Chapter 2

Ruben's Point of View

When it comes to music, Jade never fails to amaze me. It's our music class right now and she's showing off how she play violin again. Favorite subject nya kasi ito at favorite din sya mismo ng music teacher namin.

Matapos nyang matugtog ang french suite no. 4 in flat e, nag-bow sya at nagsipalakpakan ang mga kaklase namin. Napangiti sya sa buong klase, at pagtingin nya sa akin ay mas lumaki ang ngiti nya.

"Well done miss Jade, you may take your seat."

Pagkaupo nya sa tabi ko ay nagsimula nanaman syang mangulit. She just simply wants some words of praise from me whenever she does a play in front of the whole class. "So, how did I do? I'm impressive aren't I?" See?

"Yeah, yeah. Napakagaling mo." I told her with a bored tone.

Napapout naman ang bruha. "Can't you be more sincere? Parang wala ka namang pake eh."

"Ano pa ba gusto mong sabihin ko? Wow! Ang galing mo sobra, pa-autograph nga po idol! Or, Jade! How can you be so talented! How to be like you po?" Napa-irap naman sya sa'kin. I can't be more sarcastic right now.

I may have been impressed, but I'm pissed off right now. "Minsan tinatanong ko sarili ko kung best friend nga ba talaga kita." At nagtampo na si Jade.

Napabuntong hininga ako at napilitan mag-sorry sa kanya. "Look, I'm just in a bad mood today. So I'm sorry."

Sinamaan nya lang ako ng tingin sabay irap. Ugh, this girl is making things difficult sometimes. "Okay, next... Mr. Alois Ruben Chevalier." Tawag nung teacher.

Tumayo naman ako at ginamit ang piano na nakahanda na sa harap ng klase. Pinatugtog ko naman ang sonata tempest mvt. 1 ni Beethoven. Quickly glancing at my crowd, di ko maiwasang mapangisi ng makitang nakanganga silang lahat.

I usually play saxophone during music class and play the easiest pieces, but this time, I think I wanna show off just a little. Nakikita ko din sa isang gilid na nagulat si Jade sa ginawa ko, manghang-mangha din sya dahil sobrang focused sya sa pagpapatugtog ko.

Gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya na kaya ko rin syang pantayan, that I can climb up to her level and show off my talents. And that praising someone like her would be a waste of time-- the best that I can offer her is to think as if she's my equal.

But in truth, it's rare for others to get to my level or out-best me.

Pagkatapos ko sa piano, di na ko nag-abalang antayin ang pagdismiss sa'kin ng teacher. Pagbalik ko sa upuan, dinaldal nanaman ako ni Jade. "That was incredible... di mo sinabi sa'kin na nag-piano lessons ka!! Ang galing mo!"

"Yeah, alam ko." Di ko maiwasang ilabas ang ngisi ko. I knew this would happen.

"Do you think we can play together as a duo? Ang astig pag nagawa natin yun!" Then she kept shaking my shoulder, I don't know if I should be happy about her remarks or get annoyed of what she's trying to do.

Hinayaan ko lang sya magsalita ng magsalita because I know I earned those praises. Then I suddenly felt my phone vibrating. Kinuha ko ito sa aking bulsa at pasimpleng binuksan para mabasa ang email na narecieve ko.

Jade's Point of View

I feel like Ruben's acting a bit strange today. Parang may hinihintay sya at parang di mapakali. Tumigil ako sa pakikipag-usap sa kanya dahil nakikita ko namang di sya nakikinig sa akin.

Sumilip ako sa tinitignan nya, and it was his phone. "Ooh~ may ka-text ka pala ah?"

Nagulat siya sa akin at tinago ang cellphone niya. "What the hell Jade!? Privacy please."

"Kasi naman, kinakausap kita pero di ka naman nakikinig sa'kin."

"Well, it's not like I'm gonna listen to you talking all the time. Tsaka tingin ko kailangan kong umalis ulit, I have something urgent to do." Then he left me again. Nang i-excuse sya ng teacher ay nalabas kagad sya na parang excited na bata.

Kanina lang nag-skip sya ng history class, pati ba naman music? Kawawa na nga grades nya, pinapalala nya pa lalo. Pag sya bumagsak bahala na talaga sya sa buhay nya.

But whatever he's doing, he should know what to prioritize first-- at dapat inuuna nya ang mga school work! Pihadong magagalit si tito Rouel pag nalaman nya 'to. Tsk, I hate worrying for someone who couldn't give a shit about what's more important. So whatever he's doing right now, it's his own business.

Wala akong pake sa ginagawa nya dahil wala din naman syang sinasabi sa'kin tungkol sa ginagawa nya, hmph!

Pagkatapos ng klase namin, di na sya pumasok sa iba pa naming subjects. Di na rin sya bumalik nung lunch. I know I said I don't care what he's doing right now pero di ko maiwasang mag-alala dahil best friend ko sya.

He's like my brother dahil magkasama kaming lumaki.

"Aaagh! Ruben, where are you?" Nasambit ko habang nag-aayos na ng gamit ko sa locker ko.

Then as on cue, he showed up. "Missed me?" Aniya.

"R-Ruben!?" He patted me on the back and opened his locker which is right next to mine. "Saan ka ba pumunta!? Alam mo ba may quiz tayo sa dalawang subjects tapos may project na pinapagawa sa science!?"

Napabuntong hininga naman sya na parang pagod na pagod sya. "Pwede ba? Just shut up for a sec, I'm still in a bad mood you know."

I swear, baka masapak ko ng wala sa oras 'tong lalaki na 'to.

"Fine. I'll shut up, but don't you ever talk to me again!" Sabi ko sa kanya at padabog na isinara ang locker ko. Napa-walk out na rin ako kasi nakakapikon talaga si Ruben.

Nakakahiya lang din dahil nadidinig ko ang mga bulungan ng mga nakakakita sa amin.

"Oof, lovers quarrel?"

"Sana all may jowa."

"Nagbreak kaya sila?"

Uugh!! Please guys, hindi ko jowa si Ruben! He's my best friend---MY SUPER SARCASTIC STUPID MOODY BEST FRIEND THAT HAS THE WORST ATTITUDE!!!

Ruben's Point of View

"... so what do you guys plan to do with this damn kid." Zachary said as he laid the files of the student who tried to expose the club room of the Clandestine Club-- C.C. for short. Looking at all the members of the club, all of them seem to think of some idea to put this person to silence.

The first to suggest was April, and he was very bold of his idea. "I think it's best to beat him up, that'll scare him for sure."

"We don't want that happening, what if you were found out? We can't risk that happening." November said. I have to agree, his idea was risky.

"Let's just pay him to stay silent," July suggested.

December scoffed, "Money doesn't solve everything, rich dumbass."

"Well, are there better suggestions there?" July asked.

August and September looked like they were up to something so they finally spoke up. "It would be fun if we make his life miserable so that he can stop and focus on his own life." They said.

Most wanted to agree but some were still against a cute idea of torture. "I can't see any flaw in my plan, why won't everyone just agree with me?" April said.

Then January told him off, "Your idea is stupid, I can't believe you're a part of this club."

April suddenly showed off his delinquent side as he stood up from his seat. "Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" He started rolling up his sleeves and Zachary started to stop any fight from happening.

"Woah, woah! Guys, if you don't behave then I'll have to kick you out. But I have to agree with everyone else here. April, your idea sucks." April sat back and just muttered curses under his breath.

"So guys, is this all you can come up with? Beating up? Bribery? Making things miserable? Damn, I thought you were all better than this." All members stopped with the chattering as Zachary showed his disappointment.

While we were all having a moment of silence, I suddenly felt uneasy as he stares at me. "October... what about you? Any suggestions?" He threw the folder to me.

"I... Yeah... I have..." I answered and scanned the papers within the folder.

"Then let's hear it!"

"... I'd like to lure him into our club and make him regret his mistakes." I didn't really think of any suggestion, because my plan was to simply observe how they're going to handle this. But it seems that things aren't going quite well as I thought.

Just like Zachary, I'm very disappointed as well.

"Woah, that's way riskier!" February said.

Zachary hushed her and took interest in my suggestion. "As expected from October, you impressed me. But... how will you do all that?"

His menacing stare quite intimidated me so I panicked and answered the worst thing he never wants to hear. "I-I don't know."

His smile wore off. He quickly walked towards me and grabbed me on my collar, lifting me up from my seat. "Don't talk shit like that. We're in the Clandestine club, nobody here is ignorant. So quit that pretentious act and tell me how you're going to do this?"

Zachary Dale Lavaughn, as his name shows it, he is the son of the owner of this academy. He's the founder of this club as well. I don't know why he made this club, but it tells me that he's just bored. He just wanted to play with all the power and intelligence he can get-- he is what we all call a genuine psychopath.

I gently pushed him off me and fixed my uniform. "Well, my plan was made on impulse. Don't expect me to come up with a plan quickly." I told him off.

"For someone who has the lowest reputation in this club, you're quite arrogant to tell that. I do enjoy your ideas and suggestion because it always impresses me, but knowing your identity and status in this academy... disappointing! That makes you in no position to disappoint me more."

My brows furrowed at his statement. "My identity has nothing to do with this club!"

"It does, actually." March butted.

"Everybody in this room has proved themselves to me with each of their own reputation and talents, all except you! So take this as your chance, October... you'll be the one to lead this problem and improve your reputation as a member of the club." He took the folder and slammed it on my chest. "If you fail to do so... think of this as your last chance being a member of the Clandestine Club." Then he smirked as if he knows that I'm gonna fail.

• end of flashback •

Habang nakahiga ako sa kama ko, paulit-ulit kong naiisip ang nangyari sa meeting kanina. I hate the fact that I got intimidated by that damn sociopath. Ayoko sa lahat ang pinagbabantaan ako... if he wants me out of the club-- it's up to me when I want to quit!

"I swear Zachary, mapapabagsak din kita!!" Sambit ko sa sobrang pagka-irita.

May kumatok naman sa pinto ng kwarto ko. "Who is it!?" I asked.

"Andito po si miss Jade, Sir!" Sabi ng katulong.

"Okay, I'll be there in a minute." I told her.

Jade, huh? Akala ko ba ayaw nya na sa'kin?

Pagkarating ko sa living room, nakita ko syang nakikipag-usap kay mom. Nagsama ang dalawang madaldal.

"I didn't know na marunong pala tumugtog ng piano si Ruben, tita!"

"Di mo alam? Well, noong maliit pa sya pinag-piano lessons namin yung bata na 'yun. He was unbelievably good at it, he's a really fast learner."

"Eh tita, ano na nangyari kay Ruben? Laging mababa grades nun sa school. I'm quite afraid he might grow into a stupid adult."

"Ahh, 'wag ka mag-alala. I have confidence in my son, i know na matalino sya pero saksakan lang ng katamaran--

"Ehem." Pag-interrupt ko sa kanila. Napatingin silang parehas sa akin.

"Andyan ka na pala, tara dito nak! I baked some muffins." Yaya ni mom.

Pinagtuunan ko ng pansin si Jade dahil alam ko talaga na hindi kami bati. "Akala ko ba ayaw mo na kong makita?" I asked her.

She gave me a ridiculous smile and response. "You know i can't stay mad at you forever. I forgive you."

"Mhmm, dahil 'to sa muffins ni mama noh?"

"Hehehe, alam mo namang paborito ko ang pastries ni tita diba?" Mapagsamantala din itong babae na 'to. She then excused herself for a minute kaya naiwan kami ni mama.

Mom suddenly returned to her composed posture and cold attitude. "Please stop treating Jade like that, can't you be the prince she wants to have?"

"Oh please mom, don't force me to act like a different person. At malabong mangyari ang gusto mo, Jade will never like me further than she does right now. I'm just her best friend, and that's only it." I told her.

"Alam mo din na pagdating ng panahon, ikakasal din kayong dalawa whether you both love each other or not. So would it be better if you both learn to love each other?"

"No way. No freaking chance."

She just chuckled like an evil witch. "Okay, have it your way. Ikaw na bahalang mamroblema sa sitwasyon nyo balang araw." I just walked out on her because having an argument with her is pointless.

This is why I hate my life... people always try to control my life and reputation. But I know there will be a day where they will all regret doing this to me.

to be continued