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

CHAPTER 8

"Sorry, hindi kita maihahatid sa school ngayon," Drix muttered from the other line.

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

Kahapon pa ako naiinis sa kaniya dahil sa ginawa n'ya kay Bea. I even ignored him yesterday even though we're 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 popped up in my mind as I walked towards one of my clothes racks.

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

I stood in front of my mirror for a minute when an outfit idea came to my mind. I wore 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 kuwarto, at isang buntonghininga na lang ang nabitawan ko nang walang makita sa bahay. This was how it always looked like. Mama was always busy with work as well as my dad.

Mama and Papa were still together. They were still going strong, but they haven't seen each other for a long time now. It sounded cool that I was living my best life with luxuries and everything, but I didn't want that.

I just wanted a simple life, but being a daughter of the most notorious family wasn't easy. All the traumatic events that I witnessed were still hunting me every night. The feeling of guilt every time I killed someone makes me so disgusted with myself. I was just gaslighting myself that I was killing a person because they deserved to, but it still haunted me deep down.

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's one of my bodyguards. Marami pa 'yan sa paligid. May iba na akala mo ay tambay lang pero tauhan pala namin.

I'm free, but I'm not.

Masyado pang maaga para sa klase ko, kaya napagdesisyunan ko na pumunta roon sa pinagtambayan namin ni Bea sa rooftop noong unang araw ko rito. 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. 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 was good. It's far from all that noise, and it could make me feel safe by just closing my eye—

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

Nagulat pa ako sa pagsigaw n'on nang 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 nang makita ko kung sino s'ya.

"Bakit ka nandito?" nakakunot ang noong tanong n'ya 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 stutter? Sino ba 'to para mautal ako?

"Nagpapahangin?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong nito sa akin.

"Oo, why? Bawal ba?" Hindi pagpapatalong tingin ko sa kaniya.

The sun shined on his face as well as his eyes. It was like a magical lake that threw different types of light. The beauty of his eyes was majestic, especially that he was now looking at me.

"Alam mo bang polluted hangin dito?" sabi n'ya sabay tingin sa harap namin.

"Ha?"

"Malapit sa kalsada itong school, which means maduming hangin galing sa mga sasakyan ang umaakyat dito. Madumi rin 'tong rooftop, napakadaming alikabok galing sa mga nakatambak na gamit dito. Mainit din, hindi covered ang lugar na 'to unlike sa main building which is nandoon ang court," nakapamulsang sabi n'ya habang nakatingin pa rin sa harap namin.

Luh? Pake ba nito? Gusto ko nga rito!

"Then why are you here?" I asked while raising my brow as I looked at his direction. Kung sa tingin n'ya ay gano'n kadumi ang hangin sa lugar na 'to, bakit s'ya nandito?

"Because I love the silence here," he answered as his hair has been caressed by the wind.

That answer caught me off guard. I just nodded at him and stared at the view in front of me. This place was peaceful. Hindi ko na sana namamalayan na magsisimula na ang klase kung hindi nag-alarm ang cellphone ko. We've talked about different things, and I found him interesting. Hindi naman pala s'ya 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 s'yang bumaba, at humingi pa ng pabor na ako na ang magsara 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 nagsulat para sa ire-review ko. Pasipat-sipat pa nga ako sa direksyon ni Waige. He looked so bored as I suddenly realized that I was smiling while 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 was the teacher who's discussing now; she was our class adviser. Bibo at magaling na teacher si Ms. Faith. Lahat ng estudyante ay kasundo s'ya. She was always nice towards her students, and she was the one who helped me to catch 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 got caught when my phone vibrated. I looked at it as I saw a text.

From: Drix

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

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

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

From: Drix

It's about your brother. Cloud.

My body started to feel cold, and I was trembling. I didn't know what to think of 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 namang tumango si Ms. Faith at pinalabas ako.

Kinuha ko agad ang bag ko at saka ako tumakbo pababa ng gusali. Hindi ko na naramdaman ang pagod at dali-dali akong kumilos. Halos talunin ko na lang ang mga hakbang para mabilis na makababa. Nanginginig ang katawan ko. What did Drix mean?

Ano'ng mayro'n kay Kuya?