André

"Dré, tara na! Parating na ang mga pulis!"

My hands quivered as I imagined seeing a pool of blood on the ground. It all started that day when I saw a lifeless body covered with blood.

Since then, I get anxious and feel my whole body freezing in shock, unable to move and breathe properly for a good few seconds.

I was a lot better now though.

"Commander, papasok na ba tayo sa building?" Rance called out to me, breaking me from my thoughts.

I nodded at him. "Yes, let's go."

Nandito kami sa isang abandoned building kung saan ang dating hazing grounds ng Omega Phi. Kaming dalawa lang ni Rance ang magkasama ngayon. But, I wasn't scared. I was confident enough with my skills to beat the shit out of everyone in there.

"Ano, brad? Tuhugin kaya natin?"

"Mauna ka na, ungas! Tutal mukha ka namang tigang."

Narinig ko pa ang tawanan ng mga gago sa loob habang papasok kami ni Rance sa building.

My blood was already boiling at this point. Nang marating namin kung nasaan sila, agad silang napatingin sa akin.

"Commander!" They collectively greeted me in sync.

Lumapit si Evan sa akin. "Huwag kang mag-alala, Commander. Tinuruan na namin ng-"

Sinuntok ko ang mukha niya at agad siyang napaupo sa sahig. "Where is she?"

"Naknampucha!" Hinihimas ni Evan ang mukha niya habang tumatayo.

"Didn't I tell you to get out of my sight, asshole?" I growled, moving closer to Evan and choking him by the collar of his shirt.

He chuckled. "Commander, don't tell me nagayuma ka na ng babaeng yon? Baka nakakalimutan mong pinagpustahan lang natin siya para paaminin ang totoong kasarian niya."

"Baka nakakalimutan mo ring ako ang Commander ninyo. Or do you want me to paddle the shit out of you too?" I hissed at him.

"Pinaglaruan na nga tayo tapos kakampihan mo pa?"

"Don't talk back to me, asshole!" Mas lalong tumaas ang dugo sa ulo ko at hindi ko napigilang suntukin ang lalaki. I threw another punch at him, and another one, and another one...

"Commander! Tama na! Baka matuluyan yan," pag-awat ni Rance sa akin.

My hands were shaking when I stopped on my knees, looking at the guy's face full of blood on the floor. "Don't tell me what to do," I muttered under my breath.

"Pero Commander..."

"Shut the fuck up! All of you! Kneel down the ground! Stay like that until I say so. I am the rule, remember that!"

"Yes, Commander!"

I immediately dashed inside the room where they locked Charles up. The moment I saw her lying on the cold hard concrete, my heart sank. Nakatali ang mga kamay niya at may takip rin ang mga mata niya. She must've felt really scared and lonely in here.

"Hey, stay with me," agad kong tinanggal ang tali sa mga mata at kamay niya.

"H-Hindi... kita... kailangan..." Her whisper made my knees weak.

"Don't you dare die on me, Charles." I scooped her up in my arms, carrying all her weight.

She remained silent with her eyes closed as I marched my way out of the room.

Looking at her face and frail arms with bruises, I could only imagine how much beating that asshole, Evan did to her.

I suddenly wondered what drove her to disguise herself as a guy just to become a member of Omega Phi. I had so many questions in my head.

But, right now, I just wanted to make sure she was okay.

#

"André, are you okay?" Someone tapped my shoulders, waking me up from my trance.

I straightened myself up on the couch. Nakatulog pala ako dito sa living room dahil nasa kwarto ko si Charlie. It had been few hours since the incident.

"How is Charles?" I immediately asked Jale who just woke me up.

"I think she's still sleeping," Jale answered, taking a seat on the single couch with a mug on his hand.

I let out a sigh, massaging my temples. "Will she be okay?"

Tinignan ako ng lalaki habang umiinom sa kanyang mug. "Let's just hope there's no trace of a harmful drug in her body."

"Putain! This is all my fault," I cursed myself. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag may nangyari kay Charlie. I only knew her for a few weeks, but for some reason, I felt the need to protect her. I had to. It's the least I could do.

"Hey, don't put this on yourself," Jale tried to reassure me, but still, I was responsible for it. Ako ang nagbigay ng access sa mga fratmates ko sa drug na yon.

I stood up from my seat, letting out a breath. "What if she dies?"

"No one is dying, Dré. Just relax," Jale gestured me with his hand to sit down again, but I stayed on my position.

I nodded. No one is dying. She's not gonna die. I tried to convince myself over and over.

The next day, the first thing I did when I woke up was to text someone. But then, I just remembered, wala nga pala akong number ni Charles.

I sighed, searching for Koleen's name instead and texting her.

To Koko Leen:

Dito na kayo mag breakfast ni Charles

But, her reply immediately made my heart sank.

From Koko Leen:

Tapos na kaming kumain

Otw na kami sa FU

Groaning, I stood up from my bed and proceeded to the washroom. I was expecting to see Charles this morning, but Koleen just really had to ruin it for me.

I was supposed to take her for a medical checkup. It was my responsibility to do that.

Even during our lectures that day, I kept on messaging Koleen on what time they'd go to the hospital.

But, she's not even replying to me. Damn it.

I decided to message Jale next.

To Dr. J:

Do you know what time Koko and Charles are going to the hospital?

Natapos na ang klase ko that day, and still, I didn't get any response from any of them.

Without much thought, I proceeded to the Architecture building. Siguro naman makikita ko na si Charles dito.

But, the only familiar person I saw was Fina.

"André?" Fina was of course, confused when she saw me waiting outside their building.

"Spongebob, hi! Nasan si Charles?" I asked, looking around the hallway.

"Si Charlie ba? Nasa dean's office siya. Sabi niya baka ma-expel raw siya," Fina stated, making me frown.

"What? Expel? Why?" I panicked.

Fina looked down. "Dahil daw sa nalaman nilang pagpapanggap at pagpasok niya sa Omega Phi."

"That's stupid! Wala siyang kasalanan-" I paused, pressing my lips to calm myself.

"André, hindi pwedeng ma-expel si Charlie. Scholar siya tapos breadwinner pa," Fina explained.

I already knew that much. That's why hindi ako papayag na ma-expel siya because of our fraternity. If I had to choose between her and the frat, I'd obviously choose her. No questions. It was the least I could do.

I immediately brought out my phone and called the only person who could help me right now.

After a few rings, grandpapa answered my call. "Yes, Axe?"

"Papi, you have connections here at FU, right?"

"Why? Did you commit a crime again?"

"Papi, no! I just want to help someone."

"Who?"

"A friend of mine is on the verge of being expelled because of Omega Phi, but she literally did nothing."

"Okay? So?"

"Papi, please?" I begged. I could still remember the last time I asked for grandpapa's help. It's been years, but that was the last time. I didn't think I'd be needing his help again today.

"Okay, but on one condition..."

"Anything."

"You're meeting your wife soon."

"Fine," I just muttered. At this point, I would do anything to save her.

A/N: Short update lang for today's bidyo 😅 Anyway, parating na ang magiging wife ni Andrè...

Thank you 2.5k reads grabe na talaga kayo 🥹🫶🏻

ilyfs. ~f