Dedicated ArlynOchinang
Soundtrack: Good Life by G-Eazy and Kehlani
First day. First day of what we call 'school'. After the long battling about whether I'm going or not.. well they won. And now here we are. Making our way down the road. Helen accidentally presses a button where some collector cars were hidden. She mouthed 'shit', combing her hair and touching some of it. Harper on the other hand just stared at the cars with awe.
Well, I didn't know my parents have this kind of so-called-collectors-item. I was also speechless when I saw some Lycan cars. Damn! It's one of a hella expensive cars! Different colors, brands and, styles were there.
I glanced through the cars where Helen was inside of the blue Mazda Mx-5 Miata. She roared the engine and tried its lights. That was one of a hell of a car! Harper was touching every car in her way until she finds what she wants. She glanced at me and posed a rock sign.
"Your parents knew what to buy Erinye! Cool!" She gets in the blue Chevrolet Camaro. Blue. Maybe their favorite color.
I want to try all of the cars but I don't like to catch attention especially not in school. So I walked straight trying to find something old and vintage. I love vintage things, and I don't know why. I stop in front of the cream-colored Volkswagen car. It's so small and cute. I don't know if this is automatic or not. But I'm hoping for the first. Vintage but automatic? Now that's new. I laugh because of my thoughts.
"No Ada! You're not going to ride on that thing!" Harper's voice echoed in my side before I can get in. Damn. I look at her with curiosity.
"And why is that? I prefer to ride this 'thing'" I answered emphasizing the word thing. She rolled her eyes like what-the-hell-is-happening-to-me.
"C'mon Ada. You can ride that Lycan over there! Or that Mercedes-AMG GT! But not a Volkswagen!" Okay. She's overreacting now.
"But I like this Erinye," I said with finality.
"Okay. Fine. But that's not automatic.. let's be practical in here Erinye. The two cars over there are too far from that thing, maybe that thing will stop in the middle of the road. Who knows? And maybe it's not..."
I intentionally put my hand in her mouth coz I know what she's referring to. "Okay. If this won't work maybe I'll try to use the other kay?" How did she know that I can only drive automatic cars? Oh, shoot! Zayn. She just shrug and left me.
Helen was buzzing the horn. She's already out of the garage. Harper gets in her Camaro and starts to get out. I get inside and tried the engine. It's roaring but when I was ready to maneuver it won't work. Damn. I punch its horn, making a loud annoying beep.
"That sucks Ada!" Helen shouted from her car. I just rolled my eyes and turn to what Harper pointed earlier. Mercedes or a Lycan? They're all gorgeous and cool. Damn it!
"The Lycan Ada!" Harper shouted.
"It's better to have that silver Mercedes!" Helen insisted.
Okay fine. They're more excited than me. I would love to have both but I can drag attention. I walk past the other cars until I found a blue Subaru BR-Z car. Another blue? What's with this color today? Everyone is picking a blue one. I get in and started the engine. It roared, even the sound of it is like a piece of music to my ear. I touch its steering wheel, the passenger seat, and its component. Everything is perfect. I stop myself from touching when I heard a consecutive buzzing of horns. Yeah, impatient as usual.
And now here we are in the middle of the road going to that stupid school. Nobody knows what's going on in Mr. Torrecili's mind. Really. He's unpredictable. Helen and Harper were in front of me. I think we drive for more than an hour now until they turn in one direction. Well maybe this is already the school coz I can see many students walking. Some of them gazed at us with awe, some ceasing their forehead trying to see whose inside the car. Curiosity peep through them. I can hear the sound of different noises coming inside the campus. Some are drums, people shouting, girls are singing, and more. The arc of the school was behind the tree. Woodside High.
We drive until we reach the parking area. We park the car one by one. Helen was the first to come out, then Harper and me. Some students were watching. The noise a while ago suddenly stops, feels like they're all watching us. Okay. This is awkward. Really. I turn to Harper to ask what's happening but she just shrugs.
A couple of seconds before then it went to the old tune again. Back to the noises. People were back to what they're doing. I scan the area and you can see different posts of students with their groups. Some are promoting their club. Different clubs were in actuality, there is the a capella group, the varsities whose welcoming and tripping to the newbie, the journalism and photography, and then there's the group of dorks.
I don't know where are the two but I just did my way. Maybe they're also busy touring the whole campus. I was at the edge of the tree when someone from the soccer group throw a ball from one nerd guy. I easily catch the ball before it landed him. He was surprised when he saw me there. The guys were laughing but it stop when they saw me holding it.
"You okay?" He was stuttering when he answered me. Halos hindi pa siya makatingin ng maayos.
"Okay.. okay lang ako. Thanks!" And he stomps away.
"The ball baby! Pass it back!" I was back to the soccer player who throw the ball. He's kinda chubby and tall. I pass it to him but it landed on his face. He fell. Oops! My bad. His teammates oohed and laugh.
I walked again and someone followed my pace. I turn to him. He was the one who's sitting and reading a magazine at the edge. I know by the looks he's one of them.
"Hey. You new here?" He said while smiling at me. He's tall, tanned skin, and has a dimple on his right cheek. He's a looker but a playboy one. I guess.
"Hey." I nod.
"So are you one of those girls who ride those blue cars?" I just nod again. He's talky. "You girls have a definite taste of cars! That was awesome! Sports cars are just.. you know amazing!"
I didn't mind him and continue to walk ahead of him. Nang mapansin nitong wala na ako sa tabi niya at tumakbo ito at pumantay sa bilis ng paglalakad ko.
"I'm sorry I never introduced myself. I'm Amboy. And Welcome to Woodside High!" He's grinning.
I will never ask why his name is Amboy it's so obvious that he's an American.
I look at him. He stops smiling and extends his hand. I just look at it and start to walk again.
"So.. what club are you interested in? Do you like to dance? Sing? Or maybe you're a type of a sporty girl."
"It's Ada."
"What? Oh! Okay. That's your name. Nice! Thanks" he said brushing his hair. "Do you like me to tour you in your new school?"
I just shrug. Hindi naman ito umalis sa tabi ko at patuloy lang sa pagsama saken. He never stop talking.
"So that part is our canteen. And that side is the field." Bawat madadaanan naming building ay sinasabi niya kung ano at kung para san yun. He motioned the field, the canteen, the classrooms, etc.
"Hey Ada. I gotta go for awhile. It's emergency. Gonna find you later? Okay!" Sabi nito na parang nagmamadali.
Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Pumunta ako sa tinuro niyang canteen kanina. I make my way in. Many students were scattered around the area. Napatigil ang ilan sa pagkain ng makita akong pumasok. Aren't they human also? They keep on staring at me! Damn it.
"Ada! Here!" Napatingin ako sa tumawag at nakitang nakaupo sina Helen at Harper sa medyo malayong bakante.
I ordered food and followed them there. Umupo ako at nagsimulang kumain. It was nearly a happy and serene eating when people stop talking. A group of girls was entering the place. They were four of them and one of them is so damn familiar! Trixie Darent. Now what? She's one of those queen bees? I examine her figure and yes she change a bit. I know she's a party girl before but it didn't occur to me that she can be a queen bee. Well, she fits perfectly being one minus her innocent face. Yeah. Sa isang paaralan hindi mawawala ang mga queen bees, and specially bullies. Make it a group of students or what still meron at merong ganoon sa isang paaralan.
"Felicity Stone. What a big coincidence." Helen said sarcastically looking at the girl in the center. She's tall, curly blonde hair and creamy skin.
"You knew her?" Tiningnan ko ulit ang tinutukoy ni Harper. She can be a model too! Or maybe she is. Lahat naman silang apat ay magaganda at matatangkad. Maybe they're really are the queens of this school.
"Yeah. Some rival slut before. Anyway, that was a long time ago. Life is full of surprises tho. I never expect I will meet her here" she said while playing the tuna pasta on her plate.
Damn right. Life is full of it. I looked at the four girls, they were now sitting in one place. Looks like they own the table. They started chatting and giggling with each other. Everyone is back to their business again. But that was just for a moment until another group is entering. They know how to make a grand entrance. The bad guys.
"Looks like we're going to meet the lords of this school" pakantang sabi ni Harper na may kasama pang sipol.
"I will never bow down bitch" Harper titter upon what Helen said.
Gaya ng pagpasok ng mga babae kanina ay ganoon din ang reaksyon ng ilan sa kanila. Silence. They're spreading the aura that if they come, no one would dare to talk or make a noise. But it's different when I accidentally fell my spoon. It clings to the cement. It's making a sound that no one would ever dare not look to. Some students were looking at us like hey-no-one-ever-dare-to-make-a-noise-when-they're-entering. Okay. My bad. Again.
They don't have to look at me like that. I got the message loud and clear. I just rolled my eyes. I stomp the other side of the spoon so that it will bounce on the other. Gotcha! I wipe it with the tissue, resuming to eat.
I thought okay na kasi hindi naman na sila gumagawa ng ingay. But it was all my presumptions when I heard the queen bees talk. Specifically that Stone girl.
"My. My. My. Looks like someone is gonna be hit today!" she said in a sing-song voice. Tumawa lang naman ang kasama nito.
I look at them. Stone and I meet our gaze. I just look at her dangerously. She backs away and pretends not to see it. I almost back my eyes away when Trixie and I locked our gazes. She seemed surprised. The shock was an understatement coz from the looks of her face she was confused. Different emotions were written all over her face. She was about to stand when someone from the group of guys walk towards us, slamming the table. Our food is now a mess. May iba pang pasta ang tumalsik sa damit naming tatlo. Helen curse under her breath, she's about to straggle them when Harper holds her hand.
"Calm down!" Harper whispered.
"What are you talking about!? Huh!? You don't know us didn't you?!" A guy beside the leader talk. He has a clean-cut style of hair, piercing on his nose but he's a good-looking guy.
Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga lalaki sa harap namin. They were 9 of them. And by the looks of it maybe they're gangsters. I would love to guess their name, maybe the nine tailed fox? Or the King of Kings? Oh never mind. They were all good looking teens. Naisip ko tuloy kung pati ba sa gangsters ay kailangan ding gwapo at magaganda ang kasali? Is it really an advantage?
"Back off assholes!" Helen curse.
"That voice sounds familiar! Is that you bitch?" Stone said when she heard Helen talk. She even stands and goes near us to finally look. "Oh my God! This is surprising! I never.. really surprising!" She said while laughing maniacally. Okay, she looks like a crazy witch.
"You knew them?" I think he was the leader. He looks like an Italian boy next door. Pretty boy.
"Nah. Nah. Not all of them! Just that slut!" she said pointing to Helen.
"Really? I'm a slut? And what do you think of yourself? Oh. Loser!" she said while grinning at her. Stone looks pissed because of that.
"Fuck you bitch! I'm gonna get even today! Beat them, Marcus! Especially her!" She whispered while stomping out. Taking care of her reputation ah.
Now we really are the stars here. Halos hindi na kumakain ang iba dahil nakamasid na lang sa aming tatlo. Some of them look at us like were totally dead, some with sympathy and some with sly.
"May basbas na ang nasa itaas. Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay Marcus!" A one guy beef.
Marcus just nod his head. Umalis siya sa pwesto niya at umupo sa may gilid. Bago pa man kami mahawakan ng mga lalaki ay bigla na namang tumahimik. Another group is entering. And they're also good looking. There were three of them. One girl and two boys. What's this school of gangsters and crazy bitches? Maybe the reunion. I chuckled a bit upon the thoughts. Magsasalita na sana ang isa sa kanila ng magsalita ang kabilang grupo.
"Don't touch the freshmen Marcus. They're still new. They don't know about your rules. Spare them once. Can you?" A brown-haired guy, with gray eyes. Nice orbs.
"Shia. Shia. Shia. That's why we're here. To teach them about our rule. They need to be disciplined." Marcus answered. Shia? A girly name. How cute.
"Okay. But beware.. they look more dangerous than you!" Shia laughs along with his members. Harper also chuckled.
And maybe that's the reason why Marcus and his team lose their patience. He curses suddenly.
"Shit! Beat them! Beat them hard!" Marcus shouted. He seemed pissed. It's not our fault tho.
Ngumisi sa amin ang ilang lalaking kasamahan nito. They even twist their fingers. Pinatunog nila ito na parang susugod na sa laban. Everyone gasped in their place even Trixie when I saw her on my peripheral vision. Tumayo ito at pupunta na sana sa amin pero pinigilan ito ng mga kasamahan niya.
Shit! She must not witness this.