Confidential File: Dungeon of Axlberm

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"Can you make a photocopy of this, Elvress?"

Iniangat ko ang aking ulo mula sa pagkakatungo sa aking armchair.

Nang nakita ko kung sino ito ay napataas ang kanang kilay ko. "Why would I?"

She scoffed. Hindi makapaniwalang tinanggihan ko ang inuutos niya.

She's one of my classmates, Erin Villarreal. She's known as the mayor's daughter in Cebu. She likes to annoy me but she is not a bitch and bully, she just likes to disturb my free time with anything she can have.

We are in our fourth year of high school and I'm currently studying in one of the prestigious universities in the Philippines- Ateneo De Manila University. My dad is a scientist based in Makati while my mom is a professor in UP Diliman.

I really don't want to study here. Lots of rich people study in this university not to mention the one who is in front of me right now, and that kind of irritates me. Imagine, you are in a place where people tolerate capitalism, corruption and fraud just to experience a luxurious lifestyle. Definitely not for me.

"Excuse me? We need this paper ASAP then you're being tamad?" sabi niya pa at umirap sa huli.

Nagkibit balikat lang ako at humikab. Heto na naman siya sa ka-conyohan niya.

"Gosh! You're so stubborn! That's the reason why you are still here, a repeater." inis niyang saad sabay alis. I even look how she sway her bum, fitted in her pencil cut skirt, in a graceful way. She always looks sexy in our iconic uniform but she is sexier in Friday's when we are allowed to wear anything we want because she always wears something that suits her slim body.

I shook my head when she goes to one our classmates to talk about the paper.

Kaya naman palang iutos sa iba ako pa talaga ang pinuntahan.

Well, she's right. I wasted two years already at this year's level so there's no point in getting pissed.

I looked at my wristwatch. It's still early for my next class. P'wede pa mag-cut bago dumating yung next teacher.

I stood up and made some stretching. My body is sore from making my chair as a bed. I picked up my black leather jacket then walk towards the door of our classroom to go out.

When I stepped out of the building, I saw my childhood best friend buying on one of the ice creams stalls here inside the university. Before I turn my gaze away, he already notices me and hurriedly go to my direction.

I started to walk to avoid him. Napansin ata niyang binibilisan ko ang lakad ko kaya't binilisan niya rin ang lakad niya habang may hawak na dalawang cup ng cookies and cream ice cream habang nakaipit ang panigurado journal notebook niya sa kaniyang kanang kili-kili.

"Hey, Zaki! Wait!" tawag niya pa sa akin kaya't lalong napansin ng mga estudyante ang presensya niya.

Fucking Dela Torre.

Lumiko ako sa parte ng parking lot ng school upang puntahan ang aking big bike. It's a black Kawasaki Ninja 650. This is not the most expensive and has the best performance among the latest big bikes but it is the far my allowance can get.

"Are you avoiding me?" he said, nearly gasping for air dahil sa wakas ay nakahabol din siya. Hirap na hirap pa siyang habulin ang hininga dahil sa hawak na ice cream cups at journal notebook na nasa kili-kili pa rin niya.

I ignored him while I put my jacket on and zipped it up to my neck. Sinuot ko rin ang hand gears at siniguradong komportable akong hahawak sa handle ng big bike mamaya. Nang matapos ako ay hinarap ko ang naghihintay na si Neil.
"Hindi mo talaga matikom 'yang bibig mo 'no?" bored kong sabi sabay agaw ng isang cup ng ice cream.