************************
Chapter 3. Gato is the mc today.
***********************
Outside their classroom, Parri, Alex, and Gato stood miserably on one leg, holding their ears—a classic punishment pose.
It had been years since they first met, but their mischief hadn't lessened one bit. Instead, they'd become some strange, twisted version of friends—bickering and bonding in the most ridiculous ways.
It was the start of a new school year, in a new section... but the trouble was still the same.
"It's all because of you," Gato grumbled, shooting Alex a glare.
"Wow... hearing that from the school's most 'innocent' idiot... I'm touched," Alex replied sarcastically.
"Would you two shut up?!" Parri hissed. "Because of your nonsense, I got dragged into this too!"
"NO!! you shut up!" Gato and Alex snapped in unison.
"This pair of—ugh!" Parri muttered under his breath, too annoyed to finish.
While they squabbled, a new face appeared on the balcony with their math teacher—someone they hadn't seen before.
It was James, the new transfer Student.
He looked around the unfamiliar surroundings, his eyes curious, scanning everything like a lost puppy.
His gaze landed on the three of them, wobbling pitifully on one leg while clutching their ears.
For a moment, James blinked... then broke into a bright, playful grin. In an innocent and friendly manner, Without a word, he mimicked them—hopping on one leg, holding his own ears, and tilting his head as if asking:
'Why are you guys like this?'
Gato stared, confused... then suspicious.
"Oi... is this guy making fun of us?" he muttered, slowly raising his hand.
And with the casual grace of someone done with life, Gato flashed his middle finger sky-high.
James's eyes widened, his smile fading into a scowl. Without warning, he marched towards them and kicked Gato's raised leg—sending him tumbling to the floor with a surprised yelp.
"James! What are you doing?!" their math teacher shouted, rushing over in a panic.
"Sir! This guy showed me the middle finger first!" James snapped, pointing at Gato.
Gato, unfazed, calmly stood up, dusted his uniform, and resumed his punishment pose—one leg up, ears held—locking eyes with James as if nothing had happened.
Sensing that this would spiral into a bigger mess, the math teacher hurriedly grabbed James by the arm and tried to pull him away.
"Come on! Enough! Let's go—"
But fate had other plans.
Just a few steps away, emerging from his office, stood the Principal himself, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised.
"Sir…?" the math teacher squeaked nervously.
The Principal smiled politely. "It's alright, teacher. I'll handle this one. You can return to your class."
James, ignoring the teacher entirely, stared straight at the Principal. His bold, childish voice rang out:
"Uncle, please go first. I'll explain about these troublemakers after school ends."
The principal sigh, "Don't talk noncence ur uncle specifically told me me look after you."
(Turns out James was no ordinary transfer student. His uncle was a school principal himself, thanks to the annual State Teachers' Conference that gathered principals from across the region.)
James sighed and said seriously, "Uncle, you're getting old. You can't survive in this world if you're scared of every little thing."
The Principal chuckled darkly. 'Tch... this boy won't be an average student, will he? Another one... just what I needed. Great. Now there are 3 trouble makers for me to worry about...' he thought grimly, already imagining the headaches to come.
For once, Gato—Master of Drama and Mischief—kept quiet.
He could tell just by looking at James: If they became friends, it'd be the best thing ever. If they became enemies... it'd be a disaster. Like Harry Potter and dark cornal boy...?
The Principal turned wearily to the math teacher. "Sir, this boy's mischief is in his blood. I was just about to scold him myself. Since nothing serious happened, I'll leave it here. James—study properly."
"Yes, sir," James said with a playful grin.
The Principal sighed, rubbing his temple.
"And as for you three—" he pointed sternly at Gato, Alex, and Parri—"get back to class. No more drama today."
The Principal walked towards the classroom door, spoke briefly with the teacher, then quietly made his way down the corridor and out of sight.
As the boys were about to follow him, James tried to slip into the classroom first. But the math teacher grabbed him firmly by the shoulder.
"Not you. You're standing right here," the teacher said, narrowing his eyes.
"Why? What did I do wrong?" James frowned, confused.
"Why? Because you kicked your classmate! That is not the behavior we reflect in this school. You'll stand here for ten minutes and get a lecture from me about mutual respect!" the teacher snapped.
**Pfft...** A quiet laugh escaped from Gato's lips behind him.
James twitched, sensing the mocking tone. Without thinking, anger flaring, he swung his fist backward and landed a solid punch on Gato's side.
But Gato—being Gato—didn't fall. Instead, using the force of James's punch to spin, he swung his own hand like a whip, backhanding James perfectly across the face.
**CRACK!**
James stumbled, his nose gushing blood. His legs gave way, and with a groan, he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
A hush fell in the hallway.
The math teacher gasped, clutching his head.
"What the...!"
That afternoon, James woke up groaning in the infirmary with tissues stuffed in his nose and a bandage across his forehead. As he stared at the ceiling in frustration, he clenched his fist.
"I swear... I'm gonna learn martial arts." he muttered darkly.
Meanwhile, inside the classroom…
Puto sat near the window, glancing outside.
"What are they even doing out there?" asked Vasco, looking bored.
"Bickering again. What else? Leave them be. Let's study while it's peaceful," Puto replied, flipping a page in his notebook.
Vasco yawned, stretching. "Okay… afterall it's never peaceful when they're around."
Both exchanged a small smile—knowing full well that chaos would soon return.
The next day, both their parents were called to school.
Which made Gato furious—because James started the fight. And Puto was angry too, because as usual, he got dragged into trouble for no reason.
After the long boring lecture from teachers and parents, Gato and Pluto found James chatting casually with Alex by the school wall.
They glared.
James grinned.
They fought again.
***Meet. Fight. Talk. Fight.***
That's how they eventually became friends.
Just like that, years passed.
And on this specific day—the end of the final exams—Gato met Grace.
After the morning shift exam...
Rumors were flying everywhere.
"Hey, the principal's daughter's here!"
When Gato heard this, something clicked. After the exam ended, he ran like the wind—his legs spinning like a rusty old fan—to find the "Demon Daughter" and take revenge for every lecture the principal ever gave him.
After searching all over, he finally saw her—standing alone under the banyan tree just outside the school gate.
In this all-boys school, seeing a girl was rarer than a blue moon. And there she was.
Short black jeans.
Oversized flannel lumberjack jacket down to her knees.
A bunny hairband.
A lollipop in her mouth.
Eyes drifting lazily around like a bored child actress from a TV drama.
Gato stretched both arms wide, slicked his hair back dramatically with both palms, and confidently marched toward her—hope shining in his mischievous eyes.
"Instead of Neuron Red, why don't you use Caramel Red instead?" he said smoothly.
The girl blinked, puzzled.
"...Huh?"
"Your lipstick," Gato grinned.
Grace frowned slightly but didn't answer him.
Instead, she politely asked, "Uh… are your exams over?"
"Just now. Why're you here all alone under this tree?"
"I'm waiting for my dad," Grace replied simply.
So far, Gato was polite. But slowly—surely—the chaos inside him began to bubble.
"Do you eat chicken?"
Without thinking, Grace gave a lazy "Mm-hmm."
"Ohhh..." Gato nodded knowingly. "Then… do you eat duck?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Then what about pork?"
At this, Grace raised an eyebrow, feeling weird about these random food questions. With a sarcastic little smirk she asked, "What? Are you going to buy it for me?"
"Eh? Why should I?"
"Then don't ask. Also—I don't eat pork."
"Oh-ho?" Gato smirked, rubbing his chin. "Looking at your size, I thought your favorite food might be pork."
Death-glare activated. Grace squinted at him but stayed polite.
"I'm not fat. It's this oversized jacket."
"Fat people always say that. They call themselves 'chubby' too. It's just like skinny girls holding their stomach after eating one rice ball and shouting 'I'm so full!'" Gato grinned, stepping closer, serious now.
"Listen. If someone asks if you eat pork—just say yes. Don't pretend to be all delicate. You're short and round—it looks fat. Fat is fat. There's no secret code for it. Admit it. Accept it. Or else life will bully you harder than I will."
Grace's eyebrow twitched.
Gato kept going.
"And if someone invites you out to eat—don't say 'I don't have money.' No one's gonna believe you. I mean, the daughter of the school principal being poor? Even I wouldn't buy that. And if by some miracle you are poor... I swear I'll drop dead right here."
Grace slowly pulled the lollipop out of her mouth, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Then go ahead and die. I bet your parents regret you being alive more than you know."
Gato scratched his head, smirking. Ah... this wasn't going to end simple. A worthy opponent in sarcasm. I can't lose here...
With a devilish grin, he tried again.
"Did your father approve of this look? Why are you so hot?"
Grace rolled her eyes. "It's summer, idiot. Of course it's hot. Now get away from me. You talk too much nonsense. I don't want to hear you anymore."
"Eh? Why would I leave? I came here just to tease you. I won't stop till I'm satisfied."
Gato stretched out his hand suddenly, snatched the lollipop from Grace's hand—and popped it into his mouth.
"WHAT THE—?!" Grace gasped, staring at him, wide-eyed, frozen.
"Nowadays people even steal food from the same plate, you know," Gato said with a smug smile. "I'm just giving you real life lessons. Free of charge."
Grace stood there, biting her lip, breathing heavily—her anger bubbling dangerously. Psycho. Total psycho. She glared at Gato, but decided not to fight him... yet.
Quietly, she reached into her bag and pulled out a fresh lollipop. Slowly, carefully, she began unwrapping it.
Gato noticed.
His eyes darted between the sad, chewed-up lollipop in his mouth and the brand-new, shiny one in her hand.
Without warning, he spit his old one out to the ground, lunged forward—and snatched her fresh lollipop again.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Grace finally snapped, her voice cracking with fury.
But Gato was already grinning ear to ear, holding the new lollipop like he'd just stolen treasure from a dragon.
"Hahaha! You really carry backup lollipops? What are you, five years old?" he laughed.
Grace was about to explode. Fists clenched, eyes flaming, face red—but Gato didn't care. In fact, he was thrilled.
Even if Grace changed spots, he'd follow her like a baby duckling—just to annoy her more.
Before World War III could begin, a sleek black car rolled up outside the school gate.
The principal's car.
The moment she saw it, Grace turned, grabbed her bag, and ran straight to the car.
"Dad!" she called out.
The car door opened—and out stepped Chale, the principal himself.
But the moment he got a good look at his daughter… he froze.
"Gracy… wipe that lipstick off right now," he scolded sharply.
He pulled off his coat and without hesitation wrapped it around her waist, covering her.
A strange half-pitying, half-angry expression filled his face—like a father seeing his daughter dressed like a street beggar.
"I send you new dresses every single month at the hostel... and you come home looking like this? Even a beggar wouldn't touch those clothes!" he muttered, his voice a mixture of irritation and disappointment.
Grace flinched, rolling her eyes.
"Dad, are you angry? Did I do something wrong?"
Her father sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"People will gossip... they'll say the strict principal can't even control his own daughter. Next time, don't wear such clothes and call it fashion. Okay?"
"Dad, it's my first day out! I just got released from prison—uh, hostel! Can't I be free for one day?" she whined.
"Ohhh... so you learned this fashion in the hostel? Fine, I'll call your dorm warden and have a long chat with them about this."
"No, no, no, Dad! I'm sorry! I swear I'll never wear shorts again!" she pleaded, clinging to his arm.
Behind them, Gato couldn't hold it anymore—he burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha" Gato grinned widely.
Chale froze. His eyes slowly turned to the annoying voice.
There stood Gato.
A terrible, dark feeling crept up Chale's spine.
Leaning close to Grace, he whispered:
"Did you... talk to him?"
Before Grace could reply, buses rolled up outside the school gates.
And from the first bus window, James poked his head out and shouted:
"SIR!! That girl over there—she's in a relationship with Gato!! I saw them!!"
Grace's face turned white. Her heart stopped.
Her terrified eyes locked on her father's face.
Before she could explain, another loud voice joined in:
"Sir! James is right! I saw them too! Giving each other a love letter just now!"
Grace's soul left her body.
'I'm dead. I'm so dead... Dad's going to kill me...'
And then—just when she thought it couldn't get worse—Parri, acting like a bus conductor, stood up and yelled:
"Sir, don't believe them! They're lying! That boy is a gay—and that girl's a lesbian!"
Gato's grin froze. His smile twitched.
His hand reached down, took off his shoe, and with deadly precision hurled it at Parri's forehead.
THWACK!
Perfect hit. Parri fell backwards, holding his head.
Grace stood frozen.
Now she understood why her father never let her visit to his school before.
Chale gently patted her shoulder.
"Dear... let's go. Before this circus turns into a riot."
Without another word, Grace and Chale slipped into their car and drove away—leaving Gato, Parri, James, and the chaos behind.
But as the car sped off, Grace gritted her teeth.
"I hate him. I hate that Gato... he humiliated my father... I'll never forgive him..."
Hearing his daughter mutter darkly in the seat beside him, Principal Chale gave a rare small smile.
He gently patted her head.
"You know... though those kids are mischievous—they're good boys at heart. Especially that one you just spoke to... Gatotkaca. He's actually an excellent student. His friends too... well, except for three of them."
Grace frowned. "Three?"
Chale sighed like a tired monk dragging a heavy burden.
"There's Vasco... a hardworking boy, but he barely scrapes passing marks. Honestly, the only thing holding him up is raw stubbornness."
"Then there's James... my friend's nephew. His academic results?" Chale shuddered. "Better left unspoken."
"And finally Alex... who always hands in an empty answer sheet. I don't even know if he owns a pen."
Grace slowly turned her face towards the window, her expression darkening.
"So... they're all hopeless burdens to society." She clenched her fists.
"Idiots. All of them. Especially that Gato. Troublemaker king of idiots."
A deep scar—burning, bitter, and unforgettable—etched itself into her heart that day.