Ruthless Beauty

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

At school, Samantha pretended as if I do not exist which is fine by me. Maraming nakakaalam na sa iisang bahay lang kami nakatira. Apparently, the marriage of my father to her mother sparked rumors and was a big talk of the town when we were away. Most people can't believe that my mother and my father separated, let alone the fact that he married his marketing strategist.

"Anna!"

I turned and saw Jess, grinning from ear to ear. I don't have any idea how my father managed to convince the school to accept my transfer papers even though I stopped for almost three months. They made me answer a long test and after getting my results, I was able to attend school again.

"Jess... ang aga natin ah?" nakangiti kong tugon sa kaniya.

Jessica was such a mess when we met again after two years. She wouldn't stop crying and wouldn't stop pinching my skin to convince herself that I am "real". Medyo nagtatampo pa siya sa akin dahil hindi ko siya nagawang ma-contact sa tatlong buwan ngunit nang malaman niya ang dahilan ay hindi na rin ito naging problema sa kaniya.

"Basta, sabihan mo ako kung may katarantaduhang gagawin ang Valerie na yan. Babalatan ko siya nang buhay!"

Natatawa pa rin ako sa tuwing naaalala ko ang mga banta ni Jess kay Valerie at sa mga anak niya. She's very snob to Samantha. Valerie's daughter is still adored by many. Balita ko ay marami siyang naging nobyo noong umalis kami. Now, she's dating a college boy and even though everybody knows it, there are still some boys who are desperate to pursue her.

Tuloy pa rin ang pagtulog ko sa guest room kahit ilang linggo na nang makauwi ako sa bahay. My father didn't do anything about it, or if he did, he failed to get back my original bedroom. Valerie is such a headache and I don't want to deal with her. She's making a big deal out of everything and as much as possible, I don't spend much time in the mansion.

Medyo nalulungkot ako nang mabalitaang umuwi pala sa probinsiya nila si Baste para alagaan ang maysakit na ina. Nandito pa rin naman si Manong Dante, at alam kong sakitin na rin siya kaya binawasan ni Papa ang mga trabaho niya. Baste's parents are getting old and sick, and it pains me that he has to stop studying just to take care of them. I wanted to apologize, too. The last time I saw him wasn't pleasant. My last conversation with him before I left was confusing and made things more complicated.

By the time our last period has ended, Blake is already waiting outside the gate. I could see the dark circles under his eyes, indicating the lack of proper sleep. Kakagaling niya lang sa business trip niya sa Japan, at alam kong pagod siya. I told him earlier through text to just go home already and rest but he insisted he wanted to see me.

Malakas na siko ni Jess ang nagpa-aray sa akin habang naglalakad kami. I glared at my friend, while rubbing the sore part of my side stomach.

"Ikaw ha... anong meron sa inyong dalawa ni Blake?"

Uminit ang mga pisngi ko sa sinabi niya. I stared at Jess, tried to think of an excuse, and then come up with a lame one. "We're just friends, Jess." I blurted out.

Umirap si Jess sa akin. "Savannah De la Rua, as far as I know, friends don't kiss each other's neck!"

Sa lakas ng boses ni Jess ay napalingon ang iilan sa mga kasabay naming estyudante. Na-eskandalo rin ako sa narinig at gusto nang lumubog sa lupa sa sobrang hiya, lalo nan ang makita ko ang gulat nilang reaksyon. I wanted to strangle my friend, who is now grinning widely.

"Jessica!" I quietly scolded her, but she just laughed anyway.

"Well, have fun with your 'friend', Anna..." she said loudly as we approached Blake's car. He looked confused for a moment, trying to configure what Jess had said. "Uuwi na ako. Ingat kayo!"