Younger (R-18)

Four

Light makeup lamang ang nilalagay ko sa aking mukha tuwing papasok sa eskwela. Binabash kasi pag makapal. Mukha daw kasing pokpok kahit hindi naman. Mga tao kasi, hindi nalang diretsahin na naiinggit ang dami-dami pang sinasabi.

Those vexed critics must prohibit them selves to shut up. Being an out-frank in a bullshit way won't make reasonable fixes so you could standout. It makes you look horrible trying to hurt someone who doesn't deserve to be treated that way.

Iyon nga lang, walang taong kayang umamin sa kanilang kinaiinggitan na naiinggit sila. People are hypocrite. Pumupuri sila ng iba ngunit may kasamang pangungutya, because that's their way of comforting themselves-- ang maghanap ng mali ng iba.

"Hindi ka po kakain?" Kulot worriedly asked me when she saw me hurriedly stepping down the stairs while combing my hair.

Late na ako. 8:30 na kasi nang magising ako. Saradong-sarado kasi ang mga kurtina sa aking kwarto kaya hindi ko na nakita ang sikat ng araw sa labas.

Umiling ako bilang tugon sa kaniya. I turned to the other maid. "Ate Nida, please call mang Natoy. Late na late na talaga ako!"

My panic signaled her to immediately call our family driver. At dahil rush hour na ay naabutan kami ng traffic. I literally spent my thirty minutes on my seat cursing these fucking people's car. Ang pobre ng bansa natin and yet ang daming sasakyan? Goodness, philosophers, I want an elucidate explanation.

At exactly nine, nakarating ako ng school. And this No Id no entry, sucks. I wonder who implemented this policy. The guard even has to check my bag first before letting me pass! Does he thinks I'll bring with me a lethal weapon? For what? To kill the guard himself for wasting my minutes and patience? Ganoon ba iyon?

Umirap ako matapos niyang tusok-tusukin ang bag ko. I walked through the wide space. Hindi pa man ako nakararating sa gitna ay narinig kong tumunog iyong bell. Nagsilabasan ang mga estudyante.

Their hands are on the back of their heads and the teachers are guiding them to this way. I stepped back. Nasapo ko ang aking noo. Perks of being late. Fuck, dahil sa pagmamadali ko ay nakalimutan kong may gaganapin palang earthquake drill ngayong araw.

I don't even know where in that crowd were my classmates. Or maybe I should just mimic what they're doing at makisingit na lamang sa kung kani-kaninong linya. But that's... improper.

I sighed. Nanatili na lamang ako sa gilid and busied my self checking the ants of students, hoping to see my belonged row.

Isang kamay ang kumalabit sa akin. Nilingon ko iyon. It was Nathaniel, my classmate. Mukhang kararating lang din nito.

"Mag-isa ka lang?"

I looked at my side. There's no one... I looked back at him, didn't bother answering. It is obvious na mag-isa ako. Why does he have to ask?

He scratched the back of his head and laughed at his own query. I stared at him, trying to figure out which part of that was funny. "Uhm, alam mo ba kung nasaan ang mga kaklase natin?"

I stared at him even more. He's asking stupid questions. And I do not entertain stupid people. Instead of answering, bumalik nalang muli ang aking tingin sa mga estudyante. Mas may sense siguro itong gagawin ko kaysa ang makipag-usap sa isang ito.

Unintentionally, I saw Clark running towards me. Nanliit ang mga mata ko. Aside from that frowning face, he's also wearing potter glasses and a red handkerchief tied around his head. Bagong porma nanaman niya siguro.

I shrugged, he nailed it anyway.

Tumigil siya sa aking harapan. Saglit niyang tinignan si Nathaniel, pagkatapos ay ako. His knotted brows are very evident. He doesn't look happy. Something's clogging his mood.