Loving a Gangster Prince

Chapter 1: Wellingdale Academy

"Hi, I'm new here. Can you please tell me where the Gustavo building is?" tanong ko sa unang estudyanteng nakita ko. I am a transferee kaya hindi ko pa kabisado ang school kung saan ako nag-enroll. It is a big school, and majestic. Well, students here are from some of the richest families of the continent and neighboring places. Yes, it is a very exclusive school. But, it wasn't my parents who enrolled me here but my Aunt Verity. I am actually living with them right now.

"Audrey, please just listen to us. It's for your own good. " pagmamakaawa ni Mommy habang nagbabalot ako ng damit.

"No, Mom...I can't do what you want me to do. " mariing sabi ko at agad lumabas ng kuwarto. Nagmamakaawa pa rin ang Mommy nang sumakay ako sa kotse na maghahatid sa akin sa airport. She knew that she couldn't stop me then. 

But, I hope she also knows how hard it is for me to leave them.

"...ask the guard, stupid," sarkastikong sabi ng babaeng kausap ko. Muli ko tuloy sinipat ang hitsura nito, matangkad, makinis, sosyal, hmmm okay na. Pero, I don't think she has the right to call me stupid.

"Oh, sorry. I was just hoping a person like you is bright enough to know how to point directions, but it seems the guards are better than you.  Next time listen to your Social Studies teacher when she is teaching directions," nakangiting sabi ko saka siya tinalikuran. I don't know if I feel nervous or disappointed. I was home schooled. I did not attend a regular school. So, when Aunt Verity suggested that I enroll in this school, I was elated. And now, this happens on the very first day of school. Talaga naman!

"Don't be disheartened, Audrey. Everything will be alright," pabulong kong kinakausap ang sarili ko habang hinahanap ang classroom ko na agad ko namang nakita.

"Okay, smile, Audrey." I was about to enter the classroom when I bumped into a guy.

"Oopps.." I said.

"Puwede ba tumingin ka sa dinadaanan mo!" naiinis na sabi ng lalaki na ikinagulat ko. Everything will be alright daw!? Sasagutin ko din sana siya nang mapatingin ako sa kanyang mukha. Ohemgee! He's handsome, huh. He's handsome...period. Wala na akong masabi dahil napatunganga na lang ako.

"Stop staring at me. I know guwapo ako but will you please get out of my way." mayabang pa niyang sabi. Binabawi ko na, hindi siya guwapo,period! Ang kapal, oh!

"Sorry, nagulat lang ako bakit parang malakas ang hangin and I was wondering where it's coming from. Now, I know..nagulo tuloy bigla ang buhok ko." naiinis kong sabi sabay hampas ng buhok ko pagtalikod at bahagyang natamaan ang kanyang mukha. Hindi ko alam kung sumunod pa siya dahil agad akong pumasok sa classroom ko.

"Nice one. Ang yabang kasi talaga ng Matt na 'yon." nakangiting bungad sa akin ng isang babae pagpasok ko. So, Matt pala ang pangalan ng mahangin na iyon.

"Hi, I'm Alice," pagpapakilala niya.

"Audrey," nakangiting pagpapakilala ko din sabay abot ng palad niya. Hmmm..mukhang mag-iimprove din ang morning ko. May bag na sa harap at tabi niya kaya naupo na lang ako sa bandang likuran niya.

"The new student, right? Wow, hindi ko alam na dito ka pala sa section namin mapupunta. Anyway, welcome to Wellingdale Academy." excited na sabi ni Alice. Mukha namang magiging okay na ang araw ko. Nagsipasukan na din ang ibang mga classmates namin nang tumunog ang bell.

"That's my seat," biglang may sumipa sa paa ng inuupuan ko na ikinagulat ko. Uh-oh...ano na naman ito? Aist! Dahan-dahan kong tinaas ang paningin ko. Nakasandal ito sa wall at nakaekis ang paa na tila naiinip na naghihintay.

"Ang sabi ko, upuan ko 'yan, or kailangan pa kitang buhatin para umalis diyan," patuloy niyang sabi na tila naboboring pa ito. For the second time today, napatitig na naman ako sa mukha ng lalaki. His eyes, I am drawn to his eyes. He's chinito pero may pagka-almond shape ang mata niya. He has long, dark eyelashes. Not too pointed nose. And. his lips, hala mas pinkish pa yata sa akin. Pero bakit, lahat ng guwapong nami-meet ko today parang may sayad sa utak. Or is it just me?

"Correct me if I'm wrong but I know that this is just the first day of classes so I don't think we already have seating arrangement." matapang kong baling sa kanya. Hindi porke't guwapo siya, masusunod lahat ng gusto niya. Napatingin naman lahat ng mga classmates namin sa medyo pagtaas ng boses ko. Buti na lang at wala pang teacher. Nakatayo lang naman itong guy-with-seductive-eyes na parang walang namumuong commotion. And, it pisses me off na parang hindi niya narinig ang sinabi ko.

"Ah... Audrey, dito ka lang sa tabi ko." Alice said with a nervous smile. Bakante na nga ang upuan sa tabi niya.

"Yeah, losers should stay together." pang-aasar naman ng isa pang lalaking nakaupo sa tabi ko. Guwapo din ang isang ito. Mysterious-looking. 

Para wala ng gulo, tumayo na lang ako at inirapan ang mang-aagaw ng upuan. Pero, suddenly the world stops...as in stop(again?)! He's already smiling, (nakakaloko nga lang at talagang nang-aasar). But, it's still a heart stopping smile. (Napa-stop nga di'ba, Audrey?)

"Excuse me. Pwede na ba akong maupo sa upuan ko?" Bigla naman akong bumalik sa reality nang muling magsalita si guy-with-killer-smile. Hmmm...nakakadami na ito ng pangalan sa akin ah. Inirapan ko na lang siya para hindi niya marealize na napatunganga ako sa smile niya.

"The chair is all yours!Kainin mo pa!Hmp!" sabay talikod. Inirapan ko na lang siya para hindi niya marealize na napatunganga ako sa smile niya at umupo na sa tabi ni Alice. Narinig ko namang nagtatawanan ang mga boys sa likod. My gosh, nakita ba nilang natulala ako dun sa guy na 'yon?

"That's Simon. The Prince of Carlyle. You might want to stay away from him. He is also the prince of trouble." pabulong na sabi Alice. So, he's a prince. Well, it was not unexpected. I mean, when I said from the richest families, few are from royal families.

"Prince of trouble?" tanong ko. Being rude and ungentleman, those I can handle. Pero ano pa bang klaseng trouble ang dala niya?

"He's the leader of one of the most powerful gangs in and out of the school." sagot ni Alice.

"Actually, stay away from all of them." dagdag pa niya. Muli kong nilingon ang mga nagtatawanang lalake sa likod. There are five of them. Mga good looking silang lahat. Pero, you cannot help to feel threatened with their presence. Nakatawa man sila, nararamdaman ko pa rin ang pagka-roguish nila.

"Hmmm... so, you mean lahat sila members ng gang?" bulong ko din sa katabi ko.

"Yup, While Simon is a prince, Victor, the one beside him is the son of a powerful Mafia leader. Russ and Jonas are twins, and sons of a business tycoon. And, the other one on the left is Calan. His brother is the current Shah of Nasdu'r." paliwanag ni Alice. Shah is an equivalent of King to other places. Hmmm...iba din ang kaguwapuhan nitong si Calan. Kung si Victor ay mysterious, siya naman ay mischievous. Nagawi ulit ang paningin ko kay Simon. He was staring at me with a threatening smile.

Now, I know what lies ahead of my senior year.