Cloud Angel

#9 Something's fishy, is it really?

White Rose University

3 Hours after the incident between Maimin and Valentina.

Katatapos lang ng klase ni Kranz at ngayon ay kasama nya ang tropa sa Versailles. This is actually a premium gaming lounge equipped with super computers, video game room, billiards, darts and other equipment for entertainment.

Here is where they usually hangout whenever they had vacant time in the campus. Also a good place to avoid the crowd. Versailles only accomodate limited count of people every day kaya naman kahit marami ang gustong makapasok dito, hindi lahat may pagkakataon. Aside from being their 'first come first serve' policy, people also need to have a week reservation bago ka makapasok.

But, Kranz and his group can vacate the place whenever they want dahil pagmamay-ari ni Mori Villegas ang naturang gaming lounge. Kaya naman libre silang pumunta rito kahit anong oras nila gustuhin. They also have their own room where they can rest.

Pak! Malakas na tunog ng bolang nagsalpukan ang maririnig sa isang room ng versailles, kasabay nito ay ang artificial na tunog ng baril na nagmumula sa isang shooting machine. Idagdag pa ang tunog ng rpg background song ng isang nakabukas na computer na wala namang naglalaro.

"So how is she?" tanong ni Migo kay Kranz na ngayon ay may hawak na rubik's cube at bored na pinaglalaruan iyon.

Magkakaiba ang course nila pero minsan, nagkakakasabay ang mga vacant time nila kaya naman may araw na magkakasama sila sa versailles. Gaya na lang ngayong araw.

But the five of them knew there's something up magmula nang pumasok si Kranz. He's unusually preoccupied by something.

"About her..." Dalawang beses na ikot sa rubik's cube at buo na 'yon. Inihagis niya ito kay Jaden na kasalukuyang naglalaro ng shooting game. Sapul ito sa ulo. "There's something weird about her."

Itinaas ni Amber ang tingin mula sa binabasang libro. "That Maimin? What is it?"

Umiling si Kranz. "I don't know why it felt like there's something wrong with her. Like..." He turned to Caiser who was currently eating an apple. "Can you crash a rock using your bare hands with your strength?"

"To what extent?" ngumunguyang tanong nito. "I can crash it in half... I think."

"That's what normal people can do to some extent but... ...can you crush a stone and turn it into powder using only your bare hands?"

Tumawa nang malakas si Migo. "Are you still dreaming Kranz? No normal person is capable of doing that."

Inirapan ito ni Kranz. "That's why I said, she's weird. She's by no means a normal person. Isipin mo: Maimin looks like a teenage girl pero iyong mga kilos at salita niya... parang kahapon lang siya ipinanganak."

Natahimik ang magkakabarkada. Lahat may kaniya-kaniyang iniisip. Matapos ang ilang sandali binasag ni Amber ang katahimikan.

"Does she pose a threat to you?" seryosong tanong nito.

Sandaling napaisip si Kranz, tapos ay umiling. "On the contrary she looks stupid and inocent."

"Then what does it matter? Ngayong pumasok siya bilang nanny ni Juna wala ka nang problema. Though I suggest that you observe her for a while, when nothing happens then just let it go."

Umismid si Kranz. "Tingin mo walang problema? That fake angel saw her."

"Fake angel—ooh! Are you talking about Valentina?" tanong ni Mori.

"Who else other than that pretentious bi*ch? Di sinasadyang nabangga siya ni Maimin, she apologized but Valentina didn't let her go, yelled at her like a shrew and poured her milk tea on her head."

"And did she see you with her?" Jaden asked. Tumango si Kranz. "You rescued her to be exact. Dude! Did you just play the 'hero saving the beauty'? Pwede ka nang mag-artista."

"Shut up Jaden, seryoso ang usapan h'wag mong ilayo sa punto," singit naman ni Migo. "As Kranz was saying, he protected Maimin from Valentina at hindi malayong isipin nito na may namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa ni Maimin and knowing that Valentina, she would probably target Maimin."

"Don't make things complicated. Since nagta-trabaho naman sa inyo si Maimin, then you have the obligation to protect her as her boss."

Tumango si Jaden sa sinabi ni Mori. "Besides, walang karapatan si Valentina na saktan si Maimin. Sino ba siya? You two are not even dating--not even friends so she has no rights to hurt anyone around you."

"Yeah..." Sang-ayon ni Kranz. "You're right. Just that, what happened earlier really pisses me off."

Hindi nagsalita ang mga kasama niya at tahimik na lang na nagkatinginan.

Looks like their world is going to change.

✴✴✴

Ibinagsak ni Valentina ang gamit nya sa desk at padabog na umupo. Tinaasan naman siya ng kilay ng kaibigan niya.

"Someone is in a bad mood," nang-aasar na sabi ng kaibigan niyang si Leyra. "Something happened?"

"It's Kranz."

Kumislap ang mga mata nito. "What happened? Bati na ba kayong dalawa?"

"No, I bumped into a girl, natapunan niya ako ng milk tea. I got annoyed so I poured her milk tea on her head. He saw it! And you know what? He even protected the girl!"

"Do they know each other," usisa nito.

"I think so."

Hindi na siya nagsalita. Naiinis pa rin siya hanggang ngayon. Why protect that girl? Who is she to Kranz? Lalo pang nadagdagan ang asar niya nang maalala ang mukha no'ng babae.

She's beautiful. More beautiful than her.

She didn't see any emotions or love in Kranz's eyes when he looks at the girl but there's something between those two. And she's sure it's a woman's intuition. That girl will be her rival in the future.

"Leyra, Kranz is mine! And I don't want any girl to get close to him!"

"So, what are you gonna do? Are you going to grab him from that girl?"

"Hah! Why grab something that is mine? No, I'll show her that she can't touch the things that's not hers."

Pagkatapos ng klase ay nagmamadaling lumabas siya ng classroom para hanapin si Kranz. Nakita niya ang grupo nito sa basketball court. They're currently playing a game versus another group from a different department.

Nakakabingi ang tilian ng mga babae, karamihan sa mga ito ay isinisigaw ang pangalan ni Kranz at ng mga kaibigan nito. They're really handsome! Kaya maraming babae ang nagkakandarapa sa mga ito, idagdag pang kabilang sila sa mayayamang pamilya.

Migo Sarate is the son of the current governor and their family owns a large fruit farm in somewhere province.

While Mori Villegas is someone from an aristocratic family of a small country, their assets can rival half of those big countries's treasury.

Jaden Lopez is from a family of medical doctors and owns some of the big hospitals in the country.

Amber Lim. His family is in shipping business and at the age of eighteen, nagsisimula na rin itong magsimula ng sarili nitong restaurant business.

Caiser's family is in the construction business and isa siya sa share holder ng restaurant ni Amber.

And last is... Valentina widened her shining eyes when Kranz snatched the ball from his opponent, ran fast, avoided some of the players and go for a three point shot.

Shoot! Pasok ang bola!

His name is Kranz Querubin. Heir to the richest family of their province. Not only their family is the richest in their province, but also they're on the top two on the top ten richest in the country.

Kaya naman una pa lang niya itong makita ay nagustuhan niya na agad ito. Bukod sa gwapo at mayaman, ito rin ang dream husband ni Valentina. Hinding hindi niya ibibigay ito sa kung sinong babaeng basta na lang sumulpot sa tabi nito.