Yenn's POV
Pagkatapos maghilamos, I checked my reflection on the mirror. Huminga ako nang malalim at inisip kung paano ako kakain nang hindi nahahanap. Panibagong araw na naman at nandito ako sa Underworld CR ng girls.
Buti natakasan ko ang mga tao. Ano na naman ba kasi 'tong pakulo ni Xyril? Gawin ba namang photo collage ang buong school bulletin board!
Kaninang pagpasok ko, mula sa malayo ay nakita ko nang pinuno niya ng pictures naming dalawa ang board at may mga nakakasuka pang nakasulat. Kaya ngayon, hinahanap ako ng halos lahat ng fangirls niya para ipakita yata sa'kin iyon o para gerahin ako. Hindi ko alam.
Tss. Hirap na hirap na nga akong magtago sa kanya, dadagdag pa ang fangirls niya?
Bago lumabas ay muli kong tinignan ang reflection ko.
Pagkalabas ko naman ay maingat kong tinignan ang paligid.
Clear.
Walang palaka. Walang mga baliw.
Mabilis akong naglakad hanggang sa nakarating ako sa Styx Underclub. Dumaan pa ako sa shortcut na kaunti lang ang tao.
Phew. Mission accomplished!
Nakarating ako sa Styx Underclub nang hindi nakikita ni Xyril. Check!
Nakarating ako sa Styx Underclub nang hindi nakikita ng mga fangirls. Check!
Umupo muna ako sa may counter at saka umorder. Nagtataka siguro kayo kung anong kalokohan na naman 'tong inaatupag ko.
Well, simula kasi noong sinabi ni Xyril ang mga pambobola niya noong birthday ko... simula noong naramdaman ko 'tong mga demonyo sa tyan ko... nilayuan ko siya. I've been avoiding him for three days already.
I don't know. Ayaw ko lang na mapalapit pa lalo. Ayokong dumepende ulit. Alam niyo ba ang feeling na 'yon? Ayoko nang masaktan. Ayoko nang umasa. O maniwala o sumugal.
I didn't want to admit it... but I'm scared.
Tell me I'm a coward, a total loser, or whatever term you have there... I don't care. Kahit ipamukha niyo pa sa'kin 'yan, wala akong pakialam.
Kasalanan ko bang natatakot ako? Natatakot akong mapalapit at magmahal ulit ng taong balang araw ay alam kong iiwan lang din akong durog.
Besides, who knows? Maaaring hindi naman talaga totoo ang sinasabi ng palaka. There's a good chance that everything he's doing is just a tiny detail of his grand scheme to uncover my secrets.
If that's the case, playing right into his hands will just repeat whatever I regrettably allowed to happen to me back in the Philippines. I have no extra time to make such stupid mistakes again.
Sumubo ako ng inorder kong pagkain. Maybe that bastard Kio really managed to leave a huge wound in my heart, and unfortunately, I'm still not done healing.
I've never truly realized how real the trauma he gave me was until today... until I discovered I'm anxious to love again...
Kahit totoo man ang intensyon ng palaka o hindi, my broken and traumatized system is telling me to run away. Kaya habang maaga pa, I need to stay away from him. I need to avoid the frog prince at all costs.
Sigurado naman akong sa ganoong paraan, I can shake this weird feeling off. Siguro naman ay mawawala rin 'to, 'di ba?
Baka sakaling kung ano man 'to ay dahil lang sa pagkamiss ko sa mga taong mahal at iniwan ko sa Pilipinas. Baka sakaling 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit naghahanap ng ibang mamahalin ang puso ko.
Ganoon naman talaga, 'di ba? Whenever your heart is yearning for people far away from you, you tend to search for a replaceme—
"Hey!"
"Ay palaka!" Sht, kainis naman to. Bigla biglang nanggugulat. Tinignan ko kung sino yung walangyang nanggulat. Medyo kinakabahan pa ko kasi baka si Xyril, but I saw Jaeho instead. He gave me a half-smile and then umupo sa tabi ko sa may counter.
"Your reaction was really funny. Priceless," aniya habang nakatingin sa akin.
Simula noong isang araw, noong sinimulan kong layuan si Xyril, siya ang naging madalas kong kasama. Ewan ko ba sa Koreyanong 'yan, palaging bumubuntot.
Kara, on the other hand, has been very busy with her clan.
Napairap naman ako sa tinuran ni Jaeho. "Uh-huh. So that's why you managed to give me just a half-smile," I said sarcastically.
"You didn't even give me a smile at all," he chuckled. "I'm sorry for my face. It's naturally emotionless, so I can't do anything 'bout it. But hey, I tried my best to smile at you."
"Should I feel flattered or something?" I raised a brow.
Ngumiti naman ulit siya. "Can I share something? I just need someone to talk to," aniya pagkarating ng order niya.
"Talk to your clan, then," I suggested. Bakit kasi ako?
Gumamit siya ng straw para mabagal na haluin ang iced tea niya. He smirked, "Well, I can't really tell 'em. Complicated stuff."
I raised a brow. "Complicated stuff?"
His smile grew wider. "It doesn't matter. So, what do you say? Will you be my listening buddy? Just for now? Like... a listening-buddy-for-rent." At medyo natawa siya sa sarili niyang korning joke. Pwe.
Since wala na naman akong magagawa, I just shrugged and hoped that's an enough signal for him to continue whatever he's saying. Buti na lang at nagets niya naman.
"It's about Kara..." he started, and that made me look at him.
"What about her?"
"Well, we've been talking again for a week now." Tinignan ko pa siya para ipakitang naghihintay ako sa sunod niyang sasabihin. "I mean.. this is new, right? She's not ignoring me anymore. The funnier part was, she's the one who texted me first."
"Uh-huh," I reacted. Mga 25 seconds ng katahimikan bago siya nagsimula ulit.
"It's like we're okay, like we're friends again. She'd tell me about her day, and I'd tell her about mine. Except the part that I haven't gotten over her yet, of course."
Umayos ako ng upo at sinubo ang huling natira sa pagkain ko. "So, what exactly is your problem here? Isn't this a good thing for an ex-who-is-still-stuck-in-the-moment?" I said as I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, but not entirely. You see, she asked me if we could be friends, and out of desperation to be with her again, I said yes. So now, she tells me everything. She even tells me all about him. She tells me how much she loves Axe, and it hurts, Yenn." Napatingin ulit ako sa kanya nang nabanggit niya si Xyril.
"She means nothing to Xyril." I don't know why I sounded so bitter, but that's what came out from my mouth.
"I know, and knowing that he's just ignoring the girl I'm in love with is even more painful. And me? Huh, I can't do anything but pretend to be happy for her. I don't know... I love her so much that I'm willing to pretend. Because no matter how hard I try, I can't move on. I can't be really happy for her... It hurts like hell, but the least I can do for her is to hide the pain."
Kahit walang expression ang mukha niya, it is very obvious that he is pained. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita kasi hindi naman ako marunong magcomfort. Alam ko rin na hindi niya kailangan 'yon ngayon. Ang kailangan niya ay taong handang manahimik at makinig. And that's what I can give him.
"Thanks, Yenn... for listening. And sorry for too much drama," he chuckled.
Dahil ang awkward pa rin gawa ng bigla niyang pagdadrama, I said, "I know right. Too mushy."
Napangiti naman siya. "I didn't know an ice can break itself," he said, quoting an idiomatic expression.
Medyo napangiti naman ako roon. "Just making things light."
Maya-maya lang din ay nauna na akong umalis dahil magtatime na. Kulang na nga lang ay magmaskara na ako sa sobrang pag-iingat kong huwag makita ni Xyril.
I know he personally made a rule for me to date him, at alam ko ring there's a certain punishment once I disobey.
And now I'm clearly disobeying his rule.
Of course, I haven't forgotten all about the consequences, but who cares? Mabully na ng lahat kung mabully, getting rid of these shitty feelings for him is more important to me than anything else right now.
☠
Someone's POV
I was walking along the hallway when I heard—for the fourth time—another two girls giddily talking about Axe and Yenn. What's happening? I've been hearing Axe and that bitch's names since I crossed under Cerberus earlier this morning.
It's getting on my nerves now.
I couldn't help it so I decided to confront them. "What are you two talking about?" I asked with a brow raised.
The girl on the right side suddenly took a step back. Oh, you poor little thing. Scared already? I haven't even lifted a finger yet, bitch.
"U-uhm, w-we were talking about the b-bulletin," the girl on the left, trying to sound confident, failed and said.
"What about the bulletin?" I asked, grabbing her uniform's collar. I waited... and waited and waited for them to talk, but I guess they're too afraid to speak or even look at me. So I just rolled my eyes and went to the main bulletin to see what's really happening with my own gorgeous eyes.
And guess what? What I saw made my day ultimately worse. It was a photo collage of Axe and Yenn, there's even a 1/2 illustration board sized poster that has an ugly picture of Yenn and that says:
_______________________
WANTED:
YENN CERVENTEZ
for hiding from me and
taking my heart with her.
Please give her back so
I can finally lock her hand
with mine.
_______________________
I rolled my eyes twice in so much annoyance. URG! I HATE IT! I HATE HER! I hate her so much! Xyril has never done this for me!
Ugh. I inhaled and then exhaled as I walked my way to the bulletin board. With both of my hands, I removed and tore it all. I don't give a fuck about what people will say. I'm angry, and they can't do anything about it.
I grabbed the last picture posted on the board. I crumpled it and tore it into pieces. Then I closed my eyes and exhaled.
Because of the bad vibes radiating throughout my body, I decided to have a drink at Styx Underclub. Tequila would do. I just need something to comfort me.
When I entered the club, the energy and the music lightened me up a bit. Well, at least for the first few minutes. At the corner of my eye, I noticed something that drained my energy and boiled my blood all over again.
What's this bitch doing with Jaeho? First, MY Xyril, and now... Jaeho? And Jaeho's even laughing with her!
Seriously?! What a horny slut you are, Yenn.
I changed my mind and decided to forget the idea of drinking. Nevermind that tequila, I need to do something. Asap.
So, I took the nearest route to our clanbase. I have a plan. I need to ruin that bitch's image and repu—
"Any news, man?"
"Nah. I think she's avoiding me."
Huh? Are those Xyril and Phil talking? Hmm, alright.
Eavesdropping mode: ON.
Ninja mode: Activated.
I took a step backward and hid behind one of the big pillars. I moved carefully as I tried not to make even the slightest sound.
"That sucks. Didn't you make a rule that she must date you no matter what?" I heard Phil asked.
"Yeah?" Axe answered.
"And now she's avoiding you. Dude! Isn't that considered breaking your rules? Man, you gotta press the button."
"You think so, huh," Axe uttered.
"Definitely. If you don't, those bastards will stop taking your rules and consequences seriously."
"You might have a point," Axe admitted.
With that, an evil grin formed on my lips. Hmm, Yenn Denise Cerventez, you are sooo dead.
☠
Yenn's POV
Nang tumunog ang bell ay kaagad kong inayos ang gamit ko at nagmamadaling lumabas ng room. Kaso noong paglabas ko... &!@&$¥SHIT!
Halos napatakbo ako pabalik sa classroom nang nakita ko si Xyril na nakatingin sa'kin at naghihintay sa labas ng classroom ko. Tatakbo na sana talaga ako kaso ay mabilis niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko at hinila ako para ikulong sa kanyang mga bisig.
"I miss you..." bulong niya, at nagka-instant party naman ang mga kulugong bakulaw sa tyan ko. Tss.
Hindi ako nagsalita kaya nagsalita na naman siya, "bakit mo ako iniiwasan?"
Mas hinigpitan niya ang pagkayakap sa akin. Wala nga yata siyang pakialam kahit pinagtitinginan na kami ngayon. Kung siya walang pake, pwes ako... pwes ako... pwes... bakit ganoon?
Bakit parang wala na rin akong pakialam kung pinagtitinginan kami?
Shit! Ito na naman ako eh. Taena. I shook my thoughts away at tinulak siya upang kumawala sa kanyang yakap sa kabila ng pagwelga ng mga alaga ko sa tyan. Tsk.
"Hindi kita iniiwasan."
Hinawakan niya ang baba ko at iniharap niya ako sa kanya, "eh ba't ka umiiwas ng tingin?"
Iginalaw ko ang ulo ko para mabitawan niya ito. "Hindi 'no. Tsk. Basta. Uuwi na ako," masungit kong sabi.
Mas hinigpitan niya ang paghawak sa kamay ko. "Umiiwas ka, eh. Nakita mo ba 'yong bulletin? Sweet ko 'no," mahangin niyang pang-asar.
"Pake ko? Tss, ginawa mo lang naman 'yon para gerahin ako ng fans mo," sabi ko, unintentionally sounding so bitter.
"Hindi ah," sabi niya kaagad. "Pinahanap pa nga kita sa kanila dahil ayaw mong magpakita. Bakit ba?"
I exhaled. "Para tigilan mo na ako. O ano, okay na ba? Pwede na ba akong umalis?"
"Bakit kita titigilan? Eh gusto nga kita," aniya.
"Pwede ba? Wala kang maloloko rito."
Medyo nagbago ang expression ng mukha niya. For a moment, I think I even saw sadness in his eyes. Bigla naman akong naguilty. Shit, ba't ako naguguilty?
"Bakit ba ayaw mo maniwalang gusto kita? Hindi mo pa rin ba ramdam?" seryoso niyang tanong habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. Ang isa naman niyang kamay ay ipinanghawak niya sa buhok na tila nafufrustrate.
Sa totoo lang, aminin ko man o hindi, nararamdaman kong may katotohanan sa mga sinasabi at pinapakita sa'kin ni Xyril. Ni hindi ko na nga siya nakikita na may kasamang ibang babae simula noong sinabi niya sa'king 'di na siya aakbay ng iba.
Still, ano naman kung sa tingin ko'y seryoso na siya? I thought Kio was serious too, and look what happened. That didn't end well, did it?
Binawi ko ang kamay ko at tumalikod kay Xyril. "Ayoko sa mga manloloko," matigas kong sabi at saka bumaba sa hagdan ng building namin.
Saktong pagkarating ko sa grounds ay nag-alarm ang lahat ng speakers.
~Attention, Devils! Someone has broken a rule. *long pause* I am officially putting the Punishment of Disobedience on the hands of... Yenn Denise Cerventez. You know what to do with rule breakers!~
Paulit-ulit itong umalingawngaw sa buong campus. Hindi nagtagal ay pinalibutan na ako ng mga students.
This is it. The punishment.
Xyril pressed the button. He pressed it. Pinarusahan niya talaga ako. Pinindot niya ang button na ginagamit lamang para sa mga kumakalaban sa kanya.
Napayuko ako nang may pumalo ng bakal sa likod ko.
Shit, that freaking hurt. Sumugod ang isa at lumaban naman ako pabalik. Ano ako? Tanga para hindi lumaban? Tss, si Rianne 'yon. Hindi si Yenn.
Nakapagpabagsak kaagad ako ng tatlo kahit masakit ang likod ko. Still, parang hindi sila nababawasan at mas lalo lang dumadami.
May isang babaeng inikutan ako ng kadena upang hindi ako makagalaw. May iilan namang bumato sa'kin ng pebbles, ng itlog, at ng kung ano-ano pang naisipan nilang gamitin.
Ang tanging nagawa ko na lang ay umilag gamit ang ulo ko. Sinuntok ako ng isa at sinipa pa ng dalawa, pero hindi pa rin ako bumagsak. Pinalo ulit ako ng bakal, but this time, itinira na 'to sa mga hita ko na siyang kaagad na nagpaupo sa akin.
As if those aren't enough to satisfy them, parang nakataling aso akong kinaladkad ng isang lalaki papunta sa tuktok ng hagdan.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at unti-unting nagpanic ang buong sistema ko.
Shit. Akala ko ba bully lang? Tangina, balak na yata akong patayin ng mga 'to. Puta, ang sakit na! Curse that frog prince!
"Fuck. Stop it, assholes!" sigaw ko habang pilit na pumipiglas. Kaso... anong laban ko sa kadena at sa lagpas trentang mga demonyong 'to?
"Guys, do you have something like a needle and a thread to shut this slut's mouth?" malakas na tanong nung may hawak sa'kin na may malademonyong ngiti.
"Nah, do we look like some fucking tailors?" sagot naman ng isa, tapos ay may biglang nagbato ng tape. Dali-dali nilang tinapalan ng packaging tape ang bibig ko.
Noong sigurado na silang hindi ako makakasigaw, ilang beses nila akong sinugatan sa braso. Dumugo naman kaagad ito. Shit. Binuka-buka pa nila 'to at tinusok-tusok.
"Hmmmm!!" daing ko. May isang luhang tumakas sa aking kaliwang mata. FUCK!
"Are you ready for the final round?" nakangisi nilang tanong. Tinignan ko isa-isa ang mga mukha nilang nagsasaya na tila may fiesta.
I was half-expecting Xyril to suddenly appear and save me like how story heroes saved their heroines. But who am I kidding? He's no prince charming, after all. He's even the root cause of all these. The fucking villain in a prince's clothing.
Pumikit ako kasabay ng pamumuo ng galit sa aking dibdib. Sabi ko na nga ba, eh. Xyril might seem serious, but he's really just toying with me. Because if he really did like me, hindi niya hahayaang danasin ko ang parusang 'to.
He's just like Kio.
Binuhat ako ng isang kalbong lalaki at hinulog sa hagdan. I shut my eyes off. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang paggulong ko at ang pagtama ng noo, tuhod, balakang, at katawan ko sa bawat kanto ng hagdan. Ramdam ko rin ang pag-agos ng dugo mula sa aking ulo.
When I hit the ground, I tried to open my eyes but my vision is all blurry. Sobrang sakit na rin ng aking katawan. Is this the end?
Naaninag ko ang isang babae sa harapan ko, habang ang iba ay nasa likod niya. "Isn't it fun? Wanna try itblahjvwe welnjdwdva—"
Marami pa yatang sinasabi ang babaeng ito ngunit wala na akong maintindihan.
Ang naiintindihan ko na lang sa ngayon... if Xyril really likes me, he wouldn't have pressed that damn button.
For the second time in my life, my vision turned pitch black.
—
☆ 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 ☆
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