2: FRIENDSHIP
ALLI
"Nako, nambiktima nanaman sila." Alexid said, rolling her eyes while eating lunch with me. Again.
I don't know if I need to feel queasy being with her or no. Intimidated? Not really. I think she's normal. I'm not judging her for what she does. I based it on how the way she interacts with me : a normal girl. From her words, I can feel that she's tired of talking to guys already. Her rapid mumbling with words supports my idea. She really wanted someone to talk to, and she has a lot of things inside her mind.
As far as I know, no girl in this school attempted to befriend her (because of what she does, yes). And the fact that I saved her, she took that advantage to be... friends. And even with her dirty deeds, wisdom is coated on her words, just like how her red lipstick coated her lips.
"Anong iniisip mo?" she suddenly asked, catching my eye.
"... The reason why you're here."
"Ah... E-Eh gusto kitang kausapin eh. Hindi ka ba komportable? I mean, are you annoyed of me?"
"No. Honestly it's really fine. Having a company makes me feel calm."
"Ah... gusto kasi kita kinakausap. Straightforward. 'Di plastik. Tapos ang interesting mo lang, kasi hindi ka pala-kwento unlike other people, pero nakikinig ka talaga."
I shrugged, "... I'm used to that but... I'll take that as a compliment though. Thanks."
She smiled again, showing off her teeth again, "So... you fine with me?"
At that moment, I knew she was asking me to accept her friendship. I couldn't see the angle as of why they think she isn't friendly-material to others. Is it because she thinks so obscenely? Is it because of her aforementioned brash personality, or is it because of the name engraved on her skin? The name that molded her to be Alexid?
Because so far, she hadn't been brash to me. Like... I'm seeing the other half of Alexid.
And as the days progressed, she made efforts to prove me what she really wanted. There was one time that she switched places just to sit beside me. And then, she just talks to me a lot. Most likely about her flings. She would complain about their... performances and such that even if I can't relate to what she's saying but, I had to admit that she caught my interest, from how she would tell me her stories.
Very detailed.
"His kisses weren't even... deep. Their too shallow for me, 'di ako na-excite, feeling ko nga hindi marunong humalik eh. Tapos janitor's closet talaga ang setting, and it's freaking cliché I tell you. He doesn't know what he's doing." she told me, touching her lip, as if she knew where the guy kissed her.
"How could you tell?" I asked.
"He's forcing it. Malalaman mo naman kung talagang sanay siya. Alam nila kung saan hahawakan ang isang babae. His hands only wandered on my top. Nothing else. Plus, malaway siya kung humalik. Nadiri tuloy ako! Eww!"
Some noticed. Some didn't care since... they weren't really into Alexid's business, and mine. And just like before, I felt that invisibility that my introversion gave. We were invisible from others who just minded their own business so we can be in out little worlds.
But then, I felt this strange feeling. It's something... chilling and hair-raising...
A sudden shiver ran through my skin, that quickly turned my hands dead cold.
I-I felt like it's Evan all over again.
It's true that I had another emotional breakdown when I knew about it. And interacting with people who I can consider as a friend reminds me of her letter, with a single drop of his own blood near the top-right corner of the paper itself. I would feel queasy everytime I imagine it, followed by a migraine bringing a seering pain in my mind and body.
Alexid's aware that I'm friends with Evan. She knew Evan, he's one of the people that was never affected of her charm. Alexid maybe is Aphrodite's reincarnation, but definitely, she's never irresistable. Alexid watched my eyes in great effort, as we talked about Evan. Eventually, he got mentioned and became the topic. She knew that I was friends with Evan. She knew that I was his bestfriend. She knew that I was broken when he embraced death.
"How are you holding up with it?" She asked.
"... I don't know." I sighed. She shook her head, and let her eyes travel to where Phoenix was seated. "It's because of them, isn't it? One of the reasons why you saved me?"
I just, nodded in defeat, following her gaze to Phoenix, talking to my classmates, and laughing with them.
After that long momentarily silence between us, Alexid broke it with a... question.
"Ikaw ba, handa mong ipaglaban yung naging kahihinatnan ni Evan laban sa kanila?"
Maybe... it's not that heart-stopping, but it really made my heart stop. Will I fight for Evan's justice? Maybe I already saw him laying on a casket, and watched him got buried down the ground. I may have read his name on a tombstone. He had a good burial, but my mind couldn't stop thinking as of why it should happen.
Of course, it's because of Dexter. It's because of gamechangers in the first place!
Somehow, I was granted with a power of invisibility against anyone. I was never a target of gamechangers, for some specific reasons. Evan was, though. Even so, it feels like I'm their target too, making Evan the way to do it. Emotionally. And in a short conclusion, I should ask myself if I could fight for my own justice either, and for the justice of anyone who were victims of them.
Am I going to fight for justice?
"Y-Yes, I would."
"Kasi sa nakikita ko sa'yo, you have this unusual courage to do anything that your mind wants to."
Alexid only grinned at that and focused at the teacher who just came inside the room to start the lesson for this hour. Later on...
"For this Friday's assignment, we will be having our partnered report about Greek gods and godesses. Each of the partnered students will pick whoever Greek god or goddesses to make a topic about, but it must include his or her story, symbolism, influence and images. The report will include the usual review paper that will contain your own opinions about the topic. I'm sure everybody already knows the format. Deadline is on Monday and Tuesday. Now, choose your partner for your report. Pick anyone you like and please announce the name of who your partner is. Let's start from row one."
One by one, Mr. Cortez (the english teacher), listed down the names of students partnered to do the assignment. Some students left from their seats to sit beside their partnered students, and as one of students in my section, Alexid sat beside me, just as Mr. Cortez was on his way to my seat.
"I'm her assignment partner, Sir!" she announced, and made everyone's eyes gaze upon me. I couldn't look anywhere but only to Mr. Cortez's surprised look. I was literally dazed just like the teacher.
"A-Are you sure? Ms. Carpio, will you agree to Ms. Medina as your assignment partner?"
I had to swallow hard before answering. "... Yes."
"... Ms. Medina?" he raised a brow at her, quickly switching his gaze to her.
"Yes sir, I'm Allison's assignent partner." She smiled in glee. Mr. Cortez, returned his gaze to me.
"Very surprising... I'm hoping that this will turn out excellent, as expected from you, Ms. Carpio." he comments, and moves on to another student.
I heard my classmates's whispers as Mr. Cortez continued his list of partnered students for their report. Some of them were incoherent, but most of them are hate comments for her:
"Hala? Ba't pinili siya ni Allison?"
"'Di kaya pinilit si Allison? Alam mo naman iyon, tahimik lang naman."
"My god! Kung ako lang 'di ko kakayaning makasama si Alexid! Kadiri!"
"Eh ano pa ba? Parehas weirdo!"
"Baka ayain pa niya si Allison sa club! Hahahaha!"
Alexid only sneered at the reactions. She must've heard them.
"Hmm... Immatures." she whispered in my ear as we watched some of my classmates still gossip about us.
"Actually, Alli, I have this idea though. Gusto mong gawin natin yung assignment sa bahay namin? O kaya kung ayaw mo sa bahay niyo? Take it as a friendly invite too if that's the case! Gusto rin kitang mas makilala, and school isn't doing a great job for that."
Normally, if I got invited to someone else's house, I would reject. Quickly. I mean we can still do the assignment inside the school after class hours anyway. But for some reason, Alexid made me think twice. I'm not even bitter to not see her efforts. She really wanted a friend, and so far, she's being real to me. I can't say that I'm not friendly, just the typical 'looking-for-the-real-ones' setup.
Which led me to a decision that surely would led me to really meet her: I accepted her invite to her house.
***
"Nandito na tayo." Alexid announced as I managed to got out of her Toyota Corolla E100 car, and walked out of the garage.
It's Saturday, 1:00 pm sharp. The day that I have to make the assignment.
We both agreed that we'll meet up at the nearest 7-11 branch from home. She said she'll pick me up by her car, in which while she drove her way to her house, she told me a bunch of stuff concerning how old it is (the car being used by his father for so long) and the fact that his father told her that she's too sassy to get a new one. She didn't have the choice but to accept the old-aged car.
That led her to open up to me. This time, she didn't talked about flings, we talked about personal stuff. I got to know that her father is an architect, in the name of Jeremy Lexis, and her housewife mother, Sydney. His father wanted her to take his footsteps, and be an architect too someday, but Alexid didn't want that, just like the usual teenager she is. This 'caused her to have a close relationship to her mother than to her father. Another thing though is, they don't know what she does at school. Yes, they are aware of her alcoholic attitude, but they don't know that she's doing way more sensitive than that.
"I'm home." she announced when we got inside her house. I wouldn't say that it's huge but you can tell that they belong in an upper-class family. She turned her head to me, "Feel at home, Alli."
"Sid! Buti naman nandito ka!" a woman in her 40's approached her. Quickly, her eyes scanned Alexid's face who returned a hug to her, and then, motioned something beside her. It's me. The woman's eyes widen, smiling when our eyes met.
"Umm... I-I'm Allison."
"Kaklase ka ni Alexid, diba? Ako si Tita Syd." she shook my hand, and so did I.
"Oh, gagawa ba kayo ng project? Osige na, sabihin niyo lang pag may kailangan ha?"
Alexid nodded, and we went our way to her room. She placed her car keys on her study table before plopping herself on her bed, her eyes fixed on the celing above her. I just stood in the middle of the room, reoccupied with the surroundings.
"Hey, you okay?" I looked at Alexid, who's looking at me.
"Yeah."
"So... paano na natin gagawin yung assignment?"
I only smile, unclasping my backpack where my laptop is.
LEXID
Yup. It's my turn, haha.
"Pwede mo bang explain kung bakit si Persephone yung pinili naten?" tanong ko sa kanya. Mula sa pagkakatingin sa screen, ay nilipat ni Allison ang tingin sa akin.
"Because she's one of the goddessess that isn't really mentioned that much on Greek Mythology. Her story's kinda interesting too."
Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakuha niya ang interes ko matapos niya akong iligtas mula kay Allan. Parang tuwing makakasama ko siya, wala ako sa mundo kong lagi kong ginagalawan. Pansin ko ang madalas na hindi niya pagtingin sa kausap niya pero kung tatanungin mo siya'y alam mong nakikinig nga siya sa pinag-uusapan niyo.
Manghuhula ba, parang ganoon.
Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ganoon na lang niya ako kausapin. Na parang... hindi ako si Alexid. Most of the time, kinukwentuhan ko siya ng mga naging experiences ko with my flings, but instead of reacting to them, mukha lang siyang walang pakealam sa ganoon. Hindi ako nao-offend. I'm actually surprised. Siya yung kauna-unahang babaeng hindi nagtanong sa akin kung bakit ko nga ba iyon ginagawa.
Truth be told, gusto ko laging may kasama. Especially boys, the hot ones. At dahil naninirahan ako sa mundong puno ng mga hipokrito at mga mang-aapi, lahat ng mga nakakasama ko'y panandalian. Temporary. And I lived the way they do. I enjoy what I have, kasi alam kong sa huli, mawawala rin iyon. I had friends, but just like what I've said, they're only temporary. Sa huli, iniwan nila ako just because everyone knew that I am a slut.
True, but that doesn't make me worst.
Allison is different. Hindi ko alam kung bakit gusto ko siyang kaibiganin. Kahit na english-speaking kahit wala naman sa Amerika o kaya naman tumitingin sa kawalan kapag kausap mo, none of that really mattered.
Tahimik kaming parehas sa paggawa ng assignment. I let her laptop connect to the house' wifi signal. Naalala ko tuloy yung pagligtas niya sa akin. Naalala ko kung paano niya iyon nagawa gamit lang ang phone niya. Infairness, halos nakuha niya pang gayahin ang boses ni Darth Vader aka Principal Mendez.
Like... what the f*ck? Nakakabilib talaga.
Matapos ang ilang oras, ay parehas naming nailagay ang written report namin sa powerpoint at isinave sa flash drive niya, na halos tingnan ko ang laman na puro indie songs, random pictures of people and some weird script sh*t.
Pati tuloy flash drive napag-interesan ko na.
Matapos noon, ay tumayo siya'y umupo sa kama ko. Nagtaas siya ng isang kilay. "Now that the report's finished, what are we gonna do now?"
Habang nag-da-drive ako kanina kasama siya, nasabi ko sa kanyang mag-stay na muna sa bahay pag-natapos ang assignment ng maaga. At dahil natapos nga ng maaga ang assignment.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapangisi dahil sa kakaibang excitement na naramdaman. It's like... it's my birthday or somethin'. Pero kahit ganoon, mas naramdaman ko ang alaala ng pagkakaroon ng kaibigan.
Pwe, tama na ang drama.
"Do you... drink?"
Ang tanong na iyon ang nagsilbing isang oras ng buhay ko na nakipagkwetuhan ako sa isang taong hindi pinansin kung sino ako ngayon.
***
"Have you tried flirting guys?"
"No. How many clubs have you visited?"
"29. Have you got any boyfriends yet?"
Maya-maya pa, ay napag-interesan naming maglaro ng random questions, tungkol sa random question na maisipan namin na dapat sagutin ng mabilis, and you have to ask a question back. Sa una, yung tipong 'favorite color' ang questions. But... things got interesting later on.
"No. Do you have any serious relationships with guys?"
"None as far as I'm concerned with my life. Are your pure or nah? In other words, nagalaw ka na ba o gin-gin pa ren?"
"Pure. When did you lose it?"
Aba. Pero inosente pa rin ba?
"Last year. Inosente o hinde?"
"Not so innocent. Why do you claim yourself as a slut?"
Ah, so not innocent.
I smirked. "Sinimulan na, edi ituloy ko na. Have you ever kissed a guy?"
"No. How can you tell if you like a guy that you just saw?"
"Kung na turn-on agad ako sa physical attributes niya, pero mas trip ko pag may charisma. 'Yoko sa mga ulong may ipo-ipo, hello~~. Anyway, have you seen smut?"
"Yes." Walanghiya, hindi talaga inosente!
"Do you already have a crush without liking a guy just for lust?"
Nag-isip naman ako. "Yes, pero hanggang doon lang... for now. Eh ikaw, nagka-crush ka na ba?"
Bigla naman siyang napaisip at napatitig sa kawalan. "I'm not sure how to answer that. It's complicated."
"Ano iyan, MU? No label? Friends with benefits?"
Ngumiwi naman siya. "More like one-sided, but I'm not really sure if it's... that. I'm not really sure if it is a crush anyway."
"Ouch! Sorry for you my friend!" I gave her a pat on the back. Ngumiti lang siya.
Actually, parang may idea na'ko kung sino iyon. Prangkahan mode.
"Who's your crush that you're talking about?"
"His name's Skye, hindi siya taga-Asplund ah! How 'bout you? Sino yung sinasabi mong 'parang' crush mo kuno?"
Matagal ang naging katahimikan bago siya nakasagot. "...Evan."
Sabi na, si Evan Lloyd Baltazar.
I'm pretty familiar with him. Heck, I even tried filrting him, pero ewan ba, hindi tinatablan. Kaklase ko siya, along with Allison. He's hot-looking from the physical looks and charm, at ang mas malala pa diyan, matalino talaga siya. Kasama pa siya sa swimming team ng school, as Asplund Marlins, na madalas ipinaglalaban sa ibang schools.
May biglang ala-alang sumagi sa'kin ng maalala kong minsan ko siyang inimbitahan sa isang party, which he greatly declined.
"Sure kang 'di ka makakapunta sa party ni Dave?" tanong ko kay Evan na kakatapos lang sa swimming practice, at nagpupunas ng basang buhok gamit ang towel. Bumaba agad ang
tingin ko sa katawan niya. And all i can say is, his body is so... dayum.
"Nope. Pupunta ako kina Alli eh. We have plans. Alis na 'ko ah." pagpapaalam pa niya, at tumakbo sa direksyon sa isang bench na kung saan may babaeng nakaupo, nakasuot ng itim na jacket, at bahagyang nakayuko. Umupo ito sa harapan niya, at rinig ko ang pagtawag ni Evan sa pangalan niya.
"Alli... Tapos na yung practice."
Agad na inalis ng babae ang hood, at mas nakita ko ang itsura nito. Na-recognize ko ngang kaklase ko siya, ng tumayo siya't sabay na kay Evan na naglakad tungo sa lobby ng juniors building.
"Hmm... sa pogi ba naman niya at resistance to charm, sinong hindi magkaka-crush? Sa'kin nga hindi iyon tumabla!" biro ko pa, at gulat ako ng marinig ko si Allison na matawa, na nakatitig lamang sa basong hawak niya.
"Nice! Tumawa rin oh!" bigla naman siyang napatingin sa akin. At doon nagsitaasan ang lahat ng balahibo ko sa balikat dahil sa kakaibang titig nito, na nagpakaba at nagpatakot sa'kin. Nag-iwas agad ako ng tingin!
P*t*ng*na! Mas maganda nang hindi siya tumititig sa kausap. Nag-goosebumps ako dun, 'langya.
Ngunit ibinalik niya ang tingin sa baso, at ngumiti ng pagkapait-pait. Agad kong iginala ang tingin sa paligid at pansing wala na nga kaming maiinom na beer.
"N-Nagdala ka ba ng damit?" tanong ko para mabasag ang katahimikan naming dalawa, despite na may malakas na trap song na tumutugtog sa laptop. That cracked her out of her daze.
"...Y-Yes."
"Tara! Swimming na tayo sa labas!" biglang aya ko sa kanya, at agad kinuha ang braso niya para mahila siya palabas ng kwarto. Sumunod naman siya ng parang ragdoll kaya nakarating agad kami sa pool na nasa likuran lang ng bahay.
"Hmm... sa pagkaka-alam ko tinuruan ka ni Evan ng iilang diving tricks sa swimming?"
"... Yeah." ang naging sagot niya, habang titig na titig sa swimming pool.
"Pakita mo naman! Show me a few ones! 'Wag ka mag-alala, may mga damit ako diyan and no, they're not slutty for heaven's sake, nagsusuot rin ako ng t-shirt thank you very much!" biro ko pa with matching rolling eyes, kaya natawa muli siya.
Hinubad niya ang suot na itim na jacket at doon ko nakitang nakasuot nga siya ng puting plain t-shirt, at pagkahubad nga niya ng pantalon ay may cycling shorts nga siyang suot. Sinabihan ko na rin siya via call bago kami pumunta ng bahay na mag-dala siya ng extrang damit. In her case, sinuot agad niya. Advanced!
Ako naman, ay naghanda rin at parang kagaya rin sa kanya ang suot niya na t-shirt and shorts. Kala niyo ba bikini susuot ko? Pwe.
"I'll do a backflip." anunsyo pa niya, at maya-maya pa'y tumalon sa swimming pool ng patalikod, pero saktong naglanding ang tubig sa kanya mula ulo hanggang paa.
Napanganga ako, pero agad bumawi ng makaahon siya mula sa ilalim ng tubig.
"Ang sa'kin, CANONBAAAAAALL!" mabilis akong tumakbo at tumalon sa pool, na nagdala ng malakas na tunog ng pagsaboy ng tubig! We ended up looking at each other, and laughed about it.
The rest of the swimming time was just crazy and epic. The next thing we knew, sumasayaw na nga ako habang siya'y natatawa at pinapanood ako! Nabuhayan ako sa totoo lang at nakaramdam ako ng sinseridad sa sarili. I felt this familiar nostalgia of laughing out with a friend. Wala akong naramdamang doubts sa kanya, kung hindi ang inosente niyang ngiti.
"~Take me to the party, kami-kamikaze! Blame it on the buzz, I am never gonna get enough! Take me to the party, kami-kamikaze! Leave me on the bus, I am never gonna never gonna get enough! Kamikaze!" pagkanta ko pa, at sumasayaw habang lumalakad pabalik sa kwarto ko. Nagpalit na ako sa banyo kanina, and so Allison did too matapos naming mag-swimming.
Nang kunin niya ang backpack niya sa carpet at sinuot muli ang jacket, ay bigla ko siyang niyakap.
"Thanks for the time." bulong ko pa. Hindi ko inaasahan ang yakap niya pabalik.
"No prob."
***
ALLI
"WAZZUP B*TCH?!"
As I walk going inside school, I felt an arm snaked on my neck from behind. Alexid's smiling as she walked right beside me. I smiled back, as we both went our way to the gates.
All the students that I passed by were glued to us, as we both swiped our ID's to enter the gate and finally stroll down to the junior's lobby.
At that moment she hugged me, I knew that was the start of some friendship. Since then, she would chat me every night, and well, talk about her usual (her flings and all). I learned that Alexid, is not that bad. The reason why I let her hang her arm behind my neck. Of course, that wouldn't change her hobby, but certainly she had someone to talk about it.
It was Monday, the time we needed to pass the assignments given to us last Friday. Mr. Cortez couldn't digest the fact that we both know the topic really well.
"I never expected this from you two, Ms. Carpio and Ms. Medina. Keep up the good work!"
But this of course, led students to create another rumor/topic/gossip about us.
This time, Alexid now chose to sit beside me and just listen to the discussion beside me. Classes flew by smoothly then, and before I knew it, it's lunch time already.
We sat on my usual table, and ate lunch there, and unknowingly, she's not on her usual antics, 'cause the gamechangers was the topic for this day, for they have again, made a move to their latest victim. We ate silently, and exchanged glances as everyone near our table talked about it. Alexid sighed.
"Grabe na si Allan, Alli. Kita mo ba yung mukha ni Enrico? Dinaig yung bugbog na kamatis! Damn him." She shook her head, and continued chewing her food.
"Of course, they have no mercy for them. They're a powerful group and... there's no much everyone can do with them." I comment.
Suddenly, Alexid stopped eating. Her eyes, widening as if she discovered something rare.
"Are you okay?" I finally asked.
"What if... bumuo tayo ng grupo, Alli?"
It was my turn to widen my eyes. I quickly stopped eating. "What?"
"Come to think of it, you wanted justice right? Then, why not take the chance to get it served, right? Para kay Evan, para na rin sa lahat."
I bit my lip, struggling to find the words that I wanted to say. "Why do we want to do that, Alexid?"
"Alli, I'm f*cking serious. Nakuha ko yung meaning doon sa tanong mo last time. You can't save anyone... alone. But you can, when you have somebody else. We'll make it a secret, Alli. We can be powerful against them. Nakikitaan kita ng potential after you saved me. We know something that they don't. We are skilled at something that they aren't. We can be extraordinary. We can take them out, Alli."
You're something extraordinary and unpredictable, Alli. Don't let him get into you. Gawin mo ang lahat para hindi ka matulad sa naging destino ko ngayon.
Would this give me the justice you deserved, Evan?
"Nakakatakot na sina Dex, grabe!"
"May mga rumors pa daw na nakapatay na nga siya eh! Sheesh! Basta hindi ako lalaban sa kanila!"
"Talaga! Parang ayoko na dito! Sh*t!"
"Wala man lang pakealam yung mga magulang niya! He's a psychopath!"
"No mercy! Gamechangers has no mercy!"
Gamechangers. The only reason why you're gone.