The Hater: Three Shades of Hate (The Hater Trilogy #1)

3 [Part 2] | Disastrous Encounters

Down to just two papers left, Chaunce's group's and Kirk's group's. Kirk glanced at Chaunce and talked. "You haven't gotten your paper yet?"

"Yep."

"Wow, y'all are pretty much improving," Kirk praised them. "But I know you still can't surpass me." Competitive as always.

"For the last two papers, it is the work of Mr. Ocampo's group and Mr. Wilson's group," nagkatinginan sina Kirk at Chaunce, tila naglalaban sa kung sino ang mas mataas. "The highest is... the both group's works. Congrats for a job well done."

Chaunce's and Kirk's mouth gaped open. They both still can't believe. Chaunce can't believe how he finished his part and Kirk can't believe na may nakapantay sa kaniya this time.

"Sabi ko sa 'yo Nickole e pantay 'yan, akin na five-hundred ko," ani Hiro at hiningi kay Nickole ang bet na naipanalo niya.

"Akala ko pa naman malalamangan na natin si Kirk," ani Nickole. "Pwede utang muna Hiro? Hehe."

"Anong utang, ibigay mo 'yan sa 'kin," ani Hiro at agad na kinuha ang limang-daang perang papel sa kamay ni Nickole.

The professor then started to discuss. Couple of moments later, the bell rang, signalling everyone that the period is over.

"Tara muna sa cafeteria?" Hiro asked them.

"Game," sagot ni Nickole and Chaunce. Walang imik na nakikinig sa kanila si Kirk habang nag-aayos ng gamit. Napalingon si Chaunce sa kaibigan. "Ikaw Kirk, hindi ka sasama?"

Napaangat ng tingin si Kirk at agad na umiling. "I have to bring this books back to the library."

"Can't you do it mamaya nalang?" tanong ni Nickole.

"Uhm ano kasi..." nauutal na ani Kirk. "Oo, may maghihiram pa ng mga librong 'to kaya kailangan ko na agad ibalik."

Magsasalita pa sana 'yung tatlo nang agad naman na umalis si Kirk. "Hey guys," pagtawag ni Chaunce. "Can't you feel na parang weird this morning si Kirk?"

"Oo nga e," sagot ni Nickole. "What's with him kaya? Baka naman nase-stress na siya sa sobrang subsob sa pag-aaral. Grabe naman kasi ang pressure na nakukuha niya."

"Tara Nickole, let's make a bet—" bago pa man matapos ang sinasabi ni Hiro ay agad na lumapat ang kamay ni Chaunce sa batok nito.

"Itong sugarol na 'to kahit kailan talaga, kaibigan mo 'yon dude, hindi casino, 'wag mong gawing sugalan," paalala ni Chaunce na inirapan lamang ni Hiro.

Sa hindi kalayuan ay makikita si Kirk na mabagal na naglalakad at nakatingin sa librong hawak niya.

"Isa... dalawa... tatlo..." isa-isa niyang binibilangang mga libro para ma-kumpirma kung lahat ng librong hiniram niya ay nasa kaniya. "Anim... Hala, ba't anim lang 'to? Nasa'n 'yung isa?"

Napahinto siya sa paglalakad at agad na nagbilang ngunit kulang nga ito ng isang libro. Hala, saan ko 'yun nailagay?

Agad siyang tumalikod at akmang babalik sa classroom nang mabangga ng isang lalaking tutok sa cellphone at natatakpan ng headphones ang tainga.

Nahulog ang libro dahil sa lakas ng pagkakabunggo nila sa isa't-isa. Agad na tinignan ni Kirk ang lalaki ng matalim na hindi lang din umimik.

Lumingon 'yung lalaki at agad na tumalikod kay Kirk bago maglakad ulit. "Hoy," malakas na sigaw ni Kirk na dinig na dinig sa hallway. "Aren't you taught to help anyone you've caused damage to."

Maangas na tinignan lamang siya noong lalaking nakabangga sa kaniya. Agad siya nitong nilapitan at agad na ginalaw ang kamay at kinwekyuhan si Kirk. Their eyes met, fiercely and looks like they want to kill each other.

"Hindi mo ba ako kilala ha?" the cold breath of the man surrounded the whole of Kirk's face.

Kirk answered. "And why would I ever get interested to knowing you."

Humigpit pa lalo ang pagkakahawak ng lalaki sa kwelyo ni Kirk, dahilan para mas lalong lumapit ang mukha nilang dalawa. "What a feisty little kid."

"Ikaw lang ba ang pwedeng maging matapang?" sagot naman ni Kirk na agad hinawakan ang braso ng lalaki na humahawak sa kwelyo niya. Agad niya ding hinawakan ang kwelyo nitong lalaki at tinignan ng masama.

They then heard a whistle blowing approaching them, it was a professor. "What commotion do you think you are causing Mr. Lee and Mr. Ocampo?"

They both freed their hands from gripping each other's collar. They both turned their gazes and faced the professor.

"We were just playing, ma'am," depensa no'ng lalaking nakabangga kay Kirk at agad tinignan ang huli.

"Uhm yeah, ma'am, we're just playing, not serious at all," he defended. "I'm sorry for causing commotion."

Kirk wanted to tell the truth but it seems like telling the truth will make him in risk. Kirk is a scholar, kaya gano'n na lamang siya kung mag-pursigi sa pag-aaral. He has always wanted to finish his studies and help those who helped him. And joining into troubles would make him lose his scholarship. I can't bear to lose my scholarship.

"Be honest Mr. Lee and Mr. Ocampo, are you causing trouble or are you really just playing?" asked the professor.

Kirk can't bear to lie again so he let the man talk with the professor. "We surely are just playing ma'am."

"If that's so then I'll go, next time you'll cause another commotion, I'll surely put you into the director's office," Kirk just nodded and the man who hit him just smiled. Kirk immediately get down to get his things which fell on the floor.

Paalis na sana siya nang magsalita ulit 'yong lalaki. "Where's that little feisty kid I saw few moments ago?" that statement of the man really insulted him but he chose to stay quiet.

In Kirk's world, causing troubles will cause more problems to him. He is a child from a middle-class family and he should support himself from studies and all.

He then saw himself a little later standing in front of the librarian. "Here's the books that I borrowed po ma'am."

"Good thing, nandito na rin kasi 'yung manghihiram ng ilang librong hiniram mo," she then turned her gaze and called somebody. "Sky! Nandito na 'yung librong mga kailangan mo."

Agad na tinignan ni Kirk ang sinomang tinawag ng librarian. A man with a cool aura slowly approaches them. He's wearing his demonic smirk as usual. That asshole.

"Hi ma'am and—oh, hi little feisty kid," he told the librarian and Kirk in front of him. He surely have something to annoy Kirk, not just his own presence but the stupid callsign.

"Ma'am, I'll better get going," Kirk asked the librarian and the latter just slowly nod.

"You always run away after seeing me little feisty kid," Sky noted. "Plenty of people take more than a hundred full of challenges just to get noticed by me and you, you are being noticed by me yet you're not thankful?"

"Why would I be thankful meeting an asshole though?" Kirk mumbled and Sky again gripped Kirk's collar.

"You seem to not know me little feisty kid," Sky mumbled then he held Kirk's arm and dragged the latter into the director's office.

Sky freed his hand from gripping Kirk's arm and dragged Kirk to somewhere. The director's room.

Kirk looked at the director's name and it seems like Sky and the director shares the same last name.

"What is it again this time Sky?" the director asked.

Sky pointed his index finger to the colleague beside him, Kirk. "This kid just bullied me."

"What?" Kirk scowled at shock. "When did I bully you? Hindi ba ikaw ang tunay na bully sa ating dalawa?"

"And he's lying again tito," Sky told the director. "Kanina lang ang tapang niyan sa loob ng library."

Nagawi ang tingin ng director kay Kirk. "And what course are you in, mister?"

"I am a freshman from the business management department po."

"Tell me, how did you meet with my nephew?"

"He hit me hard that it made me fall my books," Kirk defended. "How come I did bully him if he's the one who grabbed my collar first."

"And you are the one who scowled at me, first," Sky interrupted before looking at the director. "We're in the same department and I'm one year ahead of you so why can't you respect me little feisty kid?"

"Respect is given to those who deserve it," Kirk directly told him. "Do you think you deserve to be respected?"

"Here he is again tito," sumbong ni Sky sa tiyuhin na para bang batang inaway. "Tito he deserves to be punished. Bullies like him should not study at a prestigous college like this."

Kirk's eyes widened. No, this ain't happening. The only thing that circulates in his mind that time is that there's a chance that he'll lose his scholarship.

"Huwag mo akong pangunahan Sky," the director scolded his nephew. "I have thought of a punishment even before you asked so, Sky."

Sky just smirked and Kirk's face was surrounded by worry. "Director, scholar lang po ako and my family doesn't have enough money para tustusan ang pag-aaral ko." His face turned from feisty kid to gloomy boy. "I... can't bear to lose the only thing that supports my education."

"Calm down, mister. That's not it, I won't give you more worries knowing that you are striving hard in terms of studies," the director told Kirk. The latter breathed in relief.

"What punishment will you give him then tito?" Sky asked with a face of disappointment. "Ayos na rin naman ang one month suspension total he really deserve that." Sky told them with an objective of insulting. He did emphasized the word 'deserve'.

"I won't let him lose something he really wanted," the director told the two. "Be considerate enough with this boy, Sky."

"Then what consequence will you give to him then tito?" insulted Sky talked.

The director turned his gaze to Kirk, with a pleasing look and a look of desperation. "Mister, be the tutor of my nephew."