Beyond the Beat

Chapter 10

Lumi, right?

Someone sat beside me. Nandito ako, nakaupo sa bench sa loob ng building. I like it here. Malayo kasi ito sa mga estudyante, parang private space. Mas gusto ko mag-study dito kaysa sa library. Maingay sa library kahit may nagbabantay. Maraming students, some doing their makeup, some flirting, some taking naps, and others just chit-chatting away.

Hindi ko inalis yung earbuds ko. Wala naman itong tunog, para makapag-focus parin ako sa babasahin ko. Nang makilala ko kung sino ang umupo sa tabi ko, nakita ko si Chion,suot ang specs niya at may hawak na mga libro.

Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay, medyo irritated.

“Easy, girl,” sabi niya na bored, na para bang ang dami niyang ginagawa pero pipiliting makipag-usap sa akin.

Si Chion looks like the modern version of Leonardo DiCaprio, with his thick black hair on both sides, serious face, and cold, sharp eyes.

“I’m not trying to hit on you,” paliwanag niya agad.

“Then why are you here?” tipid kong tanong sa kanya habang nakatingin sa libro na binabasa ko, pero klarong nais kong mag-focus ulit.

“I just want a quiet place to study,” sagot niya, sabay shrug na parang walang kaso.

Iniwan ko yung books ko sa lap at hinarap siya, kumunot ang noo ko. Parang naiinis, pero curious din. Ramdam ko yung amusement sa mga mata niya, na parang naloko ko siya o nagugustuhan niya yung temper ko.

Pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay, parang sinusukat ako.

“Criminal Law 1,” sabi niya habang nakatitig sa libro na hawak ko, halatang curious.

“Advancing reading, huh?” dagdag niya, may halong pang-aasar.

Tumango lang ako, na may halong pagkabagot, hindi ko siya tiningnan ng diretso,ayoko lang magbigay ng atensyon sa pang-aasar niya.

“So, you’re the PolSci student. Your name is quite famous, Lumi.”

Sabi ni Chion with a smirk, parang masyado siyang masaya sa kanya sariling biro.

Kumunot ang noo ko, halatang naiinis.

“Quite famous? Kailan pa ako naging famous? Tss.”

Binigay ko sa kanya ang matalim na titig, gusto kong iparamdam na sobra siyang nakakainis.

Tinitigan ko siya ng mariin, pero inalok lang niya ako ng isang shrug, umiling-iling na parang di siya makapaniwala na naiirita ako sa kanya.

Parang gusto niyang ituloy ang pang-aasar niya, at ramdam ko na talaga nilalait niya na ako but I wasn’t about to let him win.

“That’s why Eros is totally over heels for you,” he joked, flashing a mischievous smirk.

I just stared at him blankly, trying hard not to show anything. But deep inside, my heart actually beat a little faster at the thought of Eros liking me. Tss, that can’t be true,baka lang ganyan 'yon sa utak ko.

“He doesn’t like me,” I said coolly, sneaking a side glance at him, hoping he wouldn’t notice how my voice barely hid the doubt.

“Nah.”

Chion grinned wider, this time with a confident smugness that made me want to roll my eyes.

“You’re just heartless, Lumi. Ginagawa mo namang playground ang puso ni Eros,” he teased, clearly enjoying ruffling my feathers.

“I’m not playing with anyone’s heart,” I shot back, my voice cold and sharp, like a warning.

“Yeah, yeah. Pero ginagawa mo na ‘yon.”

He pressed on, clearly loving how uncomfortable he made me.

“I don’t like him.”

I replied coldly, brushing my hands over my things as I suddenly decided I was done with the conversation. Without waiting for his answer, I turned and started to walk away.

Inside, my mind was racing. He’s so annoying,sobra siyang nakakairita. Ang dami niyang sinasabi, pero wala namang sense... bakit ba parati kong nararamdaman na sinusubukan niyang abutin ang mga bagay na ayoko pang harapin?

Hindi pa rin talaga nawala sa isip ko ang mga sinabi ni Chion. That guy is definitely another headache. Habang naglalakad ako papuntang next subject ko, narinig ko yung mga usapan ng mga girls sa hallway.

“Siya yung transferee, maganda nga.”

One of them said, curious.

“At matalino pa daw. Exempted daw siya sa midterm exam kay Sir Rudy.”

Another added, sounding impressed.

“Balita-balita, mayaman daw yan.”

Sabi ng isang babae na may kulot na buhok.

“Na, Ateneo de Manila pa naman ang school niya.”

Sabi ng isa pang girl na medyo may Chavacano accent.

“Haystt, bunita ya, bright pa.”

Sabi ng isa sa grupo, as if amazed.

“Sayang, maldita daw.”

Pabulong na sabi ng isang naka-red na buhok.

“Shh! Baka marinig ka.”

Nag-warning ang isa.

“Girl, she’s wearing earbuds. Obviously, she can’t hear us. Don’t be stupid.”

Sabi ng leader ng group, confident and cocky.

Pinadaan ko na lang sila, parang they don’t even exist. Pero clear pa rin sa tenga ko yung pinag-uusapan nila. Maldita daw? Is my attitude really that bad? Tss.

Then, do I even care?

When I entered the classroom, my classmates greeted me and smiled, but I just nodded at them,walang pakita ng kahit anong emotion. I kept my face blank.

I sat down, and soon Sir Usman came in to start the lesson.

“Okay now class, get one whole sheet of paper. 100 items quiz,” he announced, straightforward.

“Sir! Naman, bakit di mo sinabi na may long quiz ngayon?!” one of my classmates complained, clearly annoyed.

“Sir, 100 items talaga?”

Vicky said, one of Ellery’s Powerpuff girls, asked with frustration.

“Ms. Miranda, you wanted me to make 200 items for you,” Sir Usman jokes.

The whole class laughed, but I stayed serious.

“Joke lang po, sir. Hehehe,”

Vicky said shyly, her cheeks flushing.

Ellery glanced at me then, raising her eyebrows. I raised mine back, even more intense. Pero the b***h just smirked like she already won something.

She finished her paper first and stood up to submit. I followed, giving her an uninterested look,as if I didn’t care at all.

After 30 minutes, everyone finished, so we started checking the papers and waiting for the scores.

“100 out of 100?”

Sir Usman asked, hoping someone got a perfect score.

“Wala ata, sir.”

One classmate said.

My brows furrowed in frustration. I did advanced reading and had my reviewers. I know I could ace this quiz with all my repetition and memorization. What the hell?

“Seems you’re not perfect anymore, Ms. Panganiban.”

Ellery taunted, her smirk sharp and full of satisfaction.

I shot her a cold glare but said nothing.

“Okay then.”

Professor Usman nodded. “Let’s proceed with 99.”

One classmate stood up and handed a paper to sir Usman.

My heart pounded harder. Sigurado ako na akin 'yun. I wasn’t just guessing, I knew my answers. I never mess up quizzes or exams.

“Ms. Saavedra got 99 out of 100. Congratulations.”

The announcement hit me like a punch.

What the hell.

“Oh? Oh my god.”

Ellery’s reaction was exaggerated, almost mocking.

“Looks like the world is changing.”

She sneered, clearly trying to rile me up.

“Sir!”

Janise shouted, cutting through the tension.

“Yes, Ms. Bacordo?”

Professor Usman responded.

“There’s a perfect score, sir. Hehehe.”

Janise grinned, eyes flicking to me.

“Who? May I see?”

Sir Usman asked.

“Si Lumi po.”

Janise answered.

“Oh!”

The class erupted in surprise.

“She’s never failed, sir”

Eric, our escort, called out confidently.

“Totoo ‘yan, sir.”

Another classmate chimed in.

“Maybe she cheated.”

Ellery spat the words out angrily, her eyes burning with accusation.

“Maybe you are.”

I fired back coldly, staring at her without blinking, my face emotionless but my heart pounding hard.

“You don’t have the right to accuse me, Lumi!”

She shouted, her voice sharp and harsh. Her glare cut through me like a dagger, full of hatred and venom.

“Tss.”

I dismissed her with a cold sound, not even bothering to raise my voice.

“See? You’re lying. You’re the real cheater here, always getting perfect scores on every damn quiz.”

Ellery sneered, her words laced with bitterness and malice.

“Watch your mouth, Ms. Saavedra.”

Sir Usman’s voice broke through the tension, firm and commanding.

“Sir, I’m telling the truth.”

Ellery said in a fake, victim-like tone, trying to gain sympathy.

“Oh? Should I tell everyone you stole my reviewer, Ellery?”

I spoke calmly, but my eyes flashed with quiet fury. My expression was cold, deadly serious. Every muscle in me was tense, ready for whatever came next.

Ellery’s confident smirk faltered. Her face paled for a split second, eyes wide with shock and panic.

“You’re lying!”

Her voice cracked with rage, and she suddenly lunged toward me, fists clenched to fight,until Sir Usman shouted loudly.

“Enough, children!”

“You bitch.”

Ellery hissed, sneering without shame, refusing to back down.

“Ms. Saavedra, calm down—”

Sir Usman tried to regain control, but his voice was shaking with frustration.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “If you want proof, see it for yourself then.

David, our class president, stepped forward and walked to Ellery. He reached into her bag and pulled out a blue transparent envelope. Inside was a paper with my name written clearly on the front page. The handwriting was unmistakably mine.

David’s face was a mixture of shock and disbelief as he held the paper up.

Sir Usman’s voice was cold and angry: “Ms. Saavedra, go to the guidance office now.”