ENEMIES QUARREL

2

Javen, Paul and Yashua were heading their feet towards the cafeteria. Fen was not with them because the Dean called him for some matters.

While walking, attentions were on them. Girls were worshipping them like they're gods fell from heaven.

Like they usually encounter every school year, a first year college student blocked their way.

Napatigil din silang tatlo pati na rin ang mga estudyante at ang mga mata ay nasa kanila habang nagbubulong-bulungan.

"Javen..." the girl started. She was acting shy while she was holding her present.

Javen didn't even bother took glance at the girl. He was just looking straightly as if there was no girl in front of him.

The girl lend him the gift. That was his cue to pay attention to the girl in front of him.

"Cupcakes 'yan... Alam mo ba, isang week akong nag-practice niyan bago ko ma-perfect. I know you'll like it..." the girl said.

The girl's face screamed hope and amusement when Javen accepted it. Not just her, but all students who witnessed that scenario. They started buzzing and some were envied.

Hindi paman tumagal ng isang minuto sa kamay ni Javen ang regalo ng babae, naibato na ni Javen ang cupcakes sa sarili nito nang buong pwersa dahilan ng pagkahulog nito sa sahig.

"What a waste..." Javen tsked and continued walking towards the cafeteria and his two friends preceded him right away.

That scenario was never new. That's why, no one didn't dare to question.

MISTIA was walking like a zombie on the corridor. She was tired as hell. Well, her teacher just made her wrote an essay about the importance of coming on time. Na-late kasi siya kaya binigay sa kanya iyon bilang parusa.

She was not just exhausted, she was also angry over that hatchet fish-like guy! Because of him, she was late. Because of him, Mistia overthink that she made a bad record. That was all because of that annoying guy!

"Mistia!" biglang sulpot ni Gladys— her new found friend. "Cafeteria tayo?"

"Ikaw nalang, wala ako sa mood ngayon." she declined. That was not just the reason why she declined, the other reason was, she doesn't have money. Sakto lang ang allowance niya at as much as possible, kailangan niya itong tipirin.

Medyo nalungkot si Gladys sa sagot ni Mistia. "Sayang... Libre ko pa naman..."

Mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong nagtaas ng tingin si Mistia. "Ano pa 'ng hinihintay mo? Tara na!" sabi niya at siya na mismo ang humila kay Gladys.

The wide gap between Mistia and Gladys are very evident, especially in terms of class. However, that doesn't matter to them. They're friends by heart and not because of the amount of money in their pockets.

Nag-order na sila ng pagkain at talagang sobrang saya ni Mistia dahil may isa pang natirang cheese pizza. Takam na takam si Mistia habang tinitingnan ang cheese pizza na nasa plato niya na hindi man lang inalintana at binigyang pansin ang mga tilian sa cafeteria.

JAVEN'S attention caught the girl who's almost slurping while looking deliciously at the cheese pizza on the plate. Nakaupo ito sa unahan at nakaharap ito sa entrance pero ang kinaiinisan ni Javen, hindi man lang siya nito napansin. Lahat ng tao sa cafeteria ay nakatingin sa kanila except lang sa kanya. Para itong patay-gutom.

Naunang naglakad si Javen papasok sa cafeteria. The sound of his shoes echoed in the hall and everyone went silent.

Nang makarating na siya sa tapat ng babae, kinuha niya ang cheese pizza at buong kinain. He succeed.

He caught her attention...

Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief but there was a hint of angriness and irritation in her looks.

He victoriously smirk. "Hi Miss Kabute... Remember me?" he boyishly said.

Galit itong tumayo at matapang na tiningnan siya.

"Tss... Ang liit..." Javen muttered in his mind.

"Bakit mo kinain ang pizza ko?!" galit na sigaw ni Mistia.

MISTIA was raging mad because that was the last piece of cheese pizza and she didn't have the chance to take a bite.

Nagulat nalang siya nang may kumuha at kinain iyon nang buo ng isang lalaking pamilyar sa kanya. Tila ba nang-aasar ito nang tiningnan niya.

Ang lakas pa ng loob na tawagin siyang kabute.

Inabot niya ang kwelyo nito para magpantay sila at sa walang kahirap-hirap tinuhod niya ito sa sikmura dahilan ng pagkaluwa nito sa pizza.

Everyone gasped in shock. While Javen, kneeled while holding his stomach.

"Walang modo!" sigaw niya at hinila si Gladys na napatulala rin palabas sa cafeteria.

Everyone was eyeing Mistia intensely while they were heading their way out. Paul and Yashua who were still at the entrance of the cafeteria were shocked too! Tila ba hindi makapaniwala sa ginawa ni Mistia.

Gladys and Mistia were sitting at the bench in the court. Reminiscing what happened earlier, she realized why the guy was so familiar. It's because it was the guy she ran off two days ago.

The Hatchet Fish-like guy!

"Grabe ka Mistia! How did you do that?" namamanghang tanong ni Gladys.

"Tama lang 'yon sa kanya. Siya na nga iyong dahilan kung bakit ako na-late at pinasulat pa ako ng essay ni Ma'am Acuesta tapos kinain niya pa ang pizza ko! Buti lang sa kanya!"

Kinuwento ni Mistia kay Gladys ang nangyari sa pagitan nila ni Javen.

"You're so brave! Knowing Javen... I don't think patatawarin ka niya..." Gladys said.

"So Javen pala ang pangalan ng kumag na 'yun..." Mistia murmured. "Hindi naman ako humingi ng tawad at wala naman akong dapat ipagpatawad sa kanya..."

"Ako ang kinakabahan sayo Mistia, e..." Natawa nalang si Mistia sa sinabi ni Gladys.

FEN, YASHUA, and Paul made Javen a laughing stock. Walang tigil ang tawa nila habang tinitingnan si Javen na nakahilata sa sofa at hawak ang sikmura. Nasa bahay sila ngayon ni Javen.

"Sayang Fen. Hindi mo nakita si Javen na mapaluhod!" sabi ni Yashua at tumawa na naman.

"Selfie!" Paul said and clicked the camera button. The three of them took a photo of Javen. After that, they looked at the picture. "Hashtag basang sisiw," Paul added.

"H-hoy i-delete mo nga 'yan!" saway ni Javen at sinubukan pang tumayo pero napadaing din.

Paul just took a little distance away from Javen.

"Imagine: the one and only Javen Haze Guillermo ay napataob ng isang babae? That's the least that I could never imagine." Yashua commented.

"That girl is quite interesting..." Fen uttered.

"Akala ko ba you'll let her taste the blood of the evil's soul? Bakit baliktad naman ang nangyari?" Paul asked.

Sinubukan ni Javen na makaupo nang maayos. He felt like his body creaked everytime he move.

"Naunahan lang talaga ako ng kabute na 'yon. Next time, hindi ko na siya pagbibigyan..." Javen reasoned out. To tell the truth, he never expected that she can do that to him. He thought, she would feel remorse for their encounter this morning— a remorse for calling him Hatchet Fish!

Hindi niya inakala na dodoble ang galit nito nang kinain niya ang pizza nito.

In contrary to the awful event in the cafeteria, there's something in him... The spirit of revenge grow even more.

Bonus pa na parehas sila ng University na pinapasukan.

"Let's just consider that mushroom's credulity for now but I will make sure that tommorow, she would show remorse for knocking on evil's door... " Javen mumbled.

On the next morning, Javen woke up so early. It was still five in the morning when he took a bath. That was his first time in a decade that he woke up that early.

Pagkalabas niya ng kwarto, nagulat ang mga kasambahay. Tila ba hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita nila kung si Javen ba nga 'to o ang kaluluwa lang ni Javen.

"Prepare my heavy breakfast. I want meat." Javen ordered.

The maids recovered and nodded.

He want something heavy for a heavy day.

Tingnan lang natin ang tapang mo pandak...

After he ate, he maniuvered his grey Mazda sports car. Madilim pa rin pero hindi niya ikinabahala 'yon. Patungo siya ngayon sa penthouse ni Yashua since siya lang ang malapit sa kanya.

Pagkarating niya, he went directly inside since he know the passcode.

Tahimik pa ang buong penthouse kaya nasisiguro niyang tulog pa si Yashua. Siya lang naman ang tao rito sa bahay niya.

He didn't bother to knock, instead, he went directly inside; that he wished he doesn't.

"Tangina Yashua!" Javen exclaimed when he saw Yashua's completely exposed raw, bare butt! Nakadapa ito at hubo't hubad. At hindi pa natatabunan ng comforter ang pwet nito.

Gulat na napatayo si Yashua at handa na sanang ibato ang lampshade pero hindi na naituloy nang makilala niya kung sino iyon.

"Fuckingina ka naman Jave! Para kang multo!" Yashua bellowed and covered his nakedness.

"Maghanda ka na papasok na tayo."

"Ulol! Eight A.M. ang pasok natin. Five-thirty pa lang, ah?"

"Maghihiganti ako Yashua Hiroshi! Maghihiganti!" Javen hissed with a revengeful tone.

"Stop that childish s**t, Jave... Patay ka na naman sa lolo mo 'pag may ginawa ka na namang kalokohan. At isa pa, pagbigyan mo na babae naman 'yon, e..."

"Babae? Babae ang tingin mo do'n? Kita mo ba kung paano niya ako tinuhod sa sikmura? Ni lalaki Hindi magawa sa 'kin 'yon, e!"

Napailing nalang si Yashua dahil sa katigasan ng ulo ni Javen.

NAKARATING na sina Javen at Yashua sa school ng ala-sais ng ugma. Wala pang mga estudyante. Sila palang dalawa.

"Sa loob nalang tayo maghintay, Jave. Ang daming lamok dito!" reklamo ni Yashua habang pinapatay ang lamok na magtatangkang umubos sa dugo niya.

"Hindi pwede. Kailangan kong bantayan ang kabute na 'yon baka makawala pa."

"Ano ba'ng balak mong gawin sa kanya?" tanong ni Yashua pero ang atensyon niya ay nasa lamok na nasa leeg ni Javen.

Javen smirked. "Simple lang! Pipigain ko si- Aray!" daing ni Javen nang bigla nalang hampasin nang malakas ni Yashua ang leeg niya. "Why did you do that?!"

"M-may lamok, e..."

Dumating ang alas syete pero wala pa rin si Mistia. Hanggang sa umabot ng alas-nuebe.

"Puntahan nalang kaya natin sa classroom nila?" Paul suggested. Naabutan kasi sila ni Paul kaya sumali na rin ito sa kakahintay.

"Oo nga 'no?" si Yashua.

"Alam mo ba ang building no'n? Ang course at year?" tanong ni Paul kay Javen.

"H-hindi..." he said in hesitant.

Napasampal sa noo ang dalawang kaibigan.

"Pangalan?"

"Hindi rin..."

"Fuckingina Jave, matulog nalang tayo!" Yashua jeered.

NAGTATANONG sila sa mga estudyante kung may nakakakilala ba kay Mistia.

Malapit nang makalampas ang isang payat na lalaki sa kanila nang mapabalik ito dahil nakuha pang hilahin ni Javen ang kwelyo nito.

Namutla ang lalaki at nanigas.

"Hoy ikaw! Kilala mo ba ang babae kahapon?" asked Javen with no sense but there was a hint of threat in his voice.

"S-sinong b-babae?"

"'Yong kahapon!"

"A-nong kahapon?"

Nag-init ang ulo ni Javen dahil sa klase ng sagot ng payat na lalaki.

"Walang kwenta!" sigaw niya at itinulak nang malakas ang lalaki dahilan ng pagkakasubsob nito sa sahig.

"Chill, Jave..." Paul soothed.

"How can I chill?! Kanina pa tayo dito!" naiinis na sabi ni Javen. "Pinaiinit ng pandak na kabute na 'yon ang ulo ko, e! Lagi nalang!"

"Alam ko na! Si Gladys!" Yashua exclaimed as if he has a bright idea.

"Puro babae na naman 'yang nasa isip mo!" Javen scolded.

"Hindi 'no?" he declined. "What I am trying to say is, maybe Gladys know that girl you're looking for. Remember yesterday? I saw them walked out in the cafeteria together." Yashua explained.

"May utak ka rin pala, Hiroshi." Paul teased with a compliment.

Yashua smirked. "Of course! Si Javen lang naman ang wala."

Without further a do, they went to Gladys' classroom. But it says that architecture students don't have class right now.

"Pa'no ba 'yan?" si Paul.

"Edi puntahan natin siya sa bahay nila." Javen said.

"Hindi ka pa ba pagod, Jave?"

"Kung 'yan lang paraan para madakip ko ang daga na 'yon, gagawin ko!"

"Daga? Ano kayo? Tom and Jerry?" Yashua joked but that didn't amuse Javen.

"First time kitang makitang maghintay at maghabol, ah?" Paul added.

Javen threw a death glare to them. "Shut up! Will you?"

He reacted not because he was mad; but because he hardly admit that they were true. What he was doing was so unlikely him.

SI MISTIA ay kasalukuyang nasa bahay nina Gladys dahil inimbitahan siya nito. Pumayag naman siya dahil wala rin silang pasok. Manghang-mangha si Mistia dahil sa sobrang ganda ng desinyo at laki ng bahay nina Gladys.

That kind of house is one of her biggest dream. Kaya nga gusto niyang mag-architect. And if given a chance someday, she would like to design their dream house on her own.

"Ikaw lang ba dito?" tanong ni Mistia habang nililibot ang mga mata sa kabuoan ng bahay. Nakaupo lang sila sa sofa nila ni Gladys dito sa living room nila.

"Not actually, kasama ko si Kuya dito... Sina Mom and Dad ay palaging busy sa trabaho kaya parang kami lang dalawa ni Kuya sa bahay na 'to." Gladys answered.

"May kuya ka? Ba't hindi ko siya makita dito?"

"Ah... Nasa kwarto- oh, there he is!"

Napanganga si Mistia habang nakatingin sa lalaking pababa ng hagdan. Sobrang tangkad nito at sobrang ganda ng katawan. Hindi man ma-abs pero sigurado siyang flat ang tiyan nito. Hindi naman siya payat; sakto lang. Naglakbay ang mga mata ni Mistia sa mga braso at daliri nito. Napakagat siya sa labi nang makitang sobrang kinis at puti ng balat nito. At ang mahahabang daliri nito ay nagpalunok kay Mistia.

"K-kuya mo?" Mistia whispered to Gladys.

"Oo. Wait lang tawagin ko." Napalundag ang puso ni Mistia sa sinabi ni Gladys. "Kuya! Come here!"

"Sheyt Gladys... Ang gwapo ng Kuya mo... Araw-arawin natin ang pagpunta dito, ha?" parang baliw na bulong ni Mistia.

Marahan namang natawa si Gladys. "Type mo 'no?"

"Sobra..." walang alinlangan sagot ni Mistia.

Maya-maya pa'y nakalapit na ito sa kanila. "Kuya, ito nga pala si Mistia— kaibigan at kaklase ko." Tiningnan naman ni Gladys si Mistia. "Mistia, si Kuya Fen nga pala, kapatid ko."

Ngumiti ito at impit na napatili si Mistia nang magpakitang gilas ang magkabilang dimples nito.

"Hi Ms. Cutie, Fen Alistair Monteverde— Gladys' brother. Nice to meet you." Fen introduced and offered a hand.

Nanginginig na tinanggap iyon ni Mistia. Akala niya holding hands, shake hands pala.

"A-h... Sorry..." hingi niya ng paumanhin nang pinagsiklop niya ang daliri nila. Ilang segundo lang naman iyon at nag-shake hands na sila.

Natawa si Fen. "It's okay."

Kasalukuyan pa rin silang nag-shi-shakehands nang biglang may sumigaw sa may pintuan.

"Mga taksil!"

Napatingin sila sa lalaking sumigaw no'n.

Mistia recognized the man eventually. Her blood began to boiled and her head began to burst.

It was the hatchet fish!

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