The Lady in Shining Armor: Monte Carlo High

L. Ice and Blood

Last chapter, guys! Naiiyak na ako! *fans myself with the mousepad*

This chapter's track is Helena by My Chemical Romance. Enjooooy! :)

***Dawn's POV***

It was all an act. The entire thing was a plan. I made people believe that I was still on the grieving process and that I couldn't pull myself together anymore. I was done grieving. My mind's clear now and I knew what I had to do-- to face the culprit. At para magawa 'yun, kinailangan kong lokohin si Red at ilayo siya sa pag-aaral niya. No one could beat him in this school, so I had to pull him down in a different way. It was not an overnight process, kailangan kong magpuyat ng ilang gabi para mag-aral at mag-mukhang kawawa during the day. It was easy playing the pathetic role, kaya madali ko sila napa-ikot lahat. The plan went accordingly and now it's time to face whoever's doing these once and for all. It's me they want, it's me they're going to get.

Alam kong malalaman at malalaman din nila ang plano ko, pero huli na nang komprontahin ako ni Joyce. Ibig sabihin, epektibo talaga ang ginawa ko. I was feeling very guilty for what I did to Red, but I had to do what I had to do. It was for his sake, too. Hindi ko na kakayanin ang isa pang estudyanteng mamamatay lalo na ngayon at alam ko na kung sino ang kalaban. I already lost Anastacia, I already lost Vince and all those other students that I barely knew, I would not let Red or anyone else follow. Oras na para harapin ko kung sinuman ang may pakana nito.

"You tricked me." Napatalon pa ako sa gulat nang marinig ko ang malamig at boring na boses niya. It felt like years since I heard his monotonous and boring tone. On second thought, mas gusto ko ito kaysa sa bagong siya. We used to just mock each other and get on each other's throats, pero parang na-fast forward ang lahat at naging isang masamang panaginip. We were just high school students, dapat grades or love life lang ang pinoproblema namin, hindi ang kaligtasan ng mga buhay namin. I looked down and attempted to continue climbing the stairs going to class. Hindi ko siya kayang harapin dahil sa ginawa ko sa kanya. I took a step and he stopped me by holding my arm.

"Malapit na mag-bell." I tried to lose his grip on me, but he was stronger. It's that or I just grew weaker.

"Let's skip class." He pulled me down the stairs and out of the Main Building. Alam ko na kung saan niya ako dadalhin kaya sumunod na lang ako sa paglakad niya. Hindi ito ang tamang oras para sa usapang ito. We reached the Restricted Garden and we made our way towards our usual spot inside. He stopped in front of the old greenhouse and pushed me against it's glassless door.

"Red..."

"Bakit?! Dawn, bakit mo nagawa 'yun sa 'kin?! Niloko mo ako!" He was shouting. First time in Red Domingo's history, I think. I looked at him and saw his dark side. He was towering over me at parang ibang Red na ang kaharap ko. Kung naging bully pala siya, nakakatakot.

"It was for your own sake." I somehow managed to say, pero walang dating ang pagkakasabi ko noon. Parang nawalan ako ng lakas bigla nang makita ko ang mga mata niya-- he was angry.

"My sake?! Who told you I need your help?! Dawn, I was supposed to do the helping, not the other way around!"

"Kahit ano pa'ng sabihin mo, nangyari na--"

"Joyce and I have a plan." Plan? Bigla siyang kumalma at nagbuntong-hininga. He let me go and put his hands inside his pants' pockets. "You can be saved, Dawn." Gusto kong matawa sa sinabi niya. There's no way that I could be saved! Isa pa...

"Gusto ko nang matapos ito, Red. Haharapin ko na sila once and for all. It's me they wanted eversince. Makuha ko man ang lahat ng sagot sa mga tanong ko bago nila ako--"