Enjoy reading! <3

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TATIANA

Napa ngiwi na lang ako habang naka tingin sa kawalan. Kakalabas lang ni Samuel, isa sa mga body guard ko. Simula nung nalaman nila Mom 'yung nangyari sa cafeteria, mas lalong nadagdagan ang body guards na nakapaligid sa akin.

Argh, I hate this shit.

I've been confined here for almost two days even though what happened to me was not that serious. It's just a simple allergy, they're just overacting.

Earlier, Butler Lee informed me that I would be discharged on Monday, but I'll do my best to leave here tomorrow as soon as possible. Today is Saturday and these past few days have been boring for me.

Nalaman kong may halong mani ang graham na kinain ko sa Cafeteria. How ironic. Why did they even include peanuts in it? Because Graham is my favorite, it's expected that I will eat a lot. Because I ate a lot, I consumed a lot of peanuts too. In the beginning, I didn't believe the statements of the cafeteria cooks because there was no way I wouldn't notice it combined in my graham. The cooks explained that they used crushed peanuts, which explains why I didn't even notice it.

The news about me being hospitalized has been spread throughout the whole of Octavia High. Because of that, there was a crowd outside the hospital and even in my room because of my schoolmates and admirers who wants to take a look at my condition. Thanks to my dearest bodyguards, no one has succeeded yet in entering my room except for one person, which is Smiley guy, Ethan. Tulad ng iba, hinarang din siya ng mga body guards ko at hindi pinapasok tulad nang inutos ko pero ang loko, sumigaw ng sumigaw sa labas. Nakakahiya na kaya sinabihan ko na silang papasukin na siya. Kaka alis lang niya kanina kaya mag isa na ko uli dito sa kwarto ko sa ospital.

Napabuntong hininga 'ko, Why do I suddenly feel so sad being left all alone here?

Never mind.

I decided to lie down on my hospital bed and tried to convince myself to sleep for at least an hour, but my mind and body were too persistent like its owner. I couldn't sleep.

Nahagip ng mata ko ang bag ko sa may couch. Tumayo ako at lumapit do'n habang hila-hila ang IV stand ko. I opened it, my three phones were in there with my other belongings. I took them all before going back to my bed.

First, I opened my real phone. There are a bunch of text messages and missed calls that keeps on popping on its screen. Most of them were from my cousin, Connor.

From: Connor, eşcinsel.

Selam, kuzen! I heard what happened. What are you feeling?

eşcinsel means gay in Turkish, while Selam, kuzen means Hey, cousin.

From: Connor, eşcinsel

Hindi kita mabibisita ngayon, baka bukas na pero pipilitin ko. 🤗🙃

From: Connor, eşcinsel

Anyway, get well soon, couz! Remember, you haven't got a boyfriend yet, don't die. Don't let Dalia beat you! 😂😂😆

Mabilis naman akong nag reply.

To: Connor, eşcinsel

I'm fine. Don't worry. It's just an allergy.😏😏Anyway, I'll smack you if we meet. For your information, I won't lose to that Brat.🙄🙄

Nakalimutan kong siya pala muna ang pinag ma-manage ko ng Emeralds, my cosmetic company. Wala kasi akong tiwala sa iba kong nga kamag-anak. Sa totoo lang ay da-dalawa lang ata halos ang pinag-kakatiwalaan kong pinsan, isa na do'n si Connor. Iba kasi siya sa iba kong pinsan, wala siyang pakialam sa bagay-bagay na may koneksiyon sa pera. He just wants to have fun while he's young, except for investigating his father's disappearance when he was young. We're also pretty close. He's a good guy. I'm certain about that.

However, he likes girls. You know what I mean.

Pag katapos kong mag reply ay tinignan ko rin ang iba pang mensahe na natanggap ko. Nagulat pa ko nang makita ang isang mensahe galing sa isa ko pang pinsan, si Dalia.

From: Bratty Dalia

Hey, couz! You're such a fool! Are you still alive? Don't die, okay?🤗 I will beat you, remember?😏💖

Nag salubong kaagad ang mga kilay ko sa nabasa kong mensahe mula sa kaniya, pero sa huli ay napangiti rin naman. She may be a brat, but I know she's having a hard time there. Hindi ko alam ang buong nangyari sa babaitang 'to dahil hindi naman siya pala kwento at laging nagkikim-kim.

But still, she called me fool!

Mabilis akong nag-reply.

To: Bratty Dalia

Brat! Do you dare call me fool? Fuck you! But yeah, as you can see, I'm still alive. I'm not going to die without pulling your hair.🙄🙄💅

"She's really a brat." Bulong ko.

After checking my first phone, I took my second phone. I knew from the start that I could receive tons of messages from those people, asking about my condition and more. Some of them were from the fashion industry, celebrities, social media influencers, and many more. I didn't bother to take a look at all of these messages as I knew that behind those kind and thoughtful messages that I've received from them are different kinds of motives. Walang libre sa mundo, kung may tumulong sa'yo, asahan mong may inaantay na kapalit 'yan. That's how my mind works right now, thanks to my lifestyle and to that two-faced bitch.

Kukunin ko na sana ang pangatlong telepono ko, kaya lang ay nag ingay bigla ang una kong telepono. Nang tignan ko kung sino ang tumawag, napakunot na lang ako dahil sa pagtataka ng makitang unknown number ang tumatawag. Nag dadalawang isip ako kung sasagot ako, pero sa huli ay sinagot ko pa rin.

"Who the fuck are you?" Bungad kong tanong.

I waited for a response, but I got nothing. Kunot noo kong tinignan kung naka patay na ba ang tawag, pero hindi naman.

What is this? A prank call?

"I suggest you talk while you can still talk to me. If you are doing some kind of shitty prank, just fuck yourself and leave me alone. " Inis kong sabi at walang sabi-sabing binabaan ito ng tawag.

Dahil sa inis, hindi ko na na check 'yung isa ko pang telepono. Instead, I lay down on my bed while glaring at the hospital ceiling as if it was the unknown caller earlier.

May kausap ba ko kanina? Eh, ako nga lang ang nag sasalita. Siguro ay tawa ng tawa yung tumawag sa akin kanina.

About my I.D. Butler informed me yesterday that my I.D hadn't been found, but he said he'd try his best. It's a good thing that I got confine though. I won't be struggling for almost a week at Octavia High because of my lost I.D. Butler Lee told me that it might take a long time for me to get a new I.D. If I were not studying at Octavia High right now, this would not be a big deal at all. I could have a new I.D without worrying about how long it will take to process it and other stuff.

Octavia high is really something...

Naalala ko bigla 'yung nangyari bago ako mawalan ng malay. Ethan told me that a student pointed a gun at another student because of jealousy. I somehow remember that scene, but I couldn't recall that student's face. I'm certain that that student would get expelled, or if the higher-ups gave that student another chance, that student might get suspended as a punishment.

Why do I even care?

Buti na lang, nang nawalan ako ng malay ay saktong dumating ang mga body guards na pinapunta ni Butler Lee, dala ang isa ko pang kotse, kaya nadala agad ako sa hospital.

Katulad ng inaasahan ko, puro bagong mukha na naman ang body guards ko. Siguro, tinanggal na ang mga bodyguards na nasuhulan ko nung nakaraan o kaya naman ay baka nalipat sila sa ibang lugar. Kaya mas mabuting lakihan na nila ang hingin nila sa'kin dahil 'yon na ang huling perang makukuha nila sa famiglia Maurer kung mamalasin sila.

See? I'm too kind.

Whatever.

"You're creeping me out." I almost fell from the hospital bed when a man's voice echoed in my room.

My eyes grew bigger as I saw how the responsible person for startling me was just sitting comfortably on the sofa, which is not too far from my hospital bed, where I'm currently sitting while hugging my pillow.

"What--How did you get in here?! " Gulat na sigaw ko sa kaniya.

How the fuck--okay, calm down.

What is he doing here? Sigurado akong hindi siya pumunta dito para lang bisitahin ako dahil hindi kami close. How did he manage to sneak in here? I'm sure my bodyguards were all well-trained!

Tinaasan niya ko ng kilay. "I entered the door." Sarkastikong sagot niya.

He really pissed me off.

Nasaan ang mga body guards? Mukhang hindi pa nila alam na naka pasok ng walang kahirap-hirap ang lalaking 'to. Kailangan kong mag ingat. He's dangerous, I'm sure of that.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "What are you doing here? Are you here to kill me? " Kinakabang usal ko. That's the only thing I could think of as his reason for coming here without noticing my bodyguards. He's quite good.

If what I'm thinking right now turns out to be true, then I'm dead. If, since the beginning, he came to Octavia High to end my precious life as an assassin, I'm doomed. Who's the person behind this, though? They could be one of my cousins or relatives, if not, maybe someone who holds a grudge against me? Who could it be? Ariadne? No, it is impossible.

"Ang daldal mo." Naka simangot na sagot niya at umalis sa pag kakaupo sa sofa. He was staring at me as if I had done the weirdest thing he could think of. "You're acting weird, rolling your eyes before smirking. Did you get your brain damaged too? " He asked while frowning at me.

"A-ano?! You shameless frick--Wag kang lalapit! "sigaw ko. Sinadya kong lakasan ang sigaw ko para marinig sa labas. Halos iuntog ko ang sarili ko sa pader ng maalalang sound proof pala ang kwartong 'to!

"Subukan mong lumapit, ibabalibag kita!" Banta ko kahit hindi naman totoo.

Nag sisisi tuloy ako na hindi ko sineryoso ang mga tinuturo sa akin ni Master Zhiang noon. I used to hate his lessons before.

Hindi man lang siya natinag sa banta ko at nag patuloy na lumapit sa'kin. Kasabay ng pag lapit niya ay ang pag atras ko. Hindi ko napansin na wala na akong uurungan kaya nanlaki na lang ang mata ko ng wala nang makapa na kama ang kamay ko. I immediately tried to reach for something I could hold but I got unlucky. Pinikit ko na lang ang mga mata ko at hinintay na lang ang pagbagsak ko habang hinahanda na ang sarili ko na indahin ang sakit na matatamo ko sa likuran at pwetan ko pero wala akong naramraman na sakit maliban na lang sa kamay na humila sa kamay kong naghahanap ng makakapitan kanina. I felt something wrapped around my waist while my eyes were still closed.

Muntik na 'yon.

I opened my eyes after I felt something fall around my neck. I looked down to check it and, to my surprise, it was my I.D lace with my I.D attached to it. I checked my I.D if it was really mine. I blew a breath as I felt relieved to see my face and signature on it.

"No need to thank me." Napa angat ako ng tingin ng marinig ko siyang nag salita. Doon ko lang narealize na nakasubsob pala ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya at naka palibot ang kamay niya sa leeg ko dahil sinuot niya sakin ang ID ko.

Mabilis akong lumayo sa kaniya at umusog papunta sa mga unan. "Saan mo 'to nakuha?" I asked while looking at my feet, avoiding any chance of having eye contact with him. I was sitting with my legs formed into an Indian seat while hugging my pillow again. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko siya matignan ng diretso.

I felt how the part of the mattress next to me had sunk as if someone had sat on it. He sat next to me. Seconds passed until I felt a hand caressing my hair again, softly.

He spoke while his hand was still caressing my hair, "I noticed how your I.D got detached from your I.D lace. It looks like you're thinking about something serious. You didn't even notice how it fell and how it made a sound. " Aniya.

Should I thank him? Pero kakasabi lang niya kanina na 'No need to thank me'. But I don't want to owe him anything. Bahala na, basta mag papasalamat na lang ako. Kung ayaw niyang tanggapin, edi 'wag. As long as I thanked him, it's not my problem anymore if he accepted it or not.

"Thank you." Usal ko ng hindi man lang siya matignan. "You really saved my ass," I added.

"Why don't you seem sincere?" He asked, slightly frowning.

Huh?

I looked up at him while shooting my glares in his direction, "Bakit?" Nag tatakang tanong niya. "You're not looking at me while thanking me." He said while frowning. "I couldn't see your eyes." He added.

Nag salubong ang kilay ko. "Ano naman?" mataray na tanong ko.

What's wrong with me not looking directly into his eyes while thanking him? Is having our eyes connected to each other a new requirement to thank a person you owe? The fuck? So what if I'm not looking? Does that even matter? He's so weird. I don't get the way he thinks. The way his mind works is definitely not something for me to be interested in, but why am I suddenly interested in how it works?

He shrugged. "Nevermind." Aniya at umalis na sa pagkaka upo sa hospital bed ko."Anyway, I'm leaving." He informed me but he just stood up before me, "Take care," he added.

I look at him confusedly when he walks towards the open window in my room. The curtains were being blown away from their original position as the wind entered my room.

"Don't tell me—" Napapikit ako ng mata sa inis ng hindi na naman niya ako pinatapos sa pagsasalita.

"Of course not." He cut me off.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Hindi pa ko tapos magsalita. Are you making fun of me?!" As irritation enveloped my whole body, I took the pillow, which is what I used to hug since I got hospitalized here, and threw it in his direction with my full force.

Akala ko ay iilag siya, kaya lang humarap pa siya sa akin at mukhang may sasabihin pa. Kasabay ng pag harap niya ay ang pag tama ng unan na binato ko sa mukha niya.I don't know how I will react to this. I was just staring at him, patiently waiting for his priceless reaction, as he was just looking down since he received my pillow with his face.

Galit ba siya? Nakokonsensiya na tuloy ako.

"H-hey." Tawag ko sa kaniya, pero hindi niya man lang ako binigyan ng pansin o tignan man lang bagkus ay nanatiling naka yuko. He's not moving an inch, as if he's been completely frozen from his location.

Don't tell me iiyak siya? He's such a crybaby! It's not even that hard. My pillow is so soft and fluffy! I'm pretty sure it doesn't hurt like hell.

"Hoy!" Sigaw ko dito, pero di man lang niya ko pinapansin.

Is this some kind of game? Should I call him by his fucking name? That's lame.

Fine. He had better have an explanation for this shit.

"Bristole Nolan Brown!" I shouted, asking for his attention. Finally, after a year, he finally noticed my presence.

"What was that for? " Inis na tanong nito habang salubong ang kilay.

"You're ignoring me! I thought you were going to leave na? "

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya. "I just found something." Bumalik ang tingin niya sa may paanan niya. "Hindi ko alam na manyak ka pala."

My eyes widen. "Gago ka ba?" Hindi ko na pigilan na magmura. Good timing, my room is soundproof, no one will hear me, cussing.

"Now you're cursing me?" nakangising tanong niya bago bumaba na naman ang tingin niya sa may sahig.

Nakangisi siya, pero mukhang naka simangot pa rin, bakit bagay sa kaniya? How?!

"I thought you were not allowed to cuss or something?" Dagdag na tanong niya na nagpalaki sa mga mata ko.

Gulat akong napatingin sa kaniya. How did he know that?! No one has any knowledge of the rules that I need to obey except us, Maurers, nor our trusted staff! How did he gain this knowledge about the rules? "How the fuck--"

He cut me off, "Because I'm awesome." Mayabang na sagot niya.

"Bastard. " Bulong ko. "Narinig ko 'yon." He chuckles.

Wtf.

I looked at him, "Hindi bagay sayo." I lied.

He looked away. "I know," he said. "No need to remind me." He added.

Sinimangutan ko siya. "Don't change the fucking topic, you weirdo." I said but, to be honest, I'm the one who changed the topic by saying this. His facial expression was still the same, but I don't know, he seemed despondent.

"So manyak ka nga?" Diretsong tanong niya. "Are you out of your mind? Of course not! " I hissed at him, denying what he just said.

"I don't believe you." Aniya bago ako pinanliitan ng mata.

"No need to believe me, weirdo." I said as I rolled my eyes.

"Then, how will you explain this thing? " Tanong niya at may tinuro sa may paanan niya.

Umisod ako palapit para silipin'yon. "Unan ko 'yan, anong nakaka manyak diyan? " I asked with my brows furrowed.

Nabababaliw na ba siya? Anong masama sa unan ko? It's so soft and fluffy!

"Come here."

I looked at him weirdly. "Naka drugs ka ba?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Just come here!" Yamot na sabi niya.

As I wanted to prove to this delusional guy that I'm not a freaking pervert, I did what he said. I came closer to him, walking off from my hospital bed.

"What now?" Iritang tanong ko pagkatapos kong lumapit sa kaniya.

"Tignan mo ng mabuti." He reminded me before lifting his foot as if he was trying to fight with me in a game called the Chicken Fight. My mouth almost fell from its real position while watching my pillow fly as he kicked it.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I shouted angrily while watching how my pitiful pillow fell on the floor. "

He's really getting on my nerves!

"Bakit mo sinipa yung unan ko?!"

"I just want you to see this without any hindrance blocking your way." He calmly replied to my vivid questions before pointing his index finger at the Calvin Klein brief on the floor.

Brief? Whose brief was that?

"Why is my brief who I lost a few days ago inside your pillow?" He asked, which made me want to submerge under this building with ants because of the embarrassment I felt at that time.

I always hug that pillow without knowing someone's brief is hiding inside it. How the fuck am I supposed to clear my name this time? Oh, god. How did this shit happen to me? What sin did I commit in my past life for me to experience this kind of shit?

~~~

Sorry for typos and grammatical errors, Hehe.