"Ruby." I called my grandma after I moved to the mansion she had prepared.  Hindi na ko bumalik sa tinitirahan ko dahil alam kong pupuntahan lang ako ni Arlie roon. Sinabihan ko na rin si Ruby na huwag ipaalam ni KirJack na nasa Mansion ako umuwi. 

I don't want to see him. Although it's impossible for her not to tell him my whereabouts, these two seem too close to each other. I bet she'll turncoat our settlement. But I still hold hope on her.

"It's good to see you're here, hija." Lumapit siya sa akin upang bumiso, pero agad akong lumayo at pabagsak na umupo sa sofa. 

"I'm so happy that you called earlier." Umupo siya sa tabi ko. I can see her genuine smile that she used to give me when I was a little girl.  

But that was a long time ago. I can't trust no one, even her. Kaya lang naman ako nandito upang gamitin ang mana na nararapat sa akin. I need assets to get justice for myself and for those people who are deprived of their rights. 

"I heard what happened last night. Are you okay?"

"I'm totally fine." Napatingin ako sa bodyguard ko. He's eyes answer where he got all those bruises on his face. 

"Let's get to the point." I crossed my arms and rested my back on the sofa. Inabot ng kasama kong bodyguard ang isang envelope kay Ruby. 

"What's this?"

"I want you to enroll me there."

"That's amazing!" Masaya niyang binuksan ang envelope. 

Her expression suddenly dropped as she read the name of the school. I know she knew about this elite school. At hindi ka basta-basta makakapasok sa prestigious na paaralan na ito kung wala kang malakas na kapit.

I also heard that the school was the number one elite school where most of the students' parents are gangsters, CEOs and tycoons. And it was related to Samuel, the guy who was recently killed by Arlie. 

According to my reliable source, Samuel's illegitimate son was one of the students of this prestigious school.  Hindi rin malabong nandito rin ang iba ko pang susi para sa aking mga target. 

Marahan na tinanggal ni Ruby ang kaniyang salamin at saka bumuntong hininga. She looks at me with a serious gaze. 

"Are you sure you want this school?"

"I see potential for my ability. Hindi pa naman kinakalawang ang utak."

"But I thought, you finished your high school?" 

"Yes. Pero gusto kong magsimula ulit. Medyo matagal na rin akong hindi nakatuntong ng skwelahan. My age might be serious, but my looks are still young, hindi rin nila mapapansin iyon. Kung iyan ang kinababahala mo."

"No. That's not the issue. Pero bakit hindi ka na lang mag-college? Bakit kailan na bumalik ka pa sa high school?"

"Marami akong nakaligtaan noong high school ako. Ayaw ko rin maging katawa-tawa kapag tumuntong akong college. Aside from that, hindi pareho ang curriculum noon, sa ngayon." Paliwanag ko. 

"You have a point. Sige, aasikasuhin ko ito agad para makapasok ka na bukas."

"Thanks." 

"And, one more thing," sabi niya. Napakamot siya sa tungki ng ilong. 

"Hmmm?"

"KirJack..." She halted. "He's a student here."

"What!?" Hindi makapaniwala kong naibulalas sa matanda. Hindi ko naman kasi akalain na hanggang ngayon ay nag-aaral pa rin ang lalaki na iyon.

"You're kidding, right?" I told her. 

"I wished, pero ito na ang pangalawang taon niya sa 3rd year."

"Pangalawang taon?" Wala sa hitsura niya maging balikbayan sa 3rd year. I mean, he looks quite intelligent and clever at first look. 

"I'm afraid, yes. Medyo mahina kasi sa mathematics si Jack kaya naman hindi pa rin siya pinapakawalan ng paaralan na 'yon."

"Well, it's not my problem. As long as we don't meet each other, I'll be glad."

"I'll tell him about this —"

"No need to tell him about this. I'm not his obligation at school. Bukod pa roon ay nandito naman ang bodyguard ko."

Bumuntong hininga ulit siya saka mahinang tinapik ang balikat ko. "I can enroll you abroad, Bright. Just... Just not this school."

"You seem bother. That's interesting." My lips curve as if what she said built my interest. 

I stood up and started to walk away. Sumunod naman agad sa akin ang bodyguard ko habang ang iba naman ay pinaiwan ko upang ihatid sa labas si Ruby. 

I light my cigarettes while staring at the old lady staring back at me. Her bodyguard was waiting for her to get inside the car. She gave me an apologetic smile before she went inside and started the engine. 

"Kumusta na ang pinapagawa ko sa iyo?" I exhaled the smoke. 

Inabot naman sa akin ng bodyguard ko ang envelope. I put the cigarette in his mouth and went to my couch. I tear up the sealed and take out the pictures inside. 

"That's Samuel Lee's illegitimate son, Kim Lee. 23 years old, ilang beses ng pabalik-balik sa High school dahil sa iba't-ibang krimen, but no record sa police. His father was the current leader of the Ytang gang, pero dahil sa insidente ay ang step-mom ni Kim ang nag-take over sa posisyon." Paliwanag ng bodyguard ko. 

I flipped to the next pictures and data information. I saw a guy with beard, slanted eyes, and a bore tattoo on his left temple, sa palagay ko'y nasa 50s na rin ang tao na ito base sa mga wrinkles sa kaniyang mukha.

"That's Gwan, Samuel's brother. He had a 3-year-old daughter, na nag-aaral sa isang private school at may six thousand na bodyguards. He loves his daughter, but his wife is nowhere to be found. He also had a 17-year-old son, nag-aaral din sa Ygreen Academy."

"Do you have any information about the school?"

May inabot ulit siyang isang envelope. "Masyadong pribado ang paaralan na 'yan, Señorita, kaya iyan lang ang nakalap namin na datos."

Napatango ako. Binuksan ko ang envelope at unang tiningnan ang larawan. I also take out the paper inside. 

Sa unang tinging mukhang normal lang naman ang paaralan na ito. A clean and green environment and a building that is close to being called a palace. May malaking fountain din sa center, at maganda rin ang kanilang uniporme—the students look well-mannered. 

I looked at the familiar lady who was as young as me. And has a vibe that screams authority.

"Veronica Tan was their current principal. She graduated abroad two years ago and was able to have a position at this academy. Isa rin siya sa may pinakamalaking shares sa academy. Her father was the leader of the Venomous gang—isa sa kalaban ng iyong lola."

Veronica Tan? That rang a bell to me. 

I flipped to the next page. Isang larawan ng babae ang siyang nakaipit doon sa papel. 

"That's her daughter, Nica Grace. 17 years old, a first-year student. She's the first granddaughter of the Venomous gang, a brat and also reported as the next queen bee of Ygreen Academy." Paliwanag niya. 

"How about KirJack and Arlie? May report na ba kayo?"

Mabilis na napayuko ang bodyguard. "I'm sorry, Señorita, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin kaming nakalap na kakaibang impormasyon tungkol sa kanilang dalawa."

"I see." 

Nakakapagtaka lang dahil hanggang ngayon wala pa ring nakakalap na impormasyon ang mga tauhan ko tungkol sa pagkatao nilang dalawa. Aside sa kanilang katayuan ngayon ay wala silang naungkat tungkol sa kung ano'ng nangyari kay Arlie matapos niyang mag-abroad, si KirJack naman ay wala siyang ibang background, wala pangalan ng pamilya, at kung paano siya napunta sa kamay ni Ruby.

Napalingon ako sa bodyguard ko para sana utusan na halungkatin din ang pagkao ni Carmella nang mapansin ko ang pasa sa kaniyang mukha. Ruby heard about what happened to me after we sneaked out of the hospital. They also cover the clash, at hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin akong naririnig na balita tungkol sa pagkamatay ni Samuel. She put all the blame on the head of security, kaya naman puno ng pasa ang bodyguard ko. 

He's older than me, sa palagay ko'y kasing edad niya lang si KirJack. I also heard from Ruby that he had a toddler.

"Gamutin mo muna ang mga sugat mo." Nilapag ko sa mesa ang gamot na nabili ko kanina. "Make sure to cover all the wounds, and no blood on the floor. I hate to see blood."

Mabilis naman siyang tumayo at yumuko. "Maraming salamat, Señorita!"

I went to my room with the papers on my hands. Kailangan ko pa ring pag-aralan ang tungkol sa mga tao na ito para bukas. Alam kong maaring ikapapahamak ko itong tinathak ko. This school is full of thugs, and bullies at hindi malabong magiging target din nila ako. It's the last resort that I have though.

Napatingin ako cellphone na binigay sa akin ni Arlie noon. I haven't touched it since I was afraid to find out who was behind those voices. But I think I deserve to know it.