Chapter 17: Badass

[Airish Laxamana]

Flashback:

"Promise me that'll you will not say it to Kaijin." I look at him while he looks at the ground.

"Why?" I boredly ask.

"I need to be strong like him... If he knew that I was beaten up... He'll think of me as a weak one that needs protection..." Napasandal ako sa pader habang nakapamulsang tumingin sa kanya.

"What's the reason? Why are they bullying you?" Humawak siya sa damit niya bago siya yumuko.

"I'm not as strong as my brother... I... I can say that I'm weak... And that weakness is the reason why they're bullying me." But the way he answers those jerks... It's kinda impressive for me.

"Then be an asshole." Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Huh?" Tumingin ako sa kanya tsaka tumayo ng maayos.

"Walk like you're a KING or you walk like you don't care who's THAT FUCKING KING." I smirks as I looks at him.

"The real you is in your INNER CORE. Bring that Monster out AND THEY WILL KNEEL ON YOU."

"Because some people just need an effin High Five in their faces with a chair." Napailing siya habang tumatawa.

"You're a badass." I seriously look at the other side as I answered.

"Behind every badass attitude, there was a sweet princess in the past."

"But the problem is.. I don't know how to be a badass like Kaijin..." I pat his head while I smile.

"You're cool. Sa sagot mo palang sa mga umaway sa 'yo kanina, I see a badass side in it." Napailing nanaman siya habang napapangiti.

Papasok na sana ako sa loob ng tumingin ulit ako sa kanya.

"We were born to be a fighter. If you fight you'll win, if you don't fight, you will never WIN." Nginitian ko siya bago pumasok sa loob.

-

"Ang grupo lang ni Airish at ni Brent ang nakapagpasa ng essay. So it means sila lang ang exempted sa project?" Napahigab ako.

"That's all? Ito lang ang may grades?" I get my phone as I text Venice.

"Hahabaan ko ang Deadline hanggang sa Sabado. But, these groups are the only EXEMPTED on the Project."

To: Venice

'Meet me at the cafeteria.'

"Who's that?" Tumingin ako kay Kaijin at pinakita ang text ko kay Venice. "Bakit sa kanya?" Because I need to cool off.

"Nothing." But the truth is...

I see that dirty scene yesterday...

And I just pretend to sleep... I don't know why but...

I'm not in the mood...

"Kaijin, breaktime na." Napatingin ako kay Nadine na nakangiti sakin. What a fake fucking bitch.

"Nadine! Kaijin! Ai—"

"Excuse me? Andyan ba si Airish?" Nauna na akong lumabas at kinuha ang kamay ni Venice bago kami umalis.

Nang makarating kami ng cafeteria ay umorder muna kami bago kami umupo. "Akala ko you forget me na." Tahimik naman akong kumain.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsasalita?" I look at her as I fakely smile. "May nangyari ba?" Nawala ang pekeng ngiti sa labi ko at binaba ang kutsara bago ko siya seryosong hinarap.

"Kilala mo si Nadine?" And speaking of the devil....

"Sino?" Tumingin naman ako sa tatlong taong pumasok. "That one?" Tumango ako. Napatingin sakin si Kaijin at dali-daling pumunta sa lugar ko. Tumayo ako at tinapunan ko siya ng malamig na juice na hawak ko. Nginitian ko siya bago ako umupo ulit.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" He cuss while he's touching his uniform.

"ANO BANG PROBLEMA MO?!" Bagot ko siyang tinignan habang nakita ko ang paglaki ng mata ni Nadine. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Kaijin tsaka nagsalita.

"I need a chips, a coffee, and a juice. Ikaw Venice?" Kumunot ang noo niya pero tumingin siya kay Kaijin.

"I want a Caramel Coffee, a Blackforest cake, a chocolate cake, a vanilla cake, a chocobar, a pizza, burger, fries bff size." Kumunot ang noo ni Kaijin.

"Move." Sambit ko na ikinairita ng mukha niya. "ANO BANG PROBLEMA MO?!"

"This is an Order KAIJIN DEL MUNDO." Napatingin samin lahat ng estudyante. Many of them are wondering and many of them are whispering.

Inis siyang sumunod habang pumunta naman sa lugar ko si Pey at si Nadine.

"Bakit mo inuutusan si Kaijin?" Tanong ni Nadine. Tumayo naman si Venice at binuhusan si Nadine ng juice.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa mo sa Bestfriend ko pero pagsisisihan mong tumapak kapa sa PAARALANG ITO." Tumingin sakin si Pey.

"Ano bang nangyayari dito Airish?" She ask out of confusion. I see her asking eyes so I tap the seat besides me. But instead of sitting she harshly taps our desk.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong problema mo pero MALI ang ginawa mo Airish!"

Tumayo ako habang nakangisi kay Pey. Ibinaling ko ang tingin kay Nadine tsaka nagsalita.

"First Rule: I'm never wrong

Second Rule: Go to the first one. All of my actions are based on my emotions. I don't care if you think that I'm wrong."

"Finally, you show your true personality." I looked at Nadine. Hindi ba niya alam ang kababuyang ginawa niya?

"I HAVE SO MANY PERSONALITIES AND NONE OF THEM LIKES A BITCH LIKE YOU." I see her widened her eyes as she looks at me.

"You know what?" Hinawakan ko ang gloves ko bago tumingin sa kanya.

"I wanted to slap you so bad, but the law says it's ANIMAL ABUSE." I stop when Pey slaps my face. Nakita ko ang pagdating ni Kaijin at ang paglapag niya ng order sa ibang lamesa.

"Why did you slap her?!" Hinawakan ni Kaijin ang pisngi ko pero itinabig ko ang kamay niya.

"Venice," Tumingin siya sakin. "Tara na." She stands up as we held our hands.

"I want to say have a Nice day, but it's better when I say, HAVE THE DAY YOU DESERVE." Let Karma do his task. We quickly leave as we quickly arrived. "Ano ba kasing nangyari?"

Nang makarating kami ng garden ay tsaka ko ikinuwento ang nangyari.

"Nadine and Kaijin are making out yesterday." I don't consider it as a make-out but it's the same thing. I don't want to judge so early but my system wants to kill that bitch.

"WHAT?!" I cover my ears as she shouts.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU DO SOMETHING?!"

"Because they stop. And I didn't plan to make a scandal." Umupo siya bago humarap sakin.

"Pero tinapunan mo si Kaijin ng juice."

"It's better than to slap him in the face."

"Ibig sabihin mabait ka pa niyan?"

"I hurt him, he hurt me, we're even."

"He hurt you?" Napatingin ako sa nakakaloko niyang tingin. "So... Nasaktan ka?" Tumingin ako sa harapan.

"Yes." I answered with a straightforward voice. I looked at her as she looks at the ground.

"Do you like him?"

"Just starting." Kinuha niya ang kamay ko.

"What if you ended up hurting again? Paano kung magkita kayo ni Althea? Paano kapag—" I cut her off.

"Althea is happy now. She's with Kaijin's brother. They're in a relationship." Mapait ngunit nakangiti kong sambit.

"I still love her. But if that's what makes her happy, then I will let her." Hindi na siya nakapagsalita.

"Are you ready to fall?" She asked after a minute of silence.

"I guess I am. And in this time, I want to fall for a worth it person." Napatayo ako at nagpagpag ng uniform bago ko inilahad ang kamay ko kay Venice. She just takes my hand and smiles.

"May pupuntahan pa ako." Venice said so I nods.

-

[Venice Malvas]

That Kaijin... HE DARE TO HURT MY BESTFRIEND! WHAT KIND OF BOY IS HE?! Pasalamat siya at mabait si Airish dahil kung ako 'yon? THIS MEANS WAR.

"Bakit ba galit na galit si Airish ha?!" Napahinto ako sa paglalakad. Napatingin ako sa likod ng College block building.

"Ano ba kasing ginawa niyo?!" It was Pey, Kaijin, and that bitch Nadine.

"Kaijin and Nadine make-out." I simply said while I walk towards them.

"EXPLAIN." Matigas kong sambit.

"It's a misunderstanding. We Stop." Napatingin ako kay Pey.

"YOU MAKE OUT WITH KAIJIN?!" Now she's fucked up, she slaps Airish without knowing who's fault it is.

"I SLAP AIRISH BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"Bakit? Sinabi ko bang sampalin mo siya?"

"I PROTECTED YOU!" Tinignan ko si Pey. "You better go before she hates you." Pey runs as I said those words.

"Fucking bitch." Tawang sambit ko at tumingin kay Nadine tsaka pumunta sa lugar ni Kaijin at marahas siyang sinampal.

"THAT'S FOR HURTING AIRISH!" Gigil kong sambit.

"PASALAMAT KA AT MABAIT ANG KAIBIGAN KO KAIJIN! SHE NEVER SLAPS YOU! DAHIL KUNG AKO 'YON?! I WILL FUCKING SLAPS YOU! 10x STRONGER THAN THIS!" Napatingin naman ako kay Nadine na nanlalaki ang mata.

"IKAW! MALANDI KA! BAKIT MO GINAWA KAY AIRISH ANG BAGAY NA 'YON?! WALA KA BANG PAKIRAMDAM HA?! LANDIIN MO NA LAHAT WAG LANG ANG BOYFRIEND NG KAIBIGAN KO!" Pigilan niyo ako masasampal ko itong babaeng ito!

"We stop ok?! Hindi ko kayang ituloy dahil nirerespeto ko si Airish!" Napangisi ako.

"Nirerespeto? Really? IF YOU RESPECT HER KAHIT ILANG BABAE ANG MAGHUBAD SA HARAPAN MO AT KAHIT ILANG BABAE ANG MANG-AKIT SA 'YO HINDI MO SILA PAPATULAN BECAUSE YOU CARED FOR AIRISH FEELINGS!" Napahinto siya. I know Airish since we're in middle school.... Madaming nagtangkang lumapit sa kanya pero si Althea parin ang bagsak niya. But this guy...

"I guess they're right, BECAUSE ONCE A FUCKBOY WILL ALWAYS BE A FUCKBOY."

"You doesn't deserve her Kaijin. She deserves to be LOVED NOT TO BE HURT."