I walked confidently while raging with anger towards that bitch, just to see Shelly in front of our prof, her head down. Our prof has a paper in her hand and I assumed, that's a promissory note.
"A note, again? Seriously, ikaw lang yata ang nakagawa nito in history sa school na 'to," aniya kay Shelly na parang hiyang-hiya.
What's fucking wrong with promissory note? Wasn't it normal to schools? How grandiose this school is for them to decline a promissory note?
I was about to stepped in when Veronica held my hand. But it didn't stop me.
"Excuse me ma'am," sabat ko sa kanila at namilog ang mga mata ni Shelly nang makita niya ako.
I saw her bloodshot eyes that made furious. On the other hand, our prof remained her resting bitch face.
"Yes, Ms. Martinez?"
I stared at her with piercing eyes. Wanting her to feel the anger I'm feeling right now.
"I heard what you just said to Shelly, ma'am. May problema po ba?" I asked, trying to calm my voice.
The side of her lips rose as she glanced at Shelly.
"Sorry for that Ms. Martinez, but this girl was trying to ask me if she could take the exam without paying the fee. Hindi pwede iyon."
Iyon ang sagot niya at nakakunot ang noo na tumingin kay Shelly. I saw a tear fell on the floor and it made the thin string of my patience broke.
"Is this how you handle students who are financially problematic in this school? As far as I know, it is normal for a student to submit a promissory note especially in her time of difficulties," I lashed out.
Nagpakurap-kurap lang siya at parang nag-iisip sabay ngiti.
"I understand your point Ms. Martinez. But it is what makes this school different from other schools. We're the most prestigious school here in our country, because we only accept wealthy students. Ibig sabihin, walang promissory note," sagot niya sa akin at nakikita kong nagagalit na rin siya.
That's it, I lost all my patience. Does this old hag knows who I am? I don't want to went that way, to brag how wealthy I am. But she's too much! This school was too much!
Lumapit si Shelly sa akin at hinawakan ang kamay ko habang dinig kong nasa pintuan ang mga blockmates ko, nakiki-chismis.
The hell I care.
Hindi ko pinansin si Shelly at hindi ko siya tiningnan dahil alam kong umiiyak na siya. I don't want to see her cry because it hurts me. At hindi pa ako tapos!
"Do you even know who has the biggest share in this university?" Tanong ko at nagulat siya roon at parang nagtataka kung bakit natanong ko iyon.
Nang may maalala siya ay lumiwanag ang mukha niya.
"Of course, Ms. Martinez. It's Mr and Mrs. Mar...ti..n-nez," she answered nervously and realized something.
Yes, you old hag! I'm their daughter!
"Should I ask my Dad to pull every cent of our shares in this university? Since, you won't accept promissory notes, right? Saan kaya pupulutin ang skwelehang ito. Sa tingin mo, ma'am. Saan kaya?" I asked her sarcastically.
She opened her mouth trying to tell something but nothing came. Aligaga siya at hindi na makatingin sa akin. Habang tatawa-tawa naman si Veronica sa likuran ko.
"Lana, tama na. Please..." si Shelly.
"Hey ma'am, what's up? Napano ka?" Siraulong tanong ni V kay prof habang nakayuko na siya ngayon sa amin.
"I...I will...ask the dean-"
"Thank you, ma'am. Huwag kayong magtagal, ha at ayoko sa late."
Diretso na akong umupo sa upuan ko while V was clapping her hands and laughing.
"That was intense, Lana! Wow!" sabay tawa niya.
Shelly walked slowly towards me and sat beside me. She's still crying.
"H-Hindi mo naman...kailangang gawin 'yon, Lana."
Napatingin ako sa kanya at nakayuko lang siya. Tinatago ang mukha niya sa akin. I felt a pang in my chest to see her this miserable. She must've going through a lot. Sa pamilya niya, at pati pa sa paaralang ito.
"What do you want me to do, huh? Watch you cry in front of that heartless old hag? I'm sure, my parents doesn't have any idea what's going on in this school. I swear, they won't be happy if they knew. They would pull out our shares in no time."
Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin.
"Lana, huwag mo na idamay sarili mo sa problema ko. I can handle myself. I'm okay, I will be fine. Huwag mo na lang akong isipin," naiiyak niyang sabi at mas lalo lang akong nainis.
How could she say that? She's my friend for pete's sake! Paanong hindi ko siya iisipin kung siya lang ang naging matalik kong kaibigan simula nang nag-aral ako sa school na 'to?
Hindi ba dapat nagtutulungan ang magkakaibigan? Kung ikaw ang meron, e 'di, ikaw ang tumulong nang bukal sa loob mo at hindi umaasa ng kapalit.
I know we has this 'give and take' thing. Pero wala naman akong pakealam kung ako palagi ang magbigay sa kanya at kahit wala akong makuha sa kanya. Ako ang meron, e.
"So, sinasabi mo, na hindi na kita pakealaman kahit na pinapahiya ka ng matandang 'yon sa harapan ng mga kaklase natin, ha, Shelly? They were outside listening to her while she's talking so lowly to you!"
Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko at napatakip na lang sa mukha niya, naiyak ulit. Veronica gave a her a wallet size tissue.
Pumasok na rin ang mga kaklase namin at huli ang prof namin. Inumpisahan niya agad ang exam nang walang ano mang sinabi at hindi kailan man nagawi sa akin ang paningin niya.
Mabuti na lang at nasagutan ko pa rin nang maayos ang test kahit na nagngingit-ngit pa rin ako sa galit hanggang sa pag-uwi at sinabi ko agad kina Mommy iyon.
"What? I...didn't know that. Ano pa ang nangyari?" Si Dad.
"Gosh, Colton. Nakakahiya kapag nalaman ng mga kakilala natin sa negosyo na may shares tayo sa ganyang klaseng skwelahan. Very inhumane. We should do something about this," iritadong sabi ni Mommy.
"Don't worry, Lana. I'll figure it out first thing in the morning. Go to your room and rest."
Tumango ako at humalik sa pisngi nila bago pa man umakyat. I knew it. Wala silang alam. I know my parents. Hindi sila susuporta sa ganoong klaseng pag-uugali.
Bakit kaya may mga ganyang tao. Iyong parang ikinakahiya ka kapag mahirap ka lang? There's nothing wrong being less fortunate. At isa pa, skwelahan iyon! Pangalawang tahanan. Dapat sila mismo ang tumutulong sa mga estudyante na igapang ang pag-aaral nila. Hindi iyong mas lalo silang ilulubog!
Hindi pa roon natatapos ang galit ko. I even told Mike about it, pero hindi pa siya nagre-reply. I called him, too but he's not answering. Baka nasa trabaho pa since maaga pa naman.
Kaysa magmumok, I decided to wrote my plans for the surprise that's on my mind. Next week na ako pupunta sa leyte. I mean, kami pala nila V at Shelly.
I booked a hotel room for a 3 days. Iyong malapit lang sa boarding house nila Mike. Nag-research din ako kung ano ba ang itsura ng islang pupuntahan namin. Nasabi na rin kasi sa akin ni Mike ang pangalan ng isla kaya hindi na ako nahirapan.
It's called, Canigao Island. White sand and very famous destination in Leyte. Can't wait to surprise him! Nakaka-challenge rin na walang hotel sa isla, tents lang. May isang family room lang pero wala na e. May nakakuha nang iba. So, tent it is! Hindi pa ako nakakasubok no'n.
Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising at napasinghap nang ma-realize kong nakatulog pala ako nang maaga. I rummaged my bed to looked for my phone. And when I found it, I groaned. Ang daming text at calls ni Mike!
Binuksan ko lahat nang iyon.
'Hi. Sorry, kakadating ko lang. Can I call?'
'Hey. You there? Bakit hindi ka sumasagot?'
'Lana.'
Nakakatakot naman basahin ang text niyang pangalan ko lang. Ewan ko ba, pero parang ramdam ko. Nagbasa naman ako ulit.
'Baby, please. I'm worried. Where are you.'
Tell me I'm crazy, pero imbis mag-alala na baka ano na ang iniisip niya ay mas kinikilig pa ako!
After a minute of giggling. I texted him.
'Good morning. I fell asleep, sorry. I'm fine :)'
Right after sending the message, I took a bath and prepared for school. I ate my breakfast with my parents and drove to school.
While walking, I texted Shelly and V if where are they. Medyo napaaga yata ako, 9 AM pa ang class namin today.
Napag-desisyonan kong maupo na muna sa gilid ng soccer field while browsing the internet. May mga estudyante rin na naupo roon malayo sa akin.
Napaangat ako ng tingin sa field nang makita ang isang familiar na lalaki. I mentally gasped when I realized who's him.
What the hell happened to him? I mean, wow! He changed! The way he dress, the way he walked, his hair now was cut clean, too! I didn't know he was this good looking without his thick eyeglasses.
"Stop staring at him o dudukutin ko 'yang mga mata mo," pabirong sabi ni V pagkalingon ko sa gilid ko.
I laughed at her. "Is that-"
"Yes," she cut me off and our gazes went to Jundi who sat now not so far where we're seated.
"Looking good, huh? Sabi ko sa 'yo, e. I got eyes to see who's good looking or not, kahit taong grasa pa 'yan." She proudly said.
"Bakit ganyan? Bigla siyang umayos."
She giggled beside me and leaned closer to my ear to whisper.
"She's now in love with me," she said and giggle more.
"Ha? Serious 'yan? Naging ganyan siya dahil sa 'yo?" hindi makapaniwala kong sabi.
Is it really possible to change yourself because you're in love?
"Yes nga! He told me to stop chasing him na and then, look at him. He's now smitten to me, Lana."
Hindi ko maisip na pwede pala 'yon mangyari. Na pwede mong baguhin ang sarili mo sa ibang tao.
Naalala ko bigla ang sinabi sa akin ni Tito Marky noon, na nagbago raw ako. I don't know if it's good or not. And I realized that, too. But I wasn't planning to change myself at all for Mike.
But I was changing unconsciously. How would I know if I'm still the same old, Lana?
The bell rang, at hudyat na uwian na. Gaya nga ng napag-usapan ay magka-clubbing kami tonight!
"Paano ang trabaho ko?" Shelly said worriedly.
"Don't worry na. I called Daddy na for it," I assured her.
"Let's go home na. So we can make alis early and go home early!"
I cringed.
"So conyo." I muttered and she glared at me.
" Kayong dalawa kaya," sabay iling at tawa ni Shelly.
V glared at her, too. Pero tumawa lang si Shelly at sa huli, natawa na kaming tatlo.
Sana ganito kami palagi. Though, alam kong hindi gaano magaan ang pakiramdam ni V kay Shelly pero nakikitungo naman siya sa kanya ng maayos. As long as they're not fighting, it's okay for me.
I drove Shelly to her house before I went home. Kita-kita na lang daw kami sa club in BGC. Susunduin ko rin ulit si Shelly.
Wearing an above the knee black high-waisted leather fitted skirt and white crop top with a big ribbon in the chest. It has a deep V line design, too. I just wore nipple pads para hindi sagabal ang bra. I curled the tip of my hair and put on some dark make up, pero hindi gano'n ka heavy. I completed my look with my Balenciaga heels with a details of crystals on it. Lastly, my clutch bag.
Nagpaalam na rin ako kay Mike at pumayag naman siya dahil sinabi ko naman sa kanya kung sino ang makakasama ko. Pero siyempre, may pa reminder ang manong na 'drink responsibly' daw! Bukod doon, maaga raw kaming umuwi!
Ugh, he sound so daddy.
I picked up Shelly and she looks fine. She's wearing a black fitted jeans and red crop top. She straightened her hair that looks perfectly fine to her. She's pretty.
Diretso na kami sa nasabing bar ni Veronica at medyo marami ng sasakyan sa labas nito. I see that it was a high-end bar since halos mga luxury car ang nasa parking lot nito.
"Hey!"
Napalingon kami ni Shelly sa likod at nakitang paparating si V. Nag park muna siya bago lumapit sa amin.
"Let's go! I'm so excited na!" sabay hatak niya sa amin ni Shelly.
Nang pumasok kami ay binati kami ng napakaraming tao sa loob. Good thing, V already has a reservation.
Pagkadating namin sa lugar namin, naupo kami at si V na ang nag order ng drinks.
"When was the last time we went clubbing?" I asked Shelly without lookong at her. Nasa dance floor ang mga mata ko.
"Ang tagal na. Bago ka pa pumunta sa Leyte," aniya.
I nodded and looked at her. She's looking at the dance floor now. The colorful lights inside the club sometimes hit her eyes and I can see how sad she is though the music was fun.
Hindi maiitago ng ngiti niya ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. Hindi ko alam kung ano na ang nangyayari sa kanila...sa kanya.
I need to check on her. I'm her only friend. Kung hindi siya lalapit sa akin. Ako na lang ang lalapit sa kanya. Maybe she's just ashamed to talk to me? Pero bakit? Dahil ba malaki na ang naitulong ko sa kanya?
I wasn't even counting for it. I don't care about money. I care more about mental health...her mental health.
"Here's tequila, black label and wine! Paghaluin natin lahat 'yan sa tiyan natin!" sigaw ni V while drinking the tequila.
Gago! Kaming tatlo lang tapos uubusin namin 'yong tatlong bote? May pasok pa kaya kami bukas!
Hours passed at nasa huling bote na kami, and wine. Uminom, sumayaw at sumigaw na kami sa buong club at sobrang saya namin. Parang ngayon lang kami nakapasok sa club.
1 Am na at malapit na naming maubos ang huling bote. Veronica has a high tolerance of alcohol kaya parang wala lang sa kanya. Shelly was drunk, though. Pero nass huwisyo pa naman.
She went to the cr at ang tagal niyang bumalik kaya sinundan ko na. Nasa dance floor pa naman si V kaya hindi na ako nagpaalam.
Pumasok ako agad sa loob ng cr at wala siya roon. Baka nasa loob pa sa isa sa mga cubicle roon. I was about to call her when someone suddenly talk.
"Sabimin mo na sa kanya, please. Ayoko na nang ganito. Magpakasal na tayo."
I froze, that's Shelly. Sino ang kausap niya? At anong sinasabi niyang kasal? May boyfriend na siya? Ito ba 'yong nagpapadala sa kanya ng mga bulaklak? Bakit nawala nga pala iyon sa isip ko?
I heard her flushed the toilet and eent outside the cubicle and saw me. Her eyes widened na para bang nakakita siya ng multo.
I smiled. "Hey. Are you okay?" nag-aalala kong tanong sa kanya.
She smiled back at me nervously and nodded.
"Kanina ka pa riyan?" she sound very nervous. Kaya imbis na sabihin sa kanya ang totoo ay umiling ako.
Pakiramdam ko kasi, hindi ko dapat narinig iyon. I don't want her to feel awkward or uneasy.
"No. Kakarating ko lang. Ang tagal mo kasi, I was worried of you. Let's go home na?" aya ko sa kanya at tumango naman siya.
Bumalik kami sa loob ng club but I can feel the stare of Shelly. Like this is the first time she saw me. Pero hindi ko na pinansin iyon.
Laking gulat pa namin nang malamang wala na si V. Hanap kami nang hanap at nauwi na pala siya! Ay no, wrong, may sumundo sa kanya!
Hindi na ako magtataka kung sino dahil masyado nang halata. Umuwi na rin lang kami ni Shelly at hinatid ko siya sa kanila.
Bagsak ang katawan ko pag-uwi at nakatulog na rin agad.