Fourth Chapter - Riddle

Mag aalas onse na ng gabi nang dapuan ako ng antok, I even forgot my mother's words to me as she called awhile ago. I faced palm and lazily grabbed my phone. It's already ten p.m so I doubt if the senator is still up in this hour. I rolled my eyes and turn my laptop off. I opened the window to welcome the cold and fresh air from outside.

Three years ago, the longest holder of the Editor in Chief position of our university graduated, and guess what? He become the highest positioned police officer. How come that he end up being a protector of that drug syndicate. That was too shameful. I could even remember hearing a lot of praise to him way back when I was in high school. He has the most authority and he is so respectable during their batch. I can't just think and put it inside my head that he become like that! Oh gosh.

I irritatedly rolled my eyes and lean my back over the chair. Do I really have to stressed out because of things that is even out of my concern? Or pathetically I could say that I keep on being concern through those things that I shouldn't be. Gosh! I could now really said that my head is gonna explode!

I stand up to get some fresh air infront of the window but maybe it wasn't that enough. I want something too much, I want it cupped my body and then, I found myself in the rooftop.

I open my arms widely to welcome the cold air. I really love doing this, ang lamig, nakakapang relax. I sigh and stand straightly, looking at the stars in the dark sky. They were so beautiful.

Minsan, napapaisip ako. How was it to be a star? Being so looked up by alot of people, whatever angle it could takes, it will remain beautiful. Nakakalungkot nga lang na hindi ito gabi gabi nag papakita.

My glance suddenly drove away going to a man standing at the farthest part of the rooftop. I look at him intently before walking closer. I stopped in sudden as I realized that it's our Xheidan the great! Wow, is he really here every night?

Xheidan is in the same gesture as he was last night. Hands were seriously won't get out from his pocket, eyes are all in all occupied in the beautiful sky. He look so innocent, para siyang mabait na bata in that kind of stand if him. He was so different of what he was in the classroom. He look so carefree and happy.

I look at the sky to see what he was looking at, I smiled as I saw the moon. It's so beautiful. I read a quote somewhere, it says; Why do we waste time counting the stars without even realizing moon's perfection? I don't know, it just hit me a lot. Ever since, I love stars. I used to look them up because they were really so perfect, when a lot of stars are cupped up together, the made a beautiful milestone. They made a perfect combination of universe.

“Ehem,”

I get back to my senses as I heared a hem from Xheidan who's now facing me, looking at me with his usual bored eyes. The expression where he was awhile ago can't see any hint on his face.

My eyes bugged from him. I forced myself to smile to him and awkwardly wave my hands and was about to turn my back to him but he speak making be faced him.

“So you'll continue your stalking, huh?” He mocked and hissed before looking away.

“Huh! Hindi ah! I wasn't even expecting you here!” I defended and jeer on him.

Xheidan mock my words before looking at me sharply. His brows were knitted and jaw is clenched. His dark aura summoned the whole place making me feel so taunted. I bit my lower lip to think of something to say.

Freak! Why did I even get near to him?!

“It wasn't really in purpose! Promise, I was also living in this building, peksman!” I said and raised my right palm.

Xheidan rolled his eyes to me and irritatedly look away. Ibinaba ko naman ang kamay ko at maliit na ngumiti.

“The sky looks so beautiful, 'no?” I said, looking at the sky.

Xheidan ignored me and continue his staring on the moon but not the same expression where he was awhile ago. That makes me feel that I ruin his night. I pressed my lips together and awkwardly look away. Wrong move, Asth. Wrong move.

“I think I should go now,” I awkwardly chuckled and turn my back to him.

“No one's concern,” He said coldly.

WOW! NAPAKA! ARGGG!

“Share ko lang! Hmp!” I hissed and walk away.

I suddenly stopped when I could already say that I'm already far from him. Hindi ko napigilan ang lumingon seeing Xheidan remained where he was. I secretly smiled to myself before going back to my apartment unit.

Tell me Xheidan. Are you really hiding something?

In that case, I could say na parang nawala ang antok na yumakap saakin kanina and so as much when I received a chat from my bestfriend saying that our favorite author just updated the latest chapter of it's novel.

Asthreittle

Bakit gising ka pa?

Keilos

Kasi gising pa? HAHAHA.

Asthreittle

Fine. Goodnight

The next day is sunday. I decided to call the senator immediately as I woke up the next day. I didn't take that long and hard because in just a one dial, the other line quickly answered.

“Hello po, Senator? It's Asthreittle po,” I said.

“What do you want?!”

My eyes immediately widened and checked the senator's number I've dialed. The thin and high pitch familiar tone is what I've heared in the another line, the whole sentence sound with full of authority. Just thinking that it's the senator's wife, it already gave me shivers.

“S-Si senator po?”

I closed my eyes hardly as I stutter. Shit! Who am I even not to feel so tense? She's the senator's wife and her blood is really heated up on me for unknown reason.

“What do you want?!” Her hard tone cramp my whole system.

“A-ahm, sige po, mamaya nalang po—” I couldn't able to finish my words as she dropped the call.

I hardly closed my eyes and let out a heavy sigh. Seriously? I don't want to say any damn word to her in fact that she's the senator's wife, the senator whose sustaining my education and needs.

In the matter of fact, I seriously have no plan for today. I was so blank and can't think as of those happened last day. It's just so damn. In the end, I'd just decided to read the latest update of my favorite novel, after that, the same blank hugged me again.

“Nagugutom ako...” I mutter to myself and suddenly massage my belly.

Honestly, I haven't had a breakfast yet as of a two main reason. First, I have no stocked food here, second, I have no money to buy a foo outside!

I rolled my eyes in the air. I still have my allowance for the whole month but I don't want to waste those, well if buying food is really a waste.

Napaigtid ako ng tayo nang tumunog ang phone ko. I stare at it for a while, senator's number is flashed in the screen. I was hesitating and thinking if that was his wife or it was him. Ending, I answered it and thanks heaven that it's the senator.

“Hello po, senator. Good morning po,” I greet to the line.

“Good morning. Do you have any plans for today?”

“Wala naman po,” I answered after scratching the back of my head

“I see. I sent a package for you this morning, make sure to receive that. By the way, I'm inviting you to attend for the upcoming event that would be held in the palace. It's exclusive, already an opportunity for you.”

“Talaga po?!”

I don't know which one makes me happy. The package or being invited into the palace. Well, I know that the package that the senator sent for me has a food in it, that makes me enlighten my mood. Seriously, I'm already starving to death.

After awhile, I heared a knock to my door, I just look at the peephole first and after being sure that it's the package, I immediately get it. I just gave the delivery guy a sign and a thanks before he could leave and as of that, I immediately bring the package inside to open it and as expected, I saw a lot of food in there.

Around seven, I decided to do a quick jog at the rooftop. Well, jogging is not that really applicable for me to do outside the fact that huge road is facing. Unlike others, I don't want to be too much exposed in the crowd, too much noise is also cracking my head so rooftop is the better choice for me in this moment.

I rest at the near bench for a few moment and drink a water, wiping some sweats falling from my forehead. Napadpad naman ang mga mata ko sa mismong lugar kung saan ko nakita si Xheidan kagabi. A smirk curved into my lips, later on, I rolled my eyes remembering how rude he was.

The day went on. I decided that I would just review all the weeks discussion as of boredom and emptiness, nang mag hahapon na ay napag desisyunan kong bisitahin ang website.

Nothing appeared as I opened it. I sipped to my coffee and tried to find so hook and options. It's way better if I try to find out who's the person behind it the fact that I have already accepted Crizeliah's money, well, she gave that without even clarifying anything regarding to our agreement. I haven't declared my decision yet so everything was unclearly burden.

I bit my lower lip. My right hand is cupping the mouse while my eyes were occupied to my computer's screen. I have done a lot of thing like this before so this wasn't really that foreign in my part. I was just shivering in somehow because the thought of the person behind this website is a big and boom person, I would be that doomed.

“Yes!” I shot as I get an access to the front cam after a countless minutes on working infront. Hindi iyon ganoong kadali the fact that this website was seriously too high end tight secure, not that I'm saying that those security of previous web that I've hacked before isn't that tight.

I start entering some code and pressing buttons that could navigate me to the source of the web developer's device but I almost stand from my seat as a block caution popped up in the screen.

“BLOCKED?!”

I keep pressing buttons, lalo akong nainis nang mawala lahat ng naumpisahan ko mula kanina, going it back to the website's homepage.

“Parang tanga naman..” I irritatedly whisper and repeat the same thing I did awhile ago but not being able to do those, a new data appear in the screen, showing a number of codes in it. I start pressing buttons so that I could get an access to the front camera of the device being used of the other person's being in that web and then finally, I press the OK button making it view the person infront of the other's device's camera.

A small smile curved into my lips as I saw a guy in it, he's not typing or anything, just looking at the screen as I could say.

I intently look at him. He's eyes weren't wide, may kasingkitan iyon. In he's built that I could see through using his device's camera show his perfect curve face, the jawline defined his masculinity while his nose were perfect. As detaining his aura, he has the dark vibes in additional that his eyes scream a completeness boredom that makes me think of someone.

I sigh and took a screenshot.

Is it him? Is he the person behind this website?

I took a face scanner to scan his face, well, I don't either believe if that application is even legit or what but there's nothing to lose if I try so I did but as I expected, it didn't work.

I stare at the guy when his brow suddenly knit, making me panic for a mean time. Did he notice that someone's accessing his device?

The guy tilted his head, parang may pinag mamasdan sa screen niya. I look at the screen confusedly. He look like he's watching something or whatever in his screen. I swallowed and starting to chilly panic, in end I think of getting though his device screen to see what he was looking.

Is he working with a document he was always uploading? Is he making some document and putting an applicable evidence?

I work with some buttons and codes to access his screen view, I even fell awkward everytime the guy at the other line is smirking and grinning.

I swallowed again before pressing the OKAY button which will gave me an access to view his screen and I almost curse as I see what's in it! Fuck!

“Shit... Shit... Shit..” I whisper panicky and exit anything I did. Nang mawala na ang lahat ay saka ako nakahinga ng maluwag pero hindi ko maitatanggi ang panginginig ang tuhod ko.

Shit! How did that happened?! Why is he viewing me?! Fuck! Damn! Is that why he keep on smirking? I feel so tense. I feel being caught! If that guy was the person behind that site, I would be surely doomed!

To clear it, as I view that guy's screen, it immediately show my face, meaning, he's doing the same thing to me. I got an access to his device's front camera and so as him making us look like were having video call. Maybe that's the reason why his eyes were looking intently to the screen. He's watching me.

At night, before sleeping, I went up to the rooftop to get some fresh air. This is just the beginning and this already happened, pakiramdam ko ay isa na itong senyales na huwag ko nang ituloy ang bagay ukol sa site na iyon.

I start panicking and over thinking regarding that. What if it's him? I was a bit shaky dahil para akong nahuli. That was seriously unexpected. Why is he even viewing me? Natunugan niya bang may susubok na umaccess sa web niya? Shey.

My tense slowly drove away because of the calmness of the place. I just inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm myself. Maybe I would try taking off that thought inside my head for now. I would hold on to Crizeliah's word that if ever I get caught, she will take all the creds and blame. Ang tanging bagay na kailangan ko lang namang gawin ay ang ireport ang lahat kay Crizeliah. Or do I even need to tell this to her?

Nang kumalma ako ay pinakatitigan ko nalang ang madilim na kalangitan. The darkness and peaceful silence took all the burned in my chest. A smile slowly curved to my lips seeing the beautiful night sky. I could live my life with this beautiful.

I look at my side as I notice a guy at the opposite corner of the rooftop. Just staring at the man's back I could already said that it's Xheidan. The same stand, urge and dept is what he was right now. Eyes were looking deeply to the sky, but those eyes? They weren't screaming boredom, they were screaming calmness and freedom.

A smile curved into my lips. Is he really like this? He look so innocent and kind which really oppose what he really was towards people.

Smiling, I slowly walk towards him. He did not mind me even though I could already said that he noticed my presence. He remain his eyes to the bright moon. Later on, he sigh and a small smile cupped his red and soft lips.

“Did you know that it's better to talk to a real person than to the moon through your mind? Hindi iyan sasagot,” I said.

Xheidan did not pay any glance to me. “Did you know that I didn't asked?” Maldito niyang sagot.

I couln't help myself but to smirk.

“Hindi pa,” pamimilosopo ko habang malaki ang ngiting nakakurba sa labi.

Xheidan rolled his eyes. Wow, now parang he was showing how worse I disturb his one on one mind conversation with the bright moon.

“Is this your first move to get to know me, huh?” He gasp to me with his glaring eyes.

“W-What?! No!” I denied immediate. I just received an another gasp from him.

“Follow me,” He turned his back to me and start taking his steps.

“Huh?”

“Follow me. Sumunod ka saakin, in tagalog,” He rolled his eyes.

“I know!” I said and follow his big steps. His steps were too big because of his long legs! I couldn't make to walk along as of my short legs, hindi ako ganoong katangkad.

“Where are we going?” I asked while were taking the stairs.

“Will you just follow or what?!” He gasped again.

“Will I just follow or what? How will I follow if I don't know where we'll go?” I whisper to myself but as expected, Xheidan heared that so he looked at me with a dark eyes.

“I'm following nga diba? See? I'm taking my steps here,” I said, showing how I take a steps going down through stairs. “But I still don't know where out destination is! So cool!” I mocked to myself. Xheidan just ignored me.

We stopped infront of a brown door. I look at Xheidan.

“What are we going to do here?” I asked confusedly.

Xheidan didn't answered me and just opened the door and enter instead, leaving me alone outside. I didn't move and just watch him mockingly. Why the hell are we here in his unit? I'm not stupid not to realise that this is his unit. I'm not dumb, okay?

“Did you follow me just to stare the wind?” Xheidan said.

“Did you asked me to follow you just to left me definite clueless in what to do?” I shot back. Xheidan just rolled his eyes from me, probably having out of thought what to rebutt. He open the door widely and gestured me to enter, para pang labag sa loob niya.

I look around the whole room as I finally entered. A plain white color cupped the whole room's wall. As standing right infront of the door, a gray couch longed me on. Mayroong mga nakadikit na painting sa pader, two big paintings are plastered next to a human sized mirror. Next to that is a door infront to another door. Compared to my unit, this is way bigger and exclusive. This I could already tell that Xheidan is kind of rich.

“What am I going to do here?” I asked Xheidan who's leaning his back to the wall.

“Do your work,” He rolled his eyes.

“What?!”

“Do your work. Do whatever you want. Search for things you needed. Just prove my innocence,”

“Wait, wait, wait—What the hell are you talking about?” I asked with all complete confusion hugging me.

Xheidan tilt his head. “Isn't it obvious that I'm helping you dealing that stupid work of yours from the editor-in-chief? Couldn't you just realise that I made it more easier? See, you don't have to trespass anymore. I just did a favor. I'm a Samaritan, right?” He mocked.

“Didn't I just told you that I'm dumping that offer?” My brows furrowed.

Xheidan rolled his eyes and walk passed by me, gasping as of disbelief. My eyes were just following him where he go. Xheidan walk toward the glass wall and wipe the curtain to the side, viewing the buildings outside. After that, his gaze met my eyes.

Xheidan usual bored eyes is leering and menacing me as if I'm the most nonsense thing in the whole wide world. Rolling his eyes, he walks towards me while eyes is fixed in my eyes. I want to feel insulted because of his looks. It's making me feel intimidate and cool.

Xheidan stopped infront of me, having a few inches between us. Napatulala ako sakaniya nang isandal niya ang mga kamay sa gilid ko, making me locked by his arms. Xheidan was too near to me that I could even smell his randolence perfume. I swallowed hard and lean my back to the wall to add a few more inches between us.

Why is he too near?! What is he doing?!

Xheidan's eyes were fixed at me. His dark aura is giving me a chills down to my spine. Para akong hinihigop ng mga mata niya.

A door clicked cracked the whole room making us look at the door where a tall guy entered. My eyes were widened while I was looking at the guy and so as him. He's not familiar to me but he was tan and jolly in his built. With eyes widened, the guy look at us surprisedly as if he filmed a surprising and unexpected thing, he even covered his mouth!

I awkwardly look at the guy before squinting my eyes to Xheidan. Xheidan pressed his lips together. Rolling his eyes, he took the towel from the stall beside me.

What?! That's the reason why he came that close?!

“Hala! Sorry, naistorbo ko ata kayo,” The guy smirked that makes me widened my eyes.

“Huh! Hindi!” I denied immediate. This is Xheidan's fault!

“Tss,” Xheidan take a one step backward then look at the guy. The towel he take is now on his shoulder.

I look at Xheidan confusedly. Is this his friend? Did he even have a one, by the way?

“What do you need?” Xheidan asked the guy coldly while I just stayed in my spot, not moving, just watching them both.

“Grabe! Can't I be here without a need? Actually I brought this for you! Masarap 'yan! Hahaha,” The guy said and hand Xheidan a tupperware. He also keep on glancing on me and that is so damn!

“Tss. I already ate so, no, thanks,” Xheidan replied.

I can't help but to rolled my eyes because of Xheidan's attitude. Is he really this rude? Ghosh! Kung saakin iyan ibibigay ay mag papasalamat na ako.

“Gano'n ba? Ikaw, gusto mo sayo nalang?” The guy asked, smirking at me.

Did he just read my mind?!

“H-Ha?” I shook ny head and look at Xheidan. I caught him knitting his brow at me before rolling his eyes.

“Are you done? You can now leave,” Xheidan asked him.

“Grabe?! Busing-busy?” The guy malisciously glance to me again.

Damn!

Xheidan shot him a deadly glare that makes the the guy shut his mouth. I just look away and swallowed.

“Your friend?” I asked Xheidan.

“You think I have one?” Xheidan unbelievably gasp on me. Parang nainsulto pa siya sa sinabi ko.

“Who is he?” I whispered as if the guy I'm pertaining wasn't infront of us. The guy chuckle because of my question.

Xheidan boredly look at me before looking at the guy.

“What's your name?” Xheidan asked him.

What the hell?! He didn't know that guy?! Seriously?!

“Grabe talaga?!” The guy groan dramatically. “I'm Tax! I've been being nice to you for a couple of week yet you don't know my name? Nakaka offend naman,” Tax held his chest.

Tax... Tax?! Who parent would name their son a Tax?! Hindi ba iyon pinag isipan? Are they thinking of too much tax taking by the government that time kaya sa anak nila napunta ang atensyon? Well, nevermind.

“What do you want?” Xheidan repeat his question to Tax. Tax smiled widely and glance to me again.

Oh, come on!

“Wala! I'll leave na, I think...” He laugh malisciously before looking at me, “What's your name?” He asked. I was perfectly distracted by his look and smirk.

“Asthreittle,” I smiled awkwardly.

“Wow, ang cute.” He laugh again. I gramace at him for a meantime. Is he that kind of happy living person? Well, I hope I am too.

We all got distracted by a loud alarm coming from the table at our back. Xheidan cooly walk towards there. In the table, there's an open laptop over it, showing the screen, my eyes suddenly widened off as I saw a familiar background through it. That makes me slowly takes a step going to Xheidan.

“Nice..” Xheidan smirked meaningful as he was crossing his arms looking at the web notification popped up in the screen.

I eyes were widened as they were staring the context of the notification. I sigh deeply and sink it to my mind.

Opps! Seems like no revelation?

Where? Go, find it.

Would be revealed? Go, seek for it.

If Jershey don't want to sleep yet, he'll take it, make sure not to spill so there would be no wetness.

Under the only black table is an attache case. Go, take it.