Aaron (R-18)
"No shades in my class, Mr. Escueta!"
Napakuyom ang panga ko nang sumabog ang buong klase sa tawanan. Mrs. Cariño, our professor sa unang klase ngayong araw, was burning holes at me with her eyes.
"Medical reason, Ma’am," sagot ko, pilit kumakalma. "Let me have it on."
It’s no secret she’s never liked me. Wala naman kasi talaga akong ambag sa klase niya, or sa kahit anong klase, if we’re being real. I don’t excel. Not here, not anywhere in academics.
And frankly, I don’t give a fuck.
What’s the fun in draining your energy over papers, numbers, and quizzes every goddamn day?
"Nasapak po ’yan, Ma’am. Hindi kaaya-aya ang itsura ngayon kaya ayaw ipakita. Hayaan niyo na po," sabat ni Kieran, sabay tawa ng buong klase.
Tangina. Gusto ko na lang makipagsuntukan.
Lalo na sa motherfucker na gumawa nito sa akin.
My head immediately snapped to the guy behind me. Ang lakas ng tawa, putangina. Sino ba ’to?
Sinadya kong iparamdam ang talim ng tingin ko kahit may shades. As expected, napakuyom siya ng labi, halatang natakot.
I smirked. "Kahit may pasa ako, I’m still ten times hotter than any guy in this room. Don’t play with me."
Gasps and whispers exploded around me habang nilalaro ko ang wristwatch ko.
"Yabang..." rinig kong bulong ng ilang lalaki.
"I mean, did he lie tho?" narinig ko naman mula sa mga girls, at napangisi ako.
Pero nawala agad ang ngisi ko nang marinig ang kasunod, "Pero ’di mo sure… he hasn’t removed those sunglasses since he got in."
Napakuyom ako ng kamao. I clenched my jaw, memory flashing back to what happened.
Putangina talaga. Pag nakita ko ulit ’yung gago na ’yon, he better pray heaven and hell got his back. Kasi sisirain ko siya.
Almost three years in this university. Three goddamn years, and no one has ever dared lay a hand on me. Pero siya? Ang kapal ng mukha. Ang lakas ng loob.
He must not know who the fuck I am. And what I’m capable of.
Then, I’ll make sure he learns.
"Continue the discussion, Ma’am. We’re wasting time," sabat ni Landon, at natahimik bigla ang lahat.
Mrs. Cariño’s glare softened at Landon. Then she looked at me, cold and sharp.
"You may keep your shades on, Mr. Escueta. Pero sa oras na mahuli kitang natutulog, or worse, tumitingin sa mga babae under those shades... guidance office is just a few walks away." She flashed a sadistic smile.
Ayain ko kaya sa sparring 'tong si Ma‘am.
"Do not tell me what to do, bitch," I muttered under my breath. Pero siniko ako agad ni Landon.
So I smiled, eyes locked on hers. "I mean, you don’t have to tell me twice, Ma’am."
She rolled her eyes, turned back to the class. "Sit up straight!"
Ang demanding, boring naman magturo.
After what felt like hours, the bell finally rang for lunch. As always, students flooded the cafeteria instead of going out.
It was big. Huge, actually. Perfect for thousands of students. Tables and chairs lined up in clean, precise rows. Maaliwalas, maayos, and a bit modern, which I like.
