Morticia: Memoirs Of A Villain

Chapter Eight: Morticia of a Once Upon a Time I

"GUSTO MO bang dito na lang tumira?"

Inari only flipped me off from her comfortable spot on the couch. She's munching on my chips while watching a movie on my television. Hindi na nga ako magtataka kung may dala na siyang maleta one day.

"Is that your way of proposing to me?"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. She grinned, then glanced at the diary in my hands. I was busy picking at the lock, while the person I asked for help was having her not-so-deserved rest.

Nang hindi ko siya pinansin ay naisipan niyang magtanong, "So? What's your plan for Willow? Don't you think a complete makeover is just what she needs?"

For the past few days, we've been working on raising Willow's self-esteem. Pina-ikli niya ang buhokㅡ to which we refused pero sabi niya 'new beginnings' daw kaya anong magagawa namin. Suklay lang naman sana kulang niya.

Inari suggested that she ditch the eyeglasses and go for contact lenses, pero ayaw naman ni Willow kasi makakalimutin siya't baka hindi makuha 'pag tutulog.

She doesn't stutter as much anymore, as per Noam's report who watches her on campus. Mukhang lahat nga ng pumunta sa guidance room makaraan ay tumulong rin sa pago-observe sa changes ni Willow. Utos ko lang naman kay Noam na sabihin sa'kin kung may improvement, not watch the girl like a damn hawk.

"Complete makeover?"

Tumango si Inari. "Dye her hair. Have some tattoos. Skip the cardigan and wear either baggy or revealing clothes. Gano'n."

I glared at her. "All she needs is the confidence to stand up for herself. Kailangan niyang paniwalaan na hindi dapat siya tinatapak-tapakan."

"She seems to be doing fine," napanguso si Inari. "Kamusta na ba iyong sina Sophia? Weren't you keeping an eye on them too like the mother hen you are now?"

Nang samaan ko ulit siya ng tingin ay natatawa niya lang akong tinalikuran at bumalik sa panonood sa tv ko.

Kahit na lagi kong sinasabi na karakter at self-esteem lang ni Willow ang kailangang maayos, nabo-bother pa rin ako sa maaring gawin ni Sophia. Hindi lang din naman for Willow's sake, but also because of my past behavior. Sa mata niya at ng ibang estudyante, I'm still a friend of Sophia.

Or their master. Which is just a massive 'ew'.

"Aren't you suspended? Why do you want to meet me?"

Even though Cosette's complaining, she still made time to see me.

"Sophia's scared of you, right?"

I heard this from Inari. Mukhang matunog din daw kasi ang pangalan ni Sophia sa eskwelahan nila. It seems that the popular girls in there is also friends with her. She knew Sophia because she made a scene there once. During field trip. Nagpahiya daw ng estudyante.

Mukhang iyon nga talaga ang method of bullying ng babae. She likes to humiliate people. Kaya nga siguro ang scene of the crime niya parati ay sa crowded places. Pero 'pag gusto mangbugbog, nagpapabanyo kasi may dala-dalang alipores.

But then, Sophia is just a basic bitch. Cosette is someone whose snakery lies behind the scenes.

"Sophia..." ilang segundo siyang nag-isip bago ngumisi. "Ah, is this because of that nerdy girl who you saved back then? I was wondering about that. Since when did you like to play hero, hm?"

"Talaga bang magpapaka-arogante ka? May utang ka pa sa'kin," I answered with a smirk.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Utang?"

"Rooftop," I tilted my head, staring at her innocently. "Should I tell Noam what really happened back thenㅡ"

"Shut up," she hissed, looking around. "Ano ba kailangan mo?"