Chapter 10

(The Continuation)

Xyrica’s POV :

After how many minutes ay bumalik sila na may dalang mga gamit.

“What is that?” Tanong ko sa kanila.

“Bag para may malagyan ka ng mga gamit mo,” sabi ni Jhin at inilapag ito sa mesa.

“Are you guys for real? Ano ba ang tingin ninyo sa akin, kinakapos sa pera at walang pambili ng bag?” Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

“Ito naman ay galing sa akin,” sabi ni JL at ibibigay na sana sa akin ang dala niya.

“What’s wrong with you? Ano ang gagawin ko sa bagay na iyan?” Tanong ko sabay turo ng hawak niya.

“Walkie-Talkie,” sabi niya.

“Alam ko kung ano iyan kasi hindi ako tanga. Ang tanong ko ay ano ang gagawin ko sa walkie-talkie?” Tanong ko.

“Diba tatawagan mo kami everyday? Ito na ang gamitin mo,” sabi niya.

The others started laughing and started roasting JL for what he said and did.

“JL naman… para saan pa at ginawa ang cellphone, computers, f******k, skype, viber at i*******m kung walkie-talkie pa rin ang gagamitin?” Tanong ni Klent na natatawa pa rin.

“Napakabobo mo talaga!” Sabi ni Kris na habang ninahabol ang hininga sa kakatawa.

Bumuhakhak pa si Alver pero nakaya niya pa ring magtanong, “Ano ba ang nakain mo ngayon, ha?”

I rolled my eyes then cleared my throat to attract their attention and said, “Stop it guys kasi hindi na nakakatawa.”

Tumikhim din si Michiaki para mapigilan ang tawa sabay sabing, “We’re sorry, Xyrica. Anyway, I’m giving you my dagger. It’s a one of a kind kasi nagrerelease ito ng venom. It’s as venomous as an Inland Taipan which has the most toxic venom in the world. Its venom can cause muscle paralysis pero hindi lang iyan kaya ingatan mo ang dagger na iyan at huwag paglaruan.”

"Woah! Michiaki, ito ba iyong

Silent Evon Blade? Alam mo bang dalawa lang ang dagger na iyan sa buong mundo? I can’t believe you owned one,”

amazed na sabi ni Klent.

“You know how much I love collecting daggers,”

sabi ni Michiaki.

“We know, Michiaki.

And I can't accept that,”

sabi ko.

“Why? You don’t like it, do you?”

Tanong ni Michiaki.

“Pwede bang akin nalang iyan? Ayaw naman

tanggapin ni Xyrica e,” sabi ni Allen.

“Sa akin nalang iyan Michiaki. Huwag mong ibigay kay Allen, alam mo naman na careless ang lalaking iyan. Baka masira lang kung sa kanya mo ibibigay,” sabi ni Yuan na kumikislap ang mata.

Nakakatuwa sila dahil para silang mga bata. Lahat din kasi sila ay kumikislap ang mga mata at parang nakakita ng masarap na candy.

“Are you guys done begging Michiaki for his dagger?” Tanong ko sa kanila.

“What? Ganyan lang ba

ang magiging reaction mo? Hindi ba astig para sa iyo ang dagger na ito? Mahal ang dagger na ito Xyrica at gaya ng sabi ni Klent… dalawa lang ito sa mundo,” sabi ni Michiaki.

“Bakit, nagiging kotse ba iyang dagger mo?” I asked him sarcastically.

“Hindi, pero nagiging dagger ba iyang kotse mo?” Tanong ni Michiaki pabalik sa akin.

“Technically, yes. With just one push of my carss secret button ay lalabas lahat ng weapons na pinakainiingat-ingatan ko,” sabi ko.

“Edi, ikaw na ang may cool car. Nagpapainggit pa e,” sabi ni Michiaki.

“Ako naman,” sabi ni Yuan at lumapit sa akin tapos inabot ang isang box, “Xyrica, itong sapatos ay para sa iyo. I bought one for you noong nasa mall tayo pero nakalimutan kong ibigay dahil sa mga nangyari noon.”

Lumapit si Warren at sinabing, “Mask, bagay ito sa iyo.”

Lumapit na rin si Alver tapos binigay ang isang box at sinabing, “Headphone, astig ka nito tignan.”

I said ‘thank you’ to all of them and they shouldn’t have done it but I can’t refuse their gifts. It doesn’t feel right when I lie to them but I must, and I have a valid reason for lying naman. Para makabawi sa pagsisinungaling ko ay naisipan kong dito sa bahay nila maghapunan at ako ang magluluto. Alam kong hindi ito sapat pero balang araw maiintindihan din nila ang desisyon ko.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. Giniit naman nilang ihatid ako kahit hanggang sa sasakyan lang kaya pumayag na ako.

“Oh, magpakatino kayo habang wala ako ha? Babalik din naman ako agad,” sabi ko sa kanila.

Tinapik ako ni Michiaki sa balikat sabay sabing, “Hayaan mo, nandito naman ako para sapakin silang lahat kapag nagloko.”

“Sus. Isa ka rin naman sa nagloloko Michiaki, huwag nga ako ang utuin mo. Basta ang huwag ninyong kalimuta ang bilin ko, okay?” Pinaalala ko ulit sa kanila.

Alver sighed then said, “Fine, we won’t try stalking you.”

“Good, ano pa?” Tanong ko habang tinitignan si JL at hinihintay ang sagot niya.

Napakamot naman si JL sa ulo at sinabing, “I’ll stop being weird and behave while you’re gone.”

I nodded with satisfaction then glared at Allen. Ito pa naman ang isa sa mga pasaway sa grupo tapos naimpluwensyahan pa si Warren sa mga kalokohan niya.

“Hindi na po ako magiging pasaway pero kung magiging pasaway man ay may limitasyon,” sabi ni Allen.

“Ako rin,” pasimpleng sabi ni Warren.

“Good. You don’t have to call me too because I will call you guys first to check on you,” sabi ko.

“We’ll miss you,” sabi ni Yuan.

I just smiled and finally said my goodbyes because I really need to go. Mr. Demsford might be waiting for me kasi ngayong gabi kami aalis papuntang Gangster Academy. Before driving the car, I texted Mr. Demsford that I’m on my way home.

-

I stopped my car in front of the gate, seeing mister Demsford crossing his arm while leaning on his car. I immediately got out of my car to apologize.

“Mister Demsford, I-”

“You are late,” Pagputol ni mister Demsford sa sasabihin ko.

I groaned then said, “How am I suppose to know that you’re here already? I’m sorry if I’m late but I texted you a while back and it was to tell you I’m going to be late.”

“I don’t like not being on time,” he said, emphasizing the word ‘not’ like I sinned big time.

I rolled my eyes then gently said, “Look, I’m sorry. I needed some time to break the news to my friends. Then I spent a couple of hours with them because I don’t know how much longer it would take me to do this thing that we’re about to do.”

“Were they being dramatic? Because clearly they don’t have to,” sabi ni mister Demsford.

“What do you mean by that?” I curiously asked.

He didn’t reply which made his statement suspicious but I bother myself asking him the same question.

“Do you want to go inside? If you want to then let me give you something to drink. It’s my way to apologize to you for being late,” sabi ko.

“You’re not going to kill me, right?” He jokingly asked.

I looked at him with annoyance then asked, “Are you trying to say that I’m a psychopath? If I were, I would have done it the moment you first came here.”

“I was just kidding,” depensa ni Cyborg.

“You’re an idiot, you know that? I’m

a drag racer not a psychopath and you should know the difference,” sabi ko at binuksan na ang gate para makapasok ang sasakyan naming dalawa.

Cyborg’s POV :

Pagkatapos kong tulungan si miss Dela Vega na ipasok sa loob ng sasakyan niya ang mga dala niyang gamit ay umalis na kami papunta sa Gangster Academy. Medyo gabi na at hindi ko akalain na sa ganitong oras kami magpapa-enroll, at hindi pa sigurado kung matatanggap man o hindi.

“I guess we’ll have to find out,” I said to myself.

After an hour of driving ay nakarating kami sa Gangster Academy. Malaki ito kung ikukumpara sa Gang-Ku-Fia pero ayaw ko talaga sa academy na ito. Makikita ring hindi strict ang mga guards nila rito at pwedeng umalis ang mga estudyante kahit ano mang oras dahil sa mga taong lumalabas-pasok sa lugar na ito.

Pagkatapos naming makahanap ng parking space ni miss Dela Vega ay agad kaming bumaba sa mga sasakyan namin.

“Huwag mo munang ibaba ang mga gamit mo kasi may kakausapin pa tayo,” sabi ko kay miss Dela Vega.

Hindi ito ang first time na nakapunta ako sa lugar na ito kaya madali na sa akin hanapin ang mga importanteng opisina na dapat puntahan.

Bago kami makapunta sa office ng isa sa mga dean dito ay nadaanan namin ang isang malaking field. Mas malaki ito kesa sa field ng Michigan Stadium at may mga estudyanteng nagsasanay gaya ng target archery, fencing, Wing Chun at Wushu. Kaunti lang iyan mga bagay na nabanggit kasi marami-rami ang mga estudyante na narito sa field.

“Look at them… the students here are so amazing. I bet my parents are awesome too because they had manage to build an academy like this,” mahinang sabi ni miss Dela Vega na may tuwa sa boses. Nakatingin din siya sa mga estudyanteng nagsasanay.

“Gang-Ku-Fia Academy is much better than this,” sabi ko kanya.

She immediately let go of me then shoved her elbow into my side to shut me up.

“Your elbow hurts,” I groaned in pain.

“Then keep your thoughts to yourself if you want to stay here longer.

Act according to what they are expecting you to act and be one of the students here. It’s not like you’re staying here forever,” sabi niya.

Ilang minuto kaming tahimik na naglalakad papunta sa dean’s office. Si miss DelaVega naman halatang first time makapunta rito at ayaw tumigil sa pagpuri sa academy na ito.

“Can we at least walk with peace? I know maganda para sa iyo ang academy kasi kanina mo pa sinasabi iyan,” sabi ko sa kanya.

“Fine. Iba kasi ang Gangster Academy na naisip ko kasi akala ko sakto lang pero hindi pala. Lumagpas siya sa expectation ko,” sabi niya.

“We’re almost there,” sabi ko. Hindi ko na pinansin ang sinabi niya baka kasi hindi na naman siya tatahimik.

“How many times have you been here? Why are you so familiar with this academy?” Tanong ni miss Dela Vega sa akin.

“What do you expect? We know a lot from our rival school,” pasimpleng sagot ko.

“We’re here,” masiglang sabi ni miss Dela Vega pagkatapos mabasa ang sign na pangalan ng office.

Kumatok muna kami sa pinto bago pumasok sa office at bumungad sa amin ang secretary.

“Good evening,” sabi ni miss Dela Vega at umupo sa upuan.

“Are you miss Dela Vega and mister Demsford?” Tanong ng secretary.

“That’s right,” she politely nodded then smiled genuinely.

May kinuha ang secretary na dalawang envelop at isa-isang ibinigay sa amin ito. Pagkatapos ay sinabing, “Mister Steinfeld is not around because he had a schedule to catch up on, however,

he would like me to give you these.” 

“What’s this?” Tanong ni miss Dela Vega.

“It’s his answer to your application,” sabi ng secretary.

She opened the envelop and read it. Tumaas ang isang kilay niya at tumingin sa secretary tapos tumingin sa akin.

“What’s written in your paper?” Tanong ni miss Dela Vega.

I’m assuming everything’s not going her way because she’s trying not to get pissed. Dali-dali kong binuksan ang envelop at binasa ito.

“I can’t believe it. I got in,” sabi ko.

“And I can’t believe he’s rejecting me! He can’t do this to me, hindi niya ba ako kilala? I’m Demon,

the famous queen in racing. I’ve got tons of money and what more is he asking?” Inis na sabi ni miss Dela Vega at tinapon ang envelop sa desk ng secretary.

She’s now pissed. I can’t let her make a scene at baka mas lalo pa siyang madehado.

I gently touched her shoulders and said, “Miss Dela Vega, calm down for a bit. It’s a bad time to get mad.”

Parang wala lang narinig si miss Dela Vega at patuloy na kinakausap ang secretary. “Where is he? I want to talk to him this instant!”

I tried my best calming her down and said, “Miss Dela Vega, stop making a scene at baka mapahiya tayo rito.”

“He can’t reject me because I won’t let him. No one dares to reject me!” She angrily shouted.

“Enough!”

I snapped. Getting all her attention to me, “Your behavior is unacceptable. You can’t make a scene at baka madagdagan pa ang rason nila na i-reject ka.”

She stared fiercely at me then to the secretary then back to me and said, “You don’t understand, Demsford. He can’t just reject me. Hindi ako pumunta sa academy na ito para i-reject lang nila.”

“Miss, I need you to call down or else I will call the securities,” sabi ng secretary.

“I’m really sorry about the scene. Let me just take her outside and for us to have our moment,” sabi ko sa secretary at pinalabas si miss Dela Vega kahit ayaw niya.

Binitawan ko kaagad siya pagkatapos kong ma-secure na kaming dalawa nalang at medyo malayo kami sa opisina para makapag-usap ng matino. Pero imbes na magpasalamat sa akin si miss Dela Vega ay sampal ang naabot ko sa kanya.

“Is this your way of saying ‘thank you’?” Tanong ko dahil medyo na shock pa rin ako sa ginawa niya.

“You shouldn’t have done that. I was still talking to her,” galit na sabi niya.

“You’re calling it ‘talking’ when we see it as ‘making a scene’, really? You should thank me for saving your face back there. I know it’s quite unfair na ako lang ang natanggap pero magagawan naman natin ng paraan iyan, miss Dela Vega. I can’t believe you’re willing to throw away everything just because they’ve hurt you ego,” seryosong sabi ko sa kanya.

Umiwas siya ng tingin at naiinis na sabi, “That’s the reason why I’m ‘making a scene’ as you called it. Because I can’t risk throwing away everything I’ve planned and for them to what… reject me this easily?”

Umiwas na rin ako ng tingin at sinabing, “It’s not the way I see it kanina. Please, you need to grow up.”

I can’t believe she’ll drag me to this place then cause a scene. May mga connections naman ang family ko na pwede naming gamitin para makapasok siya. Bakit hindi niya maamin na nasasaktan talaga ag ego niya?

I heard her sigh. Lumingon ako sa kanya pero nakatalikod na pala siya.

“You don’t have to worry kasi matutulungan naman kita na makapasok sa paaralan na ito,” sabi ko at nagpaalam sa kanya to make some calls.

I’m hoping this will work but knowing I’ve one of the strongest connections medyo panatag ako na makakapasok talaga si miss Dela Vega at matutuloy ang plano niya.