Messing With Arc Rival

Chapter 2

"Seryoso ka talaga sa desisyon mo?" gulat na tanong ni Klein nang makalabas ako ng Dean's office. I stayed there for almost 3 hours and take every tests and interview required. "Teh, pwede namang regular student ka nalang kasi mayaman naman kayo, afford na afford mo ang tuition rito. Pera-pera lang yan pero bakit nagpa-skolar ka pa? Trip mo lang ganoon?"

"Mukha ba akong nang t-trip doon sa ginawa ko?" I asked fixing a serious look at him.

"Ghad! Baka kasi nasaniban ka lang kanina kaya kung ano-ano ang naisip mo. Kaya mo ba? Alam ko namang matalino ka dahil naipasa mo nga pero alam ko ring barumbado kang gaga ka. Alam mo bang once mawala ang scholarship mo dito di ka na pwede as regular student?" I rolled my eyes and continued walking.

I can still. Sabi nga niya pera-pera lang yan. Walang tao ngayon na hindi nabubulag sa pera.

can still. Sabi nga niya pera-pera lang yan. Walang tao ngayon na hindi nabubulag sa pera.

He immediately followed me on the hallway when suddenly I felt my phone vibrated from my pocket. Huminto agad ako para tignan kung sino iyon and to my surprise it was Mom. I was hesitant at first to open the message. Nanginig ang kamay ko at ibabalik na sana sa bulsa ang cellphone nang mag vibrate na naman ito. I saw her message on the notification bar asking where I am.

B-Bakit niya ako hinahanap?

I forced my self not to get emotional. Is she worried? Is she even concerned?

Hindi ko maipaliwanag bigla ang pakiramdam. Magkahalong tuwa at pangamba. I didn’t know how many inhales and exhales I did before I decided to give my reply saying I wanted to be alone for a mean time.

Nagulat nalang ako nang biglang may humila sa braso ko dahilan upang mapaalis ako mula sa kinatatayuan ko. Inis kong tinapunan ng tingin si Klein sa ginawa niyang paghila. My phone almost fell on the ground of what he did. Ugh, this b***h.

"What's your problem?" Inis kong sigaw sa kaniya but he's not looking at my direction... His eyes was fixed on something behind me so I immediately turned by back to know what the hell it is.

My brows furrowed as I saw this group of students standing behind my back. Napataas agad ang kilay ko nang tumama ang titig ko sa lalaking nasa harap ko. He’s the guy on the rooftop. He's looking at me at doon ko lang napagtanto na nasa amin na ang halos lahat ng atensyon ng mga tao sa hallway. Maybe these are their so-called-famous-students here in Mortem. Marami ring ganitong sikat kuno na grupo sa Mendell kaya hindi na ako magugulat kung mayroon rin dito sa Mortem. Hindi talaga yun naiiwasan. Money, position and power are best of friends.

I felt again Klein's hands on my arm kaya bumalik ako sa wisyo. Pahigpit nang pahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya na para bang sinasabing umalis na kami but I didn't mind him.

I almost jump in surprise when that guy lean closer on me. Inilapit niya ang bibig niya sa tenga ko and I can feel his breath on my neck. f**k! what the hell is he doing?

"What you saw earlier should be kept as a secret." Bulong niya pero agad kong itinulak ang mukha niya palayo gamit ang buong palad ko. I heard everyone gasp in surprise.

"Astrid, anong ginagawa mo?!" inis na bulong sa akin ni Klein and I looked at him again confused. Ano nga bang ginagawa ko? I'm not doing anything.

Inis kong tinanggal ang kamay niya sa braso ko dahil sumasakit na ito sa higpit ng pagkakahawak niya. Walang gana kong tinignan muli ang lalaki sa harap ko at napairap nalang nang makitang seryoso parin ang titig nito sa akin. Halatang napahiya sa ginawa ko. I smirked secretly.

Wala pa nga akong ginagawa but seems like I already caught everyone's attention unlike sa Mendell na nakipagsabunutan pa ako doon sa pabidang estudyante ng Education Department bago sumikat. I just missed those bitches. They always made my day.

I immediately turned my back on that guy dahil ayokong sirain ang magandang mood ko sa araw na ito. Nakakapagod ring makipagtitigan sa kaniya. He should've punch me para naman may thrill ang nangyayari. Not like this na para siyang timang na nakikipagtitigan tapos bigla pa akong pagsasabihan na huwag ikalat yung nakita ko? As if may pakialam ako doon sa nakita ko. It’s obviously nothing.

"Hoy Astrid!" Bigla ay sigaw ni Klein nang habulin ako palayo nagtuloy ako sa paglalakad pero hinila niya ang buhok ko. Ugh! This b***h. "Jusko kang bruhilda ka. Ano bang pumasok sa kokote mo?" inis ko siyang tinignan.

"Ano bang ginawa ko? I didn't yet do anything, Klein. Ghad! You're crazy." inis akong napabuntong hininga sa harap niya. Ang sakit ng anit ko. Yawa!

"Hindi mo sila kilala." He said and I hissed.

"I know them." sagot ko at taka naman siyang napatingin sa akin.

"We? Paano? Bakit? Saan?" He asked. Parang naghahamon pa.

"They are chess players. Ilang beses ko na silang nakalaban sa intramurals. I know them... except that guy." nginuso ko yung lalaking nakaharap ko kanina na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa study area kasama ang grupo.

"Ah, Si Arc. Actually, bagong lipat lang 'yan dito, mga last year lang." sabi niya at napatango naman ako. So, that's why he's unfamiliar.

"Wait, last year? I didn't remember him… at the tournament."

"Eh kasi teh, may nangyari daw nun eh, kaya di siya nakasali last year. Di rin namin alam kung ano ang dahilan, pero sure na ang pagsabak niya this year." he explained. I just nod and start walking. "Actually hindi lang sila chess players. They are the Elites in this school."

"Tss." matunog akong napapaswit at napailing.

Hearing these kind of lines is not new anymore. Kahit saang school ka, may mga feeling sikat talaga. Feeling f4 o kung ano man…

"Sinusutsot mo riyan?" nakangiwi niyang sabi but I just shook my head.

"Tsaka alam mo ba? Their group symbolizes the eight officials in chess." Hindi ko siya pinakinggan at mas binilisan lang ang paglalakad. I'm planning to go home. Maybe Mom wants to see me now. I have to pack my things back from Klein's place. "Arc stands as the king of their group and that girl right behind him kanina, si Niana, siya yung queen. Si Dewei at Reehan yung knight, si Bren at Isaiah yung bishop tas sina Wren at Aiden yung rook. " napairap nalang ako sa narinig ko.

"That's too childish." bulong ko at muling napailing.

"Ako nga rin nung una natawa." He laughed at his own. "Pero pag nakilala mo sila, masasabi mong they fit the role HAHAHA. Ang cute nga eh..." Inis ko siyang nilingon nang hilahin niya ang laylayan ng damit ko.

"Mamaya mo na ituloy 'yang kwento mo. Nagmamadali ako." I said as we finally reached the campus exit.

"At saan mo naman balak pumunta?"

"I have to go home." sabi ko and his eyes widened.

"Wee? Uuwi kana sa inyo? Ba’t parang ang bilis naman?"

"Why? you'll miss me?" Pang-aasar ko pa at mabilis naman akong nakatanggap ng hampas sa braso. Nakakailan na to ha.

"Excuse me. Sisingilin lang kita sa upa mo kagabi. Hindi 'yon libre, gaga ka." I rolled my eyes as we reached the waiting shed. "Oh siya, ito yung duplicate ng susi, siguraduhin mo lang na pag-uwi ko mamaya maayos pa ang itsura ng condo." He said and handed me the key. Tumango lang ako at may huminto namang bus agad sa harap kaya walang lingon-lingon na akong sumakay paalis.

I am now standing right infront of our house. Bitbit ang mga naglalakihang gamit, hindi matanggal ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Iniisip kung baka pagalitan ako, sermonan o kung ano man. Huminga ako nang malalim bago nagtuloy papasok. Medyo natagalan ako sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit ko sa condo, I didn't know how the hell it fits on the bag when I arrived pero nung pauwi na ay hindi na magkasya lahat ng gamit. It took me almost 3 hours to finish those and make sure na wala nga akong naiwan sa condo ng baklang iyon.

Agad akong sinalubong ng katulong upang kunin ang mga gamit na bitbit. I heard some footsteps coming kaya agad akong napalingon sa may hagdanan. I saw Mom walking downstairs wearing her beautiful wide smile, the kind of smile I've seen 10 years ago. Muli kong naramdaman ang kakaibang kaba sa sistema ko. Mabilis kong inilibot ang paningin ko sa paligid but I didn't saw someone around aside from the helpers.

"You're here." Mom welcomes me with a hug and I'm not really comfortable with it. I can sense something is going to happen... again. Sana lang mali ang iniisip ko. "Did you have dinner already?" she asked and I just shook my head. "Good thing. I've cooked your favorite. Come, join me." she said and guided me towards the kitchen. I looked around again looking for something strange but seems like everything was usual.

Naupo ako sa harap ng mesa at hindi ko maitatangging mga paboritong ulam ko nga ang nakahanda. "T-Thanks, Mom." usal ko at she just gave me a nod.

"How's your studies?" bigla ay tanong niya kaya sunod-sunod akong napaubo. Mabilis niya akong inabutan ng tubig na agad ko ring ininom. "Be careful." she said in worried tone. I don't know but I just felt everything was fake even her actions. I don't know.. I really don't know what's going to happen now. "I heard, nag-enroll ka raw sa Mortem."

My eyes widened upon hearing those. How did she know that?

"N-Nakick-out ako sa Mendell." Agad akong yumuko at napapikit. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsara dahil sa biglaang kaba na naramdaman.

"It's okay. Mortem's a good school, though. Great choice, Astrid." Gulat akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya.

Madami pa siya itinanong sa akin and most of it ay tango lang ang isinagot ko. After some minutes. I heard someone enters the entrance door. Napalingon ako sa entrada ng kitchen 'cause I heard it's footsteps coming towards here.

"Ow, He's here." Mom said and immediately stood up. Agad kong nabitawan ang kutsarang hawak ko nang makita kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. Pakiramdam ko ay nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang sandaling iyon. I felt something heavy in me dahilan upang naging mabigat ang aking paghinga.

"Astrid.." Mom said as they walked towards the table. I immediately stood up before they could come near me. My heart gave a horrible jolt as his eyes landed on mine. "Astrid.." Pakiramdam ko ay nanghina bigla ang buong sistema ko habang nakatitig sa mga mata nito. My knees started to tremble and I can feel anytime, I'm going to collapse.

"W-Why he's h-here, Mom?" utal kong tanong. Ramdam ko ang panunuyo ng lalamunan ko nang sandaling iyon.

"He just wanted--"

"No!" I cut her off. "Not again, Mom. N-Not again." My tears started to fall down to my cheeks and before they could stop me ay tumakbo na ako palabas ng bahay.

my cheeks and before they could stop me ay tumakbo na ako palabas ng bahay.

I didn't know it was raining outside. Hindi ko na binigyang pake pa kung mabasa man ako ng ulan. All I want to do right now is to run away from them. Inis akong napasigaw kasabay ng pagbuhos ng ulan. Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili kong humagulhol habang tumatakbo palayo sa kung saan. My heart still pounds fast, nandoon parin yung bigat at sikip na naramdaman ko nang makita siya. I felt some difficulties on breathing kaya huminto ako sa gilid ng kalsada. I sat on the ground trying to calm my self but it didn't help instead it worsens the feeling.

Flashback starts to invade my thoughts again. That was 8 years ago already but I can still clearly remember everything. It’s him. It’s him who ruin everything.

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang bigat ng ulo ko na para bang kaunti nalang ay sasabog na ito. I covered my ears with my two hands as the loud flatline tone covers my hearing. Napapikit ako sa sakit niyon sa pandinig. I almost prostrate on the ground until I felt someone grabs me from the hand and lift me up with his arm.

And then my sight all went black.

Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mata ko ngunit agad ring napapikit nang tumama ang liwanag ng araw sa mukha ko. I covered my face with my hands and tried to opened my eyes again.

I was startled when I saw Klein infront of me. Nakapamewang siya at masama na naman ang tingin sa akin. Doon ko lang napagtanto na nasa condo niya ulit ako.

What the hell?

"Ikaw 'yong tumulong sa akin kagabi?" I asked and he just raised his brows on me.

"Wow. Wala kang naalala? Lasing ka ba?" Mabilis niyang inilapit ang mukha sa akin para amuyin ako. I suddenly felt uneasiness. "Hindi ka naman uminom ah. Ano ba talaga ang nangyari?" tanong niya ulit.

"Tell me first how I ended up here." walang gana kong sabi at dahan-dahang umupo mula sa pagkakahiga.

"Ghad! Ikaw kaya nagpunta rito mismo. You even knocked on my door. Tapos makikita nalang kitang nakahiga sa sahig at basang-basa. Feeling A1 ka te? Walking in the Rain ang peg?" maarte niyang sabi.

I know someone helped me last night. Hindi ko nakita ang mukha niya but how the hell did he know about Klein? His building? And his room number? That's strange.

Mabilis akong napatingin sa damit na suot ko and there I realized na until now I'm wearing the wet clothes but wait-- whose coat is this?

Agad kong hinubad ang coat na suot ko at maigi itong tinignan. This is not mine. "Klein, is this yours?" tanong ko nang maglakad na siya papuntang kwarto niya. He stopped and immediately turned at my direction.

"Nope. Hindi kita ginalaw dyan sa sofa, don't worry. Kung papatol man ako ng babae, hindi ikaw 'yon. Okeh?" He rolled his eyes. "Magpalit ka na ng damit. Gamitin mo yang nasa mesa at bayaran mo' yan pagkatapos." And he left.

I looked at the coat again and let out a deep sigh bago kinuha yung damit at nagtungo sa banyo.

Hindi matanggal sa isip ko ang mga nangyari kagabi. That's why I felt something strange on Mom's action. She's not usually that nice to me. She doesn't care to me... at all. Kaya ang tanga ko lang na naisipan kong bumalik kagabi sa bahay. I shouldn't have trusted her.

Still, I'm thankful that I got the courage to runaway last night. Nabunutan ako ng tinik sa ginawa ko, but the thought keeps on hunting me, What if I didn't runaway? Paano kung binalot ako ng takot katulad dati? Would it happen again?

I forcely closed my eyes trying to remove those thoughts until my sight landed again on the coat. I tried to remember everything last but it was all blury.

'Who are you?'

Did you know something about me?