CHAPTER ONE

 ANDRIETTE 

"All students are required to stay at the school premises until five o'clock in the afternoon. Wearing a complete uniform is also a must...."

I rolled my eyes as the school Principal mumbled each kind of his 'rules'. What's the point of the rules if at the end of the day, the students are going to break it?

"Yah!" I immediately closed my eyes before I turned my head to the one who attempted to scare me. 

"Try harder, Adhaya," I stated defiantly, shoving my hands into the pocket of my blazer. She giggled and wrapped her arms around mine.

"What do you think of our school?" she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's fine. Although it's not as huge as my previous school, but it's alright. Pasado na."

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid. The noise of the students filled the whole gymnasium— and I hate it.

"Is it really this noisy here?" Napangiwi ako nang magsigawan ang mga nasa unahan naming lalaki na animo'y walang nag-sasalita sa unahan.

"What do you expect? This is a normal school, Dri. Hindi katulad sa dati mong school, may mga lalaki rin rito— noisy and rebel highschool boys. Ugh, men! Ang sakit nila sa ulo," she retorted. 

"I'll just go and get my books, let's meet at the cafeteria, alright?" Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang makasagot at tumayo na. Rinig ko pa ang pag-tutol niya pero hindi ko na siya pinakinggan. 

Hindi naman talaga ako kukuha ng libro. Duh, since when did I like reading books? The truth is, magpapahangin lamang ako. I was too exhausted because of the students inside the gym. Nakakasakit ng ulo ang mga boses nila.

I decided to go to the music room. Wala naman sigurong tao roon, hindi ba? May event kaya kakaunti ang tao sa labas kaya alam kong walang tao roon. Itinuro sa akin ni Adhaya kanina ang music room habang papunta kami sa gym kaya naman alam ko kung saan iyon.

"Are you sure no one would caught us here?" Inilapit ko ang tainga ko sa pinto ng music room nang makarating ako. What the heck is that?

"Yes, h'wag mo naman akong bitinin. Nasimulan na natin." My brows arched an inch upon hearing what he said. 

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto and there they are. A half naked boy with a... teacher? What the heck?

I faked cough and both of them turned their face on me. Terror overtook their face once they saw me leaning at the door.

"Don't mind me, nacurious lang ako kung sinong mga tanga ang nagme-make out habang hindi nakalock ang pinto." I crossed my arms over my chest and shot a brow up.

"Fine, aalis na lamang ako dahil wala naman akong balak manood ng live porn. Enjoy," I remarked before I turn around. 

Aalis na sana ako nang may maalala akong isang bagay. Sinabi iyon ng Principal kanina kaya't bigla kong naalala. Even though I am not completely listening, I still heard some rules.

"In case you forgot, dating with a teacher is strictly prohibited, Mister." Humarap ako sa kanila na nag-aayos na ng sarili. Natigil ang lalaki sa pagbu-butones ng suot na damit nang mapansing hindi pa ako umaalis. 

Humarap ito sa akin at sinuri ang kabuuan ko. His protruding eyes met mine. I cleared my throat. "But that's alright. Rules are meant to be broken."

He looked away before continuing to button his shirt. I let out a harsh breath. "Sa susunod, mag-ingat na lamang kayo. Hindi lahat ng tao, mabait kagaya ko," I deadpanned sarcastically. The corner of my lips turned up as I close the door.

"It seems like you can't afford to pay for a motel so feel free to use that room!" I remarked before leaving them. I smiled evily. Serves them right.

"Yah, Andriette! Saan ka galing?" Adhaya shouted from afar. Dali-dali itong tumakbo palapit sa akin. 

"Ang sabi mo pupunta ka para kunin 'yung libro mo. Nasaan na?" dagdag niya habang nakatingin sa kamay ko. I shook my head before smiling at her.

"I changed my mind. By the way, anong oras ang start ng klase?" 

"Tsk, hindi ka talaga nakikinig kanina, ano?" She sighed. "Tomorrow pa. Free time ngayon para itour ang mga transferees, ano, game?" Dagdag niya.

Sasagot na sana ako nang may marinig kaming kaluskos mula sa music room. I smirked. Mukhang hindi sila makalabas at nagpapanic na sa loob. 

"Anong meron d'yan?" takang tanong ni Adhaya. Akmang bubuksan niya ang pinto pero agad ko siyang hinila palayo.

"Ano na namang kalokohan ang ginawa mo, ha, Andriette?" Nakapameywang nitong tanong nang makalayo kami.

"You already knew me, Adhaya. My name didn't mean fearless for nothing." I smiled and patted her shoulder. Wala siyang nagawa kundi umiling na lamang bilang sagot.

"I wanna go home. Nakakatamad na rito, masyadong maingay. " 

"Bawal umuwi habang hindi pa nagbebell, Dri," paalala niya. I rolled my eyes. Ano 'to, elementary school? Kailangan ng bell? 

"That's just a rule, Adhaya. Ciao!" I remarked before leaving her. 

I ran my hand through my hair out of dissapointment when I saw the guard standing near the gate. Paano ako makakaalis dito? Damn!

Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko at tinawagan si Adhaya. I need to find a way! 

"Hello?" 

I let out a harsh breath. "Ugh! Thank God you answered!"

"What's the matter? Akala ko ba, uuwi ka na?" she asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Hindi ako makalabas!" I retorted. She answered me with soft chuckles.

I roamed my eyes to check if someone's watching me. Baka mahuli pa ako kung sakaling makatakas ako. "Hey!" pagsaway ko kay Adhaya na tawa pa rin ng tawa.

"Fine, fine. Pasalamat ka kaibigan kita," pagsuko niya. My mouth curved into a smile. 

"Paano ako lalabas?" 

"Where are you right now?" she asked.

"Few meters away from the main gate."

"Alright. From there, turn left. Dire-deretsuhin mo lang then if may makita ka na malaking puno ng acacia, 'yun na 'yun. Mababa lang 'yung wall kaya you can climb naman." I winced upon hearing her 'conyo' voice. I nod my head although she can't see me.

"K, I'll call you later," I said before I ended the call. Nagpatuloy naman ako sa paghahanap ng sinasabi niyang lugar.

I smiled mischievously when I spotted the acacia tree. Akala ko pa naman, niloloko lang ako ni Adhaya. Good thing she didn't fool me. 

"Hey!" Akmang lalapit na ako sa pader nang may marinig akong boses. Ugh!

I turned my gaze on him and crossed my arms. "What?" I asked.

"Transferee?" pag-usisa niya.

I nodded. "What do you need?"

"You can't go home. Hindi pa tapos ang orientation." I clicked my tongue before laughing sarcastically.

I took a sight of him while I'm laughing. His jet black slick down hair perfectly accentuated his handsome yet playful face. He also has this annoying smirk that makes me want to punch him. Ugh, kainis! 

I stopped laughing before I shot a brow up and gave him a bitchy glare. "Why do you care?"

He chuckled before he drew nearer. Hindi naman ako natinag sa pakikipagtitigan sa kaniya. "You're... Interesting," he remarked.

My brows knitted. "What do you mean?"

"Wala lang," he answered playfully. I heaved a sigh before I turned my back on him. Bahala siya d'yan.

"Miss!" Muli akong napatigil sa akmang pag-alis nang may tumawag na naman sa akin. Damn! Bakit ba napaka-pakielamero ng mga tao rito? 

"Puwede bang hayaan niyo na lamang akong umal— Ikaw?!" I was taken aback when I saw a familiar face.

"You knew him?" tanong noong kausap ko kaninang lalaki.

"Shut up, Morris," banta naman noong bagong dating. 

Humarap siya sa akin at halos matawa ako nang makitang hindi pa maayos ang pagkakabutones ng damit niya. Halatang minadali. "And you," he cleared his throat. "You can't go home."

I faked a laugh. "I can't?" Tumango naman siya. I crossed my arms before rolling my eyes.

"Dalawang oras pa bago mag-uwian," dugtong niya.

"Hey, Moore. Ako ang nauna sa kaniya," iritableng reklamo noong lalaking kausap ko kanina.

Moore? Morris? Bakit gano'n ang pangalan nila? Ang pangit!

"Shut up, Morris," the guy who was previously called as 'Moore' remarked.

"Tsk. Aalis ako sa ayaw at sa gusto niyo, okay? I can't bear that boring orientation anymore," I whined. 

"You can't," pag-uulit noong si 'Moore'.

"I can't ditch the orientation but you can date a teacher? That's unfair, Mister." 

They were both taken aback by what I said. And yes. The guy 'Moore' was the one who's making out with a teacher  a while ago. Psh, the audacity.

"Alam mo ang sikreto ni Claude?" the guy 'Morris', asked. My brows furrowed. Claude?

"I said shut the fuck up, Morris," galit na saway ni 'Moore'. I rolled my eyes. 

"Look, I don't have any time for your dramas. Pabayaan niyo na lamang akong umalis para matapos na 'to," I negotiated. Moore sighed before nodding. Finally!

"Hey! A rule is a rule, Moore! Hindi siya puwedeng umalis," tutol naman noong isa. I pressed my lips together, trying to control my anger.

"You can go, Miss-whoever-you-are," Moore ordered. I shrugged my shoulders before I nod. Madali naman pala itong kausap.

"You're such a coward, Claude Moore," rinig kong sabi ni Morris. I shook my head before walking away. Bahala na sila d'yan.

I stopped walking when I felt an arm on my shoulder. "What the hell?!"

Nang tingnan ko kung sino ito, it was Morris. He was grinning at me. Dali-dali kong inalis ang pagkaka-akbay niya. "Ano bang problema mo?!" I catechized. 

"Alam mo pala ang sikreto ni Moore. I think we would get along pretty well. I want to be your friend," he retorted.

"Whatever," sagot ko bago sumampa sa pader. Buti na lamang at medyo matangkad ako. Psh, ano bang klaseng pader ito? Mukhang pinagawa yata talaga para makatakas ang mga estudyante.

I was about to jump outside when I heard his voice again. "Hey rule breaker," pagtawag niya.

Nilingon ko siya. "What?"

"Who are you?" 

I plastered a smile on my face before answering him. "Andriette."

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