The Perilous Haven

Chapter 3

"Mister Know-It-All?" The stranger raised his brows. Umayos ito ng tayo at humalukipkip, tila walang pakialam sa atensyong kanyang tinatamasa.

Tila nabuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig nang bigla kong mapansin na naagaw na namin ang atensyon ng lahat. So much for keeping a low profile, Alex.

I did not respond to the stranger. Instead, I lowered my head and pretended that I was busy writing.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Martel?" Mr. Buckley suddenly interfered.

Tumingin ang lalaki rito. "Good to see you again, Sir." He smiled at Mr. Buckley.

Mr. Buckley turned more serious. "I don't think I could say the same."

The guy faked a hurt expression. "Je m'attendais à cette réponse." (TRANSL: I was expecting this answer.)

Did he just speak in French?

Mr. Buckley smirked. "Très intelligent." (TRANSL: Very clever.)

And did he just answer in French?

Mister Know-It-All bowed and waved at everyone. I heard the two guys at my back chuckle.

Napailing ako sa ginawa niya. Talaga palang walang-modo ang lalaking ito.

After the stunt Mister Know-It-All pulled, he sat beside me. He wasn't talking, but the way he smiled annoyed me. I wanted to stab him with my ball pen, but I wasn't that cruel.

When Mr. Buckley asked us to submit the papers, I reluctantly passed it to the guy beside me. He was grinning widely. I was not sure if he was playing a trick on me because he grabbed and held my hand longer than the usual. Gusto ko siyang sapakin pero hindi naman yata tamang gumawa ng eksena sa harap ng guro, sa loob ng silid-aralan, at sa unang araw ko sa eskwelahan.

Naiinis talaga ako sa kayabangan niya. Nangigigil akong nagsusulat sa papel. Kung anu-ano lang naman ang sinusulat ko, puros "annoying" at "bastard" na mga salita, in different strokes.

Natahimik naman ang lalaki sa tabi ko. Nagsusulat na rin ito ng kung ano sa papel. Marahil ay gumuguhit ito dahil masyado naman itong nagmamagaling sa Arts.

Maya-maya rin lang ay sinulyapan ko ang lalaking natutulog. Tanging siya lamang ang wala yatang balak magpasa ng papel sa aming guro. Kahit ang mga lalaking kasama niya kaninang pumasok ay nagpasa ng papel.

Hindi naman nagtagal ay umalis na rin si Mr. Buckley pagkakolekta niya ng mga papel dahil na rin siguro sa unang araw pa lamang naman ng pasukan. Pagkalabas ni Mr. Buckley ay nagsitayuan na rin ang lahat at dali-daling nagsilabasan.

Niligpit ko ang mga gamit ko at dahan-dahan na inilagay sa bag. I could see from the corner of my eye that the guy beside me was watching my every move. Tumayo ako at napagpasyahang lumabas na rin ng silid. Paglakabas na pagkalabas ko, muntik na akong matumba nang biglang sinugod ako ng yakap ni Zoe.

"Oh my God! Oh my God! You're finally here!" She was jumping and clapping in glee.

I grimaced. Some students were giving us weird looks.

"Umayos ka, Zoe. Nakakahiya ka," bulong ko sa kanya.

She shrugged. Hinawakan nito ang kamay ko at hinila ako patungo sa kung saan.

"Uh. Where are you taking me?" I asked, controlling myself not to laugh.

Zoe has always been like this. She is cheerful and friendly, but sometimes a bitch, especially to people she hates. She is a good friend, though. During my depressing days, she was there for me. We've been friends since our diaper days because the Fontaine is our family friend.