AZHRIA
Beast Behind Beauty

Seasons passed and the orphan, much like a wine, bloomed better with age. Zorya did grow and grow in grace and beauty, she did. Regality was her gift.

Armored with her natural brilliance, Zorya finished in her middle school at the top of her batch. This enabled her to receive various scholarship offers.

"Pinili mo ba ang Athzalar University kasi doon mo talaga gustong mag-aral, o dahil gusto mong makita si Yuzeyo?"

Naantala ang pagtutupi ni Zorya ng mga damit niya. Marahang bumaling siya kay Sister Florensina kalaunan.

"Alam naman po nating kalidad na edukasyon ang ibinibigay ng sikat na unibersidad na 'yon. Bihira lang din po silang mag-abot ng ganitong tulong. Ayaw ko pong sayangin ang oportunidad," mababang tugon niya.

"Magkita man kami o hindi ni Yuzeyo, aabutin ko po ang mga pangarap ko."

The nun then silently nodded as she watched Zorya packed her belongings.

I learned that Athzalar University was a boarding school so Zorya was forced to leave the orphanage for some time.

"Sinabihan na kita, 'di ba? Hindi kita gusto. Kaya lubayan mo 'ko! Mamaya may makakita pa sa 'tin dito. Humanap ka ng babagay sa pagmumukha mo!"

Ibinaba ni Zorya ang mga bitbit na bagahe nang makita ang dalawang estudyanteng animo'y nag-aaway.

The lady was picking up the letters and chocolates thrown by the heated man.

"Ayaw mo ba talaga sa 'kin, Heseul?"

I stared at the lady who asked that.

Her narrow eyes were topped by thick, rounded glasses. Even her hair was all tangled as if combing was nonexistent.

"Hindi ako pumapatol sa witch," sagot ni Heseul. "Baka sapakin pa kita—"

He raised his palm, posing an attack.

"At ga'no ka kasigurado na 'pag itinama mo 'yan sa pisngi niya ay hindi lilipad ang kamao ko papunta sa nguso mo?"

Heseul's arms hanged midair, looking at Zorya's way. His tongue then clicked.

Ipinilig niya ang ulo, bahagyang bumaling sa nakasalaming babae.

"Kung kasing ganda mo lang ang chick na 'yon, baka buntis ka na ngayon."

Tuluyan siyang nilapitan ni Zorya, humarang sa pagitan nila ng babae.

"Hilig mo sa ten, eh, negative naman score mo sa 'kin," pambabara ni Zorya.

When two other students walked past them, laughing mockingly, Heseul stormed away with evident shame.

Now calmed, Zorya slowly gazed at the lady who was gawking, amazed by her.

Napailing na lang siya saka naglakad para balikan ang mga bahage niya.

"Hi," the lady almost giggled, tailing her, "ako nga pala si Sachiko. Call me, Sachi, na lang for short. Avenger ka ba? O, baka fairy godmother kita?"

Unfazed, Zorya kept marching away.

"Silent type o bungol?"

Sa wakas ay huminto na siya. Hinarap niya si Sachiko. Nakabungisngis ito.

"Name po?"

"Zorya."

"Hala! Mizhara? Ikaw 'yong ibinilin sa 'kin ni Dean. Ako 'to, si Sachi. Room mate mo 'ko. Scholar din ako rito!"

Sachiko's claims ended up being true, lending her reasons to befriend Zorya.

"Tunay? May quiz nga? Luh, hindi ako naka-review kagabi. Pakopyahin mo 'ko, ha? Papaalipin talaga ako sa 'yo!"

"Wala kang mapapala sa 'kin."

The bell had rang and the assessment began. Students were busy minding their own. But amidst them all, one lady was sweaty, almost crying, while diligently trying to handle her paper.

Sachiko tried to seek answers from her peers but their quiz papers were protected by white academic folders.

Keeping her head low, Sachiko quietly sniffed. But even before tears spilled, she felt a sudden nudge at her elbow.

Humarap siya kay Zorya at nangunot naman ang noo nang ininguso nito ang quiz paper niya. Wala na 'yong takip na folder at kitang-kita na ang mga sagot niya. Pinakopya niya lahat 'yon.

"Noon naman, kahit blangko ang papel ko, never mo 'kong pinakopya, ah?"

"Mas'yado ka nang maraming bagsak. Kung pati 'yon masasali, siguradong hindi ka papasa sa susunod na taon."

"Thank you so much talaga! You know that I love you to the moon and back!"

Zorya's steps halted, facing Sachiko.

"H'wag ako ang mahalin mo. 'Yang sarili mo. Scholar tayo. Hindi para sa 'tin ang maglibang at magpabaya. Marami ang nagkakandarapa para sa posisyon natin. H'wag mong sayangin, Sachi. Patunayan mong bagay ka rito."

Matamang tumango ang babae.

"Oo, alam ko naman 'yon. Promise! Magsisipag na talaga ako. Ayaw ko namang sabihin nilang bobo ang best friend ni Miss President na si Zorya!"

Umangkla ang braso niya kay Zorya.

"Ah, siya nga pala! Alam ko na kung ano'ng magpapasaya sa 'yo. Tanungin mo 'ko, dali!" When Zorya only raised a brow, Sachiko's face fell flat. "Best in reaction ka talaga. Show some interest naman! Nagpaka-Marites ako para dito tapos tataasan mo lang akong kilay?"

"Ano ba 'yon? Sabihin mo na lang."

"Ito na nga ang chika! Alam ko na kung ano ang strand ni Yuzeyo mo. Hanap ka kasi nang hanap sa STEM, eh, nasa GAS naman pala si pogi! Section D!"

Without a word, Zorya sprang into action. She sprinted like an athlete.

"Ay, runner siya, oh! Dahan-dahan sa pagtakbo! Baka makita panty mo!"

Sa tulin ni Zorya ay may nabangga pa siyang isang babaeng estudyante.

She glanced back at her. "Sorry!"

Patakbo na sana ulit siya nang marinig ang ilang mga bulungan sa gilid niya.

"Nasa gym daw 'yong varsity team!"

"Todo practice para sa championship."

"Nando'n nga raw 'yong captain ball."

"'Yong mukhang anime! Yuzeyo raw pangalan. Tara beh, i-support natin!"

Almost immediately, Zorya changed direction, heading to the gymnasium.

She had to wait until their training was over before she ran up to an old friend.

"Hi," she greeted him, "kumusta na?"

Yuzeyo stood firmly, towering before her. Beads of sweat wandered around his flawless face, his hair slightly wet.

"Naks! Iba talaga 'tong si Captain! Pati si Miss President, hindi pinalampas."

"Hi, Zorya! Kumain ka na ba?"

"I messaged you. Seen mo naman!"

A swarm of basketball players walked up to the two. But Zorya's eyes were affixed on Yuzeyo's cold, blank ones.

"Give up na, bro! Kay Captain na 'yan!"

"Malay mo naman makalusot."

"Kilala mo ba si Zorya, Captain?"

Zorya sighed as Yuzeyo shook his head.

"Nope," he said, "hindi ko siya kilala."

Solid darkness crept in and when light returned, swaying banners of different colors then flashed before my sight.

Athzalar University. Debate fair 2016.

"Now, I present to you the defending champion from the star section of Grade 12, STEM-A, Harumi Balzuari!"

It was a debate competition. A battle between the lower and the higher year.

"Hala, akala ko ba bukas pa?"

"Luto talaga. Sila lang ready!"

"Nanlalamon 'yang Balzuari!"

Confidently, Sachiko rose from the crowd of senior high school students.

"I nominate Zorya to represent our class," she voiced with pure passion.

"OMG! Agreed! Kaya ni Zorya 'to!"

"This should be fun. Go na 'yan!"

Zorya was clearly hesitant. She even glared at Sachiko as if telling that they better have a long conversation later.

Unable to antagonize her classmates' persuasion, Zorya trudged up to her respective podium in the public stage.

"To test her luck at trying to wrest the victor's title, please welcome, Azorya Mizhara from Grade 11, STEM-A!"

It wasn't long after until the debate officially commenced. The topic was about prostitution. Rumi was assigned to be against, while Zorya was for it.

"Rumi is obviously at an advantage. But we all know how witty Zorya is."

"Kahit na, 'no! Hirap i-defend niyan."

"Sige nga, Zorya. Kung magaling ka, convince mo nga kami mag-pokpok!"

"Nangangamoy panalo na naman. Go, Rumi! Lamunin mo 'yang ganda lang ambag! Prove who's the real queen!"

Straightening her back, Rumi claimed the microphone and cited her points.

"The virulent utilization of the human body, such as prostitution, to obtain income is an immoral act practiced by sinners and accepted by fools. In layman's term, prostitutes are loathsome sinners pretending to be victims. People should stop using it as an excuse for survival. And while the world continues to preach about maintaining a safe space for everyone, why don't we start taking care of our bodies first? It's about time we cut the shackle that binds our mentality into romanticizing self-torture, condoning such behavior is purely unhealthy."

When the loud clamoring subsided, Zorya took her time and preached.

"Sex work is work. Kung may sakit ang magulang mo, kung kailangang mag-aral ng mga kapatid mo, kung baon na sa utang ang pamilya mo, pipiliin mo bang manood lang kung alam mo namang may katawan ka para magtrabaho at makatulong sa estado ninyo? Walang kahit na sinong pinangarap maging pokpok. But not everyone are as privileged as others. And just like any other worker in the world, prostitutes must be given a safe space to delineate and execute their work with no hint of belittlement."

Silence fell first before cheering noises came about. That's a thing Rumi didn't exactly appreciate. She's pissed by it.

"Why are you speaking as though it's just their only option? There are a lot of other decent jobs to look at. Prostitution shouldn't be their choice. These people should be educated of that. Kaya dumarami ang mga pokpok dahil sa mga naniniwalang 'yon lang ang pamimilian nila, which isn't the case! Parents should start them young. They should send their kids to school to study to not end up being a prostitute!"

"Eh, 'di i-enroll mo. You talk as if you were just born yesterday. Hindi lahat ng plato, kasing linis ng pinagkakainan mo. Some kids don't even have parents to send them to school. Lack of better opportunities is also prevalent in this country. Kung iaasa natin ang lahat sa gobyerno, uugatin lang tayo. Kaya masisisi mo ba ang mga taong ito kung magtrabaho sila para sa pamilya nila?"

Gritting her teeth, Rumi glared at Zorya, emphasizing her every word. "Prostitution. Destroys. Marriage."

"Lots of factors could wreck marriages, infidelity being one of them. But then, instead of coming after the prostitutes, why not castigate those people who made a vow to their spouses? Kasi kung iisipin, sino ba talaga ang mas makasalanan? Ang taong nagtatrabaho para kumita ng pera at makatulong sa pamilya? O, isang hayok na handang magbayad ng malaking halaga para sa panandaliang saya? Sige, mamili ka."

"Again, the end does not justify the means. And it was never a question of who's the lesser evil! The bottom line is, both are committing a direful sin. With one staining their morality to earn mortal currency. Engaging in prostitution has got to be the cruelest thing any person could to themselves. Dahil kahit saang anggulo mo tingnan, kasalanang gamitin at abusuhin ang katawan para lang magpayaman!"

A small smirk curled upon Zorya's lips as she heard Rumi's sudden outburst.

"Kasalanang gamitin ang katawan para magpayaman? Kung gano'n ay makasalanan pala si Ma'am Henari." Natutop ng host ang kan'yang labi nang bumaling sa kan'ya si Zorya.

Umusbong naman ang kaliwa't kanang bulungan ng mga estudyante sa gilid.

"Gano'n na rin ang lahat ng mga guro sa unibersidad na ito. Ang mga doktor, arkitekto, enhinyero, abogado, at ang lahat ng manggagawa sa mundo. Kasi ginagamit nila ang katawan nila . . . para kumita ng pera at umasenso."

Mas lalong nagpuyos sa galit si Rumi. Kaunti na lang ay mag-aapoy na siya.

"Perhaps you've omitted one variable from your equation. Mga madre pa naman ang nagpalaki sa 'yo. Have you forgotten that our bodies are a temple of the Father? As what the book of Jude, chapter one, verse seven, tells us, 'Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.' Think about your soul. Repent while you still can. Prostitution will never let you set foot on heaven."

Zorya nodded her head, amused.

"Alright. Let's penetrate the holy space then. Hindi ang pagiging bayarang babae ni Magdalena ang magtatakda kung anong landas ang pipiliin niya. Dahil habang pinipili ng karamihang pumikit at magbulag-bulagan, itong si Magdalena, isang dating pokpok, ay piniling buksan hindi ang kan'yang mata kung hindi ang puso niya upang magbigay-tulong sa Panginoon nating si Hesus. Tandaan na noong si Hesus ay tinalikuran ng buong mundo, isang pokpok ang nanatili sa tabi niya at buong pusong ipinaglaban siya, bagay na hindi ginawa ng sinasabi mong mga malinis, tuwid, busilak, at dakila."

Averting her gaze away from Rumi, Zorya turned to the silenced audience.

"Prostitution itself may be deemed as a mortal sin, but we can never diminish the fact that in some way, it managed to bring food to the table, send someone to school, and sustain familial lives. More than immorality, prostitution is a reminder of the state's shortcomings and incompetence, and the leap a person is willing to take in order to stay being alive. So instead of persecuting those who turned to this act, acknowledge first the fact that it was made out of love. A feeling that's not so strange to us. We should not be killing others' means of living. Besides, what have these prostitutes done if not rolling their sleeves and facing life as it is? There should not be any shame in survival. Now if you cannot help them, the least that you could do is to keep your thoughts unvoiced and just respect their work. Your judgments cannot pay their bills anyway."

As the crowd's clapping mixed with audible cheering engulfed my ears, my vision suddenly became overly blurry.

When it stabilized, I caught myself in a dormitory room, watching Sachiko as she combed Zorya's lustrous hair.

"Grabe, dinaig mo pa ang mga kubeta ng university sa pambabara mo kay Rumi kanina. Very Sheldon ang atake! Hindi ko rin in-expect 'yong counter arguments mo. Parang gusto ko na nga mag-drop at magpokpok na lang!"

"Baliw! In debates like that, you don't actually need to be correct. You just have to sound the part. Speak with conviction and no matter how wrong your arguments appear, stay true to them. And never ever agree with your opponent. That's how you can win it."

Nang matapos magsuklay ay biglang napanguso si Sachiko saka umiling.

"Ang sakit lang kasi ng part na kaya naman pala ni Lord humulma nang gan'yang utak, hindi pa 'ko dinamay!"

Zorya just gave her a bothered look.

"Oh, sino ka sa part na 'yan? Nanalo ka na nga, mukhang disappointed ka pa? Grabeng pagkasugapa naman 'yan!"

Shaking her head, Zorya lowly sighed.

"Hindi 'yon," mababang tugon niya. "Naalala ko lang 'yong diin ng titig sa akin ni Rumi kanina. It looked darker than bitter. Para bang sinasabi niyang hindi pa kami tapos . . . na sa kahit na anong posibleng paraan, gaganti siya."

Sachiko's face suddenly turned sour.

"Shuta! Gan'yan pala mag-overthink ang mga matatalino? You talk as if Rumi Balzuari's going to kill you."

Sachiko then pressed her both palms together, exaggerating her prayers.

"Lord, binabawi ko na! Okay na po sa akin na ganito lang brain capacity ko. At least, realistic ang frustrations ko."

"Ewan ko sa 'yo. Minsan, iniisip ko kung pa'no ka naging scholar dito."

"Well, as what you have said, you don't need to be smart. You just have to look the part. And I'm the best part! Basta naman kasi nakasalamin ka, akala na agad nila, matalino. Typical Filipino."

"Very Filipino rin 'yong pagkagusto mo sa taong hindi ka naman gusto. Have your eyes checked. Malala na pagka-colorblind mo kay Heseul."

"Eh, kumusta naman 'yong selective amnesia no'ng Yuzeyo mo? Ano 'yon, nakalunok ng ginto tapos nakalimutan ka? Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng pera."

Zorya became reticent after that. She dragged her gaze to the open window.

In the following scene, I caught her under a shed, hugging herself while waiting for the rain to stop falling.

"Hi, Zorya! Kain tayo. Treat kita!"

When a male student tried to pull her elsewhere, a strong arm gently tugged Zorya's dainty body closer to him.

"She's with me," Yuzeyo told the guy.

"Ay, sorry po!" And he dashed away.

Nang makabawi ay kaagad namang kumalas si Zorya palayo kay Yuzeyo.

"Why are you alone?"

Saglit lamang siyang sinilip ni Zorya, bahagyang napaturo pa sa sarili niya.

"Ako ba kausap mo?"

Yuzeyo's jaw clenched as he tilted his head, facing Zorya right in the eye.

"May iba pa bang maganda rito?"

For a moment, Zorya was tight-lipped. Eventually, she strayed her gaze away.

Zorya bit the insides of her cheeks to prevent her pinkish lips from smiling.

"Akala ko ba hindi mo 'ko kilala?"

When Yuzeyo averted his gaze, Zorya nudged him, alerting him completely.

"Okay lang! Gets ko naman."

"I'm not ashamed of you," Yuzeyo deeply spoke, "I just don't want . . ."

"Hindi mo kailangang magpaliwanag sa 'kin," bawi ni Zorya. "Okay lang talaga. Saka pansin ko, tuwid na ang dila mo ngayon. Mas pumogi ka rin."

Zorya almost whispered the latter part.

"My dad had me undergone several speech therapies. I'm a lot better now."

"Ayos 'yon." Ngumiti si Zorya. "Masaya ako para sa 'yo. May pamilya ka na ngayon. Maganda na ang buhay mo."

"Ikaw rin," Yuzeyo braved forward, burying his palms inside his pockets, "maganda ka pa rin. Sobrang ganda."

"Bolero ka pa rin!" She then chuckled briefly. "Bakit nga pala . . . hindi ka na bumisita ulit sa ampunan? Hindi ka na nga nagpaalam, hindi ka pa dumalaw. Ang dami kayang nadismaya. Tapos sabay pa kayong nawala ni Itcheli Niña Barbie. Ang daming nagtampo sa inyo."

"Ikaw?" Curiosity danced in Yuzeyo's eyes. "Nagtampo ka ba sa 'kin, Zorya?"

Zorya bit her lower lip. "Medyo."

"I'm sorry." Yuzeyo's voice was rather consoling. "Everything just happened so fast that day. And when my father died, my siblings became really strict on me. I could barely leave home alone."

Overwhelmed by that narrative, Zorya attempted to caress Yuzeyo's arms but then she restricted herself in the end.

"Sorry," she aired, "hindi ko alam."

"It's fine," Yuzeyo made it clear, "it's been years now though. So, why are you alone again? Sa'n ka tumutuloy?"

"Ah, hinihintay ko lang na dumating 'yong room mate ko. Nakalimutan ko kasi ang payong ko kaya nagpasundo ako sa kan'ya. Scholar din siya rito, katulad ko. We are both staying in the dormitory near the college building."

Nodding his head, Yuzeyo's lips pursed.

Moments later, one familiar boy who used his leather bag to cover his frame against the rain entered the same shed.

"Am I dreaming?" Rosh queried as he caught a glimpse of Zorya's beauty. "Or am I really seeing a real-life angel?"

Bigla niyang siniko si Yuzeyo. "What?"

Perhaps Rosh wanted to be introduced to Zorya, but Yuzeyo just shrugged his shoulders, denying his overt request.

Shaking his head, Rosh did it himself.

"Does this angel have a name?"

Clearly flustered, Zorya maintained a distance from him, pressing her lips.

"Don't make me wait. Talk, woman."

Her voice slipped. "A-Ako po si Zorya."

"And . . . do you know my brother?"

"Opo. Kababata ko siya sa ampunan."

"I see. So, may boyfriend ka na ba?"

When a black van stopped in front of the shed, Yuzeyo tried to pull Rosh.

"The service's here, we should go."

"Watch your manners, kid," Yuzeyo's arms halted midair when Rosh smiled at him, "I'm still talking to your friend."

While Yuzeyo kept his arm to himself, Rosh smoothly gazed back at Zorya.

"Tell me. May boyfriend ka na ba?"

"P-Po? Wala . . . wala po."

"Gusto mo ba 'ko maging boyfriend?"

"Naku," umiling si Zorya, "hindi po!"

"So . . . si Yuzeyo ang gusto mo?"

Just in time, the rain stopped falling and Zorya quickly excused herself.

"M-Mauna . . . mauna na po ako."

"Let's go, Kuya."

"The name's Rosh." He then offered his hand but Zorya just stared and started walking away. "See you around, Zorya."

While Zorya fastened her pace, Rosh watched her with an intent so lustful.

"Historical talaga! Kahit si Rumi, hindi nagawa 'yon no'ng Grade 11 pa siya."

"Freaking 99%?! Tao pa ba si Zorya?"

"Beauty and brains talaga siya! My rainbow heart's fluttering with love!"

"Wait! Si Roshim Balzuari ba 'yon? 'Yong engineering student na hottie!"

"Bakit siya nandito sa senior building? May flowers, balloons, chocolates, at stuffed toy pa! Wait, hindi ko 'to kaya!"

"Look! He's approaching Zorya!"

"Iihi na nga lang, na-broken pa."

Rosh halted his steps just before Zorya. He lovingly smiled and winked at her.

"Here," he tried to give Zorya his gifts but she declined, "come on, take them."

"Para saan po ang mga 'yan?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm courting you."

"You can't court a woman you just met. Isa pa, hindi rin po ako nagpapaligaw."

From the background came audible murmurs and creative interpretation. Some even mocked Rosh and told him that he's unfit for Zorya's adroitness.

Myriad whispers echoed in the hall until someone exclaimed exultantly.

"Study first talaga 'yan si Zorya!"

But Rosh couldn't take any refusal.

"H'wag ka nang magpakipot."

When he stepped forward, Zorya took a step back. "My answer still stands."

"I know you want me," Rosh cooed.

Zorya's face fell flat. "But I don't."

As expected, Rosh's cheeks heated in frustration. Kung wala nga sigurong mga matang nakamasid sa paligid ay malamang sinaktan na niya si Zorya.

"Playing hard to get," Rosh licked his lips as he stared down to Zorya's chest covered in vest, "that's how I like it."

"Bilang kapatid ni Yuzeyo, nirerespeto ko po kayo." Zorya swallowed the lump in her throat. "H'wag naman po sanang umabot sa puntong . . . mawala 'yon."

Right after she voiced that, several students, mostly males, appeared on her back, as if offering protection.

"May problema ba, Miss President?"

Upon seeing the senior high school students, Rosh clenched his slackened jaw, eyes narrowed to crinkled slits.

"Wala," sagot naman ni Zorya, saglit na ngumiti sa kanila. "Paalis na rin siya."

But Rosh knew better than to just let it go. So before leaving, he leaned in and whispered words only Zorya heard.

"Matitikman din kita. At kapag nangyari 'yon, wawasakin kita."

In the following scene, I sauntered behind Zorya as she dashed back to her room. But to her surprise, all her classmates were out in the hallway, each bearing an enigmatic expression.

"Wala bang klase?" she asked Sachiko when she reached her. "Ba't nasa labas kayo? Hindi ba pumasok si Ma'am?"

"Uh, ano kasi . . ." Openly, Sachiko's lips twitched, unable to share her thoughts.

As though Zorya noticed that, she did herself a favor and seek an answer to her query by heading inside the room.

There, she found three female seniors. One seated on the chair in the middle of the room, while the other two had just finished tearing up an old bag, its academic contents now scattered on the floor. Zorya walked up to them.

"Dumayo pa talaga kayo rito para lang sirain 'yong bag ko?" Zorya was neither mad nor happy. "Ang thoughtful ni'yo. It makes me want to hug your necks."

"Don't feel special," Rumi, who was seating, stood up to her feet, "baka matuwa ako sa 'yo tapos sumpungin ako at bigla kong tahiin 'yang dila mo."

As if that was their cue, the two other ladies reunited with Rumi, enclosing Zorya in the middle, in a tight position.

"Three against one?" Zorya clicked her tongue, delight rolled across her face. "Don't you think it's a little bit unfair?"

Rumi's already roaring eyes flared even more. "You should've thought of that before raising a war against me."

"A war?" Head shaking, Zorya chuckled with sarcasm as an overtone. "Debate lang po 'yon. Pinalaki ka bang pikon?"

When Rumi's brow lifted, the other ladies held Zorya's arms sideways.

"I knew you were trouble when you bumped me in that hall." Playfully, Rumi then rolled one finger through Zorya's hair. "But I didn't expect that you actually have the audacity to be on the similar stage as I was. And as much as I despised losing, I let it slide. Pero no'ng pinahiya mo ang kapatid ko, you just crossed the line, Azorya Mizhara."

Unfazed, Zorya blew some strands of hair blocking her sight. "If I pulled out your lungs and asked you to breathe, will you be able to do it? Marami ang imposible sa mundo. At isa na ro'n ang magustuhan ko ang Kuya Rosh mo."

With one forceful sway, Zorya even managed to set her arms free from the puppets that had once clung to them.

"If it's for the bumping, then I'm sorry. But for rejecting your brother? Big no. And I do not owe you, Kuya Rosh, or anyone an explanation for it," Zorya muttered with an evident conviction.

To me, it was pretty sincere, but still, came to be a laughingstock for Rumi.

After chuckling with her two puppets, Rumi shot a belittling gaze at Zorya.

"Why, though? Is it because you are a high achiever, an office president, a debate winner, a board game athlete, a trendsetter, an ideal girlfriend, and a walking perfection? You think you're on cloud nine? Too high to reach?"

"For someone who claimed of disliking me, you were pretty much invested in my life," Zorya teased Rumi. "Hindi ko naman namalayang gano'n na pala 'ko kasikat. Thanks for letting me know."

Rumi was obviously affected by her words, but Zorya was not minding it.

"Harumi Balzuari," she even called her name, "I didn't know you're my fan."

A brief guffaw escaped Rumi's lips.

"Don't be so full of yourself, Zorya."

In time, Rumi upped her chin at Zorya.

"I know you're smart so I'm hoping that I no longer need to repeat myself twice." Rumi's face became grim. "I want you to pull out of the upcoming search. Revoke your papers. Sign out."

The search for the next Miss Athzalar.

Upon realizing Rumi's reason for visit, Zorya could only tone down her bliss.

"Kung tama ang pagkakaintindi ko, pumunta ka rito para kumbinsihin akong sumuko sa war na 'to? Grabe, pinapatawa mo 'ko. Duwag na ba ang susunod sa pikon? Schedule ba nang pagiging clown mo ngayon? Patok, eh!"

Rumi didn't bother responding to her.

"My application was actually a class decision. In fact, I was considering of processing my papers to withdraw my participation until you paid me a visit. Pageantry has never been my cup of tea, but then you inspired me to once again trust in my luck and beauty."

Overlaying worry with curiosity, Rumi asked, "What are you trying to say?"

"Yes, Rumi," if only Zorya smiled at me like how she smiled at Rumi, I would have lost my cool in an instant, "I am competing against you. And I'll win."

Zorya gone past Rumi and her puppets.

"As for what you did with my bag, I'll let it slide. You must be in such a hurry and you dropped your brain, so I won't throw a fuss about it. But the next time you'll stoop this low, I'll be more than glad to introduce your face to my fist."

Nodding at Zorya, Rumi's lips turned up. "So we're settled then. I just hope that you're well aware of what you're getting yourself into. See you on stage!"

While Zorya stayed to be silent, Rumi then placed her arms against her chest.

"You just entered hell on earth. And I'm here to give you a free tour around it."

That's the time Zorya gazed at Rumi and saw the beast behind her beauty.

***

Note: The following chapters have explicitly tackled all the harrowing torture that Zorya was put through. If you think you can't handle that, be kind to yourself and skip those parts (chapters 13 and 14, to be precise). Reader discretion is highly advised.