Chapter 6
1319 Words
President of the Student Council. Awardee of the Year as Best Debater. Certificates recognizing outstanding debate achievements. Consistent Dean’s Lister with a 1.001 GWA in first year at Ateneo de Manila University.
The new dean looked over my papers with a cold expression. “Ms. Panganiban, we’re pleased to have you in our institution, but your credentials seem almost too good to be true.” Her words felt like venom in my ears.
Honestly, I didn’t care. These accomplishments were just a hobby—or better said, what I was supposed to do. To satisfy my parents, to be the daughter they could spotlight and brag about.
“Anyway, welcome to West Mindanao University,” she added, her voice just as cold.
I merely nodded, offering a bitter smile.
“Here’s your class schedule.”
She handed me a sheet of paper, which I accepted without hesitation.
“And this,” she said, passing me another form, “is for your uniform design and other requirements.” I took it silently.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
I said quietly, then turned and walked out.
A strange feeling settled in my chest, a sense of being unwelcome. Maybe it was just my gut telling me the truth. Whatever.
Chion, nabasa ko clearance ko. Huhuhu.
My brows furrowed at the familiar, annoying voice of that Benten man,Eros.
“Tss,” someone beside him muttered, “Yung Chion ata.”
I murmured under my breath, as if I cared.
I kept walking until I reached the front of the dean’s building. There, I saw Eros sitting on a bench, running his fingers through his messy hair. His companion was lazily reading a book, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.
“Chion naman, bessy cake’s. Kamatis gat iyo Kun Dean ya tamen. Huhuhu,” Eros said, sounding like a brat.
“Nuay iyo keber,” Chion replied coolly.
“Tss, you’re so mean! Sumbong kita sa girlfriend ko. Huhuhu.”
Eros boasted loudly to the guy.
In response, his friend punched him lightly and said,
“As if you have.”
For some reason, I couldn’t leave my spot. My feet felt glued to the ground, and my eyes stayed fixed on the scene. Maybe I was just entertaining myself, watching that Benten man struggle with his own antics.
“Mira lang bo, Chion!”
Eros shouted again, laughing.
“Pero Chion, ang clearance ko. Huhuhu.”
Drama na naman si Eros.
“Tss, shut up, Eros. Did you see? I’m reading.”
Chion replied, clearly annoyed. “Kalya daw bo.”
“Debo na na pangit!”
Eros teased, laughing loudly.
I sighed and just shook my head, walking toward them anyway, because that was the only way I could get to the canteen on the left. I was hungry, and I wanted to eat.
As I approached where they were sitting, Eros suddenly widened his eyes and sat up straighter, humming quietly.
As if I didn’t see his childish rant all along.
“Hey, Maldita.”
He said it casually, almost too fresh.
I just lifted an eyebrow at him and kept walking.
“Maldita, wait.”
He said again.
I stopped and turned to face him.
“What do you want?”
I asked, my expression flat and uninterested.
“Ah eh…”
He scratched his head awkwardly.
“Kumain ka na ba?”
He asked.
I raised my eyebrow higher.
Cough!
Both Eros and I turned toward his companion who had just coughed.
My brows furrowed in confusion, Eros did the same.
“Maldita, this is Chion.”
Eros introduced me, his voice casual.
“Chion, this is Maldita.”
He repeated, this time directing the introduction to me.
Maldita. I’d heard that name from him too many times already. Curious, I looked at Chion and asked,
“What does ‘maldita’ mean?”
“Beautiful,” Eros chimed in with a smirk.
“You have a bad attitude,” Chion replied, clearly bored.
“Bad attitude, huh?” I said, turning sharply to face Eros, a flash of anger sparking in my eyes.
But the Benten man just laughed, teasing me again with that infuriating grin.
“Maldita ka man talaga.”
He said, clearly enjoying himself.
“I don’t care.”
I said, sounding annoyed and giving him a sharp look.
“First year?”
Chion asked, watching me closely like he was trying to figure me out.
“Nope.”
I answered quickly, not wanting to say more.
“Second year, se ele Chion.”
Eros said before I could speak, his voice a little sharper than usual, a tight smile playing on his lips.
“Ah.”
Chion nodded, clearly interested.
Course?
The guy asked again, looking at me with more focus than before.
I didn’t expect him to be like Eros, always asking questions. I thought maybe we had the same vibe.
“PolSci.”
I gave a short answer.
Ehem.
Eros suddenly coughed loudly right next to me, breaking the quiet as if to remind everyone I was his.
“Ok.”
Sabi nung Chion,
“You—”
Before he could say another word, the cold Chion was interrupted by Eros.
“Bessy cake’s, man una ya kame, kunhambre ya mio bibi eh.”
Eros said playfully, putting his arm around me.
I thought I heard some anger in his voice. His eyebrows furrowed, and his jaw tightened.
“Hey, stay out of your filthy hands.”
I said, pushing his arm off me.
Eros stopped and looked at me seriously this time.
“Akala ko ba gutom ka?”
He said coldly.
A shiver ran down my spine because of how cold his words were.
Tang ina, why am I feeling this way? This isn’t me.
Why does Eros have this effect on me? I only met him yesterday, but it feels like we’ve known each other for years.
I shook my head and laughed quietly to myself. Why am I thinking like this?
But the man in front of me just stared at me seriously, as if I had done something to upset him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
My heart wanted to burst. This was why I felt nervous around him.
“Bakit bawal ba?”
He teased.
“You seem interested in nonchalant guys, hmm.”
He said venomously as his well-defined jaw tightened.
I looked at him, confused.
Interested? Who? On Chion?
I thought to myself, feeling a mix of disbelief and irritation. The f**k.
“Tss.”
I said, shaking my head at him, but the man in front of me didn’t back down. Instead, he simply shrugged, unfazed, as I raised my eyebrows in challenge.
“I don’t know that you’re a jealous man.”
I teased, smirking.
“We just met kahapon. Don’t tell me you already fell in love with me.”
I said, hoping to lighten the mood, but there was something dark flickering in his eyes.
Eros stayed quiet for a moment, his jaw tightening as he clenched his fists. His usual playful smirk was gone, replaced by a serious, almost fierce look that told me he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.
“What?”
I met his intense gaze, playing along without fear. We stood there, two stubborn souls, like fools locked in a silent battle in the middle of the plaza.
“Fuck.”
He cursed under his breath, his voice low but full of raw frustration.
“Haystt tormento gat rabya na bunita.”
He muttered again, but this time there was a sharp edge to his teasing, like a warning.
“Tara na nga!”
He finally broke the tension, calling me with a tone that was back to his usual self, but I could still see the flicker of jealousy hiding beneath.
The f**k, with this bipolar man.
- Writer
