16: Annoying

FAITH

“What are you doing?” tanong ko kay Orion habang tinitingnan siyang nakasandal sa hallway, sa tapat ng classroom ko. He’s carefully assessing every girls who passed by, watching them from head to foot as if he’s some sort of critic. Mula nang mapansin ko siyang ginagawa iyon, I have never seen a sign of approval in his face. Sa halip ay puro ngiwi o di kaya ay iling ang kanyang ginagawa.

“Nothing,” sagot niya ngunit nanatiling nakapukos sa mga babaeng dumaan sa harapan ang kanyang mga mata. The girl smiled flirtatiously but Orion returned a snort of disgust. Hindi iyon inaasahan ng babae kaya halos mangiyak-ngiyak na tumakbo ito palayo.

“Nothing? Orion you’re judging people with your eyes,” sabi ko sa kanya.

He pouted. “You prefer if I judge them with my mouth, Angel?” 

What?! No-- bago pa man ako makasagot sa kanya ay kinalabit niya ang isang babaeng dumaan. “Hey, your waist is so fat and your legs aren’t firm. Your boobies looked fake and that lip filler doesn’t suit you.”

Naitakip ko na lamang ang dalawang kamay sa mukha, not daring to watch the girl’s face fully lost its colors. Bago pa man siya masampal ng babae, agad akong humingi ng pasensya at hinila si Orion palayo roon. He followed silently, his hands kept inside his pockets.

“Orion that’s mean! Stop body shaming people!” sabi ko sa kanya nang makalayo kami. I know it’s no use because he’s Orion and there’s no way he will listen to me.

“What do you expect me to do, Angel? Play nice and shits like that? I am the devil, do not expect me to be goody and all!” he argued. See? See?! Wala talagang saysay ang lahat ng sasabihin ko dahil mas pipiliin niyang panindigan ang titulo niya, as the world's baddest creature.

“Kung hindi mo magawang maging mabuti sa iba, just at least be quiet!”

He pouted even more. “That’s impossible. The book never said about me being quiet.”

Argh! What am I gonna do with him?

“And don’t sweat it angel, what’s wrong with what I just said? I was being honest, none has ever meet my expectations. Guess succubi and other demons can do better than human girls,” reklamo niya at naghalukipkip. Biglang bumaba ang tingin niya sa mukha ko, patungo sa katawan ko.

What?

He didn’t snort at first ngunit mayamaya ay bigla siyang napasimangot.

Napaatras naman ako at iniyakap ang kamay sa katawan. “Anong ginagawa mo?!”

“I was thinking you weren’t bad at all, not fat and not thin, hmmm, just right,” sabi niya. “Except that you hide them beneath plain clothing. Kung katulad ng mga babaeng dumaan kanina ang suot mo, exposing those long and toned legs, I think I would have reconsider.”

What?!

“Stop sexualizing me!” I blurted in embarrassment.

“I’m not, Angel. You’re not even worth one erection,” sagot niya at ngumiwi.

I frowned because of his blatant insult and unfiltered words. Diyan siya magaling eh, at sa araw-araw na ginagawa niya iyon, hindi pa rin ako nasasanay. Sasagutin ko sana siya ngunit may biglang tumawag sa pangalan ko.

“Faith!”

Sabay kaming lumingon ni Orion sa pinagmulan ng boses. It was Dean, kaklase ko sa dalawang subject. He smiled from a distance at hindi naaalis ang ngiting iyon hanggang sa makalapit siya sa akin.

“Hindi kita nakita last week, hindi kasi ako nakapasok,” nakangiting sabi niya. “How are you Faith?”

Gumanti ako ng ngiti. “Ayos lang, bakit ‘di ka pumasok?”

“Umuwi kasi ako sa probinsya,” sagot niya. “Here, I brought you some roasted peanuts, iyon kasi ang known delicacy sa probinsya namin.”

It was thoughtful of him! He handed me a paper bag ngunit bago ko pa man iyon maabot ay bigla iyong hinablot ni Orion. My jaw automatically dropped in surprise ngunit hindi agad ako nakapagsalita dahil sa gulat.

“Seriously assface dude, you brought her peanuts without even considering the fact that she might be allergic to it?” nakasimangot na sabi ni Orion kay Dean. “Do you know I welcomed few sinners in hell who died due to anaphylaxis?”

“Ha?” naguguluhang tanong ni Dean.

“Ah, not only assface but stupid as well. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reactions--”

“I know what’s anaphylaxis but sinners? Anong ibig mong sabihin?” naguguluhan pa ring tanong ni Dean. Bago pa man makasagot si Orion ng kung anu-ano at bago pa man niya maipangalandakan na siya ang hari ng impiyero o ano ay agad na akong sumingit.

“Don’t mind him, Dean. Thank you for these--” akma kong kukunin ang paper bag kay Orion ngunit agad naman iyong nailayo ng huli.

“Taste test, Angel, I have to taste test first,” sabi niya bago kumuha ng isang bag at binuksan iyon sa mismong tapat ni Dean. The latter was so surprised by his actions samantalang gusto ko nang kainin ng lupa dahil sa labis na kahihiyan.

Orion picked a handful at halos isalampak iyon sa bunganga niya. “Hmm, not bad dude. It tastes good but I told you, you should have considered if she’s allergic.”

Ngayon ay tila nakabawi na si Dean. He was the guy who’s nice to everyone kaya hindi nakapagtatakang naging mabait pa rin siya kay Orion, despite the latter’s rudeness and all.

“I know she’s not allergic to peanuts. Madalas ko siyang nakikitang kumakain ng roasted peanuts kaya si Faith agad ang una kong naisip nang nakauwi ako sa amin,” sagot ni Dean at nakangiting bumaling sa akin.

Suddenly, Orion spitted the nuts as if it’s disgusting.

“Pwe, pwe, pweeeee hindi pala masarap. Dude, it taste like shit!” Padabog na ibinalik niya ang binuksang pack sa loob ng paper bag at sinamaan ng tingin si Dean. “As the taste tester, I don’t recommend these peanuts for Angel.”

Nagtatakang napatingin sa akin si Dean na tila ba tahimik na nagtatanong kung sino ang kasama ko. I ignored the silent plea dahil hindi ko rin naman alam kung paano ko ipapakilala si Orion. Nagpasalamat na lamang ako dahil sa binigay niyang mani.

“Salamat Dean. I will surely enjoy these. Gustong-gusto kong kumain ng mani lalo na kapag nag-aaral,” sinserong sabi ko.

Dean was about to say something ngunit naunahan siya ni Orion. “No, you’re not eating these.  Don’t you know peanuts contribute to weight gain?” magkasalubong ang kilay na sabi niya sa akin. Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. “Peanuts has high-calorie content. Tingnan mo ang katawan mo, you’re so fat so no peanuts for you!”

Ano? Kanina lang ay sinabi niyang hindi ako mataba, hindi rin payat samantalang ngayon ay tila hinuhusgahan na niya ang buong pagkatao ko sa paraan ng pagtingin niya sa katawan ko? What’s wrong with him?!

I blinked, unsure how to react ngunit mabilis na binawi ni Dean ang sinabi ni Orion.

“I don’t think you’re fat at all Faith,” he sincerely said.

“Thanks---” biglang tumayo sa harapan ko si Orion so he could face Dean.

“Stop sexualizing her!” taas-noong sabi niya kay Dean. He's acting like he's trying to pick a fight with him.

What?! Ngayon ay ginagamit na niya ang sinabi ko kanina! I’m not being biased but Dean’s statement seemed more like a compliment than anything!

“I’m not,” sabi ni Dean. “Sorry Faith if it seems like that---”

“No, not at all,” sabi ko. Nilingon ako ni Orion at sinamaan ng tingin. That silent look tells me he’s complaining why my reaction to Dean was different to him. Of course, it’s because Dean meant no harm!

But Orion wasn’t done. Muli siyang humarap kay Dean. He’s taller than him but there’s no denying that Dean is also attractive. Dean had that sporty guy vibe. I heard he’s part of the university basketball varsity.

Orion has his own charms, he actually looked so good but once he open his mouth to say mean words, his words surely depreciate the value of his appearance-- at least for me.

“How about the possibility of mold contamination” tanong niya kay Dean. “Some fungi in peanuts produces aflatoxin. Because of these toxins, alam mo bang may risk ng liver cancer if you keep feeding Angel peanuts over a long time?”

Wow, Orion is knowledgeable despite looking stupid sometimes.

Napakurap lamang si Dean at hindi agad nakapagsalita. Even I was impressed on Orion’s knowledge if it’s not bluff.

“Uhm, well, I’m not planning to feed her peanuts all her life,” Dean replied.

“And dude, you surely did not consider the sodium content! Some peanuts have too much salt and flavoring at maaring makaapekto iyon sa blood pressure---” Bago pa man makapagsabi ng kung anu-ano si Orion ay nagsalita na ako.

“Don’t mind him,” sabi ko at hinila si Orion patungo sa likuran ko. “Thanks Dean.”

“No problem Faith. See you later in class?”

I absentmindedly tucked some loose hair behind my ears and smiled. “See you.”

Nakangiting umatras siya habang kumakaway bago tuluyang tumalikod at umalis. I was still waving at him even though he turned on his back when suddenly Orion slapped my hand down. Now what?

At anong problema niya? Gone was the playful grin he always had. What's that look right now? Was it anger? Annoyance? I’m not entirely sure, basta ang alam ko ay mukhang hindi maganda ang timpla niya ngayon. Masama rin ang tinging pinupukol niya sa akin. Kung anuman ang ikinagagalit niya, siya lang ang nakakaalam.

Kinuha ko mula sa kamay niya ang paper bag ng peanuts na bigay ni Dean. “I’m taking these.”

Hindi siya promotesta, tiningnan lamang niya iyon at tila mas lalong nagdilim ang kanyang tingin. Teka, gusto ba niyang sarilinin ang mani?

“Gusto mo?” tanong ko sa kanya at ilang beses na napakurap habang hinihintay ang kanyang sagot. I’ve always known Orion as someone noisy but surprisingly right now, he was silent. He just glared at me before he walked away.

What’s wrong with him?

*** 

ORION

I crossed my legs as I sat comfortably on the long couch. In all fairness, assface has “okay” shelter than Angel. It was easy to get that assface’s address and break in this condominium. Ugh, if only Angel is staying in a place like this unlike that crappy room.

I stretched my arms, feeling the soft couch beneath me. My simple manipulation gave me an idea of what time will be their class together and I have three hours or more to teach that assface a lesson.

You know, a lesson before they got a proper one in their actual class. The room was rather cold despite pulling all the blinds down so I had the airconditioner hanging on the side burned to ashes. 

Hindi ko na kailangang maghintay nang matagl dahil narinig ko ang tunog ng electronic lock system. I sat comfortably as if I am in my throne as I fixed the collar of my shirt.

“Well, hello.”

Assface stopped on his track at nagulat nang makitang naka-dekwatrong upo ako sa kanyang malambot na couch. News is, it’s great to be the infamous devil so breaching homes is never hard for me.

Napatingin siya sa pintong kanina ay pinasukan niya at nagtatakang napatingin ulit sa akin. “H-how did you get in?”

“None of your business,” sagot ko sa kanya.

“Hindi ba ikaw ang kasama ni Faith kanina?” tanong niya.

Huh. Unsure?

“Yup, no other than. If I remember it right, your name is assface.”

He looked confused and stupid and annoying and ugly and annoying and so annoying!

“I’m Dean, I’m friends with Faith, ikaw?”

If I’m going to kill him, I’ll make sure he will not go to hell because he will just annoy me! Nope, he’s not even welcome! Not the slightest.

“I’m Lucifer but I go by the name Orion now.”

“L-lucifer?”

Ah so stupid.

And annoying.

“Yup.”

It took him some time before he processed what I said. He let out a heavy breath before asking me. “O-okay, so Lucifer what are you doing in my place?”

Wait, he’s right. What am I doing here?

Just because he annoyed the hell out of me, I made it all the way to here?

Or because he’s such an assface that I want to get rid of him?

Huh, none of the possible reasons would concern Angel at all, that’s what I’m sure of. Anong pakialam ko kung may gusto siya sa pangit na ‘to? Do I care? No not at all. 

“S-so anong ginagawa mo rito?” ulit niya sa tanong.

I cleared my throat. “Apparently, I’m here to supposedly kill you but doing so would mean victory to my one jerk of a dad.” 

“K-kill me?!” rumehistro ang takot sa kanyang mukha.

“Yup.”

“Dahil ba kay Faith?” tanong niya.

What? Dumbass thought Angel has something to do with this? Nah, I don’t care about that bitch at all. “Of course, not!”

Pero bakit nga ba talaga ako nandito?! The only reason I could think of is because he’s so annoying. Yup, that’s it. That’s the only reason.

Tumayo ako at nagtungo sa pinto. I tapped his shoulder as I walked past him. “I changed my mind. I won’t kill you but just so you know, you’re so ugly and annoying and stupid and annoying and annoying. You should rot in heaven! Don’t ever show up in hell.” 

Tuluyan na akong lumabas ng pinto, keeping my hands in my pocket. “Good bye Assface,” I said before walking away, thinking of a way of how to get rid of the damn peanuts that weren’t for me in the first place.

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