Shards Of Virtue

Chapter Four

Eight years earlier (Continuation)

Some of the students greeted in my way the moment when I walk through the school hallways, some of them kasi ay naging mga kaibigan ko. Malapit na ang examination week kaya napagpasyahan naming mag-group study kasama ang ka-team sa cheerleading sa library. Kakaunti lang naman ang nasa loob dahil class hours na taliwas sa aming oras na vacant dahil wala ang aming guro sa geography dahil nagkasakit.

"My brain is not functioning well, hindi pa rin pumapasok sa utak ko ang lahat ng aking pinag-aralan kagabi." Reklamo ni Cass at nakabusangot pa itong nakatingin sa kanyang Calculus na libro.

"Cass talagang hindi magfu-function ang utak mo dahil hindi ka naman marunong sa Math." biro ni Jessica sa kanya.

Humagalpak naman ng tawa ang buong grupo. Narinig ito ng Librarian at agad kaming sinita nito. She's glaring at our group, kaya naman panay ang pagtatago ni Jess at ni Cass sa kanilang upuan.

"Tss.. I really don't like that Old woman grabe talaga siya kapag galit. " sabi ni Megan and it earned a couple of snickers to the group.

Matagal-tagal ko ng hindi nakikita ang lalaki sa gym. Its been one week. Para siyang bula kung maglaho sa school. I didn't even asked him about his name nung nag-away sila ni Chace. I just wanted to say sorry for what I did to him. Baka kasi na-offend ko siya.

You know? Men and their egos.

I remember how is brown eyes fixed on mine. They were full of anger and irritation, and the way he restrained his self to fight back dahil alam niyang hindi niya matatalo si Chace frustrates him so much.

Is he bullied by other people many times before? half of my part tells me yes, half of my part tells no. Pero kitang-kita ko sa kanya ang pagtitimpi niya. His words haunt me that night nung nakauwi na ako sa mansion. I was making a reaction paper about the Trojan war pero I end up thinking of him.

Next time, wag kang lalapit sa akin.

His words echoes once again in my head.

"Hey Tati? Are you alright? kanina ka pa namin tinatawag ah? Di ka nakikinig."

I've been snapped out from my little world nang iniyugyog ni Megan ang aking kaliwang balikat. She frowned at me, and the whole group is looking at me expectantly.

Umiling ako sa kanila. "Sorry, may iniisip lang."

"Of course.." Sabi ni Trisha na tila nai-intindihan niya ang aking rason. "Its been a tough week for you Tatiana, cheerleading team, reaction papers, haaay sabayan mo yung student government mo at problema sa bahay talagang mawi-windang ka!" She said with exaggeration, she even rolled her eyes at me habang pinaypayan niya ang kanyang sarili.

Napangiti lamang ako sa kanyang sinabi. My group looked at me with pity and guilt on their faces. Nag-peace sign naman si Megan.

Yes, I am the Vice President of the Student Government dito sa St. Michael Academy, its been a hectic schedule for me dahil may cheerleading at academic akong inaatupag and I really strive hard to be on top so that si Daddy ay magiging mas proud pa sa akin, I'm always part of school's top dean's lister. Marinig ko lang ang mga puri ng aking ama its already enough for me.

Dad is not that strict when it comes to my decision. Gusto nga niya na ako mismo ang magde-desisyon sa aking sarili, dahil sabi niya sa akin.

' Tatiana, being a parent is very tough, kasi hindi mo malalaman kung ano ang magiging kinabukasan ng iyong anak. Parents' are designed to guide their children in their own choices of  their course of life. Kung may masamang desisyon ang anak, Parents' are there to correct them. kaya when there's chance to learn, learn as much as you can by making your own decisions, titimbangin mo ang bawat desisyon mo kung ito'y tama o mali. Dahil kung makakadesisyon ka ng mabuti then there's a brighter future for you.'