War of Hearts (Book 1)

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Holding hands

Jaycee's POV

"Where's Bridgette?" Light asked while we were walking. Papunta kami sa cafeteria ngayon. Kakayari lang ng mga klase namin. I was walking with my hands in my pocket. People might ask why I always do this. They might think that it's my mannerism, but it's actually not. Being the ice controller, I always feel cold but it's natural for me. Ang mga kamay ko ay may oras na naglalabas ng yelo ng hindi ko napapansin. That's why I always keep it in my pockets to hide it from everyone. Lalo pa rito sa mundo ng mga tao. Well, I find it cool and I think other people, too.

"She's not really hanging out with us, kahit sa mundo pa natin. She always has her own world," pahayag ni Crysten. I grew up with them, and I have seen how they become so evil, lalo na si Ismael. He started killing using his dark smoke at the age of 9 where he also learned his power. When he kills, he always smiles like a hungry person who hasn't eaten yet.

"That's right. Don't worry about her, she can protect herself," ani Ismael at mahinang tumawa.

"Protect herself from fire?" Ani ko na nakapagpahinto sa kanila. Nilingon ko sila suot ang malalamig kong mga mata, "Do you all think that our enemies are not powerful enough to kill one of you?" Hindi sila nagsalita at tila ba ay napag-isip ang aking sinabi. They are all underestimating them when they actually won in our last fight, "The leader is powerful, and that water boy? He's strong and even those two girls that you caught in their necks, they are strong," malamig kong pahayag sa kanila.

"At sumasagot ka sa akin?! How dare you?!" Agad akong napalingon nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon. Kumunot ang aking noo nang bumungad sa akin si Cali kasama si Kristel at kaharap ang tatlong babae. Tumaas ang kilay ko nang makita ko ang pagtaas ng kanyang palad. I already know what will happen, and without thinking, mabilis akong tumakbo papunta doon at hinawakan ang kamay ng babae.

"Jaycee," tawag nila Crystal sa akin ngunit nanatili akong tahimik at malamig na tiningnan ang babae na matalim ang mga mata. Naglaho at nagbago iyon nang napagtanto nito na ako ang nasa kanyang harapan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pakiramdam ko ay gusto king gawing yelo ang babaeng ito. I don't know why she is making me feel mad. At hindi ko alam kung bakit narito ako at pinigilan siya sa akmang pagsampal kay Cali.

"I must remind you not to lay your hand to her if you still want to exist," I already felt Cali's eyes at me. Ngunit nanatili ang mga mata kong malalamig sa babae sa aking harapan. I know this girl. She always talks to me and I know what's her motive. If she thinks that I will like her, that would never happen. I would rather kill her right now. Napalunok ito at tila ba ay nakaramdam agad ng takot.

"Jaycee, that girl is bullying me! Pinagtatanggol ko lang ang sarili ko!" Singhal niya at matalim na tinitigan sa Cali sa aking likuran. I know it's a lie. Cali isn't a person who will bully someone. Hindi ko pa siya ganoon kakilala, but I saw how ferocious she is at wala sa kanyang mga mata ang mang bully ng kapwa niya.

"What? Are you also a liar?" Cali said unbelievably. Tila ba ay hindi siya makapaniwala na magagawa pa nitong magsinungaling kahit na huling-huli na siya sa akto.

"Leave," malamig kong pahayag at marahan ko pa rin namang binitawan ang kamay nito.

"Your wallet," ani Light at nakakakilabot na ngumisi sa babae. Mabilis naman silang umalis sa aming harapan matapos kuhanin ang wallet na iyon. Hindi na ako magtataka kung si Cali ang naghagis ng wallet na iyon.

"You okay, Cali?" Ismael asked while chewing bubble gum in his mouth. Marahan naman na tumango si Cali.

"Yeah, thanks for the help," aniya sa akin. Tumagilid ko at sandali kong pinikit ang aking mga mata upang ikalma ang aking sarili. This is driving me crazy. Cali is driving me crazy. She's really dangerous for me. She will ruin everything I planned for our kingdom. I know that I should not meddle earlier but I just found myself protecting her from that girl. Here I am again, feeling the beats of my chest so fast.

"Come with me," as I opened my eyes, mabilis kong kinuha ang kamay nito na nakahawak sa kamay ni Kristel at wala siyang paalam na hinala ng marahan paalis ss cafeteria. Gumuhit ang ngisi sa aking labi ng gawin ko iyon. I don't know what's happening to me anymore. But this time, I'm letting my heart drive me for a while.

"Jaycee, what are you doing?!" Malakas at gulat na tanong ni Crysten nang hilahin ko si Cali palabas ng cafeteria.

"Hey, let go of me!" Sigaw nito ngunit hindi ko siya pinakinggan o ang ang kahit sino pa sa kanila.

"Jaycee!" Ismael yelled as we were going away from all of them. I heard people gasps and gossiping about us, lalo na sa ginawa ko ngayon. But I don't care. I have to do this, because I want to.

"Hey, let go of my hand. You can talk to me without dragging me around," aniya habang hila hila ko siya. I told Light to prepare our lunch on the rooftop, but here I am, dragging a girl to eat our lunch with her. My heart is beating so fast, at pakiramdam ko ay nababaliw na ako sa aking mga ginagawa ngayon. After saying that, napansin ko ang naging pag tahimik niya at hinayaan ako na hilahin siya. Like a crazy guy, I smirked and felt happiness in my chest for some reason. Napailing ako at patuloy siyang hinila hanggang sa dumating kami sa rooftop. Pumasok ako doon at binitawan ang kanyang kamay. I closed my eyes calmly as the wind welcomed me calmly. Naramdaman ko ang pagtayo niya sa aking tabi. Palihim ko itong pinagmasdan. Her face was covered with amazement, especially her beautiful eyes eyeing the whole town on this rooftop. Manghang-mangha ang mga mata nito, and I saw how she loves the view.

But I think I love the view I'm seeing right now more than this place.

I'm in danger, I know that. Her eyes, her beauty, everything around me, it's all dangerous for me. Even if she's a normal person, o maaaring kalaban ko, I can't help but to be fallen by her beauty. Natagpuan ko ang sarili kong may ngiting nakaguhit sa aking mga labi habang pinagmamasdan ito.

"It's the school's rooftop," pahayag ko sa kanya. Binaling ko ang mga mata ko sa kabuuan ng buong bayan na ito. I discovered this place when we enrolled in this school to catch our enemies wandering around here. Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang pagwagayway ng hangin sa kanyang buhok dahilan ng pagtama at pagharang nito sa maamo at maganda nitong mukha. My eyes remained looking at her, and it seems like I forgot how to look away. She was about to stop her hair from coming to her face, not until I found myself slowly removing it to her face while glancing at her. My eyes got locked in her beautiful face.

I couldn't agree more with what people say about her. Many are saying that she has a goddess beauty, and I can't deny that fact. Her eyes were on me, glancing at me as well while the wind was witnessing our actions. The day I encountered her at the mall, she already caught my attention. Araw araw, gabi gabi ay tumatakbo siya sa aking isip. I don't know if it's just a coincidence when I found out that she's my classmate. Noong una ay wala akong gana at napipilitan lamang sa pagpasok sa unibersidad na ito. Not until I saw her at the corner of the classroom, laying her head in the window with her eyes peacefully closed.

"I brought food," I quickly stated after doing that. Mariin akong pumikit nang tumalikod ako at nagpunta sa maliit na mesa na dapat ay kami ang kakain nila Ismael. Naupo ako sa isang upuan bago ko siya muling binalingan, "You should join me," I said and stood up again. Nilahad ko ang aking palad sa kanya at sandali niya pa iyong pinagmasdan. I felt nervous when she eyed it first before she accepted my hand with a small smile on her lips. Marahan kong hinila ang isang upuan para sa kanya bago ako nagpunta sa isa pang upuan. Nagsimula akong kumain at sa unang pagkakataon sa buong buhay ko ay muli akong nakaramdam ng kaba, only in front of her.

"Don't be shy, just eat," pahayag ko nang napansin ko na hindi nito alam ang dapat niyang ikilos.

"Para saan ito?" She suddenly asked and broke the silence between us that made me stop. Sinalubong ko ang kanyang mga mata mula sa akin.

"Men are throwing themselves at you, Cali," pahayag ko habang sinasalubong ang mga mata nito na nabalot ng katanungan.

"Are you throwing yourself at me then?" Pabiro niyang saad. I can't help but let my eyes stay with her. Her beauty, and everything about her is addicting, makes me feel more in danger.

"I want to," ani ko, while eyeing her with appreciation in my eyes,"But I can't," dugtong ko at mapakla na ngumiti. Now, I don't know how to explain why I feel pain in my chest. Pakiramdam ko ay binigyan ako ng isang unfair na sitwasyon sa buhay, where I was left with no choice at all. I saw how men in this university threw themselves at her, especially Andrew, that guy that I want to turn into ice. Every man is crazy and falling for her. But what makes me drive crazy is seeing her ferociously with no fear in her eyes at all.

"And why can't you?" Binaba nito ang kubyertos niyang hawak. Muli akong natigilan. I didn't have a reason before I dragged her here from the cafeteria, not until I realized that I should not do this anymore. This should not go on. This must stop. The queen and king would not like my reckless actions, I'm only putting down the victory we dream for our kingdom.

"This lunch is a distance," kumunot ang kanyang noo at nabalot ng mga tanong ang kanyang mga mata sa akin. Yeah, this is a distance. Let me just say that I did this due to my recklessness and I'm ending it before it puts me in danger.

"Distance?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong sa akin.

Marahan siyang tumango, "I'm creating a distance between us. I know you felt that weird thing inside your chest too, Cali. And I'm creating a distance between the both of us from this day," pahayag ko. I may be sound, but every time I look in her eyes that's what I feel, that's she's letting me feel.

"Then why did you prepare this lunch if you're creating a distance between us?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong sa akin.

"Because this is the last time that I will be close to you," ani ko at matipid na ngumiti. Even if she's an enemy or not, I can't trust her because it will only put me in danger, or maybe her life. At ayokong malagay siya sa kapahamakan.

But what if she's the enemy who controls fire? I stopped with that thought. Nanatili ang mga mata ko sa kanya, trying to remember the eyes of that girl I faced. Lihim akong umiling sa aking sarili. She can't be, but if she is, what should I do?

Again, I will be left with no choice, and that is to kill her.

"Then why did you ask Ismael to nominate you to be my escort for the upcoming pageant?" Natigilan ako nang bigla niya iyong tanungin. She heard it, she heard me when I asked Ismael to nominate as her escort. I don't have a plan to join that thing, not until Kristel nominated her and the whole class agreed. That day, pakiramdam ko ay hindi ako makakapayag na may ibang maging kapareho niya. Thinking of her with a partner that isn't me, pakiramdam ko ay kahit anong oras ay lalabas ang yelo sa aking mga kamay, "If you're creating a distance, you should not ask him to nominate you as my escort because you will never create distance to us by that," my lips parted. Now, I saw how disappointed she is. It made me want to go near her and gently touched his face.

"Officially, I'm creating a distance between us. So, let's join the pageant without getting close from each other," tumayo ito at tinalikuran ako paalis. As she turned her back to me, I badly wanted to chase her and hug her, but I couldn't. Kinuyom ko ang aking mga palad at mariin na pumikit. I have to stop this nonsense until I can, until I have the chance to.

"And don't you ever protect me," aniya matapos akong harapin ulit bago nito tuluyang nilisan ang rooftop, leaving me alone there. Mariin akong pumikit hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang pagguhit ng yelo sa aking mga kamay na nakakuyom.

Ilang segundo lamang ay nabalot ng yelo ang buong lamesa. Bumuga ako ng hangin at kinalma ang aking sarili.

"Go back to your senses, Jaycee," nilingon ko si Crysten na kararating lamang, "You can't fall in love, not yet. Not now that we are in the middle of the war that we planned,"

I nodded. I nodded as I faced the whole town.

Calida's POV

"Hey, where the hell have you been?!" Bungad sa akin ni Adrian nang dumating ako sa garden at wala pa sa aking sarili. I remained silent and pretended that I didn't hear him at all. Naupo lamang ako sa tabi ni Crystal na kumakain katabi si Shaheal. I wasn't even able to appreciate the beauty of this garden. Inabot ko ang pera kay Sky na nagtatanong ang mga matang pinagmamasdan ako at ganoon din naman sila.

"The line was long," utas ko, "I'm impatient," ani ko lamang. Nagtataka niya iyong kinuha mula sa akin. Bumuga ng hangin si Adrian at napailing na lamang sa akin.

"It's okay, Jamina treated us. She went here to bring this for us and she was looking for Kristel, have you seen her?" Tanong nito habang nilalapag ang mga pagkain sa isang bag na gawa sa parang kahon.

"Yeah, she was at the cafeteria too earlier," ani ko at bumuga ng hangin bago kumuha ng pagkain. I can't stop my mind from thinking of him. Hindi mawala sa aking isipan ang nangyari sa rooftop. His face and those eyes of his, I can't remove it from my head. Lalong lalo na ang mga mata niyang iyon. I don't know why I also felt this weird thing that I shouldn't. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay bumibigay ako sa kanya? Only to him?

He's dangerous, I can clearly see that since the day we first met. I didn't anticipate him becoming my classmate. Pakiramdam ko ay nilalaro ng tadhana ang aming mga landas na hindi naman dapat. I can't be distracted, not yet, and not now that we are here for the sake of our kingdom.

"Are you okay?" Crystal asked confusingly. Doon ko napagtanto na lahat sila ay nagtataka sa akin. Napailing na lamang ako at marahan lang na tumango.

"Don't mind me, I'm just upset of what I'm gonna do later," pagdadahilan ko kahit na hindi naman talaga iyon ang dahilan. Isa pa iyon, joining the pageant with him. Ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung paano ako kikilos at haharapin siya na para bang walang nangyari.

"You got that," ani Shaheal at mahinang tumawa sa akin. Natapos kami sa pagkain at tulad ng araw araw naming ginagawa sa mundong ito at sa unibersidad na ito ay dumiretso kami sa ilang sunod sunod naming mga klase. Ilang beses na aksidenteng nagtatama at nagkakasalubong ang mga mata namin ni Jaycee ngunit mabilis din akong umiiwas at ganoon din naman siya. We officially created a distance between us. At pakiramdam ko ay pareho kaming nagtataguan ng nararamdaman sa isa't isa. I don't even know if this is what they called love.

"Cali," nahinto ako nang tawagin ako ni Ms. Cruz mula sa labas ng aming classroom. Isang klase na lang at yari na ang mga klase namin. Wala pa ang guro at ang sabi ni Kristel ay mahuhuli daw ang aming guro dahil sa meeting nila. Mabilis naman akong tumayo upang puntahan si Ms. Cruz sa labas ng pinto ng aming classroom.

"Yes, Ms. Cruz?" I asked.

"Can you please call your escort too?" Natigilan ako at hindi inaasahan iyon mula sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko ay inutos niya sa akin ang isang bagay na napakahirap gawin.

"P-Po?" Nauutal kong tanong sa kanya. Mahina siyang tumawa sa akin.

"I mean can you please call Jaycee too? I have to talk to the both of you here," pagbibigay linaw niya kahit na naintindihan ko naman talaga ang kanyang sinabi at nais kong gawin. Labag sa loob at nagdadalawang isip naman akong tumango. Of all people, why does she have to ask me to do this? Bumuga ako ng hangin at mariin na pumikit sandali nang tumalikod ako upang tawagin si Jaycee sa aming classroom. Bumuga ako ng hangin at agad siyang hinanap ng aking mga mata. As I found him quickly, kumalabog ang dibdib ko nang natagpuan ko ito na nasa akin na ang mga mata.

"Jaycee," I called. Napatingin ang ilan naming kaklase sa amin. Mabuti na lamang at medyo maingay dahil may kanya-kanya silang mundo. Even Adrian and Sky didn't hear me call him because they were busy laughing at each other. I badly want to roll my eyes at them right now.

"Why are you calling him?" Andrew suddenly stood up and asked me at tila ba ay naiinis ang mga mata nito. Ngunit hindi sa akin, kung hindi ay kay Jaycee.

Bumuga ako ng hangin at hindi siya pinansin. Binalik ko ang mga mata ko kay Jaycee na nasa akin pa rin naman ang mga mata hanggang ngayon. I secretly gulped. Pakiramdam ko ay pinapanood nito ang mga galaw ko.

"Ms. Cruz asked me to call you," ani ko. Bumaling siya sa labas ng bintana at doon ay nakita niya si Ms. Cruz na naghihintay sa labas. Mabilis naman siyang tumango at nilapag pa ang isang ballpen sa lamesa ni Ismael na hawak ang kanyang cell phone at abala doon. Mabilis akong lumabas ng classroom at bumalik kay Ms. Cruz. Ilang sandali pa ay naramdaman ko ang pagtayo ni Jaycee sa aking tabi sa harapan ni Ms. Cruz.

"Okay, so I called the both of you here to remind you of what you have to do after your last class, which is this, right?" Marahan akong tumango at ganoon din naman si Jaycee. Hindi ko maiwasan na mapunta ang aking mga mata sa kanya, "I'm expecting the both of you at the gym after this, okay?" Aniya sa amin. Tulad kanina ay sabay kaming tumango. Ms. Cruz just chuckled when we just nodded at her, "Napaka tahimik niyo talaga!" Umiiling niyang saad, "Sige na, I'll see you later. Be ready, tuturuan ko kayong maglakad," again, we nodded.

She left after that at naiwan kaming dalawa ni Jaycee sa labas facing her back. Bago pa siya maunang umalis ay mabilis na akong nag martsa papasok at pabalik sa loob ng aming classroom.

--

"Should you go wearing a uniform?" Shaheal asked nang natapos na ang klase namin at ihahatid nila ako sa may gym. Doon ang sinabing lugar ni Ms. Cruz sa amin kanina bago kami lumabas ng room namin. I don't actually know what's that gym at kung saan iyon. That's why I asked Shaheal to be with me along with Crystal.

"It's okay, tuturuan lang kami lumakad," sagot ko naman habang tinatahak namin ang daan papunta doon. I wonder if he's already there or not. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan sa dapat kong gawin. Pakiramdam ko lang ay kinakabahan lamang ako dahil hindi ko alam ang dapat kong maging kilos kasama siya.

"We'll be there," ani Crystal. Wala na sa amin ang nagsalita pa at agad naman kaming nakarating sa gym nilang tinatawag. Malaki iyon at maluwang. May mga upuan din na mahahaba sa bawat gilid at may isang bilog pa doon na mataas at may net na kulay puti. Kumunot ang noo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang bagay na iyon.

"What do you call that thing?" Crystal asked while she's also eyeing that thing.

"Oh, that's the basketball ring. You know, basketball? A game where boys have to shoot the ball to that ring and score?" Sinusubukan niyang paliwanag sa amin. Marahan naman akong tumango. Kahit paano naman ay napaliwanag niya iyon at sapat na para maintindihan namin kahit paano at kahit hindi pa namin ito nakikita o napapanood ng personal.

"Cali!" Bumungad agad sa akin si Cruz. Nakangiti ako nitong tinawag at kumakaway pa sa akin.

"I really think that Ms. Cruz is getting fond of you," natatawang komento ni Shaheal. Napailing na lamang ako at agad na lumapit. Sila Shaheal at Crystal ay naupo muna. Hinanap ng mga mata ko si Jaycee ngunit hindi ko siya natagpuan sa buong gym na wala namang katao-tao.

"Ms. Cruz, " I said as I went in front of her.

"Where's Jaycee?" He asked. I bit my lower lips. Is she expecting me to come here with him? No, after what just happened on the rooftop earlier. I don't even want to be with him now. It's uncomfortable already.

"I don't know, I came with my fr--"

"I'm here," mabilis kaming napalingon sa aking likuran at doon ay bumungad sa akin si Jaycee na naglalakad papunta sa amin. Nakabulsa ang isa niyang kamay habang ang isa ay hawak ang bag niya na nakasabit sa kanyang isang balikat. Mabilis kong binalik ang mga mata ko kay Ms. Cruz at lihim na napalunok. Tumikhim agad ako at matipid lamang na ngumiti kay Ms. Cruz, "Sorry, am I late?" Tanong nito. Ms. Cruz just chuckled at him.

"No, just on time," ani Ms. Cruz at tiningnan pa ang suot nitong wrist watch. Kung maaari ko lang hilingin na sana ay hindi na lang siya dumating. That would be better than being here.

"What are we going to do now?" I asked to make a new topic. Naramdaman ko ang pagbaling niya sa akin at pilit akong hindi lumingon sa kanyang gawi at mapanatili lamang ang mga mata ko kay Ms. Cruz na malawak ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi sa aming dalawa ni Jaycee. I don't think she's just fond of me, sa palagay ko ay pati na rin kay Jaycee. I can barely see that right now on her face.

Bumuga ng hangin si Ms. Cruz at tumaas ang kilay sa amin habang suot pa rin nito ang mas malawak niya pang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi ngayon. Ang mga mata nito ay nagniningning habang pinagmamasdan kami ni Jaycee sa kanyang harapan.

"I'm gonna teach the both of you how to walk with power in front of the crowd," proud niyang pahayag at tumingin sa kawalan habang malawak pa rin ang kanyang ngiti. Tila ba ay nakikita na niya iyon sa kanyang isipan. Kumunot ang aking noo sa kanya. I'm starting feel weird to Ms. Cruz.

"Now, hold each other's hand," pahayag niya sa aming dalawa.

"What?" We both said in chorus. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at ako na agad ang umiwas sa mga matang iyon at gulat na tiningnan si Ms. Cruz. Mahina itong tumawa sa aming dalawa matapos namin sumagot ng sabay.

"I thought you're gonna teach us how to walk with power?" Sa isip ko ay kahit hindi niya ako ay turuan ay talaga namang may kapangyarihan ako. I can walk with real fire all over my body but not in front of the whole crowd. Not now that they are all innocent at nasa paligid lamang namin ang mga kalaban.

"Yeah, but first, hold each other's hand!"

Natigilan ako at mariin na pumikit. I want to burn Kristel alive again because of what she did.

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