Behind His Facade

Chapter 1

Adrenaline is rushing through my body while I ran for the freshmen building. Damn, why did I forgot to set my alarm?!

Derybton College doesn't like late students and guess who's the so lucky girl today.

Halos lahat ng estudyante rito ay nagdo-dorm, katulad ko, dahil na rin sa malayo ang Derybton sa mga bahay namin. Pero masyado akong nakampante ro'n kaya ngayon, halos liparin ko na ang lecture hall dahil late na ako.

Pagkarating ko sa tapat ng pintuan, I took my time to catch my breath before grabbing the doorknob.

As I open it, my mouth left agaped as I find no one inside the classroom.

Nasaan sila?

Maya't maya pa ay nakarinig ako ng mabibilis na yabag kaya napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan nito at nakita ko si Dawson Philips, one of my classmates.

Medyo nagulat pa siya nang makita ako.

"Flame, anong ginagawa mo rito? Sa lab tayo ngayon, nakalimutan mo ba?"

Napaface-palm ako at narealize ang katangahan ko. Today is Monday. How on earth did I forgot that our class is at the lab?!

Kahit kailan talaga, Flame!

"I'm sorry, I--I forgot.." I said awkwardly. This is really embarassing.

Buti at mabait si Dawson at nginitian na lang niya ako. May kinuha lang siya sandali sa bag niya at sabay na kaming pumunta sa lab. Mukang good mood naman si Ma'am Cordova kaya pinapasok niya ako which is such a huge relief for me.

"So, Miss Scarlette because you're late and Mr. Vanderwood has no partner, you will be together in today's activity."

Hindi ako nakaimik nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Ma'am Cordova. Wait, ito ba ang parusa ko kasi late ako ngayon?

This is the first time that I got late and ganito agad? Hindi ba't parang masyado namang unfair?

"Okay, let's start."

I have no choice but to sit beside this mysterious and intimidating guy in school, Sawyer Vanderwood.

He's someone I like to avoid the most, since I find him weird, in a creepy way.

I just focused my full attention to Ma'am Cordova but I can feel his eyes staring at me.

Napalunok ako and slowly glanced at him.

My eyes met his cold eyes and I felt the goosebumps on my skin. I don't know, there's really something in his  eyes. Kahit blangko lang ang mga mata niya.

There's a part of me saying that there's something behind those cold blank eyes.

Agad ko ring iniwas ang tingin ko when I suddenly felt the gut-punching awkwardness. Pinakinggan ko na lang uli 'yong explanation ni Ma'am sa gagawin namin.

We'll disect a frog.

Well, hindi naman ako takot sa palaka pero ang problema . . . malakas ang kutob ko na matutulog lang 'tong ka-partner ko at hindi siya tutulog, like what he's doing right now.

Bakit ba walang sumisita sa kaniya? Ang pagkakaalam ko, hindi naman siya anak ng owner ng school. Hindi rin naman siya anak ng one of the successful businessmen or something, or maybe he is. Anyway, that doesn't matter.

Ano, ako na lang ba talaga gagawa nitong activity ng mag-isa?

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin at sinamaan ng tingin ang nakasubsob sa lamesang si Sawyer.

I don't have a choice, do I?

Sinimulan ko na ang magdisect while taking down all notes that we need in the activity.