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Georgina was rendered speechless after that whole "First Lady" shiz Dos suddenly pulled off. Even when he suddenly pulled her away from the three, tulala pa rin siya at parang iniwan na ng soul niya yung katawan niya from the shock.

"You shouldn't have done that," he said while pulling her out of the building. With that statement, bumalik namaman agad sa solid 100% yung inis niya dito.

"What?!" she blurted out. "Are you freaking serious right now?"

Pero nang makabawi siya ay agad siyang kumawala from his grip. Agad napabaling sa kanya ang lalaki. She glared at him making him frustratingly shake his head before trying to take her hand again. But she brushed him off and she took a step away from him--still glaring.

She's upset. She has every right to be. Bakit? Dahil hindi man lang siya nito kinampihan!

"You're a student council officer," anito as he took her by her wrist. This time he managed to grab it and hold on to her tightly. "You shouldn't be engaging yourself in public fights like that."

"But she started it!" she defended herself.

A big part of her was still hoping he'd take her side pero mukhang hindi 'yon ang nangyayari.

"Siya and nagsimula, Dos," she pleaded her case. "Lia and I were just talking tapos sumali -sali siya. And then she started saying bad things about you so I got mad and confronted her about the audition. Then one thing led to another and you guys showed up to break the fight. I swear to my life, I didn't start it!"

Dire-diretso siya sa pag-explain all in one breath. Nagmukha tuloy siyang bata na nageexplain sa parents why she broke the vase or something.

"And you heard her kanina!" she added. "She called me malandi for being friends with your cousin! Like, who says that? After everything she did to me, sinabi niya pa 'yon. Don't you think I have the right to be mad at her?"

Hindi lang umimik si Dos. He just looked at her with his usual expressionless face. And that frustrated her even more.

"You won't say anything talaga?" naiinis niyang turan. It was too much for her kaya nagsimula nanaman siyang umiyak. "You just let Miss Gonzales punish me without defending me. I thought you like me? Bakit hindi mo ako magawang kampihan?"

Dos clicked his tongue as if he's already loosing patience. Siya din naman eh. He's really starting to infuriate her with his confusing attitude. Isang araw he's making her feel kilig and making her blush. Tapos the next naman he'd be this super cold and emotionless guy around her. Hindi niya na alam kung sino ba talaga si Dos Montecillo. He's the most confusing person she had ever met!

"Ano ba?! Say something!" she screamed again.

"If I say something, would that change anything?" he finally retorted.

Her hands fell to her side--defeated. Instead of making her feel better, what he said made her upset even more.

"Nakipag-away ka pa rin. Me taking your side won't lessen the punishment you'd be receiving. Hindi rin mabubura 'non sa permanent record mo ang nangyari. So tell me, if I said anything in the guidance office, would Miss Gonzales let that offense slide? Hindi, diba? So it's no use--"

Marahas na binawi niya mula dito ang kamay. She cope with him anymore.

"But at least I wouldn't be upset 'cause I'll know you have my back."

Hindi niya na hinintay ang sasabihin pa nito and ran away. Sakto namang dumating ang sundo niya so she immediately rode the car without even looking back at him. It was a good timing dahil she cried so hard until she fell asleep in the car.

She woke up the next day with a bunch of texts from Lia, Jarvis and surprisingly, River. Lahat sila nagtatanong if she was okay. Lia also said na kinuha daw ni Dos yung gamit niya saying he'd just drop it off to our house. And true to that, nasa ibabaw na ng study table niya ang kanyang bag with all her things in tact. She double checked din if may text ba siya or missed call from Dos but there wasn't any. Frustratedly, she signed.

It was already seven-thirty when she finished getting ready for school. Naging normal naman ang araw niya except for the fact that Addi's seat was now vacant. Mukhang hindi ito pumasok because pf what happened yesterday.

"Alam mo, G. Even if you stare at that psycho's seat eh hindi 'yon miraculously lilitaw sa tabi mo," ani Lia na mukhang napansin naman agad siya. "And why are you concerned about her, anyway? Sana nga eh hindi na 'yon magpakita pa dito."

"Lia, that's too much," she scolded her best friend. "I'm not naman concerned. Just curious kasi it's so unlikely of her to miss school. Tapos given her actions pa kahapon, ang weird lang 'coz nag-absent siya."

"Whatever, G. Masyado kang mabait. Di bagay sa resting bitch face mo," anito sabay angat ng tingin mula sa binabasang libro. "Speaking of curiosity, ako din, curious. I'm curious as to why Dos left the building with you yesterday pero umuwi siya ng mag-isa carrying your things. May LQ bang naganap?"

"No kaya!" agad niyang tanggi. Then she heaved a sigh bago napasalumbaba sa table niya. "We're not even lovers to begin with."

It was as if her answer ignited Lia's curiosity more dahil bigla itong umupo sa tabi niya—Addi's seat before, at lumapit pa sa kanya.

"Not lovers? Eh 'diba sabi niya pa nga kahapon—"

Tumikhim ito and straightened her posture.

"Be mindful of your words, Miss Bordejos. No one talks to my first lady like that. Understood?"

She can't but laugh at Lia's poor impersonation of Dos from yesterday. She sounded so silly when she made her voice low and manly. Lia laughed with her and when they both started to calm down, her expression turned serious.

"Nagtampo ka, 'no?" Lia suddenly said as she propped on elbow on the table supporting her head as she leaned on it. Nakaharap ito sa kanya habang paunti-unting gumuguhit ang isang ngisi sa mga labi nito. "Nagtatampo ka kay El Presidente, 'no?"

Her eyes grew wide. "H-Hindi kaya!"

Lalo pang lumawak ang ngisi nito which made her heave a heavy sigh. How'd she know ba?

"Am I that obvious?"

"Kinda," Lia answered. "Saka, halatang-halata rin sa mukha ni Dos kahapon when he took your bag. He looked way scarier than he usually does."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm disappointed, Lia. If you saw he looked at me yesterday sa guidance office. Saka what he said pa when he pulled me out of the building. It's like... it's like kasalanan ko pa lahat. But I was only defending myself. Us! Of all people, siya dapat ang makakaintindi since he knew what Addi did. He was there when I overheard Luke and her talking!"

It was a good thing may kanya-kanyang business ang mga classmates nila kaya they didn't pay much attention on them. And besides, it's their free period na kaya konti na lang din silang natira sa classroom.

"But you are aware that he's the student body president, right?"

"Yeah, but—"

"And he can't show favors because being president means he should always be fair and just, right?"

She wasn't able to react as guilt struck her straight through her chest. Oh fudge.

"Give the guy some actual credit, G," Lia stated as she lightly patted her shoulder. "He saved your pretty little ass during the audition and he even defended you against Claudette before. Sinupalpal niya nga rin kahapon si Addi, remember? So focus on that. Hindi kasi lahat ng oras eh pwedeng lumaban yung isa. But in cases like that, you should be able to fight in his place instead."

She heaved a sigh. She hates it when Lia's right. And she hates herself even more kasi kay Dos niya pa naibunton yung frustration niya. Sobrang nagi-guilty siya ngayon.

"He hates me na," she mumbled. "Baka iniisip 'non na I'm too sensitive. And that I'm shallow—"

"Cheer up, G," anito as she gently squeezed her shoulder. "I'm sure he'd understand you since valid din naman yung tampo mo ng slight. I'm just saying, don't be too hard on the guy. Saka, kung galit siya sayo, bakit niya pa ihahatid yung gamit mo sa bahay niyo, 'diba?"

Again, she sighed. Knowing Dos, she's sure na he'd mad at her or something. Not that she did something very bad pero... he's kinda temperamental.

After their free period ay dumiretso na siya sa guidance room for peer counseling. Wala namang ibang nandon maliban sa kanila ni Lia because Miss Gonzales vacated the room kasi she was called in by some students dahil may nag-away daw na students sa field kanina. Iniwanan lang sila ng exercise which was to hand in a reflection paper about camaraderie inside a certain peer group. Or whatever that meant.

"I expected more from you, Mr. Montecillo."

Agad siyang napaangat ng tingin when she heard Miss Gonzales' growing voice. She could also heard her footsteps drawing near. Napatingin siya kay Lia who was also curious who this "Mr. Montecillo" is. Was it River? Jarvis? Or hindi kaya si...

"That kind of behavior is not fit for someone holding the highest position in the high school department. I am so disappointed in you."

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang iniluwa ng pinto si Miss Gonzales followed by Dos. His left cheek was bruised and he had a busted lip. Nabitawan niya tuloy ang hawak niyang ballpen.

Tahimik lang na pumasok sa silid si Dos at naupo sa pinakalikod ng classroom. He didn't even threw her a glance and instead focused his attention outside.

"Miss Gray, Miss Sy, pwede na kayo umalis once you finish your paper," ani Miss Gonzales. She then turned to Dos. "You can also go once you're done, Mr. Montecillo. I need to go and check on Luke sa clinic."

And with that, Miss Gonzales left them again. Nagkatinginan sila saglit ni Lia bago muling dumako ang tingin kay Dos who seems to not really care about the paper their guidance councilor expects them to submit.

Lia then shrugged bago ibinalik ang atensyon sa ginagawa. Hindi niya maalis ang tingin sa lalaki who remained silent as he watched what was going on beyond that window.

He hurt his cheek. Saka may sugar din yung lips nito. What happened? And Luke? Was it Luke... Lia's cousin? Or baka may ibang Luke sa year nito?

She was too deep in thought while staring at him kaya hindi niya napansin that he was already looking straight at her. His eyes were cold and blank but it pierced straight through her. Napalunok siya.

"H-Hey—"

"That essay won't write itself, Georgina," he said in an authoritative tone—cutting her off.

Sa gulat—at takot na rin, ay agad siyang tumalima at bumaling sa harapan. Dali-dali rin niyang pinagpatuloy ang sinusulat.

Naunang natapos si Lia so she left earlier than them. Dos was still not doing the paper kaya when she was able to finish hers, hindi niya na napigilan at kinausap itong muli.

"Hey," she called his attention. Tumingin naman ito agad sa kanya. "Do you plan on sleeping here ba sa school? Write na your reflection piece. I'll wait 'til you're done na lang din—"

"Are you done with yours?" he cut her off again. Tumango naman siya bilang tugon. "Good."

Tumayo ito and grabbed his bag before walking towards her and taking her bag with him.

"Let's go," he said. Agad namang nangunot ang noo niya.

"Huh? You're not done pa," she said—confusedly. "Miss Gonzales said na makakaalis ka lang daw if you finish your paper."

Dos rolled his eyes before taking something out from his bag. Her mouth flew open when she saw a few sheets of paper of what seems to be his reflection paper.

"Wait. It that?"

Dos did not answer her and just grabbed the paper before placing it on top of the teacher's desk. Then, he walked back towards her and pulled her by her wrist.

"I came prepared," anito. "Now let's go. We need to hurry before it gets dark."

She wasn't able to react or do anything than to let him pull her towards the parking area. She just came back to her senses when he suddenly threw her a pink helmet.

"Call your mom," biglang utos nito.

Hawak nito ang helmet sa isang kamay that's why he unzipped his jacket by biting the fabric of his hoodie and pulling the zipper down with his other free hand. He really looked like the typical bad boy type with the bruise and wound on his face. Maya-maya ay inabot nito ang naihubad na jacket sa kanya to wrap around her waist.

"We're going somewhere."

Like a robot, she did what she was told and took her phone out from her skirt's pocket. As she dialed her mom's number, doon niya lang narealize what he just asked her to do. She immediately turned towards him with a questioning look.

"G-Going somewhere?" gulat niyang tanong. "Saan?"

Napatingin muna sa kanya si Dos bago bumuntong-hininga at nilabas ang sariling telepono. Tumipa ito doon before placing it over his ear.

"Good afternoon po, tita," he started making her eyes grow wide.

Wait. Did he just call her mom?!

"Yes po. I'm with her. Yes po. I'm actually calling to ask for you permission—okay po. Yes po. Eight. Yes po. Thank you po—"

She just stared at Dos who also looked like he was taken aback as he conversed with her mother. When did he even get her mom's number in the first place?

"You're good to go," he just said before giving her phone back. After that ay sumakay na ito sa motor. "Hop on."

She had no choice but to do what she was told at sumakay nga sa may likuran nito kahit napakaraming tanong sa isip niya. Siguro kasi ay deep down she really wanted to go with him. She likes him nga diba? And her tampo subsided na after Lia made her realize that she was making a huge deal about it.

Hahawak na sana siya sa handle sa may likuran niya but Dos took her hand instead and yanked her gently closer to him. He placed her hand around his waist and did the same to her other hand on the opposite side.

"Hold on tight," he said while lightly patting her overlapping hands on his waist before he drove away from the school.

While on the road ay hindi niya na kinaya ang pagkangalay so she leaned in and rested her head at his back habang ang braso niya ay nakapalibot pa rin sa baywang nito. She looked like she was giving him a back hug. She felt like her heart would jump out of her chest any minute now.

It took them a while but when he finally stopped, her mouth immediately flew open at the sight before her.

"I'm not really sure what you like but I hope this would at least make you feel better."

She immediately hopped off the motorcycle without uttering a single word and sprinted towards the guardrail with her eyes glued on to the sky as the sun dipped below the horizon. The fleeting colors of dusk—yellow, orange and pink, mixed nicely whilst shades of purple and blue start to gradually blend with them. She can't help but be at awe as the gleaming lights from the city start to appear like stars in the night sky.

"Oh my God!" Was all she could manage to blurt out. "This is the most beautiful thing ever!"

She heard him scoff an chuckle a bit next to her before answering.

"Yeah... It is."

And as soon as I turned to face him, Dos was looking straight at her while smiling.

I retract my statement. He is the most beautiful thing ever.

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