Embracing The Lies

Chapter 3

Hell

    The aroma scent of black coffee tingled my nose which made me awake from a deep sleep. Slowly opening my eyes, I got confused when I realized that I'm not in my room. I saw an expensive chandelier above the ceiling, well-built furnitures on surroundings and a high natural light that came from the huge window across my bed. Just a sign that it's morning, and I must ready for school.

    Where am I anyway? 

    I used my hand to balance myself in rising up, but I was too futile to do it, I fell back off. Napangiwi rin ako sa biglaang pagsakit ng ulo ko. I massaged the corner of my eyes to the head because of the awful pain I reaped right now. I felt like I just got my hangover even though I didn't drink alcohol. Sobrang sakit. Parang na head-bang. 

   "Ouch," I murmured as I deeply massaged it.

   "So, you're awake." I almost jumped out of my bed when I heard a voice. 

   Gradually turned my gaze at where the voice came from, and just recognized a man who had also the same physical appearance as the jerk. I mean, where's the jerk, right now? Is everything a dream? Then I would be willing to wake up!

   But I know it's not a dream, because I'm still here at someone else's house. 

    "I'm Cole, the personal man assistant of Maximmo." I raised my left brow as he handed his hand at me. 

   He shyly took it back then opened his mouth. "Ahm, I was the one who picked you up last night. Maximmo ordered me to. And... and I apologize for not introducing myself to you if you found it rude. You had no consciousness so I didn't have a chance to do it," he stuttered and looked away.

    No, I didn't raise my brows because I found him rude, but I raised my brows because I couldn't believe that someone who's as handsome as fictional man in a drama is serving that jerk??? No way.  Unless, this is another prank again.

   Still, staring at him while he was uncomfortable with it. I'm sorry, I just can't help!

   That kinda brown skin-tone, sharply dark black eyes, depth brows, edged nose and uhmm kindaaaaaaa kissable lips. His beauty was so rare and unique, I wonder if he's a half-blood. Mestizo, no doubt why he's attractive.

    "Ahm, I'm here because I brought you breakfast for I know that you're too tired to go downstairs. Just beep this up if you need help." He pointed the cutie button beside the lampshade and also pointed the breakfast he put on the table beside the bed, then went out. I'm hundred percent sure that he felt the awkwardness between us. Maybe he's thinking that I'm judging him. 

    I shrugged.

   No babe, I'm liking you. 

   Pinilit kong bumangon para kumain, but I stopped making myself ready as I remembered what happened yesterday. My ears snapped and I felt like my blood boiled up again. My hands started to tremble and my nose's hole getting big because of anger. Parang bumalik lahat ng galit ko sa katawan ko. That damn jerk!! 

    I couldn't hold myself anymore and I went downstairs to find that stupid crazy ass jerk. Arrghhh!!! He should tell the truth so I can go back to my house!

   "Where that asshole?!!" I yelled while running downstairs. 

   Everyone was looking at me. They seemed so shocked because of my behavior. They were only five and all of them was cleaning the house. That's when I noticed that everything in the house looked so expensive. They are all marbles, glasses, crystal, or anything that is breakable. It was all gold and silver. Even the floor was like a mirror. It was so clean that you can even use it to see the reflection of yours. Wow. This was so cool. 

    Yeah, perhaps the house was cool but not my head! My anger is burning as f*ck!

    "Show me that asshole!" I shouted again. 

     "Ma-ma'am, c-chill po, nasa taping po," said by the woman who currently mapping the floor. 

    Tuluyan na akong bumaba at pumunta sa kusina. I'm sure that he's here, drinking his coffee! Nang nakapasok ako ay wala pa rin siya. I was about to yell again but the guy who introduced himself as a Cole, appeared from the mini room of the kitchen. He looked so shocked seeing me but then he just shrugged and smile. A smile that probably make my heart melts.

     "Hey, are you done? Maximmo's not here." He took off his apron and folded it, then walked towards the corner of the kitchen to put it back under the small cabinet. 

    By juding his appearance, you can't really say that he's not just your typical assistant. May ibubuga 'to. I shook my head. Hindi ako nandito para makipaglandian, nandito ako para pagbayaran niya ang ginawa niya sa akin. 

    "Where's your crazy boss?? Sasabihin mo o magwawala ako dito?!" I glared at him. 

     "Please calm down, he's not here yet due of an urgent meeting. But by lunch, he will be right here. Is anything I can help with you, Ma'am?" 

    Gusto ko pa sanang magalit sa kaniya but the way he approached and said those words to me, he seemed so kind. He's a person you can say that has a lot of respect in himself. I felt guilty now. He's not the person who ruined my day yesterday, so why would I make him suffer it? He doesn't deserve my attitude if he's like this. So, I just smiled a very little to tell him that I'm not that bad he thought. "Just call me Ely like everyone does." I turned my back and was about to walk away but his answer made me stop from walking. 

    "But I am not allowed to call—"

     "That's the least you can help to cool my mind." I cut it off. Masyadong pormal ang ma'am. Hindi ako sanay.

    "And, can I borrow a phone for awhile? I'll be waiting upstairs," I said without looking him back. I went back to the room where I woken up to. Hinanap ko ang dalang bag ko at nakitang nandito nga. I'm gonna take a shower then went to school before I get late. Hindi pwedeng umabsent pa ako. 

    I'm just gonna fix the mess later. Sisiguradohin ko na makakabalik na ako sa bahay pagkatapos niyang umamin. 

   See you later, Maximmo. 

   Just after my shower, I saw a phone's box on my bed and an expensive bag beside it. Nilapitan ko ito at kinuha ang box. Wow, brand new?! Sabi ko hiram lang ah?! I opened the sealed and realized that it's one of the limited iphone 14, a brand new phone. Takte! Saan ako kukuha ng pambayad dito? I glanced at the bag and reached it. It's an LV. It's a small sling bag that can be used in everywhere you go. I threw it on the bed. Hindi ko naman kailangan 'yan, cellphone lang. 

    Umatras ako at muntik nang matipalo dahil sa naapakan ko. When I looked at it, I saw a pair of red cigarette heels. Psh. Don't even need that one also, so I kicked it around. I just wore a white T-shirt, paired with fitted pants and my white shoes yesterday. Kinuha ko na bag ko at buti na lang ay inihatid ako ng driver ng bahay sa mansion ng walang hiyang celebrity kuno. Psh. 

    It took only 15 minutes to travel to school since the car I was riding was a speed one. Pagkababa ko nang pagkababa sa sasakyan ay pinagtitinginan na kaagad ako ng mga tao. I closed the door and thanked the driver then confidently walked to my room.

"Gosh, siya 'yong kabit?"

"The audacity of this b***h, talagang papasok pa siya huh?"

"Mas maganda pa rin naman si Claire. Gano'n talaga siguro 'no? 'Pag kabit, ampapanget talaga." 

    Parang napantig ko sa sinabi nila kaya napahinto ako. They looked at me with a disgusting look.

    "Kabit ka." The girl with a lizard face spoke. Big eyes, super duper flat nose, and a big huge mouth. She really looked like a lizard who's on your ceiling, secretly judging you.

     "At least hindi ako mukhang butiki. And to be honest ha? Sobrang bobo mo para paniwalaan lahat nang narinig mo kahapon." I smiled and looked all of them. "Only a fool will believe those lies." I glared at them.

    Damn this nincompoop! 

   While walking along the hallway, I couldn't help myself but felt the awkwardness also. Gosh, why there are all staring at me as if I committed a biggest sin. 

   Pinagpatuloy ko lang ang lakad ko not minding their stares and judgements. The hell I care! Wala ngangmga ambag sa buhay ko 'to.

    I reached my classroom and saw Sorscha and Vina waiting outside the room. They ran towards me and hugged me so tight as soon as they reached me. 

    "Gaga! Sobrang alalang-alala kami sa'yo! Akala namin hindi kana papasok!" Ani kaagad ni Sorscha pagkatapos akong yakapin.

   "Yeah, how are you anyway? Are you okay? Ano sinabi nina tita? Did they believe you?" It was Vina.

   I just shrugged off. 

   "Me? They will believe in me? No way. Kahit pumuti pa ang uwak they won't make an effort to understand everything about me," I said with a sad tone. "But I'm fine! You both don't have to worry about." Tawa ko pero tinignan lang ako nila. 

    "Paanong hindi magiging okay 'e mayaman ang tinira. Kabit pa nga." Agad kaming napalingon sa gilid kung saan nanggaling ang nagsalita.

   It was a younger woman compared to us. She looked so perfect with her long eyelashes, thick brows, cutie pointed nose and small pretty lips. I mean, is she real???? Why am I seeing a human doll in front of me?!

    "Hoy bata ka! Mag-ingat ka sa sinasabi mo ha baka mas may ipupula pa 'yang bibig mo 'pag sinapak ko," galit na sita ni Sorscha.

    I immediately gave her a stop-look. Halata naman kasing bata 'to, papatulan pa. Para siyang grade 7 highschool based on her height. She doesn't understand everything yet. What she knew was the news. Baka idol lang ang artista. 

    "Whatever, you bitch." Nanlaki mga mata namin nang nagsalita siya ulit. 

    "Excuse me?" Ako na ang humarap. 

    "Baka gusto mong dagdagan ko pa 'yang blush on mo sa pisnge?" Tanong ko saka tinaas ang kamao ko. 

   Vina immediately interfered and faced the girl. 

    "Umalis kana. Pumapatol sila sa panget." Pagkatapos sabihin 'yon ay tinignan ako nang napakasama ng bata saka tumakbo paaalis. By looking at her eyes, it reminds me with someone. Parang familiar siya. Kilala ko ba 'yon?

"Oh siya! May klase na! Hintayin mo kami mamaya dito ha? Sabay tayong maglunch." Tumango ako kay Sorscha at Vina. 

Nang umalis na sila ay papasok na sana ako sa classroom nang biglaang may tumawag sa pangalan ko.

"Mrs. Elise, you are requested to skip the classes today." Lumingon ako na may galit sa mukha.

"What did you say??" Tanong ko sa dalawang nakasuot na black na suit. They looked like the bodyguards from yesterday. Kay Maximmo 'to for sure. 

"Boss Maximmo ordered us to pick up you." I scoffed after hearing those words. Wow, really? Maka pick up, gano'n na ba tingin sa akin?! Parang bagay lang? 

Pwes, hindi ako papayag!

"No," matigas kong sabi saka pumasok sa loob. Nang tuluyan nang nakapasok ay napatingin ang lahat sa direksyon ko. 

I didn't mind their stares again and went straight to my seat. Mga tinging mapanghusga. Dito mo talaga malalalaman kung gaano sila kabobo para maniwalang may relasyon kami ng hunghang na 'yon! 

Nilapag ko bag ko saka umupo. Subalit pati sa pag-upo ko ay ramdam ko pa rin ang titig at mga bulongan.

"Grabe, tinago niya talaga sa'tin 'yon?"

"Nakakadiri siya 'no?"

"Hindi ko kaya na nakipagkaibigan pa ako sa kaniya dati—"

"Hoy! Pahinahan niyo naman bulong niyo, naririnig ko dito 'e," sita ko sa tatlong sipsip dito sa classroom. Dati ayaw ko pang maniwala na sipsip sila pero sa inasta nila ngayon ay malamang sa malamang mga sipsip talaga! Kagigil.

"Bakit kasi pumatol ka sa may syota na?" Tanong nito nang may lakas na loob. Kaya ngayon ay lahat ng atensyon ay nasa amin na.

"Bakit kasi napakachismosa mong sipsip ka?" Balik na tanong ko at kita sa mukha nito ang pagkairita.

I then heard everyone's laugh. Tumawa rin ito kinalaunan.

"Oh well, kanino ka ba magmamana kundi sa kaibigan mong MALANDI!" Napintig tenga ko sa sinabi nito. 

Walang pagdududa ay tumayo ako at nilapit siya sa upuan niya.

"Anong sinabi mo?!" Sigaw na tanong. 

"Si Sorscha malandi! Inagaw niya ang boyfriend ko! Kayong dalawa ang kakati talaga ng bela—" I slapped her so hard.

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito sa gulat.

Bago pa ako nakapagsalita ay sinunggaban niya na ako ng sabunot. Hindi rin ako nagpatalo ay mas lalo kong sinabunotan ang buhok nito. Sobrang ingay na sa loob ng classroom dahil sa pagpigil nila sa aming dalawa. Pero wala akong pakialam kasi nanggigigil ako sa bruhang 'to! 

"Ms. Sullivan and Ms. Santos, go to my office now!" We immediately stopped when we heard the voice of our professor. 

He looked so fuming mad. Kulang na lang ay may lumabas na usok sa ilong nito. Oh no, principal pa naman ito. 

"What you both did was unacceptable!" I almost jumped when he yelled at us. "Do you know that I am with the head of GHS?! She was about to observe for goddamn sake! What will she gonna write in her paper? That the students of SYU is as wild as hell?!" He shouted again. 

"I'm very disappointed with you both." 

Umupo ito kaya dali-dali naman humingi ng pasensya ang bruha.

"Sorry po sir, hindi na po mauulit. Hindi naman ako papatol kung hindi ako sinampal ni Elysian." Nanlaki mga mata ko sa sinabi niya.

This b***h! Talagang ilalaglag niya ako!

"But sir, she started it! She was calling me names!" I defended myself. 

"But you have a choice to not mind it yet you still chose to make a scene."

I scoffed upon hearing those nonsense alibi. Wow! Ito 'yong taong pavictim na magagalit sa taong inabuso niya dahil pinatolan siya. 

"That's what you got when you attack someone who wouldn't let anyone abuse her," I replied.

"Enough!" Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang sumigaw muli si Prof. "Pati ba naman dito hindi kayo titigil?!" He added.

"I don't know what to do with you both. But you, Ms. Sullivan." Napatingin ako nang tinawag niya ako. 

"You will be suspended for a month." I looked at him with eyes opened. 

"What?!" Sigaw ko sa gulat. 

The hell! Not for a month! No way!

"And you Ms. Santos, you will be suspended for a week." Mas lalong nanlaki mga mata ko sa narinig ko.

"Bakit isang buwan sa akin at isang linggo lang sa kaniya?" Inis kong tanong. 

"Because you were the one who hurt her first. That's a major offense. And now, both of you, you may leave." 

"But sir—"

"No buts, just leave. I have something important to do. The door is open," he said and pointed the door with his finger. 

Naunang lumabas ang bruha kaya padabog din akong lumabas. This is so unfair!!

Nang nakalabas na ako ay lakas loob kong sinipa ang basurahan nito sa labas sa kdahilanang nagkalat ang mga basura. Napaiyak na lang ako dahil sa sinapit ko. Saan naman ako mags-stay for a month? Hindi nga ako makauwi sa bahay 'e. And if makakauwi rin, no way I'll be staying there. Panigurado ako na naman ang pupunteryahin ng stepmom ko. 

"Aaaarghhhhhhhhh!!!!" I screamed because of anger. Kasalanan 'to ni Alexander 'e! Since that jerk came, puro na kamalasan ang dumating sa buhay ko! Napakamalas niya!

Lumabas ako sa campus at nagulat nang makita ang tatlong mamahaling kotse. Every car has its own bodyguards outside. Nang mahalagilap ko ang dalawang body guards na sumundo sa akin kanina ay hindi na ako nagtaka kung kanino ito at sino ang hinihintay. 

They instantly walked towards me. I took a deep breath when they stopped in front of me.

"Bring me to that jerk!" I commanded right away. Kasalanan niya lahat ng 'to. Pagbabayaran niya 'to!

They made a way to which car will I ride to. It's in the middle so I ran towards it. Aakmang may magbubukas pa sana sa akin ngunit winaslik ko lamang ito. "Ako na."

Padabog kong binuksan ang pinto at tumambad sa akin ang napakagwapong— este napakagagong nilalang sa mundo! 

He was reading a book with sunglasses on his eyes. I was about to say a word but it stopped when he spoke first.

"Congratulations on your one month suspension."

Nanlaki mga mata ko. 

"How did you know?!"

Slowly, he put down his book and shifted his gaze at me. Then, he removed his sunglasses and smirked. "Let's celebrate?"