"What do you want, Miss Escareal?" the saleslady in the cafeteria asked.
"Chicken meal and mango juice," I replied while glancing at Janice. "What about you?"
"Beef steak meal. Soda as well."
I paid after giving us the order. We were back at the table when I saw a grade ten just entering. Just a short distance away, I recognized him immediately. Her eyes scanned the cafeteria briefly. He stopped looking at me. Now that I'm in grade eleven, I'm used to talking about Mommy. This time, she's having an affair with a married man again. I was not surprised by that.
"Drey, Hanna is coming," Janice said.
"Let her be," I said indifferently and put my tray down the table.
Hanna angrily stopped across from our table. I did not turn to him.
"You thick faced bitch! Are you happy that your mommy is ruining the family, huh? And you're not satisfied yet! You've really seduced my boyfriend! You're both like your mommy's snatcher!"
"Don't even start a mess here, Hanna!" and Janice.
How many times have I been confronted like this? I am tired of this drama.
"What? You don't even have to say anything? The thickness of your face too, what? You think you're too high because of your wealth but you're crazy inside! You don't have a conscience!"
I closed my eyes sharply and sighed. I crossed my arms and looked up at the screaming Hanna.
"Maybe that's why your daddy got hooked because mommy had too much lotionmo. Look at my mom. She's always beautiful. And about your boyfriend, I didn't kidnap him. He broke up with you on his own because he wanted to court me. Why? Because I'm better. People always prefer the beautiful and better ones, right?” I said softly and smiled.
I close my eyes to the cold and viscosity of the mango juice that was splashed on me. I can feel the cold liquid in my uniform too. As well as in my hair.
"Hanna!" Janice sighed.
"That's your thing! To get ready-"
It didn't take me a second to get up and pull her hair. She shrieked in pain but no one dared to stop me. They know I'm a tough opponent by chance. But this girl here, she doesn't know what wall she's hitting. I could swallow the words. But how dare she go beyond the lines! He has no right!
"It's what you want, isn't it? Then deal with it!"
I slapped her on both cheeks and violently pulled her hair. Someone shouted because of the event. The stupid girl had the audacity to pull my hair back. But because my hair is short, he was immediately released when I pulled him. I am taller and stronger so he is really at a disadvantage.
She managed to slap me once. I rubbed the metal on my lip from her ring. I grabbed her hair harshly and pushed her to the table. She cried out in pain.
I picked up the glass on the table and intentionally dropped it on the floor. Scattered pieces of it. I grabbed the large piece of glass and smirked evilly. Heartless. No conscience. That’s what I hear about me. So I just have to stand up, right?
"Audrey!" a familiar voice.
But I didn't move and walked closer to Hanna. She spilled my mango juice, slapped me once and pulled my hair. I should just hurt him!
Gritting my teeth, I lifted my hand, holding the sharp piece of glass with so much anger.
"This is what you deserve!"
Blood splattered on my white uniform.
It was as if cold water had been poured on me. The students around shouted, shocked at what they saw. Even I was surprised too. I was supposed to hit Hanna!
But he was not the one hit. The tall, dark and dangerous looking, Rustov Melgarejo was the one I hit! Everything happened too fast all at once I didn't see him coming. I heard his voice before but I never thought he would stop me that way!
He was gripping on the glass hardly, the blood was flowing down to his arm. I could still see the red liquid dripping on the floor.
"That is not the right thing to do!"
I looked up. My heart pounded at the cold and darkness of his eyes.
I let go and backed away. The piece of glass that is now tainted with blood fell on the floor.
"Look what you've done, Audrey! You're so slutty! You're just like your mommy-"
"Shut up!" I spat angrily and turned to Rustov.
"And you? Why did you interrupt? It's not my fault why you got hurt! That's your fault for taking that stupid girl's side! Why are you defending her? Your friend? Girlfriend? Because, you're both trash!"
"Come on, Drey," Janice tried to pull me away but I wouldn't let go.
"Don't worry about my Mom, Hanna. Your daddy is cheap so he'll get bored of it too. But who knows if your daddy can find a new fixture? He did it now so it will happen again and again."
"You bitch!"
Even before Hanna attacked me, Rustov was holding my wrist and pulled me out of there.
He seemed to be holding iron as I fainted and cried with anger. He drove me to the clinic. The nurse spoke briefly before approaching me.
"Why did you bring me here?" I spat.
"You have a wound, too," he said emphatically and looked down at my hand. I also looked there and realized he was right. But I haven't felt that way before!
"You shouldn't have done that," he said coldly.
I looked at him coldly.
"What do you care about my life? You don't care what I do! You didn't even know what she did to me! I was eating well when she suddenly approached me to pour me some juice! You think that's reasonable?"
I don’t know why I’m explaining to him but in my rage I can no longer think clearly. I was even so sure that I'll receive a suspension or something!
"Resorting to violence is also not reasonable."
"Don't scold me because I don't care about you! I don't care what you fucking say!"
His mouth tightened. The nurse talked for a while and left. The blood from his wound was still dripping. Where is he going?
The nurse treated me. In the few minutes I spent there I realized how badly I had done. I hit a person using a sharp glass! I also realized the words I left out were too painful. I was sure Mommy's attention will be called by the principal because of this.
"Get dressed first. Rustov talked to the chancellor," Janice said and put down my PE uniform.
"What did you say? Will Mommy be called? Will I be suspended?"
"The chancellor said, rest here at the clinic before going home."
"What?" I'm surprised. That's all?
"Maybe Rustov said that you weren't really the one who started it. Hanna poured you juice that provoked you.”
"And what about his wound?"
"Maybe he didn't mention it? Or maybe he said you didn't mean it."
I bent down and closed my eyes tightly. I was worried I'll be reprimanded or worst, face some legal actions because I know what I did was really below the belt. I got too emotional and I was very impulsive. Suspension was just right. But what the hell did he do? I should deserve something at least!
"Your driver hasn’t arrived yet?" Janice asked. We were in front of the gate and he had just arrived to pick us up. She was looking at me worriedly. I knew he didn’t want her to be the first to leave especially and something happened. She knows me too well I always have a hard time deceiving her. He knew very well what I was doing."You go first."Her eyes narrowed. "Are you sure? I'll just wait for your driver to arrive.""Edu texted that he’s still fixing the tire. You might get scolded if you take too long, so you should go first.”"Fine. Just go home, okay?”I nodded.Actually, I intentionally texted Edu not to pick me up. I don’t want to go home because I’ll just remember what Mommy was doing. I am out of her filthy doings, but why am I also affected? I was disgusted and wanted to speak ill of him. If only not because of her, I wouldn't have to deal with these shits.I looked at the hand
"Let me go," I demanded."You fought before. Are you going to fight now? Is that your hobby, huh?""None of your business!"With his hard grip I did nothing when he pulled me away from there. We stopped in front of the parked cars and he just let me go. I could no longer see Klyde from there."You shouldn't be very impulsive," he said sternly."I don't need your opinion about my actions. I'll do what I want!""And where will your stubbornness pick you up? He was on the verge of hitting you!""I hope you just let it go, then. You think I'm too weak and I couldn't take it? Then you're wrong! I can handle myself!""Really, huh?" he challenged, there was a diminution in the way he looked at me."Why are you interfering? It's not because you're my friend's cousin that you can scold me! You're not my brother, Rustov!"He closed his eyes tightly and wept bitterly. He sighed deeply after a short while and looked at me dar
"Did someone fight with you recently? Who will I kick out of your school?"When it comes to Mommy about the troubles I get involved with at school she always says that. Even though she is busy with many others, she still knows what is going on in my life somehow. I will always get what I want if I'd only tell her. But unlike before, I don't ask for anything. And I don't tell her to manipulate anything for my sake.I just don’t answer and let go of the anger. Even if I told him to kick that out, what else could he do?That girl is her lover's daughter. I doubt if he can do that. Besides, that wasn't the first incident. I'm used to it.Mommy asked more about it. But with my vague response, he eventually stopped as well."Ate, did you see my pink handkerchief with my name embroidered on the upper part?" I asked Ate Delia."Is that your favorite? I've already washed all your handkerchiefs. I was surprised when I didn't see it, eh."
The insides of the house was clean, that was the first thing I noticed. The furnitures are made of wood, mostly. There are a few picture frames hanging on the wall. There are also Rustov awards since elementary. He is really excellent when it comes to academics.I don’t even know how he manages to balance acads and sports. He was into basketball during high school. I keep track of her games because Janice is always watching and she always takes me with her.He was good so eventually in senior high, he became team captain. While in college, rugby football was played. We can only watch once because of the class. And based on what I have seen, he's really good at it.I realized how much we differed from the state. I am not active in any sports. I am not in the honor roll, either. And thinking of it now, I realized the only thing I had with him was wealth. The amount I lack. If I don't have my parents' money, I have nothing, no one would bother respect me. Whi
"Is Thiago busy too?" I asked Rustov as our staff unloaded the leathers.He nodded. "Every summer and there are only occasions when they come home."Well, I've heard of that. His two siblings are both studying in Manila so he only came home once. I've known those two since I was a kid. As often as seen at social gatherings. When they were in high school, they left Manila for maybe a bigger university."Let's go to the office first. I prepared a snack," I said and glanced at the workers."Okay," he replied low.“Ate Dulce,” I called. "You're here first."She nodded. I was ahead of the walk. Some of our female workers drifted their eyes at my back. I knew immediately what they were looking at. I was about to tell them to focus on their works, but I restrained myself. I might just look worse.Entering the office, I gestured to him the chair. There is food ready on the small table in the middle."I thought your Mommy wa
I don’t remember when I invited a guy out. But I really want to try that kind of event again. And I only have one person in mind that I'm comfortable with except for Janice and Enzo. Just Rustov. He's not my type of company but passable.I don't know when I started feeling comfortable around him. Maybe in our little interactions. Although I know he has his own judgments of me, he doesn't treat me badly so it's okay.Rustov:What? Go out? Are you drunk, Audrey?I stopped looking for something to wear.Me:There seems to be a party in town tonight. I want to come and I want you to accompany me.His reply took a while. I had already chosen what to wear when he texted again.Rustov:I can't be with you. I'll be with my friends.I stopped and sat down on the ottoman, disappointed. I can already choose what to wear and after all, he won't let me? He knew I had no one else to be with! And what? He will be with his
I can’t count how many times I’ve been depreciated after the oral recitation in accounting. Just the first day back of class there was a surprise recitation right away. I wasn't expecting it! I hate that old hag. Must review first before recit! I didn’t read any notes during the whole break so I couldn’t answer. I got a zero."That's okay, Drey," Janice consoled me."If I could tell Mommy to get rid of it?""Nevermind."I sighed and walked out of the room. To my annoyance, I almost shouted at the group of men who had gathered in the corridor and almost pushed on the road. They're from the other section, maybe.I would have passed by when someone had the courage to call me. Janice kissed me. I closed my eyes firmly before turning around."What?" I asked, glaring.Kabadong laughed one. "Uh, our friend would have given it to me ..."I turned to the man he was carrying. The boy looks very boyish. Tall, lean
He did not ask anything about what had happened. But with his dark look, I know. He wanted to know what happened. But he won't force me to say anything. He wanted me to speak for myself. Because he respects my silence. He respects my privacy."In Mom's room you sleep," Rustov said.I combed my hair with my fingers. He showed me his mother's room. Not as big as mine but tidy and organized enough for a one night stay. He arranged the sheets and pillows while I just stood there on the side.I wonder if her Mama is here and will let me sleep in their house? I mean, they're not responsible for me and I'm not related to them in any way. But maybe that will be allowed as well. Tita Gracia is a good person. I'm sure she will also do what her son is doing. After all, Rustov and I can be called friends, can't we? So it's okay?"Is it okay for Tita to have someone else sleep in her room?"He turned to me. "I'll tell her tomorrow. She will understand."