The Heartless (Original Version)

Chapter XI: Hunter Part 2

Washing off the stains from my uniform took longer than I wanted it to. Food dye iyong nakahalo sa tubig na binuhos sakin kung kaya't natagalan iyong ale na tanggalin yung mantsa. She had to use vinegar and other stuff which made her need to wash my clothes more than one time.

I had no trouble giving her twice the price. It wouldn't even bother paying her thrice because I really wanted to go back sooner.

Who knew when that unknown person would actually kill me?

Hindi ko iniwan yung laundry shop hanggang hindi pa natatapos i-dry clean yung mga damit ko. The last thing I need was letting someone put a freaking device or whatever in my clothes, let alone my underwear.

Sumilip ako sa labas ng salamin at nakita ang pamilyar na kotse. I adjusted my sight to look at the plate number. Confirmed, it's Ice's.

Humalukipkip ulit ako mula sa maayos na pagkakatayo at tinitigan iyong damit kong asa proseso ngayon ng pagpapatuyo. Napatingin uli ako agad sa labas nang mapagtantong hindi na si Lulu ang dahilan kung bakit ako sinusundan ni Ice.

He was not here as Ice anymore, he was here as Hunter.

I replayed in my head my last encounter with Colden. He probably concluded someone was up against me judging by how my clothes looked earlier. If it wasn't obvious, it was clear that a person like him could only think of one thing after merely looking at me this morning: I was harassed.

A side of my lips raised. It wasn't just with Autumn that I was making a progress.

**

I already missed three and a half subjects of mine this morning. Better make it an exact four.

I went out without looking at Hunter's direction. Pumunta ako sa may pinakamalapit na coffee shop. Pinili ko iyong may salamin kung saan kita ako mula sa labas, mula sa kotse niya.

I took a moment to change into my uniform in the comfort room. Ordered myself iced coffee to savor in my drive back to school.

Ilang minuto bago dumating yung take out ko. I busied myself throughout my waiting time by absently looking at some magazines. Nang naiabot na yung sukli ko ng waiter ay naghanda na ko para umalis nang dumapo ang paningin ko isang lalaking nagbabasa ng dyaryo.

He was sitting two tables from in front of me. And it hadn't escaped my vision when he subtly looked down from me to his read, as if acting to be reading and not watching over me.

I made no move to let him know I knew very then that he was spying on me. I continued with my normalcy.

And what really an awesome day. Now two cars were following me back to school. Just great.

**

My curiosity arose when I saw Ski in the parking lot, waiting for me I assumed. Bumaba ako ng kotse, expecting for him to call me a detention. Instead he said, "Tawag ka sa office."

I obliged and found myself standing in front of Colden in his office. "What?"

Tumingin ako sa wrist watch ko at nakitang tatlong minuto na lang bago mag-eleven. Isa lang ang mapapasukan kong klase ngayong umaga.

Thoughts of Mariel Jimenez not being able to attend a whole day of classes seemed tempting. But thoughts of her not being able to attend any class her whole life deemed to be the most enticing.

"Before you carry on thinking of ways to kill someone, do tell me what happened to you this morning," he began.

His typical controlling tone earned him more of my irritation. My hand tugged loose strands of hair behind my left ear. He was so putting up a good fight against that Jimenez bitch in battling for top spot in the list of my top hated things.