❝ MAROON  ❞

"(Y/N)?"

Tawag pa muli ni Kakucho sa'yo, at napalingon ka naman. You shook your head as you clicked back to reality dahil napa-tulala ka nang ilang segundo. Hindi mo na rin pansin na kanina pa naka-on sa stove ang niluluto mo.

"Palagi kang lutang," komento ni Kakucho at pinatay ang stove sa likuran mo dahil muntik na itong umapoy.

Tumingin ka naman din, and nasunog na nga ang niluluto mo.

"Do you know how to cook?" Kakucho asked, judging the way you cook, especially with the wrong ingredients placed on the kitchen counter.

"Uh well, no not really. Haha." You admitted with an awkward laugh.

"What are you cooking?" Kakucho asked, stepping in.

"Steak," you replied. "Though I'll only eat salad."

"Steak?" Kakucho repeated. "You're cooking steak as a beginner? Do you want to burn your kitchen?"

"Duh! I didn't know. Okay, another life advice from Mr. Kakucho again. Thanks." You muttered.

"At least it's useful," Kakucho said as he flicked your forehead.

"Ouch!" You gasped, kaya't you kick him as a revenge, ngunit hindi nalang ito kumibo at siya na ang nagpa-tuloy sa pagluluto.

"Wait, aren't you sick? Akala ko ba I'll be the one to cook?" You asked.

"I'm not sick anymore," Kakucho replied, too focused on cooking.

"Weh?"

"Oo nga."

"Weh? Move! Ako na magluluto. Just go rest." You insisted.

Kakucho just sighed and grabbed your hand to touch his forehead. "O ano? Mainit pa ba?"

"Well," you blinked, then tried to pry your hand away, even if his grip was too tight.

"I can't afford to die and my cause of death is being burnt inside your kitchen." Dagdag pa ni Kakucho at binitawan ang kamay mo. Nagbibiro ba 'to o ano?!

Tumayo ka nalang beside the counter while watching him cook. You can tell that he's skilled, and certainly knows what he's doing.

Pansin mo rin na he can do a lot, and he has a lot of skills, such as chess, sports, Rubik's cube, etc. However, you rarely see him doing those. It's like he's busy with something else...?

"Kakucho," tawag mo.

"Are you still in that chess club?" You asked.

"Why'd you ask?" He responded.

"Wala lang. Just curious." You shrugged.

"Yeah, but I rarely attend now, so I just ask Koko about updates in that club." Kakucho replied.

"Huh, why? I heard you're the top member there." Sabi mo.

"I work. I'm starting to get busy." Kakucho said, but then raised a brow and looked at you. "Wait, how did you know that I'm the top member?"

Halos lumabas ang mga mata mo dahil nakalimutan mong tinanong mo ito sa mga members no'n. Baka akalain pa ni Kakucho na stalker ka!

"Huh? Nothing. I just know." Sagot mo.

"Tss," Kakucho just shook his head.

"Huh? Why? Anyway, what's your work?" You asked.

"In a company with my dad." Kakucho answered.

"Really? What do you do there?" Tanong mo pa.

"You're asking too much. You'll know soon." He replied.

"Wha–? Okay." You just sighed. Naalala mo ang apology niya kanina, but you don't want to bring it up again. Ayan tuloy, naubusan nanaman kayo ng topic. Ang hirap pala kausap netong Kakucho, kailangan ikaw muna kumibo!

Ilang minuto ang nakalipas, at naghugas na rin ng kamay si Kakucho. "Where are your plates?"

"Oh here. I'll prepare the food na. Just go sit in the living room." You said and thanked him for cooking. He just nodded and walked out of the kitchen.

"Aalis na 'ko. The rain stopped. Pa-gabi na rin." He said, packing his things.

"Wait– Agad?!" You quickly replied. 'Yung tono mo pa parang ayaw mo siyang paalisin.

Nagtaas naman ng kilay si Kakucho and tilted his head. "Why? Do you want me to stay here overnight?"

Your jaw dropped and quickly shook your head. "That's not what I mean!"

"Edi ano?"

Naghanap ka ng ibang masasagot. Oo nga, tama naman siya. Nevermind, wala ka na ring maisip na iba pang rason kaya't tumango ka nalang.

"Okay... Good bye. Ingat. Hatid kita sa may lobby?" You asked, at least something to repay him for cooking and not burning your kitchen.

"'Wag na. Pa-gabi na rin." Kakucho refused, then walked toward your door.

"Ay wait! You didn't eat yet!" Sambit mo.

"Busog ako," he replied. "You can have it."

"The steak?! You cooked it! Come here, eat!" You insisted. "I only eat salad for dinner! I'm on a diet!"

Kakucho looked at your arm for a minute, then scoffed. "You're getting thin. Puro salad kinakain mo, pansin ko rin sa school."

"Well, I'm maintaining my body–"

"I also made garlic butter rice. Kumain ka rin ng kanin." Dagdag pa nito, cutting you off before he opens the door and left.

Hindi ka na rin maka-angal pa kaya't tumingin ka nalang sa lamesa to see the prepared food. Sayang naman kung iiwan mo lang 'to sa ref.

"Whatever," you just sighed and decided to cut your diet streak for more than a year now.

Hindi ka sanay kumain ng meat because you totally cut off carbs and fats since last year. Puro gulay and food that is high in protein nalang talaga ang kinakain mo to maintain your body and skin.

Maalaga at maarte ka talaga sa sarili mo, and you're strict on your diet, since ito rin ang pinagkikitaan mo. You endorse small brands and products ever since dumadami na ang followers mo sa mga platforms mo. Talking about that, matagal ka na rin palang hindi nakakapag-upload ng bagong video sa Youtube. You almost forgot that you're a beauty vlogger! School stressed you a lot. Ilang weeks ka na tuloy naka-hiatus.

Still, you hesitantly ate the food that Kakucho cooked. Isang bite lang talaga at tama na. Nagulat ka nalang because it was so delicious. You didn't know kung dahil ba matagal ka nang hindi kumakain ng steak, o kaya masarap lang magluto si Kakucho.

"How is his steak similar to Wolfgang's?!" You gasp.

Okay, last na talaga. Last bite nalang talaga and you'll stop, pero mukhang pang-ilang kutsara mo na 'to! Ubos ang nasa plato, and you totally didn't leave any crumbs.

You burped loudly at napa-sandal sa upuan. You look down at your stomach, and you're bloated!

Kinuha mo ang phone mo to call someone. Parang bitin ka rin sa kinain mo dahil gusto mo pa.

"Hello? Yes, it's Helian. Aunty, do you know how to cook a steak?" You asked on the phone. She's one of the cooks in the mansion as well.

"Anong klaseng steak po?"

"I'll just send you. I'll go back there tomorrow. Thanks!" You said.

"Wait, Madame, bibili po muna kami ng steak... Wala kasing stock dito kasi puro salad lang po kinakain niyo, 'di ba?" Sagot naman nito.

"Oh, well, I changed my mind. I really like steaks now." 

"Anong quiz? Luh gago may quiz?"

Tanong ni Benkei kina Makoto. Another day at class at kakatapos lang ng break nila, and it's afternoon na rin.

"Oo yata, ewan, rinig ko lang sa mga with honor na students na nagchichismisan. Gagsti, gano'n pala magchismisan mga matatalino, kung ano ano pinagpuputak. Sensya na ah, kwentuhan lang kasi namin transkasyon ng isang pakete ng Marijua–" Banggit ni Makoto.

"Dami mong sinabi. Tinatanong ko lang kung may quiz. Meron ba?" Sagot ni Benkei.

"Puta oo nga!"

"Weh? Itaga mo sa bato?"

"Tangina mo ikaw itataga ko, oo nga!"

"Wala 'to. 'Di ako naniniwala." Sagot ni Benkei at tumayo sa upuan. Ikaw nalang ang nilapitan nito para magtanong.

"Helian, may quiz ba?"

"What?" Masungit na pagsagot mo.

"Ay 'de wala. Gege salamat. Kakucho, sinusungitan ako, o." Pagsusumbong ni Benkei.

Kakucho just looked at you and Benkei, then went back to minding his own business.

"'Ge pati ikaw sungitan mo rin ako." Komento ni Benkei at bumalik sa upuan niya.

Ilang oras ang nakalipas at tapos na rin ang buong araw ng klase niyo. Lumabas ka naman ng classroom at pansin mong dumiretso si Kakucho kasama si Koko sa may fifth floor, kung saan ang club nila.

Umiling ka nalang dahil masyado mong tinutuonan nang pansin si Kakucho. Magmukha ka pang stalker niya, kaya't dumiretso ka na sa campus para na rin umuwi na.

"Kailan mo makukuha kotse mo?"

Tanong ni Koko habang naglalakad kasama si Kakucho patungong room ng club.

"Siguro next week na." Sagot naman nito.

"Malaki ba damage?" Pagpapatuloy pa ni Koko.

"Yeah? Tsaka mahal ang rear bumper ng Audi." Dagdag ni Kakucho. "Ewan ko ba, ang lakas ng pagka-bangga ni Helian, kaya mas malaki 'yung damage ng sa kanya."

"Helian's a reckless driver?" Tawa ni Koko nang napa-iling. "'Kala ko ba automatic lang kotse no'n?"

"May humahabol kay Helian no'n. Ewan ko ba, dinamay pa 'ko. Pati 'yon inasikaso ko pa sa prisinto. Tindi ng utak, e." Dagdag ni Kakucho.

"Anyway, magpapaalam muna ako kay coach. Baka hindi ako maka-attend ng club nang ilang araw." Banggit ni Kakucho

"Again? Bakit?"

"Busy sa office ni dad." Tipid na sagot ni Kakucho.

"Ah, well, alright." Sagot ni Koko.

Nakarating na rin ang dalawa sa classroom, at medyo nanibago si Kakucho since may mga bagong recruits. Matagal na ring hindi nakaka-attend si Kakucho.

Tinapik naman ni Koko ang likod ni Kakucho as a sign of good luck bago maglakad papunta sa kanyang locker, leaving Kakucho with their chess coach.

"Ah, Kakucho! Good timing. Meet the new members!" Bungad ng coach nang inakbayan si Kakucho.

"Hello, class! May I have your attention for a while? This is Kakucho, one of my greatest students. You can call him Kuya Kakucho, your senior, and he can help you with chess, Rubik's cube, and a lot." Coach Cris announced.

"Coach, nagtutunog mentor ka nanaman na nagsasabi ng motivational quotes." Bulong ni Kakucho, at close talaga ang dalawa sapagkat nasa late twenties lang si Coach Cris, ngunit kahit magkalapit ang dalawa, tinuturing at nirerespeto parin siya ni Kakucho bilang nakakatanda niyang mentor and coach.

"At least nga iniisponsor kita," tapik naman nito. "Oo nga pala, ikaw ah, ba't madalas nalang pagsulpot mo this week? Kung kailan maraming new members."

"Busy ulit, coach," sagot ni Kakucho. "Putangina. Pa'no ako magpapaalam nito?"

"Coach, gusto mo libre kita?" Tanong ni Kakucho habang tinaas ang dalawang kilay at inakbayan ang kanyang coach. "Anong gusto mo? Starbucks, samgyup, o buong grocery pang isang buwan?"

"Ay 'yan gusto ko 'yan! G ba this weekend?" Na-uto naman agad si Coach Cris.

"Opo tapos i-sabay ko na rin pala 'yung pagpapaalam ko na hindi ako makaka attend next week... Ulit. Hehe." Mabilis na pagkasabi ni Kakucho.

Nawala naman ang ngiti ng coach. "Sabi na nga ba."

"Coach naman. Tumatanda tuloy itsura mo pag tumatanggi ka. Kung ako sa'yo, coach, papayagan mo na ako para 'di ka na rin ma-stress. Dami pang new recruits, o. Kung gusto mo ako na bahala sa mga 'yan next next week." Dagdag pa ni Kakucho.

Sa sulok naman ay nag-oobserba lang si Koko at nagpipigil ng tawa. "Manipulative, amputa."

"Alam mo, may point ka, e, pointless lang." Sagot naman ng coach.

"Salamat nalang po," pang-asar na sagot ni Kakucho at dahan-dahang tumakas paalis kasama si Koko.

"Put– Kakucho! Hoy! Bumalik ka rito! Lagot ka sa'kin!" Sigaw ng coach nang hinabol ito palabas.

"Akala ko ba favorite ni Coach Cris si Kuya Kakucho?" Clueless na tanong at bulungan ng mga estudyante.

"Hi, sunshines!"

Bati mo sa harapan ng camera mo habang nakaupo at your vanity, getting ready. You know it's a fun get ready kapag maraming naka-kalat na makeup and accessories sa vanity mo.

"Get ready with me to go to my dad's office. I'm sorry I haven't uploaded for a long time now, but yeah, I don't know, about my dad, he just texted me out of the blue after I got home from school to go to his office because he said my friend is there! I wonder who? But I think it's just one of my dad's office buddies' daughters or something." You said while applying makeup.

"Anyway, I'm using this Rare Beauty highlighter. I really love it, it's pigmented, and it's giving that sheen!" Dagdag mo pa habang pinapakita ang product sa may camera.

Nagding ulit ang notification sa phone mo. You only took a quick glance, but it's a message from your dad.

dadi :D : Helian come here NOW. Your friend is here with his dad, my business partner. I don't want to keep them waiting for an hour. Come here at 5 p.m. SHARP. We have a visitor.

"Five p.m?! Wha–?!" Nagmadali ka naman dahil you're the type of person na umaabot ng higit pa sa dalawang oras para magready. Plus, who are these people?! Mukhang close sila ng dad mo. 

dadi :D : HELIAN where are you? They're waiting! I'm gonna call my secretary to pick you up. You're very slow.

dadi :D is calling...

9 missed calls

"WHA–?! WAIT LANG!"