0001 : The Lamb and The Lion King
2726 Words
It was said that never enter a war unprepared. But why does it look like the commander of the enemy's base is dumbstruck?
Seated in a grey colored couch, Joaqim Salvador subconsciously drummed his fingers to the armrest. His sharp-looking eyes opened slowly, carrying a glint of pure interest. Nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa sinasabing tupa na may lakas ng loob na harapin siya.
Actually, Joaqim is amused.
Not all dare to open the gates of his den. Kahit ang mga guro na namamahala sa eskwelahan ay walang lakas ng loob para pasukin ang lungga niya. It is all because everyone knows that the Salvadors owned the school. Though this is just a rumor the Salvadors did not deny the 'fact'.
Another reason is that Joaqim is rumored to be part of a Mafia. Not only him, but the whole Salvador Familia is part of a Black Underground Association that specializes in the Black Market. Sinasabi na nakuha nila ang yaman nila mula sa ilang daang taong pamamahala sa tagong lugar ng mundo. The people fear any conflict might trigger Joaqim's wrath so they kept their distance.
Although, normally he never causes trouble.
Joaqim is never the type to flaunt his riches. Kahit na halatang halata sa suot niyang damit at mamahaling mga rolex at alahas, Joaqim is just a humble and silent person. It is like he is an assassin on a mission, silently watching the people like a spectator. He only reacts when action is really needed, but most of the time he is just a tamed lion.
Hindi siya 'yung tipikal na maninipa ng taong humaharang sa daanan niya kahit na four lanes naman ang hallway at pwede namang lumiko sa tabi. He never even stepped on someone before, and if ever he bumped on a person by mistake, Joaqim can say 'sorry' and 'excuse me' sincerely. He never abuses people and knows respect very well.
He is a gentleman, not a bully.
Of course, don't even try to hit his bottom line. Kahit na mayroon siyang maamong personalidad at magandang anyo, kapag dumating na sa punto na kung saan napakulo mo ang dugo niya, siguradong patay ka. He is indeed a gentleman but in a different sense. It is due to his punishments that are oh-so gentle like giving you marshmallows dipped in chocolate, but hell's version. Yes, hell version level 999 plus one.
Still, his punishments are called a 'blessing' because he does it all personally.
Going back to the situation, the den is the lion's safest place but the most dangerous one for the strangers. Kaya ganoon na lamang kalaki ang pagtataka ni Joaqim nang malaman niya na may isang taong kumatok sa pintuan niya na walang pag-aalala. Even his brothers inside the den are also stupified, looking at the doorway as if expecting the Incredible Hulk to barge in.
What comes next is several guards in all black suits escorting an individual that is wearing the school's uniform. Walking in a straight and imposing manner, the schoolboy carried his self perfectly that everyone watching the scene could see angels and heralds sprinkling sparkles and confetti to the individual. Halos lumuwa na nga ang mga mata nila dahil sa hiwaga na nakikita.
They never saw a person who wore their school uniform like a prince before.
The Elite School of West Preparatory High has two sets of uniform called the Type A and Type B. Type A is generally composed of a taupe grey undershirt coupled with a Cashmere brown blazer and a black necktie. This is partnered with pale-colored slacks for the boys and the same pale-colored knee-high skirts for the girls. This uniform is used for formal occasions or whenever there is an event in the school.
Type B is the less formal one. It only has a grey-brown vest and white short-sleeved undershirt. The same pants will be carried down. The vest has the insignia of the school that is the image of two twin lions with laurels around. The Initials of the school 'WPH' with the year the school was founded is on a ribbon stitched under the logo.
The students are allowed to choose whatever uniform they wanted to wear, except if told. This student is wearing the Type B uniform.
All in all, the uniform exhibits the elitism of the school. Kahit sino makakita nito ay mamangha dahil sa kagalingan ng mga estudyante na namamahay rito. Hindi lang iyon, halos lumuwa na siguro ang mga mata ng mga 'normal' na tao dahil parang mga prinsesa at mga prinsipe ang nakakapasok rito. At literal na mga 'dugong-bughaw' ang mga estudyante dahil sila lang naman ang anak ng mga pinakamayayamang tao sa bansa, o marahil sa mundo.
The tuition is priced higher than the auction-priced abstract paintings. Indeed, sky high!
So to see someone to have such a young master air is normal. But why does this person, this very individual, has a more scholarly vibe than a rich person? And see those perfect movements? Why... why does it feel like they are looking at a god?
Joaqim followed the movement of the student while biting his lower lip lightly. His eyes narrowed, seemingly pleased by the appearance of the innocent lamb. Pinanood lamang niya ang bawat galaw nito sa hanggang makarating sa kanyang harapan. And the innocent lamb? Of course, he also noticed the hot glare of Joaqim so he returned everything with good service.
He smiled brightly.
With the walk that will only take five seconds, but time is relative, so these two characters felt like time has gone for a day and two. At nang magkaharap na sila, tila ba magkakilala na sila dahil sa mga nangungusap na pagpapakilala gamit ang mga mata. No words are needed for the introduction. One look is enough to know the identity of the other person.
Well, I mean, sino ba ang hindi nakakakilala kay Oreon Summer?
Aside from his weird name, his achievements made this person a celebrity. Straight A student, top 1 since his first year in nursery school, back to back champion in math quiz bees and an olympiad, had gone in Malaysia and Singapore as a representative for a Science Research Projects, a track, and field athlete, part of the basketball team, and heck whatever high school s**t that anyone could achieve, he had achieved.
He is the headache that we feel our parents got us to compare with.
And everyone feels that Oreon, usually called as Oreo, is still not damn satisfied with all of his achievements. Siguro titigil lang siya kapag naputol na ang leeg niya sa dami ng medalya na sinabit sa kanya. O baka kapag dumating na ang panahon na ang mga certificates at trophies niya ay sapat na para bumara sa isang malaking imbornal.
His very existence described that he is an alpha.
Well, not before Joaqim though.
Joaqim shifted his position to see the individual more clearly. Dineretso niya ang kanyang likod bago yumuko paharap, clasping both of his hand on the front. He hid his mouth that is still having the biting gesture, his eyes looking sharp towards Oreo. That small movement is enough to release his aura that could trample mountains in one sweep.
Tahimik ang lahat. Walang nag-ingay habang naghihintay sa hatol ng haring leon. The sound of the pendulum clock resounded to the whole room, ticking like a bomb destroying the silence. It was until someone from the members that accidentally stumbled on his own feet from the tension moved the sounds around. Joaqim heaved a sigh, signaling defeat.
Defeat - because he wasn't able to read the emotion coming from Oreo's eyes.
"So, how did he manage to enter? Don't tell me that he is a black belter as well?" Joaqim said, not serious on the note. Sa pagkakataon na ito, nakahinga na rin ang ibang miyembro na halos mawalan ng hangin dahil sa tensyon na nilalabas ni Joaqim.
He is such a dangerous beast.
"Um well..." Umabante ang isa sa mga lalaking nakasuot ng itim. May nakasabit na earpiece sa tainga niya na pinaresan ng itim na shades. He looks like the typical hard-muscled bodyguards in mafia stories.
Joaqim caught the hesitation from the man's voice. Napataas kilay siya habang naghihintay sa sagot. The man in the black suit just cleared his throat to gather his voice while collecting his thoughts. Nawala na ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito at hinarap si Joaqim ng seryoso.
"This sir kindly asked us if he could enter..." He said.
"And...?" Jaoqim waited for the next words.
"And... nothing else sir. He said he wanted to enter the Den. So we let him enter..."
Joaqim nodded slowly. Walang emosyon ang mga mata niya habang tinatanggap ang sagot. Seeing from his relaxed state, the bodyguards sighed in relief. Everyone knows how terrifying Joaqim could get. But at least he is a sensible man. Hindi siya magagalit dahil pinapasok nila si Oreo. After all, Oreo is not dangerous. His clear and innocent temperament is enough to attract bees and butterflies.
"It is true that I didn't ban anyone from entering..." Joaqim stated, which is very true. He then shifted his attention to the scholarly man and asked with a gentle voice: "What brings the scholar here?"
"Kailangan ba may dahilan para pumunta ako rito?" Oreo replied with his equally gentle and soothing voice. Joaqim smirked from his response.
Sinong tao ba ang may kakayahan na sagutin ang tanong niya ng tanong na buhay pa ngayon? The members of the den all look at the brave scholar that has been turning their beliefs in a whole circle. What breakfast did he eat today that he has the guts to face the lion king like this? He is very gutsy!
"Should there be not? As I can remember, we never get acquainted. Will this sir care an explanation?" Joaqim asked.
As if on cue, nagsigalawan ang mga tao sa paligid nila. May isa na kumuha ng lamesa at inilapag sa pagitan ng dalawa. Mayroon namang naglagay ng upuan sa likuran ni Oreo na tinulungan siyang umupo. Isang magician naman ang naglabas ng tea set na inilagay sa lamesa na may kasamang mga biskwit sa platito.
Everything just happened in full five seconds, with the last part giving Oreo a cup of tea. Hindi naman tinanggihan ni Oreo ang inumin at nagpasalamat sa taong naghandog sa kanya ng alay. He blew the slight warmth away before drinking the tea by sip. Pinanood siya ng lahat na para bang isa siyang judge sa isang cooking master show. Oreo sighed in relief.
"So this is how real tea tastes like," he nodded in satisfaction. "Maybe I should come over a few times in the future to drink this stuff."
Joaqim gave off a chuckle. Unlike Oreo, si Joaqim ang kumuha ng sariling inumin.
"If you like, I could send you a pack of it para naman may mainom ka sa inyo," alok ni Joaqim.
"That would be a great idea but I should decline. Saan ko naman ilalagay ang masarap na inumin na ito kung wala naman akong disenteng baso na pwedeng kalagyan? I can't use the mug for sure," sambit ni Oreo na tumawa ng kaunti.
"The taste of the tea does not depend on the container. Pwede mo ngang ilagay ito sa bowl kung gusto mo," Joaqim suggested.
"Still, one should respect a royalty. At ano naman ang magiging silbi ng inumin na ito para sa isang dukha na tulad ko?" He said, hinting a joke.
Hindi sumagot si Joaqim na tumango lamang sa sinabi niya. Nobody can tell what he is thinking but everyone is sure to Oreo's words. Of all stereotypical setting this story could get, Oreo is the one who has the super ultra Einstein level number 99 intelligence but has a very poor background. Sa pagiging dukha niya, sapat na ang tuition for one semester para buhayin ang pamilya niya ng tatlongpung taon.
But let's not exaggerate things. Hindi naman siya dukha sa puntong kailangan na niyang magtrabaho ng sampung part-time jobs sa isang araw kasabay ang walong oras na pag-aaral na para bang mapapatanong ka kung 72 hours a day ba ang araw sa kanya. His family is just on the middle standard, but due to the constant increase of the market prices, maituturing na napakababa ng income ng pamilya niya para sa normal na gastusin araw-araw.
Luckily, his OP intelligence brought him to this school. Wala siyang binabayaran kahit ang walang hiyang miscellaneous na iyan. His achievements had paid all the needed credits and the school is indebted enough to give him free college fees. Well, that is if he will continue schooling here. As a matter of fact, now that he is one his last year in high school, he already received a lot of requests from 'average schools'.
Ahem, namely, Harvard University, Oxford University, some schools in England, Hogwarts, nah, not a great deal. Some small schools that can't even compare to a fodder. He had all the tickets waving on his hands like they are begging him to enroll. Pero dahil kasisimula pa lamang ng klase for the Senior High, hindi pa muna ito inaalala ni Oreo.
Actually, he has a greater problem than that that made him walk through lava and fire just to meet Joaqim.
"So, hitting the game, ano ang pakay mo at pumunta ka sa lugar na ito? It's not that I'm belittling your ability. I'm just surprised," Joaqim said. "Everyone has courage but not all managed to convert it to bravery."
"I am quite flattered," saad ni Oreo na ibinaba ang kanyang inumin.
Ang kanyang pustora at paggalaw ay nakaka-akit sa puntong natatalo na niya ang mga taong nag-aral ng ilang taon sa etiquette. At sa mga galaw na ito, hindi mo aakalain na galing siya sa mahirap na pamilya.
"Actually, I am here to give you something."
Simula nung umpisa, may dala dala nang briefcase si Oreo. Hindi pa ito tinitignan ng mga bodyguards dahil hindi tumunog ang metal detector nang madaanan ito. Wala ring reaksyon na natanggap mula sa bomb sniffing dogs. Kaya kung ano man ang laman ng briefcase na iyan ay hindi delikado.
Oreo placed the square briefcase on the side of the table and traced its corners. Once his fingers reached the locks on the top, his hands nimbly unattached the hook with a click, rendering the case open. Gamit ang isang galaw, ipinakita ni Oreo ang laman ng case. And the contents of it made all the people inside the room to jump up in surprise.
Inside the case is a bundle of one thousand and to be estimated to sum up in a million. Lahat ng mga nakakita ay tuluyan nang nawindang sa mga pangyayaring naganap. Well, it's not that they never saw a million before. They are the damn rich children of some oil tycoon grandmaster or something, obviously, one million pesos is just a pocket money.
But Oreo? This person who owned the award-winning title of the "MOST INTELLIGENT" and the "POOREST STUDENT" in the campus thingy, is carrying a school briefcase containing a million peso? Marahil kung lumipad na ang mga baboy o pumuti na ang uwak, hindi pa sila mabibigla. Kahit nga si Joaqim na hindi masyadong naaapektuhan sa signal number 5 na bagyo ay nagulat rin sa nakita.
Pinanood lamang ni Oreo ang reaksyon ng mga tao. The expected scenario made him feel at ease and confident. With a smile, he exhibited the one million like a beauty product before Joaqim. It's just that, the words that he used are somewhat different. Oreo continued to speak with a sparkle glittering from his eyes.
"For the record, I honestly wanted to say that I really very hate you," Oreo announced, earning the gasps of all the men of the universe. Joaqim blinked his eyes, stupified.
"And because of that, I am giving this one million peso to you."
Ah?! Who gives the person they hate a million peso? Or maybe this innocent lamb stole money from the bank, and since he hated Joaqim, he will give this money to frame him?
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Good Boys' Little Theatre:
Oreo: I actually really hate you!
Jaoqim: *dumstruck*
Oreo: Tha-that's w-why I-I'm g-giving y-you t-this *shyly pushes the briefcase*
Joaqim: *Opens the briefcase* *gasps* You're giving me your heart?
Oreo: Oh, wait, the wrong briefcase.
Joaqim: ...
Oreo: I am actually giving you my life.
Joaqim: *smiles*
The Den : *nosebleed intensifies*
Author: *Dies*
- Writer
