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Catastrophic Pair

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THE HIGH ceilings of professor Simon Zaldiga's office did nothing but further intimidate both Ann and Rein who stood inches apart from each other.

Tahimik ang dalawa at ni isa walang nagsasalita. Halos lamunin ng katahimikan ang opisina.

The young lady didn't dare turn her head towards her rival. Diretso lamang ang kaniyang tingin, gritting her teeth and fidgeting with the crimson red tie that hung around her neck. In aggravating silence, they waited for the high discipline officer to speak.

It was a mess hearing the massive thumping of her heartbeat — as if it were a couple of horses galloping furiously across the plains. Ann couldn't even fathom what kind of punishment her father would give her if ever he knew she was called to the discipline office.

Ann gritted her teeth harder. "No." Mariin niyang sabi sa sarili. "Hindi makakarating 'to sa kanila. I'll make sure of it."

Rein on the other hand, stood beside her with a grim look on his face. His hands were buried deep within the hollow spaces of his pockets as he stared hard at professor Zaldiga, who had his back turned to the both of them, was stirring tea into his cup.

Hindi katangkaran ang propesor, ngunit kapansin-pansin ang malaking katawan nito. His shoulders and upper chest were especially broad, which was more prominent when seen from the back. Makikita rin ang iilang puting buhok sa likod ng kaniyang ulo, testifying that the discipline shepherd had seen better days.

Rein stared at him long and hard, his eyes burning two holes at the back of the professor's rather big frame.

He still felt shaky — the wounds of his trauma reopened as he tried to shake away the image of his father, striking him. His whole body ached, and he shifted his weight on one foot as his limp started to hurt once more.

Clank. Clank. The sound of the teaspoon hitting the cup, rang throughout the room. Clank. Clank.

Rein's eyes shifted from the professor to the long, tall windows of the office, where the late afternoon sky outside was turning into a murky shade of gray.

It didn't take Rein a degree in Applied Science to deduce that there was a storm coming. Pero kahit na may paparating na bagyo, nothing could compare to the sunken, stormy feeling inside his stomach.

"I'm very disappointed in both of you." The discipline officer spoke up, a firm tone in his voice as he finally turned to face the duo.

"To be frank, I ought to call your parents."

Immediately at those words, Ann shook her head and stepped towards his desk in determination. "Please, sir," the girl's eyes flashed rapidly. "I'm asking you to rethink your decision. This is the first time we've ever been called to your office, and I promise you it'll also be the last." Mariing sabi ng dalaga, staring hard at the discipline head. "Just please don't call our parents."

Instantly, the professor's eyebrow shot up. Ibinaba niya ang kaniyang tsaa bago lumingon kay Rein. "And you, Mr. Maccio? What do you have to say for yourself?"

There was no waver in the hardness of Rein's stare. "I'd gladly take detention, sir." The boy said carefully. "I don't usually agree with Lobris, but today's an exception. You'd want to take full consideration in calling our parents, professor. As you may be aware, they can be a handful for the school to handle." He answered. "Baka sumakit lang po ang ulo niyo."

He then shifted his feet once more. Sumasakit na talaga yung sugat niya sa binti.

Ann ignored him and leaned forward once more, as if trying to assert herself. "If it demands that we be punished, we'll gladly take it professor. Huwag niyo lang po silang tawagin."

A heavy sigh erupted from the discipline officer's chest as he sank down on his velvet chair, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Very well." He muttered, clasping his hands before staring at the two students in authoritative manner.

Agad na lumiwanag ang mukha ng dalaga, and even Rein let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"I'm not one to be lenient on students, but I trust that you two will uphold your promise knowing how responsible you both are as students." He nodded, and the color seemed to return to Ann's face. Napatingin sa relo ang propesor at muling sinulyapan ang dalawa.

"It's a quarter past four in the afternoon." Professor Zaldiga announced. "Marami pang estudyante ang nasa hallway ng ganitong oras, so mas mabuti siguro kung mamaya ko nalang ibigay ang reprimand ninyo. Mahirap na, baka may makakita pang estudyante sa inyong dalawa at makarating sa mga magulang niyo ng wala sa oras na pinaparusahan ko kayo." He scoffed, shaking his head before leaning forward by pushing his elbows against the wooden table. Seryoso niyang tinignan ang dalawa. "And I know how important your reputations are for the both of you." He nodded, and Ann let out another deep breath.

"Thank you professor." The young girl said quietly, and the older man nodded as he leaned back on his chair.

"See me later in this office at around quarter to six in the evening." He instructed sternly. "Your detention is to report to me for community service." Dagdag nito, at tumango muli ang dalawa.

"Very well, off you two go." The discipline head muttered under his breath as he stretched his arms to shuffle the group of papers on his desk. "If I find the both of you in trouble again, I assure you, there will be no second chances." He warned, and the two rivals nodded once again — clearly understanding that this was their last warning. It was their price for being honorary and exemplary students.

Hastily, the two exited Sir Zaldiga's office.

Though Ann was relieved that the professor had let them off the hook, she was still furious — something that she immediately showed to her rival as soon as the two were alone.

This was because Ann was finding it more and more difficult to comprehend that she and Rein have been frequently exiting from a single room these past few days. She hated to say it, pero para bang inilalaro sila ng tadhana.

"Don't you ever dare speak about this to anyone." Ann snapped at him as soon as they were a few steps out of the office.

Rein scoffed, running a troubled hand through his hair. "Do I look like someone who would benefit from telling anyone?" He said coldly, before walking past her like a storm.

"No, but you look like someone who I can never trust myself with." She muttered dryly, following Rein as they both reached their classroom. It was already dismissal at tanging si Jarrell at Quinn nalang ang natira sa loob, obviously waiting for Rein.

Quinn was about to open his mouth to ask what had happened, pero pinigilan agad ito ni Jarrell as Ann haughtily walked past them to fix her things seated on her armchair.

Similarly, inayos na rin ni Rein ang mga kagamitan sa kaniyang upuan, shoving his books and notebooks back into bag. As he was just about to zip it up, agad na kumunot ang noo nito nang mapansing may kulang sa kaniyang gamit.

"Where's my journal?" He asked coldly, pertaining to the black notebook that he was writing in before the incident. When no one answered, he then spun around to check the floor where Ann had last tackled him.

"What do you mean?" Jarrell asked with a frown. "Naiwan kami ni Quinn dito para maglinis at wala kaming nakitang journal."

"The new one? With the black leather?" Rein frowned, trying to hold his temper as he bent down to check under his armchair.

Ngunit walang kahit anong bagay ang makikita sa ilalim ng armchair nito. It was as clean as a slate.

Rein stood up with a dark expression. His mind started going off, like an open wire short-circuiting as he rapidly went over the events of his day, trying to put two and two together.

"Alam ko 'yang expression mo na 'yan." Jarrell frowned at his friend. "May naiisip ka ba? Do you have a hunch?"

Rein did not reply. His sharp eyes though, were fixated on his rival.

Just as Ann was about to walk past them again and leave the room, agad na hinawakan ng binata ang pulso ng dalaga, pulling her back to him.

Rein didn't have to use his deduction "powers" when his common sense and instinctual logic was enough to convince himself that only Ann would have the best motive in stealing his new journal — especially after she sabotaged his first one.

"Ano ba?!" Pagtataray ni Ann as Rein looked at her intently. Nakahawak pa rin ito sa dalaga.

"Gusto mo ba talagang mapahamak tayo?" Rein demanded in a dark tone.

"What the hell are you saying?? Bitawan mo ko!" Inis na sabi ng dalaga at pilit na inaalis ang pagkakahawak ni Rein. Ngunit mahigpit ang hawak ng binata sa kaniya.

"Give me back my new journal. I'm done playing your stupid game. Now hand it over." He scowled, pulling her closer until Ann was holding her breath — intoxicated by his presence.

"I don't have your stupid journal." Ann hissed, looking straight into his eyes. "Now let me go. I don't want another detention with you so piss off, Maccio!"

"You don't fool anyone anymore, Lobris. Return it before I actually hand you back to Professor Zaldiga." He said in a low, deadly whisper. Agad na tumaas ang balahibo ng dalaga as his breath fanned her face.

"I said I don't have it." Ann retorted in a hard tone, finally pulling her arm away with a hard tug.

By this time, Rein was growing impatient with her, na agad namang napansin ni Jarrell at Quinn. Dahil dito ay agad na pinigilan ng dalawa ang binata.

Rein clenched his jaw as Jarrell pulled him away from Ann.

"Woah, okay, kalma tayo." Quinn said hastily, clearing his throat. "Bakit hindi natin tanungin yung partner mo Rein, I'm sure may second copy—"

"Partner?" Ann snapped, as all heads turned to Quinn who blinked in surprise. Because of their demanding states, he then pulled the collar of his polo with one finger, na para bang naiinitan ito.

"Yeah, partner." He said nervously. "Isn't this year's Writers' Schism by partners? Sinabi 'yun during the opening. Hindi ba?"

Ann and Rein immediately gave each other a sharp look.

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" Rein demanded, scrunching up his eyebrows that made him look all the more intimidating.

"The Writers' Schism. It's by partners. Didn't professor Wyanna ask you to bring your partner when the both of you registered?" Quinn asked once more, his brows furrowed.

At that notion, the images of everything that had happened the day they both registered for the contest, flashed across their minds, as if it were a videotape on rewind.

"Ano bang category ng Writers' Schism ang sasalihan niyong dalawa?"

"The full-length novel category, professor." Ann had said quickly on that day, flashing Rein with another of her fake smiles. "It's more fulfilling to write a full-length story than it is writing a short novella, isn't it Maccio?" 

"No..." Ann muttered, placing a hand in her forehead. Ang pinaka-naaalala ng dalaga mula sa araw na ito ay ang mukha ni Rein as they both wrote their names inside professor Wyanna's office.

"Full-length novel category... Ah, here we go!"

"Write your names and contact details on the form and both of you will be officially registered for the contest. After which, the board will then further instruct you along the way. Now, ladies first!"

"Oh my God." Ann buried her face into her hands, the events still running through her head.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but do both of your parents know that the two of you are joining the Schism?" The professor had asked that day with a raised eyebrow.

"My father is aware, professor."

"Actually, ngayong gabi ko palang po sila sasabihan. Nonetheless, I'm sure they would approve of me joining a prestigious contest such as this."

"Very well. The both of you have talent, so I wish you two nothing but the best of luck."

Ann's mind whirled further like a broken merry-go-round — dizzying and perplexing as the realization dawned upon her like cold water. This made her sink into a nearby armchair, a hand on her forehead. "I think I'm gonna be sick." Bulong ng dalaga.

"Wews," Jarrell whistled, a mischievous grin on his face. His arms were crossed his chest as he looked at them both in an amused manner.

"I guess you're both too stuck up to listen to simple instructions huh?" Ngisi ni Jarrell, na kinainisan lalo ng dalawa.

Before Ann could even speak, Rein grabbed his bag and forcefully held his rival by the wrist once more, pulling her from her troubled state.

"H-Hey—!" She demanded.

"We're going to professor Wyanna." Rein muttered in assertive tone as Jarrell and Quinn watched them leave with knowing grins.

Kahit anong pilit na itanggal ng dalaga ang pagkakahawak ng binata sa kaniya ay wala itong silbi. Rein had an iron grip on her as he continued to pull her past the tall large windows of the hallways that bathed the two of them in sunlight.

A few students that were passing by eyed them curiously, whispering in hushed tones and whispers that made Ann turn red in embarrassment.

"Let me go, you dimwit." She snapped, still trying to struggle out of his hold, ngunit hindi ito pinapansin ng binata.

Hindi na nagsalita ang dalawa hanggang sa pagdating nila sa opisina ng propesor na mukhang nabigla sa kanilang bisita.

"Oh?" Bungad sa kanila ng matanda. "Mr. Maccio, Miss Lobris, what can I do for you?" The director of Literary Studies asked, peering through her half-moon glasses.

As the professor watched the two rushed inside her office, she immediately raised an eyebrow when she caught sight of Rein's hand still around Ann's wrist. Napansin agad ito ng binata kaya agad niyang binitawan ang kamay ng dalaga — both of them flushed in the cheeks as they neared the director's desk.

"Professor," Rein started, stepping forward. "Pardon me for asking such a stupid question, but I would just like to clarify and confirm if this year's Writers' Schism is indeed... by partners?" He asked in a low voice, a hint in his tone that he was hoping a "no" for an answer.

Professor Wyanna Perlita's eyebrow seemed to have arched even higher.

Both of them dreaded for her reply.

"Why, of course it is. Hindi ba kayo nakinig nung orientation? The new set of rules were announced that day." The professor frowned, now putting down the pen in her hand.

"At saka, hindi ba kayo ang mag-partner? I distinctively remember the two of you registering your names together here in my office." She inquired, the wrinkles on her face creasing even more as the old professor frowned deeper.

"Our apologies professor, but I think there was a mistake." Sambit ng binata, firmly holding his ground.

"Mistake?" The director frowned deeper, as if offended. She then pulled away from the back of her seat, opening her drawer and scrambling through the files and folders searching for the competition's registration list.

"I assure you both, I rarely make mistakes." Sambit ng matanda. "At sa pagkakaalala ko, kayong dalawa ang magkasamang nag-register noong isang araw — walang iba."

By the time the chairman of the Writers' Schism had pulled out the folder containing the contest's official registration form, agad na nag-tulakan ang dalawang estudyante palapit sa lamesa ng propesor upang tignan ang listahan.

On the sheet, written in dark ink were both their names in the same line — complete with their very own signatures.

There was no doubt. The professor had indeed mistaken them as partners for the competition.

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