MARCH 1, 2023・WEDNESDAY・9:06
"Gitawagan ko niya gabii. Ana siya dili sa daw nako i-upload. Wala pa pud ko plano nga i-upload kay gina-double check pa nako ang video kay basig naa'y error. Pero medyo naga-panic siya ato. Ambot," Gabbie says as she puts her phone down and combs her hair with her fingers.
"SHE CALLED ME LAST NIGHT. AND SHE TOLD ME NOT TO UPLOAD IT YET. I WASN'T PLANNING ON UPLOADING IT ANYWAY. I'M STILL DOUBLE CHECKING IT FOR ERRORS. BUT YEAH, SHE SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS PANICKING. I DON'T KNOW."
"Dili kaayo ko ma-surprise ana. Pirme ra man naga-panic si Pamela," Mariz says, with a bit of a chuckle.
"I'M NOT SURPRISED, TO BE HONEST. WHEN HAS PAMELA EVER NOT PANICKED?"
A gentle breeze rustles through the nearby trees, causing delicate flower petals to flutter down and land on their table.
Hamza rushes towards them. "Sorry kaayo. Late ko? Gilbre man gud ko sa akong cousin," she says, a bit out of breath. Gabbie gestures to take a seat next to her.
"SO SORRY. AM I LATE? MY COUSIN TREATED ME FOR RECESS."
"Okay lang wala pa man pud si Pamela," Maya responds.
"IT'S FINE. PAMELA HASN'T ARRIVED YET ANYWAY."
"Naa diay ka'y cousin diri sa school, Hamz?" Gabbie asks.
"I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A COUSIN HERE AT SCHOOL, HAMZ."
"Oo. Grade 12. STEM pud siya. Wala diay nako naingon sa imo Gab?"
"YEAH, I DO. SHE'S GRADE 12. SHE'S STEM TOO. DIDN'T I TELL YOU BEFORE?"
"Wala."
"NOPE."
"Okay, now you know."
They both laugh.
"Kumusta ka, Maya?" Hamza exhales and fans herself.
"HOW ARE YOU, MAYA?"
Gabbie fans her using her notebook.
"Ambot, Hamz. Wala na ko kabalo sa akong buhaton.Gusto unta nako mag-explain sa iya pero dili pud ko niya gusto isturyahon..." Maya shrugs.
"I DON'T KNOW, HAMZ. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I REALLY WANT TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THE FULL STORY BUT HE WON'T TALK TO ME. SO..."
Mariz rests on Maya's shoulder, fiddling with a little flower that fell on their table.
"No offense, Maya, pero OA lage na siya?" Gabbie says. "Kanang mura gyud ka'g nakapatay ug tao sa imong gibuhat."
"NO OFFENSE, MAYA, BUT WHY IS HE SO OVERDRAMATIC?"
"HE'S ACTING AS IF YOU ACTUALLY MURDERED SOMEONE."
"Wala pud nimo gitry ug isturya iyahang mga friends?" Hamza asks.
"HAVE YOU TRIED TALKING TO HIS FRIENDS?"
"Hmm...Si JR, ana siya hatagan sa daw nako ug space si Noel 'nya si Aljun kay murag wala pud siya kabalo sa mga panghitabo. Ambot lang ug makatabang to siya." She drifts off into deep thought for a second. She looks up. "Ambot."
"HMM...I TALKED TO JR. BUT HE SAID TO GIVE NOEL A BIT OF SPACE AND ALJUN SEEMS TO BE CLUELESS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN HELP."
"I DON'T KNOW."
"Hi," Mariz says as she sees Pamela walking towards them. "Dugaya nimo uy."
"HI."
"WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AGES. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
She doesn't respond as she stops in front of the table.
They're all quiet for awhile, clocking that Pamela doesn't look too happy.
"Erm...Lingkod Pam," Gabbie says as her and Hamza scooch over slightly to make room for Pamela.
"ERM...SIT DOWN, PAM."
She shakes her head. "Dili ko magdugay. Kuan erm...kabalo man tang tanan no, atong nahitabo kang Maya ug Gab?"
"I WON'T BE LONG. SO ERM...WE ALL KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH MAYA AND GAB, RIGHT?"
Maya looks down and fiddles with a flower petal, trying to avoid any eye contact.
"Kato, gabii, gichat ko ni Hazel, unya ana siya ipa-cancel na lang sa daw ug upload tong 8-inch nga interview. Mao to gipangutana nako siya kung ngano unya ana siya kay tungod daw sa gibuhat ni Maya. Mao dayon to...gitawagan tika gabii, Gab."
"SO, LAST NIGHT, HAZEL MESSAGED ME AND SHE SAID THAT THEY WANT US TO CANCEL UPLOADING THE INTERVIEW. AND I ASKED HER WHY AND SHE SAID THAT IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT MAYA DID. SO YEAH...THAT'S WHY I CALLED YOU IMMEDIATELY, GAB."
Gabbie rolls her eyes. "Mga buang mana sila uy."
"THEY'RE SUCH IDIOTS."
"Maayo eh," Mariz says. "Edi mangita ta'g lahi nga ifeature. Mura gyud sila ug unsa ka special."
"FUCK THEM THEN."
"LET'S FIND OTHER PEOPLE TO FEATURE. THEY'RE REALLY NOT THAT SPECIAL."
Hamza nods.
"Pero guys..." Pamela pauses, collecting her thoughts. "Nag-effort pud baya ta sa episode, nag-amot gyud baya para sa props ato. Tapos pangbayad pa gyud sa ilahang mga snacks. Murag unfair man pud sa atoang tanan nga masayang lang to kay tungod dili ma-pugngan ni Maya iyahang kaugalingon."
"BUT GUYS..."
"WE STILL WORKED HARD ON THAT EPISODE. WE EVEN CHIPPED IT TO BUY THE PROPS AND TO BUY THEIR SNACKS. IT'S A BIT UNFAIR TO ALL OF US THAT ALL OF THAT WILL BE WASTED BECAUSE MAYA BEHAVE HERSELF."
"Pamela," Mariz interjects, giving her a biting stare. "Maka-isturya ka'g ingon ana, mura pud sila'g wala'y nabuhat nga mali sa imoha."
"YOU SAY THAT AS IF THEY'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG TO YOU."
"Aw...g-gani. Naa man gihapon sila'y sala. Si Gabriel...naa man pud siya'y sala. Pero..." She takes a seat. "Pero dili man nato ma-deny nga kana ang tinood. Naa'y nabuhat si Maya, unya karon nagback-out na ang 8-Inch."
"WELL...Y-YEAH. OF COURSE THEY'VE ALSO DONE SOMETHING. AND...AND GABRIEL HE'S ALSO TO BLAME FOR THIS. BUT..."
"WE CAN'T DENY THE TRUTH. MAYA DID SOMETHING WRONG, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, 8-INCH IS BACKING OUT."
Mariz shakes her head. "Pero Pam, nganong ginasisi man nimo si Maya? Atoang huna-hunaon ba: gilaparo na nila si Maya. Tapos karon ginapag-tsismisan na siya sa tibook skwelahan—sure gyud ko nga gikan na sa ilaha nang tsismis. Tapos karon ipa-cancel na nila ug upload ang ilahang interview. Unsa ma'y gibuhat ni Maya? Gikissan ra man niya si Gabriel. Pero sila, daghan na kaayo sila ug gibuhat. Unya si Maya ang makasasala?"
"BUT PAM, WHY ARE YOU BLAMING MAYA? THINK: THEY HARASSED MAYA. AND NOW THE WHOLE SCHOOL'S GOSSIPING ABOUT HER—AND I'M SURE ALL THAT GOSSIP CAME FROM THEM. AND NOW THEY'RE CANCELLING THE UPLOAD OF THEIR INTERVIEW. WHAT DID MAYA DO? SHE JUST KISSED GABRIEL. BUT THEY DID FAR MORE. AND MAYA'S THE BAD ONE?"
Maya doesn't say anything and just quietly listens.
"Oo. Lage. Tama man ka, Mariz. Pero unfair lang nga madamay atong channel kay tungod na-karma na pud si Maya sa iyahang pagka-igat."
"YES, I'M NOT DENYING THAT. YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING, MARIZ. BUT I JUST THINK IT'S SO UNFAIR THAT WE'RE GETTING KARMA FOR MAYA BEING A SLUT AGAIN."
Everybody goes quiet for a bit.
"'Na pud'? Unsa imong pasabot nga 'na pud'?" Gabbie asks.
"'AGAIN'? WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'AGAIN'?"
Pamela looks at Maya. "Maya. Ingna sila."
"MAYA. TELL THEM."
Everybody looks at her.
"Maya, unsa iyahang pasabot?" Mariz asks.
"MAYA, WHAT IS SHE SAYING?"
"Pam..." Maya closes her eyes and tries to calm down. "Please. Kung unsa man imong nahibaw-an. Ako lang to nga problema. Wala mo'y labot ato."
"PAM..."
"PLEASE. WHATEVER IT IS YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, THAT'S MY PROBLEM. YOU GIRLS AREN'T PART OF THAT."
"Sa una siguro, Maya, oo. Wala mi'y labot. Pero karon, damay na mi ani," Pamela says.
"MAYBE BEFORE, MAYA, WE WEREN'T. BUT NOW, THIS INVOLVES ALL OF US."
Maya bites her lip and clasps her moist hands. "Pam—"
"Gabii, after ko gimessage ni Hazel, akoang gipangutana si Jasmin kung ngano siya nasuko kang Maya. Unya..."
"LAST NIGHT, AFTER HAZEL MESSAGED ME, I ASKED JASMIN WHY SHE'S SO ANGRY AT MAYA. AND..."
Maya clenches her jaw, trying to keep herself from crying.
"Kato...Giingon niya sa ako ang nahitabo. Atong Junior High pa sila ni Maya—sa Mabuhay pa sila ato nag-skwela—best friend diay na silang duha. Unya pag-Grade 10 nila, nagka-uyab si Jasmin. Dugay na sila kaila sa lalake. Kay amigo man ilahang mga parents. Pero ato nga year, nanguyab na gyud ang lalake sa iyaha. Cute sila nga couple. Alangan kay gikan pa gud sila pagkabata amigo. Gipang-send pa gani ni Jasmin sa akoa ilahang mga picture ug videos. Pero katong pahumanay na ang school year, pa-summer na ato, natingala si Jasmin kay nagbag-o ra'g kalit ang lalake. Cold na siya. Dili na nagareply panagsa sa iyahang texts. Ana siya na-depress gyud daw siya ato pero happy gihapon siya ato kay naa si Maya para i-comfort siya. Pero wala siya kabalo nga si Maya diay ang dahilan nganong na-depress siya. Wala siya'y kamalay-malay nga hinay-hinay na diay nga gina-agaw ni Maya iyang uyab. Noel ang pangalan sa uyab ni Jasmin. Oo, ang Noel nga uyab karon ni Maya."
"WELL...SHE TOLD ME EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED. BACK IN JUNIOR HIGH—WHEN THEY STILL STUDIED AT MABUHAY¹—MAYA AND JASMIN WERE BEST FRIENDS. AND WHEN THEY WERE IN GRADE 10, JASMIN HAD A BOYFRIEND. HER AND THE BOY HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BECAUSE HER PARENTS AND HIS WERE FRIENDS. SO THAT YEAR, THE BOY FINALLY COURTED HER. THEY WERE A CUTE COUPLE. OF COURSE, SINCE THEY WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS. JASMIN EVEN SET ME SOME OF THEIR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS. BUT YEAH, THE SUMMER AFTER JUNIOR HIGH, JASMIN NOTICED THAT THE BOY STARTED TO CHANGE. HE WAS COLD ALL OF A SUDDEN. HE DOESN'T REPLY AS MUCH TO HER TEXTS. SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS VERY DEPRESSED AT THE TIME, BUT SHE WAS VERY HAPPY THAT MAYA WAS THERE TO COMFORT HER. LITTLE DID SHE KNOW THAT MAYA WAS THE REASON SHE WAS DEPRESSED IN THE FIRST PLACE. MAYA WAS SECRETLY STEALING HER BOYFRIEND. NOEL WAS THE NAME OF THAT BOY. YES, THE NOEL THAT MAYA'S CURRENTLY DATING."
Everyone falls silent for a moment.
Maya can feel her throat starting to throb. She can no longer hold her tears back.
Tears start to spill down her cheeks.
"Kung ika-isa pa niya to nabuhat, okay, sige, pwede nato maingon nga nagkamali lang siya; nga wala niya gituyo. Pero kung ikaduha na gani niya nabuhat, wala. Igat gyud siya. Ug honestly, dili ko gusto ug ingon ana sa akong channel. Unsa pa lang ang ingnon sa mga tao. Imagine, gikawat niya ang uyab sa iyahang best friend."
"SO YEAH, IF SHE'D ONLY DONE IT ONCE, THEN YES, MAYBE WE CAN SAY THAT IT'S JUST A MISTAKE; THAT SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT. BUT THIS IS TWICE ALREADY. SHE'S A SLUT. AND HONESTLY, I DON'T WANT OUR CHANNEL ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE LIKE THAT. WHAT WOULD OTHER PEOPLE WOULD SAY? IMAGINE STEALING YOUR BEST FRIEND'S BOYFRIEND."
"Pamela, dili ka makakawat ug tao. Unsa na? Magic? Para makasulod ka ug relasyon sa isa ka tao, dapat nisugot ang tao ana. Dili makuha ni Maya si Noel kung wala nisugot si Noel," Mariz explains.
"PAMELA, YOU CAN'T STEAL PEOPLE. WHAT'S THAT? MAGIC? IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE TO ENTER A RELATIONSHIP. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE AN AGREEMENT. MAYA CAN'T STEAL NOEL IF NOEL NEVER AGREED TO IT."
"Unya kung magka-uyab ka, okay lang sa imo nga igat-igatan siya sa imong amigo?"
"AND WHEN YOU GET A BOYFRIEND, WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH YOUR FRIEND FLIRTING WITH HIM?
"Oo. Kaysa sa kanang judgmental nga amigo. Unsa man ka ka sure nga wala to nangatik sa imo si Jasmin?"
"YES. INSTEAD OF A FRIEND WHO'S JUDGMENTAL. HOW EVEN SURE YOU THAT JASMIN WASN'T LYING TO YOU."
"Tan-awa ra gud na si Maya." Pamela gestures towards her. "Klaro man kaayo nga tinood akong giingon."
"LOOK AT MAYA."
"IT'S CLEAR EVERYTHING I SAID WAS TRUE."
"Pamela, nganong mas gina-defend pa man nimo ang mga tao nga ikaw mismo, gipasakitan, kaysa sa imong sarili nga amigo?" Hamza asks.
"PAMELA, WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING MORE THE PEOPLE THAT HURT YOU INSTEAD OF YOUR FRIEND?"
Everyone is taken aback by Hamza finally speaking up.
Even Pamela appears surprised.
"Kabalo ka nga mao ni ilahang gusto. Magbirahanay tang mga babae pababa para ang mga lalake ang pirme naa sa taas," Hamza says.
"YOU KNOW THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT. FOR US GIRLS TO FIGHT AND PULL EACH OTHER DOWN SO THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HIGH POSITIONS."
"Wow, Hamza, bag-o ka mag isturya about feminism, tan-awa sa imong kaugalingon. Samtang gasuot ka ug hijab, wala ka'y karapatan mag-isturya about feminism."
"WOW, HAMZA, LOOK AT YOURSELF BEFORE TALKING ABOUT FEMINISM. WHILE YOU'RE WEARING THAT HIJAB, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT FEMINISM."
"Pamela!" Mariz exclaims.
"Unsa man? Tinood man gyud. Ginapugos lang man sila ug suot ana."
"WHAT? I'M JUST TELLING THE TRUTH. EVERYBODY KNOWS THEY'RE JUST BEING FORCED TO WEAR THAT."
Hamza looks Pamela in her eye. Cold. She takes a deep breath. "Pam, kabalo ko nga dili ka ganahan sa akoa. Daghan na kaayo ka ug naingon o nabuhat nga nakapasakit sa akoa pero dili gyud ko nimo makita nga mag-reklamo. Panagsa pa gani, ako pa ang mag-sorry. Kay kabalo ko nga kung masuko ko, maskin gamay lang, gamiton na nimo laban sa akoa. Sa imong utok, weirdo na gani ko kay nagasuot ko'g hijab, unsa pa kaha kung lain ko'g batasan. Pero ginapasagdan lang tika, kay ganahan ko sa imohang idea about sa channel ug gusto gyud ko mutabang. Pero karon tama na. Sobra na kaayo ka. Wala ko gipugos ug suot ani akong hijab, Pam. Ginasuot nako ning hijab kay gusto nako siya suoton. Gipili nako ni. Kasabot ko nga dili ka ganahan sa akoa. Dili man ko bugo. Pero maskin ingon ana, gina-try gihapon nako magpakabuotan, magtinarong kay mao na ang gitudlo sa akoa sa Islam. Ikaw Pam, tarong ka? Kay kung tarong gyud ka, makabalo ka nga dili dapat ka mujudge ug laing mga tao. Ug kung tarong gyud ka nga tao, suportahan gyud nimo imohang mga amigo. Idefend nimo sila. Dili kay tawagon nimo sila ug igat. So kato lang, muhawa nako sa channel. Pero kung gusto ka muhiram sa camera, okay lang gihapon. Itext lang ko." As she gets up from her seat, almost immediately, the school bell rings.
"PAM, I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T REALLY LIKE ME. YOU'VE SAID AND DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE PAST THAT HAVE REALLY HURT ME, BUT YOU WOULD NEVER HEAR ME COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. SOMETIMES, EVEN, I'D BE THE ONE TO APOLOGIZE EVEN THOUGH CLEARLY IT'S NOT MY FAULT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT EVEN IF I SHOW YOU JUST ONE HINT OF AGGRESSION, YOU'D USE THAT AGAINST ME. IN YOUR MIND, I'M ALREADY A WEIRDO WEARING THIS HIJAB, IMAGINE IF I ALSO HAVE A BAD PERSONALITY. BUT YEAH, I JUST LET YOU SAY AND DO THOSE THINGS, BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE YOUR IDEA ABOUT THE CHANNEL AND I REALLY WANT TO HELP. BUT THIS IS ENOUGH. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS TOO MUCH. NOBODY FORCED ME TO WEAR THIS HIJAB, PAM. I WEAR THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO WEAR THIS. I CHOSE THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T LIKE ME. I'M NOT AN IDIOT. BUT DESPITE THAT, IT STILL TRY TO BE KIND, I STILL TRY TO BE A GOOD PERSON BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT ISLAM TEACHES ME. HOW ABOUT YOU, PAM. ARE YOU KIND? OR GOOD? BECAUSE IF YOU ARE, YOU'D KNOW BETTER THAN TO JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE. YOU'D KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS; YOU DEFEND THEM. INSTEAD OF CALLING THEM A SLUT. SO THAT'S IT, I'M LEAVING THE CHANNEL. BUT IF YOU WANT TO BORROW THE CAMERA, YOU CAN STILL BORROW IT. JUST TEXT ME."
Gabbie slowly pushes herself up from her seat. She looks at Pamela for a moment. Disappointed. "Isend lang nako sa imo ang mga files nga gigamit nako pag-edit unya." She shakes her head and walks after Hamza who is already ahead.
"I'LL JUST SEND YOU THE FILES I USED FOR THE EDIT LATER."
"Tara?" Mariz asks Maya. She puts her arm around her, trying to comfort her as they get up.
"LET'S GO?"
Maya quickly glances at Pamela one last time, wipes away her tears, and walks away with Mariz.
---
1: MABUHAY - Mabuhay National High School. One of the high schools in Carmen. This is where Noel, Maya and Jasmin all studied at for Junior High before transferring to North Davao High School.