Whispers In Shadows

"Have you seen the school, hija?" Ninang Sierra asked. We are in their dining hall for lunch. It's Sunday today and it was like a tradition to spend the rest of the day with their family. "Yes po, Ninang," I answered. "What do you think about it?" She asked again. "It's fine, I guess," I answered, shrugging. "It's fine my ass," Dandrev whispered. Sinamaan ko naman agad ito ng tingin. Epal na naman! "That's good to hear. You will be fine there, don't worry," Ninang said. I'm in my 12th grade right now, kami nina Dandrev at Dionne. And I recently transferred to their school because I got kicked out from my old school. "Sana nga, Sierra. Alam mo naman itong si Alexa, parang hindi babae kung umasta," Papa Ae said. Napa-simangot naman ako. "Pa," I called out. Pero inismiran lang ako nito. "Manang-mana sa Nanay n'ya, ganyang-ganyan noong estudyante pa. Masyadong ligalig," Papa added. My mom. She died after giving birth to me. "Bata pa kasi sila, nag e-explore pa. Buti nga at ganun lang ang ginagawa kaysa ang pag b-boyfriend," ninang said. "Ay naku, Sierra. Iyon nga ang ikinatatakot ko, kaya doon ko sa pang babae lang na eskwelahan ipinasok, kaso tingnan mo naman ang ginawa, panay nakikipag away. Nakakapagod din ang laging ipinatatawag sa guidance office," Papa answered. "Don't worry too much, Ae. She will be with Dionne and Dandrev from now on. And Dashiel is also there, he could pay them a visit from time to time. 'Di ba anak?" Ninang said again. Dashiel just nodded and said nothing. I look at him. Dashiel Zyron, the eldest among the Dela Torre siblings. I have been curious about him. Palagi kasi itong tahimik at mag-isa, kumpara sa dalawang kapatid. Papa Ae once said it was because of a trauma he got from the past, where both of our fathers are involved. "Kuya's busy, Mom. Ako na po ang bahala sa dalawa," Dandrev said. Napalingon naman ako sa kan'ya, creasing my brows. Pero kinindatan lang ako nito. "Gross," I mouthed. Natawa naman s'ya. "I'm so happy! Finally one school na tayo!" Dionne said she was even jumping out of joy. We are in her room now. "What's to be happy? We're not even classmates," I said. "Well, at least we're in the same school. Sobrang hassle kaya before na nasa ibang school ka," ani n'ya. I lay in her bed, fascinating her ceiling. "I really love your ceiling," I said. Her ceiling was painted like a night sky. "Kuya Dash did that," ani n'ya. "Really? Wow!" I reacted. "Didn't know he had such talent," I added. Really amazed with the artwork. "Did you know that his dream is to become an architect?" She said. "Why did he take business, then?" I asked. "Because he will be the successor of the Legaspi Corporation." "Your grandparents' business?" "Yeah." She laid beside me. "You know what, I'm sad that Kuya Dash has to go through all these. He's the purest person I have ever known and it hurts that I can't do anything to help him even a bit," she added. "What kind of help do you think he needs?" I asked. I know something is wrong with Dashiel. He was silent not because he wanted to, but because he had to. He was like a bird that was caged. "I don't know," Dionne answered, sighing. "Maybe he just needs some time off from his studies. Maybe a vacation?" I suggested. "How can we do that? We are in the middle of the school year," she answered. "Right," I just said and shrugged. I let myself be fascinated more by the painting. I didn't know he's this talented. Dionne and I spent the whole afternoon inside her room. We were just forced to go out when Dandrev asked us to swim in their pool. "Dude, you're so out of the blue, you know?" I told him. It's mid-November and there is a typhoon coming! "It's better to do some activity than wasting your time fangirling over those chinky guys," he said. "Sabihin mo, hater ka lang talaga," Dionne butted in. She was wearing a red one piece swimsuit. "Nothing to hate, baby sis," Dandrev answered. I just rolled my eyes. These two, they argue like they are not siblings. "We will freeze to death," I said while securing the string of my swimsuit. Dionne lent me one of her unused swimsuits because this is not planned and I am obviously not prepared. "Come on, Alexa. Don't be a weakshit," asar pa ni Dandrev bago ito tumalon sa pool. "I will ask Manang Soleng to bring us hot drinks, what do you like?" Dionne asked me. "I'm good with hot chocolate," I answered. She nodded at me then left to ask for our drinks. I walked towards the pool and sat at the side, letting my feet subside in the water. "Gosh. It's cold," I muttered. I heard Dandrev's laugher from the near side of the pool. Nakasandal ito sa gilid habang nakalubog ang kalahati ng katawan sa tubig. "Weak," ani n'ya. I rolled my eyes. "Let's call, Keith!" I yelled. "D, call K to come over!" I added. "Sure," Dionne said from inside the house. I saw the instant panic on Dandrev's face so I laughed. Huh! Akala mo ah. "She won't come. She's out of town," Dandrev said. "Bakit mo alam?" I asked teasingly. "Duh. I'm her best friend," sagot naman nito. "You're so ma-feeling. We are her best friends, inagaw mo lang," Dionne said. She came back with our drinks. Agad akong tumayo at lumapit para sa inumin. "Tss. Sino ba laging kasama? Ako 'di ba?" Sagot naman n'ya. "It's because you're classmates and A is in another school. But change has come, you can't steal her from us anymore," Dionne said. "Whatever," sagot lang ni Dan bago umahon at makisalo sa amin. "I think we should invite Kuya Dashiel," I said looking at his room window. "He's busy studying," Dan said. "When he's not? And an hour won't make him fail," I said. "It's Kuya Dashiel you are talking about, it's his studies over any leisure if you forgot," Dan said. "Dork," I just commented. "Maybe we shou-," I was about to say something more but I was cut off when Dandrev suddenly lifted me up. "Dan! Put me down!" I shouted while trying to get free. But his hold was so tight that before I could even speak again, I already fell on the water. "f**k you, Dandrev Khalil!" I cursed as I held on to the pool side. But then, a splash of water slapped me on the face. He also threw Dionne to the pool. Tawa naman ito ng tawa habang pinauulanan namin siya ng mura. "Gago ka!" I said and kicked him on the butt. "What's happening in there?" A voice from the veranda stopped us. It was Dashiel. "Kuya Dash!" Dionne waved at him. "We were just having fun, Kuya," Dan answered. I didn't speak, I was just looking at him. Watching how his creased brows get creased more as he looks at us three. "Join us, Kuya!" Dionne asked him. But he just shook his head. "It's cold. Umahon na kayo at mag palit, baka magkasakit pa kayo," sabi lang nito bago tumalikod at umalis. "Killjoy," I murmured as I rolled my eyes. You are colder than the weather! "Let's go na. Baka mapagalitan pa tayo," Dionne said. Umahon na ito at kumuha ng tuwalya. I, on the other hand, took that as a chance to do my revenge. I pushed the defenseless Dandrev into the pool. He fell flat on the water so it's painful for sure. "Huh! See that, weak s**t!" I mocked before running to get my towel. "Let's go, D!" We both ran to her room. "Uwi na kami, Sierra. Salamat sa pag anyaya," Papa Ae said. "It's nothing. Sa susunod na linggo ulit, ha?" Ninang answered. "I'm not sure if I can, I have a business trip on that day. But Alexa will be here," Papa said. "When are you coming back? Alexa can stay here if you won't be back on the same day," Ninang asked. "I was about to ask, actually. I will leave on Saturday and be back on Monday," Papa answered. "I see. Let Alexa stay here for the weekend." "Oh, thank you. I will bring her here before I leave." "Okay. Ingat kayo," Ninang bid. "Kayo rin. We will go ahead," Papa said. "See you tomorrow," Dionne said and waved at me. "See you," I answered, waving my hands too. Tomorrow will be my first day at school. Papa Ae was so glad that I was still accepted, because if not, he said he will put me home schooled. "Let's see," I murmured to myself as I scrolled to my f*******: feed. I don't have a lot of friends on both personal and social media. Mas marami pa nga ang mga kaaway ko kaysa sa mga kaibigan ko. But that's fine, I learned that having a lot of friends isn't always fun. Because you're not sure which one is genuine and which one is being jealous of you. And that's dangerous. "Ingrata," I said to myself after seeing a post from someone I hated from my old school. Hindi ko nga alam bakit ko 'to friends sa f*******:. "I won't finally see you anymore. I'm so happy." The post said. "Hoping to not meet any jealous hypocrites at my new school," I posted as well. Dan was the first one who reacted to that. He even commented. "See you tomorrow!" His comment. "I hope not," I replied. He reacted haha and replied. "Oops. You don't have any choice! Remember, I will watch over you." "It's like having Lucifer watching over me," I teased. "Beat that," Dionne commented too. "Huh! Come to think of it, my task isn't easy. I have to watch over two little devils. I need a raise from my allowance," Dan replied. "Wow! Look how shameless this guy, Kieth Genesis Alejandrino," Dionne replied, she even mentioned K! "Hmm," I just replied. I closed that page and scrolled more. But nothing interesting so I decided to search something about my new school. Saint Therese Academia. Therese. It's the same with my mom's name; Selene Therese. "I wish I at least met you, mom," I said, looking at her picture at my night stand. I only see her from the pictures and hear her voice from the recordings Papa Ae gave me. Papa Ae said she was one of the kindest and genuine people he ever met. That my mom would always choose the happiness of others before hers. That she was so selfless. Mom had a very cheerful and sweet personality; making me wish to have the same. But I took after my biological father, and it saddened me. "I'm curious what I would be if you were still here," I said. My whole life was a lie. I once thought that it was a perfect one, that it was the same as in those fairy tales I used to watch. But I was wrong, it was not. My mom died because she chose me over her own life. She had a brain tumor while pregnant. The doctor advised her to abort me for her to live, but she refused. She refused to have the surgery that will extend her life just to save me. She chose me over her own life. She was indeed selfless. And my Dad? I thought he was the best father. Again, like those in the fairytale. But that was a lie of course, because he was not and will never be. He was the reason why my mom suffered. Why did my supposed older sibling die even before it was born. Why mom had to choose me over her life and why mom died. It was all his fault. Because of his cruelness and selfishness my whole life is ruined. Why despite all the love I received, I still feel empty.