"Guys, stop staring at me. It's making me uncomfortable."I said and took a bite of my sandwich.
"Explain."
"Explain what?" inosente kong tanong.
"Why were you and Jace having a normal conversation, while going to class?"Amber asked and I sighed. Of course, they will ask.
"Uhh-"
"Are you two dating?"Amber asked and I immediately shook my head.
'No, I will never date that a**hole!'
"Is he the guy?"Natasha asked and I shook my head.
"Guys, hindi naman siguro siya sasama kay Jace, magka-away sila diba?"tanong ni Sapphire.
"Malay mo. Nag-away lang pala sila for the show, but when they are alone, they are sweet."I almost vomited because of what Natasha said!Disgusting!I would never!
"Eww! That's gross!"I grimaced and looked at my sandwich. I feel so disgusted right now!"I don't like eating my meals now."I said and dropped my sandwich at the plate.
"Ano ba kasi nangyari?"tanong niya at naisipan ko na sasabihin ko na sa kanila. I'm tired of lying.
"This is what happened-the heck!"I said and immediately stood up when suddenly spaghetti was now in my sky blue sweater! Who the f*ck throw this sh*t?!
"B*tch!You deserve it!"I turned around to see the b*tch who poured spaghetti on me and it was f*cking Pennywise with her red lips smirking at me like a f*cking clown she is.
"Why do I deserve a spaghetti?"I asked and her brow furrowed not getting what I was saying."Well, if you were giving me a meal, you could just give it to me, peacefully."Sabi ko at humalukipkip sana pero naalala ko na may spaghetti pala sa sweater ko, and I don't want to spread it anymore.
"Are you dumb?"
"No, I'm Jewel," I said and smirked, and then I remembered that my comeback was what Jace said earlier when I asked him. Ugh!Why am I thinking about him?"Ano bang problema mo?Anong ginawa ko sayo?"mahinahon kong tanong. Not wanting to get myself into trouble again.
"Ikaw!Ikaw ang problema ko!"inis niyang sigaw kaya napataas ang kilay ko."I tried to let it go and not bother you, so that you will not get the attention you want, but you just had to seduce my boyfriend!"Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya!She's assuming things. May amnesia ba siya?Hindi niya ba naalala na naghiwalay na sila?
"Correction. He's your ex!"sabi ni Amber at tinignan naman ito ni Penny ng masama.
"Ang landi mo talaga!Ang dami ng lalaking lumalapit sayo, ano ba ang nakita nila sayo?You must be a slut!" She's shouting now and I had to scoff.
"Doesn't mean you have guy friends, you are a slut. What a judgmental society."I rolled my eyes."And to answer your question, they see me as a strong and independent woman. Not like you who is a fragile girl and also a two-timer b*tch!"
"How dare you!" she said and my head turned to the side of the sudden impact of her hand in my face. After I recovered myself from the slap, I turned to her and glared.
"How dare you, too!"I shouted and also slapped her. Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan niya ako at biglang hinawakan ang buhok ko at sinimulan itong sabunutan!The heck!Ang sakit!
Hinawakan ko ang kanyang buhok at sinabunot din ito. While we were have a catfight, she suddenly pushed me that cause me to get hit at the table. Napahawak ako sa aking likod na natama sa lamesa at biglang napaupo sa sahig ng dahil sa sakit!
"Ouch!"I said while holding my back.
"Jewel, okay ka lang?"tanong sa akin ni Natasha. I want to reassure them by nodding, but it f*cking hurts! Why did I do to my past life to deserve this?
"You, b*tch!"sabi ni Amber at susugod na sana kay Penny nang biglang may sumigaw.
"Enough!"Napatingin kami kung saan nanggaling iyon at nakita namin si Jace. He was looking at us coldly but his body language was different. His knuckles were getting whiter. His jaws were clenched. His calm demeanor is gone.
"J-jace."The b*tchy Penny was now gone and was replaced by an innocent girl. Ang galing talaga niya mag-acting! Kung hindi siguro ako ang nasaktan niya at ngayon lang nakita ang nangyari. I might believe her. "S-she started it."she pointed me. Hindi ito pinansin ni Jace at bigla nalang lumapit sa akin.
"Are you alright?"tanong niya at bigla nalang hinawakan ang mukha ko at tinignan ang mga sugat nito. I think my face might be so red, because of that slap! Hindi ko naman gusto na maisip niya na namumula ang pisngi ko dahil kinilig ako!
Nagulat nalang ako ng bigla niya akong binuhat, bridal-style. Napahawak ako sa batok niya dahil baka mahulog ako. I winced when he applied pressure on my back and his gaze...softened. "I'm sorry."
Wait. Did I hear it right? Jace freaking Montezalde apologized?! Maybe I didn't hit my back, I might have hit my head!
He adjusted his position to hold me and it went to my shoulder so he would not apply pressure on my back.
"J-jace, a-ako ang sinaktan dito!"sigaw niya kaya humarap kami sa kanya. Her hands formed into fists, when she saw me in the hands of Jace.
"You started it first, Penny," Jace said, coldly.
"A-aray!Ang sakit ng paa ko!"sabi niya at bigla nalang natumba sa sahig habang hawak ang paa niya. No one was helping her, because they know that she was pretending."J-jace, help me!"
"Tss."Umalis na kami ni Jace sa cafeteria at dinala ako sa clinic. Nang makadating na kami sa clinic ay nakatingin sa amin ang nurse ng gulat na ekspresyon. Hiniga ako ni Jace sa bed at tumingin sa nurse.
"Check all of the bruises on her body. Especially her back. She was wincing earlier. "utos niya at tumango naman ang nurse at kumuha ng first aid kit.
"Okay lang ako, kaya ko na ang sarili ko."I stubbornly said. Tatayo na sana ako ng bigla nalang ako pinigilan ni Jace. Tinignan ko siya ng hindi makapaniwala pero wala parin ekspresyon sa mukha niya.
"Don't be stubborn."He was looking at me intently while the doctor was applying something to my back and some bruises. Hinawi niya ang kurtina upang tignan kung sino ang nasa labas at nang makita na niya at tumingin ito sa akin."Your friends are here."he said and left.
"Jewel!"rinig kong tawag sa akin ng tatlo. Hinawi nila ang puting kurtina at lumapit sa akin.
"Bakit hindi ka lumaban, tanga!"sabi ni Amber at bigla nalang ako binatukan.
"Ouch."I said sarcastically and hold my nape. Alam niyang galing ako nasaktan sa Penny na iyon at dagdagan niya pa.
"Okay ka lang, Jewel?"tanong sa akin ni Natasha.
"She's okay. " The nurse said, before leaving us alone.
"Bakit natagalan kayo?"tanong ko at bigla nalang silang ngumisi.
"Eh, syempre pinagtulungan namin ang Penny na iyon!"sabi ni Sapphire kaya hindi ko mapigilan na tumawa. Did they really do that?
"Grabi!Ang piling niya!"sabi ni Amber."J-jace!Nasasaktan ako!Like wtf?!"diring-diri niyang sabi.
"She was exaggerating."
"If Jace didn't come, I don't know what would happen." Sabi ni Natasha."Pero infairness, ang sweet niya kanina. Like parang na sa libro ganon. He was staring at Jewel and was angered that somebody hurt her. He approached her without giving a f*ck about Penny who was begging him, He only had eyes on you. When he approaches you, he picks you up bridal style and immediately goes to the clinic for you to get treated."
Wow! That was a long dialogue!
"Grabi!Ang taas ng dialogue mo!"sabi ni Sapphire at tumawa naman si Natasha. Gulat akong napatingin sa harap ng makita ko si Jace na kanina pa pala nakatayo diyan. Akala ko umalis siya, bakit siya bumalik?
"Jace, nandyan ka pala."sabi ni Natasha at napahawak sa dibdib niya, mukhang nagulat din ito.
"Here. Change some clothes."sabi niya at binigay sa akin ang isang white shirt. Tinignan ko ang sweater ko at naalala ko na may mantsa pala ito galing sa spaghetti na tinapon sa akin ni Penny!Arghh!Nakakainis siya!
"T-thanks."sabi ko at huhuboin ko na sana ang sweater ko ng bigla ko nalang naalala na may kasama pala kaming lumaki."Pwede ka bang tumalikod magbihis ako."sabi ko at nagulat ito.
"sure."sabi niya at tumalikod. Hinubad ko ang sweater ko at ang suot ko na lang ay ang black kong bra. Isusuot ko na sana ang white shirt ng bigla nalang may humila sa curtains!
"Jewel-Aray!"sabi ni Carter pero bigla itong sinapak ni Jace!
"Nagbihis si Jewel, Carter! Ang manyak mo!"sabi ni Amber kaya nagmamadaling tumalikod si Carter.
"Sorry, hindi ko alam."sabi niya at napakamot sa kanyang batok at napailing naman kami. Nang maisuot ko na ang white t-shirt ay humarap na ang dalawa.
"Here. Eat this. You didn't finish your meals."sabi ni Jace at binigay sa akin ang isang plastic container na may laman na pancakes. Binuksan ko ito at ngumiti sa kanya bago nagsimulang kumain. Hindi na ako nag-inarte pa dahil nagugutom na din ako.
"May mga sakit ba kayo?"tanong ni Carter ng biglang umubo ang tatlo at ngumingisi sa akin.
"Wala naman. Hindi ko kasi malunok ang nakain ko kanina."sabi ni Natasha kaya napailing ako. Alam ko kung ano ang ibig nilang sabihin kaya tinignan ko sila ng masama.
"Aray!Ang sakit!"rinig namin ang boses ni Penny sa clinic, mukhang nandito siya.
"The b*tch is here."inis na sabi ni Amber.
"Gusto ko nang bumalik sa klase. Ayaw ko ng gulo."Napatingin sila sa akin ng dahil sa sinabi ko.
"Hindi ka pa magaling, Jewel."nag-alalang sabi ni Natasha.
"I don't want to be in the same room with her."inis kong sabi kaya napabuntong-hininga sila. I was about to leave the bed, but suddenly Jace was infront of me and carried me bridal style. Nagulat ang lahat sa ginawa niya at pati na din ako.
"Put. Me. Down." I told him but he didn't listen. Lumabas na kami sa clinic at nagulat si Penny sa nakita niya.
"J-Jace." She uttered his name, but he didn't turn around. We continued walking and I turned around to face her, but she was already glaring at me.
Nang makadating na kami sa classroom ay tinanong ako sa professor kung ano ang nangyari sa akin at sumagot naman si Jace para sa akin. Hindi pa din niya ako binaba at ang dami na nakatingin sa amin.
"Put me down, Jace. Hindi ka ba nahiya?"He gazes at me, because of my question. He looks confused. Oblivious by those around him.
"Bakit ako mahiya?"Stupid question, Jace. Or is it meant to me?
"Eh kasi-"
I stopped when he moved closer to my ear and whispered. "Don't mind what they say, Miss Smith." It brought shivers down my spine.
The professor looked uncomfortable while gazing at us talking in front of him so he coughed and opened the door wider for us to go inside. Nagulat ang lahat sa kanilang nakita. I mean they're just seeing enemies holding each other. My grip on Jace tightened and he noticed and gazed at me. He looked like he was asking me what was wrong, but also reassured me with his stare. D*mn. What the heck is this?!
He put me down in my seat and my friends also sat at their seats, before the class resumed. An hour during the class, there was an announcement around the campus.
"Miss Jewelry Grace Smith and Ms. Penelope Harper. You are needed at the dean's office."rinig namin sabi sa announcer. Napabuntong-hininga ako, dahil makaharap ko naman ulit ang babaeng iyon.
"Miss Smith, you're excused."
"Thank you, ma'am."I said and bowed at her, before leaving the classroom. Nang makalabas na ako ay nagsimula na akong maglakad papunta sa dean's office, pero nabigla ako ng makita si Jace sa gilid ko.
"Bakit ka sumabay sa akin?Hindi ka naman kasali sa tinawag ng announcer."takang tanong ko.
"Have you forgotten? I am the owner of the school, and I saw what happened I can be your witness," he smirked.
"Paano nangyari iyon?Eh, hindi naman kita nakita."
"So you were looking for me?"
In his f*cking dreams!
"Hindi. Kung talagang nandon ka, bago pa nagsimula ang gulo ay dapat pinigilan mo na. You're the owner of the school, after all."I said and walk faster. Nang makadating na kami sa dean's office ay pumasok kami sa loob at nakita namin na nandon na si Penny. Umupo ako sa makabilang upuan ni Penny at si Jace naman ay umupo sa katabi ng dean. I am curious what's the relationship between Jace and the dean? Is he his father or his uncle?
"About what happened at lunchtime. The two of you girls were fighting. May I ask what the fight is about?"The dean asked and turned to gaze at Penny and me.
"S-siya ang n-nagsimula!"sagot ni Penny at tinuro ako.
"I didn't ask who started it. Ang gusto ko malaman ay ano ang dahilan kung bakit kayo nag-away."seyosong sabi ng dean.
"She approached me because I was stealing her ex-boyfriend," I answered and gazed at her, with no expression on my face. "Na nilandi ko raw."
"H-hind t-totoo iyan!"
"Stop the act, Penny. Nakakasawa na ang pag-akting mo!Anong tingin mo sa akin?Tanga?That I would pity you?Kung hindi mo siguro ako inaaway, baka maawa ako sayo."I said and crossed my arms.
"I don't need your pity."She hissed and even glared at me. "You ruined everything!"
"How did I ruin everything?"
"The school was peaceful before you came. But you just had to ruin it."
"How did I ruin it?"
"Nilandi mo lahat ng lalaking dito sa school. You are such an attention-seeker."Tumawa ako ng dahil sa sinabi niya. Seriously?This, again! And when did I started flirting with every guy inside the campus? Maliit na nga ang kilala kong lalaki dito.
"Enough!"sigaw ng Dean kaya natahimik ang lahat.
"Don't you have a CCTV to see what happened?"tanong ko sa dean.
"Walang cctv sa cafeteria, Miss Smith."Bumuntong-hininga ako ng dahil sa sinabi niya. Bakit wala?"I request that the parents of you two will be here tomorrow to lay out the terms of your punishment."We were both shocked, because of what the dean said.
"Pero wala akong kasalanan, dean."sabi ko at tumayo."Many people saw what happened!Pwede nilang sasabihin kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari!"
"We have different opinions, Miss Smith. And some may lie of what they saw."I scoffed because of what the dean said."Let's just be fair."
"Fair?No, this is not fair, Dean!"I couldn't help but to raise my voice.
"That's just your excuse, so that your parents will not know."sabi ni Penny at tinignan ko siya ng masama.
"Mukhang wala ka talagang alam sa buhay ko. Before I moved here I am from America that studied at Bernard University, that school that we owned."Hindi naman ako mahambog sa status ng pamilya namin, pero dahil naiinis ako sa kanya na para bang kilala niya ang binangga niya. She doesn't know every fiber of me.
"Oh, bakit ka lumipat dito?Did you get expelled?"ngisi niyang tanong.
"Hindi. Bobo naman siguro ang mag-isip na inexpell ang may ari sa school."sabi ko at ngumisi at tumingin sa dean."If I have to prove my innocence then I will make sure that my family will be here tomorrow, Dean."I said and left the office.