Every Bad Thing

Chapter Twenty-Two

My view of her brave and vicious face was blocked when Silas positioned himself in front of me. Seeing him in front of him forced unwanted images in my mind. It brought back the fury in me. Pumalag ako sa pagkakahawak sa akin ng taong nasa aking likod na paniguradong si Hadeon. 

My twin cursed and tightened his arms around my waist. Si Silas naman ay hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko para pigilan ako sa pag-abante. "Baby, please calm down..."

Just a few words from him, just a simple baby from him, and I feel completely disarmed. My chest tightened, like air just got stolen from my chest. I gradually weakened. The adrenaline slowly dropped and my anger faded. Unti-unti ko nang naramdaman ang pagod at hapdi ng mga natamo ko sa away na nangyari. My scalp and cheek stings, my arms were exhausted, a few parts of my body ache. 

"Miss Serrano, Miss Torres! In the discipline office. NOW!" Ms. Mendoza's thunderous voice bounced inside the room before she left.

Mariin na ipinikit ko ang mga mata. Fuck. The consequences of what I just did only came into me now. I was too blinded with ire earlier that the aftermath didn't even cross my mind. I didn't think this through. God, Laurene.

"Great!" sarkastikong sabi ni Rachel. Bumukas ang mga mata ko at nakita na sa akin siya nakatingin. "Thanks a lot, Serrano!"

"Shut up, Rachel." I heard Orion hiss.

"Don't bark orders at me. We're not in bed." Rachel retorted. Muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa akin at inirapan ako. Matapos 'non ay pumalag siya sa hawak ng dalawa at naglakad palabas ng room. Mukhang susunod kay Ms. Mendoza.

"Laurene." tawag ng maamong boses ni Silas. 

Ramdam ko ang init ng mga titig niya sa akin pero hindi ko siya magawang tingnan. Baka kapag tiningnan ko siya ay bumalik lang ang galit at sakit ko sa oras na maisip ang paghalik ni Pia sa kanya.

I removed his hands from my shoulder. I didn't need to do the same to Hadeon, because he released me from his hold. Nilampasan ko siya nang hindi ko tinatapunan ng tingin.

"Laurene..." Pia feebly called when I passed by her.

My steps halted. I stopped from walking. Clenching my jaw, I turned my head to her. She flinched when our eyes met. "You're no one to me. Don't talk to me ever again."

I didn't care about the pain that crossed her face. I ignored Des when she called me. I ignored them all. Mas gugustuhin ko pa mapangaralan at harapin ang galit ni Ms. Mendoza kaysa ang makita silang lahat. I'm too angry to face them. I'm too hurt to pretend that this doesn't affect me.

Pia's betrayal hurts more than anything. She's one of my closest friends. She's practically my bestfriend! Kaya paano niya nagawa iyon? 

Drunk people doesn't have control on what they do, but that doesn't mean she didn't want it. Gusto niya iyon. Hindi niya lang napigilan ang sarili niya dahil sa alak. At bakit hindi niya agad sinabi sa akin? 

At bakit hindi sinabi ni Silas sa akin? He had the opportunity to tell me that night. I asked him more than once what's bothering him, but he never answered. Kahit nang hinatid niya ako pauwi ay hindi niya sa akin sinabi ang totoo.

And is Rachel telling the truth? Did Silas kiss her back? Fuck. My hand flew to my chest as my heart painfully squeezed.

Nang kausapin kami ni Ms. Mendoza ay hindi ako masyadong nagsalita. Rachel's the one who talked. Sinisi niya ang lahat sa akin. That I started first. She's telling the truth anyway. I'm the one who stormed in their room. I slapped her first. 

I didn't bother defending myself. I knew what I did was wrong. Kasalanan ko ang nangyari, kaya para saan pa?

"Wala ka bang sasabihin man lang, Ms. Serrano?" Ms. Mendoza asked.