only for the brave

lame-os kill

chapter theme: kill 'em with kindness - selena gomez

"Tarkster?" I mimicked them.

"What small world are you talking about?" Chlaire asked.

"This so-called Hooman just hit me with her locker door while I was skateboarding," he explained.

"In the hallway ..?" Chlaire added.

"Yyyeah."

I sipped a drink 'coz I think' tis gon 'be a nice tea.

"Well then, it's your fault." Brooke agreed.

"What- wait it's not- look, I got these bandages because of my fall. Y'all are- I'm out," he said and walked away.

"Yer supposed to talk about him, aren't you?" Finneas assured.

"It's a pity he preceded me in telling the story because we have different points of view."

"What did he tell you?"

"Anong did he tell you ?"

"You don't know yet?"

"What did I didn't know? What should I know?"

"Siya ang anak ng Governor!"

"So?"

Finneas had a palm on his face and was holding Brooke. "I can't with this emo. You talk to her."

"Yer not scared of Russel Tarkster?" Brooke asked me.

"I don't care if he's Russel Tarkster, I'm Dorothy Wedge."

I was surprised when Pansy suddenly stood up. "Welcome to the club, emo!"

"Ok."

Napa-face palm nalang si Brooke sa reaksiyon ko."Nevermind. Let's go, one hour almost ran out."

***

"Dorothy, you still want to ride with us?" Pansy offered to me and was like waiting for my answer.

I was about to agree when I suddenly saw the Andromeda Secret Creature staring at me once again with a deadly eye. I remembered the words he said and the warnings .. had to face it .. or .. not really. Just for kids.

"Dorothy?" Pansy called my name.

"Uhm. No. I'll wait for my brother." I smiled. Fake.

"Omg wait you had a brother ?!" Pansy excitedly screamed.

"How old is he?" Brooke asked.

"Is he in college?" Chlaire's eyes widened.

"He's 12," I said.

"On seventh grade?"

"So?"

"Nothing. But I'm sure he's gonna be cool when he turned 16. He'll get so many babes!"

"He's loyal to me."

"Fine. Right. We gotta go. See you tomorrow Roth!"

Is Roth the only nickname available for Dorothy? Lemme die chile.

For this to be over, I lazily went to the schoolyard.

I just stood up and looked around. Well, hindi naman siguro reresbak ang Andromeda Secret Creature na yun. Shame on him if he will.

All I see is a not-so-tall grass over here and a mini garage I guess since it's full of car engines.

"Good aftie, new emo on the block." suddenly someone spoke behind me. I looked back wondering if he's that ASC (Andromeda Secret Creature) because I guess all freak guys in this school looked like him. Freaks have the same faces after all.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I'm Irvin. Nice to meet you, DOROTHY."

He's creeping me out, how did he know my name?

"Why are you here? Alagad ka ba ng Andromeda Secret Creature?"

"Ha?"

"Kilala mo si Russel Tarkster?"

"Uhm, maybe or maybe not."

The next thing I knew is we're throwing punches and exchanging kicks to each other. I don't know his intention, but I want to know why he's fighting with me and I'm asking myself the same.

Then this other guy walked towards me holding a handkerchief. I think they're part of a fraternity or something.

I smelled an unknown fragrance that makes me feel dizzy. Oh no, if they're planning to kidnap me and sell my kidney, stop what they're doing. I'm willing to donate my left one.

"Take my kidney if you need them but don't kill me yet," I said and fell on the ground.

***

"She's moving. Russel she's awake."

As I opened my eyes, I found myself tied on a chair (what am i supposed to expect) in a room- at the mini garage, I say. I tried to catch a glimpse of my wristwatch to tell the time and it's eight o'clock past.

"I said take my kidney if you need it, you don't have to kidnap me," I repeated.

Kinest laughed. "Who needs your kidney? We're all physically healthy-"

"But mentally not." I insisted.

"Screw you."

"I skipped my first ever archery training here at school just to be on this case and now I'm with freakos."

"You chose to be here."

"Oh, who will challenge me? If yer not a scaredy-cat then untie me, and the battle will then begin."

"Speak as long as you want."

"Just leave me here."

"Do you want that to happen?"

"Well it's better than being with y'all here. It feels like a torture."

"That's so stupid." he leaned to me as I raised my eyebrows. "I know you're going to escape. I know your background, Wedge. Don't mess up with me."

"You know my background?" i chuckled. "Then you are truly interested about my life."

He then punched me in the face.

"Coward." I smiled to tease him.

He punched me. Again. A two or three.

"Russel tama na! Ayaw mo naman sigurong pumatay ng tao diba?!" Irvin shouted but Tarkster still won't stop punching me. He even slapped my wonderful face. But that still doesn't count for a point of pitying myself. I'm brave.

"Russel!" the other guy tried to stop him but he's not listening. I can taste blood coming from my mouth and I feel dizzy again. Based on my calculation and mind-blowing estimations, he already punched me several times.

several times = 20 units

Time passed by and Tarkster got tired of punching me. Siya ngang nanununtok lang, napagod. Pano pa ako dito na bugbog-sarado na? Ano ako? Immortal? Ako ba pinagloloko niyo?

"Don't mess with me. I'm telling you," he warned me.

"What would satisfy you? Killing me?"

"Is that so?"

"I'll come after you. I'll kill you with kindness."

***

After that one big punch Tarkster gave me, they all walked away and left me here, on locked door, tied. Not to mention all the blood and sweat I received earlier.

It's kinda dark but as I said it's better than being with Tarkster and his friends or should I say, The Three Musketeers. Luckily I have this swiss knife wherever I go to keep me safe. Unluckily I'm too weak to reach it. It's in my pants.

I gave up after several trials (I gave the right equivalent) of taking a swiss knife out of my pants pocket. I sighed and closed my eyes. Guess I'll wait 'til the AM.

Suddenly, I heard a knock.

I tried to speak but no words are coming out. Guess I'm out of energy, gave up.

"You've got keys, idiot. Use it!"

I stopped thinking about my funeral when I heard a voice. It sounded like ..

"Come on Tarkster I don't want to get expelled!"

"Ito na ito na! Wag mo kong sigawan!"

As the door opened, I played dead. They all ran towards me and quickly cut the rope.

"You think she's dead?" Tarkster asked.

"She ain't moving nor breathing." Irvin insisted.

"No this can't be. She can't be dead with just a punch-"

"Plenty of punches." Irvin again corrected.

"But- but she can't be dead, she even won against a bear so why would she be dead with just punches?"

"How did you know that ?!" I angrily asked.

Tarkster faced his co-musketeer. "See? She ain't dead!"

I glared at Tarkster. "I said how did you know that?!!"

"Told you, I have read your background."

"I- nevermind. Don't need your help freakos so just tie me up in that chair again. I'm not begging you to pity me."

"T4ng4, kaya kami bumalik dito dahil ayaw naming ma-expell plus the security guard is already walking around, and when he sees us here-"

"I understand. You are afraid of being suspended."

He looked at me but he also took it back. "Let's go. We had to hide from the guard."

I'm not gonna do this. I'm not going with them. I should not show up like I'm this helpless person who needs to be protected at all cost.

"I'm not going with you all."

They all turned to me.

"Are you crazy ?!" said Tarkster.

"No."

"Just come with us! We know how to sneak-"

"I don't give a damn about your knowledge and tactics and ideas, I'm still not going with you who planned to almost kill me."

"She's not gonna change her mind. Let's go." Irvin tapped Tarkster's back.

They all left once again and I'm all alone .. again. But that's better, I can relax when I'm alone- well, not now. Because of these wounds and bruises and a bleeding nose and a bleeding mouth and a bleeding hand.

Five minutes of laying down and looking at the ceiling with a blank face makes me feel so bored and uncomfortable. By this time, I should be at home and doing my worthless first day of school assignment. Nevertheless, Mom and Dad don't even care. But Davin .. nah. He won't notice.

I was shocked when the garage door opened and it was Tarkster. In sweat and panting, also shocked when he saw me. Is he expecting that I was gone? With all these wounds? I'm laughing my a*s off.

He still can't believe that I'm still here. We're looking at each other, waiting for who will speak first.

"What?" I asked.

"C-come with me."

"Why?"

"Just come with me."

"Why?"

"P-please."

Did he just say please ?

"Come with me .. please?"

He was pitiful so I got up (even though it was difficult and had several bruises) and went with him.

"Where are we going? I mean, how do we get out of this place?" I asked while we're on our way to nowhere.

"Wag kang maingay." he whispered so I nodded.

Meanwhile I saw a certain light and got confused. sinundan ko ng tingin yung ilaw at na-realize ko na galing pala yun sa guard.

"Hoy," kinulbit ko sya.

"I said-"

"Sekyu alert."

His eyes widened at quickly grabbed my arms then ran. Ako naman tong (inaamin ko) uto-uto na sumunod naman sa kanya even if I can walk to a different path. This is the most embarrassing moment of my life that I won't really bother to tell.

He stopped snd let go of my arm when we reached a wall. He looked at me and I guess I get what he wants to say.

"You go first, ASC." I said.

"ASC?"

"Andromeda Secret Creature."

"T4ngin4 mo, ladies first hoe." he insisted. pabebe.

"I'm not a lady, hoe."

He raised his eyebrows and sighed. Loser.

"Weight?" I asked before giving him a lift.

"90 pounds."

"Covert to kilograms."

"don't know? Maybe 50?"

I sighed and then pointed my shoulder. "Bilisan mo."

It really hurts when someone's stepping on you, literally. Lalo na kapag kakabugbog lang sayo.

When he finally jumped to the other side of the wall, I aimed for my jump. No one would help me either. I can carry my body since this s**t was just 44 kilograms for Pete's sake.

I did it.

*imaginary crowd applause*

"What did you just do?" he asked when he saw me.

"Jumped."

"How?"

"I lifted my feet."

"I mean, how could you do that?"

"All human can do that, except those with wheelchair.. no offense."

"But-"

"I don't want talking to you." I said and started my tracks on my way home. This is an eight-kilometer walk but I might consider this as a night-exercise.. or a trip to death.

"Where u goin'?" He asked. Again.

I looked at him with a frowned face. "Can you just go home? 'Coz I really want to rest. Ya need it too. Well, I'm not concerned but I-"

"K. Got it." maikli nyang sagot at tumalikod na para umuwi.

I was about to take a step forward when he again spoke.

"Your house is eight kilometers far from this university."

"And..?"

"Ride?"

"Ride a what?"

"Car."

"Don't accept free rides from strangers. bye."

"You know me already!"

"Not that much."

"Nagpapakipot ka ba?!"

"Not tasteless."

He turned on his way back so I continued to walk. As I was walking through the dark sidewalk, I saw a headlight coming from a certain vehicle. Tumigil ito sa tapat ko. I knew it.

"You ride o you die."

"Die." I answered.

"COME ON CAN YOU JUST PLEASE RIDE I WON'T KILL YOU OKAY!!"

I was shocked when he raised his voice but I kept a bored face on me.

"You won't kill me?"

"I'M. NOT. A. MURDERER!"

"Yo almost killed me. Fun. Now, no fun."

He went out of his car and looked at me like he's analyzing my face.

Next thing happened, he rapidly pushed me inside his car. It hurts you know.

"You're so gonna regret this soon, you ASC."

"I'm full of regrets."

"I'm not forcing you to take me home so don't you dare blame me."

"Don't tell anyone about this."

"Who am I gonna tell this? I'm not close to anyone."

"Your brother."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Are you stalking me? Una, you know I've been attacked by a bear. Pangalawa, alam mo kung nasan bahay ko. Pangatlo, you know I have a brother??"

"Forget it emo. I want to rest as soon as possible."

"Said the murderer." pagdugtong ko kaya napalingon sya saken at masama nanaman ang tingin ng gago.

"I dump your ass." he said.

He started to drive and I kept silent and muted. We're not close nonetheless.

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