Whispers In Shadows

04

I was already wearing a new pair of uniforms when Lucia and I went back to our classroom. And unlike earlier, it was Lucia who came in the room first.

Safety purposes, she said.

I just shook my head on her and went straight to my desk.

My brow automatically arched seeing how they messed on my desk. There were doodles on it, mostly nonsense words but some were drawings of I think it was me, who were being thrown off something.

I pulled out my chair and checked it first before sitting. Gladly, they didn't put anything on it.

I sat on my chair and the moment I did, one of the powerpuff girls came into me. This was the girl who spoke to me the other day. Their leader, I guess?

"What's up? How's the feeling of getting wet?" she asked, smirking at me.

I stared at her, showing no emotion before answering. "What do you need?" I asked.

That made her laugh. "I saw what you mouthed earlier and I'm sure Harriet understood that. How brave of you to even have the courage to utter that?"

"Are you preaching to me?" I asked again.

I honestly don't know why they are so interested in me. Is it just because I'm a transferee? They're trying to bully me and if I will fight back? Is that it?

"I'm helping you, girl," she answered.

I shook my head. "I don't need help from anyone. I can fight for myself," I answered.

"Let's see how far that goes," he said. He left in front of me and returned to his group.

I can feel a sharp stare from my head and when I look to see, I meet Harriett's eyes; her glares are as sharp of daggers, but I don't care. I stared back, telling her that she can't scare me the way she's doing to others.

Hell! I met worse than her.

"Alexa..." Lucia called, tapping on my shoulders using her index finger, but I didn't turn to see her and just kept staring at Harriett until she turned away.

"Huy, mukhang trip ka talaga nila. Iyan kasing sila Mara, hindi 'yan lalapit kung hindi sila interesado sa'yo," sabi n'ya.

"Let them. I'm not scared," I answered.

"Hala! Baka mabugbog ka. Kasi alam mo, 'yang mga 'yan, mukha lang maaarti 'yan sila, pero malakas mang bugbog 'yang mga 'yan," sabi n'ya pa.

I sighed and stared straight into her eyes. "Do you have any idea why I suddenly transferred here in the middle of the academic year?" I asked.

Lucia shook her head cutely. "I don't have. May ibang dahilan ba bukod sa gusto mo lang makasama sa school ang mga Aquino? 'Di ba boyfriend mo si Dandrev?" tanong n'ya.

I rolled my eyes and stopped myself from pulling her hair. "What? No! What the hell? How did you come up with that thinking?" I asked, scandalized from what she said.

May sira talaga sa utak ang babaeng 'to!

"Ay, hindi ba? Akala ko kasi kayo, e. Lagi kasi kayong sabay pumapasok at umuuwi," sabi n'ya.

"God, Lucia. Mapag-gawa ka ng kwento. We're family friends. Ninang ko ang mommy niya," sagot ko.

"Ganun ba? Sorry naman," sabi n'ya pa ng natatawa.

Ibalibag ko kaya 'tong babaeng 'to? Paisa lang.

"Pero bakit ka nga lumipat? Kung hindi dahil sa mga Aquino, anong dahilan?" tanong n'ya.

I sighed again, composing myself from the irritation she gave me. "I was expelled," I answered.

"Expelled?"

I nodded. "I sent my classmate to the hospital after we had a fight. She got a broken nose and rib," I said.

Lucia's eyes widened. "Totoo?"

I nodded. "Grabe, bad girl ka, 'te?" ani n'ya.

And for a moment there, I asked myself why I even talked to this girl. Baliw sya at feeling ko ay mahahawa ako sa kabaliwan n'ya.

"Bumalik ka na nga sa upuan mo," utos ko.

Sumunod naman ito pero hindi parin nawawala ang tingin niyang kakaiba sa akin, para bang hinuhusgahan nito ang buong pagkatao ko.

I just shook my head and avoided looking at her. Bahala s'yang tumitig sa akin, manawa s'ya.

Our class started, okay naman. Tahimik. But when lunch came, Harriett and her minions started again. Sumasama pa iyong powerpuff girls.

"Ano kayang pagkain ngayon?" Lucia talked to herself, nasa pili kami para sa pagkain.

"Sana naman masarap! Ang mahal-mahal ng binabayad natin sa meal card pero yung pinapakain sa atin parang hindi naman deserving ng singil nila. Mas masarap pang kumain sa eatery sa labas ng school," sabi n'ya pa.

"Edi doon ka kumain," Dan butted in. He was standing behind me.

"Uy, master, nandyan ka pala!" Lucia greeted him, ipinagdikit pa nito ang kamao sa palad n'ya at yumuko. And when I turned to Dan, he was doing the same.

I snorted. Apparently, Lucia is too friendly that she immediately get to my friends. May sapak na nga si Lucia, dumagdag pa itong mas lakas ang tama sa utak.

"Where's D and K?" I asked.

"Powder room. They'll be here in a few," he answered.

"Sino si D at K?" Lucia asked. "May friends din kayong alphabet?" dagdag n'ya pa.

"That stands for Dionne and Kieth, Lucia," I answered.

"Oh? Initials ang tawagan n'yo? Edi, ikaw si A?" she asked me.

I nodded.

"Paano naman si master? D rin initial n'ya. D1 at D2 ba sila ng kapatid n'ya?" tanong n'ya pa.

Dan burst into laughter. "What? D1 and D2? Who are we, sina B1 at B2?" Dan reacted.

"Hindi ba?" Lucia asked innocently.

I shook my head.

"f**k! Hell no!" Dan blurted.

"Hindi siya kasali. It's between Dionne, Keith and I only," I told her.

"Ay ganun? Akala ko kayong apat ganun, kasi 'di ba close kayong lahat? Tapos, sabi ni master and Dionne nung nakaraan, friends n'yo na rin ako, akala ko pwede nyo rin akong tawaging L. Cute sana nun," sabi n'ya ng nakanguso.

"Sa kanilang tatlo lang 'yun. Silang mag b-best friend lang 'yun. Pero hayaan mo na sila, maarte 'yang mga 'yan e. Feeling maganda, at saka, mayroon din naman tayong dalawa, 'di ba?" Dan answered.

Lucia nodded. "Oo!" she answered excitedly.

"Great! Hayaan mo na 'yang mga alphabet na 'yan," Dan said with a laugh. Tuwang-tuwa sa kabaliwan nilang dalawa.

Napapailing na lang ako.

We proceeded in line. Nakakuha na kami ng pagkain at naglalakad na para makahanap ng lamesa ng bigla na lang may pumatid kay Lucia. She almost fell on the ground but Dan was quick to hold her in her elbow.

"Hala! Natapon ang pagkain ko," Lucia said.

Luluhod pa sana ito sa sahig para pulutin ang pagkain n'ya but Dan stopped her.

"f**k, Lucia! Anong gagawin mo?" Dan asked her.

"Sayang, e! Wala pa namang five seconds," sagot nito.

"What? Pulubi ka ba?" Dan asked again. "Marumi na 'yan. Bumili ka na lang ulit ng bago," sabi nito kay Lucia, handing her his meal card.

Lucia was hesitant to take his card that I had to urge her to get it and buy her food again. At nang sumunod ito, sinenyasan ko sina D at K na nakapila pa sa counter, they both surely saw what happened here.

"Pakilinis na lang 'yan, tutal ikaw naman ang dahilan kung bakit natapon 'yan," Dan told the girl sitting in the table in front of us. Table iyon nila Harriett at napadaan kami sa gilid nila.

"Bakit ako? Kasalanan ko pang tanga-tanga ang Lucia-ng 'yon?" the girl answered.

I arched my brow.

"Pwede mo naman hindi pulutin, pero sisiguraduhin kong lahat nang 'yan ay mapupunta sa mukha mo..

Pwede rin sa bibig mo," Dan said to the girl. "And I mean it," he added, staring sharply at the girl.

I look at Harriett with no emotion given, naka-tingin lang din ito sa akin. Pinanonood ang magiging reaksyon ko.

This girl really wants a mess. I smirked.

"Good girl. Sa susunod, titignan mo muna kung sino ang binabangga mo," I heard Dan said. Hindi ko siya lilingon pero kita kong nakaluhod na iyong babaeng nanisod kay Lucia sa lapag. Pinupulot isa-isa ang natapong pagkain.

"Let's go, Alexa. Alis na tayo bago ko pa baliktarin ang lamesang 'yan," Dan called me.

Sumunod naman ako. Not leaving Harriett's glare until I walked passed her.

Huh! You cannot scare me, dear. It takes a lot to scare Maria Alexandria.

"Sila rin ba iyong nagbuhos sa'yo ng kung ano kaninang umaga?" Dan asked me when we got a table to settle in.

I shrugged. "I guess so. They're with Harriett and it's her who surely ordered that," I answered.

"That girl is kinda feisty. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko na-gets ang topak ng babaeng 'yan," sabi n'ya.

"Maybe because she's out of your league. Alam ko ang mga tipo mo, 'yung katulad ni Harriett. Snob pero palaban but apparently, she's too brave for you to tame," I said.

Dan laughed. "Para mo na ring sinabing type din kita," sabi n'ya.

"Yuck!" I snorted. "Kadiri nun, Dan. Isipin mo nga," sabi ko.

"What? It's you who started the idea," naatawang sagot n'ya.

"It's her we are talking about. Not me, damn shit."

"Girl, you said that her kind is my type. Snob pero palaban. And you're just like her, as if telling me that you're also my type," paliwanag n'ya.

I rolled my eyes."Kadiri," sabi ko na lang.

Lalo naman itong natawa.

Our afternoon classes started, gym class na naman at nasa gym na kami ni Lucia. Dan and K are also there as well. Magkakasama kaming apat na naka-upo sa bench habanh nag-iintay na mag simula ang klase.

"She'll surely get back to you," K said. We were both looking at Harriett's group. The girl is glaring at me.

"I'm sure of that," I answered.

Hindi ba nga at sinimulan n'ya na? At alam kong hindi pa iyon natatapos dun. Sa tingin pa lamang n'ya, kahit wala itong sinasabi ay alam kong may binabalak na naman ito.

"Ganyan ba talaga kayo lagi?" Lucia butted in. Kyuryosong napabaling naman kaming dalawa ni Keith sa kanya.

"I mean, kayong apat nina master at ms. D.. Pag nag-uusap laging english, well, alam ko namang mga anak mayaman kayo pero hindi n'yo ba naisip na ang sakit n'yo na sa ulong pakinggan?" ani n'ya.

"I was raised in the states, so as the Aquinos. Kieth here lived in Australia for 10 years," I answered.

Lucia showed an amazed expression. "Talaga?Mga imported pala kayo!" sabi n'ya.

I shook my head.

"Stop being amazed over little things, Lucia. Para ka namang batang nabigyan ng candy," Keith said.

Lucia nodded. "Pero bakit ang galing nyo ring mag tagalog?" tanong n'ya pa.

"Because we were taught to learn the language, Lucia. Dami mo masyadong tanong, bakit 'di ka na lang gumawa ng slam book tapos pasagutan mo sa aming apat," Dan butted in.

Lucia pouted. "Na-amaze lang naman ako," sabi n'ya. "Pero kung gusto nyo, pwede rin naman akong gumawa ng slam book. Basta ah, sasagot kayo!" dagdag n'ya pa.

Pwede ko bang busalan ang bibig nitong babaeng 'to?

The class started, basketball naman ang laro namin ngayon. This time, my section and Keith's were mixed. And luckily, I wasn't teamed with Harriett. At least, hindi ko maririnig ang masasamang salita n'ya sa mga ka-team n'ya.

Ka-team ko si Keith at panay na ang sigaw nina Dan at Lucia mula sa benches. At ang hinayupak na Dandrev, kung ano-ano ang isinisigaw.

Tarantado talaga!

The game started, iyong classmate ni Keith and na-assign para sa jump ball para sa team namin at iyong isa naman sa powerpuff ang para sa kabilang team.

We got the ball and we all ran down to our side of the court. Kieth got the ball but she was instantly guarded, hindering her to shoot the ball.

I was free so she passed it to me, I immediately jumped when I got it but Harriett suddenly jumped in too. Slamming her hand on the ball towards my face caused me to lose my balance and fell on the ground.