I glanced out the window, barely able to mask my disdain as I listened to music blaring through my earphones. I was on my way to school, begrudgingly, after a few days of being stuck at home with a fever. I really didn't feel like going, to be honest. If it were up to me, I wouldn't have budged an inch. But alas, when Mommy lays down the law, there's little room for negotiation.
I rolled my eyes, recalling Mommy's irritatingly authoritative voice from earlier. She was all like, "You're going to school whether you like it or not." Ugh, as if her word was gospel. But what could I do? Disobeying her was just not an option. Mommy always gets her way, no matter how much I protest.
So here I am, trudging along to that wretched place they call school, forced to abide by her rules once again. It's times like these that I wish I had the guts to stand up for myself. But hey, who needs independence when you've got Mommy dictating your every move, right?
Banned ako nang ilang araw dahil umabot sa kaniya ang ginawa ko sa isang babaeng nerd sa school. Like what the hell? Hindi ko alam kung paano umabot sa kaniya yung balita. Hindi naman pinatawag ng dean ang parents namin. She was fun to play with. Katuwaan lang ang ginawa ko pero ginagawang big deal ni mommy. Mabuti na lang at nagkasakit ako, hindi rin ako nabagot sa bahay.
As I stepped out of the car, I could feel the stares of the students boring into me, their expressions less than pleased at the sight of my presence. Well, who could blame them? It's not every day you encounter a queen bee like myself. But honestly, I couldn't care less about what they thought or said behind my back. I am who I am, and if they're jealous, that's their problem, not mine.
"Nandiyan na naman ang bruha"
"Did you see the amount of makeup she's wearing?"
I overheard one of them whisper. What a loud whisper. Ha! As if that was any of their business. Let them talk. It's not like their opinions mattered anyway. Wala namang masama sa makeup ko. Hindi lang talaga sila marunong mag-ayos ng mukha. Mukha ngang pinulot lang sa tabi-tabi yung makeup na ginamit niya.
I cranked up the volume of my music, drowning out the mundane chatter around me, and shot a disdainful glance at the girl with the overly sharp tongue. She swiftly averted her gaze, probably realizing she couldn't match my level of sophistication, and gestured for her friends to scurry away like scared little mice. That's right, no peasant should dare block the path of royalty.
With each step I took, my heels clicking on the pavement, I couldn't help but feel powerful. The world was my stage, and I was the queen. As I walked through the halls of this fancy school, my mind moved with the beat of the music. I didn't care about the envious whispers and jealous looks that followed me.
I have to keep reminding myself
I'm not like anyone else
Of course.
That's my face on my ID
That makes me V.I.P.
No one exactly like this
No one with my fingerprints
No one can touch you like me
No I can't fake what you see
Oh yes.
They told me: "Girl, to get you're way, you've got to be a bitch!"
They say that: "A guy won't get the girl, if he's not filthy rich!"
That's true.
You stop with little changes,
'Til you don't know who you are
Surround yourself with friends
Who only call you a superstar
Oh yeah, oh yeah
(Ready, set, baby let's go)
This school, with its huge campus and spotless buildings, showed off wealth and privilege. It was a place for the elite, and I, with my perfect style and natural charm, belonged at the very top.
The sky is the limit
And I just wanna flow
Free as a spirit on a journey of hope
Cut the strings and let me go
I'm weightless, I'm weightless
Millions of balloons heading to the ground
Weight of the world tries to hold us down
Cut the strings and let me go
I'm weightless, I'm weightless,
I'm weightless, I'm weightless...
As I navigated through the sea of designer uniforms and perfectly coiffed hair, I couldn't help but notice the amusing looks from the opposite sex. Their eyes were shining. It was no surprise, really. After all, who could resist the allure of someone as effortlessly flawless as me? With a nonchalant flip of my hair, I made it abundantly clear that I was out of their league, and they were merely spectators in the grand theater of my life.
All the things I held in my fist
If I don't let go, I don't exist
They've become the things that define me
How I look and the things to buy me
That's not important anymore
I feel me rising off the floor
Light as a feather, I'm carefree
I'm weightless...
With each passing moment, I reveled in the knowledge that I was the epitome of beauty and sophistication. While others may have tried to emulate my style, they could never hope to match my innate grace and poise. I was a living embodiment of perfection, and no amount of envy or resentment could ever change that fact.
The sky is the limit
And I just wanna flow
Free as a spirit on a journey of hope
Cut the strings and let me go
I'm weightless, I'm weightless
Millions of balloons heading to the ground
Weight of the world tries to hold us down
Cut the strings and let me go
I'm weightless, I'm weightless, I'm weightless, I'm weightless
So as I continued to walk through the hallowed halls of this prestigious institution, I did so with the unwavering confidence of someone who knew they were destined for greatness. For in a world where beauty and power reign supreme, I was the undisputed queen, and nothing and no one could ever take that away from me.
As I made my way towards my classroom, I couldn't help but notice a gathering of students out on the field. I was about to approach when I heard Rinoa's unmistakable voice pierce through the air.
"Queen Bitch!"
Ugh, it was Rinoa, with her obnoxiously loud voice. I turned to face her, putting on my best haughty smile.
"Yes?" I replied, my tone dripping with disdain.
Accompanied by her sidekick Ariena, they sauntered towards me with that familiar air of superiority.
"We miss you, bitch," Rinoa declared, her words laced with a hint of sarcasm.
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by their attempt at flattery. "Well, isn't that touching," I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I've been far too busy being fabulous to notice your absence."
I turned on my heel, leaving them standing there, their mouths agape. After all, in a world where I reigned supreme, their petty attempts at friendship were nothing but a mere inconvenience.
Ah, right. In this school, the concept of friendship isn't really valued. It's all about power and status, so it's not surprising to see cliques forming.
Groups of students with similar levels of influence and status emerge, chatting and exchanging secrets, not because of genuine friendship, but for the purpose of exploiting and trading power.
In our world, friends are merely transactional partners in acquiring and maintaining control over events. If you're not wealthy or don't belong to the influential crowd, friendship is worthless. It's all about leverage and influence, and those who understand this dynamic thrive while the rest are left scrambling for scraps of recognition.
Tinuloy ko ang balak na pagpunta sa field para makita kung ano ang mayroon doon. Sumunod naman ang dalawa sa likod ko. Nagsisigawan ang mga babae at ang mga lalaki naman ay tuwang-tuwa sa kung ano. Sa sobrang dami ng mga estudyante ay hindi ko makita ang nasa gitna.
"Get out of the way, bitches" I said, authoritatively. Pero walang nakinig, or should I say, walang nakarinig dahil masyado silang maingay. Pumikit ako para ikalma ang sarili.
"Rinoa" I called
"Hey! You motherf*cking bitches! Didn't you hear what the Queen just said?!" Malakas na sabi niya. Dumilat ako at nakita ko ang mga estudyanteng kanina ay maingay, ngayon ay natahimik na at nakatingin sa likod, sa amin.
Taas noo akong naglakad at unti-unti namang nahati sa gitna ang mga estudyante para bigyan ako ng daan.
I smirked.
Sobrang tahimik nila at sa tingin ko ay natahimik din ang kung anong nangyayari sa gitna. Nang makita ko kung ano ang pinagkakaguluhan nila ay bigla akong nadismaya.
"It's you again?" Mataray kong sabi.
"My, my, look what we have here." He said. Binitawan niya ang lalaking duguan at may malaking salamin sa mata. Tumaas ang isang kilay ko.
A nerd?
"How are you, Nionahlie?"
Earlier, I was already irritated by his face, but now my irritation increased as he called my name.
"I told you not to use your filthy mouth to call my name, Sheldon," I snapped, my tone dripping with contempt.
"Hmm, showing up just now and this is the greeting I get?" He said. I scoffed, my demeanor as sharp as ever. "No wonder the students around here can't stand you," he quipped, a smirk playing on his lips. Hah, as if I need their liking. I refused to engage further, instead directing my gaze towards the nerdy-looking guy nearby.
"Newbie?" I inquired, turning to Sheldon for his take on the situation. He glanced over at the guy, flanked by his two lackeys, and shook his head.
"Nah, just spotted him hanging around," Sheldon replied casually.
It was the first time I had laid eyes on him, but it wasn't unusual to see new faces popping up in the hallways. Some students preferred to keep to themselves, burying their noses in books, hoping to escape notice. Unfortunately for them, catching Sheldon's attention was often a stroke of bad luck.
Hindi rin nagtagal at tumunog na ang bell hudyat na magsisimula na ang klase. Nauna na akong umalis doon at iniwan sila dahil wala naman akong pakialam kung ano pa ang ginagawa nila. Gusto ko lang makita ang hitsura ng mga estudyanteng nagmamakaawa.
As I stepped into the room, a hush fell over my classmates, their eyes lighting up as if they'd just witnessed a celestial being grace the earth. Moments later, our history professor arrived, ready to dive into the day's lesson. History was never my forte; I had little interest in the subject. Frankly, I rarely paid attention to what the professor droned on about at the front of the class. It's not like I was failing—I managed to scrape by with decent grades—but I certainly wasn't vying for the title of valedictorian either. If they were to rank us, I'd probably fall somewhere near the bottom, though I couldn't care less about academic accolades. After all, in my mind, I reigned supreme as the most beautiful girl in the entire school.
When lunchtime rolled around, I caught sight of Sheldon once again, harassing yet another new nerd. This time, it was a girl. Goodness, why were there so many nerds in this school? I rolled my eyes and ignored them. With nerds aplenty, bullies were sure to follow.
Rinoa waved me over to a table. Our school canteen was nothing like the typical lunch spot; in keeping with the school's extravagant theme, it exuded elegance from every corner. It was more like a catering hall, with long tables displaying an array of food options.
Approaching Rinoa's table, accompanied by Ariena, whose gender I could never quite discern, I took note of the variety of dishes laid out before us. Rinoa, as usual, was engrossed in gossip, while Ariena sat quietly, their presence a constant mystery. Despite the chaos of the lunchroom, our table exuded an air of exclusivity, reserved only for those deemed worthy by Rinoa's standards.
In the busy cafeteria, everyone had their favorite spots, sticking to their usual seats like glue. It was like a silent rule, unspoken but always followed. But there was this one table right smack in the middle, a bit away from the others. It was different – it was where the bullied students sat.
I couldn't miss it. They'd huddle there, heads down, trying to disappear into their food or books. It was like they carried invisible signs that screamed, "Pick on me." And sadly, some students took that as an invitation.
For mean girls like me, it was like watching a show. We'd glance over, sometimes exchanging smirks or eye rolls, but rarely did anyone actually step in to help. It was like we were all part of this unspoken agreement to just let things be.
Looking at them, I couldn't help but feel a mix of things – a little sorry for them, but also kind of annoyed that they were always so down. It made me wonder what put them there in the first place. But then again, in this school, it was like everyone was fighting for their own survival, trying to fit in and not get noticed in the wrong way.
As much as I felt this twinge of guilt for not doing anything, I quickly shoved it away. There were other, juicier things to focus on – like who was dating who, or the latest drama unfolding in the halls. In a place where gossip was currency, it was easier to get caught up in the drama than to confront the uncomfortable truth staring us in the face.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Sigaw ng isang lalaki na kararating pa lang sa cafeteria. "In the gym! Sheldon's in the gym with the nerd!" He shouted, causing the students to scatter in a frenzy. The cafeteria emptied out in an instant, leaving behind half-eaten food barely touched on the tables.
"Hay, he just doesn't quit," Rinoa remarked, taking a sip of her mango shake.
We followed suit and made our way to the gym. It was like a scene straight out of a movie, with everyone rushing to catch a glimpse of the action. As mean girls, we couldn't resist the urge to see what was going on. After all, drama was our bread and butter.
Once inside the gym, we saw Sheldon, the usual suspect, standing there with the same unfortunate nerd. It was like déjà vu all over again. But instead of feeling any sympathy for the poor boy, I found myself more interested in the spectacle unfolding before us.
As Sheldon continued his reign of terror, taunting and belittling the hapless student, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me. In our world where power was everything, seeing someone else humiliated only served to reinforce my own status.
Rinoa nudged me, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Looks like Sheldon's up to his old tricks again," she remarked, her tone filled with amusement. And as we watched from the sidelines, reveling in the chaos, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement coursing through my veins. After all, in a school like ours, drama was the only currency that truly mattered.
"Don't you think you're too cold?" Tanong ni Sheldon sabay bato ng baseball sa lalaking nerd.
"Ahh!" Daing nito nang tamaan siya sa braso. Hawak-hawak niya 'yon habang nakatayo sa dulo ng gym. Si Sheldon ay nakaupo sa upuan at ang dalawa niyang kaibigan ay nakatayo sa magkabilang gilid.
"Man, that was a bad pitch" puna ng isa niyang kaibigan.
"Don't be too harsh, Shel, someone might think we're bullying him. Baka isumbong pa tayo." natatawang sabi naman ng isa.
"Oh really?" Mukhang hindi nagustuhan ni Sheldon ang sinabi ng lalaki at tiningnan siya nito. "Edi ikaw ang pumalit."
Nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ng lalaki at napalitan ng gulat. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan ang sinabi ni Sheldon. Well, he's not Sheldon if he isn't like that.
"Pre, anong sinasabi mo?" Tanong ng isa.
"Why? You want a good pitch, right? Tutal ang hilig mong sumabad," Ginamit niya ang ulo para ituro ang pwestong kinatatayuan nung nerd. "Stand there. Huwag kang mag-alala, ganito ang gagawin ko kapag may nagtangkang magsumbong."
Sandaling hindi nakagalaw ang lalaki pero mukhang nilakasan niya ang loob at tumayo katabi ng nerd.
"Go, throw the ball" sabi pa nito.
Tumagilid ang ulo ni Sheldon "Who said I'm the one throwing the ball?" Sheldon challenged, a smirk playing on his lips. Naging dahilan iyon upang impit na nagsitilian ang mga babaeng nanonood. "Hey, my new friend," he beckoned with two fingers, motioning for the nerd to come closer. "Come here."
The nerd remained frozen in place, prompting Sheldon to repeat his call.
"Come here," he insisted. The guy next to the nerd gave him a slight shove, causing him to move forward, but still keeping his distance from Sheldon.
"I'm always fair to all of my friends. And you are one of them," pagtutukoy ni Sheldon sa nerd. "I should be fair to my new friend, right?" Sheldon remarked before hurling the baseball at the nerd, who managed to catch it. "It's your turn now," he said, a smug grin spreading across his face.
"S-Sheldon," the nerd stammered, his voice trembling along with his body.
"I know, right? Whether you throw it or not, you'll still get beaten up," Sheldon chuckled. "That's just how life is sometimes. So what are you waiting for?" The nerd lowered his gaze to the ball in his hand.
"Do you know why your life is like this? Because you're poor. That's what happens to people who are poor and try to squeeze themselves into the world of the rich," Sheldon spat out hurtful words, a familiar refrain that had caused many students to transfer to other schools year after year.
"Your life will always be like this as long as you're here. You know why? Because I'll be your boss in the future, and you will be my slave," he declared, bursting into laughter.
Masamang-masama ang tingin ng nerd sa bolang hawak at malakas itong ibinato sa salamin dahilan para mabasag ito. Nagulat ang lahat at malakas na tumili naman ang mga babae. Walang nakatayo malapit sa salamin kaya walang nasaktan. Ang dalawang lalaki naman ay hinawakan ang braso at kwelyo ng nerd na masama ang tingin kay Sheldon.
"Oh" natatawang sabi ni Sheldon sabay tayo. "Ingatan mo ang sarili mo," bumaba ang tingin niya sa katawan nito.
Gross
"Lalo na ang katawan mo. Mas kailangan mo 'yan sa mga susunod na araw" Umatras siya nang umatras hanggang sa lamesa. "The show is over. I'm going to run because I'm scared, baka may magsumbong e," aniya sabay kuha ng bag at sinabit ito sa balikat. "The class is about to start. See you around" nahagip niya ang mata ko sabay kindat bago naglakad paalis ng gym.
Ang lalaking nerd naman ay binubugbog ng dalawang lalaki. Napailing na lang ako at umalis na rin sa gym.