Messing With Arc Rival

Chapter 1

"WHAT?! Naglayas ka? At saan mo naman balak mamuhay mag-isa? Mamamalimos ka?" I didn't mind him and just continued walking. I was carrying two large travel bags and one suitcase. Hindi na nga niya ako tinulungan, puro kuda pa ang bungad. "Ghad, Astrid! Hindi ka nga marunong magluto, maglinis, maglaba, tapos maglalayas ka pa?"

Gabi na, but still I'm looking for something na mapagpalipasan man lang ng gabi. I don't have my cards so obviously I can't afford a hotel o kahit simpleng apartment man lang. I didn't know where to go right now. Wala akong ibang kakilala maliban-- I stopped.

"Can I stay with you? Kahit isang linggo lang?" I asked facing him. Agad naman siyang natigilan at napanganga sa hindi pagkapaniwala.

"W-What?! No way!" angal niya agad nang matauhan sa narinig. He laughed as if he heard an amazing joke from me. I didn't remove my eyes on him waiting for him to allow me with my request. Alam ko namang papayag din siya, nag-iinarte lang. "Wait. S-Seryoso ka talaga?" makikita ang pandidiri sa mukha niya. I rolled my eyes and diverted my gaze on the road. "Look, Astrid. L-Lalake parin ako. Hindi k a pwede sa unit ko. Aren't you─ ugh! Okay fine!" inis niyang sabi nang tumama ang titig sa akin. I secretly simled.

I didn't do anything but I made him agree. Well, I think that's a rare skill of mine.Sino ba namang makakatiis sa akin?

I immediately turned my back on him and continued walking. "Can't you walk a little faster? Maiiwan tayo ng bus." reklamo ko and he groan in anger bago sumunod sa akin.

We're not friends, well ah─ he's... he's just a stranger I' ve met for a year now. We don't literally know each other kasi hindi naman kami laging nagkikita but this is how we deal-- wait, let me rephrase it, this is how we pay each other's debt. I helped him last time so this will be his payback. Yeah, right.

"BAWAL kang makialam sa gamit ko, bawal mong buksan ang cabinet ko. Bawal mong gamitin ang sabon ko, especially my beauty products, bawal mong─ hoy!" he shouted and immediately grab the glass on my hand as if it was something expensive.

"What?!" inis kong tanong sa kaniya habang nakatitig sa baso. "Pati ba pag-inom bawal?"

Nandito na kami sa condo niya and he keeps on stating his so-called-rules. Nakakairita ang boses niya at wala itong tigil sa pagkuda.

"This is my glass." Napanganga ako sa narinig ko. "You can't use my glass, my spoon and my plate." I rolled my eyes again at inis siyang tinulak sa daanan ko. I heard him utter something but I didn't mind those. Nagtungo nalang ako pabalik sa sofa upang maiayos ang mga gamit kong nakatambak sa sala.

"By the way. I don't have any guest room. So it's up to you kung sa sofa ka matutulog o sa banyo. Both are free to stay, pumili ka nalang." I gave him a glance and he just raised his brow on me. I know, I don't have the right to complain with his rules sa hindi naman niya kagandahang condo kasi obviously nakikitira lang naman ako. Even though I've known this guy for almost a year, we are not this close. Kinapalan ko lang talaga ang mukha ko kanina para may matirhan.

I don't have friends nor relatives to rely on in this kind of situation and I don't think I need one. I have my stepmother and stepsister with me and never in my entire life na naramdaman kong bahagi ako ng pamilya nila. I'm just living with them but not existing. That's my life.

Binuksan ko agad ang maleta ko upang makapaghanap ng pamalit na damit pantulog. I was confused between a loose shirt with black faded color and a maroon sleeveless jersy when someone grabs it from my hand. I gave Klein a ferocious look as I saw him how he holds the cloth with his index finger and thumb. Ang arte ng baklang 'to.

"Ghurl! Ang yaman-yaman mo, but then look!" nginuso niya ang damit kong hawak niya. "Hindi ka ba binibigyan ng pambili or beggar-fashioned ka lang talaga?" Inis kong hinablot ang damit ko sa kaniya.

"Mind your own business." pigil ang inis kong usal saka hinatak ang buong maleta papuntang banyo. Kailangan kong dalhin ang buong maleta sa banyo dahil alam kung hindi iyon titigil kakainsulto sa mga damit na dala ko.

I'm not insulted, I just want silence. Ayokong pag-usapan ang buhay ko lalo na ang sarili ko. If I'll try to open up something alam kong mahahalungkat lang nito ang nakaraan.

Right after I take a bath, I immediately head to the sofa to gave my self a rest. Halos isang linggo na rin akong hindi nakakatulog ng maayos and I hope this time maging maayos na. I need a regular sleep for my health.

I looked for Klein around but seems like he's on his room now maybe sleeping or doing again his so called beauty rest. Well, I don't care how he call those. I haven't done it yet.

I just thought kung kumain na ba siya kaya mabilis akong natungo sa kitchen. I almost smiled as I saw a beef steak on the table. Halatang kakaluto lang nito dahil umuusok pa sa plato.

While eating dinner I turned on my phone and not even a single message popped up. I refreshed my phone 3 times and even turned it off again but there's nothing in there. No messages, chats nor calls.

I took a deep sigh and shook my head to let out the frustration. And who would you expect to do that, Astrid? Tch. I hissed trying to remove the thoughts.

----

MY BODY jerked as I heard the alarm clock ringing coming right behind my ears. Nakapikit kong kinapa ang phone ko sa ilalim ng unan and there I remembered that I didn't set an alarm last night.

I immediately opened my eyes and I saw Klein in front, crossed arms while fixing a ferocious look at me.

"Alas otso na bruha ka!" singhal niya at pabato na itinapon sa akin 'yong alarm clock bago tumayo. It almost hit my face buti nalang at nasalo ko. Bwisit na baklang 'yun.

Nakaramdam naman ako ng hilo nang umupo agad ako mula sa pagkakahiga. My head hurts and it feels so heavy. I looked at my phone and to my surprise─

"f**k Klein! It's just 4 am!" sigaw ko at inis siyang nilingon sa kusina. I saw him rolled his eyes while chopping something on the table.

"Teh, nasa Pilipinas ka. Ang alas kwatro, alas otso na kaya gumising ka na riyan at maligo."

"Aish." inis kong sabi at hihiga na sana ulit nang may ibinato siyang buong carrot na saktong tumama naman sa ulo ko.

"Hey! Sumusobra ka na ah!" I shouted at him.

"Maliligo ka na o sa kalsada ka matutulog mamaya?" He's now giving me a glare. Is he threatening me?! As if namang natatakot akong tumira sa gilid ng kalsada.

"Pwede naman kasing pumasok ka mag-isa diba?" Inis kong sabi sa kaniya.

"At baket? Wala kang balak pumasok? Isa pa, wala akong planong iwan ka rito. Baka pagbalik ko na-gyera na itong condo." I rolled my eyes. "At isa pa ulit.. " dinuro niya ako as if I did something wrong. I throw him a glare this time. Ano na namang problema niya? Tsk. "Kagabi, iniwan mo lang doon sa banyo ang mga pinagbihisan mo, even your undies! Shocks! Labhan mo naman ang mga 'yon bruha ka, kababae mong tao. Hindi mo pa hinugasan 'yung pinagkainan mo kagabi. Then tell me, paano kita iiwan rito sa condo ko─"

"Nakick-out ako sa Mendell." sabi ko nalang para manahimik siya at natigilan naman ang bruha.

"What?! Baket?" sigaw niya at mabilis naman akong tumayo upang makakuha ng maiinom sa ref. "Hoy tinatanong kitang bruhilda ka."

"You can't do anything about it so, just stop asking." walang gana kong sabi at naupo sa mesa para tignan ang ginagawa niya. Hmm, what is he planning to cook for breakfast?

"Kunsabagay, bakit ko pa nga ba itinanong.." He winced as he shrugged his shoulders . "Mag enroll ka kaya sa ibang unniversity. Kaka-open lang ng school year last week, baka may mga tumatanggap pa. Tapos magpakick out ka ulit para naman ma-tour mo lahat ng school dito sa Manila."

"I'm planning though.." I said while looking at the chopped carrots on the plate.

"At saan naman?" he asked.

"Don't know yet. How about your university?" tanong ko at agad naman siyang natawa.

"Seyoso ka? Papasok ka sa Mortem?" I nod and he laughed again na para bang isang malaking biro ang sinabi ko. "Teh, alam mo naman siguro na ang Mortem at Mendell─"

"Are competitors? Tch." I smirked. "Mendell is always after with money, kaya gusto kong malaman 'yong tinatagong baho ng isa. Malay mo, pareho pala sila ng habol." I shrugged.

"Parang alam ko na ang dahilan kung bakit ka nakick-out teh." iiling-iling niyang sabi. "Kakaiba ka talaga, walang kinatatakutan. How to be you po?" Tch. I rolled my eyes hearing those. "Teka, 'yan ba ang dahilan kung bakit ka naglayas?" he asked again but I just shook my head.

Naramdaman siguro niya na ayaw kong pag-usapan ang bagay na iyon kaya he immediately changed the topic.

"Ngayon ka ba magpapa-enroll? Samahan nalang kita sa office. Wala akong pasok mamayang 10am." I just nod at him. I don't know pero nawala bigla ako sa mood ko. There's a part of me na gustong sabihin kay Klein ang nangyari kung bakit nga ako naglayas, but I don't know yet if I can trust him. He maybe know something about me, but not everything.

Mabilis niyang tinapos ang pagluluto at agad narin akong naligo para sumama sa kaniya sa Mortem. Confused why I have the confidence to enroll at Mortem? Dahil alam kong ipapasok nila ako agad sa university nila. Maliban sa kilala ang apelyidong Madisson sa buong Manila, I am a great chess player of Mendell. I've been into lots of international tournaments two years ago and I know how eager Mortem wants to have me at their school. They even cheated a lot of times but they're lucky not to be caught of.

Actually, napakarami ko nang violations sa Mendell but they always consider those dahil sa pambatong player nga ako ng chess. The school has international achievements, simply because of me. Mendell is not really good at sports, they are into academics, not until IOC considered chess as a sport. Dahil sa paligsahan between Mendell and Mortem, the school was forced to do sports.

"Hintaying mo nalang ako rito." Klein said as soon as we reached their university's canteen. I just give him a nod pero hindi niya tinanggal ang titig sa akin kaya inis ko siyang tinignan.

"What?" singhal ko.

"Huwag kang gagawa ng katarantaduhan. Mag e-enroll ka pa lang gaga ka, tandaan mo 'yan." He warned me so I just rolled my eyes.

"I'm not a kid, Klein. Alam ko ang ginagawa ko." walang gana kong sabi sa kaniya. And he's now acting like a parent? Psh.

"Hindi ka nga bata, pero matigas ang ulo mo." I throw him a glare upon hearing those. "Oh siya male-late na ako. Balikan nalang kita rito. Kung gusto mo, i-tour mo nalang sarili mo sa campus." He said. "Advance welcome sa Mortem, ghurl. I know makakapasok ka. Alam mo na, iba nagagawa ng mayaman. Pera-pera lang yan." He added and tapped my shoulder before he decided to leave. Napailing nalang ako at inilibot ang paningin sa paligid.

I've been observing and sitting at the corner of the canteen for the whole 2 hours pero hindi parin dumadating si Klein. It's already 10am at nararamdaman ko na ang pagbigat ng pantog ko. I immediately looked for comfort room around but it's full, dahil siguro sa break time ngayon ng karamihang students kaya marami ang nasa loob ng canteen at gumagamit ng CR.

Lumabas ako ng canteen at naghanap ng ibang comfort room. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako napadpad sa rooftop but the good thing is I found an empty comfort room. The comfort room seems like abandoned dahil madumi na, well it doens't matter at all dahil gumagana pa naman ang mga toilet bowls.

I was about to go downstairs, planning to leave the rooftop after I finished nang mamataan kong bukas ang isang pinto which obviously leads to a balcony. Wala sana akong planong pansinin iyon but I saw someone climbed up the railings. I opened the door wider and there I saw this guy with two hands raising sideways ready to jump off the building.

I paused for a moment waiting for him to do that but seems like he's having a trouble.

"Kailangan mo ba ng taga-tulak?" I asked and he immediately shifted his gaze on me. Humarap siya sa akin nang may nagtatakang titig. My eyes landed on the shirt he was wearing. So he’s a chess player? He don’t seem familiar. I secretly smiled. Muli kong inangat ang titig sa kaniya. Kitang-kita ko ang pagtataka sa mga mata niya pero agad din itong napalitan ng blankong titig. "I can push you if you want." I added and I heard him laugh sarcastically.

"Who are you?" Mayabang na tanong nito ngunit matutunugan sa boses niya ang pag-aalinlangan. He maybe don’t expect someone will saw him doing such thing. Poor guy.

I was about to answer his question when my phone rangs. I looked at the caller and it's Klein. Tch, maybe he's looking for me right now.

I immediately turned my back para bumaba na sana ng rooftop but before I could step out the door. I stopped for awhile saying─

"You'll find it soon." I give him a smirk before leaving.