Eight - Steal

"Don't be blind. Everything were in purpose. You won't knew it for nothing.."

AGAIN, for the nth time, I sigh and hardly closed my eyes. Usually, as arriving in my apartment the first thing I would surely do is to find were my slippers are-to went to the bathroom and have a bath but so far but not so good, here I am laying in my bed with the same outfit and wearings which I have used in the mall, agonizing the previous vice-chairperson's words to me.

Freak.

In her words, as far of those were no even having any scourges or threats, maybe I was just over reacting towards her words. Lahat naman siguro ng nangyayari sa buhay natin ay in purpose, hindi ba? I mean, why wouldn't it be? And as of she said those, I won't knew it for nothing-well, technically, everything we knew were never for nothing, right? It came towards us as having any reason that really brought something.

I take out a deep breathe to relaxed and calm myself. Mula kanina nang makalabas ako sa bookstore ay puros pag linga ang ginagawa ko sa paligid. I was a bit uneasy and in goose if she's anywhere around me, again. When I saw her inside the bookstore with that state, I don't actually know what to feel, kung maawa ba ako o matatakot. Sino ba ang hindi matatakot na makita ang state niyang magulo sa harapan ko just to tell those words? That's marked of insanity. I'm crazy, I could think.

I hardly closed my eyes. Bakit ba masyado kong ginugulo ang isip ko? If it couldn't affect me, mentally and physically, I won't bother. Malay ko ha kung lahat ng nakita niya sa bookstore ay nasabihan niya ng salitang iyon, hindi ba?

After a long amount of time having a talk with myself on a lay, I found myself walking towards the bathroom to do my things. Tama, all I should need is to continue my things, hindi ko na muna aalalahanin iyon.

"So, what happened?"

I look at Crizeliah.

So far for this third week, nasanay na ata akong dumalaw sa office ni Crizeliah every before going to my first class. She's wearing her usual school attire while sitting in her swivel chair infront of her laptop scanning something.

"Pag iisipan niya raw,"

She nodded.

"I have something to ask," I said in the middle of quietness. I lean my back and fixed my eyes to her.

Crizeliah lightly raised her brows to me. "What?"

"When I asked you why you wanted to know the person behind that website, I understood the point of your answer, but you could still know who are those officials without knowing the person behind that website and just stay tuned with that website's updates, right?" I asked the same question Marcus have asked to me last time.

Crizeliah caught off guard. She stuck her eyes on me, all were taunted. She was like that for a few seconds before she could found in back. Crizeliah just look at me while I'm currently looking forward what she might say but as of our usual day of us, having a conversation, the telephone at the side of her table rang. She was still stunned as of that question to notice the telephone.

Eyes were still fixed in me, Crizeliah picked up the telephone. I look away to show a respect.

Kailan ba kami makakapag usap nang walang tumatawag sakaniya? Just thinking of that, I couldn't capture myself as a vice-chairperson and be busy like her. Speaking of that position, I was currently conceiving to have a meet with the whole committee and what have Crizeliah told me, have a talk with the President for my resignation.

Resignation na hindi pa nasisimulan. Damn.

"That's out of our concern! Stop pushing!"

Startled, I look at Crizeliah when she emphasizes those words to the line. I'm now facing her back.

Minsan ay naiisip ko kung gaano ba kahirap at bigat ang trabaho ni Crizeliah. Look, she's just first year but then she's doing a lots like this. I couldn't imagine myself dwelling too hard for this.

"Tell him I'll work for that now,"

Crizeliah's call ended. The next thing roam around the whole room is the silence. I didn't bothered to utter any words dahil mukhang frustrated pa siya. At last, I heared her sigh deeply before facing me.

"We have a committee meeting, right now." Crizeliah said and walks passes by me.

My eyes were bugged and I was already planning to protest cause my first class would surely start now but Crizeliah already have march going out from the office. Having no choice, I followed her.

Crizeliah's steps were now way bigger than her usual steps. We reach a big and tall brown door of the meeting room of the committee. I was surprise to see how our University gave much amount of effort for students committee. When we reach inside the huge room, a long glass table longed for us with a full committee inside. They were already complete and all their eyes were on us.

Napatingin ako sa kanilang lahat, they weren't familiar to me. I have no idea who was the President, other or whosoever except the vice-president I've met last time.

"Let's start," A masculine man wearing a college uniform declared and stand up. We both Crizeliah took our seats.

I couldn't deny the fact that I'm probably the youngest here knowing that I'm just senior while every other person here were colleges.

They start discussing, hindi ko alam kung kanino ako titingin dahil nang mag umpisang magsalita iyong lalaking tingin ko ay ang Presidente, the whole room field by a noise. Everyone were talking furious and frustrated. Napapakunot nalamang ako ng noo dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema.

I look once again to the President, he's way massaging his forehead while just looking down.

I glance to Crizeliah, she's silent and just listening around. I lean to came closer to her.

"Anong issue?" I asked. This is my first time attending a meeting and I didn't expect na ganito ang mangyayari.

"It's not just an issue, it's a fucking problem," Crizeliah gasped.

"I would be having a discourse with the Chancellor and Dean towards this problem. All we have to do is to look forward where to find Maxine, unless we would face heavier than this,"

Who's Maxine? Is she the previous vice-chairperson?

"Crizeliah, have you reviewed the articles?" The President look at the person sitting right beside me.

"Yes," Crizeliah answered.

The President nodded. Among of all person inside, the President looks the chillest and calmest unlike other whose frustrated.

Natapos ang meeting naiyon nang wala akong naintindihan na kahit na ano. I doubt if that is how they have their meeting o sadyang urgent iyon? Kahit kasi anong intindi ko sa mga pinag uusapan nila kanina ay hindi ako makasabay. I was briefly of telling like an air occupied the chair where i seated. Kaya hindi ko gusto ang pag sali sa mga commitee mula pa noong highschool ako, I never like doing those kind of stuffs. Matalino ako pero tamad ako sa mga ganoong bagay.

"Brief mo sa'kin," I uttered to Crizeliah.

"You should asked there," She squinted her eyes.

"Sige na, hindi ko talaga naintindihan. See, I must not be part of the committee,"

"I'm busy for now. Go, talk to someone," She said and quickly type something in her laptop. I know I'm already running waste of time for my first class but I need to clarify this to her.

Ang hirap kaya kapag walang alam!

"Is it about the vice-chairperson?" I asked again.

Crizeliah looked at me this time after fixing her eyes on her laptop. I guess it's a yes.

"I..."

I remember when I saw Maxine.

"I saw her last sunday, when I met Marcus," I added.

"You see her..." She said to herself. "Where?"

So far, the day went not so good but I could say it's not that even bad. When I got back to my apartment, as usual thing I'm always intend to do, I reviewed my lectures. I made myself busy by doing my school stuffs infact that I have a document to submit tomorrow. As for rest, I just lay over my bed and closed my eyes.

Ganito lang dapat ang gagawin ko sa taong ito. I mean, just doing my school works after school, going to review, going to do requirements. But everything were really suck a damn. I got a connection with people I must not having, I even have to do things that is even out of my concern in the first place.

Bumuntong hininga ako and decided to open my laptop. I visit the website for now to check what's up with it now. These past few days, the website wasn't updating any documents as of now, it's already been more than a week since the last document which is about the Café and nothing came next.

I look at the homepage of the website, it's blank just like last night when I visited this website. I let out a sigh and just lean my back.

Kung hindi sa website nakatuon and isip ko, mukhang puputok naman sa pag iisip tungkol sa vice-chairperson, who is Maxine. As of those, I would just exert myself by reading notes and memorizing para maiwasan ang pag iisip na iyon.

I shift from my seat when I saw something appear in the center of the blank homepage of the website. I immediately press the file uploaded but I almost hit my laptop when it's blank.

I subtle my fist and stop myself from hitting my laptop as of annoyance.

"Scam amp.."

I just rolled my eyes as of infuriate, sakto namang tumunog ang phone ko.

I look at the number calling me, it's unregistered so I think of declining it but I just answered it in the end.

"Hello?!" I said with a tone of annoyance.

"Hey,"

I fixed my seat when I familiarized Marcus's voice. Damn, I haven't save his number in my contacts yet.

"U-Uy.."

"Have you visit the website already?"

"Just done, scam nga, e," I rolled my eyes to the air.

I look at the front page again, this time, my eyes bugged because when I open the file again, a caution popped up saying that the file has been stolen! That made me panic for a meantime.

"It was stole.." I mutter.

"Yes. I stole it,"

I look at my phone with a bugged eyes.

"What?!"

"Let's meet tomorrow, same place. Tell your boss that I'll be meeting him/her too after us,"

And that, the call ended.

Napabuntong hininga ako.

Why does everything seems too fast? Although things keep on bragging around me has a reason, question of speed always occured. Nakakainis lang, like after this concept of thing have just happened, there's another thing and idea would come out. Just like a chapters in book of novel I've read in my life, every chapter has a revelation and then it would grieve in condemn for the next chapter. Hindi naman ako bidang babae sa kwento but why do I feel the exhaust ng ganito?

Third week. This was just the third week of my last year being senior, next year, I would be college already and heavier thing would fall off to my shoulder more than this. Maybe that's the reason why I want to enjoy my last year being senior highschool. I just want to chillax because I know, next year, my life would be tighter and harder. I heared from a friend that college life sucks. Grades don't matter anymore, just pass and every thing would be good. As all I need to do in this year is to have fun but in a state of studious. I have to be in dean's list or be a cum laude if ever to have a hence of scholarship in a high end University here.

I sigh once again. Maybe, I think, I could still bare doing these stuffs-as long as my academics were good, I'll go. Beside, nakatanggap na ako ng kalahating bayad para rito.

Ending, after my long own self talk, I decided to march my way going to the rooftop, somewhat excited. Right, stress reliever ko pa naman ang mga stars, amd ofcourse, ang badtrip-in si Xheidan ay stress reliever ko rin.

These past few days, every time I went up here to the rooftop and seen Xheidan around, I start teasing and annoying him about how our classmate punched him. Hindi ko alam kung anong sapak ko at naisipan ko iyon. I just found myself doing that when I was really borinh, sakto, he's there, looking to the moon. Malas niya lang at siya ang napagtripan ko.

"Dumb,"

Kita mo 'tong taong 'to. Kararating ko lang, ang dumi kaagad ng bunganga.

"Kumusta, moon lover?" Bumungisngis ako.

Well, I've just start calling him moon lover as of the reason that he don't like being called selenophile although he don't like being called moon lover too, I still pushed. Annoying ako, hindi ba?!

Xheidan didn't replied on me and just keep his eyes on the moon. In his built right now, he was acting like he was alone. He's not even looking at me! Parang hindi nanlait.

"Kahit gaano mo katagal titigan iyan, hindi matutunaw 'yan," I said and chuckle.

Xheidan rolled his eyes.

"Same as you. Stop staring, I won't melt," He said coldly without even putting just a simple gaze on me!

KAPAL!

"Who doing what?! Ikaw ata itong assuming saatin?" I defended and immediately look away.

That was not even a stare! He was just assuming things!

I look up the moon. It's crescent, too beautiful that made me pull out my phone from my pocket and took it a photo. I just found myself frowning and protruding my lips when the captures in my phone wasn't the same as what my eyes could capture! Kainis!

I stand straightly and gave up. I just look at Xheidan and think for something to annoy him. I just kind of like it whenever he's annoyed. Wala lang.

"Ilang taon ka na? Bakit ang tangkad mo?" I asked and look at him.

Xheidan is really such a tall. If I would compare him with Marcus, I could say that their height weren't afar.

"How old are you? Bakit ang pandak mo?"

I furrow on him.

"You know, it's justifiable if you just used the word liit than pandak! Nakaka offend, ha!" I scowl.

Xheidan didn't mind me and just continue doing what he was doing. Hindi ko alam kung naiinis na ba siya saakin but all I could say is he's a bit annoy already dahil nag curve na ang mga kilay niya!

"Kumusta yung pisnge mo? Nariyan parin ba ang bakas ng nakaraang sapak?" I said before laughing.

Xheidan coldly look at me before rolling he's eyes.

"That was really so hard! Paulit ulit ko 'yong nirerecall sa utak ko!" I laugh again but hardly.

For now, I thought Xheidan would still ignore me but he irritatedly faced me with his brow went align. I just forced myself to stop from laughing and zip my mouth. I love annoying him, I wonder what he would say.

"Bakit ka ba nandito?" Xheidan coldly asked.

Oh. I expect too much than that answer. I thought he'll get annoy na, we would go back to this words lang pala. Well, everytime we're here, those words of him will never vary, it's always there, palagi niyang itatanong saakin. And ofcourse, I would answer the same of my asnwered as always. Just dumbness loaf.

"Why, am I not allowed here?" I asked back.

Like what I was expecting he would do, Xheidan rolled his eyes and then gasped. I laugh.

"Alam mo ikaw, feeling ko mabait ka naman talaga e. You're just rude," I said to him and stood my elbow to the concrete railing.

Xheidan didn't answered and just gave me another gasp! Aren't he tired of gasping all the time?

"See? Instead of asnswering, puro ka singhal! Nako, Mr. Surnameless," I added. A shallow smile in me is visible.

Xheidan head irritatedly sideways to met me. The infuriate couldn't hide in bear. I want to laugh for getting what I wanted in the first place. He's now getting annoyed!

"Bakit ba dikit ka ng dikit sa'kin? That place is spacious. Hop yourself out there," He remain his squinted eyes fixed in me. Xheidan protruded his lips to the opposite direction of where we are.

"Bakit doon?" I asked innocently.

Xheidan didn't reply and just went his brows align.

"Bakit doon kung pwede namang dito, malapit sayo?"

A shallow smirk compressed into my lips as those words let go off me.

Xheidan's eyes lightly widened after hearing my words but he managed to bring back his usual expression. I saw his jaw clenched before he look away, rolling his eyes.

Once again, I smirk widely and looked away too. Why does he look too cute? Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay ako ang natatawa sa sarili kong banat. Well, I don't mean anything toward my own words actually, I just really like it whenever I see him stun and stupefy because of me.

I was busy smirking in the air when I feel a bit itchy in apart of my leg. Bahagya akong yumuko para abutin ang may kati at hinaplos iyon. Was it a mosquito bite?! Gosh!

"Uy!"

I was a perplexed when I get aback to stand, Xheidan wasn't right my side anymore. Puzzled, I look around with my lips protruded a bit and I saw Xheidan now in the place where he was pertaining to me to go awhile ago.

Grabe, bakit hindi ko napansin ang pag alis niya? Ninja?

Slowly, I walks toward his direction. My expression is a bit faced as of his action. Doesn't he know that it's rude to left a woman?! Rude Xheidan.

"You're really rude!" I said, lips were pursing, while marching my way going to him.

"Have you count how many times you have followed me?" He asked as he faced me.

Napatingin ako sakaniya.

"Senate Bill No. 3401 known as Anti-Stalking Law Of the Philippines, Section 4; Any person who shall repeatedly follow another person is called stalker. Section 5; Any person convicted by the crime of stalking shall be punished by prison correctional and or fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand yet not more than Five Hundred Thousand at the discretion of the court."

Xheidan took a one step closer to me.

"I can file a case against you if you keep doing this," He said intently.

My eyes got stucked in Xheidan's dark eyes which I felt like swallowing me from deep within. Xheidan's tall figure infront of me scream his authority and highness which roll into my spine how small tiny little I was infront of this beautiful man.

I gulp before uttering a word.

"Mag aabogado ka ba? Bakit hindi ka sa law school nag aral?"

I was dumbfounded and surprised in my own words.

Xheidan look at me with a hugh implausibe. He then walk away after deeply rolling his eyes as if I'm the most stupid in the whole wide world.

"Don't ever shot a words like that to me! Hindi ako mag aabogado kaya hindi ko alam kung tama ba iyang sinasabi mo!" I hissed and crossed my arms.

Xheidan seems like his cursing through my name inside his mind that he couldn't let out. Tangang tanga ba siya sa sagot ko?

"Just throw a math problem to me, I might like to answer that rather," I smiled widely.

Xheidan pressed himself to faced me. He pressed his lips together and crossed his arms. Breathing in and out, he look at me.

"I think you shall stop doing a stare on me, you know? Iisipin ko talagang crush mo ako," I smiled sweetly.

I don't know but whenever Xheidan is the one infront of my, my smile necome wider and genuine.

Xheidan slightly raised his one brow.

"Áschimos..." I uttered before slowly move away from me.

"Ha?" I askwd but he just ignored me.

Nag tuloy pa ako sa katatanong sakaniya but he never answere me again. Ending, I just rolled my eyes to him. As always. I was currently wondering what he have just said. Did he just said that I'm beautiful? I'm cute? Or whatsoever? As of that, I promised to myself to look for the meaning of that word sooner or later.

I gone back to my apartment unit as soon as Xheidan decided to left me alone, he hasn't evem bothered to bid a farewell to me, such a rude.

I faced my laptop and search on the g****e, while doing that ay bumubungisngis pa ako pero nang makita ko kung ano ang lumabas doon ay biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

No, it's not I love you.

It's not also, beautiful.

And ofcourse, it's not I'm cute.

BUT IT FREAKING MEANS...

MADAFAKA~

UGLY!!!!!!!!!!

I irritatedly stood up from my seat and march towards my mirror with my brows knitted to each other.

"Ugly?! Who's ugly?! Ang cute ko kaya!"

I grab a powder but as of sudden, I clenched my fist an closed my eyes.

"UHHHH! XHEIDAN!!!"