Mafia Series 1: The Mafia's Heart (The Ruthless and Innocent)

Chapter 3: Brown Orbs

NAGMAMADALING tinakbo namin ang daan papuntang room. Kaya mas lalong lumakas ang pagtibok ng puso ko.

"B-bakit ba nasa room si Jiro ngayon?" I hardly asked while barely catching my breath.

"Ewan, I don't know. We'll find out later okay?" I nodded at her words.

Mas binilisan pa namin ang pagtakbo. We barely catch our breath as we reached the class. Nanatili muna kami sa labas upang lumanghap ng hangin.

"Oh, nandito na pala sila Mr. Hart," narinig kong sabi ni Teacher Lee from our back.

I was stunned. Seemed like my feet were glued on the floor.
Naramdaman ko na lang na kinaladkad ako ni Joy papasok ng room.

"Ladies, get inside. We are about to start the class." Ms. Lee said and we hurriedly walk towards our seats. I never dared to glance at him.

"Gosh, what is he doing here?'' impit na boses ang narinig ko. 

It's Fiona. If I know, sobrang kinikilig na iyan. I've known that he likes Jiro Hart for a long time.

"I've heard, magshi-shift daw siya ng course," ani naman ni Bea, one of her friends.

Teka, did I hear it right? Magshi-shift? Don't tell me?  No, No... It couldn't be.

"Bakit hindi ko alam?" Fiona asked. Mukha siyang dismayado dahil hindi niya alam ang pag-shift ng course ni Jiro. But Bea didn't answer her she just giggled at her.

I eyed Joy. "Hindi mo alam na nag- shift siya ng course?" Joy shook her head simultaneously.

"No, hindi ko talaga alam," she said sincerely. I nodded at her words.

"Before we proceed to our new discussion, everyone please welcome your new classmate, Mr. Jiro Hart."

In just a second, the room was filled of claps and yells of girls. To be obvious, his die-hard fans na pinangungunahan ng famous cheerleader ng university. Si Fiona Vladderie.

Habang ang mga lalaki ay nagsipalakpakan, may iba rin namang obviously, naiinis.

"Pasikat." "I'm sure he's with his companions," Karamihan sa naririnig ko sa mga boys.

Habang ako ay hindi ko alam kong ano ang nararamdaman.
At isa --- no, dalawa. Dalawang pigura ang pumasok sa bukas na pinto. They looked familiar.

"Sorry, we're late," paghingi ng paumanhin ng lalaki na singkit ang mga mata. Miss Lee just smiled at them. Naglakad naman sila papuntang pisara.

"Everyone, I'm Stephen Lerio. Nice to meet you," he cheerfully said. He got set of dimples. Again, nagsitilian naman sila.

"And I'm Javen Davids," he seriously said.

Kapansin-pansin naman dito ang singkit nitong mga mata. Mukha 'atang nagdilang-anghel ang classmates ko. I just saw them waiting for Miss Lee’s response.
Ganoon lang iyon? Ba't ‘di ko man lang narinig na nagpakilala si Jiro? Kung sabagay kilalang-kilala na siya sa buong university.

"You may sit down, boys," utos sa kanila ni Miss Lee.

"Relax…" I heard Joy murmured. 

She may notice that I felt tensed. Bat nga ba hindi? We're not just schoolmates. Magkaklase na kami!

In my peripheral vision I saw them walking towards our direction. Kaya iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanila para lang hindi magtagpo ang paningin namin ni Jiro.

"You're free to choose your seats," dagdag pa ni Miss Lee. Kung minamalas ka nga naman, sa gilid at likuran ko lang ang may mga vacant seat.

"What if --" I didn't finish my word. Because I couldn't bear the thought of him sitting beside me.