#7: Stalker?

Mika's POV

Three days later, I was sitting at my usual spot, repeatedly tapping my pen on my History book, resting my chin on my hand, while listening to our ever so heated professor.

"I hope you learned something. Dismissed."

Professor Valdez walked out and the class started to make noise. I looked at my book and tried to search for the topic he'd discussed just now.

Turns out, he didn't. With all the lectures and life lessons, talking about how we should set our goal in life and go after that dream, he couldn't find a time to teach History. And that happens every time. Like every day in the past few months. He should've taken Social Science instead of Education.

I groaned a little out of frustration and shut my book.

"Huy, Mika."

Oh, please.

"Balita ko may bagong roommate si Alexa, kilala mo?" asked Lucas.

I ignored him.

"Sabi ko nga si Alexa dapat ang tanungin ko kasi siya yung mas nakakaalam no?"

Ignored.

"Malamang, roommate niya yun e. Bakit nga ba kita tinatanong?"

Ignored.

"Ewan ko din pero para na akong baliw dito na tinatanong at sinasagot ang sarili ko 'no?"

Yup. I agree.

"Huwag mo nang sagutin. Maiba nga ko. Bat di mo nga ba ako pinapansin?"

Ignored.

"Kasi ba madaldal ako? O ayaw mo sakin?"

Both.

"Nakakairita ba ako?"

That's a statement.

"Bakit nga ba 'di mo ko pinapansin, Mika?"

Ignored.

"Nahihiya ka ba sa'kin?"

Ignored.

"Baka nga. Pero bakit? Kasi ang gwapo ko?"

Ignored.

"Hinde? Kasi ang talented ko?"

Ugh, the conceit of this guy!

"Bak--

I stood up. "Good morning, Miss Quill." I greeted.

Nagsitakbuhan sa mga upuan nila ang mga kaklase ko habang pumasok si Miss Quill sa classroom.

"Good morning, Ms. Axel."

I sat and thought that Lucas would finally stop. But I was wrong.

"Mika," he whispered. "Bakit nga?"

Lucas, have mercy on me. 

*****-*****

'Nang tumunog ang bell, inayos ko ang gamit ko nang medyo matagal sa nakagawian. 'Cuz luckily, Lucas had a meeting with his team and had to leave before me.  Huh, I guess miracles do exist.

Closing my bag, I left my seat and went out the classroom. I had my backpack hanged on both of my shoulders and put up my smile. You know, lunch break? 

Today's math lesson are a bit complicated. Either that or was it because of Lucas' unstoppable chattering beside me? But on top of it all was History. It would be easier if Jean was around but I guess I have to wait until Evening Class. 

We had different schedules at morning shift but had one class in common during evening shift. I don't want to admit it but I like evening classes more than those in the morning. Answer to your Why is simple. No Lucas.

How fun is that, right? 

-Shook-

Lumingon agad ako sa likuran. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko pero wala akong nakita maliban sa mga kulay beige na pader sa magkabilang gilid. 

What was that?

Wala kasing daanan ng sinag ng araw sa pasilyong nilikuan ko kaya medyo madilim. Under maintenace kasi. Naghintay ako sandali bago tumalikod at nagsimulang maglakad muli nang wala akong nakita.

-Shook-

Again! Now I'm accurate. 

Someone's staring at me. Someone's following me. Tahimik akong nagmasid sa paligid, naghihintay para sa mga matang sumusunod sa'kin.

-Shook-

Then, I saw it. Two cold bloody eyes staring at me.

Tumakbo ako sa direksyon kung saan ko nakita yung nakatingin. Lumiko ako sa may pasilyo at pumasok sa cafeteria. Sh*t!

Nakipagsiksikan ako sa mga tao hanggang sa makarating ako sa may pintuan ng exit. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko pero hindi ko naman alam kung sino sa kanila. I continue to roam my eyes at the crowd while catching my breath.

Then, I felt someone touched my shoulder.

I wasted no time and grabbed it before twisting it on his back. He groaned in pain and told me to stop but I didn't. Not until he said his name.

"A-ah! Mika! A-Ako 'to! Si Lucas! A-aray!" 

My eyes widen a bit before letting him go quickly. He touched his right arm before slowly moving it in circles while his eye twitch every time he does. Was it him?

"Ow. What strength you had there." he said, turning to me. 

I scanned his eyes and recalled the red eyes from earlier. His eyes are naturally dark red so it's possible. The only thing is, he's not a she. I had a slight hint of her gender based on how light the sound she made while she's running at the empty hallway. And given that it didn't make too much noise, I'm 50% sure it's a girl.

But of course, the lightness of your walk won't fully determine your gender. It's actually different for everyone so I can't lie my trust on that. But I had a sure card that added 50% at my sureness. It was her skirt. It was a bit hard catching up on such pace with an empty stomach but I saw it. The legs--I mean! The black skirt.. yeah, not those freaking white legs.

"May muscle ka pala? What, are you working out or something?" 

He groaned again when he slightly twisted it. I guess I twisted it too much. But funny how I don't feel sorry at all. He then asked me question but I had my focus elsewhere. The moment I laid my eyes at the crowd, I saw the eyes again.

"Bakit naman--Mika!"

I followed her and just ran. You won't get away. When I turned at the corner, I saw her. She stopped running. As if she was waiting for me. May mask siya kaya mata lang ang makikita mo.

Those stares. They're murderous.

"Who are you?"

I waited for an answer but she didn't speak and continue staring.

"Why are you following me?"

Still no answer.

"Ma." 

Ma?

"Mama."

Ma--

Bigla niya akong sinugod ng kutsilyo. She aimed at my stomach but I dodged that. Agad niyang inatake ang mukha ko pero nakailag ako. Inatake niya ang leeg ko, ang braso, sa mga parteng makakapag-immobilized sa'kin. Pero nailagan ko. Nang inatake niya ang mukha ko ay agad ko siyang siniko sa tiyan at sinuntok sa baba. She got hit but she didn't seem to be in pain. She ca fight, she just can't get through.

She attacked me again on those spots but I kept on dodging them. When I found an opening, I kicked her stomach and then her hand. Tumalsik ang kutsilyo at nakahawak na siya sa tiyan niya.

"You're not a student here, aren't you?"

She took another knife from her socks. How the hell did she get those things passed the security's metal detector?

She attacked me again but in my feet this time. She's trying to immobilize me. She moved it sideways on my feet but I kept jumping and dodging it. Nang makahanap ako ng pagkakataon ay inapakan ko ang kutsilyo kaya napatingin siya sa'kin. Sinipa ko ang tiyan niya tapos ang dibdib niya. Napaatras siya dahil dun. I took the knife and walked towards her.

"Now tell me, who are you?"

She still didn't answered. I was about to walk towards her when she threw an unknown thing at me.

Agad akong umilag pero nadaplisan ako sa kanang pisngi. When I looked at the girl again, she was gone. Nang tiningnan ko ang bagay na binato niya ay kinuha ko ito.

It was a thorny bloody rose.