Novels by disguisedname

DEBORAH’S POVHalos mabiyak na ang aking ulo sa kaiisip kung ano’ng nangyayari. Ang gulo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may nagte-text sa amin na may nagnakaw ng draft ko sa essay gayong nakita rin ito sa mga gamit ko. Ang dami kong tanong ngunit parang ang hirap hanapan ng sagot.“Sino ba kasi iyan? Totoo pa ba iyan o ginugulo na lang tayo?” reklamo ni Watt makaraang malaman nila na may nagpadala rin ng text message sa akin.Nakita ko kung paano gumalaw ang panga ni Byeongyun. Kita sa hitsura niya na napipikon na siya.“Hindi ko talaga alam na narito ang mga papel na pinagsulatan ko. Wala na akong matandaan,” sabi ko saka sinimulang ayusin ang aking mga gamit na nakakalat sa lapag. Agad naman akong tinulungan ni Einon.“Kahit ako ay naguguluhan na rin,” sambit pa ni Einon saka niya iniabot sa akin ang aking bag.“Ayaw ko na talaga ng gulo. Hangga’t maaari, sana huwag na

BYEONGYUN’S POVIlang minuto na naming pinag-iisipan kung kanino maaaring nanggaling ang text ngunit ni isa sa amin ay walang ideya.“Hindi ko alam kung sino iyan pero sa tingin ko, nasa loob lang ng classroom na ito ang nakakita sa nagnakaw ng piece mo,” sambit ko.Panay ang buntong-hininga ni Deborah habang nakatingin sa aking telepono. Hindi ko alam kung ano’ng iniisip niya.“Deborah?” tawag ko sa kaniya.Tumunghay siya ngunit hindi pa rin siya nagsalita matapos niyang makita ang text. “Hey, speak up,” untag ko pa sa kaniya pero nabaling lang ang aking atensyon nang magsalita sa aking likuran si Watt.“Sino naman kaya talaga ang nagnakaw ng draft mo?” tanong niya kay Deborah ngunit isang kibit-balikat ang isinagot nito rito.“Iisa lang naman ang puwedeng gumawa niyan.”Agad kaming napalingon kay Einon na naglakad palapit sa

DEBORAH’S POVPara akong nabunutan ng tinik kaya habang naglalakad ako patungo sa room habang nasa tabi ko si Byeongyun ay hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti.Maayos na sila ni Bavi. Maayos na rin kaming dalawa. Magiging maayos na rin kaya ang takbo ng buhay ko sa paaralang ito?“Bakit mo na naman ako iniisip?”Agad akong napalingon sa katabi kong kapre at halos mapunit na rin ang kaniyang labi sa lapad ng kaniyang ngisi.“Ano’ng sinasabi mo?”“I don’t need to ask kung sino ba ang crush mo kasi for sure, ako iyon. Saka ang mga ganiyang ngiti? Ngiti ng mga iniisip ang kanilang crush. In short, ako ang crush mo, ako ang iniisip mo kaya ganiyan ang ngiti mo.”Napasinghap ako sa kakapalan ng kaniyang mukha.“Hoy!” bulyaw ko sabay duro pa sa kaniya. “Kailan ka pa nagsimulang kumorni nang kumorni, ha? Ang kapal ng mukha mo. Nakangiti ako kasi ok

DEBORAH’S POV “The Korean guy... Byeongyun,” usal ni Bavi. “Okay, look, Byeongyun. It’s... it’s not what you think.” Sa pagitan ng mga hikbi ko’y muli kong tinawag ang pangalan ni Byeongyun. “Byeongyun...” Nang mapalingon siya sa paligid ay mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya. Doon niya lang rin siguro napansin kung ano’ng hitsura ko ngayon. Tumakbo na siya palapit sa akin saka niya hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko. “Bakit... bakit ka umiiyak? Bakit ang dumi mo? Ano’ng nangyari? Ha? Answer me, Deborah!” untag niya sa akin ngunit hindi ko nagawang sabihin kung bakit. Dahil doon ay nilingon niya si Bavi. Agad kong hinawakan ang mga braso niya nang maramdaman kong tensyonado na siya ngunit hindi iyon tumalab. “You!

DEBORAH’S POVHabang nakaharap ako sa salamin at inaayos ang aking kurbata ay bigla kong naisip ang maaari na namang mangyari sa akin sa school.“Anak, may nakuhang sideline ang papa ngayon. Sabi niya, malaki naman ang bayad kaya ibibigay ko na muna itong isandaang piso sa iyo. Pasensya ka na, wala pa talaga tayo ngayon,” sabi ni Mama na nakasilip sa aking kuwarto.Inabot ko iyon mula sa kaniya saka nagpasalamat.Dagdag pa niya, “Noong nagpaalam ka sa akin na pupunta ka sa bahay ni Byeongyun, pumayag ako para makapag-usap na rin kayo. Ilang araw kitang napansin na matamlay at narinig din kitang bumubulong na hindi pumapasok si Byeongyun dahil nag-away kayo sa school. Alam ko, may pinagsamahan na kayong dalawa kaya naiintindihan ko kung nagalit ka sa papa mo tungkol sa... sa pera. Masaya ako na maayos na kayo ni Byeongyun ngayon at hindi na rin masama ang loob mo sa papa mo.”“Mama, magsisikap ako

BYEONGYUN’S POV“May isa pa pala akong dapat sabihin, Byeongyun. About Bavi,” aniya.“Bavi?”“The guy you saw in the library with me.”Napakamot ako sa ilong nang wala sa oras bago ako tumango.“So? What is it? Boyfriend mo na?” seryoso kong tanong.Nang umiling siya’y nakahinga ako nang maluwag.Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit dapat pa naming pag-usapan ang lalaking iyon. Wala naman talaga dapat akong pakialam ngayong alam kong hindi naman niya iyon boyfriend.“Hindi ko siya boyfriend. Kaibigan ko si Bavi. Remember noong pumunta tayo sa restaurant ng ate mo? He’s the guy we saw na sinabi kong guwapo. Iyong kamukha ni Bright—”I interrupted her the moment I realized na kailangan pa pala talaga namin siyang pag-usapan.How c

LEVI'S POVExploring my own dreams was an exciting for me to do, and just as the moment I realized that it was a dream, I didn't feel any fear at all. It was probably around 3 in the morning, and I was right as I glanced at my wristwatch.I was standing in the middle of an old road with no sight of coming vehicles nor houses around. There were no street lights except for one broken lamp post near me, seemed like the place was abandoned. It was airy and eerie, and the moment that a cool breeze blew down on me, I hugged myself. Only the little light coming from the moon made me see a little what was around."Hello?" I called, but no one answered. I took small steps as I brushed my shoulders."Does anyone hear me?" I called once more, but still, no one replied. I was like walking in an endless road with nothing to see, but just blackness."What am I doing here?" I mumbled to myself, thinking why

LEVI'S POV"Please... p-please don't leave me, Levi. J-just stay b-beside me... always.""Please... p-please don't leave me, Levi. J-just stay b-beside me... always.""Please... p-please don't leave me, Levi. J-just stay b-beside me... always."Sitting on the sofa with just boxers on, I leaned my naked back against it, my legs were widespread as I turned the pages of the book I was holding as if I was counting it—but really not. Something was upsetting me."Levi?" Caius called out as he stopped from browsing his phone."Oh?" I answered lazily. I remained turning the pages of the book from beginning to end, then from the end back to the first page."Something happened?""I'm not sure.""Are you okay?""Do I look like okay?""What's wrong with you?""I don't know.""Really?""Yeah.""How many hands do you have?""Ten—oh

LEVI'S POV"Seoyeon?" I whispered under my breath as I stood up."L-Levi..." she said between her sobs.I was just standing with my mouth agape when she came running towards me and gave me a tight hug. I was out of words as I glanced at Adalee. She was gulping as she slowly managed to stand.Clenching her fist so hard that she almost crumpled the handkerchief like a paper, she uttered, "I'm... I'm l-leaving."She turned her back, but before she could be able to take a step, I said, "Adalee... please—" She cut me off.She said, "I'll r-return the h-handkerchief tomorrow. See y-you." She didn't even bother herself to turn her head back. It felt like I was defeated of some sort when I had nothing to do, but to watch her leaving the hall. I wanted to follow her, but I just couldn't leave Seoyeon like this, crying. I badly wanted to chase her and tell her what I feel, but Seoyeon needed me. Damn it

LEVI'S POVThe moment the three left the hall, slowly, I inched towards Adalee.Scratching my nape as I moved a little more closer to her, I asked, "Are you... are you okay?" My voice was breaking the silence.She tilted her head as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Her eyes and nose were red, probably because of crying, and I felt guilty for a second."I'm... I'm okay," she mumbled, sniffing and rubbing her nose.I slid my hand inside my pocket, fishing for my handkerchief. I said, "Here." Offering her my handkerchief was a little help for her nose.Stretching her arm, she took it and started blowing her nose. Seeing her, a smile suddenly wanted to appear on my face. I just bit my lower lip to stop myself and said, "Stop crying already. I didn't bring any extra handkerchief for your nose."Blowing her nose hard for the last time, she forced a smile. "I'm s-sorry. I messed up... with your handker

CAIUS' POVI finally drifted back to consciousness. Rubbing my eyes and nose as I moved upright the bed, I tried to look around. Clinic. Even I stared blurredly, I could clearly tell that it was Pino. He was sitting near the door, browsing his phone."Pino?" I called him.He instantly walked towards me as he slid his phone back inside his pocket."You're awake. How are you feeling?""Oh. I’m... I’m okay,” I answered. “But where’s Levi?”"Ah, Levi... um..."Rubbing both of his hands with his face crumpled, it was telling me that there was something wrong.I frowned and asked, "Why? Where is he?""He is... he's at the hall. He called an urgent meeting again.""Why? Don't tell me..." Slowly, he nodded.It’s because of me.I stood up and grabbed his shoulders. "Let's go there," I told him."Are you sure, you'

LEVI’S POV“How’s Caius?” Pino asked when he arrived at the clinic.“He’s fine. It’s good that he’s calm and resting now,” I answered.“He’s a Linonophobe.”We both turned our head to the school nurse who were just done checking up on Caius. I ended up bringing him here at the clinic because he looked so pale. He’s now resting and asleep.“Yes, probably,” I said as I nodded.Pino asked, “A Linonophobe?”“It’s the fear of strings,” I answered.“He only fear the rope, right?” the nurse asked, putting the stethoscope around her neck.“That’s right,” I replied and glanced at Caius who’s sleeping on the bed at my right side.“Linonophobes usually have no problems wearing clothes, but shoes with laces may be a problem and they may prefer leathe