That Gangster is a Princess, for Real?

Chapter 8: A Chance

Lei's POV

Ang aga kong pumasok ngayon, may aabangan kasi ako. Their group is always early to come here in school. I'm so excited to see him, one month din kasi siyang hindi nakapasok, family matters daw.

Naglakad ako papuntang canteen, hindi kasi ako nag-almusal kanina sa bahay bago umalis. I'm just really excited to see him again, but first I need to buy something to eat. Nang malapit na ako sa canteen may nakakuha ng pansin ko, hindi yung inaabangan ko kundi si Chase kausap ang president ng school. Wow, ang aga atang pumasok ni Chase ngayon at mag-isa siya, sayang wala pa yung mga kasama niya, chance ko na sana na makalapit sa kanila na walang maraming istorbo.

Ang landi mo Lei, akala ko ba loyal ka sa kanya, sabi ng isang bahagi ng isip ko. Eh, anu ngayon? Gwapo kaya ng DK, kontra naman ng kabila. Okay, I'm going insane but what i can do? I know how to appreciate nice things. Hindi mapigilang mapangisi dahil sa mga naisip ko.

Umalis na si Chase at masama ang mukha. Anu kayang napag-usapan nila at mukhang hindi na naman sila nagkasundo. Tumalikod na din si Pres kaya mabilis ko siyang sinundan, baka kasi makita ko siya agad pagsundan ko ang taong ito.

"Hey Laxus, how are you, bro?"

Napatigil ako, ang boses na yun kung hindi ako nagkakamali, no I'm really not mistaken. It's him, I'm sure of it. Nagtago ako sa puno na malapit lang sa akin at tiningnan ang tumawag kay Pres. Napabuntung-hininga ako, lalo siyang gumwapo ngayon.

"Oh! Heero, buti at nakapasok ka na. Kailan ka pa dumating?" bati ni Pres sa bagong dating.

"Kagabi lang, may jet lag pa nga eh. Kailangan ko lang talaga pumasok ngayon, isang buwan din akong wala. Baka ma-kick out ako kung hindi pa rin ako papasok," sagot ng bagong dating.

Napasandal ako sa puno, at hawak-hawak ko ang dibdib ko. My heart's beating so fast just hearing his voice. Ganun pa rin ang epekto niya sa akin, marinig ko lang ang boses niya bumibilis agad ang t***k ng puso ko.

Busy ako sa pag-assess ng naramdaman ko, kaya hindi ko napansin ang taong nandito na pala sa harap ko.

"Until now, you're still looking at him from afar? Distance love affair lang ang peg, ha Lei?" Sabi ni Ember, siya ang dumating. Nakita niya pala akong nagtatago dito at tinitingnan ang taong nagbibigay ng saya sa akin kahit tingnan ko lang mula sa malayo. "Kaibigan naman siya ng Kuya mo di ba? Bakit hindi ka gumawa ng paraan para makalapit sa kanya?" dagdag ni Ember

"Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko, kapag nasa harap ko na siya umuurong na yung tapang ko eh. Hindi ko mapigilan na magwala ang puso ko kapag andiyan siya, saka natutula din ako," sagot ko sa kanya sabay buntung-hininga.

"So, kuntento ka na lang na tingnan mo lang siya mula sa malayo? Paano kung maunahan ka ng iba? Baka nga may girlfriend na siya," pananakot nito.

"Of course hindi, siguro kapag magkaroon na ako ng lakas ng loob gagawa din ako ng move," mabilis na sagot ko sa kanya. "Sa ngayon, ayos na ako sa ganito. Wala siyang gf sigurado ako, at base sa usapan nila ni Kuya wala pa din siyang nagugustuhan."

Sumilip ako sa kanila. Nakita kong naglalakad na sila ni Pres at dadaan sila dito sa may pinagtataguan namin. Masaya silang nag-uusap, mukhang tungkol sa past ang pinag-usapan nila. Until I heard something that makes my heart shattered to pieces.

"Lax, babalik pa kaya sila? Dalawang taon na din mula ng huli natin silang makita di ba?" narinig ko na tanong niya kay Pres.

"Ewan ko. Simula kasi ng hindi na sila nagpakita sa atin, hindi na din sila nagparamdam pa," malungkot na sagot ni Pres.

"I miss them, you know. I missed the way she scold us, kapag naiinis na siya sa kakulitan natin. Ang babaeng 'yon! Bakit kaya hindi na sila nagparamdam? Kinalimutan na ba nila tayo? I miss her," sabi niya kay Pres at halata nga sa kanyang mukha ang kalungkutan.

Halos sasabog ang puso ko sa sobrang sakit dahil sa narinig ko. Hindi ko namalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha ko. Kaya ba wala siyang pinapansin na babae dahil may hinihintay siyang bumalik? Ang sakit lang malaman ang totoo. Umiyak lang ako ng umiyak habang yakap ni Ember.

"Sige Lei, umiyak ka lang hanggang gumaan ang pakiramdam mo," alo ni sa akin habang yakap-yakap ako.

When I feel like I've calm down, I fix myself. I smile at Ember, a sad smile, and say thank you for being with me at a time like this. It's a good thing that he and I are not in the same class or else I don't know what to do. It's hurt knowing that the guy you love, love someone else. Seems like I need to stop whatever I feel for him, for my own good. No one wants to get hurt, right? At hindi ako masokista. Sana na magawa ko.

Chase POV

Maaga pa lang nandito na ako sa school, sa DK Lounge. Just a little bit excited to know if Grey and Josh found out the real score between Shandra and Zander. Those five are late. Kung kailan mas inagahan ko ang pagpasok. 

I decided to go to the canteen to buy something to drink. We are out of stock here in DK lounge. Habang pabalik na ako ng DK Lounge may nakasalubong ako na nagpasira sa maganda sanang araw ko. Walang iba kundi ang President ng Student Council, laging maaga kung pumasok ang mga ito. Pero himala ata at wala ang mga galamay niya ngayon.

He stops in front of me, "Ang aga mo ata ngayon Chase?" ang ganda ng bati niya sa akin no? Wala man lang good morning.

What's with him if I'm early? Wala naman akong nilabag na rules. Bawal na bang pumasok ng maaga? Maybe he just love piss me off. Lagi na lang nilang pinag-iinitan ang barkada namin.

"Why do care?" I retorted. "Am I not allowed to early?"

"Not really, it's just unusual," he shrugged his shoulder. "I thought you love every attention you can get. Your group always loves to come to school when people are squealing your names."

I'm not sure if he's teasing me, maybe not since he has a poker face while saying those.

"We never told them to react that way every time we came," I seriously said to him. "Was it our fault? I don't care even if you are the President of the Student Council Laxus, mind your own business."

"Same here, Scamper. I don't care too if you are the leader of Dark Knights. There's only one thing I want to be clear. Follow the rules that are being implemented. You're no exception, even if you are a Dark Knights," he grimly said. "New school year na, sana naman magka-intindihan na tayo. I don't want trouble here in school anymore, are we clear, King Knight?" he added full of sarcasm.

"Do we look like someone who cares about the rules?" I smirked. "One thing Harland, don't meddle into our business and we're good." I tap his shoulder lightly and left.

Pagdating ko sa lounge pagalit kung tinapon sa basurahan ang lata ng soft drink na ininom ko. Nasisira lagi ang araw ko sa tuwing nagkakasalubong kami ng SC Pres. Hindi pumasok sa basurahan ang itinpon ko, sa sobrang inis ay sinipa ko nalang. Muntik ng tamaan si Vash na saktong nagbukas ng pinto at pumasok.

"Hey, what's that? Bakit ba ang init ulo mo? Ang aga-aga, tsk!" nakakunot-noong tanong niya sa akin.

Hindi ko siya sinagot, humiga ako sa couch at pumikit. Itinakip ko ang braso ko sa aking mata, iidlip nalang muna ako, maaga pa naman.

"Chase, hindi mo man lang ba ako sasagutin?" kulit niya sa akin. "May nangyari ba? Wala ka na ba talagang pag-asa kay Shandra?"

Muntik ko na siyang batuhin dahil sa huling sinabi niya. Pinigilan ko lang ang sarili ko at hinayaan siya hanggang sa magsawa at tumahimik. Alam naman niya na kapag mainit ang ulo ko kahit anong tanong at kulit ang gawin niya hindi ko pa din siya sasagutin. 

Naramdaman ko na umupo na din siya sa kabilang couch, maya-maya pa bumukas ang pinto at narinig ko ang boses ng apat na nagtatawanan pa. Bigla din silang natahimik, siguro napansin na nila ako.

"Teka Vash, anong nangyari dyan?" narinig kong tanong ni Xanthel kay Vash.

"Ewan, pagdating ko sinipa yung coke in can na walang laman at muntik pa akong tamaan. Tinanong ko, ayaw naman akong sagutin. Mukhang mainit ang ulo," paliwag ni Vash.

"Ano na naman kayang nangyari diyan? Baka nakakita ng away papunta dito?" sabi naman ni Ash.

"Baka naman hindi lang maganda ang gising," dagdag ni Josh.

"Baka nga, hayaan na muna natin 'yan hanggang lumamig ang ulo," sagot ni Vash sa kanila.

Naririnig ko ang usapan nila pero hindi ako sumagot. Hinayaan ko lang silang pag-usapan ako. I need to calm down first. I don't want them to be the receiving end of my bad mood.

"May good news pa naman sana ako," I heard Grey said.

"Is it about Shandra?" X asked nonchalantly.

"What have you learned? What's their status?" Ash butt in.

"Shandra said they're just best friend, or rather a family?" he said unsure of the last. "Well, for her and the rest, Zander is a family. I think I have to consider him a family too." I feel him tap my shoulder, "You still have a chance, Chase, so cheer up."

"Grey's right Chase, yun din ang sabi ni Yana. Seems like Zander's family have always been close with Shandra's family." Josh added. "You might need to consider him as family, Grey. I heard from Yana that Shandra's parents want to legally adopt  Zander. Though she said, he refuses for now but who knows, he might change his mind and accept it."

"Not bad," I heard Grey answered. "Sa tingin ko naman magkakasundo kami. Our family is full of love and I don't mind sharing."

I almost shake my head hearing what Grey said. Though I'm not watching him I know he's grinning. I silently sigh and get up. I have to before they can think of doing something to force me to get up. 

Nawal na din naman ang inis ko dahil sa mga narinig ko mula kina Grey and Josh. I can feel the surge of happiness engulfed me. It feels like I can't contain the happiness that I wanted to shout in delight. I'm just stopping myself to do so. I face them with a composed look.

"So, what are we going to do?" Ash excitedly ask. Mas nagmukha pa siyang excited kaysa sa akin.

"Nothing," I shrugged my shoulder and lean back to the backrest of the sofa. "We'll just stay put."

They look shocked with what I've said and they turn to me at the same time with a disbelief look in their faces. "Nothing?" they shouted in unison.

"Yes," I nodded to confirm.

"Why?" they asked, looking at me as if they want to kill me.

I laugh at them. Who wouldn't when they said things at the same time and have the same looks in their faces? 

"I'll wait for the right time and I'm not in a rush especially now that we confirmed there's nothing between her and Zander," I answered. "Besides I don't want scare Shandra away. I want to take things slow, for now."

"Ikaw, katatakutan ng babaeng yun? Asa ka Chase, amasona kaya yun," birong-totoo ni Grey sabay tawa.

He's right though. Shandra is brave and she's not the kind who is easily scared. She's always ready to fight especially for what she thinks is right. But my intention of her is a different thing. I might scare her if I suddenly tell her my feelings. We aren't even formally introduce yet and we haven't had any conversation. I'm at fault though, because I purposedly distance myself.

Our conversation was disturbed when we heard the announcement asking all students to proceed to the quadrangle. It's the student council. They maybe have something to say to everyone.

"What is it that they want this time?" Vash questioned.

Tumayo na kaming lahat ang naglakad papunta ng quadrangle kung saan pinapapunta ang lahat.

"School activity na naman siguro. Alam mo naman na mahigpit ang mga yun pagdating sa school rules and activities," kibit-balikat na sagot ni Josh kay Vash.

"It's understandable because they belong to the Student Council. But there's one thing I don't understand though, why are they hostile towards us?" tanong din ni Grey

"Maybe because they think of us as a threat. You know, they care so much about the rules but we don't care about it," Xanthel grinned.

"You're right X, and maybe because we're the DK and we are not afraid of them. Saka mas gwapo kasi tayo sa kanila," naka-ngisi din na sabi ni Ash.

"Seriously, Ash?" I look at him with a knotted forehead. I just can't believe what he said. Kailan pa naging batayan ang hitsura? "It's the Pres that pissed me off early this morning," I said to them.

"Well, what can we do? We're a bunch of headaches for the student council," Vash said matter-of-factly.

"I heard something about them," Grey started. We all look at him waiting for what he's going to say. "Some people are saying that they're like us before, a gangster, you know." He quickly added, "There's no proof though."

"If they are a gangster, how come we don't encounter them? Kahit sabihin pa na hindi na sila active dapat may narinig pa rin tayo tungkol sa kanila di ba? Especially in GSU, if they are like us, they are surely part of GSU at point," Xanthel said.

Tama naman ang sinabi ni Xanthel. Pero kahit sa GSU wala kaming narinig na may naging bahagi doon na tulad namin ay dito din nag-aaral. What Grey said seems impossible.

Marami nang estudyante sa quadrangle ng dumating kami. Nag-umpisa na namang silang magkagulo dahil sa amin. It's always like this every time. Kaya siguro naiinis din ang SC sa amin. Most of the time we are the reason for the mess done by students that adore us.

Biglang nahawi ang gitna upang bigyan kami ng daan. Nagkatulakan pa kaya napaatras ang mga nasa likuran. Napadako ang mata ko sa dulo at napansin ko si Shandra na nakalupasay sa damuhan. Mukhang nadamay siya ng umatras ang mga nasa harapan niya.

Naglakad ako patungo sa kinaroroonan niya. Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod ng mga kaibigan ko sa akin. Tahimik na sinundan kami ng tingin ng mga estudyanteng kanina lang ay nagkagulo.