POSSESSIVE SERIES #2: THE NOTORIOUS HEARTBREAKER (BOOK 1)

CHAPTER 1

• Eya •

"Magandang umaga, haponesa!" sabay damba n'ya agad sa akin ng yakap bago bumeso.

"O-okay? Mukhang masaya ka ngayon, ah. Anong meron?" tanong ko agad nang makawala na ako sa yakap n'ya na halos lagutan ako ng hininga sa higpit.

Alam kong may magandang nangyayari sa kaniya dahil sa maaliwalas n'yang mukha ngayon at napakasayang awra. Pero nawiwirduhan na talaga ako sa babaeng ito. Parang kahapon lang umiiyak dahil mag-didivorce na ang parents n'ya tapos biglang ganito ang bubungad sa akin ngayong umaga?

Really?

"Naku talagang hapon ka! Siguradong absent ka na naman kahapon ng tanghali, kaya huli ka na naman sa balita, ano?" may mapanutya n'yang tanong na ikinataas naman ng kilay ko.

"And who told you that I was absent yesterday at noon? At kailan pa ako umabsent?" nakahalukipkip ako habang nakataas ang kilay na nakatingin sa kaniya at naghihintay ng sagot.

Ngumisi naman s'ya ng hilaw.

"Girl, hindi ka na talaga mabiro. Alam ko namang mabuting estudyante ka, eh. Pero talaga bang wala kang alam? Hello? Nasa likod lang kaya kita!" reklamo n'ya naman.

Nailing na lang ako. Walang patutunguhan itong walang kwenta naming pinag-uusapan.

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Tara na nga," saka ako naunang naglakad na ikinanguso n'ya.

"Katabi ko yung crush ko gaga!" sigaw n'ya ng makalayo ako.

Sus! Crush? Ilang taon n'ya na bang crush yung ungas na basketball player na 'yon? 2 years? Iba rin itong kaibigan kong 'to. Masyadong loyal, nahiya ang mga seryosong may jowa sa kaniya.

Cassidy Fernice is my bestfriend since the moment I stepped into this country. I had other acquaintances but I realize that I don't really need a lot of friends besides, I'm already settled and contented spending my time with Cassidy. We were both enrolled in the same university and I don't also need to seek or asked her whereabouts every vacant period dahil magkaparehas naman kami ng klase at schedule. We both take architecture because we were both fond on arts and other stuffs that related to it. Since high school yun na ang pangarap naming dalawa at sabay namin yung aabutin nang magkasama.

"Eya!"

I heard her scream my name as soon as I stepped into our classroom. Some of our schoolmates turned to her way but some didn't care about it because they are too busy at their own business.

"Do you really need to scream out my name?" saway ko agad sa kaniya nang makalapit na sa kinaroroonan ko.

"Pasensya naman, iniwan mo kasi ako, eh," nakanguso n'yang sabi. Hinampas ko nga. "Ouch! Ang sweet mo talaga," she said sarcasticly and pulled me into our seat.

"Syempre mahal kita," sabi ko nang makaupo kami.

"Oo nga, sa sobrang pagmamahal mo ang sakit na," the sarcasm was still on her voice which I just smiled at.

Suddenly everyone was silent as the three sophisticated ladies just arrived.

"Gosh! Bakit pa kasi may mga pangit na nerd ang naka-enroll sa elite school na 'to? Lalo na rito sa classroom. Umaga palang sira na ang araw ko," rinig kong sambit ni Alissa.

"You're incredibly right, Alissa. At saka, hindi naman kasi sila nababagay sa school na ito kaya bakit pa nila pinagsisiksikan ang sarili nila? Hindi na nga maganda, ang baduy-baduy pa," gatong naman ni Sofia.

"Nakakasira lang sila sa image ng school natin. Ang dapat sa kanila'y kinikick-out," sang-ayon rin ni Elisse saka sila nagtawanan.

I'm not numb para hindi malamang ako ang pinaparinggan nila but I didn't utter even a single word to defend myself. For what? I know that whatever I say, they will not listen. They will just keep on bullying and talking nonsense things about me even if I do nothing wrong at isa pa, sila lang din naman ang mapapagod kaya pabayaan na.

Outcast ako dito sa school dahil sa itsura at pananamit ko. But I really don't care anymore. Being silent is better than proving a point especially on people who's not worthy of your words.

"Kung ganun, ay bakit pa kayo nandito? 'Di ba bawal ang pangit sa school na ito?"

I was taken aback at Cassidy's sudden response to the gossips of our classmates.

"What did you say, stupid?" nanggagalaiting tanong ni Alissa kay Cassi na ngayon ay nakangisi na ng nakakaloko.

"Oh, hindi ka lang pala pangit. Bingi ka rin pala," sabay flip n'ya ng mahaba n'yang buhok saka humalukipkip.

I laughed at what she have said. She's actually my knight in shining armor when it comes to these. She's been protecting me from bullies since freshmen years in college. Sinabi ko nang huwag n'ya nang patulan pero mas matigas ang ulo n'ya sa akin.

"You b***h! Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo!" inis na sambit ni Alissa at akma nang lalapit.

"Bakit ko babawiin? Totoo naman 'di ba?" nakataas ang kilay n'ya saka humalukipkip.

"How dare you—"

"Alissa Cortez!" Alissa was stuck in her slap on Cassi when Ms. Pangalandakan arrived. Our terror instructor in the arts.

It had been less than 30 seconds when all of them were seated immediately on their proper seats while Alissa and Cassidy were left standing now in front of Ms. Pangalandakan with her raised eyebrows and arms folded while looking at the two of them.

"Ms. Pangalandakan!" Alissa trailed off in surprised.

"What are you doing? Are you starting a fight here inside the classroom?" nanlilisik ang mga matang nakatitig ito kay Alissa.

"N-no, of course not! That stupid b***h!" sabay turo kay Cassi na nakataas rin ang kilay hanggang ngayon. "S'ya ang nagsimula ng away!"

I just shook my head while listening on her alibi. Ibang klase talaga s'ya kahit kailan.

"Ah talaga?" rinig ko na sambit ni Cassi. "Eh sino ba ang sasampal sana sa akin? Yung sarili ko? Alam mo, kung gagawa ka man lang ng alibi para hindi mapunta sa detention siguraduhin mong kapani-paniwala ha?"

Bigla namang umusok ang ilong ni Alissa at namumula na sa inis. "You're really getting into my nerves b***h—"

"Enough!" sigaw ni Ms. Pangalandakan dahilan upang matigil sa pagsasalita si Alissa habang matalim paring nakatitig kay Cass. "Alissa Cortez, come to my office after the class. Understand?"

"But Miss!"

"No buts or any complains. Go back to your seats, now!" sigaw ulit nito. Sumunod naman silang tatlo.

As Cassi sat down in the chair in front of me, she immediately turned to me right away with a playful smirk on her lips. I chuckled as I raised my brows at her.

"What?" I asked trying to look clueless that vanished her playful smirked and stared at me boredly.

"Aren't you supposed to thank me?" she demanded cutely.

"Hindi mo na sana ginawa yun," sambit ko naman na ikinanguso n'ya.

"At bakit naman? Pinagsasabihan ng hindi maganda ang bestfriend ko, dapat ko bang ikatuwa yun?"

I took a deep breath as I massage the bridge of my nose. I know what she's pointing out right now but I just don't want her to involve in trouble.

"Cassidy, it's not like that. But you should just let them go, they'll just get tired of bullying me. Look what happened earlier, muntik na kayong magsampalan and you know that I don't want you to get involved in a trouble like that. So please, just avoid it." I said softly while weighing her emotions.

"Bes, huwag naman sana sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay magpapakumbaba ka," sambit rin n'ya na nakapagtameme sa akin. "Can't you see? They are abusing your kindness as they're making fun of you. Look, I am not saying that you should be a bad girl okay? What I am saying is, you must also defend yourself from bullies. Hindi mo kailangang maging mabait at mapagkumbaba, try mo rin na maging palaban para hindi ka nila apak-apakan because sometimes, being silent all the time doesn't help."

I was literally stilled on my seat as I process everything she have said. Now I already get her point. Nothing will ever change the set up of my life if I keep this up. Ang umiwas sa gulo kahit na inaapakan na ang pagkatao ko.

And I am thankful of this brat in front of me. It was a good decision on being a friend of her since then because even if she's wild and loud sometimes, she's been also a good influence to me.

"I'll take it as an advice," sabi ko na ikinangiti n'ya naman bilang sagot.

It was lunch break so we decided that we both went to the canteen for a meal when Patty suddenly appeared like a mushroom.

Wait, I didn't see her in the classroom earlier? Maybe her idleness must have attacked once again kaya siya absent. Patricia Irene Scott is also our closest friend here in school. Magkaugali silang dalawa ni Cassidy pagdating sa pambabara kaya lagi silang may war na dalawa at ako naman ang referee na laging umaawat sa sagutan at asaran nila. Just like the old times.

"Hello haponesa! Hello Cassitot!"

"Patotie! Ang aga mo, ah!" sarkastikong sambit ni Cassidy sa kaniya na ikinairap nito.

"Syempre, mabuting estudyante!" sarkastikong sagot rin nito na ikina-iling ko naman.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" Ako na ang nagtanong.

"Kasi ngayon ko lang naisipang pumasok?" Bara n'ya na ikinabusangot ko.

"Patty, umayos ka ng sagot!" may pagbabanta sa boses ko kaya naman ay napakamot s'ya sa batok n'ya bago namewang.

"Hindi n'yo ba muna ako aaluking umupo bago n'yo ako tadtarin ng mga tanong?"

"Hindi na kailangan Patotie, tumayo ka na lang nang mabawasan naman 'yang bilbil mo," saka ito tumawa.

Napahilot naman ako sa sentido ko.

Nagsisimula na naman sila.

"Aba! Baby fats lang ito no. Kesa naman sa iyong patpatin!" ito naman ngayon ang tumawa.

"Hoy, anong patpatin? Sexy kaya ako! Sexy ang tawag dito," saka naman s'ya tumayo't namewang.

"Sexy? Baka naman siksik sa buto? Kung sabagay, mukha ka namang buto," sabay hagalpak n'ya ng tawa na ikinamula naman ng mukha ni Cassidy.

"Ayy, tama na nga 'yang asaran na yan. Mamaya magkapikunan naman kayo. Patty umupo ka na nga pati ikaw Cassidy ubusin mo na yang pagkain mo nang tumaba ka konti," tumawa naman si Patty na ikinangisi ko lang na nakakaloko.

Cassidy just rolled her eyes as she pouted her lips to make her look so cute on her cheeky cheeks.

"Aray!" hiyaw ni Cassi nang bigla na lang dumukwang si Patty para pisilin ang magkabila n'yang pisngi. "Patotie it hurts!"

"How many times do I have to tell not to pout? Alam mo namang nanggigigil ako sa iyo!"

"Ouch! Stop it! Stop it already!"

Napahilamos na lang ako sa sarili kong mukha. Papa God, please give me enough patience to stand this two crackheads.

Both of them are my total opposites. Pero sabi nga nila, to have a friend with the opposite personality is what we need sometimes because you and your friend might be opposites, but you may fit well together because you have something that the other doesn’t. As with magnetic fields, people are attracted to those who have the traits they believe are missing in themselves. You can't just gain friendship, you can also gain more knowledge from each other that will widen your perspective.

Kahit na sa iba't ibang mga personalidad, ang pagkakaibigan ay maaaring lumago batay sa ibinahaging mga interes at karanasan. Similarities matter most when a friendship is developing, but when you are best friends, the relationship becomes something on its own as you and your friend grow together and learn from each other.

At masuwerte ako sa dalawang ito dahil kahit na hindi kami magkakaugaling tatlo ay nagkakasundo pa rin kami sa ibang mga bagay-bagay. At kung mag-aaway man kami ay hindi iyon dumarating sa point na magkakawatak-watak kami. We can settle and solve our problems by talking about it without wasting a day. Kung maaayos namin ang problema nang hindi naipagpapabukas why not? It is not our pride that matters, it's our friendship.

Class dismissal na at heto ako ngayon sa labas ng gate naghihintay. Paano ba naman kasi, nauwi sa sabunutan ang pakikipagsagutan nina Patty at Cassidy kina Alissa, Sofia at Elise kaya ang nangyari ay napasok silang lima sa detention room.

Ikaw ba naman magkaroon ng kasagutan tulad nina patty at Cassidy na may pinaghalong Vice Ganda sa kapilosopohan hindi ka kaya mapikon na lang?

At teka nga, bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin ang dalawang yun?

"Eya!"

Speaking. Napalingon ako sa kanila na ngayon ay nag-uunahan pang tumakbo palapit sa akin.

Napahilot na lang ako sa sentido ko dahil na-i-stress na ako sa dalawang ito. Anong year na nga ulit sila? 4th year college students. At kung magtakbuhan mukhang mga elementary.

"Finally." I bluntly said as I give them my bored look.

Mukha silang na-rape sa sabog na buhok at magulong uniform.

"OMG! Sorry kung ngayon lang kami. Ngayon lang din kasi kami pinalabas ng detention room eh," they both said while panting heavily as they both place their hand on their chest while catching their breath.

"Ayan kasi, sinabi nang huwag patulan pero ano? Nakinig ba kayo? Eh ano napala n'yo? Detention room? Baka mamaya hindi lang detention room ang aabutin n'yo kung hindi baka palinisin pa kayo sa buong School field!" para akong nanay nilang nakahalukipkip habang pinagsasabihan sila sa mga kalokohan nila.

Tataas yata blood pressure ko sa mga babaeng 'to! Puro kasi mga pasaway!

"Grabe ka naman haponesa! Ang advance ng iniisip mo!" reklamo naman ni Cassidy nang makabawi na sa hingal.

"School field agad? Hindi ba pwedeng C.R muna?" sabat naman ni Patty na binatukan naman ni Cassidy. "Aray naman Cassitot! Talagang nananakit?" reklamo nito na ikinapamewang naman ni Cassidy habang nakataas ang kilay.

Jusko, ayan at nagsisimula na naman sila.

"Mas worst naman kasi iyang iniisip mo, Pattotie! C.R? Really?"

Napahilamos na lang ako sa sarili kong mukha.

"Hindi kaya!"

"Oo kaya!"

"Enough!" I exclaimed that made them both shut their mouth up. "Tama na, okay? Umuwi na nga tayo! Naha-highblood ako sa inyo!" Saka ako tumalikod at nagmartsa nang umalis.

Gosh! I need a cold shower right now!