Dara's POV

"Stop staring creepily at me. It's annoying." I pushed Namee's forehead away using my forefinger and resumed reading my book as we sat on the grass beneath the tree at the university garden, which is located at the back of the building. It has been our constant hiding place, away from the noisy 'turfs' of the gangs. God, I feel weird saying 'turfs' and 'gangs'.

"Something smells fishy", Namee said dramatically.

I rolled my eyes and shut the book that I was trying to finish. It will be impossible to read it anyway with Namee breathing on my neck.

"Did something happen between you and Jiro that you are not telling me? I've been hearing things..." She cocked her eyebrows at me.

"You're hearing your conscience, Namee. It's saying that you should stop being the gossip capital of the world."

She gasped and covered her mouth while looking at me with wide eyes. "You're not even asking me what I heard. So it's true?" She whispered as if somebody will hear her.

"What is?" Oh please, PLEASE, let it not be-..

"YOU KISSED ICE LORD?!"

Darn it. How will I get out of this situation? From the look of Namee's sparkling eyes, it's as if she has hit the jackpot. It's quite terrifying, to be honest. I'm pretty sure she will not hear out any excuses that I will come up with.

"No, I didn't", I said, hoping and praying that acting nonchalant and denying it will do the trick.

"They said someone took a picture of you kissing him. It will be posted on the student board soon."

"WHAT?!" I abruptly sat up straight and stared at her in shock. "Who? Who did that?" This can't be happening! I don't want any more attention directed to me. And his fangirls will go homicidal if they see that picture of me *gulp* kissing him on the cheek! What will I do?

"I was lying."

They will kill me. No, seriously, they will KILL me. Like a mosquito! I won't even last a minute. I've seen how some of those girls fight and it's not-...Wait.

I directed my eyes at the evil queen sitting beside me and gawked at her. Did she just say she was lying?

"I got you." She nudged me by the shoulder and playfully winked at me. "You little minx. I didn't know you had it in you. How was it, huh? How does it feel kissing Ice Lord? Butterflies in the stomach? Sparks? Gosh, you two will get married and have kids!"

"Oh please."

Namee is seriously sucking my soul. It's like she has been hypnotized since childhood and was told repeatedly 'You are going to be the gossip queen. You are going to be the gossip queen.'

Meanwhile, I need to meditate and repeat to myself 'I will not kill her. I will not kill her' so as not to murder her.

***

Bonsai, with a smile forever plastered on his lips, entered the Black Dragon's turf and headed towards Jiro while greeting the others. "Hey Ice Lord, thanks for the notes. Should I kiss you?" He said and placed the notebook beside Jiro.

A round of howling and whistling followed that remark but Jiro remained silent as he stared outside the window. It was always rowdy when all of them gather together and this scene is nothing new. The only difference is that nowadays, his members are surprisingly united in one cause – shoving Dara down his throat. He has already heard a thousand different versions of playful remarks regarding Dara kissing him on the cheek because of that stupid packed lunch he made for her.

Bonsai sat on the window pane beside Jiro and lightly kicked his foot to get his attention. "Yo. Why are you so concerned about that new girl?"

"I made a promise to her father." Jiro said simply, not even glancing at him.

"So, she's like a family to you? Like us?" Bonsai asked and grunted in pain when Picaro appeared beside him and lightly punched his arm.

"Stop gossiping like a girl and leave Ice Lord alone", Picaro said. "Be annoying somewhere else."

All of a sudden, one of their gang members came barging in, panting heavily from running. "Jiro, one of our brothers was beaten by the new gang downtown!"

"Ohhhh. They got some balls, huh?" Bonsai cracked his knuckles while grinning like a madman.

Jiro abruptly stood up and walked towards the door, his members immediately following him from behind. He did not even utter a word but the Black Dragons knew what needs to be done – they are going to do some serious ass-kicking.

***

"The Black Dragons destroyed their turf!"

"I heard Ice Lord beat the shit out of the gang's leader."

"Serves them right. How stupid of them to cross someone from our school."

"The three strongest gangs are actually the ones protecting the students of InterSAT." Dara jerked back in surprise upon hearing Namee's voice from behind. Seriously, how the hell can she pop up just about anywhere? It's like a secret art. Magic? Kung fu? Ninja technique?

"Dara!"

"Ouch!" Dara covered her right ear after her friend directly shouted at it.

"You're zoning out again. You're not listening to me", Namee complained, linking her arm with her as they both walked towards the cafeteria. "Anyway, I'm sure you've heard that the Black Dragons crushed the new gang downtown that beat one of their members. That's a good excuse for you to kiss your Jiro again. Congratulatory kiss?"

Dara nudged Namee lightly and snarled at her. "He's not my Jiro. And can you please stop mentioning the...the.."

"The kiss? The kiss?"

"Namee!"

With a soft laugh, Namee started walking backwards while talking to her. "I have remedial classes so I won't be able to join you for lunch. I'll just annoy you later. Don't miss me too much, alright?"

"I won't. Get out of my life."

"Awww, so grumpy. Do you want a kiss? Chuuu~" She puckered her lips and waved her goodbye before running out of sight. Dara slightly shook her head and smiled. Namee can be a real pain sometimes but she's a fun company.

After getting her food, Dara sat in an empty table at the cafeteria and tried to ignore the curious stares of the other students. She stiffened when she heard the words kiss, Ice Lord and new student from the low whispers of those around her. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what they're talking about. It seems she'll never get out of the limelight any time soon.

With a sigh, she grabbed her drink and tried to open the cap. She was already using all her strength but the darn drink won't open. Either she's too weak or Jiro's fangirls are casting some kind of voodoo on her to make her day miserable.

A hand suddenly snatched the bottle from her. Dara lifted her gaze and her eyes widened when she saw Jiro standing near her. He opened the bottle and handed it back, looking at her with his usual blank stare.

Great. The guy whom she doesn't want to see at the moment.

***

Dara's POV

I can't look at him! Oh my God, what should I do? How should I act? How should I greet him? How's my hair?!

MUST.CALM.DOWN.

Jiro occupied the space next to mine instead of sitting in front of me. I was hyperventilating like crazy as he began eating his lunch, ignoring the murmurs around us that are mostly pertaining to him who chose to sit with a mere mortal like me.

Oh gosh, does he still remember when I kissed him? Of course, he does! But he's acting like it's not really a big deal. Right, it's not a big deal. So, I must act cool. I'm cool.

"W-Where are your...friends?" I stuttered. Like an IDIOT.

"In our turf."

ACCKK!! HE'S TOTALLY THINKING ABOUT THE KISS!!

"Just eat, Ramirez. You still have a class after lunch", he said without even glancing at me.

Hesitantly, I began eating. I can't even taste my sandwich as the other students are openly gawking at us. I was busy drowning in my own sea of misery when suddenly, Jiro hovered a fries in front of my mouth.

"Eat", he said. I absentmindedly opened my mouth and accepted the food. Of course, an explosion of reactions was heard all around us.

Our eyes locked and my heart pounded in an unfamiliar beat when his gaze fell on my lips. I felt a bit lightheaded as he gingerly lifted his arm and wiped my lips with the back of his hand. "You're so messy", he stated. I was breathing through my mouth as I stared at him with wide eyes.

"Eat and just ignore them", he continued. "They can gawk at you and gossip but if they do anything that will harm you, they will answer to me."

The other students immediately shifted their gazes, pretending to be engrossed with something else when they were just watching us a while ago. They obviously heard Jiro's threat.

"I'm fine. I told you there's no need to protect me." I mumbled. Jiro did not utter a word as he continued with his lunch, ignoring what I said.

"Jiro.." I softly called out.

"Hmm?"

"W-What did your friends say? I mean, what did the Black Dragons say?"

"About what?"

"About me."

"Nothing", he stated boredly.

"You did not say anything to them?"

"I told them I owe a lot to your father. So if you're not under my watch, they need to make sure you're safe."

"It sounded as if I'm a big responsibility to you." I said. Again, he did not respond.

I hung my head low and took a bite from my sandwich, hiding the disappointment that crossed my face. I guess I'll forever be a neighborhood kiddo in his eyes. And he's not thinking about the kiss at all. I hate to admit it, but it sucks.

***

"I heard you had lunch with Ice Lord", Namee teased, entering Dara's classroom with no one's permission.

"Stop calling him Ice Lord. His name is Jiro Montencillo", Dara grumbled while briskly stuffing her things inside her bag. The class has ended, which means the time has come for Namee to make an appearance and annoy the living crap out of her.

"Did something happen?" Namee asked, sensing her foul mood.

"Nothing. Nothing happened." She immediately bolted out of the classroom, leaving her curious friend behind.

Feeling slightly rebellious, Dara opted to exit through the back gate. She knew Jiro is waiting at the front entrance, just like before, and she doesn't want to deal with him at the moment. At first, she was happy that he waits for her every day and walks her to her house. But their conversation earlier made her realize something. A responsibility – that's what she is.

She was watching her steps as she walked slowly out of the school. As expected, Jiro was not at the back gate. So many thoughts were running through her mind when suddenly, an arm draped on her shoulder.

"Hello, missy. Do you want some company?" the thug wearing a different school uniform smirked at her. Dara gasped and wiggled free from his grasp. She took a step back and collided with another body. When she spun around, another thug was standing near her. Her eyes widened in terror as other guys began walking towards her, blocking her path.

'Jiro!' Her mind screamed.

Writer's Note:

Thank you for your comments in the previous chaps! They're very inspiring! I'm spazzing with all of you!! ^_^

Thank you to the chap banners mainechuaco, LeeiiPandaTabi, gemisVIP!

huntress