The Manipulation Game

11

"Touché."

"Baby pala 'a."

"She's the one who called me that!"

"Tawagan na natin si "Abby" kuno, at siya ang pag-kwentuhin."

*after an hour*

"Loraine!"

"Hi, Zen! Hi, guys!"

"Hello."

"Kamusta."

"Uy!"

"Yo."

"Hi, Louis."

"Hi, Raine."

"Ooh, look what you made me do—"

"Shut the fuck up, for life."

Loraine.

School.

It's Sunday. And I'm in bloody school. Thank you so much, Louis!

Nagtext kasi sa'kin at pinapupunta ako sa school kasi may ipapagawa raw siya sa'kin bilang secretary. Psh, if I know he just wants to see me at nag-iinarte lang siya because he's too arrogant to admit things.

Pagpasok ko sa SC room, wala namang tao. Punyeta. Nasa'n kaya ang punggok na 'yon.

Ay wait, baka nasa office ng chairman. Ang sabi niya kasi pinatatawag daw siya ni sir Novicio. I wonder why? Siguro magkasama sila ni Kurt. Kararating lang kasi ng Dad niya rito sa school. Reunion ba.

Lumabas ako ng SC at dumiretso sa office of the chairman. Kilala naman ako ni sir Novicio, okay lang naman din na magpabalik-balik ako sa loob ng opisina niya. Perks of being the student council secretary, isa pa, our families are close friends.

I knocked three times before opening the door. I was smiling, but I caught a whiff of something awful. Like, rusting iron. My smile faded when I saw what awaited me inside.

Chairman Novicio is lying on the floor, eyes wide open, looking at me with bloodshot eyes. Blood flowing from all over his body. It's retracting from his stomach which his right hand is clutching. He was shot to death.

I was about to scream when someone laid their hand on my shoulder. "Breathe." I did what they said. Then they rubbed my back, trying to calm me. Shit. I'm so scared.

I looked at the person behind me because the voice is awfully familiar and after seeing him I wanted to cry. Bakit ngayon ka lang nagpakita, Louis? Bwiset ka, punyeta. I stopped myself from hugging him—and punching him altogether—pinigilan ko ring umiyak. I don't want him to see me as a fragile little girl. Besides, this is not my first time seeing a dead body.

He laughed. "Wow, this is. . . surprising." He shook his head. Kakaiba talaga 'to. He's so calm, yet he's thrilled. I hate this attitude of his, I want to just stab him in the neck sometimes.

"I bet you do." He beamed at me. "Ice cream?" He showed me the plastic bag he's holding on his right hand.

"Not the time, Lazaro." I rolled my eyes. "We need to report this." I whispered.