Whispers In Shadows

02

My first day at school isn't bad. Though, I was sort of treated like I was someone special. Sabagay, ganun naman talaga pag may bagong lipat, 'di ba?

Everyone is curious about you at first, but eventually, the hype will pass and everyone won't even glance at you. Besides, I was kinda used to this kind of attention. It didn't bother me anymore.

"How was it? Are your classmates good to you?" Dionne asked.

It's my second day today and so far, everything is going smoothly.

I shrugged.

"So far," I answered. Hindi ko naman malalaman agad, 'di ba? No one shows their true colors at the first meeting.

"Dapat lang, yari sila sa akin pag may ginawa sila sa'yo," she said.

It was lunch already and we decided to meet at the cafeteria. At our table are Dionne, Kieth, Dan, and I.

"Alexa can surely manage, if you have forgotten why she was transferred here," Dan butted in.

"That's the point, she can't be involved in such ruckus anymore. Baka hindi na 'yan maka-graduate," Keith said too. Inirapan ko lang naman sila.

Ano ba tingin nila sa akin? Basagulera?

"Nothing will happen if no one would try to provoke me," I said.

"No one will even try, trust me," Dan said. I arched my brow at him and he just smirked.

"Yabang," Keith murmured.

I didn't say anything though. I just busied myself observing around, looking at each of these students.

These kids in this school, they are irrevocably brats! I still remember that one girl in my class who looked at me from head to toe, as if I offended her by being in the same class.

Hmp!

"What's your next class?" Dionne asked. We're done with our lunch and we're hanging out at the bench near the soccer field.

"Gym," I answered. I still can't understand why they have to put our Gym class on just after lunch!

Gusto ba nila kaming magkasakit sa appendix?

"Oh, same with Dan and Keith. I'm inggit," ani n'ya.

"What's to envy? Hindi kaya nakakatuwang mag Gym after ng lunch," Keith butted in.

"Right," I agreed.

"It's for you to eat less. Ayaw n'yo yun, binigyan na kayo ng chance makapag-diet," Dan teased.

"Do we look like we're on a diet?" Mataray naman na sagot ni Keith. Dan just shrugged but didn't say anything.

"Is that the college department?" I asked, pointing at the nearby building on the other side of the field.

"Yeah. But we can't just barge in there," Dionne answered.

"I see," I answered. Still looking at the building.

That's where Dashiel is right now. I mentally said.

"Ang ganda no? Gusto ko rin d'yan mag-aral!" Dionne said.

"Aral ka munang mabuti para makapasok ka d'yan," Dan teased his sister.

"Wow! Nagsalita ang matalino," Dionne said.

"Hay naku, tara na nga lang. Mag aaway na naman kayong dalawa!" Keith said. She stood up so we followed.

We were walking side by side, Dionne and her on my both sides and Dan behind us.

"See you later, guys!" Dionne waved before entering her classroom.

Nasa dulo pa ng hallway ang sa akin at nasa taas na palapag naman ang kala Keith at Dan.

"See you sa gym mamaya," paalam ko sa dalawa ng marating namin ang classroom ko.

"Huy, type D ang i-suot mo ah? H'wag 'yung C," Dan said.

"Bawal," Keith mouthed while pointing at Dan.

Umirap lang ako. Arte.

"Oo," sagot ko bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.

It's still 20 minutes before our class starts. Sa first warning ng bell ay mag hahanda na kami para sa gym class at dapat at nasa gym na kami bago mag last warning. I just sat at my seat and wander over the view outside our classroom's window.

"Hi!" A girl approached me. She sat on the chair in front of mine. "I'm Lucia, Alexandria pangalan mo 'di ba?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Why?" I asked.

"Wala naman. Gusto mo bang maging buddy tayo? Since wala ka pang ganung friends dito," ani n'ya.

I arched my brow. "Is that necessary?"

She shook her head and smiled. "Not really, but isn't it nice having friends?"

"I already have friends," I answered.

"I know, the Aquinos and Alejandrino? Nasa ibang klase naman sila, mas okay pa rin kung may friends ka sa room," pilit n'ya pa.

"Don't you have friends?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Dito sa room wala, sa ibang klase meron naman," sagot n'ya.

Napairap naman ako. "Why do you think I will agree with you?"

She smiled. "I'm just trying my luck," she said.

"Try it to someone else," I said.

"Pero ikaw ang gusto ko," ani n'ya pa. I arched my brow.

Baliw ba 'to?

I was about to say something but was cut off by a flying eraser. Akala ko ay sa akin iyon tatama, but it landed straight at Lucia's head.

"Oops! Sorry," Someone shouted in front. Nagtatawanan pa ito at mga kasama niya.

I was just looking at them. Halos mamatay na sila kakatawa sa ginawa habang itong si Lucia naman ay nakayuko lang. I waited for her to react but it didn't came. Pinagpagan n'ya lang ang ulo tapos ay ngumiti.

"Ayos lang, hindi naman masakit," sabi n'ya. Mas lalo naman nagtawanan iyong mga nasa harapan.

Brats!

Umirap na lang ako at mas piniling huwag na lang silang pansinin. I stood up from my chair and walked out of the room.

Di-diretso na ako sa locker room para magpalit.

"A!" Keith called me when I entered the gymnasium. I walked towards her direction.

"Where's Dan?" I asked. Keith's wearing our type D P.E uniform, that jogging pants and shirt. So am I.

She shrugged. "I don't know."

"That's new," I said.

Keith and Dan are inseparable, he acts like he is her best friend more than Dionne and I to Kieth.

"I don't meddle with his business," she said.

"I see," I just answered.

We just sat at the bleachers while waiting for the class to start. Dan came three minutes before the time.

"You smell like hell, Dan," I commented when he sat between Keith and I.

Cigarettes!

"Huwag ka nang maarte, nakiki-amoy ka na nga lang, eh," he replied. I rolled my eyes.

"Mahuli ka sana ng teacher," I said.

"That never happened," he said too.

The class started and I found out that my section and Dan's have been competing with each other since day one. Keith said that our P.E teachers intentionally put our class at the same time for this purpose.

What a brilliant idea!

"Okay, everyone stand!" One of the teachers said. We stood and listened to what they were going to say.

"For today, we will be playing volleyball. Boys vs boys and girls vs girls," the other teacher announced.

"What the hell?" Someone said from behind. It was almost a whisper that the teacher didn't hear it.

"Arte talaga," Keith commented on my side. I just shrugged and grinned.

"Okay! Group yourselves now!" Teacher said. Agad naman nagbulungan ang lahat para sa kampihan.

"We're rivals," I said. She just made a face on me before running to her classmates.

Silly.

"Make Alexandria be part of the first five," the girl who looked offended by my existence said.

"Hala! Bago pa lang sya, 'di nya pa sanay dito," Lucia butted in.

"Am I asking for your opinion? I'm not, right? So, shut the f**k up, you're not even relevant," Ms offended answered. Our classmates booed and someone even pushed Lucia.

I arched my brow and marched near them, standing beside Lucia.

"I'm fine being part of the first five," I said. Looking straight at Ms. Offended.

"Good," she said, rolling her eyes.

Wow! This girl really has a problem.

"You okay?" I asked Lucia. And this girl just nodded and smiled.

I shook my head. It's just my second day in this school and I already met problematic students.

The game starts, my team composed of me, Lucia-which I don't understand why she's included, Ms. Offended, and other two I didn't bother to know the names of.

"You stupid nerd, all you have to do is to serve nicely! What the hell was that?" Ms. Offended scolded Lucia for missing her first serve. We were far from the teachers so they didn't hear what's happening in our corner.

"Sorry," Lucia answered, bowing her head.

"God, you're so dumb," another one commented.

These kids really have an attitude problem.

"Stop crying over one point, we won't lose just because we missed the first serve," I butted in, standing tall at Lucia's side.

"Oh, really? You're really certain?" Ms. Offended said.

I shrugged and Ms. Offended rolled her eyes.

Bitch!

The game resumes, service from Keith's team. It was sharp but I was able to catch it and passed to Lucia to set it for Ms. Offended spike. We scored.

The game went smoothly until game three, giving both teams a point.

"We can't lose," Ms. Offended said, eyeing us sharply. I just arched my brow at her.

The score was 10-13, in favor of our team. We only need a point for the match point and another one to win the game. And Ms. Offended here seems really competitive.

"Ang galing mo palang maglaro," Lucia whispered one me. We were on a break.

"I was a varsity," I answered.

Her eyes widened. "Talaga? Wow! Kaya pala," ani n'ya.

"Close your mouth, there's nothing to be amazed about," I told her because she's giving me this disgusting expression. But she didn't stop, she was looking at me like a lost puppy.

We went back on the game, we scored for the match point but missed the winning score. Lucia missed it again.

"Stupid!" Ms. Offended shouted, but the game continued giving her no time to bully Lucia furthermore.

We landed on 14-16, in favor of us, when it was my turn for the serve again.

"Go, Captain!" Dan suddenly shouted.

Gago talaga itong isang 'to!

"Captain, huh?" Ms. Offended said.

Is she mocking me?

I dribble the ball while stretching my legs. And in one breath, I jump to serve the ball. It was sharp that the receiver from the other team missed it.

I served another two and the other team missed it both.

"Wooooo! Ano, Keith!" Dan shouted again.

"Gago, manahimik ka d'yan!" Kieth shouted back. My eyes widened with her outburst. Kanina pa kasi nang bubuska si Dan at panay si Keith ang inaasar nito.

"Alejandro!" One of our teachers called out. Nag sorry naman agad si Keith.

Buset talaga 'tong Dandrev na ito.

The game resumes again, another match point for us. But this time, the other team was able to catch my service and was able to score. It's 15-19 now, still in favor of us.

"Six points na lang," one of my team said.

"Yes, so don't be stupid," Ms. Offended said.

I walked away and stood far from them. I'm so tired listening to their bullshit.

"It's our first time to win, if ever," Lucia said beside me.

Oh? That's why she's agitated.

"I see," I just said.

We, then, called for the game to continue.

"Stupid!" Ms. Offended shouted at the other girl on our team because she didn't set the ball properly.

"Oh, God! You're so stupid!" She shouted again to another girl, she missed receiving the ball.

"Ang tanga-tanga mo!" Ms. Offended again, this time, it was Lucia again. She even pushed her.

"Hey, stop!" I said getting in between. "Stop being agitated, it's just a game," I added.

But this girl didn't stop, she even cursed on me.

Tangina. May saltik ba 'to?

"What did you just say?" I asked, crossing my arms on my chest.

"I said, f**k you b***h!"

I laughed. "Girl, you don't want to see me bitchin', you might regret it," I said, looking straight at her eyes emotionless.

"Let's see, you don't know me," she said.

I smirked and walked closer to her. I leaned on her and whispered, "It's you who didn't know me, Ms."

The game resumed again, it was my turn for service again and this time, I didn't really care if we won or not.

I dribbled the ball as I'm stretching my right arm and shoulder before serving it. I slammed the ball sharply not in the other team's court but to Ms. Offended's head, making it look like it was an honest mistake.

"Oh gosh," I said, acting shocked as she fell unconscious on the ground.