ANDRIETTE
"Nakalimutan mo na yatang masamang pumatol sa babae, Moore."
I jerked my head in the direction of Dixon. Hawak nito ang pulso ni Claude.
"H-Hey," saway ko.
Tumingin sa akin si Dixon bago ako nginitian. Inalis niya ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ni Claude at ibinulsa ang kaniyang mga kamay.
"Mind your own business, Morris," Claude remarked, still fuming mad.
"It is surely not my business but you shouldn't hurt a lady. Violence is not an answer to your anger," seryosong saad ni Dixon.
I gulped. Nakakapanibagong seryoso siya.
"Are you even a real man?" pang-aasar niya pa kay Claude.
"I don't want to pick a fight on you again, Morris. If I were you, hindi na lamang ako mangingialam." Claude looked at me seriously. I raised my brow, not minding his deadly stares.
"Of course, hindi ka mangingialam. Duwag ka, eh," Dixon stated.
"Shut the fuck up. I'm not talking to you."
"You're bullying her. Paano ako hindi mangingialam?" Muntik na akong matawa dahil sa sinabi ni Dixon. Bullying?
"Am I bullying you?" Claude asked me.
Nagtama ang paningin namin ni Dixon. He nod at me and I rolled my eyes. "Yes," I answered.
"Such an actress," Claude remarked. Umirap ako at sinamaan siya ng tingin. Bakit napapansin niya kapag uma-arte ako pero hindi niya mapansin sa tuwing uma-arte ang girlfriend niya?
"And you're such an asshole," ganti ko.
"Pinapangaralan lang kita."
I rolled my eyes once again. "Hindi nga sabi ako nangongopya. Hiniram ni Adhaya ang notebook ko kahapon at ngayon niya lang ibinalik. Happy?" I explained.
"See? Wala naman pala siyang ginawang masama," pagtatanggol ni Dixon.
"So you're teaming up against me now, huh?" Claude loosened his necktie and fix the rim of his glasses.
"You're bluffing again, Moore."
"We're not teaming up against you, okay? You're so full of yourself." I crossed my arms and shot a brow up.
"Then what is your relationship? Couples? Enemies?" he pried.
"Friends," Dixon corrected.
My brows furrowed. At kailan pa kami naging magkaibigan?!
Claude laughed sarcastically. "You must be kidding me."
"Why do you care?" I asked.
"Excuse me. Maybe you guys forgot that I'm here," Miss Maisie interrupted. Muli akong napairap. Kahit kailan talaga, napaka-attention seeker niya.
"Go back to your seats," she commanded. Napailing na lamang ako at sumunod. I leaned against my chair and crossed my arms. Naiwan namang nakatayo si Dixon.
And wait. Ano bang ginagawa niya rito? He's not our classmate.
"Baka gusto niyong dalhin ko kayo sa detention office? Pangalawang araw pa lamang ng klase, may gulo na agad," she nagged. I lazily sighed.
"Dixon, you begged to our dean to transfer you to this class yet you're already causing too much troubles. Umayos ka naman," ani nito kay Dixon na hindi naman nakikinig sa kaniya at nakatingin lamang kay Claude.
"Ikaw naman, Miss Flynn. Bago ka pa lamang dito pero humahanap ka na agad ng away. Baka gusto mong ma-expell na naman?" I rolled my eyes and shot a brow up. She's using that card again. Parehas sila ni Claude. Wala na ba talagang iba?
"And you, Claude. You're the President, you should act like one. Don't let this happen again, alright?" Claude nodded. Masiyado siyang biased. Nakakainis!
Ipinatong niya ang dalang laptop sa desk bago nagsalita. "Maybe you guys are confused why Dixon is here. Surprisingly, he wants to transfer to our class. Therefore, Dixon is your new classmate," anunsyo niya. Agad namang umingay ang mga kaklase namin dahil sa balita.
Oh right. He's extremely famous.
"Where should I sit?" Dixon asked. Natahimik naman ang buong klase at pawang hinihintay ang sagot ni Miss Maisie.
"There's a vacant seat beside Miss Fraser. You can seat there." She pointed at the direction of a nerd. Kawawang Dixon.
After that, I quickly grabbed my earphones and put it on my ears. I yawned while I tapped my fingers on the table. I only slept for four hours because I watched a Thai series. Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras kaya't napuyat ako.
"Sleepy?" I almost jumped in my seat when I heard someone talked beside me. As far as I remember, wala akong katabi?
Tumingin ako sa aking tabi at nakita ang prenteng nakaupo na si Dixon. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa aking mga mata ang bakanteng puwesto sa tabi noong babaeng nerd.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
He put his hands behind his head. "Wala lang."
"Bumalik ka nga roon," pilit ko.
"I don't want to. Gusto kitang katabi. Is it bad?"
"Of course!"
I slammed my hand on my mouth when I accidentally yelled. Pati ang iba naming kaklase ay napatingin din sa gawi namin ni Dixon.
"Are you talking to Morris?" Claude asked. Humarap ito sa aming dalawa ni Dixon.
"Hindi, 'no. Sinasaway ko lamang siya. She's using her phone," sagot ni Dixon at inalis sa aking tainga ang suot kong earphones.
"Hey!" My eyes widened upon realizing what he said.
"You're using your phone in my class, Miss Flynn? Detention, now." 
Umirap ako at padabog na tumayo.
This is so unfair! Claude and Dixon fought earlier but she didn't bother to call those too for detention. While me? I'm not even using my goddamn phone!
"Enjoy," bulong ni Dixon.
I glared at him. "Go to hell, jerk," I mumbled.
Tumawa lamang siya at umiling. Nagmartsa naman ako sa unahan bago kinuha ang detention slip ko at umalis.
Ugh! Kapag nalaman na naman ni Mom na nadetention ako kahit second day of school pa lamang, patay talaga ako. Damn, Dixon Morris!
Tamad akong pumunta sa detention office at nag-log in. Because of my offense, I am staying here for two hours.
I smiled when I realized something. Maybe I should thank Dixon later. Thanks to him, I can sleep peacefully for two hours. Nice!
----
I lazily opened my eyes when I felt my phone vibrated.
"Yes?" tanong ko sa nasa kabilang linya na si Adhaya.
"Yah, Dri! Lunch time na, nasaan ka na? Dalawang oras lang ang detention mo, uy! Don't tell me nag-cutting ka na nam—"
"Puwede bang h'wag kang masiyadong mag-over react?" I cut her off. "Nasa detention pa rin ako. I took a nap."
Tumingin ako sa paligid. Good thing the teacher didn't bother to wake me up.
"What?! Dri, apat na subject ang hindi mo naattendan tapos sasabihin mong natulog ka lang?" She continued to nag at me while I keep nodding as if she can see me.
"Asan ka ba? Pupuntahan na lamang kita," I offered.
"Nasa cafeteria. Bilisan mo, baka wala na tayong maupuan."
"Siguraduhin mong makahahanap ka ng upuan, okay? Ayaw kong tumabi na naman kay Claude, for pete sake!" bilin ko.
Tumawa siya sa kabilang linya at nagpaalam na ibababa na ang tawag. Nang matapos ang tawag ay agad akong tumayo at lumabas pars pumunta sa cafeteria.
Nang makarating ako ay agad akong dumiretso sa counter at umorder. Madali ko rin namang nahanap si Adhaya dahil kaway siya ng kaway.
"Kumusta ang tulog?" biro niya.
Umupo ako sa harap niya at ngumiti. "Masarap." Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin dahil sa sagot ko.
"Hala! Nakalimutan kong bumili ng inumin. Wait—"
"H'wag ka ng umalis, Dri. Baka maagawan ka pa ng upuan," Adhaya cut me off while pointing at the students who entered the cafeteria. Napabuntong hininga ako. Nagc-crave pa naman ako ng strawberry milk mula kahapon.
Napayuko na lamang ako at sumubo sa binili kong pagkain. Bibili na lamang ako mamaya sa convenience store malapit sa subdivision na tinitirhan namin.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang may nagpatong ng strawberry milk sa harap ko.
"Thank y— What are you doing here?!" gulat na tanong ko kay Dixon.
He chuckled. "Makikiupo," he said and sat beside me.
Bumuntong hininga ako bago kinuha ang ibinigay niyang strawberry milk. "Akin nalang 'to?" I asked. Tumango naman siya at nagsimula na sa pag-kain.
"Close kayo?" takang tanong ni Adhaya. Nag-angat naman ako ng tingin at lumingon kay Dixon.
"Oo/Hindi," sabay naming sagot.
"Yah! We're not close," saad ko.
Tumawa si Dixon at tumigil sa pag-kain. "Talaga?" biro niya.
Umirap ako at humarap kay Adhaya. "H'wag kang maniwala rito. Masiyado lang siyang assuming," sabi ko at tinusok na ng straw ang carton ng strawberry milk.
Adhaya giggled. "You guys are so weird," saad niya.
"Bibigyan ko ba siya ng strawberry milk kung hindi kami close?" tanong ni Dixon kay Adhaya.
Napatigil naman ako sa pag-inom dahil sa sinabi niya. "Yah!" tutol ko.
"Sabagay," pagsang-ayon naman ni Adhaya. I smacked my forehead. Bakit ba ako ang pinagtitripan nilang dalawa? Ugh!
Mayamaya pa ay may lumapit na estudyante kay Adhaya at may ibinulong.
"Mauna na ako. Pinapatawag daw ako sa faculty, eh." Tumayo na si Adhaya.
Bumaling ang tingin niya kay Dixon. "Bantayan mo ang bestfriend ko, ha. Ilayo mo sa gulo," bilin niya.
I rolled my eyes. "Siya mismo 'yung gulo," biro ko. Sinamaan naman ako ng tingin ni Dixon kaya napailing ako.
"Bye! Enjoy your date, love birds!" panunukso pa ni Adhaya.
"Your friend is funny," Dixon remarked.
"Mukha bang funny 'yun? You're weird."
"You're weirder." Napailing ako. Agad namang umalis si Adhaya at nagpatuloy naman kaming dalawa ni Dixon sa pag-kain.
"Dri..."
Napatigil ako at takang tumingin kay Dixon. "Hey, that's my nickname! Hindi tayo close para tawagin mo ako n'yan.
He grinned. "Dri, Dri, Dri," pang-aasar niya pa.
"Shut up!" saway ko at inirapan siya.
"Fine, fine. But anyway..." pagsuko niya.
"What?" Lumingon ako sa kaniya habang hinihintay kung anong sasabihin niya.
"I overheard Claude and Miss Maisie's conversation a while ago," he added. My brows furrowed.
"Anong pinag-uusapan nila?"
Sumeryoso ang mukha niya. "They are planning to kick you out."
My body stiffened. Oh, shit.
"Balak nilang paalisin ka sa school na 'to," pag-uulit niya.
"What? They can't do that! Hindi ako puwedeng mapaalis dito!" I panicked.
"They can. They are powerful, Dri. Claude is the Student Council President while Miss Maisie is a teacher. With the amount of power and connection they hold, they can surely manipulate the students," he remarked.
"What should I do? Wala na akong ibang mapupuntahan kapag natanggal ako rito."
"I have a plan," panimula niya.
Nilingon ko siya. "What?"
"Claude has a sister. Get close to her and use her against Claude." 
My brows furrowed.
"I won't do that. Ayaw kong gumamit ng ibang tao para sa ikabubuti ko," I answered.
He sighed. "Alam ko namang sasabihin mo 'yan. H'wag mo na lamang pansinin ang sinabi ko," saad niya.
"I'll think of a better plan," he added. Tumango naman ako at tumayo na dahil tapos na akong kumain.
"Mauna na ako," paalam ko. He nodded and sipped on his drink.
Aalis na sana ako nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko. "Dri."
I turned my face at him. "What?" I asked.
"Can I get your number?"
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