The Wicked Cinderella

Wicked Chapter Four

"Stephanie! Stephanie!" Prince kept calling after her but to no avail. Talagang ayaw siyang lingunin ng umiiyak nang dalaga.

"Stephanie? Ano bang problema? Ba't ka ba nagkakaganyan? May nagawa ba 'ko?" Sunud-sunod ang kanyang mga tanong. Mahapdi pa rin ang parte ng pisngi niyang nilandingan kanina ng marahas na palad ni Stephanie ngunit tiniis niya iyon. Mas mahalaga para sa kanyang makausap ito.

"Pwede ba?"

Sa pag-ikot ni Stephanie, tumambad kay Prince ang luhaang mukha ng galit na dalaga. Kanina pa silang pinagtitinginan ng ibang estudyante.

"Stephanie..." Napailing na lang si Prince. Hindi niya talaga maintindihan ang nangyayari. "Bakit ba? Bakit ka ba nagagalit sa'kin?"

Stephanie pursed her lips hard. She can't stand looking him in the eyes—his innocent eyes that were telling her he wasn't to blame. She can't believe her stupid heart. She wiped her right cheek. "What now? You're playing concern? Or do you just want to play with me again?"

"Ha? Ano bang sinasabi mo? Hindi talaga kita maintindihan."

"Hindi maintindihan?" galit na ulit ng dalaga. "Parang linya ko 'ata dapat yan ah? Hindi kita maintindihan, Prince! Ano bang nagawa ko sa'yo ha? Sige nga? Pinaasa mo lang ako. Pinaglaruan mo lang pala 'ko, and now you're acting like ako 'tong may problema?"

"A-Ano?" nauutal sa kalituhang tanong ng binata.  "Pinaasa kita? Anong... anong sinasabi mo?"

"Stop it, Prince! Stop it! I'm not buying that ever again!"

"Stephanie, hindi talaga kita maintindihan. Ano ba kasing kinagagalit mo?"

"What do you care? Break na naman tayo di ba?"

"Break?" lalong naguluhan si Prince. "Hey, I really don't get you."

"First, you weren't answering my calls, tapos—" she can't contain her tears anymore. The moment they touched her make up-painted cheeks, her chest hurt again. The sting stopped her from speaking.

"I'm sorry," was all he could say. "Hindi ko alam na tumatawag ka. Kinuha kasi ni Cindy yung phone ko eh."

"A-Ano?" Stephanie stuttered.

"I'm really sorry," pagpapatuloy niya, "pasensya ka na talaga. Sana intindihin mo na muna 'ko. Galit na galit sa'kin si Cindy kahapon. Yeah, I know she'd always been mad at me ever since the first day we met but yesterday was indeed different. Kinuha niya yung phone ko at pinagpilitang grounded daw ako. Alam ko napakatanga ko para magpauto sa kanya pero ayoko lang talaga ng gulo. I've got no choice."

Napanganga lang si Stephanie. Hindi talaga siya makapaniwala sa kaisipang nabubuo ngayon sa ulo niya.

Stupid! Stephanie, you're so stupid! Damn you!

"Anong..." she was still lost in disbelief. "Mga anong oras niya kinuha ang phone mo?"

"Few minutes before six? I can't really remember."

"So... what was your last text to me?"

Nag-isip si Prince. Hindi pa rin malinaw sa kanya ang nangyayari. Parang lalo pa nga siyang naguguluhan ngayon. "Yung reply ko sa'yo nung sinabi mong nakauwi ka na?"

While her left hand was on her waist, Stephanie used her free palm to cover her mouth that opened wide when she gasped.

Stephanie, you stupid head! Ang tanga mo! Ang tanga-tanga mo! she kept saying to herself. Agad pa niyang ikinubli ang mukha niya sa likod ng dalawa niyang palad.

"Stephanie?"

"A-I'm—" she continued to trip over her tongue. Tinanggal na niya ang kanyang mga kamay sa pagkakatakip nito ng kanyang mukha. "I'm sorry. Prince, I'm sorry. I'm so stupid; I should have known better. I'm sorry."