Third Chapter - The Editor in Chief

 

“If you don't want to accept it, then don't,”

My brows arched. Akala ko ay ipapaliwanag na niya saakin.

I was about to utter another word. I want to object about her but a sudden ring of the telephone on the side of her table rings.

“Hello?” She said to the line.

I looked away. Giving her a privacy.

“Oh, really?” surprise crossed her tone.

Wow, I looked away but my ears were keep from evesdropping. Nice.

“I'll be there, save it for a scope.” She said before their call ended kasabay ng pag balik ko ng tingin sa kaniya.

A little grin was plastered in her lips. She play on her seat and sigh.

“I have an urgent,” She informed me before standing up. Tumango ako sakaniya. “Watch news later,” She smirk.

After an... I could say. a pretty long talk with the Editor in Chief, I hurriedly head the way going to the restroom because I felt an urge to pee after everything happened.

After doing my thing in the restroom, I fixed myself infront of the mirror. I look at the check and decided to hide it inside my bag before leaving.

“How was it? A plan to butt-in into my personal life?”

A one step backward is what I found myself doing as I heared a familiar cold baritone voice as I step outside the girls restroom. I could feel myself rooted at my spot with a widened eyes. The chills climbed up to my spine, ang pamilyar na boses ay bahagyang nag palamig sa kabuunan ko. Analyzing his words, I could precisely say that he's talking about the offer I had from the Editor in Chief.

Dahan dahan akong nag lakad. I glanced at him. Xheidan is leaning his back over the immaculate wall while the both hand is inserted in his both  pocket.

“E-Excuse me?” I said, stuttering. Dahan dahan siyang tumayo ng diretso at tumingin saakin.

The leer of his eyes menace every detail of me. Being contented of the way of his gaze, he rolled his eyes and tilted his head, showing the earpods in his ear.

“I'm talking to someone nosy on line,” He said coldly, eyes are bored like what usually he was. The insult is mark in his eyes as it keep on me.

I gulp and look away. I start to take another step to leave but I stop again as he speak.

“You shouldn't meddle in others life. Sometimes, meddling in other can cause you trouble...”

I look at him. Xheidan's eyes met mine. He stand straightly to face me and continue his words.

“...watch yourself out,”

Don't I really think carefully in my decision? Will accepting that offer could bring trouble to me?

I gasp and awkwardly look away before look at him aback with a disbelief concurred in my eyes.

“Do I even know what you're saying?” I laugh for a bit to act not defensive in my words but I disappoint myself.

Xheidan stared at me like he doesn't like what I said. “I thought you're smart. Bet it stay as a thought until last,”

My brows met. I don't understand what he was saying. In the whole week I was seeing Xheidan for my classes, he never talk and if ever, those are just time when it was for an acad. That's way I have no idea in his vocabulary and how to play around his mind.

“Tss..” He crossed his arms and look at me intently. “I wonder how I made myself that important in a lot of people around me. All I know is I do nothing,” He arched the side of his lip while the burn in his eyes felt towards my spine.

My eyes fixed in Xheidan. I couldn't understand what he's trying to point out but the hint that cupping my head is Xheidan know about Crizeliah's offer on me. This is damn. How did he knew that if possible? As I could remember as the orientation held a weeks ago, all rooms and offices here are soundproof.

“Stop staring. You can't dig me as your part by doing that,”

“Ano bang sinasabi mo?” I tried to sound mad to hide my shiver and stutter. I was tense if Xheidan really knows everything.

“Oh? You don't understand English language?” The insult hugged his tone.

WHAT THE FUCK?!

My jaw almost fell off the floor after hearing that! I unbelievably look in his eyes and crossed my arms too. The butt hurt was visible in my eyes and the way I clench my jaw. This guys really deserves to be in detention. He's... He's so annoying.

“W-What?!”

FUCK ASTHREITTLE, STOP ASKING WHAT!!!!

Xheidan smirked at me, protruding his lips. “Stop acting dumb, it doesn't suits you.”

I didn't reply.

“Did you know that stalking has a punishment? You can be imprison and will be fine more than a hundred of thousand because of that,” His tone turned warn. “But I know it won't step on your guts cause you have a money right? A check?” He smirked.

HOW THE FUCK DID HE KNEW THAT?!

My eyes were fixed at him, my breathing came heavy as I gritted my fist.

“What are you—”

“Tss, save your words.,” aniya at nilagpasan ako.

“How did you know...?”

Xheidan's smirk went wider and I feel my knees getting weak. Pakiramdam ko ay nahuli na ako sa krimeng hindi ko pa nasisimulan.

“I know everything, Asthreittle.” a ghost smiled cupped his face.

I stare at him. I don't know what to say. His words are marking in my chest and head.

Iniiling ko ang ulo ko. Sa mga oras na ito ay parang gusto ko nang bawiin lahat ng napag usapan namin ni Crizeliah. Xheidan is infront of me, hunting and confronting me about the offer I'd just take...

BUT I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT YET!

“Investigating without any strand of a law is defined as stalking. I could file a case for that,” He clenched his jaw.

“But I haven't say yes for it yet!” I defended with a gut in my eyes. Pakiramdam ko ay nabuhayan ako mula sa pag kakalubog ng isang paa ko sa hukay. Thanks God.

“Oh really?” He raised his brow. ”Are you backing out this early?”

“If you really evesdropped in our conversation, you probably heared that I never say yes and just said that I'll try!” Pag tatanggol ko sa sarili.

Xheidan snarl and pressed his lips together. “Tss. I mark those two as same.”

“XHEIDAN—”

“Don't call me by my name,” he cutted me off.

I rolled my eyes. “Ass..” I murmur. “What now?” I asked when silence eat the both of us. “Are you planning to call a police to arrest me?” I said sarcastically, agad naman akong kinilabutan nang dahil sa sarili kong sinabi.

What the heck, Asthreittle? Do you really want to be jailed?!

“No,” he said, eyes were cupped in serious all over ahead fixed in me. I feel the urge to clap because of that but I stop myself.

“As of reason that I have an offer for you,” He added.

Wow! I knew it. No time for celebration talaga. Bakit ba parang puro offer ang nakukuha ko sa araw na ito?

Inirapan ko siya. “What?!” I growl but then he suddenly glared and moved his brows as a one line that makes me smile awkwardly for get back. “What is it Xheidan—”

“Don't call me by my name,” He immediately cut me off... again.

WOW! WHAT DO I SUPPOSE TO CALL HIM? MASTER? SIKRETO NG MGA POGI?!

“Baby, you want?” Hindi ko napigilan ang pag ngisi.

Xheidan grimaced at me as if I said something disgusting! Napaka arte! First of all, all displayed in anything is just his first name Xheidan and nothing more. What do I suppose to call him then?

“Cut it off,” He rolled his eyes.

Did I already said that he's so stagy?

“I won't file a case against you because I'm actually planning to help you out.” He inserted both of his hands inside his pocket.

A sudden furrow and widened eyes is what I found myself doing as of hearing Xheidan's words. I carefully stared at him. Crizeliah already played with my mind just earlier and then now I'm right infront of Xheidan who's offering me another offer.

If I'm going to analyze anything, I found it fishy. Why would he even help me?

“Why?” Seryoso kong tanong.

“To clean my name.”

Hindi ako naniniwalang tumingin sakaniya.

“Among of everything, the most important to me is my name and my image. Knowing that the Editor in Chief is being fog curious about my identity is definitely a huge insult in some part of me. I want to clean my name from that senseless assumptions. I'm in this school to learn, why do I receive an assumptions?” He hissed and look away.

I stared at him and tried to invoke his words inside my head. But in that way, all I got is a continuos number of questions entering my head. I never expect Xheidan to be this type of person. All I thought of him is not showing any kind of interest on those people who are throwing shits against him, bashing and ranting him because of his attitude and mysterious background. I was thinking, isn't it fishy?

What if...

“I'm dumping that offer,” I forced myself to smile at him but the usual Xheidan never show any emotion as a reply.

“Really?” He look at me intently.

“I don't wanna do it anymore,”

“Oh? Because I caught you off guard? Did you know that it's a sign of convict, taking back your words because you're shaggy?”

I swallowed hard. “Let me say that you're right. I don't want to do it 'cause you caught me off guard.” I hold on to his thought.

I was thinking. Why would he offer me a help which is definitely a bang to himself knowing that it's against him. I need more details. The idea inside my head wasn't reassembled accordingly as of lack of informations. Palagay ko ay kailangan kong mag bato ng tanong.

Xheidan nodded as of satisfaction before siding way his glance to the wall where he was leaning a few moment ago.

“All right, then. I hope so.” A smirk curved his lips.

Xheidan turned his back to me and started walking away. Akmang hahakbang na paalis ay muli akong nagsalita.

“Why do you wanna help me in regards that my plea is against you?” I asked.

Xheidan sideways his head to lightly look at me.

“See me as a Samaritan,” a smirk flashed in his lips before fading away as he left me standing dumbfounded. I let out a heavy breath and think of it.

This day seriously sucks. My first week seriously sucks. I rolled my eyes and tried to recall what happened in the EIC Office just a few moment ago and now. At this moment, parang gusto ko nalamang bawiin lahat ng sinabi ko kay Crizeliah.

I left the university as I gone back to Crizeliah's office and realized that she wasn't there anymore, probably on her way out to reach the person on her call awhile ago.

I rode a public jeepney going back to the apartment building, I can't deny that the traffic still creeps off the whole ride, pumara nalamang ako nang matanaw ko na ang apartment building namin.

Leaving the jeepney, I head my way going to a opposite direction from the apartment building to buy some food for my dinner, I didn't get that long and immediately leave there.

As I enter the main lounge, I stopped for a moment as I noticed a group of people outside, trying to enter but they were block by the security guard. I look around curiously and walk towards a woman nearby.

“Excuse me, ano pong meron?” I politely ask to the woman around 30s ang age. She was currently watching them all too as so as me while her cupping her both hands.

“Hindi ko alam e, may hinahabol ata na dito nakatira,” She answered that makes me nod for a bit. I bade a farewell to her before turning around to take my way going to my apartment unit.

I suddenly stopped infront of the main desk as I saw an unfamiliar guy walk just infront of me. Napatigil ako at pinag masdan siya.

A tall guy wearing a black jacket with a black cap and shades walked pass infront of me, hands were inside his pocket and walking directly and hurry as if there's an emergency.

Tumayo na lang ako ng diretso bago lumapit sa main desk. I saw a woman receptionist looking at the same person awhile ago. She's now having a phone call and as she put down her phone away from her, I immediately approach her, looking at me wuth a warmth smile.

“Yes?”

“Who's that guy?” I pointed the guy who's stading infront of the elevator, probably waiting.

“Ah, iyon ba? Hindi ko kilala e, but he's always visiting this building since last week,” She answered and picked up another call. Lumayo na ako para makaalis.

I stared at him for a moment, he's not familiar to me, I was curious why he's too much covered, seems like doesn't want to be recognized by anyone. At last, I just sighed and go to my apartment unit.

The first thing I ever do in my unit is to rest pysically and mentally. Gosh, I think my mind would going to explde because of those things that happened today. And one more thing, thise was just the first week of my stay here and all this is already happening.

Napabalikwas ako ng upo mula sa pagkakahiga ko. I irritatedly scratch the back of my head because of frustration.

First of all, Crizeliah's offer is seriously messing inside my mind. I don't seriously want to accept it but I don't even want any other to take it! Oh, gosh, am I crazy?

Next, about the website thing. I haven't clarified to Crizeliah that I'm not taking that because of that phone call. And then, this Xheidan is literally gangbishitting me. He said that he want to help me by INVESTIGATING him, cause he want to CLEAN his name to US yet he's not even giving a damn to those students who are keep on ranting about him. Well, kung ipag kukumpara ko naman ay mas mabigat nga lang ang pag iimbistiga.

I breathed heavily and let my body fall off the bed. I stared at the ceiling.

Bawiin ko nalang kaya ang lahat?

Muli akong napabalikwas ng upo nang maalala ang huling sinabi saakin ni Crizeliah. I hurriedly took my phone from my bag and watched the news, sakto namang mayroon nang headline.

“POLICE OFFICER NA ANAK NG NAHULING SENADOR, KASANGKOT SA DRUG TRAFFICKING?”

Oh, that's shame.

“AYON SA NBI PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, DOKYUMENTO AT LITRATO NG POLICE OFFICER NA KASAMA ANG SARILING AMA SA NATURANG LUGAR ANG NAKAPAG TURO SA KRIMEN. IPINAKITA RIN SA MGA NAKUHANG IBIDENSYA ANG ILANG SACHET NA DROGA KUNG SAAN MAIIDENTIFY ANG FINGER PRINT NG PULIS. SA NGAYON AY PATULOY PARIN ANG PAG TANGGI NG PULIS SA NANGYARI KRIMEN...”

“Watch news later,”

My eyes widened and immediately visit the website of the university where I was studying. I search for an article in there to assure that the idea that occur in my head is true. If ever this is, this will bring a shame into the University. Freak that man.

List of former Editor in Chief:

Crizeliah Thanox

Current

Carlo Samaniego

2017-2019

Franco Melbionaz

2015-2016

Arthur Rene Serianes

2009-2015

A smirk curved into my lips. I got you.

Arthur Rene Serianes—the longest holder of Editor in Chief position of our university—get involved in a shameful crime.