AFTER TWO WEEKS of preparation para sa nalalapit na mid-quarter examinations sa Sande University, hindi ko pa rin nakukuha ang isang topic sa Physics. Sobra akong naiirita!
"Hoy, Kagan sa planeta! Tulala ka na naman! Ba't ka nakasibangot, ha?" Clavis clapped his hands while laughing at me, and I flinched.
Tumingala ako sa kanya mula sa pagkaka upo. I glared at him, but did not say anything dahil wala akong gana.
He then went to his seat and sat there while still smiling. How could he be so relaxed after the intense brain workout? Nanunuyo ang utak ko!
"Hulaan ko kung bakit masama ang loob mo?" He said.
I raised a brow as I watched him contain hi
MATAPOS siyang umalis ay naghanap ako ng mesa para doon magbasa ng lessons. It was at the back end beside a tall antique window. I settled myself on a chair. Katapat ko 'yong mismong bintana at sa labas, natatanaw ko ang asul na kalangitan. The peak of the trees also peeped out like a sly kid. Its leaves swayed, but the cool air could not be felt. Sarado kasi ang bintana. Although it calmed my nerves, my heart was still bruised and my body felt weak. I don't know if I still have the courage to finish reading the novel. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong ganang ituloy iyon. There was no reason for me to read it. I hoped for a happy en
DAYS after the sizzling confrontation, I kept my mouth shut. Hindi dahil sa takot akong magsalita ng katotohanan o maging isang whistleblower. Kundi dahil iyon ang mismong iniutos sa akin ng isa sa mga sangkot. Shanta thought it was not the right circumstance to accuse the two girls of leaking the exam answers. May iba siyang plano. She waited for that special day to transpire, at kung anuman ang resulta niyon, she'd pursue her battle. But never have she ever thought na maiisahan siya ng mga dating kaibigan. They did not freaking ace the test, which further weakened the case! Galit na galit si Shanta because she was outsmarted! Pero ma
WHERE IS my daughter? Where is Dalmi?" A thunderous yet worrying voice echoed from the entrance of the school hospital. Mabilis kaming tumayo ni Clavis nang marinig iyon at makita ang mabagsik na pagdating ni Miss Heichel… lalo na noong bumaling siya sa gawi namin. "Si Ma'am!" Si Katlego. Umayos din at tumuwid siya ng tayo kasama sina Jirario at Lachlan. Sabay pinanood naming lima ang paglapit ng ina ng nag-iisang Shanta. "Clyde, where is your cousin? How is she? Is she conscious now? Kanina pa kayo rito? What did the doctor in charge tell you?" Her heels clinked as she bombarded him with endless questions. Then, I saw my friend flinch
MACINE narrated yesterday's incident and revealed every detail. Sa bawat pagbigkas niya ng salita ay tumatagos sa puso at may yanig.Pero may napansin ako na isang kakaibang bagay. She kept closing her eyes and biting her lips, as if someone was whipping her back with a scourge."Tapos… tapos... p-pinalo siya! Pinalo si Dalshanta ng bat sa likod." Macine sobbed and covered her mouth in despair.I cussed with the hot air."Hoy, ikaw!" sigaw ng akusado at dinuro siya. "Hindi ako ang gumawa niyon! Hindi ako ang may hawak ng bat. At lalong-lalo na… Hindi lang dapat ako ang sinisisi niyo!""Quiet, Ms. Quizon! I am not tolerating your be
WE LEFT the two for privacy. Naiwan sina Shanta at Macine sa loob. They asked for a space for girl talks. And, obviously, we’re not allowed. Dahil diyan, napagkasunduan naming magtungo sa malapit na convenience store sa school. Bibili kami ng jumbo hotdog at chocolate drink na paboritong-paborito ni Shanta. But, believe me, going all the way to buy it was not voluntary. She asked for it, so we granted her requests. Siguro, magiging mabigat ‘yon dahil anim kaming bibili niyon. Parang ano… parang nagdadala lang kami ng papel at dahon. "Yes naman! Gising na ang tropa natin!" pagdiriwang ni Katlego. Nanguna siya kasama ni Lachlan sa hallwa
TEKA LANG, SI EUART BA ‘YON?” Luckily, that question came from Clavis because it would be a total disaster kung galing iyon kay Shanta.I diverted my gaze at him and simply replied, "Yeah, you're right. It's him."He chuckled at my surprise. "Kawawa ka naman, Mariposa. Hindi ka niya pinansin?"I rolled my eyes and opened my car door. "Huwag kang ano dyan, Umbok. Nagmamadali siyang umalis. Baka hindi ako nakita. Baka may pupuntahan.""Madaya 'yon! Siya lang mag-isa?" He asked when I was about to enter the car. But I paused. Umayos ako ng tayo mula sa akmang pagkakaupo.Natulala ako sa mukha ni Clavis. I observed his little actions. Na
STAY HERE. Press the bell if you need something." Tumango si Kaden noong abisuhan ko siya. I scurried outside as I heard my brother called out. Nagpapahabol siya ng mga bilihin. Fortunately, his demanding voice melted away noong tuluyan akong makalabas ng kwarto. "Shanta!" tawag-pansin ko sa babaeng naglalakad sa pasilyo. "Wait!" Alam kong siya iyon because of her all-black outfit, looking like an emo, a rockstar, or a hipster. I could not be wrong. Tumigil siya sa paglalakad saka lumingon sa akin. Her brows intertwined as she looked at me. "Bakit? Anong kailangan mo?" sigang tanong niya at mas lalong nagtaka. "Hoy. Ba't ka lumalabas? Sinong
YOU ARE damn… wasted," I uttered breathfully as her head fell and rose at every move she made."Hmm… Shh!" Nagtaas ng daliri sa ilong si Shanta habang tumatawa sa sarili. "I'm not lasing, you asshole!"Then, she chuckled at her stubbornness. Pumikit ako nang mariin sa bawat mabibigat na kilos niya."Come on. Get up now and let's leave this place." I gripped her arms and carefully lifted her up."Hey! What the fuck! Let go, I wanna stay here!" pagrarambo niya at ibinagsak ang pwet sa upuan."You are such… a mess that I've got no freaking choice but to clean all of your nasty things. So, get up."