It's Monday today. It's quite relieving that the thunderstorm stopped yesterday night or else I would seriously become mad. Good thing headsets and rock music were invented and made. They've turned into the best armor that I could ever have in my life these past few days.
I fear thunders. I hate the feeling that every raindrop gives. They turn everything wet yet I feel so dry and empty everytime they begin to drop on my skin.
As for what happened to that party, it ended awkwardly with me trying to leave the place as if I was on a walking marathon. I didn't try to make any eye contact to any one of them, including my cousin.
Skyzzer. Born as Skyzzer Yuan Cromello-Sanchez is my cousin from my father's side. Barely two months older than me. Aunt Edeline's one and only son. She died giving birth to him while on the other hand, his father died from a plane crush on his way to Japan for a business project. Luckily, his father remarried a lovely woman who raised him like her own son before he died – Genevieve Montreal.
Among my cousins, he is the closest one to me. We were raised together along with my elder brother, Alexander eversince we were little and until he turned ten. Iyon ang panahong namatay ang ama niya at kinailangan siyang samahan ng iba pa niyang kamag-anak para magtungo sa Japan at ayusin ang mga bagay bagay mula sa burol ng ama hanggang sa pagdedeklara ng last will and testament ni Uncle Tomas.
After that, I had never got a chance to talk to him or to communicate with him on any other way. That is why I was left alone most of the time, given that my brother is already starting his training to handle our company.
To be honest, I still can't believe that we'll be meeting again after how many years, not to mention in this school. Uncle Johan didn't mention anything about me enrolling to the same school where Sky is enrolled. Somehow, I felt excitement and thrill seeing my playmate once again but discovering that he is one of the HEAD made me desist from the thoughts of having a peaceful bonding time with him.
It's not that I am keeping a grudge towards the HEAD. It's just that first impression bugs the hell inside of me saying that they're not amiable enough to take on my attitude as of now. Pero ano nga bang magagawa ko? Hindi lang isang miyembro ang pinsan kong iyon. He's the third highest ranking member!
Parang dati lang napakaiyakin niyan dahil lagi ko siyang natatalo sa snake and ladders at sa iba pang boardgames.
Having spoken to him later that night, he assured me that he won't tell about our real connection to anyone. Well, except the HEAD members who were the first ones to know. Provided that I blackmailed him through using Fiacre's name on him. Why? It's because he has a crush on my friend and he has an unstoppable mouth.
I asked him to do that to prevent greater insecurity and attention from the student body. Mamatahin nila ako lalo kapag nalaman nilang pinsan ako ng isa sa mga iniidolo nila. Kung alam lang talaga nila. Dati, napakalampa ng lalaking iyan at laging nadadapa sa daan.
Tapos ngayon kinikilala nang isa sa mga pinakamalakas, pinakamatalino, at pinagkamaimpluwensya rito? Aba'y saan ka pa.
Nagawan na rin niya ng paraan ang nangyari ng gabing iyon kaya wala na ni isang estudyante ang nag-uusap ng kung para saan talaga ang imbitasyon na ibinigay ni Kiara. At least, iyon ang alam ko at iyon ang ginagawa ng mga tao sa ngayon.
We're on our way to the Crimson Building right now. It's still the same as my first days here except for one thing. The whole place is in deep silence.
It's very unusual. Kahit naman kasing nitong mga lumipas na araw na walang pasok dala ng renovation ng ilang bahagi ng Crimson Building at Niveous Owl ay wala namang naging pagbabago sa pang-araw-araw na gawi ng mga kapwa ko estudyante. Hindi na sana dapat isususpende kaso apektado ang lahat ng klase dahil walang magagamit na laboratoryo, silid-aklatan, at ilang silid-aralan. Gayunpaman, naghanda ng mga hand-outs ang mga propesor para mapag-aralan ng bawat isa.
Sa mga araw din na iyon ay nagkaroon ng pagpupulong ang administrasyon ng Mhorfell Academy sa iba pang mga prestihiyosong mga paaralan. Walang nakakaalam kung tungkol saan. Iyon lang kasi ang nakwento ni Riell sa amin. Advantage of being a teacher's pet.
Pero ang mas malalang nangyari sa mga araw na iyon ay ang mga pananakot ng iba pang estudyante. At hindi na lang sa pamamagitan ng salita. Pati na rin sa gawa. May iilang insidente na muntikan nang may mahulog sa akin na baso, banga, o ilang patalim mula itaas at sa kung saan pa.
Tumigil naman kahit hindi ako nagsumbong. Dahil ang kaibigan ko ang nagsumbong kay Sky. Standing her grounds as a protective and concerned bestfriend is Dereen Santos.
"Don't you think it's unusually quiet today? Where the hell did people go?" Dereen asked as she swiftly slips her arm to my left arm while still walking.
Actually, I'm expecting loud gossips and conversations of the students like it has always been. The irritating noise of the boys clashing for a freaking ball. The tapping sounds that the social media addicts are making from their unbreakable hobbies of posting everything online. But today? Wala.
Sobrang tahimik.
Sobrang tahimik sa puntong ang mga maririnig mo lang ay ang mahinahong pagwasiwas ng mga sanga ng puno dulot ng malamig na simoy ng hangin, ang huni ng mga ibong napapadpad dito, at ang tunog na ginagawa ng pagtapak namin sa mga dahong nahulog mula sa mga puno rito. Para kaming nasa disyerto nang kawalan.
Oh God. It's creepy.
"Oo nga. Kanina rin paglabas natin sa corridor, wala na ring katao-tao." Segunda ni Riell sa sinabi ni Dereen. Napansin ko ang pagkapit niya sa kanang laylayan ng t-shirt na suot ko.
"I don't know. Magkakasama tayo paano ako magkakaroon ng ideya." I responded as we continued to glide down the path towards the senior high building even though I'm already doubting if we're going to find someone present there.
Their grasps on my arm and hem of my shirt tightened. Don't tell me they are scared? It's creepy but there has to be some reason why the students are missing to their usual places. "Alex naman eh! Alam mo namang ayoko ng ganitong sitwasyon eh! Eh kung bumalik na lang kaya tayo sa dorm? Natatakot ako eh." My bestfriend requested as she shots her signature puppy eyes to me when I tried to glance at her.
I took away my eyes from her and I start on observing the surrounding more. "We can't, Maria Dereena Santos. Get your senses back. Wala tayo sa isang setting ng horror movie kaya umayos ka." I told her as a feeling of unfamiliarity and strangeness begin to reach over my skin.
Someone. Someone is looking. Observing. Staring us. Exactly on our direction. On my way.
Pasimple akong sumulyap sa paligid ko. Sa mga puno, sa mga kanto at gilid ng mga gusali, bintana at sa mga posibleng lugar na pwedeng pagtaguan ng isang nagmamatyag na nilalang. Despite the examining that I did, I didn't find anyone except from the two janitors roaming around this area. Geez.
Baka napaparanoid lang ako. Baka nahawa lang ako sa mga kasama ko. Ibabalik ko na sana ang tingin ko sa harap nang saktong may nakabunggo sa akin. I wasn't especially hurt. Lalo na at 'yung taong nakabangga rin sa akin ang siyang natumba at hindi ako.
Kumalas naman ang dalawang kasama ko para tulungan siya tumayo. Pagkatayong pagkatayo niya, ang pamumutla niya kaagad ang napansin ko. Pasasalamat ang mabilis niyang iniabot sa amin at akmang tatakbo na naman paalis nang mahablot kaagad ni Dereen ang kamay niya upang pigilan ito.
"Excuse me. Matanong ko lang, bakit ka ba tumatakbo? Anong meron? At may alam ka ba kung nasaan ang mga tao rito?"
"Please, miss. Bitawan mo na ako. Kailangan ko na umalis."
Nagpumiglas lang siya na mas ikinataka ni Dereen. As she struggles to get away from my friend, I found her identification card on the ground which I picked up.
Syrra Rouellies. Second year of Junior High School Department.
Halos katabi lang ng Crimson Building ang Russet Building kung saan matatagpuan ang department nila. Posibleng may alam siya.
"K-Kagagaling ko l-lang po sa m-may field! M-May away p-po kasi. Ang H-HEAD at d-dalawang babae po na m-mukhang bagong l-lipat lang po r-rito. 'Yun lang p-po! A-alis na po ako para s-sabihin ito sa office!"
Dereen loosened her grip to her hand and she was able to run again as if her life depends on it. Speaking of what she just said.
"A fight?" Riell muttered, still looking at the direction the girl went to.
"Against two girls?"
Two girls. Two girls against the HEAD. Fight? Bagong lipat? Wait. No one have ever tried to go against the HEAD until I came and became the first one. Ngayon, may mga bagong dating at kinalaban sila?
Holy mother of pearl.
Of course, they have to be someone like me to do that!
"Maria." I called as I saw her looking at me the way I look at her. Both looks saying that we are thinking the same thing.
"I know, Alexandria."
Kaya naman mabilis kaming kumilos at napatakbo na lang papunta sa field. Hindi na baleng maiwan naming si Riell doon dahil mas malaking gulo kung hahayaan namin ang dalawang iyon.
Bakit ba nakalimutan namin? Ugh. Bakit kasi ngayon lang sila dumating kung kailan hindi namin inaasahan?
The field is located at the far eastern part of the academy but we don't have any plans to stop anytime soon for we know what kind of trouble those two can do. Kung ako pa lang, sakit na ng ulo at marunong mamilosopo o managot pabalik pwes mas malala sina Fiacre at Rennei.
They are way better trashtalkers and way greater troublemakers than Dereen and I!
"Shit." Mahinang sambit ni Dereen na bahagyang nauuna sa akin nang mahagip ng mga mata namin ang kumpulan ng mga estudyante sa parte ng field kung saan nagkakaroon ng mga outdoor practice ang mga miyembro ng Archery Club.
Postura at pigura pa lang, kilalang kilala ko na. Lei Fiacre Sancuevas and Renneisme Martin. Wala ring kakupas-kupas.
Mabilis kaming nakisiksik sa dami ng taong pumapalibot sa mga nagmimistulang nang-aaliw sa kanila. Nakakarindi ang ingay ng mga tao dulot ng paghiyaw sa kasalukuyang nakikita nila ngayon. Palapit na kami sa unahan at mas narinig pa naming ang usap-usapan ng mga tao.
'Grabe pare! Ang sexy nung dalawang babae kaso nandyan ang HEAD eh."
"Oo nga eh. Sayang chicks pa naman"
"Pero dapat kasi tiningnan na lang nila ang daanan nila para hindi nila natapunan si Collen. Edi sana hindi nila kailangan maghamunan."
"Ano pare? Kanino ka? Mukhang may laban 'yung dalawang iyon 'o!"
"Sa tingin mo hahayaan sila ng HEAD na manalo?"
Collen?
"The sixth king." Biglaang pagsulpot ni Dereen. She looks quite serious right now but more like pissed off, being jammed by these people.
I pulled her a little bit to give her a more acceptable place to watch the fight. It's not literally a fight but a drinking contest. Iinom sila bago kumuha ng patalim na dala-dala ng sa tingin ko ay mga alipores ng mga HEAD at saka ibabato sa isang board. Parang darts lang. Ang pinagkaiba, mga kutsilyo, balisong, at mga shuriken ang gamit.
"Kaya mo pa ba? Mukhang lutang ka na eh." The woman raises her hand holding a mug of alcoholic drink. Marc's face was all crumpled by the mocking of the woman. She drank her drink as if it's just water and without even concentrating that much on the board, she threw the dagger. And it landed almost at the center.
At the back of my mind, I want to ask why the fuck these alcoholic drinks are existing here. I mean, this is still a school, you know!
What Renneisme did earned a loud cheer from men. Although Dereen and I wanted to butt in to the scene to stop the commotion, I guess we're too late for that.
Naghahamon na ngumisi si Rennei sa harap ni Marc. The tenth king. The ultimate swift player of women's hearts. Definitely a type of man that Renneisme despises the most.
While the drinking contest with a dagger-throwing twist is ongoing, I realized that some of the HEADs are not present, including their king.
"Stop talking as if you have already predicted the results of this challenge, woman." Collen said, gritting his teeth as he prepares his self to drink another mug of alcohol.
"Believe me,we have already predicted who will win and who will lose." Fiacre stated with a smile as she crossed her forearms close to her body.
Nagtinginan pa silang dalawa ni Rennei nang may magkaparehas na klase ng ngiti na siyang mas ikinangitngit ng mga lalaking kaharap nila. Well, except for Sky who is watching the show withfull interest and enthusiasm.
If I know, he's only looking out for Fiacre.
Mabilis na sumunod ang pagbato ni Collen sa patalim na kanina'y hawak niya at pawang parehas lamang ang puntos nilang dalawa ni Rennei. This didn't change the two girls expressions. At nagtagal pa ng ilang minuto ang laban hanggang sa nababakas na sa mga mukha nina Marc, Collen, Alexis, at Jonathan ang pagkalasing.
Samantalang nasa likuran naman nila sina Edward at Skyzzer na napapailing na lang sa nangyari sa mga kasamahan nila.
Since this match wasn't go any further and this thing doesn't really have sense to go further, Dereen and I decided to step up to stop them. "Rennei and Fiacre, stop that already. You won't be able to enter the class with that unpleasant smell on your mouths." Their looks drifted to me.
"Oh, Alex! Don't worry, we'll not be going to class today. We're already excused."
"What?" Paanong excused? Did Rennei and Fiacre use their families' strings of connections again?
"Oh come on. Samahan niyo na lang kami sa kwarto." Nauna nang iwan ni Fiacre ang lugar ng paglalaban at sumunod sa likod niya si Rennei. Napatahimik naman ang iba pang nandirito at abang may mga nagugulumihanang mga tingin habang pinagmamasdan kaming apat na magsama-sama.
Pagkalapit na pagkalapit nilang dalawang ay niyakap nila kami nang may pagkasabik at pagkatuwa. Ang kaninang seryoso nilang mukha ay napalitan ng mukhang animo'y nakasalubong ang matagal nang hindi nakikitang kaibigan.
The HEADs are also confused by the oh-so-touching scene especially Marc and Collen. Natural. Malaman mo ba namang ang babaeng nakatalo sa'yo sa laban at ang mga babaeng nakatapon sayo ng juice ay magkakaibigan, maglululundag ka ba sa tuwa?
Nang malaman nga nila na pinsan ako ni Sky, ikinagulat at halos hindi na sila makapaniwala eh. Dismayado rin sila na hindi nila ako basta-basta pwede nang pagbantaan dahil nga sa pinsan ako ng kaibigan nila. Ano pa kaya ngayon?
"Magkakilala kayo?" maang na tanong sa amin ni Collen. His ego and pride demanding a real serious answer.
"Isn't it obvious, King Collen? As if we're going to let some strangers to hug us as intimate as what they did to us?" Pamimilosopo ko.
"Duh. Lalapit ba kami sa kanila kung hindi. Minsan ang tanga natin, bes." Patong pa ni Fiacre.
Sky smirks. Not only because the love of his life is here, but he knows that the bitches have been reunited once again.
Edward didn't say anything nor he looks as if he wants to say something. He just move towards his friends to help them to stand properly, at least. Collen who is the victim of the juice accident bit his lower lip to control his self from bursting out. He's really a hot-headed one.
Sumenyas ako kina Dereen na mauna na sila kaya hindi naman na sila nagdalawang isip pa na lumakad palabas ng field. Tinitigan ko kung paano lumapit si Sky kina Alexis na parang pinapakalma ang mga ito. "Bro, 'di ka uubra doon sa dalawang iyon. Hayaan mo na lang. Babae pa rin ang mga iyon. Makakabili ka pa naman ng bagong damit eh. Afterall, they didn't mean to spill it on you. Kay Alex nga, ilang tira lang bagsak ka na eh. Ano pa kaya sa mga 'yun na halos kasing galing lang din ni Alex? Kalimutan mo na lang. Kahit masakit sa pride." Nakangisi pa ring sambit ng pinsan ko pero binulong lang niya 'yung sa bandang huli upang hindi makaabot sa mga tenga ng mga naririto.
Nanlilisik naman akong tiningnan ni Collen. Kung nakamamatay lang ang tingin, siguro pinaglalamayan na ako. Kaso hindi kaya tumalikod na ako at naglakad upang sundan ang mga kaibigan ko. Mas marami kaming kailangan pag-usapan ng mga babaeng kakarating lang kaysa mag-aksaya ng oras habang pinalilibutan ng mga taong nagpapaalipin sa kapangyarihan at impluwensya ng sampu na ito.
The students even gave way for me. If I know, they are just scared. Scared of humiliation and defeat.
Habang palabas ay narinig ko ang sabay sabay na paglalabas ng inisng apat na HEADs. "Damn those women, those four are fucking bitches!"
Napatigil ako sa paghakbang. Liningon ko sila at nagtama ang mga paningin namin ng mga lalaking iyon. Kita ko ring pinagbabatukan ni Skyzzer ang apat dahil sa pag-angal ng mga ito.
"Calling us bitches won't make that sticky clothes of yours fixed. Aside from that, calling us bitches will never be an insult to us because we're perfectly aware of that. That's why, if you need some spice too in your own boring lives, our door is always open for a service offer."
Hindiko na hinintay pa ang reaksyon nila at naglakad na kaagad ako paalis.I've met Rennei and the other two waiting outside the Queen Anne's. I smiled at them as I can feel the same feeling I had a while ago. The feeling of someone watching you so eagerly.
"Trouble first thing in the morning." I mentioned as I reached them. Still making sure that someone wouldn't notice that I already sensed his watch on me.
Nakiramdam pa ako pero habang tumatagal, nawawala na naman ang presensya nito sa kapaligiran. Who are you?
"Oo nga pala, Alex and Dereen. We have a good news." Rennei said with excitement present on her voice, face, and eyes.
Fiacre and Rennei gave another look to each other before breathing out their so-called good news to us. "May lead na kami kung sino ang salarin sa nangyari sa atin four years ago." My heart skipped a beat. It's like dropping a bomb on a peace-focused community in a desert.
I don't know if it should be considered as a good news or not. I want to move on from the past. Spending four years of being a rebel and trying everything that might satisfy me and make me happy is one good reason to call us almost pathetic. Hopeless, worthless, and less human. Those are the fitting words for us four during that fucking four years.
And now, a lead has come to our hands. A progress we've been waiting for a long time. Albeit it will jeopardize the moving on process, my determination to accomplish my late bestfriend's last wishes will never waver no matter how hard it will be along the way.
"Hindi pa ito sobrang lapit sa minimithi natin pero ito na ang pinakasimula."
Napangiti ako sa pagkakarinig ng salitang iyon. Simula. But where did everything really started?
No one really knows because the world won't stop even if someone died or something terrible happened to you. It's like a poison injected to you and won't stop from spreading to your veins.
Pero wala namang mawawala kung ikaw ang magtatakda ng sarili mong simula, hindi ba?
Finally. After four years of hardships and isolation, the justice we're yearning for is sparkling from afar, waiting for us to be found and to be known.
I will surely make him pay for what he did to us and to you, Lorraine.
Your death will never be put in vain.
****
Author's Note: The confrontation part has been revised a little. If you are interested on meeting your fellow readers, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheHeadquarters/ Thank you and God bless! [07|13|16]