Paper Planes

Kabanata 2

KABANATA 2

Maaga kaming pinauwi dahil biglang nagkaroon ng meeting ang mga teachers ng university. Gustong kunin noong isang kambal na Yazaki ang numero ko na agad ko namang tinanggihan. Hindi ko siya kilala para bigyan nito kahit sabihin pa niyang kilala niya ako. Nang napagtanto niyang hindi ako mapipilit, bigo siyang umalis kasama ang kanyang kapatid.

I better ask Gene about those two and their relation to the Yazaki Group. I noted to myself before standing up to go out.

Biglang may humarang sa aking daraanan. It was the girl with a yellow ribbon on her hair and her group of friends. If I wasn't mistaken, she's called Desiree Fontillas. There were about six of them. Lahat ay nakahalukipkip. Lahat ay matalim ang tingin sa akin.

"Yes? Is there something I can help you with?" Tanong ko sa kanila habang isa-isa silang tinignan.

"Can we talk?" Desiree asked.

"Um... Sure," sagot ko.

I was somewhat ecstatic that the girls have approached me. Maybe this could be the start of our friendship? Ilang sandali pa nila akong tinitigan bago naunang lumabas. I guessed they wanted me to follow them. So I did.

Pumunta kami sa CR ng mga babae. Dahil uwian na, wala ng tao roon bukod sa amin. Pagkapasok ko, agad akong itinulak ng isa sa kanila. Napasandig ako sa pintuan ng isang cubicle. Kunot-noo ko silang pinagmasdan habang pinapaligiran ako.

"Who do you think you are getting all the boys' attention? Hmm?" Asik ni Desiree sabay duro sa aking balikat.

Hindi naman siya masakit pero napataas ang kilay ko sa tanong nito. Clearly, they're not here to make friends.

"You think you're so popular now because you're new here?" Sabi pa ng isa niyang kaibigan. Was it Melissa Sy? Her hair's pushed back into a tight ponytail with a blue ribbon tied to it.

"Bitch, you don't want to mess with us," asik pa ng isa. Sa pagkakaala ko Cindy Ypon ang pangalan. Nakahawi naman sa isang banda ang buhok nito at may berdeng lasong nakatali rito.

They were ganging up on me and pushing me back to the door while poking their sharp nails on my body. I was nearing my limit and was about to fight back when the door of the cubicle next to us opened.

"Oh, it's only Miss Braces," ani Desiree bago bagot na pinaikot ang mata.

I saw a young girl standing in front of us. She's quite petite. She's two years younger perhaps. She's wearing thick spectacles.Her curly black hair was pulled into a tight bun. When our eyes met, something about her squinty eyes looked extremely familiar.

I'm sure I've seen those eyes before.

"Move along, Braces, there's nothing to watch here," narinig kong sabi noong isang kasama ni Desiree. Zoey Seno yata ang pangalan. She wore her hair in braids with a pink ribbon tied at the very end.

Sandali pa itong nakipagtitigan sa amin bago nanginginig na inangat ang kanyang kamay.

"Y-y-y-yamete k-k-kudasai. B-bullying i-is b-bad," she said with shaking voice.

Nagtinginan sa isa't isa ang grupo ni Desiree at pagkatapos ay nagtawanan. Tinungo ng tatlo nitong kaibigan iyong batang babae at siya naman ang pinagdiskitihan.

"We're not bullying her, Braces," sabi ni Melissa habang nilalaro ang mga takas na buhok ng bata.

"This is just a little orientation for her," sabi naman ng isang nagngangalang Cleope Pilapil. Nakatali sa isang banda ang mahaba nitong buhok ng isang kulay lila na laso.