Chapter Text
"Deadline na in exactly ten minutes! Kung wala pa sa layout 'yung sports section, kakainin ko 'yang varsity jacket mo, Colet!"
Sigaw agad ang bumungad sa loob ng opisina ng The Clarion, ang official student publication ng University. The room smelled like a lethal combination of brewed coffee, old books, and stress. Typical Monday morning para kay Jhoanna Robles, ang Editor-in-Chief na kasalukuyang mukhang sinabugan ng bomba ang buhok.
Naka-messy bun siya—emphasis on the messy—at may ink smudge pa sa pisngi. She was aggressively typing on her laptop, her fingers moving faster than her brain could process.
"Chill ka lang, beh. Eto na, exporting na," sagot ni Colet, ang Associate Editor, habang ngumunguya ng sandwich. "Masyado kang highblood. First issue pa lang ng sem, stress drilon ka na agad."
"Hindi pwedeng chill, Colet," Jhoanna shot back, hindi inaalis ang tingin sa screen. "Kailangan nating ilabas 'to before lunch break. I want every single student holding a copy before the Student Council makes their announcement regarding the University Week budget."
Napatingin si Maloi, ang Head Cartoonist, mula sa sulok kung saan siya nagdo-doodle sa tablet niya. "Iba rin talaga ang galit mo sa SC, 'no? Ano bang meron sa editorial mo?"
Jhoanna stopped typing. A wicked smirk formed on her lips. She hit Save with a dramatic flourish.
"Let’s just say... I’m asking the hard questions. Like why 40% of the budget is going to a 'Grand Ball' when half the library’s aircon units are broken."
Maloi gasped dramatically. "Hala ka. Gigiyerahin ka na naman ni Arceta niyan."
Speaking of the devil.
Hindi pa man lumilipas ang limang minuto matapos i-send ni Jhoanna ang final layout sa printing press, biglang bumukas nang malakas ang pinto ng Press Room.
Katahimikan. Even the buzzing of the fluorescent lights seemed to stop.
Standing at the doorway was Aiah Arceta, the Student Council President. And lord, she looked expensive.
As usual, perfect ang pagkakapaplantsa ng uniform niya. Her hair was falling in soft, deliberate waves over her shoulders. She was holding a crumpled copy of the draft print—na nakuha niya siguro sa source niya sa printing office—at mukha siyang handang pumatay ng tao gamit ang kanyang perfectly manicured nails.
"Robles," Aiah said. Her voice was calm, pero 'yung klase ng calm bago humampas ang bagyo.
Jhoanna leaned back in her swivel chair, crossing her arms. She tried to look unbothered, kahit na medyo intimidating talaga ang aura ni Aiah kapag galit. "Yes, Madame President? Napadalaw ka sa lungga ng mga hampaslupa? Don’t worry, sanitized naman 'yung doorknob."
Aiah marched forward, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Dire-diretso siya hanggang sa nasa harap na siya ng desk ni Jhoanna. She slammed the paper on the table based on the Editorial Section.
HEADLINE: "Glitter Over Grades: The Student Council’s Misplaced Priorities."
"What the hell is this?" Aiah asked, her eyes narrowing.
Jhoanna feigned innocence. "Ang alin? 'Yung font? Times New Roman 'yan, standard. Or 'yung content? Ah, 'yun ba? It’s called journalism, Arceta. Look it up."
"Journalism?" Aiah scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Even angry, she looked poised. Nakakainis. "This is a hit piece, Jhoanna. Pure slander. We allocated funds for the ball because it’s a charity event for the partner beneficiaries. Did you even bother to read the proposal bago ka nag-type ng nobela mo?"
Tumayo na rin si Jhoanna para pantayan si Aiah. Well, she tried. Medyo mas matangkad si Aiah kapag naka-heels, so Jhoanna had to tilt her chin up slightly. The proximity was suffocating—amoy na amoy niya 'yung perfume ni Aiah. Vanilla and something floral. Amoy mayaman, Jhoanna thought bitterly.
"Binasa ko, Aiah," Jhoanna retorted, dropping the formalities. "Charity event? Really? 10% goes to charity, 90% goes to catering, sound systems, and decorations. You want a party. Just admit it. Gusto niyo lang mag-dress up habang 'yung mga students sa Engineering building nagpapaypay ng folder kasi sira ang electric fan."
"We are fixing the facilities, Jhoanna! There’s a separate budget for that!" Aiah argued, her face flushing slightly pink. Halatang frustrated na siya. "You always do this. You twist everything just to make me look bad."
"I don’t need to twist anything to make you look bad. You’re doing a great job on your own," Jhoanna fired back, stepping closer. Their faces were inches apart now.
Sa gilid, nagbubulungan na sina Colet at Maloi.
"Beh, awatin mo," bulong ni Maloi.
"Gaga, 'wag. Ang ganda ng view, parang kdrama," sagot ni Colet.
Back in the center of the ring, neither girl was backing down.
"You are insufferable," Aiah hissed, gritting her teeth. "Simula first year, wala ka nang ginawa kundi kontrahin ako. Top Dean's Lister spot? Kinuha mo. Debate team captaincy? Inagaw mo. Ngayon pati budget proposal ko, pinapakialaman mo."
Jhoanna let out a sarcastic laugh. "Correction, Arceta. Hindi ko inagaw ang Dean's Lister spot. I earned it. Mas mataas lang talaga ang grades ko sa Math that sem. Deal with it."
"You got a 98. I got a 97.5. It was a statistical error!"
"It was a win!" Jhoanna smirked. "And as for the budget... trabaho kong bantayan ka. Someone has to keep the great Aiah Arceta grounded, 'di ba? Baka kasi lumipad ka na sa sobrang taas ng tingin mo sa sarili mo."
Aiah stared at her. For a moment, Jhoanna thought sasampalin siya nito. The tension in the air was thick, heavy, and electric. Everyone inside the Press Room held their breath.
Aiah’s eyes searched Jhoanna’s face. From her messy bangs, down to her smug grin, and then lower... to her collar.
Suddenly, Aiah’s expression shifted. The anger in her eyes softened into something unrecognizable—something akin to annoyance mixed with... obsessive compulsion?
Jhoanna blinked, confused by the silence. "Ano? Wala ka nang comeback? Cat got your tongue, Pres—"
Before Jhoanna could finish, Aiah reached out.
Jhoanna flinched, akala niya sasakalin siya. But Aiah’s hands didn’t go for her throat.
Instead, Aiah’s cool fingers brushed against the skin of Jhoanna’s neck. Jhoanna froze. Her breath hitched in her throat. Anong ginagawa nito?
Dahan-dahang inayos ni Aiah ang kwelyo ng polo shirt ni Jhoanna. One side was tucked in awkwardly, making her look disheveled. Aiah smoothed out the fabric with deliberate, gentle strokes. Her thumb brushed against Jhoanna’s collarbone, sending a jolt of electricity down Jhoanna’s spine.
Masyadong malapit. Sobrang lapit. Jhoanna could see the individual lashes of Aiah’s eyes. She could see a tiny mole on Aiah’s neck. For three seconds, nobody moved.
"You can't be a credible critic if you can't even dress properly, Robles," Aiah murmured softly, her voice low and husky, entirely different from her shouting voice earlier.
Tinapos ni Aiah ang pag-aayos ng collar at tinapik ng mahina ang balikat ni Jhoanna, parang nagpapagpag ng alikabok.
"Publish the article," Aiah said, stepping back and regaining her icy composure. "But make sure you’re ready for the rebuttal. I don’t lose wars, Jhoanna. Especially not against you."
With one last lingering look—was that a smirk?—Aiah turned around, hair swaying perfectly, and walked out of the Press Room.
The door closed again.
Naiwang nakatayo si Jhoanna sa gitna ng opisina. Nakatulala. Her hand slowly moved up to touch the collar Aiah had just fixed. The fabric still felt warm from Aiah’s touch.
Her heart was hammering against her chest.
"Hoy," tawag ni Colet.
Jhoanna snapped out of it, blinking rapidly. "H-Ha?"
"Namumula ka, gaga," asar ni Maloi, tumatawa habang hawak ang sketchpad niya. "Akala ko ba World War 3? Bakit parang naging romantic comedy?"
"Shut up!" Jhoanna yelled, turning back to her desk and burying her face in her hands. "Mainit lang! Sira kasi aircon dito!"
"Sira aircon? Eh naka-16 degrees tayo?" sagot ni Colet.
"Basta!" Jhoanna groaned, sliding down her chair. She grabbed a random paper to fan herself, trying to erase the feeling of Aiah’s fingers on her skin.
She hated her. She really, really hated Aiah Arceta.
Pero bakit amoy vanilla pa rin 'yung ilong niya?
"Bwisit ka, Arceta," Jhoanna whispered to herself, aggressive na tinatype ang susunod na article. "Humanda ka sa akin bukas."
But even she knew, as she touched her collar again, that this war was going to be dangerously different from the ones before.