only for the brave

mushrooms

chapter theme: we're good - dua lipa

"I owe you nothing, ok." I assured Tarkster when we arrived at my house. Ayoko siyang pasalamatan. Sa totoo lang, mas malaki pa ang kasalanan niya sakin dahil sa pagiging isip-bata niya.

Apologies, naging uto-uto din pala ako.

I get out of the car and didn't even bothered to throw a stare at him.

Suddenly, he went out of the car and held my hair like he was starting another war. T4ngin4 nya lang.

"Gago ka ba," I scared him with a sarcastic tone. He brushed my hair using his fingers then let go of it while still looking at me as if one wrong move and I'll piss off.

My poor, short, straight hair.

"Your wounds,"

"What about them..?"

"You're not gonna show your parents these insane bruises, right?"

"Maybe,"

"You're the insane one."

"Point,"

"What?"

"..'s your point?"

"Healing them?"

"You God??"

"No I'm good."

"This is up to no good."

"Just let me."

"Trust you? No."

He's done arguing with me.

He then went back to his car at nang paglabas niya ay may dala na siyang bulak, alcohol, at gauze.

"Hey you emo, may I have the permission to cure you?" he said politely.

"You're so f*****g fake."

"Harsh!"

"- Conan Gray"

"Gag0 ka."

"Gagamutin mo ako o mumurahin?"

"Pwede both?"

Nilabas ko sa bulsa ko ang swiss knife na dala ko at winasiwas ito para takutin siya. Effective naman pala ang skills ko dito.

"Lemme start here-"

"Baliw ka ba? Parents might see us." I shrugged.

He didn't say a word and pulled me into the bushes.

"Right. Any other concern before I start?" he asked while holding a cotton and the other hand with an alcohol.

"All clear. Bilisan mo."

Puniemas lang talaga kasi nalaman kong isa pala siyang accounting student at hindi med student. Lalo pa akong kinabahan nung sinabi niyang WALA SIYANG ALAM KAHIT FIRST AID MAN LANG.

By this time I wanted to punch him and say 't4ngin4 mo kala mo ba di masaket'.

"Masaket?" he asked.

"Hinde."

"Di maipinta yang mukha mo."

"You are not a painter."

"Pilosopo."

Hindi na ako sumagot at pilit tiniis ang hapdi ng bawat dampi ng bulak sa dumudugo kong mga sugat. I told him na wag paulanan ng alcohol ang sugat ko dahil puniemas lang, ayokong mamatay dahil sa sanitizer overdose.

"Tapos na." sabi niya habang hawak ang gauze na huli niyang ginamit. A big thanks to my P.E. teacher nung high school for teaching me those first aid things. I might be dead right now if it wasn't all my knowledge. This other one over here is worthless.

I stood up at pinagpagan ang sarili ko. Hindi ko na siya nilingon at naglakad na papunta sa gate ng bahay namin.

Just so I was about to open the gate, he grabbed my hair.

Again.

The audacity of him.

"What?" I said with a mix of calm and irritated tone.

"Surrie," he said shyly.

"Wut?"

"Surrie."

"Wait is it you trying to say 'SORRY'?" I asked and he nodded.

"Curse you! Nagpapa-cute ka ba sakin?!"

"Gago hinde!" pagbawi niya. "Too shy to say that cursed word."

"That's bad." I said in fake sorrow. "Now go home, let's be strangers again like what we used to do."

"K."

"K."

We didn't waved goodbye at each other, as if we were close, huh. Pinagpagan ko ang sarili ko at huminga nang malalim. I just thought of a great lie they will surely believe. 100%.

I entered the house and as expected, my parents were looking at me like I did something bad.. really bad. Oh, God. Sana hindi nila alam.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" Mama asked.

"Hours of training. Got injured."

***

The next day I went to school, everyone's like looking at me. They seem freaked out about my bugbog look but gago lang, we all had experienced hangover right?? Are they from the Pleistocene period?

"Dorothy!" I heard Chlaire called me. "Nabalitaan mo na ba?"

"The what?"

"We're having a school fair!"

"Every school is having that event every year."

"Okay but this gon' be a total fun!"

"Yes because it's all fair."

"You're not gonna ask me when?"

"I already knew."

"Since when?? What's your source?"

"Announcement Edge."

"Ang tipid mo naman magsalita!"

"Me when I'm myself." I said and walked away.

Where did people get their energy to smile at each other??? These students are weird. There's nothing special with Intramurals unless you're sporty and I'm not sporty because the reason why I joined Archery is gusto kong pumatay. Hindi ako mangangaso, I mean, tao ang gusto kong patayin :|

Pagpasok ko ng classroom, agad akong sinalubong ni Pansy and I can tell she wants to ask me where did I get these bruises.

"Accident." pangunguna ko sa kanya.

"You okay now? You should've been taking a rest at home." she suggested and my heart suddenly fluttered. No one has been this concern to me.

"Mine's home is hell-er than this school."

"That's a joke, right?"

"No."

"You can tell me your probs. I can be your friend, Roth. Well, I'm not as cool as you and I can't play any sports but I can be always by your side."

A smile plastered in my face. Someone give Pansy an eager beaver ribbon.

As I went to my seat, the three boys gave me a questioning look and I know what to say.

"I was almost been murdered." I said.

Their eyes grew wider and I'm glad to see that.

"Nahuli na ba yung murderer? Bakit hindi yan binalita kagabi? Diba, our town is a famous town nationwide and we have the right to know that, right?" mahabang protesta ni Gavin. Future Lawyer.

"Do you remember the face of whoever did this to you?" Denmark worriedly asked.

Yes I do remember and he's just here around.

"How did you escaped? That seems to be cool but dangerous at the same time." Zach then added.

With all of their questions, nagkibit-balikat lang ako.

"Hoax." I said.

"Ano??" The three frowned.

"Night accident."

"How dare you." sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Gavin pero alam ko namang nagbibiro siya.

"I'm not joking around." he added.

Nababasa niya ba isip ko??

"Pero ganyan ba talaga itsura ng 'night accident'? Mukha kang binugbog eh." Pagtaliwas ni Zach. Can't blame them, we're all criminology students.

Again, nagkibit-balikat nalang ako at umupo sa upuan ko.

"First Day has done so much to you." sabi ni Denmark na siyang katabi ko.

"It's all crazy."

"Everyone was." he replied. "Matanong ko lang, are you listening to podcasts?"

"What specific genre?" tanong ko nang hindi lumilingon.

"Thriller, unsolved murders-"

"Yes."

"Wow same." natatawa niyang sabi.

Akala ko talaga shy type din sya katulad ko :{ ang pogi nya kaya.

And guess what, he can't open a new topic to keep our conversation going kaya nangalumbaba nalang siya at tumulala. Parang tanga lang pero cute at the same time.

***

"In fairness Roth ha, you're so relevant kanina sa pa-surprise recitation ni Mrs. Salmonds, I wasn't even ready to answer at least one question!" puri sakin ni Trixie na hindi parin makapaniwala na nasagot ko ang 20 consecutive questions ni Mam Salmonella. Huh, I just proved her wrong.

"Huy Roth, tabi tayo sa exam. No landi, just wanna copy." biro ni Gavin.

"As if papakopyahin ka niya? Bigwasan ka pa nan eh." sabi naman ni Zach. "Of course hindi ko na kailangang mangopya kay Roth, may sarili akong cheating method."

"Cheating method?" napatanong ko.

"That's the cause of over-watching 5 minute crafts." it's Denmark who answered.

"5 minute crafts?" tanong ko ulit.

"You don't know???" gulat pang tanong ni Gavin.

"Why do I have to know?"

"Nevermind." Pagsuko ni Gavin.

It's recess time. I wanted to order the same meal I ordered yesterday but Chlaire The Great told me that I should eat veggies for the sake of my healing wounds.

N e waze she ordered me green salad.

I just want you to know (for the sake of this story) that I hate green and leafy vegetables. I'd rather eat anchovies and raw fish that those green monsters.

Triny kong kainin ang pagkaing iniorder ni Chlaire para sakin pero nung oras na dumaan sa taste buds ko ang lettuce, nilunok ko agad. But that's not the point. Nalalasahan ko parin yung lettuce. Nasusuka ako s**t.

Agad akong tumayo at tumakbo palabas ng cafeteria.

Shit.

Hindi ko pala alam kung nasaan yung CR.

Nandito ako ngayon sa hallway kung saan wala akong kakilala at wala akong mapagtatanungan. T4ngin4 mong introvert ka.

Sa di-kalayuan, natanaw ko ang principal naming hindi ko alam ang pangalan sorry na po. I have no choice but lapitan siya at tanungun kung nasaan ang CR kung ayaw niyang sukahan ko ang mamahalin niyang tuxedo.

"Saan po ang CR?" nagmamadali kong tanong.

"CR? Maraming CR sa facility na to-"

"Yung pinakamalapit na CR po," Pilit kong pinakalma ang boses ko kahit gusto ko na siyang sigawan kasi nasa esophagus ko na yung asido.

"Go straight ahead and turn left. Remember, the first door is for boys." pagbibigay niya ng direksiyon.

"Thanks po," sabi ko nalang at tumakbo na papunta sa CR.

T4ngin4 lang kasi Dorothy, bakit mo sinunod si Chlaire? You could resist it but damn you.

Sabi ni Anger na nasa loob ng ulo ko habang pinapagalitan ako.

Nandito ako ngayon sa sink at sumusuka ng hindi ko alam, laway ba to? O yung ramen na almusal ko kaninang umaga?

Basta sumuka ako.

"What the actual put4ngin4!"

Napapunas ako ng tissue sa labi ko nang biglang may nagsalita sa likod ko. I turned my back and hello, hell. It's a murderer!

"Get. Out!" sigaw ko sa kanya.

"Ikaw ang dapat mag-'Get out' kasi ito, ay boys' comfort room!" sigaw niya pabalik kaya pumunta ako sa pintuan ng pinasukan kong CR at parang nawalan ako ng dignidad nang malamang tama siya.

Pero n e waze siya lang naman nakakita sakin tsaka tapos na ako sumuka so where's the problem?

Palabas na sana ako ng CR nang bigla niyang hablutin ang braso ko. I gave him a questioning face.

"Anong sinabi mo sa Principal?" tanong niya.

"Bat gusto mong malaman?"

"Nagsumbong ka 'no?"

"Takot ka ba talagang ma-expell??" di makapaniwala kong tanong.

"Nagtatanong ako!"

"Tinanong ko lang naman siya kung saan yung pinakamalapit na CR para makasuka ako. You want me to spit over you? Nakakasuka yang pagmumukha mo." hininaan ko ang boses ko. "One more thing, we promised each other that we'll go back our normal lives and act like perfect total strangers, right?"

"Hindi ako kampanteng hindi ka magsusumbong. I have the guts."

"Pff. I ain't a coward."

"Promise me na hindi ka na magsusumbong. Nag-sorry na ako sayo diba??"

"Ok."

"Ok?"

"Oo."

"Sige."

"Ok." sabi ko at umalis na sa lugar na yon.

Pagliko ko ng isang hallway ay biglang sumulpot ang mukha ni Denmark na parang Shitake Mushroom.

"Where u from?" tanong niya.

"Philippines??" sagot ko.

"Nice pun." he said flatly.

"I'm not joking. You asked me."

"No, seriously, where u from?"

"Sa CR. Sumuka."

"Watch your words!"

"Me when I'm myself."

1pm, after lunch. Nawalan ako ng ganang pumasok sa susunod kong subject kaya tumambay nalang ako sa soccer field.

Sinabi ko kila Pansy na pupunta ako ng clinic para magpahinga, palusot ko lang. Nag-volunteer siyang babantayan ako pero syempre alam kong gusto niya lang din maka-skip ng klase.

Gusto kong umuwi ng maaga mamaya kaya kinuha ko sa locker ko ang bow at ilang arrows pati gears. Nang pabalik na sana ako ng field ay bigla kong nakasalubong si Gavin na parang nagmamadali. Bakit ba pati siya sumusulpot nalang bigla na parang Shitake Mushroom?

"Hey hey hey, look who's cutting classes with arrows." pang-aasar pa niya.

"Don't tell anyone or I'll cut your head off."

Umatras sya at tinaas ang kamay. "My, my, my, that's hella b****y. Wala naman akong pagsasabihan."

"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?" tanong ko.

"Natatae ako."

Tumango nalang ako at nauna nang umalis. Bumalik ng soccer field para mag-training mag-isa. Mas komportable ako sa ganto.

Yes, sa wakas makakakuha na ako ng actual 'Me Time'.

Nakakailang shoot palang ako ay pakiramdam ko may mga matang nakatingin sakin. Tumigil ako sandali at pinakiramdaman ang paligid.

That feeling.

Isinawalang-bahala ko nalang ang nararamdaman ko at itinuloy ang ginagawa ko.

***

"Aga mo ngayon? Di ka nag-training?" salubong na tanong sakin ni Davin pag-uwi ko ng bahay.

"Nag-training ako mag-isa." tinatamad kong sagot.

"Diba 5pm pa training niyo?"

"Nag-training nga ako mag-isa. Nag-skip ako ng isang subject."

"Oh, my, my, bulakbol kong ate," pagda-drama niya pa kaya sinamaan ko nalang siya ng tingin at umakyat na sa kwarto ko.

Hindi ako mahilig magbabad sa internet pero kanina pa tumutunog yung cellphone ko. Ang dami ko sigurong notifications na kanino naman galing? Hindi ko naman sinabi kila Trixie yung social accounts ko ah?

Binuksan ko ang cellphone ko (figuratively t4ng4) at bumungad sakin ang group chat na hindi pamilyar sakin.

PROTONS CLUB

Denmark Wart added you to the group

Gavin

andito na ba si emo?

Zach

ay hindi maling Dorothy ata na-add ni Denmark

bulag ka ba Shitake Mushroom

Gavin

huy pano mo nalaman endearment sakin ni Roth???

You

nickname, hindi endearment

Denmark

she also calls me that

Zach

kunware hindi ako nasaktan diba

Pansy

may gusto ba kayong tatlo kay Roth?

Gavin

that's what friends are for

diba emo?

You

?

Napangiti nalang ako nang malamang sinali pala nila ako sa group chat nila. Bentang benta naman sa kanila yung nickname na binigay ko. Partida, on the spot ko naisip yun.

"Hoy ate kong bulakbol," kita kong nakasilip si Davin sa pinto ng kwarto ko na nakangisi at parang asong u - lol. "May naghahanap sayo sa baba. Sino yun? May boylet ka pala agad ha, sumbong kita kay Mama."

Boylet? Puniemas pumunta ba si Denmark sa bahay???

To clear all my guts, nagtatakbo ako pababa at agad na binuksan ang pinto. Hindi ko makita kung sino yung nakatayo sa tapat ng gate namin kaya nilapitan ko.

"ASC???" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"Kwits na tayo ah? Bat tinatawag mo parin akong ASC?"

"At least hindi 'Andromeda Secret Creature'. Magpasalamat ka sakin acronym lang tinatawag ko sayo. Bakit ka nandito?" binuksan ko ang gate pero sabi ko hanggang dun lang siya. Hindi ko siya papapasukin ng bahay at mas lalong ayokong makaapak siya kahit sa basahan ng bahay.

May inabot siya saking susi kaya nakunot ang noo ko.

"Susi mo yan sa locker." sabi nya.

"Nahulog ko to? Saan?" tanong ko.

"Nung paalis ka na sa soccer fiel-" napahinto siya sa sinasabi at tinakpan ang sariling bibig.

I leaned closer to him at inanalyze ang mukha niya. No problem kasi magkasing-height lang naman kami.

"Sinusundan mo ba ako?" tanong ko habang nakakunot parin ang noo.

"Nag-cutting ka no?" pag-iiba niya.

"Edi sinusundan mo nga ako?" i crossed my arms and let out a smirk.

"Nagkataon lang! Wag ka ngang ambisyosa!" depensa niya naman.

"Hoy, mas papatulan ko pa si Denmark kesa sayo. Wag ka ding asumero."

"Gaga may gusto ka kay Denmark?"

"Magkakilala kayo?"

"Oo. Kaibigan ko din sila Zach at Gavin pero hindi ako masyadong sumasama sa kanila."

"Ok." sagot ko nalang.

"Teka bakit ba ako nakikipag-usap sayo?" bawi niya.

"I should ask myself the same."

"Alis na ko." paalam niya.

"Wag ka nang babalik." pabiro kong sabi pero deep inside, seryoso talaga ako.

vote and comment :))