Sixth - Out

The morning classes went nice but it was just a kind of different the fact that some were consciously glancing at me knowing that I've just became the vice-chairperson of the students committee. Well, I can't blame them. It was just a second week of the classes and then we already had our new vice-chairperson, who is me. Funny

During my last morning class, I received an approach from a one professor I have no idea whoever is, informing me about something I don't even fucking understand.

Bumuntong hininga ako.

I don't know what comes into Crizeliah's mind to put me as the vice-chairperson's position. I was a kind of confused too about the previous vice-chairperson's state when I saw her.

Was it really a coincident that as the time Crizeliah promised to give me a position here, the previous vice-chairperson hook in an issue at the same time? Well, I can't say. Maybe the vice-chairperson really did such a thing like that.

As my last morning class ended, I head the way going to Crizeliah's office immediately. I seriously have to clear things with her. I'm already dedicated to dump her offer, on the other hand, I would report her the thing I've seen in the website too.

When I reached Crizeliah's office, it was still lock. I tried to knock not just twice but thrice but there's no respond so I think she's still not in there.

I looked around. Everyone are now having their lunch. I sigh and take my way going to the canteen. I just suddenly rolled my eyes as I entered the entrance of cafeteria. I saw Tax's figured who's smiling widely to me, showing his perfect white teeth.

“What?” I asked emotionless.

“Huh?” He look at me confusedly but with a sense of humor. I rolled my eyes again. “Kain ka na, miss vice-chairman,” He said before laughing so hard.

What the hell?! Wala namang nakakatawa sa sinabi niya.

I grimaced at Tax before passing over him. I just can't think of intending more longer with him. He's so loud and noisy. I don't even like the way how hard he laughs!

Even in the cafeteria, I keep on looking around if Crizeliah's here but she's really not. I just spent my break time having my meal and ofcourse, trying to recall to myself those lectures that have just discussed.

I was currently sitting in my table when I saw a familiar figure. The previous vice-chairperson. She's wearing a black jacket now and a black shades making her looks unfamiliar. I saw her gaze on me and then quickly looked away.

What the fuck?

Before leaving the cafeteria to attend my first afternoon class, I purposely stayed at the cafeteria's entrance and patiently waited for a familiar figure to pass way by on me. I didn't took that long dahil nang lumabas ako ay lumabas na rin siya. The previous vice-chairman.

“Hey!” I called her. She immediately looked at me but look away quickly like she's avoiding me.

I immediately chase her as she ran away. When I finally reached her, we're already at the farthest part of the hallway.

“Hey,” I called her.

I stare at her. I was currently facing her back. She's tensely looking around but not looking at me. She was like looking for somewhere to escape.

“Hey..” I took a one step going to her.

“Please don't come closer,” He voice cracked.

“What's the problem?”

She tried to look at me but quickly looked away again.

What's her problem? Bakit parang takot siya saakin?

“Hey, miss vice-chairperso—” I tried to reach her but she immediately move away from me.

“Don't call me that way!” She exclaimed with a hint of madness in her tone.

Napatitig ako sakaniya. What happened to her? I've never seen  her before but I didn't expect her to be like this, otherwise, I contrast the idea that she's really like this because if she is, she wouldn't become the vice-chairperson.

“I-I'm sorry miss vice-chairwoman,” She said that made me more confused.

My brows tangled to each habang siya ay iginala ang paningin niya sa buong paligid na parang natatakot kung may makakarinig man saamin.

What the hell?

“What's the problem? Tell me..”

I take a one step closer to her. She just stare at me but I notice how she did that. There's fear in her eyes and a hint of burden. She keep stepping backward everytime I keep coming closer.

“Please tell me...” I look at her concernly.

“MAXINE????”

We both get disturbed when someone from the restroom shouts. Nang lingunin ko ang vice-chairperson ay nakatakbo na siya paalis mula saakin. I let out a heavy sigh before giving up.

I went out to my afternoon class. During my last class which is my math class, I keep looking around to look for Crizeliah but even here, she's not around. Everytime my eyes met Xheidan's figure, I was just pressing my lips together. He's probably infuriated knowing that I got that position.

After my last class, I went straight to Crizeliah's office but when I reached the place, it was still lock. Bumabagsak na lamang ang balikat ko.

She said we'll talk this lunch, eh uwian na ay hindi parin kami nakakapag usap? Tinakasan ako ng bruha.

As of that kind of ambiguous waiting, I decided to go home at a thought na wala naman akong mapapala if I would keep myself waiting. A night came, my seriously used routine gets continuous. After I took my dinner and a review of day discussion, I took my way going to the rooftop and to make it way more fun, I brought a foldable chair and some snacks with me. When I reach the rooftop, the scenery of cold atmosphere welcomed me.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti ng malaki habang dinarama ang hanging yumayakap saakin.

I stand the foldable chair near the corner of the rooftop and so I put my snacks over the concrete railing.

I look up to the sky. Kahit gaano ko pa katagal iyong titigan ay hindi ako mag sasawa. I could stare for it for a long time in my life and if staring to the stars at the night could make me feel drown, I could say that merely I'm already dead alive.

Smiling, I hugged myself when another cold air hugged my whole.

I suddenly came serious when the thought of being vice-chairperson entered my mind. I sighed and looked at the sky intently while taking some chips and putting in my mouth.

I was seriously confused why the previous vice-president is acting like that. I just suddenly widened my eyes as I remembered that I bought a school news paper when I remember Crizeliah's words telling me that she already made an article towards the previous vice-chairperson's issue

As of that unexpected reminisced, I initiatably grab my thing and walk towards the stairs but I stop for awhile to look at Xheidan's usually spot whenever I seen him here.

I look around. There's no one, Xheidan's figure isn't even there. I sigh and faced the door to go off to the stairs but I quickly stopped in shocked when I saw Xheidan infront of me. I even hold onto my chest because of startle!

My ghosh! Bakit ba siya pabigla bigla?!

“What?!” I glared at him while holding my chest. Xheidan just raised his left brow to me. Rolling his eyes, Xheidan passed over me while my eyes are weirdedly following him.

Did I already said that Xheidan is so weird?

Buffling, I slowly walks towards him. The things I'm holding wasn't that heavy so I'm cool with inseperably holding it. When I reached him in way, I put down the chair and watches him.

“Psst,” I called.

Xheidan didn't looked at me. He stand still while eyes were leering the perfect moon up to the dark sky.

I look up to the moon as well. Why does he's always looking at the moon like that? Maybe he's a moon lover? I don't know but everytime I see him here, all I see he was doing is nothing but staring and keeping a glance to the moon.

“Psst!” I called him again but he still ignored me.

I scratch at the back of my head. Couldn't he hear me?

“Xheidan, hey..” Pabulong kong tawag and took a few step closer.

I saw Xheidan sigh but stay still. Does he think that he's alone? Can't he see or hear me? Am I an air?

“Xheidan! Huy!” I called more even lauder than before and finally, he looked at me.

“What?!” He gasped on me with full of infuriate in his eyes.

“Can't you hear me?”

“Am I deaf?!” he hissed and irritatedly rolled his eyes from me. I just protruded my lips and cleared my throat.

Napaka sungit, amp.

“You're not answering. What do you want me to think?” I raised my brows.

“Do I have to answer?!” he asked implausibly and look at me with grimace.

Why the heck is he like thiiiis?!!!! Ghosh!

“Yes!” I stated. “You have to answer so that I would knkw if you heared me or not,” I added, chin up.

“Don't you think I can't hear that disturbing loud voice of yours?!” He shot back and glared at me.

I almost dropped my jaw. What the fuck? Did he just called my voice disturbing?????!

I was offended bruhhh!

“YOU... YOU'RE SO... UHHH!” I groaned as of disbelief and implausibe.

He turned his body to face me. His aura is now dark and showing lugubrious manner.

“What do you want?” Xheidan was raising his brow.

I rolled my eyes and calmed myself. I'm the one who initiate the talk so I feel the oblige to adjust. Well he's just that rude to adjust for me so I do it by myself.

“Galit ka ba saakin?” I asked.

Xheidan grimace to me but with a bit confusion in his eyes.

WOW, THAT WAS FIRST TIME!

“I don't even care about you,” he rolled his eyes away from me.

My eyes bugged and my lips parted because of that fucking burning rebutt!

DUROG NA DUROG NA PRIDE KO! JUSKO! YAWA!

“TA-TA-TA-TANGINUH!” hindi makapaniwala kong sabi at iniwan siya doon.

Bwiset talaga.

The next day, I woke up early to go to Crizeliah's office in immediate. I just knew that she used to go to the University earlier than usual the fact that she's the editor-in-chief. When I reached her office, I knocked trice to informed someone inside before opening the door. I saw Crizeliah holding a paper while reading. She look at me and places the piece of paper over the table.

“Good morning,”

“YOU DITCHED ME YESTERDAY!” I glared at her and took a seat that makes her raised her brow.

“Rude,” She smiled sweetly.

“Alam mo bang pabalik balik ako rito?!” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah. Someone informed me about your presence. I'm sorry for not being able to came out, masyadong natagalan ang diskusyon ni Presidente,” She leant her back on the swivel chair.

I lick my bottom.

“Fine, let's just not talk about that. In this moment, I want to clarify every single things to you,”

We got disturbed by a rang on her telephone.

What the heck! Palagi nalang bang iyon ang iistorbo saamin?!

“I see,” Crizeliah look at me while nodding her head as of something heared over the other line.

Napairap ako.

“That was crucial. I think we shall just talk this lunch,”

“LUNCH NANAMAN TAPOS WALA KA?!”

Crizeliah squint her eyes on me.

“Your tone Athreittle. I'm still higher than you,” She said intently.

I didn't answered and just rolled my eyes.

“Don't worry. This time, I would do everything just to mark my words. Save your stuffs,” Crizeliah's last words before we adjourned.

Like the same as yesterday, I just attend all my morning classes and when it's already lunch time, like what other students does, I head my way over cafeteria.

I look around, I gasped when I couldn't spot Cirzeliah's figure. Napatigil lamang ako sa kalilinga nang may tumigil na babae sa harapan ko.

“Hi, you're Asthreittle, right?” She asked.

Damn, I remembered Crizeliah.

“Yes,” I look at the big ID she's wearing.

“I'm the Vice-President of the Student Committee. I'm here to give this to you,” She hand me a hard ID the same as her. I look at it and it shown an ID with my name and picture on it.

The heck. Ang bilis naman nilang kumilos?!

The Vice-President was just about to turn her back to leave but I called her which made her look aback.

“Wait!”

She look at me white a loa smile in her lips.

“Nasa commitee pa ba ang software na ginamit buong taon ng previous Vice-Chairperson?”

She pursed her lips.

“I don't think so. She's not using our commitee computers, she always had her own,” Muli siyang ngumiti ng hilaw.

I just nodded to her before she left.

I look at the ID. Why do everything feels so weird? Parang kahapon lang naideklarang ako na ang bagong vice-chairperson and then all this were already settled down?

Or maybe they were just a fast worker?

“Hoy,”

I look at Crizeliah when she take the seat infront of me. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

“I thought you'll ditch me again,” I smirked.

“Duh,”

“Eto na nga—”

“So you already received it? Why won't you wear that?” She raised her brow to me.

“Isn't that what we're going to discussed right now?”

“Oh, come on. Everything were now fine, tatanggi ka parin?“ She said with annoyed in her tone.

“Ayoko nga Crizeliah—”

“It's Crizeliah,” She rolled her eyes.

“Huh?” I asked confusedly.

“It's Kri-za-la-yah not Kri-zi-li-a,”

I look at the editor-in-chief like she is the most weirdest person in the whole wide world—if Xheidan is an Alien ofcourse, duh-—when she said those. I just rolled my eyes in the end

“Whatever. As I was saying, I don't want to accept that position infact that it was crucial. Also, it's such a shame to accept that when I'm already dumping your offer. Hindi ko na iyon gagawin Crizeliah, and I won't accept this,” I put down the ID to the table

“Do you think it's easy to take all those back?” She look at me sharply.

“Then I hope you asked me first before giving that damn position,”

“It would affect you being at the Dean's List if you left that position, Asthreittle. The committee have already submitted the new list,”

“What?!”

“Yes,”

“DO SOMETHING!” I said irritatedly.

“I WON'T,”

“I WOULD TELL EVERYONE THAT YOU OFFERED ME TO INVESTIGATE XHEI—”

“FUCK, SHUT UP!”

Crizeliah immediately grabbed me and cover my mouth. She also kept on looking around if someone heared me, just gladly that we're a way far from the crowd.

Crizeliah glared at me.

“It's not just my reputation, yours too, bitch,” She keep glaring on me.

“Did you just called me bitch?” I raised my brow.

“YES, SO WHAT?”

“BITCH!” I rolled my eyes. “As I was saying, I'm dumping it,”

“Bakit ba?” She furrowed.

“I don't wanna do it, infact, I think Xheidan is innocent,” I glance around.

“You think?” She said, unconvinced.

“Yes,” I breath. “He told me that he would help me to prove his innocence. He heared us talking.” I added.

“Really?” Crizeliah look at me.

“Yes. Do you think if he's hiding something, he would offer that?! He even brought me in his unit and let me roam around just to prove his innocence!”

“Why would he do that,” Crizeliah look at me as if I'm making up things.

“Cause he don't want his name to be such a dirt!”

'“Oh, really?” She look over her nails.

“We both know Xheidan, he's into himself. He don't want anyone to ruin him. He's selfish, right?” I keep convincing.

In our way on that conversation, saktong dumaan sa harapan namin si Xheidan while a gay is running after him. The gay seems asking something to Xheidan which catch mine and Ceizeliah's attention.

“I said I don't! Can't you press that inside your sculty brain? It's mine,” Xheidan stare at the gay darkly.

“But they need those..” The gay said, almost teary.

“I'm not oblige to sustain their need. I don't give a damn,” He said before cooly walked away as if nothing happens.

The gay left out infront of us dumbfoundedly and as of that, I feel bad for him. When he saw us watching, he immediately wipe the tears in his eyes because of shame. Bahagya siyang yumuko saaming dalawa bago siya umalis.

Nag katinginan kami dalawa ni Crizeliah after that. Tumikhim nalamang ako bago mag salita.

“S-See? I told you. He's selfish,” I smiled and chuckled awkwardly.

Crizeliah gasped.

“Yes I know. That's given. But didn't you even think smarter, girl??” Crizeliah straightly looked at me.

I didn't respond and just look at her.

“If Xheidan is really innocent, he won't feel threatened by your investigation. It's a kind of reverse balba, the antagonist would play towards the protagonist's mind by acting like a curve,”

“What do you mean?”

“Xheidan maybe trying to tie up things to down. He must be knowing that you would declare his innocence when he act in contrary way as you think by helping you,” She looked down before slowly looking at me. “Sometimes, an enemy will act like an ally but just secretly making you his stupid numb puppy,”

I napatulala ako.

“But if you really like quiting for that offer, ayos lang. Besides, that's way not important now. How's the site?”

Crizeliah and I decided to move to her office before we continue our discussion about the site.

In the case, I was a bit preoccupied dahil sa sinabi ni Crizeliah kanina tungkol kay Xheidan. Is Xheidan really like that?

"See me as Samaritan,” echoed into my mind.

“How's the website?”

I drove away all my thoughts when Crizeliah spoke.

“About the website. I've already tried to up things finding who's the person behind it. Last time, I saw a guy when I tried to get an access to the front cam of the device being used of the other person there in the website too,”

“A guy? What is he doing there?”

I gulped.

“I saw him viewing my front camera... when I accessed his device's screen,”

Crizeliah chuckled and then nodded.

“Have you taken a screenshot of him?”

I shook my head.

“Is he familiar?”

“No, it's my first time seeing him there but I saw him personally yesterday,” I added.

Crizeliah shift and look at me more intent, waiting for my next words.

“Actually I didn't expect to see him in the same coffee shop where I am yesterday. We had a talk and he mentioned me that he's there as of the same reason with me,”

Crizeliah nodded.

“He handed me this, his calling card,” I hand her the calling card Marcus have given to me.

Crizeliah take the card from me and massaged her chin. Probably thinking about something.

“I think he can help us,” she met my eyes.

“Pardon?”

“If that guy is there because of the same reason as yours, then he's probably trying to find out who's the person behind that website too,“ she look away with knitted brows. “Do you think he's good enough to help us?”

Us? Bitch, ako lang ang kumikilos saatin, taga utos ka lang!

“I don't know,” Tumikhim ako. “But possible. When were in the coffee shop, alam niya na kaagad kung ano ang dahilan ng pag punta ko roon. If you have visited the site last time, there's a riddle that have been thrown and that's the reason why I'm in that café. He have answered the riddle and knows where the documents are more than I,” I stated.

“He could help us. We should contact him out,” She said and read the context of the card.

“Wait,“

I remembered Xheidan.

“I think Xheidan knows the website too,”

Dahan dahan niyang iniangat ang tingin saakin.

“What?”

“When I'm in Xheidan's unit, I saw him visiting the website too. Do you think he could help?”

Crizeliah gasped.

“Do you think helping is part of his vocabulary? We don't need his help, he's an ass,” she rolled her eyes.

“Aren't you going to ask how Xheidan knew about your offer to me?” I asked  Crizeliah.

She crossed her arms.

“He put a bug in my phone,”

My eyes widened.

“What?! You know?!”

“I just found out when I noticeed my phone acting so weird. See, he's literary an ass,” She rolled her eyes.

“And you didn't told me?! Paano kung ipinapulis ako non?!” I exclaimed.

“Pinapulis ka ba? Hindi naman diba?” Pinandilatan niya ako.

I rolled my eyes as of disbelief.

“Can we just not talk about him? You keep bragging his name, may gusto ka talaga sa kaniya, ano?” She grin.

“TANGA,”

“DID YOU JUST CALLED ME TANGA?”

“YEAH, SO WHAT?” I mocked her words awhile ago.

“Bitch.” She rolled her eyes.

“So what now?” I crossed my arms.

She sighed.

We both looked at the telephone when it rangs again.

I rolled my eyes.

“What?! Okay, I'll be there,”

Kailan ba walang tumawag sakaniya?

“Kailan ba kita makakausap ng walang tumatawag sayo?” I rolled my eyes.

“You must really be part of the committee to know our obligations.” She hissed.

Crizeliah left her seat and grabbed her coat from the stall beside her table. She stand infront while looking at me with a deep thought in her eyes.

“Let's meet tonight,”

The day went on. During all of those, all I could find myself thinking is everything that happened these past few days.

I'm so halted. Masiyadong concurred lahat when I knew Crizeliah. I got a 250 of thousand and then I became the vice-chairperson of the committee. In the other side, I knew people I must have no connection with, including: Marcus, Tax and Xheidan and even the previous vice-chairperson. Lately, I have been thinking about a lot of thing, wether it's about the website or Xheidan's real identity, idagdag ko pa ang sinabi ni Crizeliah saakin kanina.

I just sighed.

All these were happening in a short period of time, I have no idea of what would be coming this coming days. Sana lang ay huwag pumutok ang ulo ko dahil sa dami ng iniisip ko.

Before leaving the University, I bought some street food. While taking a stick of hotdogs, I heared some whispers in my back.

“Nag dropped out? Yung dating vice-chairperson nag dropped out?!”