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George was pissed. Why? Two words: Dos Montecillo.

It's been almost a month and still, the issue of her and Dos being in a relationship hasn't subsided yet. Buti na lang at nasa elementary pa ang mga kapatid niya kundi baka nakarating na sa mommy at daddy niya ang fake news na 'yon.

Well, she can always deny it but her parents would still be disappointed in her for getting herself involved in rumors like that.

It didn't help na almost half of the female population of the high school department is giving her the dirt-eye for apparently "stealing" their beloved Pres.

"Lalim nanaman ng iniisip mo," pukaw sa kanya bigla ni Lia. She was busy writing some notes and was seating across her. Addy wasn't with them kasi busy ito sa pagpractice for her audition. "Involved ba diyan si El Presidente?"

Of course, Lia would never pass up the opportunity to tease her endlessly about Dos. She came up with tons of codenames for him but 'El Presidente' stuck on her like glue.

She scoffed. "As if. Why would I think about him ba? He's not important."

Tumigil ito sa pagsusulat at tumingin sa kanya.

"It's normal to think about your boyfriend, G," Lia teased. "Malay mo, he's also thinking about you."

"I hate you," she spat making her best friend laugh.

"Kaya ka napagti-tripan, George eh. Ang cute mo kasing asarin," anito. "Your reactions are too precious! No wonder lagi kang inaasar ni El Presidente."

"No kaya. He's just masama ang ugali kaya he's targeting me," she said sabay patong ng kamay sa gitna ng kanyang dibdib for dramatic effect. "An innocent sophomore."

"Alisin mo 'yung innocent tapos palitan mo ng maldita." Lia started to close her noted and fix her things. "Let me remind you, my dear old friend, na ikaw nagsimula nito. Natapuanan mo siya ng apple juice, called him a pervert and yelled at him sa cafeteria. It's a miracle nga that you're still in one piece."

"I apologized na kaya nung sa apple juice. And he's a perv talaga kasi he hangs out under the bleachers. And yung sa cafeteria, it was his fault kaya!" she defended herself. "Paulit-ulit na lang explanation ko, Lia. Nakakapagod na. It's like, you're not even siding with me—your best friend."

"I'm not siding with anyone," paliwanag agad nito. "But you have to admit na may kasalanan ka din."

She rolled her eyes. "I did nothing wrong."

Lia sighed before standing up.

"Bahala ka," anito. "Naaaliw pa naman ako sa trip niyong dalawa kaya ipagpatuloy niyo lang 'yan. Bawal ma-fall ha, G. Patay ka kina tito."

"Yuck. As if," asik niya. "I'll never fall for someone like him."

Lia just scoffed—unconvinced.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night, G. I'll get going. May practice pa kami ngayon sa gym. Balik ka na sa room. Baka nakabalik na si Addy."

She just nodded and fixed her things too.

As if naman magkakagusto siya sa taong tulad ni Dos. A big no 'yon. And ideal guy niya is someone who's mabait and approachable. Tapos very warm ang personality. Someone who can take care of her and love her truly.

Not someone na walang ibang ginawa sa life kundi inisin siya saka lagi siyang pinagti-tripan.

"Uy, si pinsan-in-law. Hi George!"

Sa sobrang pagkagulat niya sa lakas ng tinig ay halos mahulog na siya sa kinauupuan. She immediately turned to whoever it was to glare at the culprit only to be greeted by a smiling River. May kasama pa itong isang lalaki na parang nagyon niya lang nakita.

The guy with them was really tall. He had a pair of well-defined eyebrows and a chiseled jawline. Even though he was wearing a pair of specs, his brown eyes were so deep she felt like she could drown in them. And she's not even complaining. Plus, she felt really warm sa presence nito.

Oh my gosh! He's so handsome! I could stare at him all day.

And then he smiled. She gasped at the sight of his dimple.

"Hi. Ikaw pala si George," his deep voice was enough to send her straight to oblivion. Wow. Just Wow. "It's nice to finally meet you."

Hindi siya makapagsalita. Like for some reason, her voice suddenly left her. He was still smiling and she fought the urge to poke his dimple.

"I'm Jarvis. Pinsan din ako ni Dos. You're his girlfriend, right?"

Napamaang siya dito. She really wanted to say 'no' pero hindi niya makapagsalita. She was frozen on her seat and couldn't move or say anything. Why was she like this?

"Uh... George?" pukaw nito sa kanya. "Are you okay?"

"N-No!" Finally, her voice came back.

"No as in... you're not okay?"

"I... uh... I... I'm okay," nauutal niyang sagot kay Jarvis.

Gosh! Even his name is so cool.

"W-What I mean is, I'm uh... I'm not Dos' girlfriend," she cleared. "You ba, do you have a girlfriend na?"

Fudgecakes!

She wanted to slap herself so hard after asking Jarvis that question. He looked shocked and taken aback.

Great. Way to embarrass yourself, G. Just great.

"Uh... I don't have a girlfriend," Jarvis answered and chuckled a bit. "Bakit, meron ka bang pwede i-reto sa akin?"

She felt her cheeks burn when all of a sudden ay kinindatan siya nito. Oh my gosh! Hindi na mapigil yung heartbeat niya sa sobrang bilis ng tibok.

"I... I uh... I..."

She was a blushing and stuttering mess. Pakiramdam niya ay any minute now eh hihimatayin siya sa sobrang kilig na nararamdaman. She clenched her fists na rin 'coz they were also uncontrollably trembling.

Her attention was then caught when all of a sudden ay may tumikhim from behind Jarvis and River. It was Dos.

"Jarvis," he called his cousin. Sabay-sabay silang napatingin dito. "Your brother called. Ihatid mo daw ito sa kanya sa may gate ng college department."

May inabot—more like 'hinagis', itong libro kay Jarvis. Napasimangot siya.

Kahit sa pinsan eh he's so mean talaga. Tsk.

"Hala, bakit ako?" Jarvis asked. He looked adorable looking shocked and clueless.

"Ako ba yung kapatid?" balik naman dito ni Dos making him scratch his head.

"Sabi ko nga. Ako na maghahatid," he said heaving a sigh. Then he turned towards her. "Nice meeting you uli, George. If you know someone who'd like to be my girlfriend, just text me, okay?"

"O-Okay—"

"Bilisan mo na."

She was cut off by Dos making her throw a glare at him after umalis ni Jarvis. Hindi siya nito pinansin at tinalikuran at umalis na rin. She pouted and turned towards River who looked like he was trying to suppress his laughter or something.

"Anong problem ng cousin mo?" she asked pertaining to Dos. "It's like na-amplify nanaman yung pagiging devil niya today."

"Just don't mind him, George," he said chuckling. "Ganon lang 'yon kapag nagseselos."

"Huh? Selos?" she asked confusedly. "Why naman siya magseselos? Are you not allowed ba to hang-out with your other cousins aside from him?"

Kitang-kita niya ang paglaki ng mata nito then not a second later ay tumawa ito ng pagkalakas.

"S-Something like that," he said still laughing. "Ang cute mo talaga, Georgina."

Her eyebrows furrowed as he gently patted her head. Napatingin uli siya dito with an eyebrow raised.

"I know I'm cute," she confidently said. "That's nothing new naman."

"Yeah. You're right," he agreed then grinned so widely. "Pero alam mo pa kung ano ang cute?"

"Hmm?"

"Ang cute mo pala magka-crush," he teased.

For the second time today, she felt her face burn. Napansin niya!

"Kuya River! No kaya!"

"Don't worry, George. Your secret's safe with me," anito. "But I'm not so sure about Dos."

Nangunot ang noo niya.

"Goodluck, G. Mukhang pag-iinitan ka nanaman ng favorite human being mo."

🌺

"Georgina, revise all the parts I highlighted. Due tomorrow."

She sighed as she took the paper that Dos just gave her.

If she thought everything would be okay na after Ate Claudette stopped targeting her, nagkakamali siya. Si Dos naman ngayon ang super kontrabida sa student council life niya. Pinapangatawanan talaga nito yung pagiging 'the only bully in her life'.

Revise this, revise that. Prepare this, prepare that.

He's doing this on purpose and her patience is wearing very thin. Kanina pa kasi ito. Kung marami palang gagawin na revisions, he should've called the other officers. Hindi yung siya lang ang inuutos-utusan nito.

It's like he's power-tripping or something. Ugh. She's the sophomore rep, not his secretary or alalay. For sure naman that Ate Claudette would love to be alone with him dito sa SC Room. Kahit siguro utusan niya pa si Ate to clean the whole room for him, she'd happily oblige para makasama lang ito.

He's so annoying.

She turned her attention na lang sa paper. The sooner she gets this done, the sooner she could go home na—

Her eyes widened.

"Only two sentences lang yung hindi highlighted!" she exclaimed. "It's like re-writing the whole thing!"

"Then re-write the whole thing. Easy."

"But this isn't even my report!" she exclaimed while waving the paper at him. "Bakit hindi yung gumawa nito ang pagawin mo? I'm not your alalay kaya!"

Tiningnan lang siya nito with an eyebrow raised. Clearly not caring about what she just said.

"Hindi mo kaya?" he asked—more like 'mocked'. "Fine. I'll ask someone who's more capable—"

He was about to take the paper from her pero pinigilan niya ito.

"I know what you're doing," she spat and her eyes narrowed at him.

"Doing?" he feigned innocence. "Pinaparevise ko lang itong report, Georgina. Since hindi mo kaya, I'll ask someone else who can para gawin 'yan—"

"Ugh! I'll do it na nga!"

She marched back to her chair and opened her laptop. Kitang-kita niya kung paano ngumisi nanaman ang lalaki after folding his arms and leaning back to his chair.

Nakakainis talaga! He's clearly manipulating her and she's just letting him. Kung bakit ba kasi she's naturally competitive. It's not like she needs to prove anything to him.

Maya-maya ay bigla tumayo si Dos and made his way towards the door. Agad siyang kinabahan since silang dalawa na lang ang natitira sa room and she's kinda afraid of being alone. It's close to getting dark pa naman.

"W-Where are you going?" tanong niya agad dito. Her voice was a bit panicky kaya she cleared her throat and asked again. "Saan ka pupunta?"

"CR," tipid nitong sagot. Then, that annoying smirk made its appearance again. "Sama ka?"

"Eww!" agad niyang sambit. "No kaya. Kadiri ka."

Inirapan niya muna ito bago ibalik ng atensyon niya sa ginagawa. She clearly heard him scoff before completely leaving the room towards the far end of the hallway.

Napa-irap siyang muli. Napakasungit at sama talaga ng ugali nito. Kaya nga napapaisip siya kung bakit sobrang dami ng admirers nito sa school.

Yes, he's somewhat good looking nga pero that shouldn't be enough to genuinely like someone. Dapat he should be mabait, maalaga and gentleman din. And most importantly, hindi rude.

Definitely not Dos Montecillo—

Napahinto siya sa pagta-type nang biglang dumilim ang paligid at ang ilaw na lang mula sa kanyang laptop ang naiwan.

Sa buong buhay niya, tatlong bagay lang ang kinatatakutan niya. First, her parents. Second, is being alone. And lastly, ito. Darkness.

"It's fine," she assured herself. "There's still light from the laptop—"

And as if all her luck ran out, namatay bigla ang screen ng kanyang laptop. That's when she started to scream and darted out of the room. Her heart doubling in beat.

Wala na siyang pakealam if she left all her things sa classroom. She needs to leave. Or at least pumunta sa guardhouse. Or somewhere kung saan may ilaw or—

Natumba siya nang may biglang mabangga. She was about to stand up again but she felt someone hold her hand making her scream her lungs out again and fall on the floor.

"George! Calm down. It's me. It's Jarvis," rinig niyang sambit ng kung sinong humawak sa kanya. She heard a click before light illuminated from something he was holding.

Si Jarvis nga! He was crouching down too.

She couldn't stop herself from lunging towards him and cry in relief.

"It's okay," Jarvis said trying to calm her down as he gently brushed her hair. Pero ayaw tumigil ng mga luha niya. "You're safe."

Maya-maya pa ay bumalik na uli ang ilaw. She heard footsteps from behind her.

"What's going on?" It was Dos' voice. "Jarvis? What are you doing here?"

"Kuya—"

Napatingin siya kay Dos. His brows were furrowed as he walked towards them. But as he came nearer, he started to get all fuzzy and blurry.

"D-Dos..."

His panicked expression was the last things she saw before everything grew dark again.

"—Georgina!"

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