“Are you sure you don’t want us to escort you to the lobby?” tanong ni Hanzo habang dala-dala ang backpack ko.
Umiling ako saka kinuha ang bag mula sa kanya, inayos ko ito sa aking likod.
They are all fine looking men, baka mas magkaroon pa ng gulo kapag sumama pa sila sa akin. Knowing Patricia and her good old friends na napakamalisyosa ng mga isip, hindi nila ako tatantanan kung nalaman nilang may kasama akong tatlong gwapong lalaki.
“Nope, I’m fine. Nasa lobby pa naman ang mga teachers, they’ll assist us.” I winked at them.
Nagsitinginan lang ang tatlo sa isa’t isa na para bang may pinag-uusapan sa kanilang mga isip gamit ang kanilang mga mata.
“Okay.”
Bakit feel kong may binabalak itong mga ‘to? Na para bang may ideya ito sa kanilang isip at hindi ako kasali.
“Don’t try to sneak in, okay?” Pinakita ko ang kamao ko sa kanila.
Doom shrugged, Hanzo had this little smile on his lips, while Oscar had a grin on his face. Mukhang manyak talaga itong isang ‘to. Kung ‘di ko lang ‘to kaibigan pinaaresto ko na ‘to sa pulis. ‘Di, joke lang. Mabait naman siya.
They all line up in front of the van as I walked in the hotel.
“Call us if anything happens, we’ll back you up!” Oscar aggressively waved his hand up in the air.
Pinanlakihan ko lang sila ng mata dahil marami-rami rin ‘yung mga tao sa labas. Kinutusan lang siya ni Hanzo habang pinapanood sila ni Doom.
One last glance on them before I got in, I saw Doom do a little wave of hand at me.
I smiled at him before I set foot into the cold lobby of the hotel.
Sumalubong sa akin ang mga bagot na mukha ng mga estudyanteng naiwan sa lobby. Puro pagod sa byahe ang mga mukha nito. May nalanghap pa nga akong betet nang madaan sa akin ang hangin mula sa aircon ng hotel.
“I’m impressed. May gana ka pang pumunta ng retreat sa kabila ng kaguluhang dinala mo sa eskwelahan. You even provoke the Mayor. Do you have no shame and decency left for yourself?” She had disgust on her face.
The same with the others who are staring at me right now. They were all showing anger in their eyes. I didn’t do anything to anger them. For as far as I know, the students who fall short financially are under the mayor’s welfare. Sa madaling salita, hawak ng Mayor ang budget ng mga estudyanteng ito.
“I did what I thought was good.” I told them, trying to wake the sense out of them.
“Or for yourself?” someone in the crowd said.
Naiintindihan ko kung saan sila nanggagaling. The fact that I myself was born poor, knows how much suffering they need to endure to go to an elite school.
Kaya nga mas hinahabaan ko ang aking pasensiya. I’ve learned from the past to not decide on impulse. Ayoko rin naman ang nangyari sa amin ni Patricia. I thought to let it just go but tey crossed the line-- they provoked me.
“Huwag ka ngang nagpapaka-santa-santita, Ash. Ang dali lang sayo para magsalita ng ganyan dahil may lalaki kang nagsusustento sa mga gastos mo sa school. Eh kami?”
Sumama ang timpla ng pakiramdam ko kung paano niya ipinarating sa akin ang gusto niyang sabihin. I wanted to tell them na hindi basta-bastang lalaki lang si Hanzo. He was there when everyone else treated me like an incurable disease.
“I don’t know why you’re so worked up with everything about me when what I did was to defend myself.” Bulalas ko.
Hindi ko pa rin sila makitaan ng kaunting simpatya. I knew that moment they were already decided who to side with. I can’t blame them. Money makes the world round kaya ganoon na lang sila kung makaasta.
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Hello Doom
काल्पनिक[ON-GOING] When Asha Buenavella turned 18, she could only wish for one-- to finally end the days of her life. She was fed up with being unlucky and what life had in store for her, sufferring. Will she finally able to achieve peace now that Doom, th...
