Gangster High

Unexpected Guest

Chapter 12

UNEXPECTED GUEST

When Eduard said today was my Coronation Day, I didn't expect that it would be so different. Everyone was so busy preparing for something I couldn't tell yet. Labas-pasok ang karamihan ng mga estudyante sa main building ng Rapsodhee High dala ang kung ano-ano'ng props. Pinapangunahan sila ng Student Council at ni Miss Meira. Hindi ko pa nakikita ang grand hall ng eskwelahan, pero naulinigan ko kay Heina kagabi na iyon ang pagdarausan ng koronasyon.

It's pretty normal na maging busy ang lahat sa preparation kapag may okasyon, pero parang exaggerated naman yata ang ginagawa nila to the point na kailangan pa nila akong ikulong sa dorm.

Damn, right! Nakakulong ako. I was alone when I woke up this morning. My roommates were gone, which was unusual because they always left the room late than I always do. When I tried to open the door, I figured out that it was locked from the outside. I tried to call Heina or Fashia, but then I realized I didn't have their mobile number. Hindi naman ako tanga para dumungaw sa bintana at magsisigaw na palabasin nila ako rito.

This Coronation Day didn't excite me at all. It annoyed me. Hindi na naman siguro kailangan ng koronasyon, hindi ba? Bakit hindi na lang nila ipaskil sa bulletin board ang picture ko at ilagay ro'n na 'Temple Strawford: the new queen of the board.' That would be easy and fast, right?

Naiinis na umalis ako sa bintana at tumungo sa higaan ko. Pabagsak akong humiga. Kasabay naman noon ay bumukas ang pinto at pumasok sina Heina at Fashia.

"Hi." Fashia was smiling at me, holding a tray of food.

Pinukol ko lang s'ya ng masamang tingin para iparamdam sa kanya na hindi ako natutuwa sa sitwasyon kong ito. Hindi n'ya naman pinansin ang reaksyon ko sa halip ay humakbang s'ya papalapit sa akin at inilapag ang tray ng pagkain sa harapan ko.

"Why are you doing this?" hindi napigilang tanong ko.

"What? It's already lunch. You have to eat," nakamaang na sagot n'ya.

"I'm talking about locking me in here, not the food," I said and rolled my eyes.

"Oh, sorry. They want you to take a rest until the coronation. Beauty rest, you know," she answered.

"The coronation starts at seven sharp," Heina added. "If I were you, I'd use all the remaining hours to gain my strength. Trust me, you're gonna need that later."

I frowned. Bakit kailangan ko pa 'yon? Koronasyon lang naman ito, eh. Unless the crown is under the protection of the devils and I'm gonna need to kill everyone before I could put it on my head, yeah, I would need strength.

I chose to ignore that and stared at Heina's neck. "You have something on your neck," I said.

Heina swiftly covered the reddish mark. Her face blushed.

"It's nothing," she countered.

Fashia leaned to check it, but Heina pushed her hand away.

"Patingin ako. Ano 'yan?"

"I said it's nothing."

"But—"

"Stop it, Fashia."

It was the second time that I saw Heina having a love bite on her neck. Of course, I knew it was a love bite. I had one before—no, mine was not a love bite. Creed just bit me so hard that it bled. Wala tuloy sa loob na nahaplos ko ang pilat sa aking leeg. Naiirita ako kapag nakikita ko ito sa salamin. Pagkairitang may halong kilabot at takot.

"Tsikinini ba 'yan?" tanong ni Fashia nang sa wakas ay magawa niyang makita ang marka.

"Hindi, ah."

"Wow! Defensive masyado ang tono. 'Yong totoo, my boyfriend ka, 'no?"

"Shut up, please."

Heina had a boyfriend, it was certain. I just didn't like to ask questions especially when it's too private. Maybe Heina was sneaking out of the room at night to meet her secret boyfriend and if she's keeping it secret, I won't ask more.

Sinamantala ko ang pagiging abala ng dalawa. Bumangon ako at mabilis na tumungo sa pinto.

"Temple, where are you going. Hindi ka makakalabas d'yan."

Hindi ko pinansin ang paghabol ni Fashia sa akin. I could get out at hindi n'ya ako mapipigilan. I opened the door only to stand frozen when two huge men wearing a pair of white tuxedos blocked my way out.

"Who are you?" I stupidly asked.

"Go back inside," mahina pero puno ng awtoridad na utos ng isang lalaki.

I ignored him. This was beyond exaggeration. I was locked inside the room and now two men were guarding my way out? Bullshit!

I tried to shove them away, but the guy wearing eyeglasses grabbed my arm firmly. I looked like a dwarf before him and no matter how much I pulled back my arm, I couldn't.

"Let me go," I barked.

"I'm sorry about this, Miss Strawford," he replied. "We were ordered to handcuff you if you do such a stupid thing and I guess all of us don't want to come to that."

I stared at him, mouth open. Who ordered them? I wanted to ask, but the door slammed shut in front of my face. For a moment, I remained standing there; staring at the closed door, thinking how stupid my situation was.

"I told you," ani Fashia na tinapik pa ang balikat ko. Kunot-noo ko siyang nilingon. Mukhang nahulaan n'ya naman kung ano ang gusto kong sabihin kaya mabilis s'yang sumagot. "Those are the Player's bodyguards... two of his bodyguards."

The Player? So, ang Player din ang nagbigay ng utos sa mga iyon na posasan ako kapag may ginawa akong hindi nila magugustuhan?

Heina was reading a message on her phone. "Creed will be here before the coronation starts. He said you better sit your ass down."

And they knew each other's number?

"Aalis na rin kami," muli niyang sabi. "Fashia, let's go."

"Sunod na lang ako."

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Heina bago siya tumalikod. Malaya siyang nakalabas nang hindi pinipigilan ng mga lalaki sa labas. Syempre, ako lang naman ang bilanggo rito, eh.

Marahas akong napabuntong-hininga. Masamang tingin ang ipinukol ko sa mga lalaki bago tuluyang sumara ang pinto. Wala na akong nagawa kundi bumalik sa kama ko.

"Don't worry. Mamaya naman ay makakalabas ka rin. But for now, you have to eat." Lumapit sa akin si Fashia at inayos ang pagkaing nasa tray.

"Fashia." I tried to stop her, but something stopped me. May napansin kasi akong luhang pumatak mula sa mata n'ya na kaagad n'ya rin namang pinalis. She was crying all of a sudden. "What?" I asked.

"Ginawa rin nila kay Mikki 'to," sagot n'ya.

Bahagya akong natigilan. Mikki, the previous queen. I didn't know why, pero kapag naririnig ko ang pangalang iyon ay kinikilabutan ako.

"What do you mean?" ganoon pa man ay hindi ko ipinahalata ang nararamdaman ko.

"Ikaw at si Mikki, magkaparehas kayo: matapang, walang takot, walang pakialam. Isang bagay lang ang ipinagkaiba ni Mikki sa 'yo." She looked at me as if there was something I did wrong. She went on, "Mikki didn't want to be the queen. For her, it's enough na malakas s'ya; na nagagawa n'yang ipagtanggol ang kanyang sarili. She just wanted to be a normal student. Unlike you who are dying to be crowned as a queen."

That's not true because one part of me was telling me na hindi ito tama. Yeah, I wanted them to know that a woman should not be underestimated, pero ang pagiging reyna sa larong ito ay hindi basehan para ipaalam sa kanila na malakas ka. You could be a knight, a bishop, a rook or pawns, and whatever. However, those were just names used to define what piece was the strongest in a game of chess. This game going on in Underground was different.

So different.

And who said I wanted to be a queen? Who said I wanted to be part of this game?

"Noon ay pinigilan ko si Mikki para hindi n'ya ituloy 'to, but no one could say no to the Player. Mikki became their queen," sabi n'ya pa habang umuupo sa harap ko. "You will be their queen, too. Your precious wish is about to happen."

"You hate this game," kaagad kong sagot. It was useless to explain my side. She would not listen; no one would listen.

"Who would love this game? I know how strong Mikki was, pero alam ko rin na kahit gaano s'ya kalakas, may magiging katapusan din ang lahat. Maaaring masama, maaaring magandang katapusan. Mikki ended up... so bad." Muling bumagsak ang mga luha niya. "I hate this game because this is killing the people I love."

"So, you are thinking na magiging kagaya ako ni Mikki kaya pinipigilan mo ako?" naniniguro kong tanong.

"No. May iba akong dahilan," she answered.

Bahagya akong natigilan nang makita ko ang biglang pagbabago ng reaksyon n'ya. Bigla s'yang naging seryoso at nablangko ang mga matang nakatitig sa akin. For the first time ay nakita kong nag-iba ang aura n'ya.

We stared at each other... longer than I used to look at her, different than she used to look at me. At the moment, I thought she was not Fashia Hawkins at all.

Our stare broke as the door sprung open. I flinched, Fashia didn't, which was unusual dahil kilala ko siyang magugulatin.

Ganoon pa man ay saglit ko lamang napagtuunan ng pansin ang kanyang reaksyon. My mouth flew open when an unexpected guest entered the room. She felinely welcomed herself in, like a lioness coming to meet her pride.

My heart freaked out. It couldn't be. I blinked repeatedly to make sure she wasn't just a hallucination or that I wasn't just dreaming, but every time I open my eyes, she was there. Her face, which was identical to mine, her beautiful face...

She was here. She was really here.

For Pete's sake! What was she doing here?

She closed the door and looked at me. I saw something flickered in her eyes. It vanished even before I could name it.

She said, "I'm expecting that reaction, but aren't you going to kiss me, hug me, and say 'Oh Mommy, I miss you."

Sa sinabi n'ya ay parang bumalik ako sa reyalidad. I shut my mouth and looked away, completely ignored her at nagpanggap na parang walang dumating.

"Temple, is she your mother?" tila naman namamanghang tanong ni Fashia.

"Unfortunately," pabulong kong sagot. Bumuka ang labi ni Fashia para magtanong, pero nagbabantang tingin ang ibinigay ko sa kanya. Nang manahimik siya ay saka ko tiningnan ang bagong dating. "What are you doing here?"

"You haven't changed, Temple," she replied, voice cold and sharp.

"As if you really know me," I mumbled.

It seemed that she heard what I said. Her eyes narrowed. I thought she was going to snap at me, but she just ignored me and faced Fashia.

"My name is Tiarah Clevielle. I'm Temple's mom. Are you her friend?"

"Y-yeah. Uhm, I'm Tiarah—Fashia. I'm Fashia Hawkins."

I couldn't blame Fashia for swallowing her own tongue. Tiarah was so intimidating. No one, literally no one, could speak and think clearly whenever she's around.

Tiarah glanced at the food in front of me. "Are you not gonna invite me to take a bite?"

"Unless you tell me what you're doing here, the answer is no."

"You really hate me, do you?"

"As much as you hate me,"

Silence fell. Tiarah and I were staring at each other. The calm was over, now the storm was about to come.

Fashia, whose face was pale, cleared her throat. "I-I think I should go now. I'll see you l-later, Temple."

She vanished in the room even before I could blink. Perhaps she was a ninja.

All of the sudden, I forgot that I was annoyed dahil nakakulong ako sa silid. Nag-uumapaw ang tensyon sa dibdib ko, hindi maganda sa pakiramdam. Parang bigla ay lumamig ang buong kwarto kahit hindi naman nakabukas ang air conditioner. Ito ang palagi kong nararamdaman kapag kasama ko si Tiarah, ang sarili kong ina.

Perhaps her cold personality was bringing the cold ambiance to the room. Tiarah was always like that. Sa labing pitong taon na nabuhay ako, I never saw her smile at me. Not even a single moment. I didn't know why.

"So, how did you pass through those two bastards outside?" I decided to break the tension. I always do this, anyway.

"Those sons of a b***h are nothing I could handle," she answered. Now tell me kung kanino ko nakuha ang talas ng dila ko. "So, how are you here?"

"Prison at my own room," sagot ko habang tumutungo sa kabilang side ng kwarto. It seemed like I was avoiding being touched by my own mother.

"I see. Let me ask you something." Walang emosyon na tumingin s'ya sa akin. Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng kaba. Kapag ganito ang tingin n'ya, pakiramdam ko'y ihinahatid n'ya si Kamatayan papalapit sa akin. "What are you doing in this school?" tanong n'ya.

Nangunot ang noo ko. What the hell! Ano ba namang tanong 'yon? Before I came here, nag-long distance call sa kanya si daddy para sabihing lilipat ulit ako ng eskwelahan. She didn't say anything back then.

"Did you visit me here just to ask that? I must say I'm impressed na umuwi ka pa galing America dahil lang d'yan."

Hindi n'ya ako pinansin. "Did Dune stop you? I told your dad to. Did he even try?"

"He did stop me." Naalala ko kung paano tumutol si Daddy nang malaman n'yang Rapsodhee High ang next school ko. At first ay nagtaka ako kung bakit, pero binalewala ko 'yon at ipinilit ang gusto ko.

"At wala s'yang nagawa sa tigas ng ulo mo, ganoon ba?" Tiarah looked at me na para bang napakalaki ng kasalanan na nagawa ko.

I didn't answer. Lumaban lang ako ng titigan sa kanya. Palagi naman kaming ganito. Kaya nga marami ang nagsasabi na parang hindi kami mag-ina lalo pa at tinatawag ko siya sa kanyang pangalan.

"Do you know what is going on in this school, Temple?" tanong n'ya.

Ano ang ibig n'yang sabihin? May alam ba s'ya sa mga nangyayari dito? Sa tono ng pananalita n'ya, parang may alam nga s'ya. Teka, hindi kaya ganoon din si daddy kaya ganoon na lang ang pagtutol n'ya nang malaman n'yang ang Rapsodhee High ang next school ko?

Pagak siyang tumawa. "What a stupid question. Anyway, I think you're okay here. I can see it."

"So, you're here to check if I'm okay. Well, as you can see, I am definitely okay," walang gana kong sabi.

"Nope. Hindi ako umuwi mula sa America at iwan ang trabaho ko roon just to check you here," mas walang gana n'ya namang sagot.

"Why are you here then? You do flatter me kung sasabihin mong miss mo ako o si daddy," hindi napigilang sabi ko. I would really be flattered kung talagang miss n'ya ako. Tiarah never stayed with us. Her job was more important to her than to be with her family. I didn't even have any idea what was she doing for the past years. We see each other just once in a blue moon.

I saw her studying me. I knew there was something in her mind, pero alam ko rin na hindi n'ya sasabihin kung ano man 'yon. Ganyan s'ya, eh. The more na pinipiga mo s'ya, the more na titikom ang bibig n'ya.

"Matutuwa ka ba kung sasabihin kong from now on ay isa na ako sa mga magiging teachers mo sa school na ito?" aniya.

What the f**k!

Ano na namang kalokohan ito? Wait. Was she even a teacher? All of a sudden, after so many years, she decided to be near me. I thought she wanted me to stay away from her. I thought she hated me.

"Explain," matapang na utos ko.

"I know what is playing in your mind, Temple. Let us just say na I have my own reason for coming here. At ang rason na 'yon ay sa akin na lamang. Am I clear?"

"Hell," gigil kong naisagot sa sinabi n'ya. I hated her. I really did.

"I heard this is your Coronation Day," mayamaya ay sabi n'ya habang humahakbang patungo sa pinto. She stopped and looked at me. "Be ready because tonight, you will experience the coronation you could never imagine. Ready your body for the torture."

Then she slammed the door. Ako, naiwang nakaawang ang labi. What did she just say? Torture? Hey, this was just a coronation, right? Bakit parang pinagbabantaan n'ya ako?

Most of all, how did she know?