His Slave

Prologue

What's taking him so long? It's already thirty minutes after six in the morning. Kanina pa ako naghihintay sa kanya dito sa school entrance. He texted me last night, that we'll meet up in the front gate at exactly six o'clock.

He even stated in the text sharp. May pasharp sharp pa siyang nalalaman, eh anong oras na?! Kapag wala pa siya after ten minutes aalis na talaga ako dito. Masasayang lang ang inaga ko kung malalate lang din ako.

I look at my wrist watch. Five minutes to go, when suddenly someone whistled. 

Speaking of the devil.

"Alam mo bastos ang pumito."

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Do you think I care?" 

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, ba't mo ako pinapunta ng maaga dito? May pasharp sharp ka pang nalalaman. E almost one hour kang late."

"Sabi ko sa'yo diba, ayaw kong pinaghihintay ako." sagot niya.

So, ako ang pinaghintay mo?

"Oh.." sabay abot niya sa 'kin ang kanyang sling bag.

"Pinaaga mo lang ba ako para magbitbit ng bag mo?" nakanguso kong sabi.

"Yes." he said and started to walk.

Inhale. Exhale lang Aiah.

Sinundan ko siya sa paglakad. "Nag-breakfast ka na?" tanong niya.

"Ah--"

"Well, you looked like full."

Ugh.

"Bilisan mong lakad mo. Sa cafeteria tayo."

"Twenty five minutes na lang before class." sabi ko.

Then he turned to face me. "Kaya nga bilisan mo. Hindi bagay sa'yo maging pagong."

Umirap ako ulit. What does it supposed to mean?

Nang nasa cafeteria na kami ay humarap siya sa 'kin. "Give me the bags." Binigay ko naman agad ang kanyang bag. "Also your bag." he continued.

I smiled then handed him my bag. May kabaitan din naman pala to. Pagkatapos ay may inabot siyang pera sa 'kin.

"Para san 'to?"

"Buy us food. Don't forget my coffee."

It's too early to tell Aiah. Tinanggap ko na lang ang pera at bumili na ng makakain namin. Hindi naman niya sinabi kung anong gusto niyang kainin. Basta don't forget the coffee lang.

"Oh eto na po ang pagkain n'yo." Sabay lapag ko ng tray sa table. Buti na lang at walang ibang tao sa cafeteria. For sure kung meron, pagkakaguluhan kami.

"Eat." he demanded.

Then I started eating. I glanced at my wrist watch and we only have ten minutes left before the bell rings.

"Don't think. Just eat." sabi niya at uminom ng kape. "We're already excused. Sa second period na tayo papasok."

"What?" sabi ko at muntik pa akong mabilaukan.

"Don't let me repeat what I've just said." seryoso niyang sabi. Kailangan ba talagang magsungit?

"I don't want to skip class." I blurted out.

"It's only one period. Okay? You'll be fine and you're already excused. It won't hurt. Matalino ka naman siguro 'di ba? I suppose?"

Nanginginsulto ba siya? Siya na nga 'tong nagpasama. Ang effort kayang gumising ng maaga.

"Hindi ka ba kakain?"

"I'm good. I just need some coffee."

"Okay.. Suit yourself." Habang ako'y kumakain, pasimple ko siyang tinignan. He still have his sunglasses on. "May pasa pa rin ba?"

He removed his glasses and looked straight at me. "What do you think?" he sarcastically said.

Sus. Sabay suot niya ulit sa kanyang sunglasses. "You know, you can cover it up with concealer." I suggested.

"Do you really think I'd use those stuffs?" he said and I bite my lower lip.

"It was just a suggestion. Okay? At bakit kina-bawas ba ng pagkalalaki mo kapag nagmake-up ka?" I uttered and rolled my eyes.

"I didn't ask for your suggestion."

"E di 'wag magconcealer." Tapos ang usapan!

"Siya nga pala Aiah.. Aiah Lauren Walsh." nilahad ko aking kamay para kamayan siya but he just ignored it.

"Makikipagkamay ka sa 'kin na nagmamantika ang kamay mo." sabi niya ng nakakunot ang noo.

Agad kong binawi ko ang aking kamay at pinunasan ng tissue. "Fatty Aiah.. I know you already." he uttered.

Kailangan pa bang ipagsiksikan ang salitang fatty. "So, Gin right?" tingin ko sa kanya habang hinihintay ang sagot niya.

"Yeah it's Gin. Gin Monteverde, but my friends calls me Uno."

"Ah okay, Uno."

He raised his eyebrow, "Are we friends?"

Huminga ako ng malalim. Kailangan ko talagang magbaon ng maraming pasensya mula sa araw na 'to.

"How did you get my number nga pala?" Nagtaka kasi ako nung nagtext siya hindi niya naman hiningi ang number ko nun.

"Connections." simple niyang sagot. "And by the way, will you at least tie your hair? Halos nakakain mo ng buhok mo. Para umaliwalas naman niyang mukha mo."

I clenched my fist. "Hindi naman kasali sa usapan natin, kung ano ang magiging itsura ko 'pag kaharap mo ako, di ba?" I sarcastically said.

Just let this period pass Aiah. You got this! For now, just deal with him.

"So, what happened there?" he blurted out.

"Huh?"

"At the men's room. Does it ring a bell?"

I rolled my eyes, "It's none of your concern." I replied.

"Well, I think I deserve some explanations. Since I got this bruise." he rebutted.

"Well, if you just didn't get inside the cubicle. You wouldn't get that."

"If you weren't stupid, ba't ka pumasok dun? If you didn't get inside the men's room, I wouldn't get inside that cubicle. It seems like you're the one's doing something suspicious. And also the way you're acting right now, I wouldn't thought that it was you who's crying hysterically inside that cubicle."

I heavily sighed. "Stop it. Okay? It's nothing to do with you and besides, like you said, we're not friends, right? So, don't bother asking why I was there or what the hell happened there. I don't open up things to people that I don't know personally. Especially to those people who thinks I'm stupid." I bluntly said and stood up. "Alam mo naman siguro ang daan patungo sa classroom di ba? You go ahead. I need some air."

I grab my bag and started to walk outside the cafeteria.