Conceal

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I can hear the shouting of the people cheering for me gets louder as I approach the finish line. Mas lalo kong binilisan ang pagpapatakbo and I hit the break pagkalagpas ko sa finish line.

First place, baby.

This isn't my first winning in a street race but it still feels good.

Lumabas ako sa aking sports car na pinabili ko lang kahapon just for this event. I removed my helmet at pinasadahan ko ng aking daliri ang aking mahabang buhok. Sinalubong ako ng hiyawan at bati ng crowd. I'm not good with names but I know that some of them are my schoolmates.

"Congratulations, Pern! You really are extraordinary," wika ni North na may malaking ngiti sabay yakap sa akin.

"Shut up, North," irap ko sa kanya ngunit ngumiti rin.

"Your father must be real proud of you," sarcastic na wika niya at hagalpak ng malakas.

Binigyan ko na lang siya ng matalim na titig at bumaling na ko sa iba ko pang kakilala na bumati sakin. Binigyan ko sila ng tipid na ngiti.

Some of them are shocked that they saw me smile.

"Perny!!" malakas na sigaw ng aking bestfriend na si Harper.

Lumingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses niya at nakita ko siya na nakasandal sa sasakyan ko. Nakipagsiksikan ako sa maraming tao na patuloy ang pagbati at pagkausap sa akin para lang mapuntahan siya.

Pagkalapit ko ay binigyan niya ako ng isang malakas na highfive sabay palo sa hood ng kotse ko.

"Damn it, Pern! This is the latest model of Lamborghini sports car. You're such a lucky bitch!" malakas niyang sabi.

She's a really loud girl. She's well-known for her short rainbowed hair na lagi niyang pinapalitan ng kulay kung kailan niya matripan, this time it is bright red. She's always wearing her black or sometimes dark violet lipstick to make her look like a real bitch.

"Well, being the senator's daughter does good on her. She's spoiled," sabat ni North sabay akbay sa akin.

North is my bestfriend, too. He has this messy blonde hair and a really white skin that's why he's named "North". He's like the living version of Jack Frost with wide smile that can make girls drool and like Jack Forst, puno siya ng kalokohan sa buhay.

We've been friends since we're in the wombs of our mothers. Sabay sabay na kaming lumaki because our parents are friends. And we practically live next to each other's houses.

"Fuck you, North. I'm not spoiled. I'm just a little lucky and hey, it's not my fault that I was born too pretty and awesome," walang emosyon kong wika.

Umiling iling na lang ng may ngiti sa labi sa tabi ko si North. Sometimes, he can't just comprehend with my... awesomeness?

True enough, I was born pretty. Long black hair. White porcelain skin. Black explicit eyes. Narrow nose. Perfect red lips. Slender body.

For an eighteen-year old girl. Marami rami na kong kalokohan na nasalihan but I'm more fond of street racing. It brings calmness and a different kind of excitement in my veins. Whenever I'm inside my car, it feels like I am embracing the whole freedom that my family has given to me.

Umalis si North sa tabi ko dahil may natipuhan na naman siyang babae.

I recognized her as one of my classmates. Long hair. Plump lips. High cheekbones. Curvy. Definitely, North's type.

Naiiling na lang ako minsan sa dami ng babae niya but he's having fun so sino kami para pigilan siya?

Kumuha ako ng isang stick sa pakete ng sigarilyo sa bulsa ng shorts ko at sinindihan iyon. Sumandal ako sa likod ng kotse ko katabi si Harper habang tinitignan sa malayo kung paano makipaglampungan si North sa bago niyang babae.

"Sa tingin mo, magbabago pa yan?" seryosong tanong ni Harper sa akin.

"Who the fuck cares."

Natigilan ako nang nakita ko kung gaano kaseryoso si Harper sa tanong niya at sa pagmasid kay North na malayang hinahalikan ang leeg ng babaeng biktima niya.

Seriously, Harper?

"Do you like him?" tanong ko at bumuga ng usok.

She laughed hysterically, dahilan kung bakit napalingon si North sa amin at kumunot ang noo. Nang tumigil sa pagtawa ng malakas si Harper ay nagpatuloy pa rin si North sa ginagawa niyang paghalik sa leeg ng babaeng yun.

"Gago ka ba, Pern? Baka nakakalimutan mo na isa yan sa rules nating tatlo," sagot niya at ihip sa kanyang sigarilyo.

"Yeah. I remembered," mahina kong wika.

Pareho kaming tahimik ni Harper. Patuloy niya pa ding pinagmamasdan ang paglalandi ni North habang inabala ko naman ang sarili ko sa pagtingin sa mga bituin.

"Hey, do you already have an assignment in Trigonometry?" walang kwentang tanong ni Harper sa akin.

"Since when did you care about academics!"

"Hey, I'm pretty much studious no"

Hindi na ako nagsalita. She knows that I already have an assignment and kokopya lang din naman siya bukas.

Natahimik kaming dalawa. Ang daming tao and I even saw one who winked at me. Gross.

Dahil wala namang magandang view. I decided to look at the sky.

There are too many stars tonight. My father once said to me that every person in the world has a corresponding star. That's a sign na buhay ka o nabuhay ka. But there's a lot of stars in the universe, how will you know which one is yours?

"Hey ladies, come on. It's already past one. I'll bring you home," wika ni North na nagpatigil sa akin sa pagtingala sa mga bituin.

"Where's your whore? Ang bilis niyo naman," usisa ni Harper sa kanya.

"You're more important than my sex life," kindat niya. "I'll get you home first."

"Douchebag," sabi ni Harper na nagpatawa lamang kay North.

"I can't go home. Tumakas lang ako ngayong gabi. I'll be sleeping in your house, Harp. I'm sure Tito and Tita would understand," wika ko.

My father do not agree in my whole personality but he still provides everything I want. I think that's the problem if you were born privileged, your parents are less affectionate but it's no big deal with the three of us. Our parents are busy being rich but we do not complain. We're not some pathetic children who will do stupid things to get their parents attention. Fuck those reasons.

"Ditch your sex life, North. Let's party and booze tonight," suggestion naman ni Harper.

Damn it, we have classes tomorrow you know.

"Okay but I'm sure that I will still get laid tonight," ani North ng may evil smirk.

What a fucking asshole.