"Yeah, I heard she made it."
"If she isn't a scholar, swear I would pursue her."
"Have you seen her body that day, damn, I think she's awesome in bed."
Kahit may bastos na komento ay hindi ko na nagawang mag-react. My mind is clouded with my thoughts. That night, after Paulo said that he likes me, he also said that he's going to court me whether I like it or not. Matapos noon, he kept on texting me so randomly. I just didn't know that he's this kind of guy. Clingy but sweet at the same time.
"Congratulations Joerrelle!" Bati ni Athena sa akin pagkapasok ko pa lang ng classroom. I suddenly snapped to my reality. I stood straight and stare at the girl in front of me. She's smiling from ear to ear. My brows furrowed in confusion. Why is she congratulating me? Anong mayroon?
"Don't tell me—" She paused and gasped when she read my expression. I was really confused. I was about to ask her when someone called me from behind.
"Joerrelle!" Napalingon ako kaagad sa pinanggalingan ko. There, I saw Adi with the whole swimming team on his back smiling widely at me. My forehead creased even more. Ano bang nangyayari?
Hindi pa ako nakakapagreact at lumapit na sa akin si Shanaia at hinigit ako palabas ng classroom. Our classmates seem to know what was happening. "Where are you going to brought me?" I hissed. Natigilan silang lahat at sabay-sabay na tumawa. What? Now they are laughing. I can now think that they are going crazy.
"Girl, what kind of mountain did you came from?" Natatawang saad ni Shanaia at hinila ako papunta sa pool area. Before I could say something, a party popper popped. A lot of confetti fall on my head.
"Welcome to the swimming team!" Sabay-sabay nilang sigaw at saka bumaba ang isang banner sa gitna ng pool with the word 'congratulations'. Ibig sabihin...
"Coach mismo ang pumili sa'yo. Finally, may nakatalo na kay Jed the Great!" Saad ni Shanaia at saka ako hinila sa buffet table. Sobrang daming pagkain ang nakahanda. "This is all for you. I'm so jealous. Noong sumali ako sa swimming team, walang ganito!" Pagrereklamo niya pa. I was just busy on the side, processing what is happening. I got too distracted to Pau that's why I almost forget everything about this.
"You're ugly, that's why." Komento ng isang matangkad na lalaki. He's the moreno type but by just merely looking at hiim, it was obvious that he came from a wealthy family. "I'm Harper. Nagkita na tayo ng ilang beses but I bet you didn't know me." Saad niya at saka nag-offer ng kamay. I gladly accepted it and smiled widely. Bago pa man ako magsalita ay siya na ang nagsabi ng pangalan ko.
"Getting to know na pala tapos iniwan niyo ako. I'm Oliver by the way." Saad ng isang lalaki sa gilid. He was the chinito type. May krus na hikaw din siya sa kaliwang tenga. If he wasn't Korean, maybe he was Japanese or Chinese. Ngumiti ako at akmang magpapakilala pero katulad ng nauna, kilala niya na rin ako. Hindi na ako magtataka dahil nasa hitsura ni Adi ang pagiging madaldal. I mentally laughed. Minsan talaga pasmado ang utak ko.
"Come here, I'm going to introduce you to them!" Excited na saad ni Shanaia at saka ako hinigit papunta sa grupo ng mga lalaki sa gilid ng pool. Isa-isa silang nagbanggit ng pangalan pero hindi ko halos makahabol dahil sa dami nila. Basta ang alam ko lang, dalawa lang kaming babae sa swimming team. "And here's—"
"Adi." Saad ko totally cutting Shanaia off when she pointed Adi. Nanlaki ang mata niya at saka sumigaw ng malakas. Ngumiti naman ang mga lalaki. Taka ko silang tiningnan. What's the matter with mentioning his name? Is it prohibited?
"What?" Inosente kong tanong pero para silang mga sira na sabay-sabay umiling. Magtatanong pa sana ako pero hinila na ako ni Adi palayo at saka pinaupo sa isang upuan. Ngayon ko lang napansin na may malaking round table pala na nakahanda para sa aming lahat.
"Stay here. I'll get your food." Saad ni Adi at saka tumayo. Mag-iinsist pa sana ako na 'wag na kaso, agad na siyang nakalayo. Sumipol ang mga lalaki at saka dumiretso sa buffet table. Doon sila nagbulungan ng kung ano. Wala akong panahon na makialam kaya kinuha ko na lang ang phone ko sa bulsa. There are a lot of texts from Paulo. I replied before putting my phone back on my pocket. Sakto namang bumalik na si Adi dalawa ang dalawang pinggan.
"Wait, where did you guys meet?" Shanaia asked. Kaming tatlo pa lang ang nasa mesa. I smiled and elaborated our story, becoming careful about my identity. Nagkwento ako pero pinilit kong huwag mabanggit kung bakit ako nandoon. If I mentioned that it was a party for me, she'll soon realize that I belong to an elite family. Malabo namang um-attend si Adi ng party na cheap.
It ended early dahil kahit na nasa swimming team kami ay alam naman naming nasa isang international science school kami. Napakahigpit ng mga regulations dito. Bukod pa doon ay masyadong demanding ang mga subjects dahil nga competitive ang school na 'to globally. Isang bagsak na estudyante lang, siguradong laglag sa ranking ng universities worldwide.
"So, friends ka na sa swimming team?" Sigfrid asked the moment I sat on my table. I shrugged as I focused on my notes. I guess, I will be busy so, I should study hard. I wanted to be in the swimming team but that doesn't mean that I am already giving up the first spot in our grade level.
Everything goes well. At least, that's what I hope for. But when dismissal came, a group of female students approached and pulled me towards the deserted area in the university. "Your face might be so thick that you didn't feel ashamed after being selected as one of the members of the swimming team." One of the girls said. I guess, she was the leader. With a sleek eyebrows and thick red lipstick, I won't be surprised if this girl considered herself as a queen.
Instead of becoming scared, I gave her a bored look instead. I have no time to deal with spoiled brat bitches.
"Look, Tin, she has the guts to look uninterested!" A chinita girl exclaimed. They are 10 students who are flocking over me. I can escape because they look like a group of weak beings. That's what I am thinking when a group of guys suddenly came. They are the guys who I bumped into the last time. I laughed on my mind. I guess I'm going to be a battered student here. They all smirked and flashed an evil face.
"I won't be satisfied if I didn't get even." Their leader took a step nearer and whispered on a serious tone. He's staring at me intently like he was about to kill me right here, right now. If I'm not mistaken, Adi called him Nazz. Now, I don't think I can escape.
A guy with a blonde highlight on hair held my right arm and the other guy held my left. Do they think I can escape with their number right now? Not mentioning that I am also a girl. But even I feel like I am doomed, I didn't feel any fear. Maybe I wasn't afraid of death afterall. Even if I died right now, it won't matter. I guess, that would be the best.
"This girl is really nuts." Maarteng bulong ng leader na babae habang nakatitig sa akin. Ako 'yung locked dito pero siya 'yung nanggigigil. "Nazz," she whispered on a commanding tone. The guy nodded his head and took a step forward. He smirked and held my face tight like he really wants to break the bone on my face. "Your pretty face can't save you!" He said and let go of his hold before he slapped my left cheek hard. Nagtawanan silang lahat. My face gets numbed but I still feel the drops of blood from my broken lips.
My reaction didn't change that made them shock.
The next thing I knew, they are all flocking me while kicking all over my body. May mga babae pang sumasabunot sa akin. Wala na talaga akong maramdaman. They left me for a while and stared at me as I fell on the ground. My face is now facing the sky. Sinilip nila ang mukha ko. Maybe they are waiting for me to react or cry but I wouldn't give them that. I smirked and chuckled even my whole-body hurts.
"What?!" Naiinis na saad ng leader habang nakatitig sa akin. She left for a while and when she arrived, she's already holding a bat. She looks like she wanted to hit me.
"Aren't you scared to be sued?" I asked and laughed a little. I know, even I am just an extra in our house, my dad wouldn't let this slip. Kahit pa sila ang anak ng presidente ng Pilipinas. They should at least learn to be humane. I'm sure, this isn't the first time they did this because they don't look shock at all. They seem used to this.
"We won't. Money can do its thing. Even how many complaints, we can get away with it like what we always do." Matapang na saad ng babae at saka ngumisi. I see, they are bunch of spoiled brats. Hindi na ako magtataka kung anak rin sila ng mga corrupt na politiko. They are monsters because monsters raised them. They aren't born like this, they are made like this. However, they should face the consequences of what they are doing. They should learn. They should pay for it.
"Money can't do anything. You'll see, one of these days, your family will crawl." Bulong ko at saka tumawa. Lalong nanggalaiti sa galit ang babae. She swung her bat and was ready to hit me, so I closed my eyes, finally accepting my fate. Kung mamamatay ba ako, iiyak ang pamilya nila? I mentally laughed. Maybe no.
But then suddenly, I thought of my friends. My junior high school section. For sure, malulungkot sila. But I had no time to cry right now.
I waited for a couple of minutes, but the hit didn't come. I opened my eyes, there, I saw a guy holding the arm of the girl tightly. Maiyak-iyak na ang babae sa paraan nang pagkakahawak sa kanya. "Let go of me!" The girl exclaimed but the guy didn't even flinch. After a couple of seconds, a lot of footsteps came, I was expecting it to be the student council, but I was wrong when the police came.
Tinangka pang tumakbo ng babae at lalaking nambubugbog sa akin kanina pero masyadong maraming pulis ang dumating na nagmula pa sa iba't-ibang direksyon. Mukhang planado ang pagpunta nila dito. "Let go of me, you dirty police. My dad will know this!" Sigaw ng isang babae pero walang pakealam ang mga pulis at hinila siya.
Nawala lang ang atensyon ko sa kanila nang may mga rescuer na pumunta sa pwesto ko. Dahan-dahan nila akong iniangat. "Don't close your eyes, Elle." Bulong ng lalaki sa akin. My eyes is becoming heavy but when I saw his worried eyes, I feel like I should follow his command. I never see him like this, especially towards me.
A stinging sound covered my ears. I could see them going crazy. Alam ko na isinakay ako sa ambulansya. Ang mga sumunod na pangyayari ay blurry na sa utak ko. Hanggang sa nagising na lang ako sa loob ng isang puting kwarto. "Elle!" The guy earlier exclaimed when he noticed that I am already awake. Nakaupo kasi siya sa couch at busy sa pag-type sa phone niya kaya hindi niya agad napansin. "Are you okay? Is anything hurting? Wait. I think it would be the best to call the doctors!" I laughed as I see him rushed outside to call some help.
"I think I should ask the doctor. You're laughing. Your brain might be damaged." He joked when he came back. I laughed even more that made his brows furrowed.
"You're worried." I stated. He smiled and sat beside me.
"Of course, I am. You're my sister." He uttered that made me stopped from laughing. This feels different. It was so soft that I feel like crying. I don't remember him saying this. "Elle, I know I couldn't stop how you feel but please always remember that your parent's fault is not yours. I love you. We love you because you are a family." He whispered. The deafening silence covered the two of us. Kuya Dave is the most silent person among their family. I couldn't read what he thinks. I automatically think na baka kaya ganoon siya ay galit siya sa akin.
Pero mukhang mali ako.
Before I could say a word, the door opened. The doctor came in, in front of lots of nurses.
"You're safe. You got some bruises on your body. Your head had some cut and your left hand got fractured but that would be fine. Within four weeks, you'll be totally healed." After those words, the doctors came out. A sudden thought flashed. Goodbye swimming team?
"I called dad." Kuya Dave uttered breaking the silence between us. Tumango ako. Actually, I was expecting na sila ang unang dadating pero mali ako. Nauna siya.
Kuya Dave held my hand tight and stared at me.
Kuya Dave is the fourth child among the family. He was 18 right now, Grade 12 student in ISU. He's smart as hell because he's the top student among their grade level. He's also the vice president of the student council at this school year.
The silence got broke when someone came inside. It was Paulo with a worried face. Tatakbo na sana siya pero nakita niya si Kuya Dave. Ibinaba niya ang paningin at saka tumayo nang tuwid. Suddenly, his face changed. Like he was hurt or something? I couldn't pinpoint. Maybe I am just imagining.
Kuya Dave pressed my hand kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. He motioned lalabas muna siya kaya tumango ako. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Pau sa loob. The deafening silence covered the place. Hindi ko alam kung ako lang o kung may kakaiba talaga kay Pau.
"Okay ka lang?" Mahinahong tanong niya sa akin. He sounded concerned but he sounded cold as well. I didn't know what is going on.
That day, as soon as my family came, he already left without even notifying me. Hanggang sa makalabas ako ng ospital, hindi ko na siya nakita pa. I was always checking my phone to see if there's a message from him, but I found none. Hindi rin nalaman ng mga junior high school friends ko ang nangyari dahil obviously walang belong sa circle ko.
"OMG, so the rumor is true?" Bulong ng isang babae. Siguro kumalat na sa buong university ang nangyari.
"Those people involved, as well as dad agreed to keep this incident as a secret. As of the moment, those girls and guys were all suspended. But of course, that old man won't stop right there." Saad ni Kuya Dave at saka tumawa nang mahina bago ako inakbayan. He was right. Dad maybe an imperfect human being but he's cruel when it comes to us. He'll surely use his money for all of this. Naglilingunan sa akin ang mga estudyanteng nadadaanan namin. For the 2nd time, naglalakad ako sa hallway na 'to habang naka-cast. This time braso naman. Agaw pansin pa ang sling.
"If you needed me, just text or call me. Okay?" Kuya Dave said as we are standing in front of my classroom. Tumawa siya nang makita akong natigilan sa pwesto ko. "I love you always Elle." Bulong niya at saka ako niyakap nang mahigpit na mahigpit pero maingat dahil baka maipit ang kamay ko. I felt him kissed me on the top of my head before he let go of me.
Ngumiti ako bago naglakad papasok sa loob.
As soon as I step inside, Athena and Sigfrid rushed towards me. "So, it's true that you have a thing with David?"