To zellie_rezz for being there to support me on my writing journey during the second drafts of High School Royalties.

e i g h t

     "What?" I almost stammered and felt my knees lose its strength. "No way! Ako nga d'yan, mabubukas naman 'yan, e. Konting force pa," I insisted and silently cried a prayer.

"You're really troublesome. I purposely left it ajar because someone borrowed my card," inis niyang sabi na tila kinokonsensya ako.

Ba't parang kasalanan ko? Malay ko ba! Hindi na lang ako umimik.

Inilahad niya ang kaniyang palad sa harap ko. "Aren't you a High School Royalty? Hand me your card and we'll use that instead."

And it only came to me that the card was needed for the door to open up from the inside as well.

Nakita ko ang scanner sa taas ng door lever. Kagaya ito ng mga hotels na napuntahan namin dati. Kinapa-kapa ko agad ang bulsa ko para hanapin ang aking card.

Ngunit tumigil sa pagtibok ang aking puso nang marealized na nasa purse ko nga pala iyon at naiwan ko sa locker ang bag ko! Patay!

"Uh... wala sa 'kin, e." Nagkamot ako ng ulo. "Nasa locker?" tuluyang nautal kong sagot.

Napapikit ako nang marinig ang kaniyang mura. "Bullshit," he muttered sternly under his breath.

Ito na ata ang sinasabi ni Lucien at Jenny na lagi ko itong dadalhin dahil kakailanganin ko talaga ang card na iyon sa maraming bagay. Fudge! We're doomed!

Nagsimula na namang mangatog ang mga tuhod ko sa takot at kaba. Nararamdaman ko rin ang pagsimulang pag-init ng aking mga mata. Galit na siya at for sure na 'di na ako makakalabas pa rito nang buhay.

It felt like I have just willingly walked into the tiger's den as prey and even locked myself in! I have just doubled my death wish! Kung kailan nagmamadali pa naman akong makaalis. Parang gusto ko tuloy pagalitan ang sarili ko.

Medyo nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang tumalikod siya at bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa sofa. Napasandal na lang din ako sa pinto at napadausdos paupo sa carpet.

Pa'no na ako makakauwi nito? Halos mangiyak-ngiyak kong tanong sa sarili. Wala rin akong dalang cellphone kasi inakala kong saglit lang ako.

"What are you still doing there? Sit here." His deep voice sent shivers down my spine.

Inuutusan niya ba ako? Is he trying to be nice? Or is he just uncomfortable seeing me sitting in here hopelessly?

Tumayo ako at nag-aalangang umupo sa katapat niyang sofa. I didn't want to be close to him but I also didn't want to make him angrier than he already was. Who knew, he might took the chance to slay me right here and then for irritating and causing him trouble whenever we meet.

Somehow, medyo nagsisisi ako kasi kasalanan ko naman talaga. I knew I shouldn't have closed that door.

Tahimik ang buong silid at nagpapakiramdaman lang kami sa isa't isa. His face looked grim and his jaws were clenched while his eyes intently glared straight to my soul.

I remained stiff, feeling so awkward and scared to move at the same time. I felt like I was being judged of a heinous crime I did just by the look of his eyes.

A pang of regret pierced me for sitting up here like a prey and hopeless.

After a few minutes I gathered enough courage and tried small talk to break the tension. I fake coughed before dropping the question. "So... ano na ang gagawin natin?" Muntik na akong mautal pero kinaya ko. I need to survive.

Irita siyang nag-angat ng kilay. "What else? Wait for someone else to open the door unless you can open it yourself, obviously."

Sa isang iglap ay nawala ang takot ko at mabilis na napalitan iyon ng pagkairita dahil sa kaniyang inasta. Ang sungit talaga nagtatanong lang naman nang maayos! Dapat maayos din siyang sasagot!

Wait for someone else to open the door? Sino ang magbubukas, e nagsiuwian na ang mga estudyante? Paniguradong kinabukasan pa ito mabubuksan. What the fudge!

"So you're saying that we'll be staying here together the whole night?" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ko. "You can't be serious!"

"Just so you know, I don't joke. What can we do? Besides, sanay akong magkulong dito. But you?" He sneered. "Well, it shouldn't be my problem. What I can't agree is spending the rest of the night here with you."

"Pwes, ayaw din kitang makasama 'no!" nanggigigil kong tugon.

"Then, mag-isip ka ng paraan para makaalis tayo rito," masungit namang sagot niya.

I rolled my eyes. Hindi talaga ako makakatagal na makasama ang lalaking 'to. I couldn't even imagine working together with him for that Opening Ceremony task!

Muli na namang tumahimik ang buong paligid hanggang sa umabot ito ng sampung minuto at sa wakas ay nagsalita siya. "Kung wala ka pang naisip na paraan upang makaalis dito, then let's utilize the time to discuss about the Opening Ceremony."

Napataas ang kilay ko. "So you acknowledge me in helping you now?"

"What can I do? Whether I like it or not utos 'yon ng principal."

"Wag kang mag-alala hindi ko rin naman ginusto."

He raised his chin up. "You can always step down from your task if you're not willing to," he hissed.

Sinusukat talaga ako ng lalaking 'to. Mas lalo tuloy akong nacha-challenged. "No, I'm not backing out," I firmly replied as I met his condescending stare.

"Good. Then, let's discuss about the event." Kumportableng sumandal siya sa likod ng sofa at nagcross arms. "You see, the Opening Ceremony has been a tradition in Royal Academia for more than a century. Every year ay laging sini-celebrate ito.

"And for the past years ay walang taon na hindi ito matagumpay. That's because this ceremony is usually organized by higher-level High School Royalties. But sadly, graduate na silang lahat which makes me the highest High School Royalty now."

He is the highest High School Royalty? Which only means he is the ruler of this school? Fudge. I just realized what kind of a beast I was messing with: The Crowned Prince of this hell!

"Normal schools usually refer us as Supreme Student Council or Prefect of Discipline or whatever they call that. But High School Royalties are so much more than that. They have more responsibilities."

Seryoso siyang nage-explain kaya maayos din akong nakikinig sa kaniya. It was like he was summarizing all the documents I needed for me to study.

He continued his lecture, "Hindi madali ang maging isang High School Royalty. You need to pass the requirements and you must have a lot of achievements.

"You won't get your position through the votings of the people but you gotta work hard yourself to achieve it." He paused and looked intently into my anxious eyes. "Which is why, you, getting your position is still a mystery."

I couldn't react right away upon hearing all the information he just shared. For some reason, I felt so ashamed; I couldn't meet his eyes so I looked down. More questions spiraled in my head.

Then a realization hit me. Kaya pala ang daming galit sa amin. Lahat sila ay naghihirap para lang makuha ang posisyon ko ngayon samantalang madali lang namin naabot ang posisyong 'to nang basta lang.

I admitted to myself that I was guilty for it. I felt guilty because I feared that my hunch was right, where my mom pulled strings again to manipulate the school. She always did, so what difference would she make this time? And if it was indeed the case, I knew I could never forgive her.

"Naiintindihan mo ba? I'm trying to point out that you need to be extra responsible and prove yourself worthy as a High School Royalty. Great privilege brings great responsibility. You're not entitled as you are just for show." Medyo mahaba ang pagpapaliwanag niya pero naiintindihan ko ang kaniyang punto.

Medyo naiintindihan ko na rin ngayon kung ano talaga ang High School Royalty na 'yan. Buong akala ko ay parang celebrity ka dahil lang may titulo kang gano'n. Media definitely sugarcoated everything. Well, the benefits of the position are somehow convincing.

"Nakikinig ka ba? I believe I don't have to explain more for you to understand."

Marahang tumango ako habang nakatutok pa rin ang mga mata sa ornate-patterned ruby na carpet. Hindi ko siya kayang tignan lalo na kapag ganyan siya ka-seryoso. He has this cold aura that can make you shake to your knees and melt you through his gaze.

Now that I know his position in this school, I don't think I would want to mess with him again.

"Look at me."

I stiffened.

The hell! Inutusan niya ba akong tignan siya? Why is he asking me to look at him? Kung kailan ayaw ko siyang tignan!

Kahit na nag-aalangan ay dahan-dahan kong inangat ang ulo ko. He somehow gives me the urge not to disobey him. Maybe it was because I know whatever worse he is capable of doing if I ever defy him.

And there, I saw him staring seriously at me under his thick eyelashes which made my heart to race. I had the chance to see his lean face closely, his bushy eyebrows, tall nose bridge, and plump lips. I have to admit, he's intimidating but undeniably hot.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad but I tried to stay on my senses. "O-Oo, naiintindihan ko." I did not intend to stammer but I couldn't help myself from witnessing his allure.

Napansin kong napatigil din siya nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin.

Suddenly, I couldn't keep my eyes away from his serious, deep-set, hazel eyes. It displayed a surface that looked so familiar. I knew I'd seen those kind of eyes before, the kind of pair that reflects deep pain and sorrowful longing. Saglit ko lang nakita iyon dahil umiwas kaagad siya ng tingin.

Napakunot ang noo ko. It got me confused but curious at the same time. "You just went through something horrible—?" Nasapok ko agad ang sarili mentally dahil sa out of the blue kong tanong.

There were really those inevitable times when I couln't stop myself from suddenly blurting out my thoughts as much as when I couldn't speak it out!

"What do you care?" he answered full of irritation in his tone along with an annoyed expression.

I just made the room gloomier with my mistakes!

Oo nga, hindi naman ako concerned. Wala akong pakialam kung may pinagdaanan man siya or something. I never cross bounderies and I mind my own business, because the last time I did, it didn't turn out well.

I averted my eyes and we were again silent for minutes. Para aliwin ang sarili ko ay tumayo ako para magtingin ng makakain sa fridge. Medyo nagugutom na rin kasi ako.

Natuwa naman ako nang makitang may madaming pagkain sa loob. Kumuha ako ng donut at fresh milk. Wala naman sigurong magagalit kung kukuha ako ng pagkain dito diba?

Umupo ako sa isang stool sa counter saka sinerbisyuhan ang aking sarili at kumportableng kumain. Hindi ko na kayang magtagal pa rito kasama ang lalaking 'to na mainit na naman ang ulo. Kailangan ko nang makaalis dito at kailangan ko rin ng energy para makapag isip nang maayos kaya kakain muna ako.

Nagtingin-tingin ako sa paligid habang ninanamnam ang pagkain sa counter table. Napaka-elegante naman talaga ng silid na 'to. Malaki, napakalinis at napaka kalmado ng buong paligid dahil na rin sa kulay kremang pintura ng dingding despite the golden ornamental patterns carved on the ceiling and walls.

Ngunit mas nag-agaw ng pansin ko ang nakahilerang dark siennang mga desks na nakapalibot sa mini living ng silid at may mga name plates pa ang mga iyon ng mga High School Royalties na nakapatong sa ibabaw.

Muntik ko nang maibuga ang kinakaing buttercream-filled donut nang mahanap ng aking mga mata ang sariling desk ko na nakapangalan pa sa akin. Mas lalo namang kuminang sa tuwa ang mga mata ko nang makita ang mala-trono kong upuan.

Sabik akong lumapit at umupo roon. Ramdam ko agad ang lambot ng kulay rubyng cushion na nakapwesto sa pang-upo at pati sa aking likuran.

Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang pag-iling ni Alex nang mapansin ang aliw na aliw na reaksyon ko. Gusto ko sanang magselfie kaso naalala kong hindi ko nga pala dala rito ang phone ko. Sayang talaga.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin si Alex at sinulit muna ang moment ko rito. Aaminin ko, ang cool talaga ng school na 'to. Huwag nga lang natin pag-usapan ang mga estudyante.

I silently giggled in amusement while lacing my fingertips along the golden name plate. This is just like mom's office. I have my own provided laptop and office supplies inside my drawers. I even have a telephone resting on top of my desk which is probably interconnected with the other communication tools here in this school.

Wait — telephone?

Agad na nagliwanag ang aking mukha sa tuwa at nabuhayan ako ng loob nang mapagtantong gumagana nga iyon. I glanced at the other desks and everyone had telephones resting above it!

Mabilis na nilingon ko si Alex na ngayon ay busy sa pagbabasa ng isang local newspaper. "Ba't di mo sinabing may telepono pala rito!"

Napatigil din siya nang mapagtanto ang sinabi ko. "Damn, right. It slipped my mind," he casually said and took his time to go over his desk and reached for the telephone.

What the fudge is wrong with this person? He's so unbothered!