A Love Like Hell

He Quits

Third Person's Point of View

Earlier that day

As Ruben excused himself from his bestfriend, pumunta na sya sa bagong club room ng C.C. It was time for him to tell his plans to the whole club or get dismissed by the president of the club.

Bago sya pumasok ng club, sinuot muna nya ang maskara nyang may tatak na October which is his codename. Required sa lahat ng members ng club na 'to ang magsuot ng maskara para matago ang totoo nilang pagkakakilanlan.

Nang makapasok na sya ay sinalubong sya ni Zachary, ang club president. Nasa likod nito ang iba pang labing isa myembro na naka-upo palibot sa malaking bilog na mesa.

"It's pretty amusing to see you late. You were always on time right?" Aniya.

Di kaagad kumibo si Ruben dahil nagpipigil sya ng kanyang galit. Ayaw nya sa lahat ang minamaliit sya ng ibang tao kagaya ng ginawa sa kanya ni Zachary kahapon. Isa lang ang nasa isip nya ngayon, ang maghiganti sa nangyari kahapon.

Tinalikuran nya si Zachary tsaka nagsalita. "About yesterday..."

"So have you made up a plan already?" Lumaki ngiti ni Zachary.

"No, I didn't." Matigas na sagot ni Ruben.

Zachary got a bit surprised, he didn't expect Ruben to act this way towards him. "Then what are you trying to do here? Do you want me to kick you out of this club right now?"

"You can't do that," Ruben answered.

"And why not?"

"Because I'll be the one to quit this stupid club, and i'll make you all regret that you didn't stop me from quitting." Tinanggal nya ang kanyang maskara at itinapon sa lapag. "It was nice being here." Paalam nya sa lahat at umalis na ng club room.

Dumiretcho naman si Ruben sa rooftop para tumambay lang. He promised himself na ito na ang huling araw na magcu-cutting siya. Kinuha niya na din ang kaniyang cellphone para tawagan ang kaniyang butler.

"Allan?" Aniya.

"Sir Ruben? Ano po kailangan niyo?" Sagot ng butler.

"Maghanda ka na ng mga studying materials sa pag-uwi ko, gawan mo na din ako ng mga test for all the subjects I'm taking in school. Hirapan mo din ang test sa math. I forbid you from using multiple choices."

"A-Ah yes sir!"

"Dapat nakahanda na ang lahat sa pag-uwi ko."

"Sige po sir! I'll do things right away."

"Good, i'll be hanging up now." Then he ended the call. Napabuntong hininga na lang siya sa kaniyang desisyon. He knows that he has to do this or his laziness would keep him away from studying and end up failing his plans.

He decided to take school more seriously right now and become the most perfect student in this school. That way, he'll make Zachary regret losing him.

Meanwhile, back in the C.C. Zachary and the other members of the club began discussing such things about Ruben. Nagtatawanan pa ang ilan sa kanila. "Gosh, Ruben is really kind of childish." Sabi ni January.

"I know right? Ang dramatic pa ng mga pinaggagagawa nya kanina." Sagot naman ni March.

"Zach, since he's gone can we take off this damn masks? Ang init na." Reklamo ni May.

Tumawa pa si Zachary. "Sure, sure."

"So what now Zach?" Tanong ni July.

Nang magsitanggalan na ang mga myembro ng kani-kanilang maskara ay tsaka lamang sinagot ni Zachary ang tanong ni July. "Now that we got rid of him, it's time to get with the real plan."

Nagtaka ang lahat sa sagot nya.

"What do you mean by that?" Tanong naman ni February.

"I've been planning about this for awhile with a fellow member of this club, so to my fellow partner, can you please discuss the rest of the plan and the next gamble to the whole club?"

Ang isa sa myembro ng club ay tumayo at mayrong ngiti na nakakaloko. "Thanks Zach... and as for all of you clueless idiots, we're done with step 1-- to get rid of Ruben."

• Jade's Point of View •

"Ha!? Busy si Ruben?" Di ako makapaniwala sa sinasabi ni tita.

"Yes sweetie, nag-aaral si Ruben." Aniya.

Pinatuloy ako ni tita sa living room nila, binigyan nya rin ako ng mga makakain. "Bakit naman po sya nag-aaral? Wala pa naman kaming exams, tsaka nangako sya sakin na papasyal kami ngayon."

"Ah, well I don't know what I should do about that. Nakita ko na lang sya na eager talaga syang mag-aral."

"Ano ba naman 'yan, nakakainip kasi sa bahay. Wala akong magawa." Sabi ko habang ngumunguya.

Napangiti lang si tita. "Pwede mo naman puntahan si Ruben sa kwarto nya, kausapin mo na lang."

I nodded and took a few cupcakes with me. "Sige po tita!" Tas umakyat na ko para puntahan si Ruben.

Basta-basta kong binuksan ang pintuan nya at nakita kong nagbubuklat sya ng mga libro nya. Kasama nya din si Allan, ang butler nya daw. "What the hell are you doing here Jade?" Tsk, sungit-sungit.

"Sabi mo papasyal tayo!" Sinamaan ko din sya ng tingin.

"Oh... pero something came up. Next time na lang."

"Ruben naman! Andaya mo!" Andaya talaga ng lalaki na 'to.

"Look, if you're bored then just study here with me. Ito libro oh." Tas binato nya pa sa'kin yung calculus na libro.

"Kelan ka pa naging pala-aral?" I asked with a bit of a sarcastic tone. Tumabi din ako sa kanya para tignan yung binabasa nya.

"Since yesterday."

"So seryoso ka nga sa sinabi mo kahapon?!"

He gave me an annoyed look. "Wag mo nga ko guluhin, kita mong nag-aaral ako eh."

Tch, istorbo lang pala ako eh. "Fine, magbabasa na lang din ako dito." Tas kumuha ako ng ibang libro sa shelf at nagbasa na lang ako ng fiction novel sa higaan nya.

Andaya lang talaga, I was even looking forward to hanging out with him today.

to be continued