The Gangster's Sweetheart

Chapter 4

Antoni's POV

Darn it. Saan ba dito ung Politics class ko? Di ko kabisado buildings dito. Sino ba kasi nagdesign nitong school at ginawang parang subdivision? Aysh. Asan na ba ang mga ungas?

Lakad lakad lang ako sa campus dahil di ko alam saan ung building ng bwisit na class ko. Ayaw kong magtanong tanong baka isipin pa ng pagtatanungan ko type ko siya. Nagugutom na ako. Hayaan ko na nga Politics class ko, madadaan naman sa pera yan.

Buti na lang madali kong nakita ang sign papunta ng canteen. Isang mahabang hallway pa ng lockers tong dinadaanan ko. Maraming estudyante pero may nakita akong pamilyar. Napa-ngisi ako. Lumapit ako sakanya habang nag aayos siya ng gamit sa locker niya. Sinara na niya locker niya.

"Ahh! Geez. You scared me. Why are you there?" she rolled her eyes at me. Sasagot pa lang sana ako nung bigla na siyang naglakad paalis.

Ha. I woman who doesn't want me? That's new. Nakaka-excite tuloy tong utos ni mama.

"Chienna!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. She stopped and turned to look at me. Lumapit ako sakanya at rinig ko ang bulungan ng ilang tao dito sa locker area.

"What do you want from me? Don't you know that I don't speak to guys?"

"Well, I know. But I just want to get to know you."

"There's a whole bulletin board that describes me. So make time to read. Excuse me."

Naglakad na siya palayo.

"Dude!"

"Antoni!"

Tumingin ako sa mga tumatawag sakin. Nakita ko ung tatlo na papalapit.

"Yo dude. Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap. Di ka pumasok sa first class." said Rence.

"Tss. I got lost on the way." I started walking, sumabay naman sila.

"Okay lang naman, puro kalokohan lang naman ginawa ng dalawang yan. Wala ring prof." said Vince while pointing at the two other idiots.

"I'm hungry. Where's your usual spot?" I doubt that they don't have a reserved spot in the cafeteria.

Rence and Luke led the way to their usual spot. Damn even if the cafeteria is spacious, it's still so crowded.

Our spot was almost at the corner of the caf. It's good cause only few people get to walk by around and will not really disturb our time while eating.

"Rence ikaw na kumuha ng pagkain sa counter." Luke commanded.

"Bakit ako? Baka pagkaguluhan pa ako ng mga babae on the way at di na makarating pagkain dito. Hoy Vince ikaw na kumuha." These assh*les are at it again. They kept fighting until they decided to all stood up and get their food.

Huh. Maybe this place is really a breather. I have tried to keep my mind at peace and never started a fight again. I still miss her though. I should be out and about waiting for her outside of her school just so we can spend lunch time together. We could be fighting again on what we should do after class. I just... I don't really know why she left.

"Dude!"

I snapped back to reality when I saw Luke snapping his fingers in front of me. I looked around everybody is here already. Fck I spaced out too much.

"You okay dude? Natulala ka dyan? Kilig na kilig ung mga babae dun oh. Akala siguro nila nakatingin ka sakanila." said Vince habang inaabot sakin ang pagkain ko.

"Yeah. I'm good. Thanks"

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"Bye babe. See you after class" Naomi kissed Stephen real quick and waved her hand at us.

"Ayun oh. Himala at di mo hinatid si Naomi ngayon. Magbe-break naba kayo?" Puna ni Luke at umarte pa na parang nagulat.

"As if dude. Pero pwede ka rin naman umamin sakin na gusto mo talaga ako para tayo na lang?" Patol naman ni Stephen at umakbay sakanya.

"Sa tambayan na lang tayo mga pre. Wala rin namang gagawin sa room, boring pa klase."

"Hoy Vince. Kanina ka pa namin kasama pero di ka namin ramdam!" Binatukan ni Luke si Vince na busy sa phone.

"Kausap ko kasi si Chins"

"Wow naman dude. Ligawan stage naba kayo? Tingin nga" Rence and Luke tried to get Vince's phone to look.

"Aysh bro. Amin na. Wag kayo magtatype ng kabalastugan diyan ah." Hirap na hirap si Vince sa pagkuha ng phone niya at napakamot na lang sa ulo.

"Hanep ka naman bro wala naman to" binalik na nila ang phone ni Vince.

"Group chat pala ng org niyo. Kala ko naman nandun na kayo." iiling iling na sabi ni Luke.

Nagkulitan pa rin silang tatlo dun. Kumuha ako ng beer sa ref dito sa tambayan at naupo na lang ako sa isang tabi. What's happening to me? I started fights when she left, now I always want to stay quiet and be alone. Is this the next stage? I know that my friends understand me, but I can't really gather myself up right now.

"Hey. Mukhang malalim nanaman iniisip mo ah." I did not respond. Stephen pulled a chair and sat near me. The other three are busy playing games by the tv.

We kept quiet. Both focused on drinking our beers.

"Alis muna ako. Ikot ikot lang ako sa campus para makabisado ko." Tumango lang sakin si Stephen. Naglakad na ako palabas ng tambayan.

Walking will help me with my thoughts. Nagstart ako sa building na ito at inalala ang pangalan. Naglakad lakad pa ako at tinignan ang ibang building at colleges na nandoon. Napatingin ako sa isang building na mukhang mapupuntahan ko ang rooftop. Good thing wala ako masyadong nakasalubong na students kaya naman walang makakaalam na nagpunta ako dito. May part dito sa rooftop na may takip kaya pwedeng pwede din tumambay kahit na tanghaling tapat. Ugh just the right place for peace and quiet.

I heard someone opening the door kaya mabilis akong nagtago sa may gilid.

"No... I've been busy with my org... Yeah... Okay, I'll call later." Mukhang may kausap lang siya sa phone at walang kasama. Sumilip ako ng konti para makita kung sino. Kahit bago lang ako dito, kilala ko na siya.

"Ahh! Bakit ba ang dami niyong expectations sa akin? Gusto ko rin maexperience ibang bagay! Gusto ko... paano naman mga gusto ko?" I heard her crying. Ugh. Should I let her know that I'm here or I'll wait  till she leaves? Damn it.

I slowly walked towards her. Nakayuko siya at umiiyak kaya di pa niya ako nakikita. Kinuha ko ang panyo ko at kinalabit siya.

"Aah! Why are you here? Kanina ka pa ba diyan?" pinunasan niya agad luha niya at nag ayos ng upo.

"Wait. Are you stalking me?" she stared at me waiting for my answer.

"No." I did not bother explaining to her why I was here. Baka magmukha lang akong defensive. Naglakad na ako paalis tutal may ibang tao naman na sa rooftop. Gusto ko nga mapag-isa e.

"Wait. Please don't tell anyone what you heared or whatever." I turned to look at her. Is it just me or I saw something in her eyes that made me feel weak.

"I-it's just that, I-i have an image to keep." She said, looking down, probably shy because of her request.

"Not my story to tell, Chienna" Then I left her at the rooftop.

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A/N: Hey there! If you are reading this, thank you. The first 3 chapters were written last 2014 pa, and I appreciate you reading this now.