Chapter 2
1610 Words
"Oh god! Alex, alam mo ba kung ano ang ginawa mo kanina?"
Simula kanina, hindi na natapos kadadada si Janessa. Why can't she just be grateful for what I did? I still saved her even though I just want to calm my conscience.
Unfortunately, we’re roommates.
There are two buildings which serve as the students' dormitories. The girls' dormitory is called Queen Anne's while the boys' dormitory is called Gladiolus Building. Every room is large enough to accommodate five students inside. Two bathrooms, two long couches, two single-person couches, one coffee table, one dining table, a mini kitchen, and there's WiFi to everyone's joy.
Even so, I don't think I can enjoy the grandeur of this room if I still have this persecuting girl with me who keeps on blabbering about what those ten can do to me
"What? What have I done?"
I heard her sigh heavily as a defeat. Mukhang napansin niya ang hindi ko pagkabahala sa nangyari. Mas dumarami tuloy ang mga tanong sa utak ko kung sino ba talaga ang mga iyon.
"Alright. Before you came here, have you ever heard of the ten students who were reigning the student body? Then let me tell you, they are ones you've met a while ago!"
"Ah, okay."
She looked at me as if I answered the worst response ever in the whole wide world. Napasampal na lang siya sa noo niya nang sunod namang kumunot ang noo ko. Ano bang meron doon sa mga 'yun? Who are they for the whole studentry to respect and follow them as if they're saints? I can't really see the point why I should be scared of the threat that guy gave me.
Ilang sandali lang ay tinanggal naman na niya ang kamay niya sa noo niya at huminga ng malalim bago umayos ng upo sa tabi sa katapat kong couch. "Then ipapaliwanag ko sa'yo ng mabuti. So you better listen to me, Alex Cromello because it's for your own sake. I don't want you to dig your own grave this early."
Ako naman napairap na lang. Yeah, go on.
Mas maganda na rin na may alam ako sa kanila kaysa nagmumukha akong walang kamuwang-muwang.
"Heired Eminence Approbate Decarchy or simply HEAD is a group consisted of three females and seven males who were ranked as the most powerful, most influential, most intelligent academically, the wealthiest, and the strongest among anybody here in the academy. They’re Mhorfell's queens and kings. The authority within this school is distributed to three different sectors. First, the administration. I mean, the owner, founder, benefactors, and the investors. Second, the faculty including the principal of course. Lastly, the HEAD. They represent the whole studentry."
"So you are saying that those ten has some power on me because I'm part of their so-called people?"
"Absolutely. At ang lalaking sinagot mo nang pabalang? He's Spade Vantress. The one who holds the first rank. The leader." Pagpapaalam niya sa akin nang may nanlalaki pang mga mata.
"Oooh. Now that's some information you have there. Tell me more about them."
"Are you even serious?" Gulat na gulat siya sa bawat kalmadong reaksyon ko sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.
What? Should I be shocked or something?
Does she think that those things would be enough scare me? I mean, seriously? I know that I should not underestimate them and then what? Do I have to tremble in front of them? Do I have to kneel in front of them and apologize? Or oh! Should I pay them with all glory and respect like the other scaredy cats in this school?
To be honest, instead of being afraid, I'm getting thrilled here.
"Hay, hindi ko na alam gagawin ko sa iyo. Pero dahil paniguradong kakailanganin mo rin ang mga impormasyon na ito, sige," pagsuko niya.
A grin formed on my face as she decided to start.
"First up, Spade Vantress. Cold in and out. A silent ladykiller. What he wants is what he gets. He can use force sometimes. As a leader, he tends to be manipulative. His father is one of the benefactors of this school. Heir of Vantress Mafia and Vantress Entrerprises, Inc."
"So he's like a little boy who throws tantrums if he doesn't get what he wants." I can’t help but say, trailing off.
"Are you saying something, Alex?"
"Nothing."
She rolled her eyes over me but she continued anyway.
"Zhen Edward Martinez, mostly known as Ed or Edward. Rank two. A strategist. He's the captain of the basketball team. He prefers working in the shadows. Heir of their family's beach resort business. Colder than Spade but more approachable when you get to know him. There's not much to know."
Napatango naman ako nang napatango habang nilalarawan niya ang pangalawa sa sampu. Meanwhile, I tried to reach for my phone on the coffee table to text someone.
"Third is—" Janessa's reporting was interrupted when a sudden knock from the door was heard.
I was about to get it but she told me that she'll go instead. I nodded as a response and I continue on constructing a message to my friends while waiting for this night's reporter.
A minute or two have passed when she finally came back. "Sorry. Kailangan ko munang lumabas ah? Nandyan kasi 'yung kaibigan ko. May emergency daw. Sige, good night na lang," at nagmamadali niyang kinuha ang cardigan niya sa kama niya at lumabas.
Hmm? The curfew signal is about to be active though.
I don't really know her a lot since we just met today and I'm not really into knowing her more but I guess I could let my guards down when she's around. After all, as she told me, she's only a scholar through helping teachers on their works every day.
I sighed and decided to retreat now to my chambers. Pagod na rin naman ako.
I threw my phone on the bed before going to my cabinet to get some comfortable clothes to wear. After changing my clothes and washing my face, I found my phone ringing unceasingly.
Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama ko at kinuha ito upang buksan ang mga bagong dating na mensahe. As expected, they replied fast. Magsisimula na sana akong magbalik ng mensahe sa kanila nang tumunog ulit ang hawak ko.
Dereen calling…
Sinagot ko naman kaagad ito. "Hello," walang gana kong pagsagot.
“Alexandri—”
"Maria Dereena Santos. I know my name is damn beautiful but it's still damn long so no need to recite it every time."
The clicky sound she made with her tongue reached my ears and I somehow smile at the back of my mind. Just the same Dereen I know.
“You’re a lifesaver. Hong Kong is boring. Luckily, dad allowed me to transfer, thinking that I might learn to behave soon.”
"You're welcome. How about the other two girls?" I asked, pertaining to Rennei and Fiacre.
The caller emitted a long breath before saying, “Do you even expect any changes about them? Ganoon pa rin. Mukhang sakit na sakit na yata sila sa perwisyo na dinadala ng dalawa kaya pinayagan,” natatawang kwento niya pa.
“How are you, anyway? No one’s following you around?”
Ah, that…
"Nah, perfectly fine."
Tumahimik ang usapan naming dalawa. Marahil dahil na rin sa pagbanggit sa bagay na iyon. Apat na taon na ang nakalilipas pero parang kahapon lang nangyari ang lahat ng iyon.
The same heartache. The same pain. The same memory of the past.
"Bali makakapasok na ba kayo bukas na bukas din?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.
Nakarinig naman ako ng mahinang pagtawa sa kabilang linya.
“Is it that hard for an Alex Cromello to say the 'I miss you already' phrase?”
"Maria," I warned.
We've been best friends along with the other two for years and calling her first name is something we used as a warning whenever her mouth becomes unnecessarily vulgar.
“Fine. I’ll be there first thing in the morning. Hindi ko lang alam ‘yung dalawa. Oo nga pala, sino ‘yung nabanggit mong nakabangga mo kanina? Hmm?”
Hindi ko naiwasan ang mapangiti.
Madali talaga niyang nalalaman kung may gusto akong gawin na kalokohan o kung may naiisip akong masama. At kapag nalaman niya na ang gusto kong gawin, hindi siya mahirap yayain na makisali.
Sayang nga at mukhang kailangan pang hintayin ang dalawa.
"His name’s Spade. King of the school. Typical cold guy. Handsome. Hot? And enigmatic?" Paisa-isa kong pananabik sa kanya.
“Ooooh. He seems interesting.I can’t wait to meet him.”
You should be. After that event four years ago, it's been our goal to find new places to go to. May it be temporarily or not, we just need a place where we can feel that we belong and a place where we can find challenging and stimulating.
My original plan is to behave and be a good girl for uncle but now that I've find what I am searching for, should I stop? Of course not.
Spade Vantress, threatening me is balderdash. I've been on the edge of dying yet I'm still alive and kicking here.
Naalala ko tuloy 'yung mga narinig kong mga nag-uusap usap sa may garden mga ilang oras matapos nang nangyari sa cafeteria. Bukambibig nila na nakakamangha ang pinamalas kong tapang sa harap ng Spade na ‘yon pero hindi ito basta-basta papalampasin ng karamihan.
Siguro nga, tama si Janessa. Hindi sila kung sino lang.
However, I'll make sure that I'm not going to be the loser in this game, King.
- Writer
