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"Kailangan tapusin yung proposal ngayon, George. You think you can come to the SC office after class?"

"Of course, Ate Claudette. I'll go there as soon as my class is over po."

Isang ngiti ang tinugon nito sa kanya before patting her shoulder lightly at umalis. She's the Student Council secretary and she's super nice. Ate Claudette is also pretty kaya all eyes were on them while they were talking out in the hall. Pero mostly on her because of what happened last week.

Naging usap-usapan all over the campus yung nangyari with her and Dos sa cafeteria 'til this day. Some even said that she was such a spoiled brat and that Dos didn't deserve it. But she didn't care. She's sure na kaya lang naman ga'non sila because they like that demonyo and are blinded with their love for him. If only they knew how bad he really is.

Hindi rin nagtagal at natapos na ang classes niya for the day. She bade goodbye to Addy and Lia before heading straight to the student council office where the other officers were already waiting. Even Dos.

Everyone took out their laptops. Siya lang yung wala. Well, she has one at home kaso hindi niya 'yon dinadala kapag hindi niya naman kailangan sa class. Plus hindi niya rin naman inaasahan that they'll be working on the proposal today since kakasabi lang sa kanya ni Ate Claudette kanina.

"You don't have a laptop?" seryosong tanong ni Dos.

"I have. I just didn't bring it to school kasi I thought I won't be needing it," she explained then took out her notebook and a pen from her bag instead. "I'll just write it na lang here then transfer it sa laptop when I get home."

"We need the proposals today," paalala nito before massaging his temples. "You can borrow mine after I finish my task. For now, masulat ka na muna para mas mabilis ang pag-type mo mamaya."

She just nodded in response. Hindi na siya nakipagtalo kasi she knows naman that its her fault for not bringing her laptop in the first place.

Tahimik ang buong SC room aside from soft chatters discussing the pros and cons of certain events. Sobrang busy din ng lahat kasi delegated na sa bawat officer ang trabaho and they all know what to do with it. Mabilis ding natapos yung iba kasi yearly na din daw nila 'yon ginagawa so they know kung ano ang papasa sa standards ni Dos at ng school.

But she was having a bit of a hard time sa task niya. Second year rep ang assigned sa opening parade and she still has no clue kung paano gagawin 'yon. The theme is medieval times and she has no clue kung pano magagawan ng parade 'yon.

Isa-isa nang natatapos ang mga officers and she's slowly getting anxious. Wala pa kasi siyang nasisimulan and it's starting to get dark sa labas. Yes, may sundo naman siya but she's just not use to staying out after six.

"George? May problema ba?" tanong bigla ni River when he spotted her shifting gazes from her paper then sa window. "Do you want any help?"

Bumaling siya dito and her eyes pleaded a silent 'yes please' towards him. Mukhang nagets naman nito agad kaya lumapit ito at tiningnan ang papel niya.

"Opening parade..." anito as he read the title on her paper. "Tough. Did you do some research about the medieval times?"

Agad naman siyang tumango. She did her research sa computer lab kanina since it was her last class for the day. Konti lang kasi ang nakuha niya from her research.

"Are we Euro-centered?" tanong niya. "It was Queen Elizabeth's time, right?"

Umiling ito. "Though it did reach King Edward pero late middle ages na 'yon."

She let out a huff bago napahawak sakanyang ulo. Walang pumapasok sa isip niya and it's really stressing her out. Bakit pa kasi Medieval ang pinili nitong si Dos? It's so outdated. Why not Harry Potter na lang since it's really in these days. May four houses kaya pwede for the four levels. Ugh.

"How about you incorporate—"

"River," tawag bigla dito ni Dos. "Are you done with your proposal?"

"Patapos na, Pres," sagot agad nito while smiling. "Short break lang before typing uli."

"Tapusin mo muna. Georgina can handle her task on her own."

Agad siyang napasimangot nang umalis—although reluctantly, si River. Hay. Napaka-bully talaga.

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

"Okay, pres," she muttered while rolling her eyes.

What's so wrong with helping others? He's just really out to get her since he knows she's struggling. Alam niyang nakikita nito that her paper is still basically empty and that she's just been scribbling nonsense since five.

Malapit na mag-seven pm and siya, si Ate Claudette, Dos and River na lang ang natitira sa room. Madilim na din sa labas and the only thing she managed to add on her paper was the term "dress-up" and "knights". She thought it would be nice kung ang mga students eh magco-cosplay ng mga tao from the medieval period during the parade.

"Finally! I'm done!" River declared as he closed his laptop. "Tamang-tama dahil parating na si Kuya Tony. Sabay ka ba, Dos?"

"Dala ko yung motor," he replied plainly. Tumango-tango naman si River bago bumaling sa kanya.

"Claudz?"

"Waiting ako kay George. I need to collate all the proposals para sa over-all proposal."

"Ah oo nga pala," anito then turned to her.

"Ikaw George? May susundo ba sa'yo?"

"Yup yup!" she replied. "Daddy's driver will pick me up at 7:30. I hope I get to finish by then."

"Don't hope. You should."

She ignored Dos and just continued writing on her paper. Then it was only a matter of time when River bade his goodbye. Iniwan ni River yung laptop niya so she could start making her proposal dahil kaya naman daw 'yon dalhin ni Dos pauwi. Or, she could just leave it daw inside the SC room.

Since there's a laptop, nagkaron na siya ng chance to do some more research. She saw tons of articles that could help and one in particular were chariots. Kaya naisip niya, instead of walking—for the muse and escort, why not ride on the chariot na lang? It would be like that scene she read on the Hunger Games book where Katniss and Peeta had to do. It would be cool din but they can't have horses in school. Maybe improvised chariots pulled by some students would do?

Binilisan niya ang pagta-type and copy-pasted some articles. Nilagay niya rin yung plans at tentative schedule ng opening parade. She smiled widely and clicked "Print" as soon as she finished.

"Done?" tanong ni Ate Claudette when she stood up and walked towards her.

"Yup!" she enthusiastically replied as the SC Secretary took the pages from her. Hindi niya rin napigilang mapabaling kay Dos who was busy reading—and smirking like there was something wrong, the proposals habang naka-dekwatro.

Hmp. Yabang talaga.

Nag-angat ito ng tingin kaya he caught her looking at him. Nagtaas ito ng kilay like he was asking her why she was looking.

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

"Why, do you want to sleep here?" sagot naman nito kaya napa-ismid siya.

But she was so happy she finished on time na hindi niya na naisipang sungitan ito or make a snarky reply. She's just happy na natapos niha ang task niya and that she did a pretty good job kung siya ang tatanungin.

Bumaling siya kay Claudette to ask the same question. "Ate, can I go home na?"

Hindi ito sumagot. She was busy reading her paper so she took that as a yes and turned away. But as she was about to reach her things, nagsalita ito.

"You do know chariots are from the Iron and Bronze age, right?" tanong ni Ate Claudette which made her turn to face her again. "That they're from the Ancient times. Not Medieval."

Napamaang siya. "But it says in wikipedia—"

"Wikipedia is not a reliable source."

Hindi siya nakasagot. She remained silent.

"Are you even taking this seriously, Georgina?" she snapped na ikinagulat niya. "First, hindi ka 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?"

She kept mum and napayuko na lang siya. She was still shocked at how Ate Claudette reacted. It was just an honest mistake. Hindi niya naman akalain na yung source nila pala ay hindi ga'non ka-credible. At isa pa, wasn't it her fault kaya wala siyang dalang materials and laptop? She only informed her about the meeting today.

Her eyes started to water kasi she never experienced being yelled at like that. And sa tono din kasi ng pananalita nito eh parang ang laki na ng kasalanang nagawa niya. She can just edit the chariots out. She didn't need to yell.

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

"Claudette."

Pareho silang nagulat dahil biglang nagsalita si Dos. He was looking at Ate Claudette like he's warning her or something.

"Dos, we can't finish this—"

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

Hindi ito nakasagot. She just turned to him and then back towards her before rolling her eyes. Padabog nitong inayos ang gamit before leaving.

"Ayusin mo na rin ang gamit mo," utos ni Dos. "Papunta na ba yung sundo mo?"

"I-I haven't texted yet—" her voice was a bit hoarse dahil kanina niya panpinipigil ang luha niya. But a few teardrops already rolled down her cheek.

Dos heaved a sigh before closing his laptop. Inabot nito ang jacket at backpack na nakasabit sa may upuan.

"Let's go," anito. "Iwan mo na lang yung laptop dito."

She blinked and just watch him take her bag at hawakan siya sa palapulsuhan bago hilahim palabas ng silid. It didn't take them long before reaching the parking area full of motorcycles.

Nagulat siya dahil lumapit ito sa isang magandang black na motorcycle. She gasped when she recognized the logo. Ducati. Hindi ba mahal 'yon? She knows because her dad owns one too. So that means, Dos is rich too?

"Here."

Inabot sa kanya ni Dos ang spare helmet nito. It was a white helmet—same type used when driving scooters. Then he gave her his jacket.

"Wrap that around your waist para hindi ka masilipan when you ride with me."

She blinked again. Ride... with him? So, ihahatid siya nito?

"D-Do you know where I live?" tanong niya dito which made him freeze for a moment then sigh.

"Ituro mo na lang."

She didn't say anything and just did what she was told. Siguro dahil shocked pa siya sa paninigaw ni Ate Claudette or she's still in denial that Dos—the big bad bully, is going to give her a ride home.

Medyo nahirapan siya sumakay so Dos helped her up. He held her hand in support and she felt this weird electric vibe travel from her fingertips to her belly. She ignored all that weirdness and sat awkwardly behind him.

"Humawak ka," he instructed.

"Y-You can drive?" tanong niya. "Aren't you 16 pa lang? Do you have a license ba?"

"I'm 17," tipid na sagot nito. "Now hold."

Hindi na siya nakipagtalo at sumunod na lang. So ipinatong niya na lang ang kamay niya sa shoulders nito. She heard him scoff before starting up the engine. Isang impit na tili ang pinakawalan niya when the motorcycle sped forward. Napakapit tuloy siya ng mahigpit sa baywang nito.

Because their school wasn't that far from her house and madali din silang nakasingit sa traffic because of the motorcycle, it only took them around fifteen minutes bago makapasok sa subdivision nila. She hopped off his motorcycle where tinulungan pa din siya nito since it was quite high and she was petite.

"Thank you," aniya sabay tanggal ng jacket nito at inaboy iyon dito. "I'll email you the proposal na lang as soon as I can."

Instead of answering, tinanggal nito ang suot na helmet sabay suklay ng nagulo nitong buhok. Napaawang ang bibig niya because he totally looked hot doing that. He's like one of those bad boys in chick flicks your mom would be worried about if you bring home.

"Alam mo ba yung email ko?" he asked to which she shook her head in response. "Tss. Phone."

She blinked before handing him her phone. He typed something on the keys before giving it back to her.

"Number ko. Text me when you finish it."

Tumango lamang siya at tila na-estatwa sa kinatatayuan.

"Hindi ka pa papasok?"

Oh, right! Agad siyang tumalikod dito para tumakbo papasok ng bahay nila. But he was quick to call her back.

"H-Hmm?" tanong niya sabay baling dito.

"Yung helmet ko."

"Right!" She ran back towards him and gave his helmet back. Medyo nagulo yung buhok niya but it's fine since nakauwi na din naman siya.

"Tss."

Dos took the helmet from her then hung it my the mirror. Bumaling itong muli sa kanya and his hand suddenly reached for her.

"Don't let anyone do that to you again," he said.

Napasinghap siya nang ayusin nito bigla ang mga tumatabing na hibla ng buhok from her face. Then their gazes locked and he smirked.

"Ako lang ang pwede mam-bully sayo, Watermelon Girl. Got that?"

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