UNDER Series #1: I'm in love with your eyes.

CHAPTER 8

[Sorry, hindi kita ma ihahatid sa school ngayon.] Drix muttered from the other line.

"Better." I replied shortly after I hung up the call.

Kahapon pa ako naiinis sa kanya, dahil sa ginawa niya kay Bea. I even ignored him yesterday even though we were in his car. When he called, telling me that he needed to take care of something, I didn't bother to stop him.

I walked towards my closet as I looked at this lame uniform that we have. An idea pops up in my mind as I walk towards one of my clothes racks.

My uniform has a short-sleeved white polo top that should be tucked on a red checked skirt above the knee with a checked necktie to match the skirt.

I stand in front of my mirror for a minute when an outfit idea comes to my mind. I wear high-tie black socks and black Lolita shoes, as I curled my hair at the end and used a checkered red ribbon for it. I also wore round specs that matched my whole outfit.

"You're so gorgeous." sabi ko sa sarili ko nang makita kung gaano ako kaganda.

Naglakad na ako pababa ng kwarto, at isang buntong hininga na lang ang nabitawan ko nang walang makita sa bahay. This is how it always looks like, Mama is always busy with work as well as my dad.

Mama and Papa are still together, they are still going strong but they haven't seen each other for a long time now.

It sounds cool that I am living my best life with luxuries, and everything but...I don't want that.

I just want a simple life but being a daughter of the most notorious family isn't easy, all the traumatic events that I witnessed are still hunting me every night. The feeling of guilt every time I kill someone makes me so disgusted with myself. I was just gaslighting myself that I'm killing a person cause they deserve to, but it still haunts me.

I already reached my car as one of our drivers drove me. Tahimik lang ako hanggang sa makarating na kami. I gave the car keys to one of the local around my school, he was disguising himself as a vendor but he is one of my bodyguards. Marami pa yan sa paligid, may iba na kala mo ay tambay lang pero tauhan pala namin.

I'm free, but I'm not.

Masyado pang maaga para sa klase ko, kaya na pagdedesisyon ko na pumunta doon sa pinag tambayan namin ni Bea sa rooftop noong unang araw ko dito. Hindi naman ako nahirapan buksan ang gate papunta sa taas, kasi marunong naman ako.

Pagpasok ko sa gate, ni lock ko agad para hindi mahalata na may tao na umakyat. I walked towards the rooftop door, and as the wind embraced my skin, I could feel that my longing suddenly faded. I was feeling my moment and trying to calm my inner peace. This place is really good, it's far from all of that noise, and it can make me feel safe by just closing my eyes–

"Bobo! Sabi ko wag mag p-push eh!" iritadong sigaw ng kung sino.

Nagulat pa ako sa pagsigaw nun ng biglang lumingon ako sa may kanan ko, may lalaking nakaupo sa isang sirang upuan na nakataas ang paa sa isang lamesa.

"Who are you?" takang tanong ko, nakita ko naman na agad itong lumingon sa direksyon ko ng makita ko kung sino siya.

"Bakit ka andito?" nakakunot na tanong nya sa akin sabay tayo. He slowly walked towards my direction, not breaking eye contact that we've shared.

"N-nagpapahangin..." I stuttered when he was already in front of me.

The fuck did I shuttered? Sino ba to para mautal ako?

"Nagpapahangin?" nakataas na kilay na tanong dito sa akin.

"Oo, why? Bawal ba?" hindi pag papatalong tingin ko sa kanya.

The sun shines on his face as well as his eyes, it is like a magical lake that throws different types of light. The beauty of his eyes is really majestic, especially since he is now looking at me.

"Alam mo bang polluted hangin dito." sabi nya sabay tingin sa harap namin.

"Ha?"

"Malapit sa kalsada itong school, which means maduming ang hangin galing sa mga sasakyan ay umaakyat dito. Madumi rin tong rooftop, napaka daming alikabok galing sa mga nakatambak na gamit dito. Mainit rin, hindi covered ang lugar na to unlike sa main building which is nandoon ang court." nakapamulsang sabi nya habang nakatingin parin sa harap namin.

Luh? Pake ba nito? E gusto ko nga dito eh!

"Then why are you here?" I asked while raising my brow as I looked at his direction.

Kung sa tingin niya ay ganun kadumi ang hangin sa lugar na to, bakit sya andito?

"Cause I love the silence here." he answered as his hair had been caressed by the wind.

That answer caught me off guard, I just nodded at him and also stared at the view in front of me. This place was peaceful.

Hindi ko na sana ma-mamalayan na magsisimula na ang klase kung hindi nag alarm ang cellphone ko. We've talked different things, and I find him interesting. Hindi naman pala sya boring kausap.

"Sorry," he said as we started walking down the place.

"For what?"

"That day," he replied.

So...he remembered me.

"I didn't mean to shout at you," he added.

I just stayed silent and gave him a small smile even though he couldn't see those as he walked in front of me. Nauna na syang bumaba, at humingi pa ng pabor na ako na ang mag sara ng gate.

I didn't say anything, it was fine with me even though I didn't want to be asked to.

He really caught my interest as he sat in his chair. He was just wearing the hood of his hoodie while listening to our teacher.

Nakinig na lang din ako sa teacher at nag sulat para sa ire-review ko, pa sipat sipat pa ako sa direksyon ni Waige. He looks so bored as I suddenly realize that I'm smiling looking at him.

Bro what the fuck? Agad kong binawi ang ngiti ko at binalik ang focus ko sa teacher na nagtuturo sa amin.

Ms. Faith is the teacher who's discussing this now, she was our class adviser.

Bibo at magaling na teacher si Ms. Faith, lahat ng estudyante ay kasundo sya. She was always nice towards her students, she was the one who helped me to catched up with my other subjects.

She always prioritizes her students' mental health before anything. Everyone loves her, and I can see that she is a great teacher.

While listening, my attention gets caught when my phone vibrates. I looked at it and I saw a text.

From: Drix

Hera! I'm on my way to pick you up right now, meet me at the gate! This is important.

Napailing na lang ako sa mensaheng yun. Why would Drix want to pick me up while I'm in the middle of the class? I don't know what is happening but I received another message from him.

I slowly looked at it, as my heart started to pound.

From: Drix

It's about your brother. Cloud.

My body starts to feel cold, and trembling. I don't know what to think right now but I suddenly got up.

Napatingin sa akin ang buong klase pati si Ms. Faith, " M-ma'am...please excuse me, may emergency lang po." nauutal na sabi ko.

Agad naming tumango si Ms. Faith at pinalabas ako.

Kinuha ko agad ang bag ko at tska tumakbo pababa ng gusali. Hindi ko na naramdaman ang pagod at dali daling kumilos. Halos talunin ko na lang ang mga hakbang para mabilis na makababa. Nanginginig ang mga katawan ko. What does Drix mean?

Anong meron kay kuya?