CHAPTER THREE

ANDRIETTE

"Yah! Why did you do that?" 

I rolled my eyes at Adhaya while we're walking. "What did I do?" 

"The scene earlier! Bakit mo naman biniro ng gano'n si Miss Maisie?" 

I etched a smirk. Oh, right.

"Just move on already. Biro nga lang 'yun."

She sighed. "Hindi magandang biro 'yun, Dri."

Napailing naman ako at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. 

The cafeteria was almost full when we entered. Muli akong napairap dahil sa lakas ng ingay sa loob. Hindi ba nila alam na nasa school sila at hindi nasa palengke?

"H'wag na lamang kaya tayong kumain? Wala na tayong mauupuan," reklamo ko. Umirap siya at tumingin sa paligid.

"But I'm hungry," giit niya.

I just sighed. Bakit kasi hindi siya nag-aalmusal? 

"I found a vacant spot!" she exclaimed. 

My brows arched an inch. "Where?"

"Doon sa table ni Claude, oh! Siya lang mag-isa roon," she answered before pointing at someone.

"He's not Claude."

"Huh?" 

"He's Moore, right?"

She gave a mirthless laugh. "That's his surname, Dri. His name is Claude Moore."

I smacked my palm against my forehead. Kaya naman pala hindi pangkaraniwan ang pangalan niya! That's his surname!

"Let's go!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang hinila niya ako. 

"Hey, let go of me!"

Tumigil siya sa paghila sa akin at tiningnan ako ng masama. "Ibababa mo ang pride mo o hindi tayo makakakain?"

I rolled my eyes. "Baka may iba pang vacant seat. Basta huwag malapit sa kaniya."

"Why are you acting like that? You're acting like a child, Dri."

"Just wait a little minutes, okay? Kapag wala pa ring vacang seat, papayag na ako," I negotiated.

She sighed as a sign of defeat. "Fine," pagsuko niya.

We waited for atleast five minutes but at the end, no one rose from their seat. Hindi na niya ako hinintay pang makapagsalita nang sumapit ang ikalimang minuto at hinila na ako palapit sa puwesto ni Claude.

"Hi Claude, puwedeng makiupo?" Adhaya asked. Hindi naman sumagot si Claude kaya napailing na lamang si Adhaya.

"Stay there. I'll just order our food," she commanded. Wala naman akong nagawa kung hindi umumpo sa harap ni Claude. 

He's busy eating while reading a book. He's not even looking at me! I pressed my lips together while looking at him.

He is wearing a plain glasses that perfectly matched his pair of sharp and coffee-brown colored eyes. I scanned his face from his ash-brown and a little curly hair, to his perfectly aligned brows and pointed nose. My gaze landed on his thin and pinkish lips. Miss Maisie is so lucky to—

"Stop staring at me," he said seriously. 

I straightened ny body before clearing my throat. "I'm not staring at you," pagtanggi ko.

He shook his head before flipping the page of his book. "Then why are you licking your lips?"

My eyes widened. "You're bluffing."

"Really?" He smirked, probably not believing me. 

I mean, he's right. But I just can't admit to him that I am fantasizing over him. What the hell am I thinking?

"Can't you just focus on what you're reading?" reklamo ko.

"I am trying to focus but you're making me uncomfortable."

Napairap ako. "Nonsense," I mumbled before looking away.

After that, we did not talk again. Maski noong dumating si Adhaya ay hindi ako nagsasalita. 

Mas binilisan ko pa ang pag-kain para makaalis na ako sa harapan ni Claude. Adhaya just looked at me weirdly before continuing to eat.

"Why are you so quiet?" Adhaya asked me.

Nag-angat naman ng tingin si Claude at tumingin sa akin. I avoided his gaze before clearing my throat once again. "I'm always quiet," palusot ko.

"Really?" I nodded. "You looked uncomfortable. Are you alright?" dagdag niya pa.

"Of course, I am. Nag-oover act ka lang," I assured her. She answered me with a half shrug. 

Dumako naman ang mata ko kay Claude na nagpatuloy nang muli sa pag-kain. I sighed and continued eating.

I am eating silently when I heard a sudden commotion. Agad kong tiningnan kung sino ang sumigaw. 

I secretly rolled my eyes when I found out who it was. It was Miss Maisie. Muli akong humarap sa aking pagkain at magpapatuloy na sana nang aksidenteng mapatingin ako kay Claude. He's looking at her worriedly. 

I bit my lower lip before I let out a harsh breath. Humarap ako kay Adhaya. "Why don't you help her?" bulong ko.

"Huh?"

"She's your favorite teacher, right?" Tumango siya. 

"Then help her," I added. Napatango naman siya bago tumayo at pununtahan si Miss Maisie.

Psh, she's too clumsy and a damsel in distress. Baka nga naghahanap lamang siya ng atensyon. 

Natapon kasi ang dala niyang tray na puno ng pagkain sa kaniya. Sayang, mukhang hindi mainit 'yung pagkain.

Akmang tatayo si Claude sa kinauupuan niya nang magsalita ako. "She's too clumsy for a teacher. Sinong tanga ang itatapon ang pagkain sa sarili niyang damit?" pagpaparinig ko.

His jaw clenched. "Why do you care?"

I faked a laugh. "I should be the one asking you that. Why do YOU care for her?"

"She's my... teacher," he whispered but enough for me to hear.

I threw my head back as I laugh. Pinaglaruan ko ang tinidor na hawak ko habang tumatawa. He looked at me curiously.

"Really? Teacher lang talaga?" pang-aasar ko.

Hindi na sana niya ako papansinin at aalis na nang pigilan ko na naman siya. "Sige, lumapit ka sa kanila. Hindi ba magtataka ang ibang schoolmates natin na masyado kayong malapit sa isa't-isa kapag tinulungan mo siya?"

I smirked when he stopped moving. Akala ko ay babalik na siya sa upuan niya kanina pero sa halip ay dumiretso pa rin siya sa puwesto nina Miss Maisie at Adhaya.

What the hell?

I stomped my foot. Nakakainis! Hindi ba dapat ay mas lalo silang mag-ingat dahil nasa loob sila ng school? Bakit parang harapan pa silang naglalandian? Ugh!

I lazily stood up and went to their direction. Naabutan ko si Adhaya na may hawak na tissue para punasan ang damit ni Miss Maisie. 

"Dri," Adhaya called my name when she saw me. Napatingin naman sa akin sina Claude at Miss Maisie. I even saw Miss Maisie trying to stifle a smile. 

Sabi ko na nga ba, palabas niya lamang ito. Such a great actress, huh?

"It looks like she needs to change her clothes," I stated obviously. Napatango naman si Adhaya bago muling nag-abit ng tissue kay Miss Maisie.

"I have a spare shirt kaso nasa bag ko. Puwede mo bang kuhanin, Adhaya?" 

Takang tumingin sa akin si Adhaya pero pinanlakihan ko lamang siya ng mata. She just shrugged her shoulders before following what I said.

"Dalhin mo na lamang sa restroom mamaya. Ako na ang sasama kay Miss Maisie sa banyo," I offered.

Tatangi pa sana si Claude pero tinaasan ko lamang siya ng kilay. At the end, wala siyang nagawa. Mukhang wala rin namang choice si Miss Maisie kung hindi sumunod sa sasabihin ko. 

Tsk, medyo may pagka-tanga rin talaga siya, eh. Dapat kung gagawa siya ng ganoong palabas, dapat nagdala siya ng extra shirt. 

Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa restroom. We were both silent while we're walking. Gusto ko sanang magsalita pero gusto ko, siya ang mauna. 

I am not fond of opening a new topic to a person that isn't my friend. And of course, Miss Maisie is someone who I can't referred to as a friend. A foe, maybe.

Nang makapasok kami sa loob ay pinanood ko lamang siyang magpunas ng sarili. She smells like curry— and I hate curry. Therefore, I hate her too.

"Thank you for accompanying me," she remarked. 

I shot a brow up before looking at her. "You're welcome."

She smiled— a fake one. I rolled my eyes once again. This time, I did not bother to hide how much I don't like her. Mukhang hindi na naman siya nagulat sa ginawa ko. She probably hates me too. 

Ewan ko ba, wala naman siyang ginagawang masama pero naiinis ako sa kaniya. I hate everything about her. Whatever she does, I felt like it's all an act. 

Adhaya often fakes her attutude too but I understand her. However, for Miss Maisie, I can't stand it. Akala ng iba, anghel siya pero may tinatago namang kalandian sa loob.

I just hate her... and I don't know why.

"How does it feel to have your student as your boyfriend?" I asked. 

Napatigil siya sa pagpupunas ng damit niya. She looked at me before smiling. 

Damn, I hate that smile! Halatang-halata na peke. 

"It's fun," she answered.

I rolled my eyes. Sumandal ako sa sink at ipinagkrus ang mga braso ko. "Is it thrilling?"

She nodded. "Of course it is."

"Really? I love thrill!"

"No one asked," she said sarcasmly. Muli akong napairap.

"What if I got myself a boyfriend? Gusto ko 'yung teacher din para may thrill. What do you think?"

She cackled. "You're funny."

My brows furrowed. "I'm not joking."

"Do you really think na may magkakagusto sa'yo?" I was taken aback by her question. 

"Of course!"

 "You're wrong, dear," she said, leaning in closer, "no one would like someone like you as their girlfriend."

I balled my fist out of anger. "Sa tingin mo, maniniwala ako sa sinasabi mo?"

"It's up to you." Bumalik siya sa dati niyang puwesto bago muling humarap sa akin at ngumiti.

"Any guy would like me. I am pretty, rich, smart—"

"But you can't even follow a simple rule. Who would like a rule breaker like you?" she cut me off. 

I bit my lower lip. "You're a rule breaker too. In fact, you're worse than me," I remarked.

Ako naman ang humakbang papalapit sa kaniya. "You're all talk."

Hindi siya sumagot at sa halip ay pumasok sa loob ng cubicle. I let out a harsh breath when she got in. She's really getting on my nerves! Gusto ko siyang sakalin! Ugh!

My eyes landed on a pail full of water. I smirked evily before I lifted it. Surprisingly, may monoblock chair sa loob ng restroom. Sino naman kaya ang nag-iwan nito rito? Thanks to whoever she is, I can execute my plan.

Dali-dali akong sumampa sa monoblock chair at binuhat ang timba. I smiled evily before I pour the pail full of water to the cubicle where Miss Maisie is. 

After that, I heard her screamed. 

"Andriette Flynn, you bitch!" she cursed.

"Thank you for the compliment, Ma'am," I riposte. Dali-dali akong bumaba sa monoblock chair at lumabas ng banyo. 

Bahala siyang mag-isa roon.

"I heard a scream. Where did it came from?" tanong ng bagong dating na si Claude.

"From hell," I deadpanned sarcasmly. 

Mayamaya pa ay dumating na si Adhaya dala ang damit ko. "Where is Miss Maisie?" she asked.

"Nasa loob." Itinuro ko ang restroom kaya't tumango si Adhaya at agad na pumasok sa loob.

"What did you do to her?" Claude asked when Adhaya left.

I crossed my arms. "Nothing," I answered.

"Really?"

I shrugged my shoulders. Mayamaya pa ay narinig na namin ang malakas na boses ni Adhaya. 

"Oh my gosh, why are you wet, Miss Maisie? What happened?!" she exclaimed. 

Tiningnan naman ako ng masama ni Claude at akmang papasok sa loob ng restroom. I held his wrist to stop him from entering. 

"Hindi puwede ang lalaki d'yan," pagpigil ko.

"Unless hindi ka talaga lalaki," I added. Iwinaksi niya ang kamay ko kaya't tinaasan ko lamang siya ng kilay.

After a couple of minutes, lumabas na sina Adhaya at Miss Maisie mula sa loob ng restroom. Nakapagpalit na siya ng damit at suot na niya ang shirt ko at... ang jogging pants ko?

"Hey, that's my jogging pants!" I exclaimed.

Humarap ako kay Adhaya. "Hindi ba sabi ko ay shirt ko lamang ang ipahiram mo?!" 

She scratched the back of her neck before giving me an awkward smile. "May isa ka pa namang jogging pants, hindi ba? Kawawa naman kasi siya kung hindi siya magpapalit ng pang-ibaba."

I heaved a sigh. "But—"

"What happened to you... Ma'am? Bakit basa ang buhok mo?" Claude cut me off. Muntikan na akong matawa nang tawagin niyang 'Ma'am' si Miss Maisie.

They are such a great actor and actress. 

Claude jerked his head on my direction. "Ikaw ba ang dahilan kung bakit siya nabasa?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Bakit ko naman gagawin 'yun? Hindi naman ako galit kay Miss Maisie," I lied.

I gave a fake smile to Miss Maisie. "Sa susunod po kasi, mag-ingat kayo."

I turned my back at them and walked away, still furious. What Miss Maisie said to me earlier still lingers in my mind. 

Walang magkakagusto sa akin dahil sa ugali ko? Huh, fine! Kung ayaw nila sa ugali ko, ayaw ko rin sa kanila. My mother did not raised a weakass bitch who craves for men. She raised me to be  a strong independent woman who needs no man. 

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