Piper's POV
I'm half awake. I was so busy watching movies yesterday that I wasn't able to check the time. Before I knew it, 3am na pala.
Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa desk. I'm trying to sleep since we still have a few more minutes before the class starts. Kaya lang with the noise around, I doubt that I'll be able to sleep. Hopeless, I just decided to roam around the room. Baka sakaling mawala ang antok ko this way.
I kept on walking when a paper landed in front of me. Curious, I picked it up only to read a question with Nate's handwriting. Yeah, I know him too well kaya maski handwriting niya kabisado ko na. It's messy and barely readable.
Problema mo?
Tumingin ako sa gawi niya and mouthed the words 'I'm sleepy'. Napangiti lang siya and looked away. I, too, did the same before anyone could see us interacting. I took another step when I was hit in the head. Another paper. Napairap ako kasi medyo nakakainis ang mabato ng papel.
I picked it up and read what's written. Unlike kanina, hindi messy ang handwriting. Maganda. Neat. This is Hailey's handwriting. Sure ako.
'Yung eyebags mo. Sobra kung kamaway ngayon. Hahaha. Ano na namang pinagpuyatan mo?
I took the pen in my pocket to answer Hailey's question.
Movie marathon. I'm so sleepy. Once makauwi talaga tayo I'll sleep immediately.
Dumaan ako sa pwesto niya saka binitawan ang papel. She'll pick it up. I know.
Nang nasa tapat ako ng front door, saktong papasok na ang jocks. I pretend that I did not to see them at nagtuloy lang sa pag-ikot nang may bumulong sa akin.
"Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Puyat?" Nagmamadaling tanong ni Warren.
Tinalikuran ko siya at saka tumango. He got it na for sure.
It's quite tiring and I think I look like a fool for wandering around the room kaya I decided to sit na lang ulit. I was about to reach my place when Hailey threw the crumpled paper again. I picked it up and went back to my sit.
Pinapatanong ni Tamara kung wala ka bang orasan sa kwarto mo at hindi mo namalayan kung anong oras na? Isa pa, schooldays nangmomovie marathon ka. Mga trip mo talaga.
Napatingin ako sa dalawa. Nagpapasahan pala ng papel. Pasimple pa. Hay, this set-up is hard din pala.
I decided not to answer them since aksayado sa papel. May mga taong walang papel kaya dapat hindi lang 'to basta aksayahin.
"Hey there, Pipes!"
I mentally rolled my eyes when I saw Elle entering our room. She's nice dati. She's even my.. how do you call this.. my.. assistant leader, I guess? Kahit hindi naman necessary magkaroon ng ganoon. We've been friends ever since naging magkagroup kami kaya lang noong naging hindi na kami magklase this year, she changed. I'm not stupid, kaya alam ko na she wants to be in my place. She wants to be the leader of the Populars. Alam ko rin na kinaibigan niya lang ako para mas sumikat siya. But I didn't complain. Ang akala ko kasi magbabago siya, pero hindi pala. She's getting worse. Lagi niyang pinagtatawanan ang kung sino man na mas mababa sa kaniya. I'm at fault, too, kasi hindi ko naman siya sinusuway.
"What's that?" She pointed the paper I'm holding.
"Ah. This? Scratch paper. I was trying to solve a Math problem."
"Oh, okay. I thought it was something like secret message between you and.. you know who," she said then laugh.
Tiningnan ko lang siya ng seryoso at nang mapansin niya 'yun ay pabiro niya akong pinalo, "Just kidding. Hey, I'll go ahead na. Dinalaw lang talaga kita here 'cause I miss hanging out with you na. Sige, ciao."
I think she's up to something, but I shook that thought out of my head.
***
I'm at the canteen eating with some of the Populars. They were talking about random things like make-up, dresses, shoes or movies, but I can't bring myself to join the conversation. Maybe because I'm sleepy.
"Pipes," someone called.
I nodded and smiled at her, one of my groupmates, "Hey, Lara. What's up?"
"Okay ka lang? Parang ang tahimik mo ngayon?"
"I'm just sleepy. I slept late last night."
"Hulaan ko, movie?"
I nod at her. Lara is one of my groupmates who aren't fame-obsessed. She belongs to the Populars because her bestfriend is here, too. She's girly like us, yes, but she's not super arte. In fact, ang simple lang niya.
Napansin ko ang pagtahimik niya and parang hindi siya mapakali.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Gusto talaga kita as our leader. Ang fair mo kasi at totoo."
"Uhh. Thanks? Why are you saying this?"
She shook her head and smile, "Gusto ko lang."
I was about to say that she's acting weird, but the warning bell rang. Kaya instead, bumalik na lang kami ng classroom.
***
"So baduy," Elle said then laugh.
I rolled my eyes at her and I don't care if she saw it or not. She's being extra mean lately. She's really getting on my nerves already.
We're at the school garden kasi at may nagdaan na hindi namin ka-group. Bigla na lang niyang sinabihan ng baduy. I don't know why she said that. I don't think the girl is baduy. I mean, she's just wearing our school uniform, white socks, block shoes and ID. As for her hair, it's straight and isn't ponytailed.
Another girl passed by. She's just like the first girl, but her hair is braided.
"Braid? Seriously? What is she, an elementary student?" Tumawa na naman siya tapos 'yung iba nakigaya pa.
I can't take this anymore.
I looked her and smile. She saw me smiling. Nagtaka siya at nagtanong kung bakit. I shrugged and look at the girl with the braided hair, "Nothing. It's just funny that you make fun of her hair. But.. your hair was braided like that yesterday, right?"
The girls laugh at my remark. Habang siya, she looks like she's about to burst in anger. Namumula pa.
Natahimik siya after that. I thought she finally shut her mouth for good, but I was wrong. Kasi kung anu-ano na naman ang sinabi niya. Some are below the belt already kaya hindi na lang ako nakinig sa mga sinasabi niya at nakipagkwentuhan sa iba.
I'm busy chatting with others kaya lang biglang lumakas 'yung boses niya kaya it's quite impossible not to hear her rants.
"You know what, girls, we're definitely the most awesome group here. I mean.. ang weird lang ng other groups."
Her statement brought laughter and agreements.
"I don't get those people. They are so weird. Lalo na their leaders and the new girl. They're the weirdest. Siguro witch 'yung new girl kaya super na lang kung makalayo sa tao. She's so tahimik pa. She's so mysterious. Maybe she's just trying to hide her secret. The leader of the jocks naman.. he's attractive. Really really attractive, but he's so focused on basketball. Alam niyo ba, konti na nga lang, I'll think that he's gay na. Kunyari basketball ang binibigyan ng focus, but in reality, 'yung players pala."
Others are laughing and saying that maybe Elle is right. While here I am, trying to calm myself.
"'Yung leader naman ng rebels.. he's so scary. I won't be shocked anymore once I saw his name on the front page of the newspaper for killing someone."
I closed my eyes hoping that I could compose myself before I could say something bad.
"Tapos 'yung leader ng nerd. Eww lang. She's so weird. Always carrying a book with her. Always making pabida sa teachers. Always pretending to be nice. If I know, nasa loob ang kulo nung girl na 'yun. Malay niyo she's just pretending to be so studious, but in reality, she's a flirt pala. Baka she's just hiding behind her glasses."
I gripped my skirt and try to vent out my anger there. But Elle just doesn't know how and when to shut up.
"'Yung leader naman ng ordinaries.. he's definitely the weirdest among the weirdest. He's cute sana kaya lang parang he's mentally unstable. He's so cheerful. Maybe it's because he's taking pills to remain stable? Wait. No one's friend with them naman 'di ba? Baka mamaya isumbong niyo ko sa mga 'yun. Baka kulamin ako nung new girl tapos ipasugod ako sa boys ng jock. Baka akitin ni nerd ang boyfriend ko tapos sugurin ako nung crazy ordinary. Or worst, baka the rebel might kill me."
This time, all of my groupmates are laughing already. But I'm so full of it. I know she's really provoking me. She's saying those things because she knows they're my friend.
Hindi ko na napigilan kaya napatayo ako at sinamaan ng tingin si Elle, "Shut your filthy mouth!"
Everyone was so shock, but I don't care anymore. Below the belt na si Elle.
"You don't know them, okay? Maybe you're just insecure. 'Yung new girl na sinasabi mo, I know you're just jealous of her because she can stand on her own. She's tough and she doesn't need to be in the spotlight to be happy. 'Yung gay at crazy naman.. if I know you've been dumped kaya ang bitter mo. About that killer you're talking about, let's cut the crap out, Elle. We know you've been fantasizing about him ever since, and you tried to flirt with him but he doesn't give a crap. And about the nerd.. you're saying that she's a flirt? Come on, we know too well that that's far from possible. She's pretty even though she wears glasses or not, and boys wants to be with her kaya lang she's too busy focusing in her studies because she has a goal in life."
I grab my things and was about to walk out, but I stopped and glares at her, "One more thing. Stop joking. Magtigil ka nga lang sa pagsabi na baka akitin ng kung sino man ang boyfriend mo. Wake up. Wala ka namang boyfriend." With that, I finally left.