The Lady in Shining Armor: Monte Carlo High

IX. The Unexpected Hero

Wendy pulled me nearer the board at nakita naming nandoon na si Anastacia. We pushed through the thick crowd and we finally reached the board and checked our names.

"OMG, Dawn, you're number one!" Sigaw ni Anastacia.

"Congrats, friend!" Wendy hugged me and I checked on the board to see it for myself.

"Anastacia, ikaw ang nasa second place!"

"And I'm on sixth place! Higher than last period!" The three of us hugged each other. I just had to keep this up for another three months bago ilabas ang final list sa February.

 

Kinabukasan, nagmamadali akong pumasok sa school. Tanghali na ako nagising kaya hindi ako nakasabay sa school service. Pagdating ko sa Main Building, agad akong dumiretso sa locker ko. Three minutes bago mag-bell, kaya ko pa.

"Uy, may sunog ba?" Kalabit sa akin ni Wendy. Magkatabi lang kasi kami ng lockers, at andun pa rin siya. 

"Late na kasi ako nagising kasi yung aso ng kapitbahay--" At nagulat ako sa isang papel na nahulog mula sa locker ko pagbukas ko nito.

"Ano 'yan?" 

"Ewan ko." Pinulot ko ang papel at binasa ang nakasulat dito. "You're the one. Be ready to face Death."

"Ang creepy naman niyan!" Bakas sa mukha ni Wendy ang takot.

"Baka naman 'yung mga bully lang may gawa nito. Wala 'to, halika na." Ibinalik ko sa locker ang papel at isinara ito. Dumiretso na kami sa klase at nakalimutan ko na nang tuluyan ang tungkol sa papel na iyon hanggang sa umalis ako sa Sisters of Mary.

I looked at the red paper again and decided on calling Wendy. I stood up and went to my study table to get my cellphone. I scrolled to Wendy's name and hit the CALL button. Sigurado gising na 'yun.

The line was picked up on third ring. "Dawn!" She sounded excited. I felt a rush of nostalgia as I heard her voice.

"Hey, Curly! How are you?" Mabilis lang ang naging pag-uusap namin the last time she visited me here. At wala kaming ibang pinag-usapan kundi ang pagkamatay ni Anastacia at ang pagluluksa ng buong Sisters of Mary, kaya ito pa lang ang unang beses mag-uusap kami ng normal.

"I'm good. Getting ready for school, actually. Ikaw ang kamusta? Bakit ngayon ka lang tumawag? May bago ka na sigurong friends diyan..." I imagined her pouting at this moment. Nakaka-miss talaga itong tao na 'to.

"I'm talking to you now, means I'm still alive. I've been busy though, hinabol ko lahat yung lessons nila dito."

"As if kailangan mong maghabol! Huwag ka ngang patawa, Dawn! Kahit last quarter ka na ng school year pumasok, hindi ka babagsak! Kung hindi nga lang qualifier ang attendance, pwede ka pa pumwesto sa Top of the Class diyan, eh." She chuckled. Kilala talaga ako ni Wendy.

I laughed at her statement. "Okay, okay. You got me there. Nag-kukunwari lang akong nag-hahabol ng lessons, pero nag-o-obserba lang talaga ako sa environment nila dito. And friends? Who needs friends here if you're surrounded by bullies, gangsters and queen bees?"

"Oh, my gosh! Okay ka lang ba diyan? May nag-t-trip ba sa 'yo dahil baguhan ka lang?" She was full of concern. Typical Wendy.

"Calm down, okay. I'm okay here. I'm a...changed person. I can take care of myself now."

"That's good to hear. Alam mo, I haven't heard from you since...since you left Sisters of Mary. Okay ba lahat doon?" I knew what she meant. It's the freaking 'vacation' that I had in the US.