Chapter 12

Itzy took a deep breath, considering defying her orders, and clenched her fists, trying to muster up the courage to speak up. However, before she could utter a word, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"What's happening here?"

Kumalabog ng mabilis ang dibdib ni Itzy sa kaba nang marinig ang boses sa kaniyang likuran. Boses pa lamang iyon ngunit alam na niya agad kung sino iyon.

Itzy took a deep breath as she turned around and saw the four large figures behind her. It was her bodyguards, Jace, Ryker, Linus, and Laszlo. But instead of feeling relieved, Itzy felt nervous. Her bodyguards didn't know that she was being bullied, and you already knew the reason behind that.

As her bodyguards made their way towards her, Itzy noticed the bullies staring at them. She could sense the gaze of the bullies fixated on them. It was apparent from the way they stared at the four men that they were plotting something.

Jace looked at her with concern and asked, "Are you alright?"

Itzy forced a smile, feeling uneasy, "Yes, I'm fine." She could feel her hands trembling, and she clenched them tightly to hide it. Her heart raced as she wondered what the bullies might do next.

She knew she needed to share what had been happening, but the words caught in her throat. Ryker noticed her hesitation and spoke up, concern etched on his face. "Is there something you need to tell us, Ma'am—I mean, Miss? Are these girls bothering you?"

Itzy shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. She needed to be strong, but it was difficult when the fear and humiliation were so overwhelming.

Jace's gaze swept over the group of bullies who were still standing there, watching them. He held himself with a quiet confidence that demanded attention. "What's going on here?" His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"Pumunta lang ba kayo rito para tanungin 'yan?" Tanong ni Ileen. "Kung kausapin niyo rin si Itzy ay parang kilala niyo na siya."

Mas kumalabog pa ang dibdib ni Itzy nang marinig ang pahayag ni Ileen. Ayaw niyang malaman ng mga ito na kilala niya talaga ang sina Jace, Ryker, Linus at Laszlo dahil baka mas lalo siyang pag-initan ng mga ito. Kaya naman bago pa makasagot ang apat ay nagsalita na siya agad.

"Baka concern lang sila sa'kin," nanginginig na sabi ni Itzy.

Jaxie scoffed. "Concern?" She repeated. "Sino ka ba para bigyan nila ng pansin? Nilandi mo rin ba sila katulad ng ginawa mo kay Ajax?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Itzy, hindi niya na gustuhan ang pamimintang sa kaniya ni Jaxie. "Wala akong nilalandi, Jaxie."

"Enough," sumingit sa usapan ni Ryker. "What's really happening here?"

Linus joined in, his expression turning serious. "And why is she wet?" he asked, his frown deepening.

Loxley stepped forward, wearing a smirk on her face. "We were just having a little fun, nothing serious," she said nonchalantly.

Jace's expression remained neutral, but Itzy could see the tension in his body. He knew Loxley and her friends were notorious troublemakers, and he didn't trust them.

"Fun?" Jace repeated, his voice laced with coldness. "Is that what you call bullying someone? Making them feel ashamed and embarrassed in front of their peers?"

Maagap na napatingin si Itzy kay Jace na seryoso lamang na nakatingin kay Loxley at naghihintay ng isasagot nito. Napatingin din si Itzy sa tatlong kasamahan ni Jace, at nang makita na nakatingin ang mga ito sa kaniya ay agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin.

Kaba, kahihiyan at takot ang nararamdaman ni Itzy. Totoo pala talaga na may alam na ang apat na iyon tungkol sa nangyayari sa kaniya sa eskwelahan. Ngunit alam nga ba nila o nahulaan lang nila iyon?

Loxley shrugged. "It's not like we hurt her or anything. Just a little harmless teasing."

Itzy could feel her face burning with anger and embarrassment. How dare they try to downplay what they had done to her? She was humiliated in front of everyone, and they thought it was a joke?

Laszlo stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. "Teasing someone isn't harmless if it hurts them. You should know better than that."

Itzy watched in amazement as Jace stood up to Loxley and her friends, but she still didn't want them to know the truth. She hadn't planned to tell them everything.

Jaxie formed a flirty smile and moved toward Ryker. "Why are you guys mad? We were just playing around. If you don't trust us, you should ask her, right, Itzy?"

Lahat sila ay napatingin sa kaniya, naghihintay ng isasagot niya. Niyuko niya ang kaniyang ulo at pinaglaruan ang kaniyang mga daliri at maya-maya lang ay tumango siya upang kumpirmahin ang sinabi ni Jaxie.

"See?" Jaxie turned to Ryker with a big smile. "We were just having fun."

"Do you want to join us?" Ileen said, clinging to Laszlo's arm.

Laszlo pushed her away. "Wala kaming balak makisama sa inyo."

Patuloy lamang sila sa pagtatalo, habang si Itzy ay naghahanap ng tiyempo upang tumakas. Nang matuon na nga ng tuluyan ang atensyon ng tatlong bullies niya sa kaniyang mga bodyguards ay doon na siya nagbalak na tumakas.

Ngunit patalikod na siya no'n nang mapansin siya ni Jace at pinigilan ang braso niya. "Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ng binata. Kaya naman nabalik muli sa kaniya ang atensyon ng lahat.

Loxley sauntered over to Itzy and draped an arm over her shoulder. "Trying to run away, are we?" she jeered. Jaxie and Ileen chortled, but their laughter only served to irritate the four bodyguards.

Jaxie and Ileen laughed which made the four guys irritated. "H'wag ka na magbalak na tumakas. Tch," she rolled her eyes then looked at Jace. "Mabuti na lang at nakita siya agad ni... may I know your name?" Tanong ni Jaxie. Hindi pa naman kasi nila talaga alam ang pangalan ng mga lalaking ito.

Natatawa na siniko ni Ileen si Jaxie at sinabing, "That was smooth."

Instead, he took hold of Itzy's hand and motioned for the other bodyguards to follow. Jace's actions caught Loxley's group and other bystanders off-guard. The fact that the four new transfer students had come to Itzy's defense was shocking to many, as Itzy was widely regarded as an outcast at the school.

Nang makalayo na sila ay tinabig ni Itzy ang kamay ni Jace na humila sa kaniya. Nilingon niya ang apat at masamang tinitigan ang mga ito.

"Sa susunod na may makita kayo, h'wag na kayong pumagitna pa. Wala kayong alam sa nangyayari," sabi ni Itzy.

"Hindi ka ba masaya na niligtas ka namin sa crowd na 'yon?" Tanong ni Jace. "Wala ka bang utang na loob?"

"Utang na loob? Sino ba ang may sabi na gawin niyo 'yon? At ako? Niligtas niyo?" She scoffed. "Like they said, we were just playing! We were having fun! Naglaro kami at natalo ako kaya binasa nila ako," pagsisinungaling niya, ngunit kahit isa sa apat niyang bodyguards ay walang naniwala sa kaniya.

"Were you expecting us to believe what you said?" Laszlo asked. "Noong nakaraan, naabutan ka namin na puro pasa at galos na halos ikamatay mo na and today, this happened. Were you really expecting us to believe that you were just playing?"

"Of course! Dahil iyon ang totoo!" Tumaas na ngayon ang boses ni Itzy.

"Alam mo kung ano talaga ang totoo," makahulugan na sabi ni Linus.

Itzy gritted her teeth and replied, "Just don't interfere with my business next time," before abruptly leaving the guys behind.