Gangster High

Welcome to Hell

Chapter 1

WELCOME TO HELL

It was annoying to see how they were staring at me. Was there something wrong with my uniform? Did I wear it wrong? Perhaps I forgot to brush my hair again. Oh, maybe because I was a transferee and transferees were not allowed to walk in the hallway.

This was my first day in this school, Rapsodhee High, and I was going to stay here for two years hanggang sa matapos ko ang senior high. Why? Because this was a boarding school. I arrived yesterday. Ihinatid ako ni daddy. He helped me with my things kahit hindi ko naman kailangan ang tulong n'ya.

"Is she the new kid?" I heard someone asked when I passed by.

I saw a tall, white guy glaring at me when I looked over my shoulder.

I was hearing the question many times since this morning. Students were whispering about new kid blah blah from the dorm to the school main building, which was confusing and irritating.

"Indeed the first new kid,"

"Look at her eyes, bro,"

"She's wearing a contact lens,"

"I see what you mean,"

Students were talking about me and I was certain that they knew I could hear them. He said, first new kid. What was that mean? Ako ba ang unang lumipat sa school na ito? 'Yon ba ang rason kaya masyado nila akong pinagtutuunan ng pansin?

"Hey," the tall, white guy said, now smiling at me. Arms spread as if he was welcoming a guest, he added, "Welcome to hell."

I raised an eyebrow.

Yes, I knew, there was something unusual about here. Nabasa ko sa research kong may mga gangsters daw rito and that was ridiculous. Not the word, but the people who called themselves gangsters. In this school, I knew they were just wannabes. High school students were not that smart to become gangsters. They didn't know the deeper meaning of that word.

I ignored the guy and turned my back.

I headed straight to my classroom. It was on the third floor of the main building. Dinala na ako roon ng isang teacher na inutusan ng School Administrator noong nag-enroll ako and I could say that the classroom was good. It was clean and organized. I didn't admire the color of the wall, which was sky blue, but it was clean. The desks and chairs were all white. Based on the row, there could be thirty students here.

I heard someone catcalled me when I welcomed myself inside the classroom. Nakita ko rin na napako ang atensyon ng lahat sa akin nang pumasok ako.

I knew I looked hot and sexy, mind my pride, in this sailor miniskirt and pink long sleeve blouse, and flat semi boots, pero wala pa rin silang karapatang hubaran ako sa tingin dahil hindi lang ako ang nakasuot ng ganito. For God's sake. This was the fuckin' uniform here.

Chill, Temple. It's your first day.

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko. Naglakad na lang ako patungo sa bandang likuran, sa tabi ng bintana. I liked the view here. Sa ganito ako lagi pumupwesto sa bawat school na napapasukan ko. This place was far from attention that I hate the most. Tahimik akong naupo sa isang bakanteng upuan saka pinagmasdan nang palihim isa-isa ang mga kaklase ko. They were looking back at me. All of them.

"Hey, Miss Gorgeous. I think you are taking the wrong seat," sabi ng lalaking nasa unahan ko. Bahagya n'ya pang iniikot ang upuan niya para makaharap ako nang maayos.

"No one is sitting here," I replied.

"There are three vacant chairs over there. You choose,"

I glanced at the spot he pointed out. No. Absolutely not. I never liked the front seat.

"Don't mind her. Let's see what will happen when he comes back," a guy sitting behind me interrupted. His husky, monotone voice was creepy. And he just mentioned he? Who was he?

"Oh, look at that. Classmate pala kita." The tall, white guy appeared, standing at the door and devilishly smiling at me. He walked toward us and sat beside the guy behind me and said, "You're gonna love it here."

At that point, dumating ang teacher namin. She was beautiful, could be at the age of twenty-five or so on. Maaliwalas ang mukha at nakakaakit ang ngiti niya. Bumati s'ya ng good morning at nagkaroon ng maikling conversation. Sa pakikinig, nalaman kong Miss Meira ang tawag sa kanya ng lahat.

Dumating ang puntong ayaw na ayaw ko: ang magpakilala sa unahan ng klase. Sawang-sawa na ako sa ganito, but I had no choice kaya sumunod na lang ako.

Everybody looked at me when I stood before them. I felt like I was a delicious dish and they were the hungry monsters that'd soon attack me.

"I'm Temple Strawford." I paused because that was all I wanted to say.

"Ang ikli naman," reklamo ng isang lalaki sa una. "How old are you, Temple? And why are you here? I mean two months nang nagsimula ang school classes. Bakit late ka nang nag-enroll?"

Hindi ako sumagot. My name was enough. Hindi ko na kailangang idetalye sa kanila ang lahat.

"Miss Strawford, isn't it polite kung sasagutin mo ang tanong n'ya?" Napatigil ako sa gagawin ko sanang pag-alis sa unahan nang magsalita ang teacher namin.

Nakangiti s'ya sa akin, pero may kakaiba sa mapupungay n'yang mga mata n'yang nakatitig sa akin. May kislap doon na nakakatakot titigan. Para bang may mangyayaring masama kapag hindi ka sumunod sa sinasabi n'ya.

Marahas akong napabuntong-hininga sabay iwas ng tingin.

"My name is Temple Strawford. Seventeen years old. I was a student at Saint Patrick Academy, pero naekspeld ako. Nanggaling na ako sa iba't ibang eskwelahan and they will never accept me again as their student at ang school na ito ang last choice ko. So, that's why I'm here. Satisfied?" mabilis at iritado kong sabi.

Everybody fell silent. I lifted my chin. That's it. They should know what kind of person I was. But the silence didn't last. They laughed after a little while. All of them.

My brows furrowed. What was funny?

"She thinks she's a badass," nakatawang komento ng lalaking nasa hulihan ng upuan ko.

"She has no idea what this place is," segunda pa ng maputi at matangkad na lalaki sa tabi n'ya.

They were talking as if I wasn't here, as if I couldn't hear them. My classmates murmured things, which were hard to understand at all dahil sa sabay-sabay nilang pagsasalita.

"Quiet," Miss Meira said. She didn't raise her voice, but everybody shut their mouth and sat properly. Miss Meira looked at me. "You can go back to your seat now, Miss Strawford."

Hindi ako nagsalita, bumalik ako sa upuan ko. Pagkaupo ko ay tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana. Doon ko itinuon ang aking pansin sa halip na makinig sa pinagsasasabi ng mga kaklase ko. I didn't know how long I looked outside. The next thing I knew, wala na ang teacher namin sa unahan at isa-isa na ring umaalis ang mga kaklase ko. Mabilis akong kumilos. Sinuot ko ang bag kong hindi naman nagalaw ang laman saka ako mabilis na lumabas.

"Leaving so fast?" anang isang babaeng bigla na lang sumulpot sa tabi ko. Napalingon ako. I saw a girl wearing pink Hello Kitty eyeglasses. She didn't look like a nerd dahil sa fashion eyeglass n'ya. It was just weird that I felt like I was looking at real-life Velma Dinkley of Scooby-Doo because of her short, black hair. Which was ugly. I also noticed how she put her uniform on. The two upper buttons of her blouse were loose that revealed her cleavage. Her legs were exposed because she was not wearing knee socks. If this girl was trying to look hot, I must say she did a great job.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"You're new, right? You don't have friends yet. Mag-isa lang kasi akong pupunta sa cafeteria ngayon. Would you like to join me? Oh, by the way, my name is Fashia. Fashia Hawkins. We're classmates," pagpapakilala n'ya sa sarili.

Classmates? Hindi ko s'ya napansin sa klase kanina. I was sure of that dahil tiningnan ko naman isa-isa ang mga kaklase ko kanina bago pa lang magsimula ang klase at hindi ko siya napansin doon.

Mukha namang nabasa n'ya ang iniisip ko kaya ngumiti siya na nakapagpalabas ng mga dimples n'ya sa magkabilang pisngi.

"Hindi ako nakapasok sa unang klase. Late na kasi ako. Number one rule ni Miss Meira na hindi na pwedeng pumasok sa klase n'ya kapag nauna s'yang dumating."

Hindi na ako sumagot. Nagpatuloy na lang ako sa paglalakad patungo sa cafeteria. Nakasabay pa rin sa akin si Fashia at mas pinili kong huwag na lang siyang pansinin.

Parang iisang taong tumingin sa direksyon ko ang lahat ng estudyante sa cafeteria nang dumating kami roon. Ano ba talagang problema nila? Bakit ganito nila ako pagtuunan ng atensyon?

"Don't mind them. Nagagandahan lang sila sa'yo." Napansin yata ni Fashia ang reaksyon ko kaya masigla s'yang nagsalita. "Oh, there's Heina. Let's go."

Hinila n'ya ako papasok at dumiretso kami sa isang mesa kung saan ay nakaupo ang isang babaeng nakatirintas ang buhok sa magkabilang gilid. I recalled her as one of my classmates. She was staring at me hanggang sa makaupo ako sa harapan n'ya.

"What?" I asked irritably. I usually use a flat and cold tone of voice when talking with anyone, especially when annoyed. It was effective to shut people up. Unfortunately, the girl didn't even notice my annoyance.

Unlike Fashia, this girl was a typical high school girl. There was nothing special in her physical appearance. She was simple, plain, and... creepy.

"I'm just wondering, is this school really your last choice?" tanong n'ya sa mas malamig na tono. "Were you just amazed at how prestigious this school was kaya dito mo naisipang lumipat?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"All I'm saying is you are not supposed to be here."

"May I ask why?" I frowned.

"You can't escape from here anymore. Sooner or later you will see what hell is in here and you cannot turn back at all," sagot n'ya na nakatitig sa mga mata ko.

Lalong nangunot ang noo ko. Lahat ng school na napasukan ko ay may mga gangster wannabes. That's part of being a high school student. For fun, they said, for experience, for memories. This weird girl, meanwhile, was taking it to the next level. She was exaggerating and that's not funny.

"Stop it, Heina. Tinatakot mo s'ya." Ngumiti sa akin si Fashia saka ako binigyan ng in can soft drinks. "She is Heina Young nga pala. She's one of my best friends. Mabait 'yan. Medyo misteryosa nga lang talaga dahil sa mga sinasabi n'ya. Just like now, so don't mind her."

Heina snorted, "You should be telling her the truth, Fashia. Don't welcome her to hell."

Welcome to hell.

Don't welcome her to hell.

The contradiction was strangely linked. First was from that guy, now from this girl. I wanted to laugh at their hilarious statement, but hearing the same lines from two different people was not a coincidence.

Fashia looked at me. "Don't mind her."

I did not answer. Heina looked at me again. I raised an eyebrow and looked away. Her eyes were creepy, really.

"Kailan kaya babalik si Creed?" mayamaya ay biglang tanong ni Fashia habang nakatingin sa isang panig ng cafeteria.

Wala sa loob na napatingin din ako roon at nangunot na naman ang noo ko. Nakatingin kasi s'ya sa tatlong lalaking nasa isang mesa. Ang tatlong lalaking nakaikot sa upuan ko sa classroom.

Napansin n'ya siguro ang reaksyon ko kaya bigla s'yang nagsalita. "Kilala silang tatlo rito because they're the second hand of the knight. Look. That tall, white, and handsome guy is Draven Adkins. Iyong isa naman na may husky voice ay si Brusky Holand at ang isa pa, Kamko Xiao ang pangalan."

"I didn't ask for their names." Nakasimangot kong inalis ang tingin sa kanila. And what knight was she talking about?

"You should know them, trust me. They are the Student Council. Only the three of them. Also, they are the bishops here," sabad ni Heina.

Bishop, eh? Naglalaro siguro sila ng chess.

I chose to remain silent to avoid the conversation. I hated school because I have to memorize the names of such important students and the teachers as well. Remembering names was not my thing. That's the reason why I didn't remember anyone from my previous schools. Besides, I didn't have friends back there.

Pagkagaling sa cafeteria ay nagdesisyon na kaming bumalik sa classroom. I wanted to walk alone, but these two weird ladies were like tails following me wherever I went. I just let them do what they want. Ayokong mairita sa presensya nila. Isa pa, naiinis ako sa mga tao sa paligid. Ganoon pa rin ang tingin sa akin ng lahat.

Nakakapagtaka na talaga. They were acting strangely. I've been to so many schools, but this was the first time na nakakuha ako ng ganitong atensyon.

"There's an intruder!"

Natigilan ako sa paglalakad nang marinig ko ang sigaw na nagmula sa kung sinong estudyante. Ilang sandaling walang kumilos, bago nagkukumahog na nagsitakbuhan pababa ng school building ang mga estudyanteng nagkalat sa palapag. Karamihan ay mga nakangiti. Parang excited sa kung ano'ng bagay.

"What's happening?" kunot-noong tanong ko kina Fashia at Heina. Nakangiti si Fashia samantalang nakamata si Heina sa mga nagtatakbuhang mga estudyante.

"May pumasok sa teritoryo natin nang walang paalam," ani Fashia.

"Kawawa naman 'yon kung sino man s'ya. I'm sure, hindi s'ya makakalabas dito nang walang pasa sa katawan," Heina added and based on her facial expression, mukhang naaawa s'ya sa intruder.

What were they saying, anyway? Intruder? Teritoryo? Hindi makakalabas? Ipinagbabawal ba ang pagpasok dito ng iba?

I needed to see that intruder.

Hindi na ako nagpaalam sa kanila. Kumilos ako para sumunod sa agos ng mga estudyante. Patungo sila sa field. Napatanga pa ako nang makita kong halos mapuno ng mga estudyante ang lugar. Hindi ko makita kung ano ang nasa una at nahirapan din akong sumingit para makalapit sa pinagkukumpulan nila.

"Temple, h'wag ka nang magpumilit. Let's go." Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Fashia sa braso ko at ang paghila palayo, pero pumiksi ako. Gusto kong makita kung ano ang pinagkakaguluhan nila.

"Let her go, Fashia. It's better na makita n'ya na sa simula pa lang kung anong klaseng school ito."

What Heina said made me think na parang gusto n'ya akong itulak para malaman ko kung ano ang pinasok ko. Ilang sandali kaming nagsukatan ng titig bago ako napabuntong-hiningang tumalikod sa kanya.

Gumamit ako ng pwersa para itulak at hawiin ang mga nakaharang na estudyante. I didn't care kung may nasaktan man ako o ano pa man. I just wanted to know what's happening here. At pagkatapos ng ilang sandali pa, sa wakas ay nakarating rin ako sa pinakauna.

Sa wakas ay nakita ko kung ano ang pinagkakaguluhan nila. Isang lalaking nakasuot ng ibang uniform ang nakabulagta sa lupa. Puro pasa ang mukha niya at mukhang ginulpi at pinahirapan. He was not moving at all, but I knew he was still alive dahil sa pag-alon ng dibdib niya at pagkilos ng namamagang mga mata. Sa gilid niya ay nakatayo ang tatlong Student Council na sinabi ni Heina kanina. They were staring at the poor guy devilishly. Sa likod naman nila ay nakatayo ang ilan pang estudyante na sa tingin ko ay silang bumugbog sa intruder.

"What's happening here?"

Nahawi ang mga nagkukumpol na estudyante. Binigyang daan nila ang nagsalita. It was him, the School Administrator, Mr. Dominic Hontraver. I didn't like him, to be honest. Siya ang humarap sa akin nang mag-transfer ako rito at mabigat ang dugo ko sa kanya. Hindi ko nagustuhan kung paano n'ya titigan ang mga mata ko.

I watched him as he walked toward the intruder. Pinagmasdan n'ya ito saka umiling-iling.

"Who is he?" he asked.

"He is from Mary Kane College. He said there is something important Creed needs to know," Draven Adkins replied. I was just a few steps away from him, so I heard him clearly. "He assaulted three students just to get in. And the guards, too."

He must be good, at the same time, dumb. He should have disguised himself if he just wanted to deliver a message to that Creed.

And who the hell was Creed?

"Dalhin n'yo sa clinic ang lalaking yan," utos ng School Administrator pagkatapos ay muling tumalikod.

Nakita kong binuhat ng isang estudyante ang intruder na parang sako ng bigas saka walang ingat na humakbang palayo. Nagsigawan naman ang mga Rapsodheenians. May ibang pumilit na malapitan ang intruder para lang saktan ito. May ibang nagbato ng kung ano. Nakasunod sila sa papalayong intruder. At ako, nakatayo lang habang pinapanood sila.

"This is just the beginning. Unti-unti, makikita mo kung ano'ng klaseng impyerno ang lugar na ito." Napatingin ako kay Heina nang magsalita s'ya sa tabi ko. Walang ngiti sa labi niya. "Welcome to hell, Temple."