Never Mess With a Gifted

YSABELL'S POV

Agad akong tumakbo palapit sa ngayo'y namimilipit na sa sakit na si Danielle. No staff cares about her at this moment because they are all after the director's sake.

Well, I can't blame them. If the director dies, so will be this university. They don't want him alive, they just need their salary to continue coming every month.

I mean, who cares about his death? They are after the payment, not about his safety. Those distress plastered on their pale faces are only the fear of losing a job.

Aligaga ang lahat sa pagtawag ng ambulansya at medics. Some of the students are intriguing what's going on and it causes every school staff to struggle dahil paharang-harang sila sa dinaraanan.

"You okay?" I stupidly ask when I reached Danielle. Nakasalampak pa rin siya sa malamig na sahig ng stage. Hindi ko maiwasang tanungin ang sarili ko kung kasalanan ko ba kung bakit siya natumba dahil may napansin akong iilang bahid ng tubig at makeup sa paligid ng stage.

"Oh, god. I-I'm sorry-" she cuts me off by shushing my lip.

"It's not your fault. I got distracted when I saw the director choking so I lose my balance. I'm okay- augh!" natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang biglang kumirot ang kaniyang binti.

She tried to move but I restrain her. "No, stay there. We don't want any more injuries to cure," I sternly utter as I support her to lie her back down again.

Nginitian niya ako. "Yes, sir."

I ignore her mock and examine her left leg. May umbok ito at nagsisimula nang lumitaw ang pasa sa kaniyang sakong.

I spin my gaze to Noah, his attention is fixated on the director's condition. I created a click sound using my tongue that made him shifts his gaze to us.

"Watch her. I'm gonna seek for some help," I instruct. He nods and squats down on the floor, staring at Danielle.

I stand up, but my vision suddenly turns black for a couple of seconds and I almost stumble, good thing that Noah catches my back on time.

"S-stay here, ako n-na l-lang ang h-hihingi ng t-tulong," he mumbles in a concern tone while gripping both of my shoulders.

Tumango na lang ako habang hawak ang aking sentido. My vision is still fuzzy and I can feel my stomach starting to get upset. Any time soon, I know I might vomit, so I concede. I grip Noah's hands whilst I'm slowly sitting back from the floor.

"C-careful," bulong niya at naramdaman ko ang kaniyang hininga sa aking tenga na naging dahilan upang makiliti ako. His toothpaste is peppermint flavor, I guess.

"Thank you," I silently answer when my butt finally hit the floor.

"Yeah, n-no worries. J-just s-stay here." he gives me a smile, but I didn't return it because my head is still throbbing. What the heck is wrong with me?

Tumingin siya kay Danielle, "I won't take long. Can you endure it?"

The moment I heard his concerned voice to her, tila biglang tumigas ang aking kalamnan. I couldn't stop my lips from pressing each other.

Before he can even touch Danielle's injured heel, I shove his hand away. I don't know why I acted like that, but I just couldn't stop myself.

That's one of the reasons why I loathe being Ysabell. When excessive emotions swallowed me, I lose control of myself. Nagagawa ko ang mga bagay na hindi ko naman dapat na ginagawa. But if I didn't do it, this vigorous and burning feeling in my stomach will pester me throughout the day.

That's how awful I am.

Tila nabigla si Danielle sa inasal ko kaya nagpakawala siya ng isang pilit na ubo at inilipat niya ang tingin niya sa malayo.

As for Noah, he grins at me and gives me an 'are-you-jealous?' look.

Tumayo na siya bago ko pa siya mapatay sa matatalim na mga titig ko. He lets out a chuckle, then he realizes that he should be seeking for some help right now instead of bitching around.

"I'm gonna go for now, ha?" he's staring at me so I gave him a nod, but before I could even finish it, he continues his phrase, "Danielle." his eyebrows are moving upwards and he put stress on Danielle's name.

I purse my lips that made him chuckle again. In my peripheral vision, I caught Danielle's cheeks blushing. She lowers her head when she saw me peeking at her. Inisip ko na lang na nilalamig siya para matapos na 'tong kagaguhang 'to.

"Just leave," I bitterly utter.

"Mmm." he nods while still grinning and finally, he takes a step forward. Naglakad siya pababa ng stage para salubungin ang paramedics na ngayo'y mabilis na tumatakbo patungo sa direksyon ng director.

The guards violently thrust the students out of their path. I gasp when I saw how they brutally treat them. May iilang natumba sa mga upuan at may mga napaatras na lang para hindi na sila maitulak pa ng mga bruskong guwardya.

Four guards are leading the way, making sure that none of the students will be an obstacle to their work. Three nurses and one doctor who carries a stethoscope are behind them and they are all pushing a stretcher.

"Tumabi kayo!" one of the guards hysterically shouts that made us all flicker. The students who are far from them take a step back to provide the way, but those who have a distance of an inch received an avalanche.

I heard roars and groans of pain, but they seem not to care about it. Ang tanging inaalala lang nila ay ang kalagayan ng director. I hope he dies so these jerks will end up jobless.

I didn't say anything. No one tries to. We remain silent, so does Danielle. I give her a questioning look, but she just answers me with an awkward smile, telepathically saying that we shouldn't meddle with things that don't trouble us.

Then I remember Noah. My eyes expand and I immediately search for him. Nahirapan akong hanapin siya dahil walang nakasinding mga ilaw sa loob ng auditorium puwera lang ang sa stage.

Why is everyone disappearing from my sight?

"He took the hallway," Danielle utters when she notices that I am desperately looking for Noah.

I just don't want anyone to disappear, like what happened before.

I blink. How stupid I am to always forget that we have the privilege that other students don't have.

"Yeah, right." Tumango ako. My voice almost came out like a sigh.

"Hey, you sure you're fine?" she brushes my hands. I touch hers, too. Sa ganitong paraan, hindi ko mararamdamang mag-isa ako.

I nod with a low, soft hum. I don't want her to be worried about me because she's the injured one. I take a deep breath as I try to soothe myself again and again.

I despise myself from being like this, the Ysabell that I never want to be.

"I'm sorry, I-i j-just-"

"Shhh, it's okay." she opens her grip and I accept them willingly. She wraps her arms around me. As we hug each other, I feel safe, again. "I understand," bulong pa niya.

"Thank you," mahinang usal ko at naramdaman ko namang tumango siya.

"I gotcha," she answers, and I sense that she's smiling while caressing my hair.

Humiwalay ako sa yakap niya. I give her a genuine smile that she returns with a silly wink.

"Sinabi nang tumabi kayo e!" I flinch when one of the guards yells once again. They finally arrived at the bottom of the auditorium. Tatlong estudyante ang marahas niyang itinulak palayo mula sa director. The professors gasp, but they didn't say anything. They are too coward of the consequences that they may face if they stand up against the system.

It seems like money is the most important thing for them.

Umiiyak na tumayo mula sa pagkakatumba ang babaeng marahas nilang itinulak at saka niya inalalayan ang kasama niya para makapagbigay daan sa mga walang hiyang 'to.

Agad na lumapit ang paramedics sa naghihingalong katawan ng director at mabilis na ininspeksyon siya ng doktor with the assistance of the nurses behind him. The guards block the way to prevent any rigor while they are checking the condition of this fat man lying on the floor, causing commotion.

"He was poisoned," the doctor declares that made everyone- including the cruel guards sigh in depression. "But he's still alive. If we can manage to bring him in the nearest hospital, we could save him," he continues and one of the guards sigh for the second time. Based on his reaction, I guess he's not just an ordinary guard. I think he has deeper connections with the director that the thought of him dying caused him anxiety.

They transfer his body to the stretcher whilst one of the nurses put inhaler on his mouth and the other one is on top of him while performing a CPR.

I'm so fixated on what's happening that I almost forgot that Danielle is still lying here beside me, and her heel is still injured.

Tumingin ako sa paramedics at sa mga guards na ngayo'y aligagang tinatahak ang daan palabas sa madilim na auditorium.

Why are the lights still not lit on? Where's Agnes? Isn't she the one who's assigned for this thing?

Danielle groans again. I can perceive on her face that she couldn't bear it anymore. The pain is becoming worse and I can't see even Noah's shadow. We can't wait here forever.

I heave a deep breath and use all of my remaining force to catch their attentions.

"Hey!" malakas na hiyaw ko.

They all turn their gazes at me. The guard, who is leading the way, looks at me curiously.

"Ano?!" tanong niya sa akin at halatang nagmamadali siyang hintayin ang sagot ko. He's like their captain and also the most devasted one among them.

One of the police is talking to the Balibago Hospital and informing them that they need one VIP room immediately.

"My friend is injured." I point my fingers to Danielle who is now squeezing her entire leg.

The guard laughs pero ramdam ko ang panggigigil sa tono ng tawa niya. Maybe he's thinking who's this stupid brat that's causing their delay of leaving.

"At ano namang pakialam ko?" sagot niya sa mapanlait na tono.

I hate people like him.

Ayoko sa lahat ay 'yung ipinamumukha sa akin na wala lang ako. That I'm just a mere student. And I won't let them have the authority upon me. Not him. Not anyone.

Range starts to spurt out of my body. He asked for this so I'll give it to him.

I stand up in a second. I give him a stare that can make anyone shudder. I didn't glare at him. Instead, I remain calm.

"Get two VIP rooms," pang-uutos ko habang diretsong nakatingin sa kaniya. Then I swing my gaze to the other guard who's currently on call with the Balibago Hospital. He looks at me with incredulity. I'm not kidding, moron.

"Ha-hahaha-hahahahahaha!" mula sa mahina ay nagsimulang lumakas ang tawa ng guard na ngayo'y halatang gigil na gigil na sa 'kin.

Come on, hate me more. It'll satisfy me.

"Ginagago mo ba ako?" tanong niya gamit ang hindi makapaniwalang tono at muli siyang tumawa nang malakas. He's trying to make me feel like a stupid child asking for a million from a stranger.

I remain stern despite of the burning sensation inside my body. "I said get two VIP rooms. One for the director... and one for my friend." I settle, my eyes fixated on his. He doesn't look startled, he's still laughing like as if I just said something funny.

"At sino ka ba sa akala mo ha?" his laugh echoes in the entire auditorium. The doctor tried to get his attention and tells him that they're running out of time, but he nudges his hand away, disregarding the thought that in any minute, his boss might die because of his stupidity.

May gusto siyang patunayan.

"Sumagot ka! Sino ka para sundin ko ha?! Anak ka ba ng presidente ng Pilipinas? O isa kang gifted student-" natigil siya sa sinasabi niya.

Finally, everything has sunken to him. I thought I still need to explain it to him before his tiny brain digest the matter.

He rapidly scans my chest. He sees the badge pinned down that only the gifted students have.

His eyes abruptly widen in shock. I give him a devilish grin that made his blood drops through his feet, making his sweaty face pale.

"Oh, why are you suddenly quiet? Did you swallow your tongue?" I utter in a mocking tone. He suddenly drops his head, so does the other guards except for the paramedics team. They are puzzled on what's happening, wondering how did a mere student made a violent man crumpled on his feet, apologetic.

"Look up," I order in a stern voice.

He hesitates, but he didn't make me repeat it twice. Nanginginig na itinungo niya ang kaniyang ulo paharap sa akin. His eyes, na kanina'y puno ng tapang at pagiging marahas, became weak like a homeless child looking for her mother.

Again, I lost my control. All I wanted to feel right now is the satisfaction that I can only attain by humiliating this evil.

"Mr. Bernaldez," I whisper his surname when I finally read it stitched to his uniform. Tiningnan ko siya nang diretso sa mga mata. I wanted to snicker at his stupid face but I didn't, I won't be as cheap as he is.

I turn my gaze to the paramedics team and give them a sincere smile. "Get him to the hospital before it's too late," saad ko sa normal na tono.

My mood shifts so easily, they know nothing about this matter so I should not include them in this chaos.

The doctor gives me a confused look, maybe he's thinking why am I ordering him, but then he later realized that they're running out of time. The most important thing for them at this moment is to save the director's life. Sa huli ay sinuklian niya ako ng isang ngiti at tango bago sila nagmadaling lumabas ng auditorium kasama ang kaniyang team.

The remaining guards try to run after them, but my voice halt their feet from moving an inch.

"Believe me, leaving us alone here won't be fun, right?" I alter my voice into an authoritative one.

I wanna play with them first.

Everyone is quiet and attentively listening.

They quiver as they turned their gazes to me. "We're not done with the business yet." I grin at them.

"Now, where did I stop?" I pretend naive. I give them a questioning look, and when nobody answered, I roar again.

"Sumagot kayo!" I mimick the voice and the tone of Bernaldez.

God, this is so satisfying.

One of them raises his hand. "D-dun p-po s-sa ape-l-lyido niya," he obediently mumbles while stuttering, and it sounds like he's running out of oxygen.

"Oh, yeah." I tap my chin. Danielle holds my hand, trying to summon me to stop this. I wanted to, but my anger arises when I see the other injured students that they violently shoved away a while ago.

I may not be able to give them VIP rooms to heal their bruises, but I can provide them the justice on what happened to them.

And revenge... is my form of justice.

I glance at the guy who answered. "Ikaw na sumagot sa tanong ko, you may now leave," I state while smiling, trying to act like one of my professors.

The moment that he heard me said those words, he immediately runs out of the auditorium. Muntik pa siyang madapa bago niya tuluyang narating ang exit.

"Now, Mr. Bernaldez, back to the business." I saw him jolts when he heard me mention his name. His head is diminished again, he's avoiding my eyes.

"I told you to look at me."

Hindi ko na kinailangang sumigaw pa kahit na malayo siya sa akin dahil tanging katahimikan lang ang namamayani ngayon sa buong auditorium. I can even hear my own breath.

Nanginginig na humarap siya sa akin. His eyes are teary, his face is full of sweat beads and it's now as pale as a paper.

"Go get another VIP room." I cross my arms while cocking my head, tryna catch his escaping eyes.

He blinks uncountably at first pero nang mahimasmasan siya'y agad siyang humarap sa kasamahan niyang may hawak na telepono.

"Narinig mo siya, magpa-reserve ka pa ng isang VIP room para sa kaibigan niya," utos niya rito gamit ang maawtoridad ngunit may halong takot na tono ng pananalita.

I giggle because of how funny his expression is.

The guy beside him nods quickly and dials the number on his screen. His hands are trembling in fear.

Inipon niya lahat ng tapang niya at muli siyang nagsalita, he's using a soft and obedient tone right now. "If there's no any other concerns, kailangan na naming umali-" I cut him off, ruining his moment of braveness.

"Come here." his eyes widens when he heard what I said.

"A-ano?" nanginginig ang boses niya at tila hindi ito makapaniwala sa sinabi ko. I retain my stern expression.

"Did I blink?"

"N-no, ma'am." he rapidly runs toward us. The students are providing him a way, but all of them are chuckling, being satisfied by the scene they just witnessed.

Nang tuluyan na silang makalapit sa amin ay muli silang yumuko na sinundan naman ng mga kasamahan niya.

"How's the room?" I ask the guy who contacted the hospital.

"O-okay na raw p-po." he didn't bother to look at me, he even shuts his eyes while answering my question.

"Since the paramedics already left with the ambulance," I lower my head and catch Bernaldez's trembling eyes.

"Would you mind giving us a ride to the hospital?" I use a polite tone, like as if I'm really asking for his consent. A permission that can only be answered by two yes'.

Agad siyang tumango. "O-opo, w-walang problema."

"Good. I want us to be there in ten minutes."

"P-pero-"

"Do I need to repeat myself?" muli kong ipinag-krus ang aking mga kamay dahilan para mapaurong silang lahat.

"M-masusunod p-po," sagot ni Bernaldez at mabilis na nilapitan niya si Danielle.

Danielle tried to speak while the guards are trying to figure out how will they carry her.

"Actually, kuya, we don't really need to get there that fast because I'm really okay-"

"Shut up." I lift one of my eyebrows at her. God. She's ruining my moment.

She answers me by a chuckle.

The two guards support each other to carry Danielle and Bernaldez is now talking to someone on his phone. Base sa naririnig ko, he's on-call with one of my professors that's now in the hospital.

"Oo, p-papunta na kami," sagot niya sa kausap niya bago ibinaba ang telepono.

The students separately exits the auditorium, leaving nothing but the cold breeze air caused by giant air conditioners.

Bernaldez is not moving.

So I take a step forward towards him. Nang magtapat ang mga katawan namin ay tinapik ko nang mahina ang balikat niya.

"Mr. Bernaldez, no need to be so worried." I let out a grin between my remarks. "I won't let you lose your job," I add that made him gives out a sigh of relief.

"M-maraming s-salamat." I know he spit those words with disgust.

Why would an authoritative person like him obey a student like me, right?

Simple lang.

Because I'm one of the gifted students.

And the most important norm in this university is,

Never mess with a gifted student.

And he just did.

Naglakad ako palayo sa kaniya pero muli akong tumigil at humarap sa ngayo'y nanginginig niyang mga balikat.

No matter how powerful you are, despite of how high your rank is, when contrasted to the gifted students, you are just nothing.

We are never wrong.

"But I can't change the fact that..."

He looks at me with those red, teary eyes. Fear and bewilderment surrounds him.

"...I know that you have an affair with the director," I murmur with a smirk and left him alone in this cold dark room with his eyes widened because I found out his dirty little secret.

As I walk in the hallway, I saw the students who stumbled a while ago because of those guards. They send me their gratitude and I accepted it with a smile.

I texted Noah that there's no need for help anymore, Danielle's already sent to the hospital. Yeah, I didn't go with her.

I'm fascinated with what happened today, but there's still one question that remained unanswered and keeps bugging my head.

Who poisoned the director?