🐱

ten years ago...

It has been a hectic first day of senior year for Dos. Hindi niya lubos akalain na uubusin ng freshmen orientation ang halos kalahating araw niya. Buti na lang at maluwag ang mga guro sa fourth year at hinayaan na lang muna silang magpahinga.

He chose to sleep underneath the bleachers next to the open field. Malayo kasi iyon sa magugulong estudyante kaya't nakasisiguro siyang walang gagambala sa kanyang pahinga doon. But he spoke too soon. Bigla na lamang may sumulpot na mga babae and they decided it was nice to talk loudly over him. Napamulat tuloy siya.

That was a wrong move. Marahan siyang napapikit muli dahil may nakita siyang hindi dapat makita.

Who doesn't wear cycling shorts under their skirt these days?!

Now he can no longer see watermelons the same way he did before.

"I can't believe we're sophies now!" one girl exclaimed. Her high-pitched voice rang inside his head. "It feels like it was just yesterday nung we entered high school. Ngayon, we're older na. Baka tomorrow we'll be in college already. Gosh! I don't know what course to pick pa."

Pinaglihi ba ito sa megaphone? Sobrang lakas ng boses eh ang lalapit lang naman ng kausap. Tss. Buti sana kung maayos magsalita. Typical spoiled rich brats.

"Masyado ka nanamang advance mag-isip, madam," ani naman ng isip. At least one of them had a decent brain attached to her body. "Chill your tits and just enjoy high school. Second year pa lang tayo. Excited ka masyado."

The girl's right, actually. Madami pa silang pagdadaanan bago grumaduate. Many stressful and sleepless nights. Hindi iyon ganon kadali.

"I'm just proving a point, babe. Ikaw yung mag-chill," the watermelon girl chuckled. "And yes, I will enjoy my high school years the best I can. Plus, I have a feeling that this year's gonna be great--"

Napamulat siya nang biglang may kung anong nabuhos sa kanya.

"Fuck!" he yelled in surprise. His uniform was now covered in what seems to be apple juice. Great. "Who did that?!"

He heard a soft gasp and footsteps down the bleachers. Maya-maya ay isang babae, with long black hair walked towards her. She had these pair of expressive cat-like eyes and puffy cheeks.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry--"

The girl stared at him like she was trying to recognize who he was. Her eyes even squinted and her mouth went agape. He clearly saw a soft shade of pink slightly forming on her cheeks.

She looks cute, I'll give her that.

Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, ito yung babaeng pakwan. He scoffed a bit. It seems like little Miss optimistic got too much excited.

"Tss."

He started to unbutton his shirt since her was drenched. Buti na lang at may T-shirt siya sa ilalim kaya't hindi niya kakailanganing manghiram ng damit ng iba. But the girl got unnecessarily embarrassed and immediately covered her eyes.

"W-What are you doing?!" the girl blurted out.

"Binasa mo yung uniform ko kaya tinatanggal ko lang," paliwanag niya dito. "If I had known that some brat would shower juice over me, hindi na sana ako naligo."

The girl apologized again. Hindi naman talaga siya galit dito but she did ruin his only time to rest.

"Then, magiingat ka sa susunod," aniya dito. "Ginambala mo pa yung tulog ko."

He couldn't help but secretly smile when she pouted. She looked like an upset little kitten it was adorable.

Wait. Adorable? He shook his head a bit.

"Bakit naman kasi you're under the bleachers?" the girl suddenly said making his eyebrow raise. This doesn't look good on his part. "Oh my God! Were you making boso?!"

His forehead creased at the baseless accusation. Well, it wasn't really baseless since he was hanging around under the bleachers. No normal guy would be doing that to be honest. Sadyang wala lang talaga siyang choice dahil ang ingay sa Student Council room thanks to his cousin, River, at mas lalo nang hindi siya makakapagpahinga sa classroom. He can't hang around the school clinic too because that would just be abuse of power.

"Kung may bobosohan man ako, it wouldn't be you," sabi na lang niya dito. She looked really mad and flared up.

He smirked before getting his bag. Then he walked closer to her and leaned in a bit. This made the young girl gasp a bit and she almost took a step back.

"Work of advice, kid," he whispered to her. "Kahit cute 'yang watermelon design, it wouldn't hurt if you start wearing cycling shorts."

Kitang-kita niya ang baglaki ng mga mata nito kaya naisipan niyang pang lokohin ito. Since she already thought he was a pervert, why not mess with her even more?

"But I am curious what fruit you'll wear next." He stood upright before looking straight at the girl who was facing away from him. "Strawberry, maybe?"

He then turned around to leave. Of course, the little kitten wouldn't just let him go without getting the last word.

"You... You... You Pervert!"

He chuckled as he walked away. Looks like this year won't be as boring as he thought it would be.

🐱

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Yes, I'm a brat but you have no right to say that I don't have substance!"

The girl from the bleachers was fuming as she yelled at him after hearing his comments about her. Nagkwe-kwentuhan kasi sila ni River sa may staircase and she just so happen to overhear the conversation. He can't help but smirk. This girl really looks cute when she's mad.

"Right," he said as he made his way down the stairs. "Then let me ask you, Miss Pakwan. What right do you have to shout at me and accuse me of being a pervert?"

His question might've caught the girl off guard so she just screamed "I hate you!" at him and left. River chuckled and patted his shoulder.

"This is so not like you, Dos," anito. "Pumapatol ka na sa babae ngayon? Isusumbong kita kay Tita Saturn. Sabihin ko ihanda na mga abogado kasi child abuse ka."

He rolled his eyes as he brushed his cousin's arm off his shoulder. But the smile on his lips won't fade. That girl wasn't even his type. But she is cute, though.

🐱

Dos couldn't hide the smirk forming on his lips anymore kaya't lumabas na agad siya ng SC Room. Kakatapos lang ng special meeting niya kasama ang mga bagong halal na year-level representatives and guess who won the second-year representative position? None other than Miss Watermelon. Lalo pang napukaw ang interes niya dito dahil sa ginawa.

Xaris Georgina Gray...

Natawa nanaman siya. Who knew the girl held such a grudge? Mukhang desidido talaga itong patunayan sa kanya na mali ang iniisip niya dito.

But we'll see.

Mahirap maging parte ng isa ng organization lalo pa't ganitong buong high school department ang hawak. The kid's quite a character kaya't panigurado ay susuko agad ito kapag tumagal tagal pa.

Lalo pang lumala ang inis sa kanya ni Georgina nang aksidenteng matapunan niya ito ng cake. Pero kung tutuusin, wala naman talaga siyang kasalanan. He was just getting his dessert and the aisle close to where the girl was sitting was the closest way to where he and his cousins were seated. Sinigaw-sigawan pa siya niyo just because he ruined her shoes.

He scoffed. How superficial.

But what really got him pissed was she he threw her shoe at him. Tumama iyon sa likuran niya't lahat ng nakakita ay nagulat. Magsisinungaling siya kung sasabihin niyang hindi uminit ang ulo niya sa ginawa nito. Pero iba talaga si Georgina Gray. He was mad one minute and the next he's ready to burst out laughing.

"Sana you hit your pinky toe sa table para masakit! I hate you!"

He couldn't stop thinking about that day and he kept smiling for no reason.

"Alam mo, konti na lang ipapatawas ka na namin," ani Inno. They were at home and he was currently reading his book by the backyard. May hawak itong can ng beer. "Kanina ka pa nakatitig diyan sa libro tapos nakangising aso. Ganon ba kahirap ang high school para mabaliw ka ng ganyan?"

"Naaalala lang niyan si Miss Chanel," ani naman ni River na hindi niya napansing nakalapit na pala sa kanila. "Simula nung binato yan nung sapatos, ganyan na yan eh. Ngumingiti mag-isa. Baliw lang."

"Miss Chanel?" tanong naman ni Jarvis na krarating din lang. "Sino?"

"Si Georgina Gray," sagot ni River. "You know that sophomore who got into a fight with Dos in the cafeteria? Yung sinabi mong cute."

"Ah! Oo, yung magandang cute," segunda naman agad ng lalaki kaya't napairap siya. "I kinda like her. She's feisty—"

"Stop making absurd conclusions," he commented while flipping the book page. "Tapusin mo na lang Ricardo yung proposal na kailangan para sa proper waste segregation ng high school department. I need it by tomorrow."

"Grabe ka naman pres!" bulalas agad nito. "Bakit ako? Diba dapat sa year level 'yon? Ano ba 'yan. May favoritism agad."

He just rolled his eyes and focused his attention on to his book. He didn't play favorites o kung ano mang gusto ipahiwatig nito. He just wanted it to be done as soon as possible dahil kulang na sila sa oras. Besides, malapit na rin ang high school department school fair kaya mas kailangang mapagtuunan ng pansin ng mga year-level representatives iyon.

Days passed and mas lalo pa silang naging abala. They only have a few days to prepare their proposals kaya nagpatawag na siya ng emergency meeting para mas madali ang pagko-cross check niya ng mga isusumiteng mga proposals.

"You don't have a laptop?" tanong niya kay Georgina nang mapansing wala itong inilabas mula sa dalang bag.

"I have," sagot naman agad nito. "I just didn't bring it to school kasi I thought I won't be needing it."

Maya-maya ay naglabas na ito ng ballpen at notebook mula sa dalang bag. He scoffed.

"I'll just write it na lang here then transfer it sa laptop when I get home."

"We need the proposals today." Napapikit siya't napahawak sa may sentido. Sa sobrang dami ng inaalala niya, dumagdag pa ito. And he even assigned her one of the most crucial tasks. Dapat ay sa food committee niya na lang ito inassign. "You can borrow mine after I finish my task. For now, magsulat ka na muna para mas mabilis ang pagtype mo mamaya."

Tumango lang ang babae at wala kahit na anong snarky remark. Nangunot tuloy ang noo niya.

That's really out of character. Is she feeling okay?

He shook his head and dismissed the growing concern inside his head. Bakit ba siya nagwoworry dito? It's not like her not being the snarky little kitten she is, is a big deal.

Maya-maya ay napansin niya ang pagiging uneasy ng babae. He fished his phone out and texted River to check on the other officers kung okay na pa ang mga ginagawa nito. Pinakamalapit sa kinauupuan nito si Georgina kaya't nasisiguro niya ito ang uunahin nitong tanungin.

He can't seem to stop glancing at River and George. The girl's face literally lit up when his cousin approached her. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng inis kaya't inilayo niya ang kanyang tingin dito.

She's that happy, huh.

The two talked more about the theme and for some unknown reason, River's voice irritated him. Kaya hindi niya na napigilan ang sarili't tinawag ito upang patigilin.

"Georgina can handle her task on her own."

Kitang-kita niya ang biglang pagsimangot ng babae. Huh. So you like him that much?

"Matatapos na ako sa task ko," aniya. "Make sure to finalize your draft para mabilis tayong matapos dito."

"Okay, pres," the girl muttered then rolled her eyes for him to see. He silently chuckled.

Hours passed at nagsialisan na ang ibang miyembro ng student council. Even River went home ahead of him. Iniwan nito ang gamit na laptop kanina para magamit ni Georgina. It was only him, her and Claudette left inside the room. Tapos niya na ang ginagawa but he made it seem that he was still busy. He can't leave her with the secretary. Iba din kasi ang ugali nito.

His eyes were glued on the girl whose gaze were fixed on the laptop's screen. Talagang desidido ito sa ginagawa. She's not half bad. Dahil kung iba ang nasa posisyon nito, they would've given up or made an excuse to go home early. Inilayo niya ang tingin when Georgina suddenly bolted up and went towards the printer.

So she's done. Palihim niyang sinara ang sariling laptop. He too can leave.

"Done?" rinig niyang sambit ni Claudette as Georgina gave her the print outs.

"Yup!"

Lihim siyang napangiti sa sobrang pagka-enthusiastic ng sagot nito. This girl is really something. He can't help but admire her spirit and find her personality adorable. He shook his head to dismiss the idea.

Agad siyang nagiwas ng tingin when the girl turned towards her at nagkunwaring may binabasa sa kanyang laptop. But he felt her gaze weren't moving away. Kaya't bumaling na lang siya dito and raised his eyebrow.

"Since I'm done, can I go home na?"

He scoffed. Akala niya ay nahuli na siya nitong nakatitig siya kanina. "Why, do you want to sleep here?"

His statement was ignored at bumaling na lang ito muli sa babaeng abala sa pagbabasa sa hawak na papel. Napakunot ang noo niya. Usually ay hindi na kino-cross check ang submitted papers dahil siya naman talaga ang nagrerevise kapag may mali. The secretary just collates the ideas and the presidents finalizes the proposal.

"You do know chariots are from the Iron and Bronze age, right? That they're from the Ancient times. Not Medieval.

Lalong nangunot ang noo niya sa tinuran nito. The fuck? Since when was she this critical towards the details?

He saw how the cheeky smile on Georgina's face slowly faded away.

"But... it says in Wikipedia—"

"Wikipedia is not a reliable source."

Hindi agad nakasagot si Georgina. He saw how she bit her lip as if she was about to cry. Bigla ay nakramdam siya ng kakaibang inis at galit. Towards Claudette.

"Are you even taking this seriously, Georgina?" dagdag pa ng babae. "First, hindi k nagdala ng materials para sa gagawin ngayon. Then you forgot to bring your laptop. And now, this. Sigurado ka bang kaya mo maging parte ng student council? Or are you just doing this because you're bored?"

He was waiting for that fierce kitten to come out but it didn't. Tahimik lang ito habang namumuo ang luha sa mga mata.

Naikuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamao. Seeing Georgina like that stirred something in him. Bigla ay gusto niyang sigawan din si Claudette. Gusto niyang ihampas ang upuan sa dingding sa inis.

"This needs to be submitted tomorrow first thing in the morning! I have to collate all proposals and dapat kanina pa sana tapos kung hindi ka lang incompetent—"

That's it. He's had it.

"Claudette."

His gaze fell on Claudette telling her to stop. Or else, she wouldn't like to know what he's capable of.

"Dos," anito in a much calmer tone. "We can't finish this—"

"Go home," pinal niyang sambit. "Just send me the file through email. Leave the opening program blank."

And with that, Claudette left. Alam niyang hindi iyon ang magiging huling pagkakataong pagiinitan nito si Georgina.

Hinatid niya pauwi ang babae. He still felt upset and angry for some reason. But he tried his best to hide it and not look too affected by it.

"Thank you."

Inabot ng babae ang jacket niya pabalik. She had a small smile but it was enough to make him feel a bit better than he was a while ago.

"Don't let anyone do that to you again," he said making the young girl gasp. He tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear.

Georgina Gray might look like she's this tough tigress ready to pounce. But in reality, she's just a kitten. His kitten.

"Ako lang ang pwede mam-bully sa'yo, Watermelon Girl. Got that?"

And that marked the day that Dos Montecillo swore to do everything he can to love and protect Georgina Gray the best he could.

Even if it's from himself...

🐱