I turned off the shower and waited till the last drop of water hits the tiled floor. I sighed deeply when I suddenly feel a little lightheaded as the steam rises and fogged the cubicle I'm in. Kinuha ko ang tuwalya na nakasabit sa isang gilid at binalot muli ang sarili.

Katatapos lang ng P.E. namin. Swimming. Isang oras pa bago ang susunod kong klase kaya hindi ako masyadong nagmadali sa pagkilos.

When I opened the shower curtain, the noise I tried to muffle welcomed me back. Napuno ng iba't ibang tinis ng boses ang buong bathroom. Out of nowhere, a girl with a familiar shoulder length hair almost pushed me to the side as she barged in my cubicle. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay bago isinara ang kurtina.

Muli akong napabuntong hininga. I can't even count on my fingers how many times that girl repeated this childishness of hers. I'm feeling relaxed right now due to the nice shower so I didn't care about what she just did. She's lucky. Dahil kung hindi ay marahil nataasan ko na rin siya ng kilay at baka may iba pang nagawa na paniguradong hindi niya magugustuhan.

"Maya!" Humarap ako sa tumawag sa akin. Beatrice was beckoning me with her hand. Nakabusangot at halatang hindi nagustuhan ang nakita.

"What is it?" I asked when I got near her. Magkatabi lang ang aming locker. Binuksan ko ang akin at kumuha ng mga isusuot.

"Come on! Namumuro na 'yang Nissa na 'yan sa'yo, a! When will you slap the bitch out of her?" Gigil na sabi niya pero pinanatiling mahina ang boses.

"There's no need to do that, Bea." Kalmadong saad ko habang nagdadamit.

"Maya, are you nuts? That bitch is bullying you for fucks sake!" Frustrated, Beatrice closed her locker's door with a bang. Naagaw ang pansin ng ibang malapit sa amin at bahagyang tumahimik ang paligid. They went back on their business when Beatrice muffled an apology.

Muli niya akong hinarap. "I'll tell this to Maurice." Inis na saad niya.

At iyon nga ang ginawa niya nang magkita kami pagkatapos ng klase. Nakaupo kami sa parati naming pwesto malapit sa pagitan ng nursing at education building. Gusto nila ang pwestong ito dahil malilim at presko dala ng naglalakihang mga puno at isa pa ay dahil dito lagi dumadaan ang gusto ni Maurice.

"Tang ina talaga ng Nerissa na 'yon, eh! Kapag ako, hindi nakapagpigil, ingungudngod ko 'yon sa inidoro!" Nangigigil na saad niya. He made a motion of scrubbing his hand on the table forcefully before leaning back on his chair. "Pota, Trice, paypayan mo ako at nag-iinit na naman ang ulo ko!" Na siya namang sinunod ni Beatrice.

Nagkibit balikat na lang ako sa kanila. I wasn't lying when I told Beatrice earlier that there's really not a need to do something about Nerissa. Wala naman akong pakialam sa babaeng iyon. A random spoiled brat coming from a bit rich family here in the town, hindi ko masisisi ang kaniyang ugali. Afterall, she became an accessory to make my stay here normal.

A Manila girl who transferred in Sierra Central College a week after the school starts gets bullied by the richest girl in town. See. Normal.

But I didn't know that part of that normality was getting the attention of almost half of the population in this small college. In my case, the fucking attention is highly unappreciated.

I can only pinpoint the blame to Marquee. Hindi ko alam kung bakit natagalan siya sa paggawa ng mga dokumento para makapasok ako sa paaralang ito. Initially, I just have to enter this college like how most of the first year college students do, not catching the attention of the public until you do something stupid. Blend in the crowd and not stand out. But no, Marquee had to delay the paperworks and made me suffer with all the attention I'm getting.

So, in the end, all I need to do is to play along with these people.

And that includes these two individuals infront of me. Beatrice Mae Trinidad and Maurice Gin Pascua are best of friends since they were in their parents' wombs. For some unfathomable reason, both of them thought that it's a good idea to take me in as their friend.

The Trinidad owns a coffee shop downtown and plans to expand it to the nearby town. I went there almost every month and their coffee was something you'll look forward. On the other hand, the Pascua's a family of Doctors wherein most of the family members are surgeons.

Both can easily afford to study in well known universities in Manila yet they chose to study here. Unti-unti pa lang nakikilala ang kolehiyo na ito. Sierra Central College was a public college twelve years ago. Found in the small town of Sierra in the province of Bulacan, someone can say that there's nothing much happening in here but in reality, there's a lot.

Sa pasilidad pa lang ay kaya na nitong makipagsabayan sa mga naglalakihang paaralan sa Maynila. This college is complete with everything a student needs in order to survive college. Bagong tayo ang ilang building pero kahit ang mga luma ay magaganda pa rin ang kalidad. So, I really can't blame Beatrice and Maurice for choosing this college because even the teachings here are of good quality.

"Alam mo, Maya, inggit lang kasi si Nerissa sa'yo kaya ka binu-bully no'n." Saad ni Maurice.

I almost rolled my eyes. "Hindi nga sabi. 'Tsaka ilang beses mo nang sinabi 'yan, Maurice. Paulit-ulit ka na lang."

"Gagang 'to! Eh sa totoo naman! Hindi no'n matanggap na may mas maganda pa kaysa sa kaniya gayung sa totoo lang, hindi naman talaga siya kagandahan sa simula pa lang!"

"Oo nga!" Singit ni Beatrice. "Nerissa never went to school without makeup. Tapos ikaw, ang ganda ganda mo kahit walang kolorete sa mukha. I really think she's jealous of your beauty."

I cringe at her comment. Tinarayan ako ni Maurice.

"Nako, Maya, tigil-tigilan mo ako sa kunot-kunot na 'yan. As if hindi ka niligawanan nung Youth Ambassador galing Pharma."

Dahil sa sinabi ay muli kong naalala ang nangyari nitong nakaraang buwan lang. I can't even remember his name. He just came out of nowhere, offered to carry my books as if the weight will detach my arms from its sockets. Nang sumunod na araw ay inulit niya iyon pero dahil wala akong dalang libro ay bag ko naman ang gusto niyang buhatin.

Ofcourse, I told him to fuck off. But in a nice way and using other words.

"He didn't." I said.

"Sus! Pero hinahabol ka no'n ng tingin kapag nasa library tayo."

"Tumigil ka nga."

He just laughed. Biglang lumihis ang tingin ni Maurice sa balikat ko. His eyes widened, a wicken grin is suddenly plastered on his lips. Siniko niya pa si Beatrice.

"Ooh! Speaking of tingin. Why don't you turn around and give a little wave before your back gets a hole?"

Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay pero hindi na sila nakatingin sa akin. I remained still in my position because minutes ago, while Maurice talks senselessly, I already felt that stare. Sinubuan kong maging okupado sa pakikipag-usap sa kanila kaysa pakiramdaman pang lalo ang tingin na iyon. Pero ngayong napansin na ni Maurice ang tao sa likod ko ay paniguradong sa kaniya na naman iikot ang usapan.

I gathered my things. Mas mabuti pang umalis na ako rito dahil ang mga susunod na sasabihin ng magkaibigan ay hindi ko lang din naman magugustuhan.

Tumayo na ako. "Mauna na ako sa inyo."

"Huh? But it's still early." Beatrice whined.

Samantalang humalakhak naman si Maurice. "Pabayaan mo 'yan. Iwas na iwas, eh."

Napailing na lang ako matapos siyang tarayan. Nagpaalam ako sa kanila. Diretsyo lang ang tingin ko nang umalis ako sa kinauupuan namin. Sa kabila ang daan para makaalis rito. Ibig sabihin, madadaanan ko siya. Ulit.

He always sits there. Two tables away. Behind me. Silent.

I did a quick glance at his direction. Nakababa ang tingin niya ngayon sa isang makapal na libro sa lamesa, bahagyang magkasalubong ang makapal na kilay. He's holding one page, ready to turn it anytime now. Pero kahit halos malapit na ako sa pwesto niya, hindi niya pa rin nililipat iyon.

Gaya ng iba, suot niya ang damit ng kanilang building. Engineering. Isang puting polo, itim na pants, at itim na sapatos. Pero hindi nito maitatanggi ang matipuno niyang pangangatawan.

He's lean but muscular, just on the right places, judging from the way his clothes clung on his body. The first time I saw him walking, I knew that his height's an instant 6 feet or maybe an inch more. To say that his physique can easily pass as one of our agents is not a lie.

Reason why I did my best to try and study his face. Intel told me that this mission might include other organizations without us knowing. Afterall, we are dealing with one of the known drug syndicates underground. Kaya't hangga't maari, lahat ng mapansing kakaiba ay dapat hindi ipagsawalang bahala.

Thing is, however hard I try to study him and his motives, I always end up averting my gaze. All the time. Iyon ay dahil hindi ko nagugustuhan ang kakaibang nararamdaman kapag pinagaaralan ko ang kaniyang mukha.

I don't like that feeling.

"Maya!" Maurice suddenly called me.

Ofcourse, the devil that he is chose to call my attention when I am exactly beside Reamo.

Awtumatiko akong napatigil sa paglalakad at humarap sa kanila na may nakabusangot na mukha. While doing so, I noticed Reamo shifts in his seat. Ang pahina na hawak ay hindi pa rin nalilipat.

Maurice waved at me and smiled wickedly. "Ingat!" And then the both of them giggled as if finding something funny on my face when in fact, all I wanted to do is to wring their neck.

Hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng oras at umalis na ro'n, bahagyang nanatili ang kunot sa aking noo. Maurice loves to tease me when it comes to Reamo. He started doing that three months ago and not once did he missed. Hindi na ako nag-abalang alamin ang dahilan kung bakit niya 'yon ginagawa. I just let them most of the times, and that's only because all of these are temporary.

Once I finish this mission, I'll be back in the agency as if all of these things never happened. I'll treat it just like any other mission I have done.

I sent a quick text to Ido. Kung mula sa apartment ay aabutin lang siya ng pitong minuto para sunduin ako rito. That's enough for me to go and buy some supplies I need for a presentation next week.

As part of this mission, I had to comply to this college's rules and regulations just like a normal student taking up Psychology. Kasama na ro'n ang paggawa ng mga proyektong kailangan para maipasa ang kursong ito. I have nothing against that. May mas mahihirap pa akong bagay na nagawa rati kaysa bumuo ng isang presentasyon tungkol kay Pavlov at sa aso niya.

Pagkalabas ng gate ay agad akong dumiretsyo sa hilera ng mga tindahan sa harap ng school. A school supplies and bookshop here sells their products cheap. The agency provides and gives me allowance to cover everything I might need during this mission and eventhough they never gave me a tight budget, I'm sure someone will be happy that I'm spending almost nothing.

Iilan lang ang tao sa loob ng shop nang makapasok ako. Markers at folders ang kailangan ko. The markers are on the counter but the folders are located on top of one of the shelves. Binalingan ko ang kaisa-isang staff na nagrorolyo ng kartolina para sa isang bumibili. He's almost finished.

Nang tiningala ko ang pwesto ng mga folders ay nagpasya akong hintayin na lang ang lalaking staff kaysa gawing katatawanan ang sarili. I'm 5' 6" but the shelves here are massive. It's almost the same as those in the agency only that those hold ammunitions and firearms.

I might've stared at the folders too much that the staff reached it from behind me. Bahagya akong tumabi para bigyan siya ng daan. Pero natigilan ako nang makitang hindi ang staff ang umabot ng folder kundi si Reamo.

His tall frame easily reached the folder. Dalawa ang kinuha niya bago bumaling sa akin. I almost stepped back, realizing that this is the first time that I clearly see his face closer.

I have seen many beautiful and handsome faces in and out of the agency but his is something else.  Handsome and attractive can't even fit to decribe him. His face was strong and defined. Mahahalata na may halong dugong banyaga. Moreno ang kulay niya na para bang sinanay sa pagbabad sa ilalim ng mainit na araw. It was as if roughness was all he is.

Reamo has dark eyebrows that are now narrowing as if he's not pleased with something he's about to do. My eyes move to meet with his. But then I blinked before immediately lowering my eyes to the folders he's holding instead of focusing on his intense obsidian eyes.

"Here." his low voice was almost a whisper. Inilapit niya sa akin ang isa sa kinuha niyang folders.

Umiling ako, nanatili ang tingin sa inabot. "Sa'yo na 'yan. Kukuha na lang ako ng akin."

"I don't need this." aniya.

Napaangat ako ng tingin. I saw him still observing my face, his stare's unwavering. Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya. Iritado. His lips are now set in a grim line as if he didn't like what he said. Muli akong napaiwas ng tingin at napalunok.

The way that he stare is making me so nervous... and I hate it.

"I need five." sinabi ko para mawala ang tingin niya sa akin. Pero saglit lang 'yon at muli na naman siyang humarap sa akin, ngayon ay hawak na ang limang folders. I snatched those folders from him immediately that his hand remained open and still in the air.

"Thank you." I said and turned away.

I feel fidgety as I wait for the folders and the markers I asked on the counter to be punched. Umabot ng ilang segundo bago ako nakapagbayad. By that time, I was able to collect myself. Humugot ako ng hininga saka bahagyang lumingon sa likod.

Reamo's looking at the row of papers in the same shelf. Bahagyang nakayuko para tanawin ang mga 'yon. He was almost frozen in that place. Kahit mula rito, tanaw ko ang pag-igting ng kanyang panga na para bang may ikinagagalit siya. I looked away.

Kinuha ko ang mga pinamili saka umalis sa bookshop. 'Twas a good thing that he's busy looking at those papers because I might just recoil if he went after me. Lalo na't hindi ko nagugustuhan ang nakakarinding bagay na nararamdaman. I sighed and mentally shrugged the feeling away.

I saw a tinted black car waiting not so far from the school's gate. Nagmadali akong lumapit at binuksan ang pinto sa harap. Sitting on the driver's seat is Ido in his usual clothes, a gray shirt and black pants hugging his body. Nakatingin na siya sa akin pagkabukas ko pa lang ng pinto.

"Anything new?" He asked.

Inilagay ko ang paper bag sa likod saka nagsuot ng seatbelt. Ido started the engine afterwards. He drove to the other lane of the road. Dahil do'n, kita sa gawi ko ang paglabas ng isang tao mula sa bookstore.

Reamo went out of the store with nothing in hand. Tanging ang itim na bag niya lang ang sukbit palabas ng tindahan at wala nang dala pa. He stood outside the store for a moment. And when we passed by him, I saw in the rearview mirror that his dark brooding eyes followed our car. Hindi ko na siya nakita nang lumiko ang sasakyan.

"No," I leaned on my seat and closed my eyes. "nothing in particular."

Just like what I said, unplanned but I seemed to manage to capture the interest and attention of the people in this small town. But above all the attentions that I'm getting, Reamo's the one I hated the most.