The Larcenist Queen

Chapter 5: Fake

Chapter 5
Fake

I sneaked inside the teachers' lounge when I heard that they're having a meeting upstairs. Dahan-dahan kong hinanap ang table ng aming music teacher, Maria Antonieta Navarro. We call her teacher Aya.

Earlier, she showed us this golden musical box that plays the tune of famous nursery rhymes. Its music is very pleasing to the ears. Kaya naman hindi ko maiwasang mainggit sa aming teacher. I want that, too...

That's why nandito ako ngayon para nakawin ang kanyang music box. Pupils are not allowed to go inside their office, but since no one's in the room, walang kahirap-hirap akong pumasok. They didn't even lock it.

My other classmates are busy eating their snacks. I have no friends so no one would notice that I was gone. Ni hindi nga nila napansin na ako ang nagnanakaw ng mga cute nilang pencils at pambura eh.

Yes, I'm still very young pero I'm doing something illegal na. Wala namang makahuhuli sa akin because they're stupid.

Kahit na i-check nila sa bag ko kung naroon iyong mga ninakaw ko sa kanila, wala silang makikita. I hid it somewhere na ako lang ang nakakaalam.

Nagningning ang mga mata ko nang masilayan ang kulay gold na music box. Kinuha ko iyon agad at pinagmasdan. It was shining kasi may mga glitters iyon and sequins. I'm a sucker for shiny objects! Laging nangangati ang kamay ko kapag may nasisilayan akong makinang.

I want everything that's shiny.

I flashed a playful grin and hugged the music box before turning around. Kaso natigil ako nang may maramdaman akong nakadikit sa aking noo.

A boy is pointing a water gun on my forehead. "You have the right to remain silent. If you do or say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law."

I was sent back to reality when someone slammed her fist in my armchair. Napatingala ako sa kaklase kong si Charice.

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag. Tulala, girl?" medyo inis niyang sabi.

Hinilot ko ang sentido ko saka tinanong kung anong sadya niya. She said someone was waiting for me outside our room. She pointed at that someone at agad na kumunot ang noo ko nang makita si Axis. Ano namang kailangan nito?

I grabbed my things and walked towards him.

"What are you doing here?" I scoffed as I stopped in front of him. Pinagtitinginan siya ng mga kababaihan. May ilan pang kumukuha ng litrato.

"What do you think?" nag-angat siya ng isang kilay.

"If you want to get the photos back, I'm sorry but all of it was turned into ashes," seryoso kong sabi. Wala talaga ako sa mood na makipag-usap sa kanya ngayon. Mainly because his face reminds me of that guy. Mabuti na lang, magkaiba sila ng kulay ng mata.

"I don't need that. I have a few more copies," he said grinning.

Nag-igting ang panga ko dahil doon. I figured he has extras pero nakakainis pa ring malaman ang totoo. I need to get rid of the evidences he has! But he's being difficult!

"Then, why are you here?"

He scanned the area before looking back at me. "Let's talk somewhere else."

I nodded and grumpily walked out of the building. Nakasunod naman siya sa akin. Pinatunog niya ang kanyang sasakyan at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. Napataas tuloy ang kilay ko.

"What? I can be a gentleman, you know," he hissed. Umirap na lamang ako at pumasok sa loob.

Pinagmasdan ko siya nang dumaan siya sa harap. He still has the same blank expression when we first met. Mas gumagwapo siya dahil doon pero sa tingin ko'y mas ayos kung ngingiti siya paminsan-minsan. Iyong totoong ngiti, hindi iyong pangisi-ngisi lang. He'll grow old easily.