Piper’s POV
It’s already been days since I've said harsh words to Elle. At times I think I, too, crossed the line. But every time I remember all the things she said to my friends, sorry, but I don’t feel sorry for her. She deserves to hear those things anyway. The way she treats people is just too much.
Ever since that day, hindi na niya ako kinakausap. Not that I miss her or what. Is it mean to say that I feel better because she’s not talking to me na? I’d rather choose that kaysa sa kinakausap niya nga ako, but I know nagpapanggap lang siya maging nice.
I’m not the nicest person either. Kaya before I could do something really awful, mas maayos pa nga na lumayo na siya sa akin.
“Simula pa lang ng bagong quarter pero ipapaalam ko na sa inyo ang project niyo sa homeroom.”
Gusto kong magreklamo kaya lang ayoko namang i-disrespect ang teacher namin. Kaya lang project? Project sa homeroom? Come on!
“Gagawa kayo ng presentation. Slideshow, role playing, video, scrapbook, kahit anong gusto niyo. Ang topic, simple lang. What is the meaning of happiness? I’ll divide the class into groups with five members each.”
Kung kani-kanino tumingin ‘yung teacher namin until her eyes landed on me. She smiled; not the real smile but it’s not a smirk or what. I don’t know what’s behind that smile but it gave me the creeps.
“To make everything more exciting, each groups will consists of one member per group.”
Someone from the class raised her hand, “Paano po? Group of five pero ang isang grupo ay magkakaroon ng isang member kada grupo? Paano po ‘yun?” tanong niya.
My teacher smiled again, “Ang ibig kong sabihin, sa isang grupo, may tig-iisang myembro ng bawat grupo. Grupo katulad ng Populars, Nerds, Jocks, Ordinaries at Rebels,” she then told the class who will be groupmates.
Almost everyone is called already but my name isn’t mentioned yet. She keeps on calling names until she stops.
“Halos lahat kayo natawag na. At konti na lang ang hindi pa. Siguro ngayon sa mga hindi ko pa natatawag, alam niyo na kung sino ang kagrupo niyo,” I didn’t get her. “This is really exciting.”
Mukhang tuwang-tuwa ang teacher namin sa nangyayari. Siya kasi ‘yung tipo na nag-eenjoy talaga kapag nahihirapan ang mga estudyante niya. Sadist? Yeah.
“For the final group, ang magkakagrupo ay sila Nathan, Hailey, Hunter, Warren at Piper. Also known as the leaders.” Nagsimula na ang whispers and murmurs sa mga magkakagrupo. I know they want to object but as if they could do something about it.
My teacher is really enjoying this. She obviously doesn’t have a single clue that we’re actually friends. Though I don’t know if Hunter is already our friend. He’s distant kasi. Siguro kasi he’s busy sa part-time. But whatever. I actually prefer na sila ang kagrupo ko. It means more bonding moments with my real friends.
“And!” she caught everyone’s attention again, “Hindi naman pwedeng mag-isa lang si Tamara. Kaya kahit wala siyang grupo, isasama ko siya sa isa sa inyo. Well it’s quite obvious already kung kanino ko siya ipapasok. Tamara, you may join the last group. The leaders.”
Now that’s better. This is going to be so fun.
***
“Super kainis talaga. Ang laki laki ng daan pero binunggo ako ng isa sa mga nerd. If I know baka sinadya lang niya ‘yun.”
Here we go again. Endless rants ng mga groupmates ko. They became extra whiny lately. I wouldn’t be shocked if magreklamo pa sila kapag tinabihan sila ng ibang members ng ibang groups. I’m wondering.. ‘yung ibang grupo kaya ganoon din ang tingin sa amin? Kinaiinisan?
Ha. I bet, oo. Ang arte kaya namin. Feeling laging nasa taas.
“Baka hindi ka lang nakita. You know naman. Ang labo kaya ng mga mata nila,” someone from my group said.
“Not all of them,” I answered and continue eating.
Naramdaman ko na nakatinigin sila sa akin kaya tumingin din ako sa kanila, “Why? Is there something wrong?”
“Nagiging protective ka na sa mga ibang grupo lately.”
“Maybe because nagiging extra mean kayo sa ibang group lately.”
And that made them shut up. Nagkwentuhan na lang ulit sila about the usual things na pinag-uusapan nila.
“It’s because of Elle.” I looked at Lara who sat beside me. She shrugged, “Lagi siyang nagsasabi ng kung anu-ano sa ibang grupo. Ang mga tao pa naman kung ano ang marinig sa iba ginagaya na. Kaya ayan, ginaya na siya.”
“I just hope they realize na mali sila.”
We talked pa until the bell finally rings.
***
“How do you define happiness?”
Paano nga ba? Ano ba ang definition ng happiness? Parang ang dali lang gawin ng project namin na ‘to. Parang super easy lang. Kaya lang “parang” lang. In reality, it’s hard. It’s hard to define happiness. What is happiness? What is real happiness?
“Kapag tumatawa ka, happiness na ‘yun,” malokong sagot ni Nate.
Warren threw a pillow at him. Hailey pinched him. Tamara rolled her eyes at him. Hunter did nothing. I just stared at Nate.
We decided to make plans earlier. It’s better than to cram. Kaya we all decided na magpunta na lang sa amin para makapag plan.
“May mga tumatawa kahit hindi sila masaya,” Warren said.
“Yeah. The great pretenders,” Hailey agreed.
Warren’s eyebrows almost touched, “Hindi. ‘Yung mga baliw. Ikaw ha. Lalim nun.”
This time, it was Warren’s turn to be hit by a pillow.
“Search niyo sa Google,” Tamara suggested. “Marami namang definition ng happiness doon.”
“Kung bibigyan natin ng definition ang happiness, hindi tayo pwedeng umasa kay Google. Kasi ayun ang definition ng ibang tao sa happiness. Hindi natin.”
“True,” pagsang-ayon ko kay Hailey, “To know the real meaning of happiness, dapat tayo mismo ang mag-define nun. We can’t let others define that for us. Hindi pareparehas ang meaning ng happiness. For instance.. Warren, for you basketball is happiness. But for Hailey who isn’t as athletic as you, hindi happiness ang basketball.”
They think about it. They were quiet for a while until Nate speaks, “Guevarra, uso magsalita. Subukan mo minsan.” All heads turned to look at Hunter.
He sighed but didn’t answer. I check the wall clock. It’s almost 6pm. I think he needs to go already. He’ll work pa nga pala.
“Hey. Do you need to go – “
I was cut off by him, “Day-off.”
Oh. Okay, then. Sabagay. He wouldn’t be here in the first place kung may work siya.
“Anong pinag-uusapan niyo?” tanong ni Warren.
“Hindi naman kami nag-uusap,” I lied.
“Whatever you say.”
“Hunter, ano ang happiness para sa ‘yo?” tanong ni Tamara sa kaniya.
Hinihintay namin ang pagsagot niya kaya lang ilang seconds na hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita. Ginulo niya ang buhok niya saka sumandal sa sofa.
He shrugged.
“Ang tagal namin naghintay ng sagot tapos kibit-balikat lang pala,” Hailey said.
“Sige, ganito na lang. Kung anong unang pumasok sa isip niyo, ayun na ang sabihin niyo. Bawal mag-isip. Una si Hailey tapos si Piper tapos si Tamara, si Warren, ako at last si Hunter. Three seconds lang ang allotted time para sumagot. Okay?”
We all nodded.
“Anong gusto niyong matanggap na regalo? Go, ikaw Hailey.”
“Books.”
“Bags.”
“Cash.”
“Basketball shoes.”
“Pagkain.”
Napatingin na naman kaming lahat kay Hunter. Hindi na naman sumagot.
“Hoy, Guevarra. Three seconds lang. Huwag ka ngang madaya,” Nate said.
Hunter sighs, “Nothing.”
“Anong sagot ‘yun?”
“Wala ka talagang gustong matanggap na regalo?”
“Weh?”
“May ganoon naman talagang tao. Hayaan niyo na.”
Kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi nila. Kinukulit na nila si Hunter. Before I could even stop myself, nakapagsalita na ako. “How about a rest?” That made them all shut their mouth.
I made a nervous laugh, “Ano.. kasi ‘di ba he likes to sleep so I assumed na ayun pa rin ‘yung gusto niya.”
“Oo nga, ano,” Nate agrees.
I saw Hunter smirked at me, “Yeah. I like that.”
I was about to say something when our doorbell rang. Warren volunteered to open the door. When he came back, bigla na lang akong napairap. It was Elle. Elle is here. What does she wants?
“Hi!” she walks toward me and gave me beso. She saw Hailey and the rest of the gang. Nagkunwari pa siyang nagulat. “Oh. You have.. visitors.”
“Yes.”
“I just decided to stop by. But I think medyo busy kayo ng visitors mo. I’ll go na lang.”
We pretend we didn’t saw Elle today. Nag-plan na lang ulit kami.
Ang sabi ni Nate kung ano raw ang sagot sa tanong niya kanina, ayun daw ang definition namin ng happiness. But that’s too shallow. Halos lahat bagay lang. He asked us what gift we want to receive. Hindi naman ‘yun na ang happiness for us.
We’re having a hard time defining happiness kaya we skipped that part. Nag-plan na lang kami kung ano ang gagawin namin na presentation. We all voted na gumawa ng video. We’ll make lines and stuff. We’ll role played and someone will shoot the whole thing. We all voted din na si Hunter na lang ang mag-video. He didn’t argue. Of course he’ll like it better na nasa likod lang siya ng camera kaysa nasa harap.
And that’s how the day ends.
***
The class ended and I was about to gather my things when someone came. Almost everyone are heading outside the room na when Lara just barge in.
“May pinapakitang pictures si Elle sa Populars. Picture mo kasama ‘yung ibang leaders pati ‘yung bago.”
“Ah. She must’ve took that yesterday noong nagpunta siya sa amin at inabutan niyo ‘yung lima na nandoon.”
“Why are they there? Friends mo ba sila?”
“Bestfriends. Childhood friend ko rin kasi sila Hailey, Warren at Nate.”
She looks so shocked. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow.”
“Ang cute. Bestfriends pala ang leaders. Kaya lang parang ang hirap gumalaw sa school dahil sa rule. Highschool is so much fun when you spend it with friends. Nakakapanghinayang naman na hindi kayo naging magkakasama.”
“Outside naman sa school we’re together kaya it’s okay. Anyway, nasaan sila Elle? I should confront her, I think.”
Lara took me to where Elle and the other Populars are staying. When Elle saw me, she smirked and took her phone away from someone.
“Look who’s finally here. You’re not with your friends?” she asked sarcastically.
“Clearly, I’m not.” Since I can’t consider her being my friend.
All eyes are staring at me. I told Lara to sit na lang beside her bestfriend.
“Guess what. I just showed your pictures with your so-call friends sa kanila.”
“Oh, really? Can you send me those pictures? Para maipost ko naman sa Instagram.”
She rolled her eyes at me, “Do you know that you just broke the rule?”
“Piper, ikaw ang leader namin. Sa ating lahat, dapat ikaw ang pinakasumusunod sa rule.”
“That’s not how a Popular act, Pipes. Why did you befriend those people?”
“Tayo ang nasa pinakataas ng hierarchy sa mga groups dito sa Kingdom High. Don’t put our names into shame dahil lang sa you broke the rule.”
“Ibababa mo ba ang grupo natin at ipapantay sa grupo nila? Wow.”
My groupmates kept talking and talking. They keep on telling me to stop interacting with the other leaders and don’t put our group into shame. They say that other groups will make fun of us when they found out that their leader broke the rule.
Their ranting stops when Lara stands up to defend me, “Hindi naman niya nilabag ang rule. Nakipag-interact ba siya sa loob ng school? Hindi naman. Obvious naman sa picture na nasa bahay sila. In case nakakalimutan niyo, nag-eexist lang ang rule sa loob ng school. How could someone break a non-existing rule?”
“But!” Elle caught everyone’s attention, “it’s clearly shown in the picture na nag-eenjoy silang magkakasama. They’re smiling. Parang wala ngang tension o. Sa tingin niyo ba in a short period of time magiging magaan agad ang loob nila sa isa’t isa?”
Everyone murmured and that seems to satisfy Elle. She looks at me again and smiled. Wicked smile.
“They’ve been friends ever since, I guess. If you’ll based it din sa mga reactions ni Piper whenever we’re saying something bad sa ibang groups, halatang she’s protecting them. In or out the school, it doesn’t matter anymore. Kasi if she’s friend with them, we’re not sure if she’s interacting with them secretly. You’ll never know. It’s hard to ignore your friends.”
“But – “ it seems like Lara will defend me again kaya I gave her a sign na huwag na lang. Baka mapag-initan din siya.
Lumapit sa akin si Elle at pinagdikit pa ang dalawang kamay as if she just decided something, “Since we don’t have a proof naman na you broke the rule, hindi ka namin pwedeng isumbong. That would also give a bad reputation sa group natin. Kaya we decided to punish you na lang.”
Another punishment for me, eh? I couldn’t care less.
“We’re overthrowing you as the leader of the Populars. From now on, you don’t have any say na sa Populars. Magiging ordinaryong member ka na lang. We finally decided this, Pipes. Sorry, but majority wins.”
Obvious na obvious na she’s enjoying this. She’s even smirking at me. She planned the whole thing huh? Good for her. May alam naman pala siyang gawin bukod magpaganda.
I smiled sweetly at her to piss her off, “That was fun. Mukhang napag-usapan niyo na nga lahat while I’m away. Nice.”
I look at Elle and pouted, “Aww. Little Elle finally got what she wants. I’m so proud of you. But wait. I think you said earlier that it’s hard to ignore friends, right? How’d you know? Have you ever treated someone as your real friend?”
She was about to speak when I stopped her. Itinapat ko ang kamay ko sa mukha niya to prevent her from talking.
“Kanina.. almost all of you keep on saying that a real popular won’t do that, a popular won’t do this. Tell me, then. What should a popular do? How should a popular act? Should they keep on belittling members from other group? To be popular, should they be mean?”
I looked at the other members but they just looked away. They can’t answer my question.
I shook my head, “If that’s what a Popular should do, then I’m really ashamed to be a member of this group. You’re pushing yourself up by pulling someone down. Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? I guess, not. Kasi for most of you, fame and popularity is everything.”
They were silent for a moment, but Elle speaks up, “Are you done with your speech? Kahit na anong sabihin mo, it won’t erase the fact na tinanggal ka na namin sa pagiging leader. Kaya if you think that we’ll change our mind just because of your sweet, little speech, huwag ka ng umasa. You’re not the leader any more, Piper. You’re just a member.”
I smile and shook my head, “Does it look like I care kung maging leader man ako or hindi? I don’t give a crap. Overthrow me, I don’t care.”
She smirked at me, “Whatever. As the new leader of the Populars, I’ll be imposing – “
“Save your speech, Elle. Wala na akong pakialam. From now on hindi niyo na ako kagrupo kaya this will be the last time na maririnig ko ang mga non-sense views and opinions niyo. I quit.”