"My faceless knight in shining armour."

Chapter 6

Hugged

"S-SIR?"

Hindi ko na nabilang kung ilang beses na ba akong nauutal sa pagsasalita kanina pa.

Puro'sir' at 'oo' lang ata ang sagot ko. Inalam niya muna ang basic information ko. It's like we're in a job interview.

Sir Sanchez's presence is really intimidating. He is incredibly relaxed, with no trace of rush in his looks.

Mostly kasi sa mga businessman ay mabilisan lang makipag-usap, pero sa kanya, may time pa siyang ilibot ang kanyang paningin sa loob ng classroom.

Makailang beses na rin akong napapalunok dahil sa tinginan ni Mr. Sanchez na para akong papatayin. Grabe, tingin pa lang parang hindi ka na masisinagan ng araw sa mga susunod na oras.

Tumikhim itong muli bago nagsalita.

"Ms. Malcom, I have a proposal for you. You work in my small business, and I just heard that you fought my son." I clenched my fist, not in anger, but in humiliation and disgrace.

I was such an idiot for fighting the 'devil'. Why do I rush sometimes without thinking?

My chest is hammering too hard, and my palms are sweating excessively from nervousness. Perhaps this is my final day on earth.

"Fight him..."

Para akong nabingi sa tinuran ng kanyang ama. I don't know what he meant by those words.

Fight him? Like, kakalabanin ko talaga anak niya?

"P-Po?" I asked.

"Out of everything my son has fought against, you are the only one who has the will to confront him. In all of Meendeelev's bullying, no one has stood up against him... except you." His response added to the confusion.

It's simply odd. Most of the fathers in the book refuse to let their children be touched by flies or dust, but is it necessary for Mr. Sanchez to go up against Meendeelev?

"Sir, I don't understand po. Why are you asking me and doing this to your son po?" I questioned, biting my lip because it's unpleasant to question him about his child.

I had no idea that this is how a father feels when talking about his family. Will Papa feel the same way? Will he be hurt when he discovers that his children work together to survive? Is he the same as Sir Sanchez?

As I glanced at Sir Sanchez, I couldn't help but tear up at his painful expression.

I was really hoping na katulad din niya si Papa. Hindi umalis nang biglaan at bibigyan kami ng atensyon sa lahat ng bagay. Siguro ngayon masasabi kong may nag-iisang taong sumusuporta sa akin sa tinahak kong pagsusulat.

I truly hoped Papa would be like him. Someone who did not leave unexpectedly and will pay attention to everything. Maybe now I can say that I have one person who supports me on my writing path.

"I am hoping that he will change if someone confronts him, and my only hope is you, Ms. Malcom," he replied earnestly, staring directly into my eyes. "And before I forget, I'll give you whatever you want."

His final remarks before leaving the room.

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Everything is going fine except for his presence. With the exception of the moron, I had no trouble in class. Even our teacher was upset with him. He's like a spoilt kid who refuses to eat a lollipop. And he's staring at the board, clearly not listening.

I decided to go to the canteen and thought about inviting Deidara. After I called her, we planned to meet in the canteen and hang out near the window.

Some people stared at me as I made my way to the canteen. I'm not sure, but I think everyone already knows what happened at the cafe yesterday.

When I saw Deidara, I approached her instantly. Some of our favourite treats are also available. There's the egg sandwich, a whole apple, doughnuts, and bottled mineral water.

Hindi ko alam, pero nakasanayan na namin ang lasa ng palagi naming pinamimili. I also drink a lot of water compared to her, so sometimes I consume two mineral water bottles at snack time.

I sat in front of her, which suddenly shocked me.

"Oh, my gosh! Sienna!" She exclaimed.

"Hey, Dei," I replied. I adjusted my seat before handing her the payment.

"Naku, 'wag mo ng bayaran. I-chika mo na lang sa akin ang nangyari kahapon. Para kasing naging talk of the town, 'yon ngayon." I looked up at her. Dazed. Eyes widened. I can't believe it.

Did our fight with that jerk really get to this point? Neither of us are celebrities. Not popular.

"Paano mo nasagap 'yon?" I asked.

"Haler! May pakpak ang balita, may tenga ang lupa. Alam na kaya ng buong campus ang nangyari sa inyo ni Mr. Mendeeleev kahapon," she explained.

Mas lalo akong nagtaka sa mga nangyari. Alam ng lahat ang nangyari kahapon? At bakit isyung-isyu sa kanila 'yon?

Napahawak na lang ako sa aking sintido.

Just like every story, rumours spread easily, kung pogi ang nasa naalanganin. Ta's 'pag parehong alanganin ang mukha, depende na lang kung sino ang lamang sa awayan. People with appealing personalities are more likely to win pity from others during an argument. When you're ugly, they'll automatically assume you're an addict or insane. That's what a person with beauty and money is capable of.

Sa kaso naming dalawa, ako na ang kawawa. Ako pa ang may kasalanan. Porque't mayaman ay madali lang niya akong gano'n-gano'rin.

I sighed and let a soft moan come out of my mouth. "Really?" "Ang tsi-tsismoso't tsimosa naman ng mga estudyante rito," I replied. "Actually, it's my fault. No pala, kasalanan---ewan. Basta sinugod ko siya no'ng nag ino-a ang gago kahapon. Grabe naman kasi reaksyon niya sa langgam na kinakain niya kahapon. Para siyang papatay dahil lang sa langgam."

"Talaga? 'Yon lang?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. Like sobrang arte! Takot madumihan!" Let me emphasise the last thing I said. I quickly bit the apple. "Alam mo ba, daig pa niya ang babae sa kaartehan. Kung makita ko talaga mukha no'n."

"Uh, Sie---" I was cut off by Deidara.

"Patapusin mo muna ako. 'Yon na nga. Babasagin ko talaga pagmumukha no'n 'pag nagkaharap kami. Kukuha ako ng babasaging baso at ihahampas sa kanya."

"I can file a case against you, young lady. Threatening another with a weapon or drawing such weapon in a quarrel, and that's under grave threats under Article 282—the act threatened to be done is a crime," a deep voice said echoed behind me, causing Deidara and I's eyes to widen. Para akong inalisan ng hininga nang ilang segundo nang maramdaman ko ang kanyang presensya sa aking likod.

Shemay! May grave threats pang nalalaman ang gago. Why didn't Dei warn that there was trouble yet to come? It looks like I'm going to be in trouble.

Napalunok ako, dahan-dahang umikot at taas noong hinarap siya.

"B-Bakit?" I stammered. "I-Ikaw lang ba ang b-balak kong patayin dahil sa k-kartehan? For your info, m-marami-rami kaya kayo," I stuttered while saying those words. Damn, napaghalataan akong sinungaling neto.

"Oh, really? Eh, ako lang naman ang kinalaban mong maarte kahapon. Don't deny, Ms. Malcom. 'Yang gigil na 'yan ay same kahapon," he uttered. My forehead furrowed and my cheeks warmed up at the same time. I don't know, but my heartbeat is getting stronger.

"S-Sige... sabi mo, eh." I was just surprised when he pulled the chair that was on my right side and put it aside for me. "Ano bang gusto mo? Ba't ka ba tumatabi sa akin?" I'm annoyed with this presence.

Ewan ko ba. Nakakairita minsan ang presensya ng gagong 'to. Sarap bigwasan!

"Bawal bang tumabi sa'yo?"

Damn! What is happening to me? My heart can't be heard. My heart seems to be losing weight from being so nervous.

"Fine. A-Ano bang p-problema mo?" I asked.

"Ms. Malcom, isang tanong. Isang sagot. Anong sinabi sa'yo ni Daddy?" He asked directly, and I was expecting it.

I crossed my arms and looked at him.

"Nothing," I answered simply.

He looked at me intently, as if he wanted to kill me. Napalunok ba ako dahil sa nakakairita niyang paninitig.

"Okay," he replied, and he left the canteen immediately. And that's when I also noticed that some of my students were looking at us. Eh, kung tusukin ko kaya mga mata nila?

Akala ko ay kukulitin pa niya ako patungkol sa pag-uusap namin ng kanyang ama. Hindi rin pala.

I just held my chest and felt like a thorn was pulled out because of the stupid presence.

"Gano'n lang?" I heard Deidara break the silence between us. "Akala ko talaga hihingi pa siya ng explanation."

We noticed the same thing.

"Mabuti na rin 'yon. Baka masapak ko pa 'yon nang wala sa oras!" I joked, causing Dei to laugh.

She chuckled. "Ang harsh mo naman sa mga boys. Baka maging matandang dalaga ka niyan." Napaangat ako ng tingin dahil sa sinabi ni Dei.

"Harsh lang naman ako sa kanya. 'Tsaka loyal kaya ako kay Lev, and guess what? I just encountered three guys with Lev on their names."

Deidara's eyes widened as her mouth fell open.

"Really? Sino? 'Tsaka paano mo nakilala?" There's excitement in her voice. He even moved to the seat next to me. Ang dakilang tsismosa rin nito minsan.

"Kaklase ko lang sila. Si Levinne, Levi at Meendeelev. And that guy na nakalaban ko kahapon ay si Meendeelev, Brixx Sanchez."

"What?! Isa siya sa mga Lev?!" ?!"I moved away slightly from Deidara when she screamed because I was deafened by her screams.

"Dei, p'wede bang hinaan 'yang boses mo. Ang sakit sa tenga. At ano bang nakakagulat do'n?" I just asked while fiddling with my ears. Hearing Dei's shrill voice really hurt.

"My gosh, Sie! Baka siya talaga si Mr. Lev mo. Baka mangyari ay mala-Wattoon ang maging love story niyo? 'Yong tipong habang tumatagal ay nahuhulog ka na sa kanya at siya rin sa'yo. Tapos malalaman mong siya 'yong taong hinanap mo isang araw. At siyempre dahil mala-Wattoon nga ang story niyo, siyempre may second lead syndrome na mangyayari at may hahadlang sa pagmamahalan niyo. Depende na lang kung ang hahadlang ay nasa side ng bawat pamilya o 'di kaya ang tadhana---"

"Stop! Masyado ka nang kinain ng imagination mo. Malabo nang mangyari 'yon since nasa reyalidad tayo. Ang tanging magagawa ko lang ay maghalungkat sa mga buhay nila at alamin ang past nila. Hinintay ko ang pagkakataong 'to kaya hindi ko na papakawalan ang tsansang makikilala ko na si Lev. At madali namang mag-move on kung wala sa kanila ang hinahanap ko." I said while looking into the void.

I see myself and Lev strolling down the street, holding hands. Leaning on his wide chest, he cracks jokes.

And if it happens, I'll be the luckiest lady in the galaxy. Because my boyfriend makes me so happy. Someone who believed in me and my writing.

After talking with Dei, I said farewell since I needed to use the restroom. Dei explained that she would just return to her room because the class was about to begin. After peeing, I decided to return to my room because I had forgotten to take some of my belongings.

As I proceeded down the corridor, I observed that there were a lot of students. And it's quite peaceful, similar to a library.

My surroundings seem odd. I don't know why. I glanced around.

I just kept walking, and when I turned, I wasn't expecting what came up next.

Someone gave me a hug. I can't see his face since he's taller than me. His wide shoulders cover the front of my body. And before I knew it, he had become my shield as a bunch of students' chuckles and yells echoed down the corridor.

And that's when I understood I was being set up. My life was irrevocably changed when I fell into a trap.

I discovered a hug that no one else could provide. Hugging in a man's arms.

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