[One week later]
Virdjana's POV
After the whole school siege incident, all classes were cancelled for one whole week, and the students were ordered to stay in their dormitories - not allowed to leave unless necessary. Each dormitories has an area for men and women's bath and for their hygiene-related necessities- also known as cubicles and toilets.
The reason for the suspension of classes is to give time for the construction workers to fix the damages within the school. There was also a rumor that the security would be tighter and that the time for curfew was set for an hour earlier, meaning 9 o'clock in the evening.
School clubs are allowed to operate until 6'o clock from its old schedule of seven. There were complaints, but once the professors jumps in to explain the situation, the majority ceases to rant. It's a good thing that we are allowed to walk around now, and tomorrow classes will resume.
'I guess the Enchants are as disciplined as they were rumored to be.'
A knock from the door prompted me to get up, I was just wearing a sando and shorts, braless at that. Nevertheless, I don't give a fuc--
"Hoy! Hoy! Magbihis ka nga ng maayos!" sita sa akin ni Reggie, kasabay ng biglaang pagsulpot nito sa harapan ko upang pigilan akong ma-swipe ang card sa scanner.
"Jeez, I look alright." I reasoned.
"Alright mong mukha mo. Magsuot ka ng matinong damit! Paano kung lalake iyang kumakatok ah?" seryoso niyang pagkakasaad.
I look at Reggie judgingly.
"I'm an exception." he reasoned, for he was able to read what I was thinking about him.
That was practically true, he had seen me naked when I was a kid after all, plus he did say guardians does not have the ability to feel urges and arousal.
"Stop backtracking. Wear something decent and don't let whoever is on the other side of the door waiting for you." Reggie stated before vanishing.
I was too lazy to argue with him, so I did what he wanted. I wore... something decent, surprisingly he didn't reappear beside me or anywhere in my room.
"Virdjana, good da--... day, good day. Wait, did I say that already?" greeted-stuttered Drago, who was also wearing gym clothes like I did, so I don't understand what was worth stuttering for - except his was a jacket for the tops and mine was a sports bra, showing a part of my belly and my navel.
I gave him a questioning look, in which, he successfully understood thus explaining why he was at my doorstep.
"Mukhang hindi ka yata puwede ah? Aayain sana kitang mag-jogging kasama ang tropa." pagpapatuloy niya habang nakatingin lagpas sa akin.
Lumingon naman ako parang tingnan kung ano man ang tinititigan niya sa likuran ko, para lamang makita ang nakabukas kong bintana. Nang ibinaling ko ang tingin pabalik sa kaniya ay nagtatakip na siya ng mga mata gamit ang isang kamay niya.
"Tropa? Drago, wala akong naaalalang--" natigil ako sa sasabihin ko. I was about to say something as cheesy like 'close' and 'friends', but I was able to stop myself.
"Naaalalang?" Drago asked, urging me to continue.
"Let's go then. This place is quite boring." sabi ko na lang bago marahan siyang itinulak paatras, bago ko kinandado ang pintuan ng kuwarto ko.
"Oh, okay. I was not expecting you to accept. L-Let's go." Drago uttered under his breath.
Luckily for him, I was not in the mood to become a sassier version of me, and just simply proceeded to the dormitory's elevator.
"Just a heads up, JP and Kadaski is with us, but during the EHP calls Lizbeth and Ruby said that they'd tag along." Drago informed with a the kind of smile that seems to be hoping that I won't get mad.
I stayed silent.
"By the way, today's the day where the cafeteria offers different variety of seafoods. Isn't that great?" He turned towards me and smiled, probably waiting for my reaction.
'Seafoods huh? Being a student here must truly be an honor. They get to eat different things in different days of the week.' I thought.
In my peripheral vision, I noticed Drago scratching his cheek with his pointer finger before looking back at me, in which I pretended to not notice his gesture.
The elevator bell rings, and the doors slid to the right. After stepping out of the contraption, we passed by a short hallway heading outside the dormitory. There, I saw JP and Kadaski stretching, a blonde girl which I assume is the Lizbeth woman was busy re-touching her foundations and then there was Ruby talking to the wind?
"Guys! Sorry for the wait, I decided that we should at least invite Virdjana for our morning routines. It would be fun to have an additional member." remarked Drago with a smile and a thumbs-up.
'Morning routine?' I echoed in my head, that means it has been their practice for a while.
"Vivi! Nakaka-excite naman at kasama ka namin!" bungad sa akin ni Ruby kasabay nang bigla niyang pagyakap sa akin, dahilan para manigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko.
Hugging is not my thing, at least, not this type of hug,
"Ruby." spoke Drago.
"Miss Xercedes, calm down." said Jordan as they both began stopping Ruby from hugging me.
"Ano na? Sayang ng oras!" reklamo naman ni Kadaski saka na ito naunang mag-jogging palayo sa amin.
"Vivi, dali... dali!" masayang pag-aaya naman ni Ruby bago ito sumunod kay Kadaski.
Samantalang tinarayan muna ako ni Lizbeth at tahimik naman na ngumiti si JP sa akin saka sila nagsimulang magtakbuhan. "They'll warm up to you soon enough." saad ni Drago saka inilahad ang kaniyang kamay sa harap ko.
'Why would I take his hand?'
'Why NOT take his hand?'
I raised one hand not take Drago's hand, but to use it to stop my forehead from creasing due the questions that formed in my head.
"Hypothetically speaking, they won't warm up, if I don't let myself warm up to them too. Don't read too much as to why I accepted your invitation, nothing will change." I told him, running off to catch after the others.
Kadaski's POV
Nakakapagod na ring makitang palaging magkasama iyong dalawa, at mas lalong nakakapagod tingnan si Drago na maging friendly sa bagong saltang si Phantom. Gaano na ba katagal nang magsimulang mag-usap iyong dalawang iyon? Kung iisiping mabuti, nitong one week na quarantine ng mga estudyante sa mga kuwarto, palaging online si Drago sa E.H.P, eh bibihira niya namang gawin iyon.
"Ang bagal mong tumakbo ah!" bulalas nitong naka-pig-tail na Sound Enchant malapit sa tainga ko bago niya dagdagan ang bilis ng kaniyang pagtakbo.
"It's called jogging for a reason, idiot! Not running or marathon!" I shouted to her, and she only stuck her tongue out as a reply.
Nang mawala na sa paningin ko si Ruby, siya namang pagsabay sa akin nina JP at Lizbeth na nakuha pang ngumuya ng bubblegum.
"Ikaw Aski ha, mas mainit ang ulo mo kumpara sa dati." pahayag ni JP sabay tumawa ng mahina.
Kokontra na sana ako nang segundahan naman siya ng Gravity Enchant na si Lizbeth Torres, "Agreed, I mean, of course I mostly keep my eye on my dearest Drago. But since you two are inseparable--"
"until lately--" nakangisi namang singit ni JP sa sinasabi ni Lizbeth.
"Yeah right, inseparable until lately, I can also affirm that you're rope of patience is shorter than usual." pagpapatuloy ni Lizbeth.
By that time, I bet these two were expecting for me to blow up, and guess what? I did. "Get outta here or I'll roast you two!!!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA." laughed the two before speeding up passing me by in the process.
Obviously, I know what they mean. Inseparable until Phantom began to tag along, or rather because Drago started to take an interest on that black-haired savage. I knew it, I shouldn't be allowing them to become closer or be alone together!
I'm going to make sure that they won't get any closer than their current relationship status-- why did that sound so wrong? Who cares? And so, by slightly lowering my pride, I began to jog backwards.
"Ang bagal niyo naman, nakakaawa." panimula ko. Siyempre, mas pinili kong tumabi sa bestfriend ko dahilan para mapagitnaan namin ni Phantom si Drago.
"Well, I was trying to make Virdjana speak up." chuckled Drago while rubbing the back of his nape, a gesture he does when he already feels uncomfortable.
Nang marinig ko kung ano ang pinagkakaabalahan ni Drago ay hindi ko mapigilang magsimula na namang mainis sa babaeng ito. Nagmumukha tuloy desperado si Drago, pasalamat nga siya at binigyan siya ng atensiyon nito. Marami pa namang mga babae ang nagkakandarapa para lang mapansin ng mission-driven slash mission-obsessed na lalakeng ito.
'Nakakabadtrip talagaaaaaa.' At dahil nagsisimula na naman mabuo ang frustrations ko ay tumigil ako sa pag-jogging at pansamantalang umupo sa elevated pavement sa gilid ng daan.
"O? Anong problema?" tanong ni Drago sa akin.
Tumigil siya sa pag-j-jogging, at tumabi sa akin. Medyo napangisi tuloy ako, alam ko naman kasing hindi niya ako iiwanan eh, ganyan talaga kapag bestfriend. Pero ang mas malaking katanungan ay sa kung bakit huminto rin si Phantom, hindi ko naman siya kailangan eh!
"I'm going to wait for Drago." saad ni Virdjana, na animong binasa ang iniisip ko.
Biglang naubo si Drago kaya agad kong ipinatong ang isang kamay sa balikat niya, "O? Anong nangyari sa iyo?" tanong ko naman ngayon.
"I think I caught an insect in my mouth... don't worry it's gone." sabi ni Drago. "Virdjana, sige na mauna ka na, unless gusto mong mahabol ka ulit ni Ruby? Paikot ang pathway na ito kaya kung hindi ka pa aabante ay malamang ay gulatin ka na naman ng yakap noon." paliwanag ni Drago.
I noticed Phantom flinched, silently nodding, before continuing to jog forward.
[Cafeteria]
Once again, this was not part of the plan. At least not the part where Phantom is going to be eating with us during breakfast.
"Orders niyo? Kami na ni Ruby kukuha." pagboboluntaryo ni JP na siya namang sinang-ayunan agad ni Ruby.
"One bowl of spicy seafood ramen." agad na sagot ni Drago.
"One Beef La Paz for me." sagot ko naman habang sinusubukang kapain ang wallet ko.
"Smoked Salmon and Dill Waffles for me~ I'm so, so, so looking forward. I heard it's their special so it was pretty expensive." uttered Lizbeth handing Ruby a fifty Psyver Bill - Psyver is the coin and bill currency in the City of Arcacia.
Everyone's eyes widened, and I swear I saw Phantom's eyes sparkle when she saw the large bill presented before all of us.
"You guys could be silly, a fifty Psyver bill is nothing for someone whose father owns a Wrangler Weapon Factory." chuckled Lizbeth.
"That's true." seconded JP.
"Does your family also own a factory?" questioned Phantom, and since it was the very first words she spoke ever since we gathered in the cafeteria, it was no question that we would be all looking at her weirdly. All except Drago who simply wore an amused expression.
"Ah no..." began JP, looking away despite maintaining his smile, "you see, my father, he's--."
"You're delaying them Phantom, mag-order ka na kasi, ayon oh! Tumingin ka sa menu sa monitors." sabi ko sabay patong ng isang kamay sa balikat niya, habang ang kabila ay nakaturo sa screen.
"..."
Hindi siya umimik at sa halip ay tumingin kay Drago. "Ah... kung wala kang problema sa mga maaanghang na pagkain, parehas na lang tayo ng order?" tanong naman ni Drago.
"I don't have my wallet with me. I was not really planning to eat with Drago's friends after all."
"..."
"Uhh, I'll put it in my tab, don't worry!" exclaimed Ruby as she breaks the awkward silence that befell us.
"Great then." sabi naman ni JP saka sila pumila at um-order.
Virdjana's POV
After minutes of waiting, the orders finally arrived. I'm pretty much hungry. We were silent, but not until Ruby accidentally hits her elbow at the edge of the table, thus shaking it lightly causing everyone who was eating to react. My eyes widened as I lifted my ramen to save it from the wrath of vibrations.
"Youch... sorry guys. Bigla kasing may message eh." pagrarason niya.
"Sino ba kasi iyan?" tanong naman ni Kadaski na hindi nawawala ang nakakunot na ekspresyon sa kaniyang noo.
"Hmm... an invitation to undergo a specialized military training. Seems like my father's doing his usual string connections in the armada." grumbled Ruby, seemingly unhappy of the news she received.
"Ruby, hindi yata magandang magkomento ka ng ganyan tungkol sa parents mo." sabi ni Lizbeth saka ngumuya ng isa buong hipon mula sa ramen bowl niya.
"I just hate it. Para na ring pinapamukha niya sa akin na wala akong matatamo kung wala siya." pagpapatuloy pa nito.
"Don't you think your father's job is great?" I asked, placing my bowl back on the table in the process.
Nakakuha na naman ako ng mga kakaibang titig. Ganoon ba ka-rare ang pagsasalita ko? Tapos kapag nagsasalita na ako mananahimik na sila.
"Great? All he do is accept bribes then he will order his platoon to protect those who bought his services-- kinda unpleasant you see--" Ruby stated.
Nagkatinginan kami, ngayon pati ako ay hindi na rin makapaniwala sa naririnig ko. Normal bang ganoon na lang pag-usapan ang mga masamang gawi ng magulang niya? Mukhang sa nakikita kong ekspresiyon mula kina Kadaski, Drago, JP, at Lizbeth, iyon rin ang unang beses nilang marinig ang ganoong impormasyon.
"You do know your sponsorship could get affected if those words reaches the military and find out about your father's misbehaviors?" said JP in a matter-of-fact tone.
Napalunok si Ruby at nagpatuloy na lang sa pagkain ng in-order niyang agahan.
"What do you mean?" tanong ko. Alam kong ang mga taong nakakapasok sa prestigious na paaralan ito ay iyong mga mayayaman, mga taong may pribelihiyo o hindi naman kaya ay may koneksiyon sa politika. Sa madaling-salita, halos lahat ng mga mag-aaral dito ay may kaya sa buhay.
"Ibigsabihin maaapektuhan ang pag-aaral niya dahil sa ginagawa ng magulang niya at maaari siyang ma-expel mula sa Arcacia Academy." paliwanag naman ni Kadaski sabay higop ng natitirang sabay sa kaniyang Beef La Paz.
"Guys, this is all depressing, so why don't we just finish all of this then head back to our dorms right after?" mused Lizbeth while tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear.
Tumayo na si Lizbeth na sinundan naman ni Kadaski, patapos na kumain si JP at maging kami ni Drago. Gayon pa man, lalo lang yatang bumagal ang pagkain ni Ruby at mukhang walang plano ang iba na hintayin ang ex-gangster na ito.
I stood up, making a small creaking sound from my chair.
"At least," I began, eyeing Lizbeth and Kadaski, "at least promise her that you won't leak what you learned about. Not until Ruby can figures out how to handle her personal matters. Wala akong masyadong alam sa armada, pero isipin ninyo na lang ang mangyayari sa kinabukasan ni Ruby kung matanggal siya sa akademya." and with that I started walking away.