Hindi Tugma

CHAPTER 4

Ryker acted as though he had heard nothing and walked straight out of their block. He briskly made his way down the long path leading out of the building. Their classroom was on the fourth floor, so out of pure irritation and a short temper, he didn't wait for the crowded elevator; he chose to walk down every flight of stairs.

"Mr. Levious! Are you trying to escape my class again, huh? You're really racking up your absences, Mr. Levious!" angrily shouted Mrs. Magdalen Singyutan, their terror teacher for CPE 311, as they crossed paths at the second-floor landing.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. I just have somewhere important to be," he answered politely yet coldly, ignoring the teacher's objection.

"This will be the last chance I give you to skip my class, Mr. Levious! And if you do this again, next year you might just find yourself sitting in my class again as a REPEATER!" Mrs. Singyutan threatened, putting her hands on her hips.

"Noted, Ma'am," he briefly replied before turning his back on the teacher and walking out of the building entirely.

He headed straight to the university's old pool area to pass the time. The said facility was only opened when there was an upcoming major event like the SportsFest, so it was guaranteed to be undisturbed there. He went into the male shower room, changed into cycling shorts for swimming, and took off his upper garments. He wanted to release the tension in his body and cool down his raging head. He needed to think deeply about everything that had happened recently.

Just as he was about to step inside the shower room door, he stopped in his tracks upon hearing the voices of two students talking inside.

"Akala mo naman kung sinong matapang at siga, eh duwag din naman pala kay Amaris noong nakaraan," dinig niyang sabi ng isang lalaki habang nag-aayos ng buhok.

"Kaya nga, pare! Hindi naman pala totoong may ibubuga 'yang si Ryker. Nadala lang sa apelyido at yaman ng pamilya niya," gatong naman ng kasama nito habang tumatawa.

Ryker froze outside the door, his jaw tightening. His eyes darkened with intense rage. Suddenly, the door swung wide open, and the two students recoiled in shock upon seeing Ryker standing there like a lone, blazing lion.

Without a second thought, Ryker grabbed the one who had been talking by the collar and shoved him hard against the wall.

"What did you say?! Say it to my face again! I'm a coward, huh?!" Ryker yelled angrily, veins bulging on his neck.

"H-hindi, bro! Nagbibiro lang kami!" balisang sagot ng lalaki, namumutla sa matinding takot.

His companion tried to step closer to help his friend, but Ryker shot him a death glare. "Try taking a step, and I'll grind your face into this cement!" he threatened. "What?! I thought you were so brave behind my back? Why are you so quiet now, f*cking idiot?!"

"H-hindi na namin uulitin, Ryker! Pasensiya na, nadala lang kami sa tsismis. Hindi namin sinasadyang maliitin ka," nanginginig na pagmamakaawa ng lalaki habang pilit na humihinga.

Ryker landed a swift punch to the side of the guy's mouth, enough to make it bleed. "Remember my face. Repeat what you said, and bruises won't be the only thing you get from me. Do you understand?!"

"O-oo, Ryker! Pangako!" sagot nila bago kumaripas ng takbo palabas ng banyo na parang mga basang sisiw.

Ryker went back to his locker, grabbed his swimming goggles, and headed to the poolside. He immediately dove into the water and began swimming with intense aggression. He swam back and forth across both ends without resting. He soaked there for an hour, letting the coolness of the water wash away the heat of his temper.

"I need to win this game," he whispered to himself, gasping for breath at the edge of the pool.

Once tired, he rinsed off and changed back into his uniform for his final class. As he was leaving the pool area, a white piece of paper fluttered right in front of his feet because of the wind.

He picked it up; luckily, it wasn't wet yet. He read what was written at the top. "A-Amaris Redeo?" he read softly.

He looked around to find the owner. That was when he noticed a guy fast asleep on the high watcher area, surrounded by piles of scattered photocopies and modules.

"So, your full name is Amaris Redeo. What a unique and funny name for a freshman," he muttered to himself as he slowly walked closer.

He sat down next to him and watched Amaris's peaceful sleeping face. He couldn't help but smile when he saw him yawn in his sleep. A moment later, Amaris slowly opened his eyes, and upon noticing someone staring at him, he jerked awake in shock.

"Anong ginagawa mo sa akin?! Tulong! May manyak dito—!" sigaw ni Amaris habang nagpupumiglas.

Ryker instantly covered his mouth with his palm. "Shhh! Calm down! I'm not doing anything bad to you! And why would I lust after you, huh? We're both guys, idiot! Are you out of your mind?"

"O-oh, bakit ka nandito?! Para na naman saktan ako o 'di kaya ipahiya sa buong campus?!" nanginginig na tanong ni Amaris habang pilit na inilalayo ang sarili.

"No."

"Ipapahiya mo na naman ako! Ganyan ka naman, 'di ba? Matapang ka lang kapag maraming nanonood!"

Ryker couldn't answer immediately. "I just want to return your photocopy," he lend the papers to Amaris, "It flew down here so I picked it up. I didn't know you were here sleeping, which isn't even allowed here on campus. If you want, I can tell the Dean that you're sleeping during class hours."

"Edi magsumbong ka! Samahan pa kita sa opisina ng Dean kung gusto mo!" matapang na sagot ni Amaris habang mabilis na kinuha ang mga papel mula kay Ryker. "Akin na nga 'yan!"

Padabog niyang niligpit ang kanyang mga gamit, hindi na inalintana kung magusot ang mga papel at matupi ang clear book sa bag niya sa sobrang taranta. Agad siyang tumayo at naglakad palayo.

"Wait-!" pagpigil ni Ryker.

Lumingon si Amaris, nag-aapoy ang mga mata sa galit. "Kung gusto mo pang makipaglaro, hindi kita uurungan. Hindi ako natatakot sa 'yo, Ryker Levious!"

"I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean what happened back at the cafeteria," Ryker suddenly blurted out, serious and without a hint of a joke.

Amaris froze. His brain couldn't process that the dreaded bad boy of Zechoxia University actually knew how to give a genuine apology. But his pride took over. He turned his back on him completely.

"Asa ka pa," bulong ni Amaris bago tuluyang lumabas ng gate.

*****

Meanwhile, in front of one of the buildings, Janea and Erzhian were busy chatting about campus gossip.

"Amaris, ano na? Sasali ka ba sa publication o hindi?" tanong ni Janea habang nakahalukipkip.

"Ano namang mapapala ko dyan? Ayaw kong sayangin ang oras ko sa pagsusulat tungkol sa mga walang kuwentang isyu rito," walang-ganang sagot ni Amaris habang nagbabasa ng libro.

"Sumali ka na kasi para buo ang tropa natin! Look at me, sumali ako kahit hindi naman ako kasinggaling mo sa pagsusulat," pagpapakumbaba ni Erzhian sabay sulyap kay Janea. "Dahil nandito naman ang mahal ko... si Janea," dagdag pa nito sabay akbay sa nobya.

"You're such a jerk," Janea whispered, blushing.

"Hehehe... You know what, Erzhian? Sunod-sunuran ka na naman sa girlfriend mo, para kang tuta," pang-aasar naman ni Amaris.

Pinanlisikan siya ng mata ni Erzhian. "Basta! Wala akong pakialam sa sasabihin nila. Ang mahalaga, kasama ko ang mahal ko araw-araw."

"Kadiri," sabay irap ni Amaris.

Janea and Erzhian were also Amaris's high school friends who happened to major in Math at the same university. Erzhian had simply followed Janea so they wouldn't end up at different schools. To this day, Amaris still couldn't fully accept how they became a couple, which was why he constantly teased the two.

"Oo nga pala, alam niyo bang nag-apply na rin si Cleo sa publication?" pagbabalita ni Janea para kumbinsihin si Amaris.

"Huh? Talaga? 'Yong baliw na babaeng 'yon, isinali niyo?" gulat na tanong ni Amaris.

"Hoy!" biglang sulpot ni Cleo na kararating lang galing canteen. "Sinong baliw? Ako? Excuse me, ikaw kaya itong pabebe at nag-iinarte dyan!"

"Pabebe ka dyan!"

"Look at this!" Cleo proudly flashed her phone screen right in front of them.

The three frowned upon seeing a viral video clip on the campus page.

"Saan mo nakuha 'yan, Cleo?" nagtatakang tanong ni Amaris nang makitang mukha niya at ni Ryker ang nandoon.

"Usap-usapan ka na naman sa buong unibersidad, beshy! Magsabi ka nga ng totoo, ano bang ginawa niyo ni Ryker sa pool area kanina, huh?" usisa ni Cleo habang nanlalaki ang mga mata.

The video showed Ryker handing papers to Amaris, after which the latter quickly walked away. To onlookers, it looked like a romantic scene.

"What the heck?!" reaksiyon ni Janea. "Oh My Gulay! Anong mayroon sa inyo ng artistang 'to, Amaris? May tinatago ka ba sa amin?"

"Wala! Naulol na ba kayong lahat?" depensa ni Amaris. "Iyon ay ang mga photocopy ko na lumipad dahil sa hangin, at ibinalik lang niya. Bakit ba ginagawa nating malaking isyu ang simpleng bagay? It's 2026, guys, wala na sa uso ang malisyosong pag-iimbento ng kwento."

"Sa inyo siguro walang malisya, pero sa mga inggitera rito sa campus, mayroon!" singit ni Erzhian habang itinuturo ang ilang estudyanteng masamang nakatingin sa direksyon nila.

"Bakit ba kasi kailangan nilang lagyan ng malisya ang lahat?" inis na tanong ni Janea. "Sa sinabi naman ni Amaris, tinulungan lang siya ng tao."

"Unless- may iba pang nangyari na hindi natin alam, 'di ba, Amaris?" pabirong hirit ni Cleo.

"Ewan ko sa inyong lahat. Kung gusto niyo pang maniwala sa mga ganyang kabobohan, bahala kayo sa buhay niyo," pikon na sagot ni Amaris sabay kuha ng bag. "Bago ko makalimutan, congratulations sa inyo bilang mga bagong opisyal ng The Elusive Publication. Mga manunulat na mahilig gumawa ng kwento kaysa sa katotohanan."

"Ouch, medyo masakit 'yon, huh," sabi ni Janea.

"And where are you going?" Cleo asked seeing her friend walk away.

"Magpapalamig lang ng ulo bago pa ako makapatay ng tao rito," sabat ni Amaris.

"Sama na ako!"

"H'wag na. May gagawin pa kayo sa office niyo, 'di ba?"

"Sige na nga," malungkot na tugon ni Cleo.

"Enjoy your day with your newly appointed Associate Editor and her puppy," paalam ni Amaris nang may halong sarkasmo.

"Hindi na kita pipigilan, Amaris, kung iyan ang desisyon mo. Pero tandaan mo, bukas pa rin ang pinto ng The Elusive Publication para sa 'yo kapag natauhan ka na!" sigaw ni Janea habang papaalis ang kaibigan.

"Ang suplado na talaga ng isang 'yan ngayon," daing ni Cleo.

"Baka may dalaw lang," biro ni Erzhian.

"O baka sadyang may topak na naman sa buhay," dagdag ni Cleo.

Nagtawanan ang dalawa. "Huwag na nga nating pag-usapan 'yan. Kailangan nating tapusin ang assignment natin tungkol sa swimming event sa susunod na linggo," pag-iiba ni Janea sa usapan. "Hayaan muna natin si Amaris na mag-isip-isip. Gemini kasi, kaya may duality ang ugali."

"Tama! May pagka-bipolar paminsan-minsan," sang-ayon ni Cleo.

"Pero mabalik tayo," seryosong wika ni Janea bago pa sila mag-asaran muli, "bakit parang ang malas-malas naman ng first year experience ng kaibigan natin, 'no?"

"Akala ko ba assignment ang pag-uusapan natin?" takang tanong ni Cleo.

"Nag-aalala lang ako. Parang sobra nang nagbago ang mood niya mula noong araw na 'yon sa cafeteria."

"Fine! Kung hindi niyo pa alam ang buong detalye, ako na ang magkukuwento," ani Cleo habang ibinaba ang hawak na gamit.

Cleo narrated the entire story from the start to why Amaris became the target of teasing. Hearing that, Janea and Erzhian understood even more why their friend had become elusive and sharp-tongued. Ryker Levious wasn't just any student; he was a dangerous name who, if crossed, could ruin your entire life at the university.

And that was what they feared would happen to Amaris.

"This is bad," Janea whispered softly, fear written across her face.

What will happen now that Amaris and Ryker's paths are gradually crossing despite their anger and pride? Are they ready for fate to take a turn inside Zechoxia University?

@phiemharc - Hindi Tugma (C4)