“And that’s the reason for all this? You know what? You’re pathetic!” Ina said, holding a strand of my newly cut and colored hair.
“Can you just be my sister for now, please?” I said while looking at the floor, feeling like a loser.
We looked at each other for a moment and she gave me what I was asking for; my sister. She hugged me and tapped my back.
“Look, I know you want them punished for all this but it’s such a reckless thing to do. Well, for now I guess.” She said.
I knew it! Ina knows the word REVENGE better than anyone else known but she insisted on assessing the whole situation first before acting. I must say, I feel like she’s older than me when she’s like this, all serious and that.
We both chuckled.
“So what do I do now?” I asked.
“Hmmm, no one knows yet right? It might be best to act like nothing happened, like you didn’t see anything vile at that moment. Act like you’ve just erased that moment in your memory.”
I laughed when the world VILE comes out.
“And what? Pretend that I’m okay? I don’t think I can do that.” Me on the opposition.
“You have to try sis! That’s the only way you can catch the two of them!”
“What’s the purpose of that If I DID caught them already?”
“They were not aware that you were there but this time, they can just lie about it. You have to have them see you while they’re together…”
Oh my God. I can see where this is getting at. As expected of Ina.
“…and that’s where the game begins.” She said and smirked.
Suddenly, I felt scared of my own sister like, she could also do this to me if I mess with her life.
“Geez, where did you learn these things? Are you, by any chance, having boyfriends -– yes, with an ‘s’ --- at once?”
“Oh my gosh! You just caught me, oh my gosh.” She mocks me.
I smacked her shoulders and we both laughed. It’s kind of sad because we rarely have this kind of talk, Ina and I, and one of that rare moments is this; planning a revenge on someone.
MONDAY.
Ina is back to her own self, annoying me at morning.
“I will pull out all your hair if I’m late again because of you!”
Yep, it’s her alright.
I’m actually all dressed but I’m nervous like it was my first day of school today. I looked at my phone and got like, 14 messages and 10 missed calls from Jake. I didn’t even bother to read one of them. I just texted Mike to tell Jake I’ve gone out of the country and left my phone. So he’s not probably picking me up this morning. I don’t want him to.
I got straight to classroom though the bell hasn’t rung yet. I still feel nervous today. I don’t know if I can pull the Act-like-nothing-happened thing. Ugh! It’s early in the morning and I’m stressed.
“Hey! What happened?” Meg tapped my shoulder, so hard that it feels like she pushed me.
“What do you mean “what happened?” did something happen?”
That sounded obvious. I’m a bad actress indeed.
“Well I don’t know, DID something happen?” Meg raised one of her thin eyebrows.
I didn’t know what to say, I should have a script for this. Darn it!
“You’re not drinking alcohol if there’s no problem Miss Shin!”
“Look, I was upset how Jake stood me up last week, but I got over it. I’m okay now.”
“Hmm, sounds convincing. What’s with the hair?”
Phew! I thought Meg would dig the details. Then the bell rang.
“Nothing! Just trying out something new.” I smiled.
LUNCH BREAK.
Stacey was there, doing her thing; make up.
“Heard you were away this weekend? How was it?” Stacey asked.
Oh yeah. I almost forgot that made up reason why I haven’t talked to Jake this weekend. Phew! This bitch! She even has the guts to talk to me huh? But I shall compose myself.
“It was fun.”
“You were away? I thought you--” Meg stops herself and looked at me suspiciously.
Does Meg know something? I didn’t contact her through the weekend. Only Mike, and he also believed that I’m really out of town.
“Uhh Meg? You were saying?” I asked, curious.
“Ah nothing. Just talking to myself here.” And adds an awkward smile.
That was weird. But knowing Meg, she talks to herself a lot, maybe a “genius” thing.
*Cell phone vibrates*
[Jake Calling...]
“Oh it’s Jake!” Said Mike.
“Pick it up!” Meg encouraged.
I glanced at Stacey, watching her reaction about this. I caught her looking at my phone then back to her mirror. Time to overreact.
“HI BAAABEE!”
==Hi Babe! How are you? I missed you!==
“I missed you too! Soooo much!”
==I’m sorry. I was so busy Last week! Varsity stuffs==
“I know! I know! Don’t worry I wouldn’t be thinking you have another girl besides me. HAHAHAHA!” Then I glanced at Stacey not letting her to catch me looking.
I saw Mike and Meg raising eyebrows at each other. Then I waved whatever idea they were having giving them a sign that I was just joking. They understand.
==Huh?==
“Nah I was joking babe! So when will I see you?”
==I’ll take you home==
No way! I don’t want to ride that dirty Ducati anymore. Now that I know Stacey’s had been riding that thing. Plus, Mom knows everything. I don’t want a scene in our home.
“Uhmm no babe, it’s okay. Mom will pick me up. We’re going shopping today.” I lied.
==Aww but I missed you so much! How about I go to your training this Wednesday?==
Which means you’re not? What a total jerk. I can’t believe I have a relationship with this guy, seriously.
“No trainings this Wednesday. How about I call you when we can meet?”
==Sounds good!==
“Hanging up.” With my cutest possible voice, then rolled my eyes.
==Okay, Love you!==
I didn’t respond to that. I have a conscience, they don’t.
DISMISSAL.
I waved goodbyes to Meg and Mike. As for Stacey, I haven’t seen her since after lunch break. Maybe Jake will meet her secretly knowing that I won’t be around. Now, with that excuse that mom will pick me up. I decided to take the cab this time but the problem is; there IS no cab.
A hand appears behind me.
“Damit ko?”
I turned around quickly and saw Patrick wearing that lifeless face again. I’m annoyed already.
“Naiwan ko sa bahay. Sorry, kelangan mo na ba ngayon?
He nodded.
Wala na ba siyang damit at kelangan niya yun makuha ngayon? This weird guy.
“Uhh, wala pa kasing dumadaan na cab eh, ibabalik ko din agad sa condo mo ngayong gabi pag nakuha ko na sa bahay. Promise!”
He grabbed my wrist and walked fast, dragging me along.
“Di ko na mahihintay yung gabi. Ako na kukuha sa inyo.” He sounds mad.
What’s with the shirt really? Sa girlfriend niya ba yun? May date ba sila kaya kelangan niya yun? I’m getting irritated already. I can’t see something special about the shirt though.
“Aray! Teka lang! Wag mo naman akong kaladkarin, marunong naman ako maglakad eh!”
Then he let go of my arms. Looking at me, breathing heavily.
What’s wrong with this guy? What’s his problem really? He looks mad.
---PATRICK’s POV---
GYM.
Uy favor naman. May importanteng meeting yung council sa Tuesday. Baka pwede namang pumunta ka, kahit this time lang. Please?
Text message sakin ni Megan. Di ko alam kung bakit hindi ko matanggihan tong pabor na to. Siguro kasi nakikiusap na si Megan para sa boyfriend niya. Ayoko pa naman ng mga meetings. Haay.
Pumayag nalang ako, sabi niya naman kahit ngayon lang. Kahit sa malayo naririnig ko nang parating yung varsity team sa gym. Nagsisimula na kong maingayan nang may marinig ako…
“I’ll take you home…
…Aww but I missed you so much! How about I go to you training this Wednesday?...
…Sounds good...
…Okay, Love you!”
Si Jake. Captain Ball ng Basketball team. Yung sinasabi nilang 1st Prince ng campus. Hindi ko alam kung sino yung kausap niya sa cellphone, pero malamang yun yung sinasabing girlfriend niya, si Stephanie.
Nung nagsimula na silang magpraktis, nagsimula na din akong mag-ayos para lumabas ng gym. Pinaka ayoko sa lahat yung maingay at magulong lugar. Tinamad na din akong umattend sa mga klase ko kaya pumunta ko sa paborito kong lugar sa school, FIRE EXIT.
Dito madalang ang mga tao, off-limits kasi dito. Pwede lang tong gamitin sa emergency. Obvious ba? Madalas dito mga guard lang ang nakikita ko, pinapalabas nila ko, pero bumabalik din ako pag di nila namamalayan.
Nagising ako sa bell. Hapon na pala di ko namalayan. Napasarap yata tulog ko. Tapos na din lahat ng klase kaya baka pumunta na yung mga guard sa mga fire exit para magcheck. Pag sanay ka na talaga, alam mo na din yung oras nila.
Palabas na sana ko nung may nakita akong dalawang anino papasok. Nagpanic ako pero masyado nang huli para bumaba o umakyat pa ng hagdan para tumakas. Nagtago ako sa mga kahon sa gilid ng pinto tapos tatakbo nalang ako ng palabas para hindi na ko mahuli.
Bumukas yung pinto. Ready na kong tumakbo pero ako mismo nagulat ako sa nakita ko kung sino yung dalawang taong pumasok; Si Jake at isa pang babaeng pamilyar sakin pero hindi ko matandaan yung pangalan at kung san ko ba siya huling nakita.
Sino nga ba siya? Bakit siya kasama ni Jake? Hindi siya si Stephanie sigurado ko pero anong ginagawa nila dito?
Hindi muna ko umalis sa kinalalagyan ko. Sa nakikita ko ngayon, hindi ‘to ang unang pagkakataon na ginawa nila to. Nagtawanan sila saglit tapos hinalikan nila ang isa’t isa. Tumagal ng ilang minuto yung ginawa nila.
“Libre ako sa Wednesday, mukhang busy si Stephanie.” Sabi ni Jake.
Ngumiti lang ang babae at lumabas na ng fire exit. Sinundan naman ni Jake matapos ang ilang minuto.
Isa lang ang nalaman ko sa nakita ko. Niloloko ni Jake si Stephanie.
Gusto ko nang kalimutan yung nakita ko tutal naman labas ako sa sitwasyon na to. Wala akong karapatan manghimasok sa gulo ng iba. Malapit na ko sa labas ng school nang may makita akong pamilyar na pigura ng babae; si Stephanie.
Sasabihin ko ba? Hindi Patrick! Manahimik ka nalang! Hayaan mong sila ang lumutas ng sarili nilang gulo.
Palabas na ko ng gate nang makita ko ulit di kalayuan sa likod ko si Jake at hindi din kalayuan kay Jake, ay yung babaeng kasama niya kanina. Hindi sila magkasama pero sa distansya nilang dalawa, halatang magkikita ulit sila kapag nakalayo na sila sa school.
Bigla akong binagabag ng konsensya ko. Binilisan ko ang lakad papunta kay Stephanie.
“Damit ko?” sabi ko kay Stephanie.
Wala na kong ibang maisip na dahilan para lapitan siya.
“Naiwan ko sa bahay. Sorry, kelangan mo na ba ngayon?…” Sagot niya sakin.
“…Uhh, wala pa kasing dumadaan na cab eh, ibabalik ko din agad sa condo mo ngayong gabi pag nakuha ko na sa bahay. Promise!”
Hindi. Kelangan ko siyang ilayo dito bago pa niya malaman ang kalokohan ng boyfriend niya. May tamang panahon ang mga bagay bagay pero hindi pa ngayon para dito.
“Di ko na mahihintay yung gabi. Ako na kukuha sa inyo.” May panic sa boses ko.
Desperado na kong ilayo siya sa lugar na to kaya hinawakan ko yung braso niya tapos hinila ko siya. Halos tumakbo na kami sa bilis ng lakad namin.
“Aray! Teka lang! Wag mo naman akong kaladkarin, marunong naman ako maglakad eh! Ano bang problema mo?” Sabi niya.
Ano nga bang problema ko? Ba’t ko ba to ginagawa? Kakasabi ko lang sa sarili ko na hindi ako makikialam. Malayo na rin naman kami, binitawan ko na yung kamay niya. Iniwan ko na siya.
“Tss hindi na to mauulit.” Bulong ko sa sarili.
TUESDAY.
“Tsk. Nakalimutan ko yung meeting. Ugh! Late na ko!” Sabi ko sa sarili habang tumatakbo sa hallway.
Nung makarating ako sa Student Council’s office, nakita kong nakapagsimula na sila. Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang pinto para hindi ako maka-istorbo. Kumpleto na sila. Nakita ako ni Mike pero sinenyasan ko siya na wag na lang maingay at ituloy yung kung ano mang pinapaliwanag niya sa iba.
Di pa nga nila ko siguro napansin kaya dumiretso na ko sa upuan ko. Dun lang nila napansin ang presensya ko. Nakita ko si Stephanie, si Jake at nandun din yung babaeng kasama niya kahapon. Kaya pala pamilyar siya sakin, ngayon alam ko na, naalala ko na siya.
Halos lahat sila nakatingin na sakin. Yung iba gulat, yung iba naman parang nagtataka, yung iba naman sadyang nabulabog lang ng presence ko. Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi kakaunti lang ang nakakalam kung sino talaga ko, kaunti lang din naman ang kaibigan ko –halos wala nga yata.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Stephanie nang magkatinginan kami. Di ko alam kung bakit gulat na gulat siya, pero isa lang ang sigurado ko ngayon. Madami nang magbabago ngayon na marami nang nakakaalam na ako, si Patrick Salazar, ay ang Campus King.