Be the First (Love in Rivalry #1)

13: Distraction

DANI's POV

Dahil sa ginawa ni Winona, napatawag ang parents namin sa Principal's office. Kasalukuyang nasa loob ng office ang mga magulang namin.

Nasa hallway kami nina Matias, Izrajel, at Airen lunes ng umaga. Dito kami pinaupo sa waiting room area sa labas ng office of the principal.

It took a lot of courage for me to admit and tell everything to my Mom last weekend. Alam na rin ni Dad ang nangyari, at pinagalitan niya ako noong inamin ko lahat sa kanila kung bakit sila pinapatawag.

Naalala ko ang mga sinabi niya sa akin.

"You're much better than this, Dani. Sinabi ko na sayo na 'wag kang maging masyadong involved sa school." Dad's words cut too deep, and he was obviously so disappointed at me. "Why can't you just be a normal student, Dani?"

I just don't understand why he's not being supportive with me being so active and excelling in school.

He didn't even care enough to come with Mom here in school. Hindi man lang niya subukan intindihin kung bakit ko ginawa ang ginawa ko.

"Mom gave me an earful too, you know. Sinermunan niya ko via call." Airen's voice cut me off my thoughts. "But since nasa London sila, I'm safe." Nagawa niya pang magyabang talaga. Porke si Tita Sara lang niya ang pumunta in his stead.

"Sana all, safe sa magulang." Sagot naman ni Matias na halatang problemado. "Bad trip Mama ko, siguradong hindi ako ligtas sa  mala-armalite niyang bibig pagtapos nito."

"Well, sucks to be you." Airen answered back. Mukhang okay na sila ni Matias dahil nagpapansinan na sila. 

"I need a nice long game after this." Bulong ni Izrajel. At nagkasundo ang tatlo na maglalaro sila mamaya ng basketball.

I looked over at Izrajel. Since katabi ko si Airen, nasa tabi naman niya si Matias at nasa dulo ng bench si Izrajel.

Hindi pa ako nakakapag-sorry sa kanya. I already apologized to Airen at okay na kami. Okay na rin kami ni Matias...

Hindi pa kami okay ni Izrajel at ni Winona.

I sighed. It's all too complicated and I hate it.

"Dani." Mom's voice startled me. Nakangiti siya sa akin pagkalabas niya ng office. Tumayo kaagad ako at nilapitan siya.

"Mom? How was it?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Walang bahid ng inis kay Mom. She's always been so calm when it comes to me.

"It's all good. Naiintindihan ko ang nangyari, anak." She pulled me into a small hug. Kinuwento niya sa akin na pinaliwanag ng Principal ang punishment namin.

Imbis na detention, isang linggo kaming suspended sa mga after-school clubs namin. It means bababa ang involvement score namin sa club at makakaapekto 'yon sa performance grades namin.

"Lagi namang may lesson sa lahat ng pagkakamali. But you're okay, you'll be okay."

Hinatid ko sa gate si Mom bago bumalik ng classroom. Pagkapasok ko, si Matias ang nasa upuan ni Winona. There was a tug in my chest when I saw how she deliberately ignored me.

After our fight, hindi pa rin kami naguusap.

I know what her intentions were, yes. Pero sana maintindihan niya kung bakit ako galit. She bypassed me. Hindi niya ako pinakinggan at nagsumbong kaagad siya nang hindi iniisip ang magiging resulta.