As You Lie Awake

CHAPTER 1: SEMPER

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ng guidance counselor sa amin. She tapped her pen on her table while looking at us. "What happened Miss Dizon?"

"She started it—" pinutol ng guidance counselor ang sasabihin ni Iradessa.

"I'm asking Miss Dizon. Anong nangyari Violet? You're not this kind of student," wika niya sa akin.

"Iradessa slapped me," sagot ko at tinuro ang pisngi ko na malamang ay mamula-mula pa.

"Miss Ortega?"

"She splashed tubig on my face!" maarteng sagot nito.

"You did it to me first!"

"It was an accident!" sagot ni Iradessa. "Hindi ko naman iyon sinasadya ngunit bigla na lamang nagalit si Violet. She poured tubig on my face intentionally!"

"Is it true?" baling sa akin ng guidance counselor.

"Iyon ang totoo Ma'am," sabat ng tatlong kasama ni Iradessa.

"Violet, is that what happened?"

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumango. Sumabat ulit ang tatlong minion.

"See? Kasalanan ni Violet ang lahat!"

"Pero dahil iyon sinadya ni Iradessa na tapunan ako ng tubig!" I will never let them make another point. Sumosobra na sila, nananahimik lamang ako ngunit pinapakialaman nila ako. I cannot bear to remain silent about it anymore.

"At paano mo naman nasabi na sinasadya nga iyon ni Miss Ortega?" Tanong ng guidance counselor. "Did you see her plan it?"

"It's..." I closed my mouth. Mahirap paniwalaan kung sasabihin kong sinadya nga iyon ni Iradessa. But still I will try my luck. "This is not the first time she did it. Noong una ay tinapunan niya ako ng kape-"

"It was aksidente!"

"Then a frappe and now water?" I scowled at Iradessa.

A smile crossed the counselor's face. "You mean noong natapunan ka ng kape at frappe ay hindi ka nagalit ngunit ngayong tubig lang, nagalit ka?"

Tila nagbunyi ang reaksyon ng apat. Yes, I didn't react on the previous incident dahil tinimpi ko laman iyon. Who knows it would be the counselor's basis if I'm telling the truth or not? Hindi na lamang ako sumagot at nanatili na lamang nakayuko.

"Look, wala na kayo sa elementary at high school. Nasa kolehiyo na kayo, no more detention as disciplinary actions. At dahil nasa kolehiyo na kayo, you should be matured. But look what you did, you fight in the class? You know that there are community services for offenses like this or it could be suspension."

Sabay kaming napatango sa sinabi ng counselor. Yep, Athena University or AU has heavy grounds for discipline. At first offense, a simple community service. Second is suspension for one semester. Third will be dismissal from the university.

The community services will be a 3-week punishment. Kailangan naming maglinis sa paaralan, a thing which everyone hates lalo na at nasa kolehiyo na kami. But why didn't I think about it before bago ko hinablot si Iradessa? I answered my own question. She hit me in the face, and I didn't like it when someone hits me in the face.

Nang makalabas kami ng guidance ay ngumisi si Iradessa sa akin. "Freak."

Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin at nilampasan na lamang. I don't know what's her problem with me. If it's about Daven, hello? She has Daven now. Ako na ang naging masama sa paningin sa lahat.

Dumeretso ako sa faculty office. Lumapit ako sa professor namin kanina.

"Yes, Miss Dizon?"

"Gusto ko po sanang magpa-reschedule."