The Billionaire's Canary

#8:

As we stepped into the university canteen, it felt as if all eyes were drawn to Rosalie and me.

Mahigpit na humawak si Rosalie sa aking braso, hindi maitatago ang tila takot sa iba na tulad rin naman naming estudyante.

"That's okay," I reassured her, gently patting her hand that clung to my arm.

I took a deep breath and continued walking, trying to inspire confidence in her.

Yet, just as we ventured further inside, a group of well-dressed men and women blocked our path.

Their proud postures and confident demeanor made it clear they were among the wealthy elite, exuding an air of entitlement that made the atmosphere feel even more charged.

“New face? A man with a sissy look, and a chubby girl."

A woman’s voice cut through the hum of chatter as she glanced up at us, nakataas pa ang isa nitong kilay, as though she were sizing me and Rosalie up.

Her finger danced idly with the ends of her hair, betraying a sense of casual dominance.

Just as we considered slipping away, they stepped forward, blocking our path again.

“What’s your problem?” I snapped, irritation lacing my tone.

They stood there, their posturing unmistakable, as if they were asserting their power over the canteen—or perhaps even the entire university itself.

Wala akong balak makipag away sa kanila, lalo na kasama ko ang kapatid ko. Kung kaya kong umiwas ay gagawin ko huwag lamang madamay sa isang gulo ang kapatid ko.

Even if Rosalie and I found ourselves clashing with them, we would likely find ourselves at a disadvantage.

Their high status could easily turn the tables against us, and the idea of being expelled from the university looms over me like a dark cloud.

Everything would spiral out of control, even if we insisted we hadn’t instigated the confrontation.

Just then, I heard a voice slice through the tension, "Well, such a courage, huh! Hey, slutty sissy. Don’t just answer, you might not know who you’re talking to."

A woman approached, her finger ominously pointed at my forehead, as if daring me to challenge her.

My lips were pressed tightly together, a storm brewing inside me, while my hand rested on the back of Rosalie's palm, which gripped my arm with an innocent strength.

Suddenly, she stiffened, surprised by the sudden tightening of my grip.

Sasagot na sana ako nang muling dinuro ako ng babae sa noo, the force of her gesture pushing me back as if I might stagger and fall if it weren’t for Rosalie's firm hold.

Instantly, chaos erupted; two men lunged forward, hinawakan si Rosalie at hinila palayo sa akin.

Agad akong kumilos, kahit na ang lakas na ng pagtibok ng puso ko sa pinipigilang galit sa mga ito, sinubukan kong hawakan si Rosalie para bawiin sa dalawang lalaking humila dito.

Sa loob ng canteen, nagkakagulo na lahat-lahat, walang ibang mga estudyante ang balak tumulong sa amin dahil s takot nila na lumaban sa mga mamayang estudyante na nakapalibot na nga sa amin ngayon ni Rosalie.

A woman approached me once more, her face reflecting an unsettling blend of determination and malice.

In an instant, she seized the collar of my uniform, yanking it tightly against my throat.

Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata ko sa gulat ng tumaas ang kamay nito, striking my cheek with a sharp slap that echoed in the already tense atmosphere.

I gazed at her in disbelief, shock intertwining with confusion, habang ang babae na sumampal sa akin ay nakapaskil sa mga labi nito ang isang ngisi na nagustuhan ang ginawa nito sa akin.

With each racing heartbeat, an overwhelming urge to retaliate ignited within me; she had crossed a boundary I never imagined anyone would dare to breach.

My hand instinctively latched onto her wrist, my grip unyielding as if that alone could crush her defiance.

I'm still a man, at mas malakas ako kumpara dito kung nais kong lumaban kahit na halos mas malaki pa ang katawan nito sa akin.

Rage coursed through my veins, urging me to unleash my own wrath, but just as I prepared to break her hold, a commanding voice pierced the tumult and silenced the chaos.

"Anong kaguluhan ito?"

All eyes turned towards the source of the voice—the university director had entered, accompanied by the very man I had been trying so desperately to forget.

Nagulat na lang ako ng biglang bitawan ng babae ang pagkakakwelyo nito sa akin na halos matumba ako kung hindi ko nabalanse ang katawan ko, ngayon ay tila nahintakutan na umatras ang babae ng ilang hakbang palayo.

“Kuya Kendrick,” she called out, her voice imbued with familiarity.

I was taken aback; so she was a Hidalgo, just like him. No wonder she had the audacity to instigate a confrontation.

I glanced at Kendrick, whose gaze was locked onto mine, na hindi pinansin ang babae na humawak sa braso niya na parang doon kumukuha ng proteksyon.

“KuyaKendrick, we were just having fun,” she chimed in, her tone light and airy, but I could see through her act. “We were merely greeting the new students here.”

I couldn't shake the feeling that her playful façade was merely a desperate attempt to mask the tension in the air.

In the five years I had spent by Kendrick's side, I had never encountered any of his family; my existence was confined to the vast interiors of his grand house, never daring to wander beyond its luxurious walls.

Sa totoo lang, hindi na mahalaga sa akin na makilala ang pamilya niya—I was merely a pawn in a contract binding only him and me.

“Brother Kendrick,” the woman called again, striving to capture his attention, but he seemed oblivious to her.

His gaze, however, was locked onto me, or rather, to the red mark where the girl slap had landed on my cheek.

“Mr. Hidalgo, let’s not disturb the students further. It’s only natural for them to enjoy themselves,” pagpapagitna ng direktor, na parang gustong kunin ang atensyon ni Kendrick na namatingin parin sa akin.

But Kendrick remained indifferent, his eyes fixated on the evidence of the girl aggression.

As he advanced, trying to free himself from the girl grasp, she tightened her hold, defiantly stating, “Brother Kendrick, leave him be. He’s just an ordinary student, and you shouldn’t waste your attention on him.”

Her dismissive words cut deeply, deepening the crease on my forehead.

Sa mga sandaling iyon, sinasabi nito ang pagkakaiba ng katayuan namin sa buhay, at hindi maitatago sa salita nito na minamaliit niya ang buhay na mayroon kami.

“Shut up,” Kendrick interjected, his voice deep and commanding.

The room fell silent, a collective gasp echoing through the crowd as everyone turned to witness the display of authority.

He seized the woman’s hand, which had been resting on her waist, mahigpit na hinawakan nito ang kamay ng babae at marahas na kinalas, at seryoso na tinapunan niya ito ng tingin.

“Don’t sully the name of the Hidalgos. Hindi ka ibinilang sa pamilyang ito para lamang manghamak ng mas nakakababa sayo. Do you understand?"

Stunned, the woman froze, naiwan sa ere ang kamay nito na balak pa muli sana nitong humawak kay Kendrick. Awtomatiko pang tumango ito bilang sagot sa sinabi niya.

As she bowed, her fingers folded delicately in front of her, the weight of Kendrick’s words hung heavily in the air.

I could feel the tension swirling around us like an invisible force.

Just then, Danilo, who had been eyeing me with concern, stepped closer.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his hand reaching up to gently touch the cheek where the woman had slapped me earlier.

I nodded, forcing a smile as I turned my face away from the warmth of his palm, a strange sensation reminiscent of a burn coursing through me.

It wasn’t just the sting on my cheek; it was Kendrick’s piercing gaze, which seemed to anchor itself directly on Danilo’s hand resting on my cheek.

I could also feel the weight of the woman's eyes sharpening on me as Kendrick attempted to quiet her, but I chose to ignore it.

Binalingan ko si Rosalie, who had remained silent since the woman slapped me earlier, I felt a mix of urgency and desperation.

“Come on,” I urged, gripping her hand tightly as I pulled her away from the crowd of students and the imposing presence of the director.

I needed to distance myself from Kendrick's terrifying stare. With Rosalie by my side, I focused on moving forward, not daring to look back for fear of locking eyes with Kendrick once more.