"Ah- delivery po para sa inyo, Ma'am." Inilahad nito sa aking harap ang paper bag na may logo rin gaya ng kaniyang damit.
"Wala akong order na ganyan, mali ka nang napuntahang address," saad ko saka isinarado ang pinto. Hindi pa man ako nakakalayo mula ruon nang sunod-sunod na katok nanaman ang umalingaw-ngaw.
"Ma'am hindi po ba kayo si Liv Miller? Tama po kasi talaga ang address. Santiago Building, Third floor, room 306!" Inis na binuksan kong muli ang pintuan. Siguro ay nagpadala nanaman si Tito Ricardo gaya nang lagi niyang ginagawa tuwing napapadaan siya dito dahil sa business trip.
"Bayad na po ito Ma'am kaya tanggapin mo na. Hindi ko po alam kung sino ang nagpadala pero may notes daw pong inilagay sa loob ng paper bag," saad pa nito saka nakangising iniabot sa akin ang paper bag. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at tinanggap nalang ang kung ano mang laman nuon saka sinaraduhan agad ang pinto.
"Saglit lang Ma'am!"
"What?!" Padabog kong bukas muli. This time nag-iinit na talaga ang ulo ko.
"Pa-receive." Inilahad nito ang delivery form at ballpen saka ngumisi nanaman nang malawak. Padarag kong hinablot sa kaniya iyon at pinirmahan.
"Gamutin mo agad 'yang sugat mo Ma'am baka magka infection."
"Wala kang pakialam," sambit ko saka ibinalik sa kaniya ang form at isinarado ang pinto.
Buntong hininga kong hinarap si Isla na nakalawit ang dilang nakaabang sa akin. Naaamoy niya malamang ang pagkaing laman ng paper bag kaya't lumapit ako duon at tiningnan ang laman. Tama nga, may kulay dilaw na sticky note sa loob.
"SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE DISCOVERED.
BUT ONCE THEY'RE UNLEASHED,
THERE'S NO TURNING BACK. "
4¹6³04²6³6¹3²06³5³4³8³4³2¹
Kunot nuo kong tinitigan ang dilaw na sticky note at inisip kong may kabulohan ba ito o wala, sa huli ay isinilid ko nalang iyon sa drawer ng side table ko saka inilabas ang pagkain sa supot. Humalimuyak ang amoy ng fried chicken kaya't napapatahol sa tuwa si Isla.
"Alright, this is all yours," ani ko sabay baba sa lapag nang pagkain. Kakawag-kawag sa tuwa ang buntot ni Isla habang kinakain iyon dahilan upang haplusin ko sa tuwa ang malago niyang balahibo.
Ipinagpatuloy ko naman ang ginagawang panggagamot sa sarili saka inayos na rin ang aking damit at humanda na sa pag-alis.
Before I got out, I opened a small metal box underneath my drawer, exposing a white pearl bracelet inside. It's a gift from my brother when we celebrated Christmas together since Mom and Dad were gone and my aunt was in New York for work. It has an initial 'E and O' that stands for Ellison and Olivia. My brother made this, and it is the only thing I have that reminds me of him. I sighed heavily and decided to wear it.
"Be a good boy Isla." Hinimas-himas ko siya ng aking kamay saka muling niyakap at nagpaalam. Buntong hininga akong tumayo at lumabas nang apartment saka pumara nang sasakyan patungong school.
Pasado alas-diyes na nang umaga ako nakarating sa school dahil na rin sa traffic ng byahe. Karamihan sa mga kasabay ko ngayong pumapasok ng campus ay nagtatakbuhan at nagmamadaling makarating sa kani-kanilang mga classrooms. Naiiling na pinagmasdan ko lang sila habang mabagal na naglalakad sa gitna ng quadrangle. Wala na rin namang mababago nuon kung tatakbo pa ako. Late na ako at ayuko nang pagurin pa ang sarili ko.
"Liv para kang naglalakad sa buwan, bilisan mo!" dinig kong sigaw ni Miles sa akin. Nasa entrance siya ng classroom at dalawang kamay ang ginagamit niyang pag senyas sa akin para magmadali. Kibit-balikat ko lang siyang pinagmasdan at mas lalo pang binagalan ang lakad. Hindi na ako nagulat pa sa busangot at salubong niyang kilay ng makarating ako sa lecture room.
Miles Santiago is the most obnoxious person our academy has ever had. She came from an affluent family that spent money on everything, and I detest that. Instead of using their instincts wisely, they put their greed first.
"Next time you come this late, just drop out, okay? It seems like studying doesn't interest you at all, freak!" she exclaimed as soon as I got to the classroom door. She stood at the doorway, preventing me from entering. Her caustic attitude comes out when her arms are on her hips.
"Miles, I'm aware how much your parents gradually love your exasperating views, but please restrain," I said, and I rolled my eyes.
"You can be seated, Miss Santiago."
I looked up to see Ms. Jamison, my philosophy teacher. Miles makes her way to her chair, shaking angrily. I walked past Miss Jamison and directly sat in my usual chair at the back.
"Alam mo naman sigurong hindi ito ang una o pangalawang beses na nahuli ka sa klase ko, Miss Miller. Kitang-kitang ko mula sa pwesto kong ito kung paano mo ako bastusin. Alam mo na nga na late kana, hindi kapa magmadali," sermon niya.
Miss Jamison is kind of an older version of Miles. Although I have no knowledge of her personal life, the way she treats me is consistent with this bitch's aura. Apart from that, they both seemed to have an excessive love for makeup, which was evident in their constant use.
"Obviously, I didn't care enough to attend your class," I said while crossing my arms. I leaned back on the chair, and the old hag looked at me for a few seconds, and her face held an unreadable expression.
"Did you just disrespect me, Ms. Miller?" she angrily said, making the whole class stunned for a moment except for me. I rolled my eyes, showing her how I find her face so disgusting and how her voice seems to irritate me.
"I said what I said, and I'm not going to take it back," I replied, making her even more angry. Lumakad ito palapit sa aking pwesto. She grabbed my wrist harshly, causing my pearl bracelet to shatter against the marble floor.
"Opss, my bad," she replied, her lips curving into a sinister smirk. The class burst out laughing at my discomposition.
"Since I seem to have you here in my class now, would you please tell me about your thoughts on the philosophy of happiness, Miss. Miller?" she said as she started to walk at the front of the class.
"The study of the existence, characteristics, and pursuit of happiness is known as the philosophy of happiness. Some philosophers think that happiness can be understood as the moral goal of life or as an aspect of chance." I said, a wicked scheme whirling around in my mind.
"And?" taas kilay na tanong ni Miss Jamison.
"People who are less attractive tend to live their lives alone and unhappy. Why? Because happiness is not a choice? According to the study, happiness is synonymous with luck. If you were naturally unattractive, it may get in the way of making you happy. In other words, having no beauty can lead you to the unfulfilling life you are living right now. Perhaps that can be a covert reason why people end up being unhappy old maidens just like you."
Her eyes suddenly appeared shocked and teary. And I can tell this time that my strike was below the belt. But upon seeing my scattered bracelets on the floor, my anguish swiftly disappeared.
"What are you referring to, Miss Miller?" I cut her off and continued talking.
"Thus, philosophers usually explicate happiness as either a state of mind or a life that goes well for the person leading it. Given the pragmatic concern for the attainment of happiness, research in psychology has guided many modern-day philosophers in developing their theories," I added coldly. The classroom fell silent.
"Get the f*ck out of my classroom, Liv Miller, and get your ass to the dean's office, NOW!" she yelled as she pointed to the door. Without hesitation, I grabbed my bag and went straight to the dean's office.
CITEȘTI
STUNNED
Polițiste / Thriller[UNDER REVISION] Liv Miller appears to be caught in an endless loop where everything repeats itself. Nightmares, thoughts of suicide, waking up, and repeat. She's drowning in the blood of her past, which haunts her wherever she tries to hide, like a...
Chapter ONE
Începe de la început
