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Heated Tension

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"WAIT, IS that — Reagan Iñigo Maccio?? Oh my God!"

It was a suicide mission. The humid afternoon soon faded away as gray clouds covered the sky and rain started to pour down heavily on the streets of Ylando City. Sidewalks shone with wetness as the downpour made the old, abandoned house creak and moan as they stepped out of its ruined wooden floors.

Dahil sa biglang pag-ulan ay walang choice na binalikan ni Jarrell ang kaniyang sasakyan na nasa Castillo High upang hindi maulanan ang mga babae, lalo na si Ann na nawalan muli ng malay at hawak-hawak ni Rein.

It wasn't long when the six had returned to their academe safely thanks to Jarrell's vehicle.

But the only thing stopping them from getting out of the car was that the five had no idea how to bring out an unconscious Ann Lobris out of Jarrell's car and into the school clinic, without garnering any kind of attention.

"NO! Rein, the whole school would see you!" Quinn seethed as soon as Rein had insisted to carry Ann himself.

"I got her into this mess." Rein muttered in insistence. "So I'll be the one to take the blame for it."

"That's being rash and outright impulsive!" Sera exclaimed out of frustration. "Mas macoconfirm lang ng culprit na may something sa inyo ni Ann if the whole school sees you carrying her to the clinic. Rein for once, think of the consequences that this will brin—"

But Rein had heard enough. Not letting Sera finish her sentence, ibinuhat na muli nito binata si Ann at saka lumabas ng sasakyan. 

"MY GOD, IS HE REALLY THIS RECKLESS?!" Inis na sigaw ni Queenie as the others ran after Rein.

"Sa totoo lang, first time ito!" Sigaw pabalik ni Jarrell, slamming the driver's door of his car shut.

Habang karga-karga ni Rein ang kaniyang karibal at naglalakad patungo sa school clinic, unti-unting napapatingin ang mga Castillians na nakatambay sa corridors at hallways — eyes wide as they stared at one of the richest male student in the academe, carry his one and only rival.

Whispers and gasps soon filled the campus and the news about the two rivals spread like wildfire, with other students rushing towards the particular hallway where Rein was walking, just to see for their own two eyes if the rumors were true.

And indeed it was.

"MACCIO, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY COUSIN?!" Calista, who had rushed out of the Gazette's office after seeing the crowd of students from the office's glass doors, quickly demanded habang sinasabayan si Rein sa paglalakad.

To her irritation, the young man merely ignored the older girl, holding his head and chin up high. He then quickened his pace, trying to get out of everyone's sight as soon as possible.

"Are you deaf?! ANSWER ME!" Calista demanded once more, but Rein merely looked straight ahead with steely eyes as he carried Ann with no remorse.

"Argh!" Calista stomped in frustration before turning her heel and storming away to inform her aunt and uncle — no one else but Ann's parents.

"Wait 'til the readers of the Gazette hear about this!" Sheyna Ramirez, who was part of the onlookers gaping at Rein and Ann, exclaimed gleefully, with the feature writer taking various photos of the rivals using her digital phone.

By the time Rein had arrived at the clinic, everything was a chaotic mess as the rumors and conspiracy theories soon spiraled amongst the whole Castillian student body.

"Nurse Florence!" Rein yelled frantically as he laid down Ann gently on one of the clinic beds, still unconscious and very pale. The school clinic nurse who was at her desk, immediately ran to them out of worry, her face creased as she touched the forehead of the young girl.

"Nahimatay po siya dahil ata sa kakulangan ng pagkain at tubig." Pagpapaliwanag ng binata, at saktong pumasok na rin ang lima na hiningal dahil sa kakatakbo.

"Help me elevate her feet." Utos ng matanda at agad namang tumulong ang mga ito, putting Ann into a position in which her brain can receive blood supply and oxygen.

The loving nurse also immediately tended Ann's bruises that she had garnered from being bounded, as well as the bleeding scratches on her palms due to holding the broken glass shard that she had used to signal for help.

"I'm sorry," Bulong ni Rein habang hawak-hawak ang namumutlang kaliwang kamay ni Ann, his voice strained as he covered the wound on her palm using a bandaid. "I'm sorry, Lobris. Kasalanan ko 'to. Hindi ko na dapat pinilit na imbestigahan natin yung kaso." He mumbled to himself as the others too, stared at Ann out of worry.

"She'll regain consciousness after a few minutes, I'm sure." Sabi naman ni nurse Florence, placing a reassuring hand on Rein's shoulder.

"Anong meron?" Tanong ni Jarrell na kunot-noong lumabas ng clinic nang mapansing hindi pa rin nawawala ang kumpol ng mga estudyante sa labas, except this time these other students weren't nosily looking inside the clinic to see Ann and Rein. They seemed to be gasping at something else.

Rein on the other hand, felt very conflicted inside as he held Ann's hand. The last time he had felt this worried about another person was when he thought his father was also harming Noah. Ngayon na lamang niya naramdaman muli ang matinding pag-alala — to which he wanted to laugh at himself. Because out of all the people that he was worried and concerned about, the one and only Rein Maccio was currently distressed about the welfare of his own rival.

He can see his old self laughing at him, mocking his sudden weakness and soft spot for this particular Lobris.

Why? He can hear his younger, past self, asking him. Why do you suddenly care so much about Ann Lobris?

Ngunit kahit na ironic ito para sa binata, ay hindi niya ito mapigilan.

He can't help but be overly worried for Ann, no matter how much he tried to ignore the feeling. It was as if he was having an inward battle with what was logical, and what he truly felt. Rein felt conflicted.

"Please wake up," He muttered, eyes frantically searching for any sign of consciousness from Ann. "Plea—"

"Rein!" Sigaw ni Jarrell, bursting through the clinic doors and returning with a horrified look on his face.

"What??" He said in alarm, briskly standing up from his monoblock chair. This caused an unpleasant sound as the chair's legs scratched along the tiled floor.

Hingal na tinignan ito ng kaniyang kaibigan, opening and closing his mouth in distress. "It's your father."

Rein felt all the blood in his body rise to his face as he shot out of the clinic, with the others following him in worry.

"This isn't good, this isn't good, this isn't good." Quinn murmured anxiously, thinking of all the other times Mr. Maccio had visited Rein in Castillo High.

"Quinston Rhys Gintuan, will you shut up?!" Sera hissed, but Quinn couldn't help it. He was afraid of Rein's father — what more of Rein, who had experienced firsthand abuse under his father's care?

All five of them of course, had every reason to be afraid, and this fear only heightened as they saw Rein's father, stepping out angrily from his white, sleek car. He slammed the door to his vehicle with a loud shut, stomping onto the main building as if he were a hungry leopard, ready to ambush his target. Mr. Maccio seemed to have been working in his office before arriving at Castillo High as he was wearing an expensive white polo shirt whose sleeves were elegantly folded until his elbows, an elegant midnight blue tie, dark grey Gucci slacks and belt, a pair of shiny Christian Louboutin shoes, and his sleek hair pushed back. 

He was furious.

At that same time, Senator Alejando Maurice Lobris had also stepped out from the Lobris' family limousine, his eyes in slits as he stormed towards Mr. Ryder Elias Maccio in fury. The senator on the other hand, was wearing a modern white barong with intricate details in front, ironed black pants, a pair of dark brown Edward Green formal shoes, and a large, gold antique watch on his right hand.

"Oh no," Rein exhaled, stopping in his tracks like a deer under headlights.

"RYDER!" The senator roared, with his flurry of bodyguards following him obediently. "You tell me right here, right now, what the hell did your son do to my daughter?!"

Mr. Maccio halted with a dry laugh. 

"Alejandro," The wealthy businessman greeted the senator sarcastically with open arms. "I never thought our next meeting would be here at Castillo High itself. And under the most unfortunate event." He then clicked his tongue.

"Cut your crap Ryder." Senator Alejandro sneered. "Anong ginawa ng anak mo sa anak ko?"

"Anong klaseng akusasyon 'yan??" Mr. Maccio scoffed. " For all we know, my son saved your daughter. Baka nga 'yang dalaga mo pa ang nagpahamak sa anak ko?"

"This is not the time for your arrogance!" The senator howled in response. "Clearly you've heard from the diligent shepherd's office that your son was seen carrying my unconscious daughter to the clinic. So why is your son fine, and my daughter isn't? Hmm?? If I find out from my daughter that your son had anything to do with her well-being, you Maccios will pay for it!"

"Aba? Ni hindi pa nga natin natatanong yung mga bata, nambibintang ka na?" Rein's father growled through gritted teeth, his anger seething. "Ganyan ba talaga kayabang at kababa ang mga Lobris?" He spat.

And that was the last word. Hindi sigurado ng mga manonood kung sino nga ba ang talagang nauna na manghambalos ng kamao, but one thing was certain: both Ylando City's famous senator and the CEO of the Maccio Holdings Corp. were under a deadly battle of punching each other down to the ground.

"ANO? KUNG MATAPANG KA HALIKA DITO!" Hamon ng senador na itinataas ang kaniyang manggas. The two older men were encircling each other at the wide lobby of the main building, like two hawks fighting over their prey. Rein couldn't help but shake his head in abhorrence.

"I never realized the Lobris and Maccio feud was this serious." Sera said in disgust.

"You have no idea." Jarrell said grimly.

As Rein's father was about to throw a punch into the senator's big belly, a voice soon rang throughout the lobby that immediately silenced everyone.

"Are you both well-mannered men in your respective fields, or nothing more but two uneducated boys who needs to go to detention?" The shrill, high-pitched voice was loud and clear, and everyone didn't have to turn their heads to the direction of the speaker to know that it was none other than principal Lilia Castillo who had spoken, walking towards the two men with a distasteful look.

Agad na napatigil ang dalawang ama na mukhang natauhan sa kanilang inaasta.

"Good," The principal said, pursing her lips as she peered down on them through her glasses. "I've caught your attention."

She then surveyed them from top to bottom, clicking her tongue with her two hands clasped together in front — like a strict school teacher ready to punish her students.

"Now, I want you both to get off the school grounds and keep your petty feud between yourselves." She spat in a cold, authoritative tone. "I will not have the both of you wreck school property, and display this act of misconduct in front of my students. GET OUT!" She thundered.

With impolite sneers and huffs, the two men glared at one another. "My apologies, principal Castillo." The senator said in a steely voice, fixing his collar. "Indeed I will leave the academe. But if you don't mind, I will be bringing my daughter along with me, so that she will be examined by our family doctor. Excuse me." He then narrowed his eyes once more at Mr. Maccio, before the senator proceeded his way towards the school clinic.

"And all of you?" The principal asked haughtily to all students who were watching the scene. "Don't you have your school works to attend to? Go to your dormitories! NOW!"

The crowd of students and spectators alike immediately dispersed as they rushed back to their respective assignments, afraid of the school principal herself. As soon as everyone was gone, the principal gave one more dissatisfied glance at the businessman, before turning her heel to return to her office.

Rein on the other hand, clenched his jaw and walked towards his father who was still rattled with fury.

"Dad," Rein said begrudgingly as he approached his father. "I can expl—"

The young man however, was not able to explain, as the older Maccio brought upon his pent-up anger to his son, grabbing him by his uniform collar, and punching him straight across the face.

Sera and Queenie gasped in horror. Susugod na sana si Quinn at Jarrell upang ilayo ang kanilang kaibigan nang bigla silang hinarangan ni professor Simon Zaldiga, shaking his head.

"The four of you, go back to your dorms." He said strictly. "We don't want anymore students of ours harmed."

"But sir—" They wailed.

"No more buts!" The head of the diligent office huffed, and the four had no choice but to leave, glancing back at the father and son duo at the lobby with extreme worry.

"You've stained the Maccio name!" Rein's father yelled through gritted teeth, still harshly grabbing his son by the collar. "Ano nang sasabihin patungkol sa pamilya natin?! Lagi mo nalang dinadagdagan ang mga problema ko! You are a disgra—"

"I only befriended Lobris to know her weaknesses!" Rein blurted out, stopping his father from punching him again.

"What?" His father demanded.

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Rein said hastily. "In order to bring her down, I must first know her weaknesses — which I can only do by gaining her trust." He murmured, his voice now low and menacing; making his father loosen his grasp around his neck.

"Hmmm." His father hummed tauntingly, as if pondering whether or not what his son was saying was true.

"You told me to bring her down." Rein spat out, shaking away from his father's hold. "And that's what I'm doing."

"Well, well, well." His father remarked, breaking out into a grin as he looked down on his son in satisfaction. "You're not so useless after all."

"Very well," The wealthy businessman nodded, placing a hand on Rein's shoulder. "There's this socialite party tomorrow, Wednesday evening. Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, sabay tayong pupunta roon kaya dapat nasa bahay ka bukas ng hapon. I'll be using tomorrow as an opportunity to introduce you to the press as my heir."

With a squeeze on his shoulder that was either a fatherly gesture or a threatening one, Mr. Ryder Elias Maccio then turned around to walk back towards his car — leaving Rein alone by the lobby.

Watching his father go, the young man wearily touched the bleeding wound on his cheek, wondering whether his actions were for the best.

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