The b***h Mafia

Chapter 7: The Group

7

The Group

It's been a week since the assignment was given. Until now, we haven't figured out the best possible answer. 

I keep on spacing out while scrabbling some words to get some ideas plus I'm getting hungry hence, not getting the answer I wanted. 

It's already three in the afternoon. We're here in our dorm trying to figure out the answer. We started one pm yet we haven't come up with an answer. 

"I'm hungry." I whisper on Margaret. 

"You should eat. You didn't eat much kanina." She whispered too. I saw Nicole glancing to us. Probably distracted from our whispers.

"Uhm hey, I'll just buy something to eat." Sabi ko sa kanila. Lahat sila ay napatingin sakin. Oh gosh! Nicole just nodded. Yeah! That's what I'm looking for. 

They immediately went back to what they were doing. We're kind of cramming na rin kay were getting this busy na talaga. 

We have no food na rin sa fridge kaya I really need to buy something for myself and may be for them na rin.

I stood up but Xian grabbed my arm. Napalingon ako sa kaniya at kumunot ang noo.

"Magpapasabay ka?" I asked him. Hindi siya sumagot agad at tumayo muna.

"I'll go with you." I smiled with the thought of buying food together. 

"Tara na! Help me to carry it ha!" He nodded like a kid. A cute kid to be exact. Did I mentioned how charming he is? If not, then I'm saying it now. He's charming in any way.

"Galaw galaw Ryan. Baka pumanaw." natatawang sabi ni Matthew. Ryan cursed him kaya napailing na lang ako. I even saw Nicole rolling her eyes on Matthew.

"Wait," I whisper. Lumapit ako sa cabinet and kinuha ang wallet ko. After that, I went closer to Xian and sabay kaming lumabas. He even opened the door for me. 

"Thanks." I said. He just gave me a small smile. 

What's with him? Since the day he asked me if we're friend, he keep on giving me smiles.

We're both quiet as we entered the cafeteria. Wala rin masyadong students, mabibilang mo lang sila talaga. Pumila agad kami sa take out area.

"Your order Ma'am?" the cafeteria lady asked.

Tinignan ko muna ang menu nila 

"What should we order?" I asked Xian. He is just beside me also looking at the menu. 

"Something heavy I think. They haven't eaten yet." He said in a low voice. I just nodded. 

"We'll get ten cheese burgers and lemonade iced tea," tumingin ako kay Xian, "How about you?" I asked,

"Wala, sinamahan lang kita." He said just shrugged his shoulders. I pursed my lips trying to hide a smile. I looked away as I saw him staring at me.

"Uh-I'll also get a pack of sweets." while pointing at the basket of sweets. The cafeteria lady went probably inside the kitchen to get my order. "Uh, allowed po ba magpadeliver?" Xian suddenly asked. 

"Yes po." the other cafeteria lady handed me a piece of paper and pen. It's form for delivery. I wrote the needed information and pid for the food. Xian wanted ti pay for it but I rejected his offer.

"I'll bring this with me," I said while getting the pack of sweets.

"Ang takaw mo," he said. Kanina pa niya ako inaasar. He's holding the my sweets while saying that.  

"Says who finished my big yogurt." Pangaasar ko rin sa kaniya pabalik. He rolled his eyes and just chuckled. 

"Fine. Of course my appetite is bigger than yours." I gave him a funny laugh as he is trying to justfify his actions. "I'll buy you a bigger one." he looks so defeated.

"I'm just joking. Calm down Xian." we went upstairs

We became quiet until we both heard a scream. It was a scream out of horror. Xian suddenly held my arm.

"Where are you going?" he asked me. I didn't answered him. Inagaw ko ang braso ko at tumakbo papasok sa girl's bathroom.

I saw a girl on the floor. She's crying and looks terrified.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked. I can see her eyes with full of horror. She slowly lift her arm and pointed to something with her hand shaking. Sinundan ng mata ko ang tinuturo niyaa.

I felt my heart beating so fast. I stood up and went a bit closer to the body hanging from the ceiling. My hands are trembling and so does my knees. I feel like anytime babagsak na rin ako.

But I have no time to feel this nervousness. I heard Xian's voice calling out my name. I immediately scanned the body and saw a piece of paper in between her toes. Kinuha ko agad iyon at nilagay sa loob ng wallet ko.

"What happen?" Humahangos na tanong ni Xian na kakarating lang dito sa girl's washroom. 

Lumapit ako sa kaniya and held his hand and brought him inside.

"Fuck." He whisper. He pulled me away the body and he went closer. He scanned the body.

"Xian let's call for a help." I asked him.

"Help the girl and I'll check this throughly." hindi niya ako hinarap noong sinabi niya iyon. Agad akong lumapit sa babae na hanggang ngayon ay tulala pa rin.

"Do you know her?" I asked her. She slowly lift her face and look at me.

"N-no. I don't know her." nahihirapan na sabi niya sakin. 

"I see. Please calm down and go to the headmistress' office. They need to know about this."  I help her to lift her body. Hindi siya makatayo ng maayos dahil sa takot. 

I sent her out and she immediately run. In a few seconds wala na siya sa paningin ko.

"Xian," marahan akong lumapit sa kaniya. He's still staring at the lifeless body. May be hoping to see something else. 

We both stared at the body for how many minutes until the girl who left came back with the headmistress behind her. 

"Mr. Hartford and Miss Hamilton," lumingon na rin si Xian, his eyes were emotionless. The headmistress asked us to leave the bathroom. Kinuha niya ang kanyang phone and she dialed a number before she pulled herself away from us. Her voice were quiet. Matapos nya makipagusap sa phone ay lumapit siya sa babae. Kinausap niya 'yon at umalis na rin ang babae. 

Tumingin siya sa akin at kay Xian.

"Mr. Hartford and Miss Hamilton I want you two to go back to your own business and don't mention  this to another student. We will take care of this." I should be arguing with her right now, but this is not the proper situation to argue.

Umalis sa harapan namin ang headmistress at sinarado ang pinto ng bathroom, leaving the lifeless body.

Xian and I were both quiet. I couldn't say a word nor he is. 

"You're shaking." he suddenly said. I saw my hand trembling. He reached for my hand and squeeze them a bit. I did not say anything. In a different situation, I'll immediately take an action. But again, this is not the situation.

Nakarating kami sa dorm at hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ko. They weren't shaking anymore. 

When Margaret saw us she smiled but it faded as she saw our faces. 

"Margaret, Michael, we need to talk." he said and let go of my hands.

"Right now?" Michael asked.

"Yes, outside please." he left.

Nakatingin lang sakin si Margaret mouthing, what happen. But I did not answered her and just gestured to follow Xian.

"Uhm hey," i called jasmine. She look at me and pointed herself. 

"Me?" i nodded. Hindi siguro siya makapaniwala na kinakausap ko siya.

"Yeah, I ordered food for us. It will be delivered any moment from now. I'll be in the bathroom. Can you call me --" not finishing my sentence 

"sure." she simply said and look away.

"Thanks."I did not wait for her response and went inside our bathroom. I locked the door to make sure na walang makakapasok. I opened my wallet and opened the folded paper. 

How's my surprise? I just killed two new red assassins. You should be thankful, I'm still gentle. The next time, i'll kill the person you really treasures. Who would that be Queen?

I felt my breathing getting heavy and my chest hurting. I tried to calm myself. But i just can't really calm myself. Not when I am threatened. 

I can feel again my hands shaking.

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang may kumatok dito. I kept the paper again and went out. I saw Jasmine standing behind the door. She cleared her throat and look away.

"Your order is here," sabi ni Jasmine

"Oh! Thank you." I composed myself and went out to get my order. He gave me the bags and stopped me from getting inside the room.

"May nagpapabigay po," he said. Tinignan ko siya at ang hawak niyang black envelope with a familiar seal.

"Salamat." Umalis na ang nagdeliver ng pagkain namin. I went inside and left the food on the table. 

"Hey, you guys should eat na. I know you're hungry." I tried to sound cheerful. Matthew and others went beside the table to see the food but Jasmine remained on her spot while looking at the envelope I'm holding.

I know who she is, but telling her right now who I am is not the right time. I kept the envelope in my cabinet. Sakto, pumasok sila Xian.

Michael immediately went to the table to get some food. I should calm down.

"Hey, can you get me some iced tea?" I asked Xian. Siya kasi ang pinakamalapit sa iced tea. 

"Here," he then gave me the iced tea. "Can you get me a burger?" he asked. I nodded and gave him the burger in front of me.

"Ako rin Xian, paabot ng iced tea." sabi ni Michael habang kumakain ng burger.

"Ikaw na." napasimangot lang si Michael habang bumubulong bulong. Inabutan naman siya n Margaret ng iced tea.

"Kapag si Angel okay lang, ano 'yon? Favoritism." Michael said almost ranting. Napailing na lang ako sa kaniya. Why is it so big deal?

"You can ask Margaret naman to get you drinks," 

"HA-HA-HA okay na?" he rolled his eyes on me. Napaka childish.

"Mukha ba akong nagpapatawa?" Kumunot ang noo ko 

"Slight." Sabay na sagot ni Margaret at Michael.

"Ganon talaga kapag favoritism." sabi ni Michael.

"It's not favoritism," Xian 

"then what is it?" matapang na tanong ni Margaret.

"We're friends," sabay na sabi namin ni Xian.

"Oh! Friend-zone," pangaasar ni Michael. 

"You're friends?" Nicole suddenly asked, "no more? no less?" she sounds teasing kaya tumaas ang kilay ko.

"Yes we're friend. How about you and Matthew?" tumaas ang kilay niya ng bigla ko siyang tanungin tungkol kay Matthew. "Are you sure you're just friends?" sumingkit ang mata niya while Matthew's playfully puking.

"Can you see him?" Nicole asked me while pointing at Matthew, kaaya naman napatingin ako kay Matthew, "He looks unattractive to me." direto na sabi niya. 

Dahil nakatingin ako kay Matthew, I saw a hint of pain and sadness in his eyes.

"As I find you attractive," balik agad ni Matthew. 

"Alam mo kasi, luma na yung ganyang pang-aasar," pagiiba ng topic ni Michael pero binato lang siya ni Matthew ng wrapper ng burger.

The meeting ended with asarans. Pikon na pikon na kasi si Nicole dahil inaasar siya ni Matthew. 

Margaret send them out. Naalala ko yung papel kaya nilagay ko iyon sa blank envelop and wrote initials of Red Assassin.

Sumilip ako sa pinto to see Margaret. She isn't there. Hinulog ko sa mail ang envelope, saktong kakalabas lang ni Margaret from Xian and Mchael's room. 

"Hey what are you doing?" she asked me while looking at my hands on the mail.

"I was getting a mail." pagdadahilan ko. Lumapit naman siya at hinintay ako kuhanin ang mail. 

She looked at the envelope and saw the initials. Her eyes became emotionless and look at me. I shifted my gaze to the envelope

"Walang name, oh here," I said referring to R.A , "Is this yours? I'm not expecting a mail today." 

"Probably mine," kinuha niya sa kamay ko ang envelope.

"Ikaw ha! You have a secret admirer no?" I said teasing her.

"Silly," she rolled her eyes and went inside leaving me outside our room.

Margaret P.O.V

The mail didn't have a name. It wasn't address to Angel's name nor mine and it's just an initial of who I really am, R.A.

Red Assassin. 

The saddest truth about myself, is being an assassin. There's no fun in being assassin. 

I am just a murderer who wanders around as law of government could not hold of me. Everyone can say, no one's above the law. But that isn't the case to us. We are above the law and sometimes, we are the law. 

We have our own law. The only law that could hold me from wandering around. 

I think I stayed for a minute before I decided to see my friends, Xian and Michael. Angel is in the shower, so I took her time as an opportunity to discuss this my assassin friends.

Yes, just like me, Xian and Michael are also free murderers. 

"Oh namiss mo agad ako?!" Micheal teased me immediately as he saw me. I rolled my eyes. I have no time to bicker with him.

"Read this," inabot ko sa kanila ang envelope.

"So the Queen was the one who was giving warning to us." Michael uttered. I couldn't agree any less. The Queen, I met her ones but wasn't able to see her face. I saw her when I was 19 and on the verge of dying. 

The Queen was the one who saved my life, our life. 

"She's saving us again," I saw an amusing smile from him but he suddenly hid that, may be not wanting of us to see that. 

"We have nothing to worry about," Michael said. "Are families are safe, they can't hold the like this." he said to justify his claim.

"No Michael, how about Angel?" I asked and look at Xian. His face hardened and his jaw is moving aggressively.

"What should we do Xian?" he leaned on the wall using his hand, trying to support his body from giving up. 

"I think it's already obvious Margaret," 

"I know, but I want this to hear from you."

"Staying away Margaret," Umiling ako "I have too. If that's the only way to make her safe and alive. As you can see we cannot move because we have spy and we don't know who and where the hell the spy is," umiling ako. 

The last thing I wanted to happen is to stay away from Angel. She's been a friend and losing a friend feels like losing a family. 

"Look Xian, we'll hurt her. Worst, she'll get herself in danger because she's alone." I reasoned out. We can never just leave her. 

"It's for the better Margaret," He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to get the frustration out of his head

I can't help. I stormed out of the room and went back to ours. 

She's already sleeping, soundly.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.