My Suspicious Boss

Chapter 04

After a grueling half-hour of arguments in the middle of the streets, Aiden finally managed to persuade me to walk with him into the campus. Using, of course, his blackmailing strategies.

Paglagpas pa lang naming ng gate ay pansin ko na ang mga matang nakasunod sa 'min. I can feel my heart on my throat! Pinagdadasal ko lang sa isip ko na hindi pa nakapasok si Gabrielle. At sana walang magsumbong kay Mommy!

There were already lots of students following us as we walk. Kita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko kung gaano sila kaadik! Naririnig ko na rin sa gilid-gilid ang mga bulong tungkol sa 'kin. s**t, I'm in big trouble talaga!

I tried to hide behind kuya Kian, whose back was wide. Pero hindi rin siya effective, at pilit pa akong tinatawag ni Aiden na maglakad sa tabi niya. Grabe, ganto ba siya ka-needy?

The whispers around us were slowly torturing me. Imbis na si Aiden ang pinag-uusapan nila ay ako na!

"Who's that girl with Aiden?"

"'Yan yung rank 1 eh!"

"Ba't sila magkasama?"

Tumungo na lang ako, iniisip na mababaling din ang atensyon nila sa iba. Unti-unting nawala ang atensyon sa akin nang may isang babaeng naglalakad papalapit sa amin. Hindi siya naiipit ng kaguluhan; sa halip, binigyan pa siya ng puwang para makalapit nang mabilis!

"Aiden!" sigaw niya sa matinis niyang boses.

Napalingon ako kay Aiden nang hindi man lang siya huminto maglakad kahit na mukhang kilala niya 'yung babae. She looks pretty. Beauty queen type pretty. She was taller than me by a few inches, she had long brown hair, pale skin, and plain gorgeous face features. Mukha ngang muse tuwing school events!

Hindi siya tumigil sa harap namin, at sumabay na lang sa paglakad nang hindi huminto si Aiden. She even held me back so she could walk beside him! The crowd went crazy again, making sounds as if they had something going on.

Napatingin ako kay kuya Kian. Umiling naman siya sa 'kin, senyas na hayaan ko lang. 'E hahayaan ko naman talaga, ano bang paki ko?

"Uy, Pau, can we grab lunch together?" I heard her say.

Aiden looked blank, walking straight without even paying her attention. "Hello? Earth to Pau, are you there?" she adds, wrapping her arms around Aiden's.

Nabigla ako nang biglang huminto sa paglalakad si Aiden sa harap namin. Ano bang nangyayari?

He aggressively shook of her hand off of his skin. What the hell? "Lhianne, I'm busy," sagot niya sa babae.

Lhianne? I soon realized who the woman was. Lhianne Maureen, the school's muse! Isang sikat na pageant model around the city!

"What? Are you mad at me ba? You haven't been texting me either! I'm upset na!"

Eugh.

Suddenly, everyone got quiet to watch their drama. Is there really drama? Because, I am sort-of hooked! Hah, mga chismosa.

Napakamot si Aiden sa ulo, pero hindo niya pa rin hinaharap si Lhianne kahit na magkatabi lang silang nakatayo. "Look, Lhianne. This isn't working, just stop."

I heard different gasps by my sides hearing his response. He's f*****g cruel! How can they do this in public? Tinapik ako ni kuya Kian saka ulit umiling. "What?" I mouthed to him.

He lowered his head to whisper to me. "We should get going first," sabi niya, kasunod ang tango ko. I guess it isn't the time to witness some drama.

Maglalakad na dapat kami sa gilid nila upang makalayo nang marinig ko ulit ang boses ni Lhianne.

"Is it her?! Is it that b***h?!" sigaw niya.

Napalunok ako sa kaba bago sila lingunin muli. Kita ko ngang nakaturo sa 'kin si Lhianne na galit na galit. "What?" I sighed.

"Let's go, Tina," bulong ni kuya Kian sa gilid ko. The f**k? How can she accuse me like that?!

Agad naman akong sumunod kay Kian at narating namin ang Music Room bago pa ako masabunutan ni Lhianne sa gitna ng maraming tao.

"What the hell! They'll think we're having like... an affair! Ayoko malabel-an na kabit, 'no!" I ranted out immediately when Kian and I reached the private room.

He sits down and assures me. "Nothing to worry about. They're not dating," saad niya.

"What? They're not?"

"No, they just had something going on."

Ah. I think I know what's going on. "Oh, like? Is he blackmailing her too? Pagawaan ng homeworks?" I laughed.

"No, silly, he loves her," he said in a serious manner. "I mean... He did."

I doubt. Marunong bang magmahal yung demonyong 'yun?

"I don't believe that, but okay," sabi ko na lang. I looked around the room as it was an unfamiliar sight. I never had the chance to join extracurricular activities as I was always drowning in academics. Ngayon lang ako nakapasok ng band room.

"But, Kuya Kian, why are you letting him order you around?" I asked out of the blue, but he smiles instead.

"Okay, fine, I won't ask. Pero, I'm telling you. Once I get out of his grip, tutulungan kita makatakas from him."

Malakas siyang napatawa. "Silly, I don't want to get away."

"What?"

"He's my friend. He isn't blackmailing me or anything. We're just friends," paliwanag niya.

Napaupo ako sa upuan ng drum set. "Friends how? He's a jackass, and you're a smartypants! You're like the goodest boy, kuya! My kuya said so. Ikaw daw pinakainnocent sa inyo."

"A person's image does not define his real self, Tina. Don't you agree?" seryosong tanong niya.

Napalunok ako ng marinig ito. People aren't always what they appear to be. Just like myself—I may seem like the perfect image of a smart, top-ranked, sweet "mommy's girl," but beneath that façade, I'm actually a rebellious smoker. It’s a stark reminder that outward appearances can be deceiving, and everyone harbors layers that aren't immediately visible. I understood what he meant.

"Then... what are you, Kian?" nangangambang tanong ko. "You and Aiden. What are you guys?"

His eyes show no emotion, making it difficult to read his thoughts or intentions.

"We're gang leaders."