialam. They could be disappointed in her as long as they liked.

"See? Sa university na pinapasukan namin ka pa rin naman babagsak." Vane taunted her.

She cracked her knuckles and playfully punched her brother. It wasn't easy for her to stay in one university. Ang daming sumusubok sa kanya.

Ayze was now in her 3rd year in college. She enrolled peacefully during her 1st year, pero hindi siya nagtagal sa university na 'yon. She got kicked out after one sem. She doesn't have a choice but to transfer. Kada semester lagi na lang siyang nagta-transfer.

Her parents' money wasn't enough to do the magic.

She mockingly laughed at her brother. "Gusto ko na lang tumigil sa pag-aaral!"

"Ayze..." istrikto na tawag sa kanya ng Daddy nila.

Her father massaged the bridge of his nose. Mukhang pagod na talaga ito sa pag-aayos ng mga papel niya, ito rin ang pumunta sa mismong university para ma-enroll lang siya. That's how bad her record was.

She chuckled and immediately give her father a big hug. He dryly looked at her, knowing that it was her way para palambutin ito at mabawas ang galit nito sa kanya.

"I can't believe I am now begging you to be good. Sana pala nakinig ako noon kay Mama..." problemado na sabi nito.

He's much like her when he was a college student. She's not proud but she's way too much.

Her father didn't stay long at home, he was a busy man. Vane, on the other hand, handed her the eyeglasses she asked for. Malaki ang frame noon pero wala namang grado.

"You don't need to wear that, Ate. Pwede mo naman sabihin na taken ka?" Vane suggested.

"Ako? Taken?" She faked a smile and shook her head. "Paano kung magtanong kung sino? Sino ituturo ko?"

Vane licked his bottom lip. "Nevermind!"

Tumawa siya nang mag-iwas ito ng tingin at biglang tumalim ang mga mata nito. Her brother was a very clingy and jealous man. Now that they're going to be in the same university, it was better for her to disguise as an ugly duckling nerd rather than to destroy her brother's good reputation.

Hindi maatim ni Vane na may lalaking lumalapit sa kanya. There was one guy though that he can tolerate. A little.

"Maganda pa rin ba ako?" tanong niya sa kapatid nang maisuot na ang salamin. Halos sakupin na ng salamin na suot niya ang kabuuan ng mukha niya.

"Hmm, you are." Simpleng sagot nito. Kapagkuwan ay ngumisi ito. "That guy won't recognize you, for sure."

"Oh? Pake ko naman kung hindi ako makilala? Sapakin ko pa." Mayabang na sagot niya sa kapatid.

Vane sighed and grabbed his guitar. "You can't, though... He's our student council president."

"Putang! Totoo?" gulat na tanong niya sa kapatid.

Tumango si Vane habang nag-strum sa gitara nito. "For real, Ate. You're dead."

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Ayze. She's dead? She don't think so.

Tumabi siya sa kapatid at kinuha rin ang gitara niya. She wasn't fond of playing guitar before, natuto lang siya because she likes watching someone playing it.

"Ang sabi mo wala kayong bassist?" nakangiti na tanong niya. Vane sneered upon hearing her, pero tumango pa rin sa kanya. "Ako na lang?"

"I'll ask them..."

"Vane?" tawag niya sa kapatid.

Lumingon ito sa kanya at marahas na nagpakawala ng buntong hininga. "You'll play the electric guitar, sa akin ang bass."

Ayze smiled triumphantly. Alam niya na hindi siya matitiis ng kapatid niya. Ready na ang lahat, gamit niya, uniform, and even her school ID.

Pigil niya ang sarili na mag-ayos nang pumasok siya sa school. Pinanindigan talaga niya ang pagiging nerd.

"Remove your eyeglasses, Ate Ayze! Nakakairita." Tally hissed at her.

"Huwag ka ngang magulo!" inis na sabi niya nang nagtangka ito na tanggalin 'yon.

"Ate? Sunduin kita mamaya sa room mo. Practice raw." Vane informed her and she just nodded.

Hindi pa nag-uumpisa ang klase, iritado na si Ayze. Mabilis lang siyang mairita lalo na at may sumusubok na demonyo sa kanya. She fixed her eyeglasses and tried her best to focus on the book she's reading, she promised her father to study at hindi makipag basag ulo.

"She's ugly, right? I wonder, paano siya nasama sa university band?" said the other girl.

"I wonder too..."

Ayze wanted to mock them. She promised to herself na kapag nakita ng mga ito ang performance niya at namangha ang mga 'to, ipu-pukpok niya ang hawak na gitara sa ulo ng mga ito.

Iba ang schedule niya compared to her cousins and her brother, wala siyang choice kung hindi ang kumain mag-isa. Sa dulo siya umupo, hoping that no one would notice her existence.

Her eyes turn sharp when she saw Zayndrei, may nakabuntot na babae rito. Their gaze met but didn't last long. Ayze bet that he already knew, wala naman itong hindi nalalaman.

"Hey!" Someone yelled.

Napatayo siya sa kinauupuan niya nang maramdaman ang malamig na tubig na ibinuhos sa kanya. Her lips parted. Nakita niyang nakatingin sa kanya si Zayndrei. He's watching.

The one who poured the cold water to her laughed. Nairita kaagad siya. Ayze looked at her, kinuyom niya ang kamao. Through her peripheral vision, nakita niya na palapit sa kanila si Zayndrei.

"Loser!" The girl said, saka ito tumawa sa mukha niya.

"Really?" Ayze mocked. "Tell that to me after you survive this punch!"

She heard a loud gasp when her fist touched the girl's face. Ayze had a satisfied smile on her lips when she saw her nose bleeding.

"You two. Sa guidance. Now!" His voice echoed.

Inayos niya ang uniform niya at iniwan ang pagkain niya. Kusa siyang pumunta sa guidance office at matiyaga na naghintay doon. Ayze immediately contact her Tito Laur.

"Really? Bagong salta ka pa lang, Miss Clemente..." hindi makapaniwala na sabi nito.

Ayze nonchalantly shrugged. "Ma'am, it's not my fault."

"Marami ang nakakita sayo, Miss Clemente. You punched her."

"Sana nakita rin nila paano ako binuhusan ng malamig na tubig, 'no?" Ayze sarcastically answered.

The counsellor massaged her nape because of her answer.

"Ayze, watch your behaviour." Angil sa kanya ni Zayndrei. Umirap siya rito. He was standing beside the girl she punched. Kasama na naman nito ang babae na nakabuntot kanina rito.

"You saw it, right?" tanong niya pero hindi ito sumagot. "I am asking you. You saw it, right?" ulit niya.

"Yes," halos hindi na marinig ang sagot nito.

"He saw it. She deserves my fist."

"You can just talk to her. You don't need to act barbaric, Ayze!" marahan pero iritado na sagot nito.

"Barbaric, huh? Namatay ba? Namatay ba? Sakalin ko na lang kaya?!" masama niya itong tiningnan.

"Don't you dare." Zayndrei said.

"Don't you dare." Ayze mocked.

Hindi siya nagtagal sa loob ng guidance office. Thanks to Zayndrei father who came to rescue her. Unfortunately, hindi available ang Tito Laur niya. Ito lang naman ang inaasahan niya kapag nasa tagilid na sitwasyon na siya.

Hindi namalayan ni Ayze na nasa tabi na pala nito si Zayndrei.

"You'll be with me from now on. Kahit kailan, hindi ka talaga pwedeng iwan mag-isa." He hissed.

Hindi siya sumagot. Simula noon, lagi na siyang tambay sa student council office kahit wala naman siyang ambag sa trabaho na ginagawa ng mga ito. Umaalis lang siya kapag may practice sila sa banda.

And those were the times na sinusundo siya sa guidance ni Zayndrei. There's really some people that get on her nerves.

"You... This is gonna be the last time na susunduin kita sa guidance. Hindi ka na aalis sa tabi ko, maliwanag?"

Ayze scoffed. Inayos niya ang salamin na suot niya at nakita na tumitig doon si Zayndrei.

"What?" she boredly asked.

"You look dumb."

"Ikaw na matalino." Sarkastiko na sagot niya.

After her class, laging may sumusundo sa kanya na member ng student council at binabantayan siya habang wala pa si Zayndrei. Naiirita na siya pero wala siyang magawa. Zayndrei was blackmailing her. Kapag hindi siya sumunod dito, malalaman ng mommy niya ang mga kalokohan na ginagawa niya.

She sighed. Kumuha siya ng papel at ballpen, sinubukan niyang bilangin kung ilang babae na ang nasuntok niya at kung ilang beses siyang naglalabas masok sa guidance office sa buong semester.

"You punched 20 girls and slapped 10. Over all, 30 times ka nang pabalik-balik sa guidance." Zayndrei said, saka ito umupo sa tabi niya para gawin ang trabaho nito bilang student council president.

"May practice kami ngayon." Paalam niya.

Zayndrei shook his head. "Hindi ka aalis, Ayze."

"Pasamahin mo na lang yung mga nagbabantay sa akin?" she suggested.

"Kapag sinabi kong hindi ka aalis, hindi ka aalis." Matalim na sagot nito sa kanya.

"Humanda ka talaga sa akin pagkatapos natin dito." Banta niya sa lalaki.

Zayndrei just shrugged his shoulders and smirked smugly at her. "Sure!"

Tamad siyang sumandal sa upuan at ipinatong ang mga paa sa isang bakante na upuan.

"Gisingin mo ako kapag uuwi na tayo." Utos niya rito.

She saw his vice president eyed her. Ayze mockingly smiled at her, if there's someone who can directly disrespect their president, siya lang 'yon. It's Ayrelle Zehra Fontanilla Clemente.

Their setup lasted longer than Ayrelle thought. The professor's were praising Zayndrei for taming the wild beast. Pagod na pagod na siya na marinig 'yon. It was Zayndrei graduation when someone asked them to attend a party.

"Sure!" Kaagad na sagot niya.

Walang nagawa ang lalaki kung hindi ang samahan siya. He doesn't like noisy places but he's with her now, watching her dancing gracefully as he drank silently. Hindi alam ni Ayze kung ilang shots na ang nainom niya.

"We're going home. Lasing ka na." He heard Zayndrei. Basta na lang siya nito hinila paalis sa lugar na 'yon.

Zayndrei was drunk too. Instead of driving her home, nag-book ito ng room sa hotel at doon sila nag-stay for the night. They're both drunk and didn't know what happened after.

Nagising na lang silang dalawa ni Zayndrei na walang saplot at masakit ang pagkababae niya.

"We... fucked?" lutang na tanong niya.

"Obviously." Zayndrei answered. Nasapo nito ang noo at hinilamos ang mga palad sa mukha nito. Problemado sa nangyari.

"Let's pretend na walang nangyari sa atin ngayon."

Kaagad na lumingon sa kanya si Zayndrei at masama ang tingin na ipinukol nito sa kanya.

"Paano kung nabuntis pala kita?" he asked.

Mabilis na nagbilang si Ayze sa utak niya. Her menstruation was regular, kaya madali lang sa kanya na malaman kung kailan siya ligtas at delikado.

"I'm safe..." She breathed heavily. Napaigik siya sa sakit nang igalaw niya ang mga binti. "Drei, ang sakit. Ilang beses natin ginawa kagabi?" reklamo niya.

"I don't... remember." He sighed. Tumayo ito at pinalibot ang towel sa baywang nito. He scooped her and avoid to look at her body.

"Masarap ba ako?" Ayze playfully asked him. Namula ang buong mukha nito sa tanong niya.

"Shut the fuck up!" Zayndrei hissed. 

☕