His Ride or Die (Arceo Series #1)

Chapter 1

Five years ago...

Buma-byahe kami ni Kuya Porter everyday to get to school. About 20 minutes travel time from our house to our University where we both study. I'm a first year college while Kuya is in his third year taking a pre-law course.

Kuya Porter always drive for us. He got his license 2 years ago and our parents gave him a car and allowed him to use it personally.

God knows how many women he brought into this car and do the 'deed'. Thinking of it kinda disgusts me. Goosebumps.

"We're here" he said while turning off the engine.

I picked up my bag at the backseat, opened the door and swiftly go outside the car.

"I won't be able to pick you up later. Go ride on Ianthe's car" He said. I nodded.

The University here is so huge and wide. I quickly got into my classroom in no time because the parking lot is near our building. I'm taking Business Administration as my course this college. Kung bakit iyon ang kinuha ko? Well, hindi ko rin alam. I'm still not sure on what's really my dream and what I'm going to do with my life and that reality sucks.

Umupo ako sa usual seat na inuupuan ko. Malapit sa bintana. Kinuha ko ang notebook ko at nagsulat ng mga kailangan kong gawin para ngayong araw.

"Bree, may sasabihin ako." I stopped writing when Erin suddenly approached me. Ano naman kayang kailangan nito?

"Wait, hulaan ko." I gestured the palm of my hand facing her face. She rose a brow.

"May boyfriend ka na? Buntis ka?" sunod sunod na sabi ko.

Nagulat siya sa mga sinabi ko. Saka ako binatukan.

"Anong uri ba ng shabu ang nahithit mo at mas malala ka pa sa adik?" sambit niya. Napalabi ako. Grabe naman. Hinulaan ko lang naman ang sasabihin niya.

Umayos ako ng pagkakaupo. Ang ikli kasi ng palda ko. Napaikli ata ang suot kong plaid skirt ngayon. Ano ba 'to. Ang hirap tuloy umupo.

Tumingin muli ako kay Erin "Oh e ano ba yung sasabihin mo" I asked not interested on whatever she's going to say. Wala ako sa mood.

Buti nalang at on leave ang professor namin for our first period.

I put back my attention on the notebook, I flipped it back and continued what I was doing earlier. I am now writing calligraphy. Writing some random things and doodling at the back of my notebook. Mas marami ang doodles at calligraphy sa likod ng notebook ko na halos masakop na ang buong notebook.

Narinig ko ang tunog ng upuan na inilapit sa may tabing gawi ko. Lumingon ako at nakitang nakapalumbaba si Erin sa lamesa ng bangkong inuupuan niya. Nagpatuloy ako sa sinusulat ko.

"Sumama ka sa'min ni Ianthe mamaya. Gig ng el Fuego. Hindi ba sinabi sa'yo ng kuya mo?" sambit niya habang nakatingin sa ginagawa ko.

"Alam ko naman na gig nila mamaya pero tinatamad ako. Kayo nalang." Pagtanggi ko.

"Bakit? Nandoon naman si Arc ah" dagdag niya.

"Exactly."

Naputol ang usapan namin nang may pumasok sa room. Tinignan ko kung sino iyon at nakita ko si X. Xale Ross Jimenez o mas kilala sa tawag na X. Some juniors often call him President X for formality. But unlike us that's somehow close with him, X lamang ang tinatawag namin. For me, I call him Kuya X since he's 2 years ahead of me and barkada siya ni Kuya Porter.

The whole room na kanina ay maingay at magulo suddenly got silenced by his aura. He's quiet, introvert and a really meticulous person. Aside from being a genius  and well known person here in our University. He also got the looks and appeal. Plus that he's very talented.

He's so ideal. He can easily be paired up with someone the same level and mindset as him. But unfortunately not for me. Given the fact that I can only see him as my older brother. He's also way too good for someone like me.

I think they came here regarding the upcoming School Club Orientation. Everyone's required to have a club. For me, I don't have to newly join a club since I am a part of the Student's News Publication here in our University ever since I'm on Junior High. Automatic Listed na ang name ko sa members ng Publication Club because same High School lang naman ang pinasukan ko. Different building lang ang sa College Students.. X is the Student Council's President. Kasama niya si Muse na Secretary ng Student Council. Pumunta siya sa gitna at may inilapag na papel sa teacher's table.

X scanned the whole class and noticed that no one's absent, based on the seats that were all occupied. X walked in the center of the room. He cleared his throat.

"Good morning." He said in a raspy voice and then suddenly the girls were already murmuring on how appealing and good his voice is.

He has a good voice. Malamang. Because he's a band member. He's the bassist of their band which is the 'El Fuego'. He's just a bassist there but he can also sing. He sings so good. I once heard him singing at our house because their band sometimes hang out there together with Kuya Porter.

He tapped his shoes. Bumaling muli ang atensyon ng lahat sa kanya.

"I'm Xale Ross Jimenez, by the way. I am the President of the Student Council." He introduced himself

He looked beside him. "And here, I am with Muse.Aia Benitez. Our Secretary." He said introducing Muse as well.

And then he started discussing about the Club Organizations that the students can join in this upcoming Club Orientations. There were so many clubs that the students can join. I think Kuya X will take about an hour to finish discussing it all. As I've said earlier, I'll join the Student News Publication. The Club's name is 'The Tabloid'

After Kuya X discussed everything he had to say. He then left the room together with his secretary, Muse.

Lumingon ako kay Erin na nasa may kaliwang gawi ko. Sa katabi kong upuan. Hindi ko napansin na naki sit in na pala siya sa class namin. Buti nalang hindi professor ang dumating at Student Councils lang. She took architecture that's why she shouldn't be here. Sa katabing building pa ang building niya.

"Anong club ang sasalihan mo?" Tanong ko kay Erin. Hindi siya kaagad sumagot. Siguro pinag-iisipan pa. Hinintay ko ang sagot niya kung saang club niya balak sumali.

She looked back at me and shrugged.

"Ewan." She plainly said.

The bell rang. A sign that our first period already ended.

Pumunta kami sa Cafeteria ni Erin. Sinalubong si Ianthe at sabay sabay pumila para umorder ng makakain. Medyo crowded since maraming students. Pero nasanay na rin naman kami.

After we ordered and fulled our trays with food. We proceeded on walking towards an empty table with three empty seats. At least marami ang tables rito at hindi magkakaubusan.

"Ayan na yung girlfriend ni Arc" mahinang bulong sa'kin ni Ianthe habang mahina akong sinisiko. Lumingon ako sa kung saan iyong nginunguso niya at nakita si Muse. Girlfriend 'raw' ni Arc. Well, we're not sure because she's just suddenly claiming the title of being Arc's girlfriend. As if.

"Sus. Fling lang 'yan." Sambit bigla ni Erin. Me and Ianthe looked at her. Baffled.

"Flingera." Dagdag niya pa. We all laughed in unison.

Pumunta na kami sa west part ng cafeteria kung saan may empty spot at ibinaba ang trays namin sa table. Umupo na silang dalawa at nagsimulang kumain. Nilapag ko ang tray na may laman na pagkain na usually ko kinakain sa table. Umupo ako at bumuntong hininga.

Ianthe and Erin both looked at me.

"Bakit?" I asked out of curiousity.

"Stop sighing, Bree." Ianthe said.

Oh. Akala ko naman kung anong problema nila.