ANG MISS PERFECT NG PUBLIC SCHOOL

CHAPTER 1 - FIRST DAY HIGH

RISH's POV

“So this is the public school, my new school for the nth time.” bulong ko habang papasok ng gate ng EXO National High School (EXONHS). Saglit akong tumigil sa paglalakad at inilibot ang paningin ko. “Not bad.”

I saw a number of students outside na parang hindi pinapasok ng guard at karamihan sa kanila mga lalaki. I wonder, why? Ako nga na new student pinapasok,  bakit sila hindi? Uso ba favoritism dito? Mga babae lang ang pwedeng pumasok?

I decided to ignore them and hahakbang na sana ulit para hanapin ang Principal's Office ng may isang nakangiting nilalang ang humarang sa dadaanan ko.

“Hi, Beshie!” wika niya na may pagkaway pa sa mukha ko. Napa-poker face na lang.

Well, I’m not surprised. Kahit naman saan ako pumunta, expected na she will be with me.

“What's the meaning of that expression, hindi ka ba masayang makita ako?” then she pouted.

It's really annoying.

“Why are you here?” I asked, kahit mukhang alam ko na yung sagot.

“Waah Beshie! Akala ko hindi mo na itatanong ihh! “ humawak siya sa balikat ko at may pagtalon pa habang nagsasalita.

Mabuti na lang wala masyadong students na dumaraan. Nakakahiya kaya.

“I talked to my mom when I heard the news that you're going to transfer here, then I asked her about transferring too and she agreed!”

Hindi halatang excited siya.

“.. and oh Beshie, we're living together. I saw our house already, it was so cool. We have a big refrigerator, a kitchen, dining area, swimming pool and ------”

“What do you mean by our house?” kunot-noo kong saad.

I thought, I'm going to live in a boarding house. We, lolo and I, already talked about it. What's with the sudden change of plan?

“You didn't know? Lolo Henry bought this house for us. Don't worry, malapit lang naman. We don't need to commute or anything.” tumango na lang ako. “..and one more thing, Yaya Helen will live with us.”

“I see.”

Then, nagstart na ulit ako maglakad. I wonder why I need to live in a house with a maid. Akala ko ba I need to experience a simple life like an ordinary student. Iyon ang naisip kong reason kung bakit sa public school na ako mag-aaral.

One month pa lang ako noon sa Saint Apostle Academy pero nakick out na naman ako. Reason? I just asked our teacher about our lesson. Kasalanan ko bang hindi niya nasagot. After our class, pinatawag na agad ako sa Principal's Office and accusing me na pinahiya ko daw iyong teacher. What the heck! May sinasabi pa silang hindi daw nila ineencourage ang ganong pag-uugali. Ano bang mali dun? Kung alam lang nila na apo ako ng isa sa major sponsors nila, hindi nila ako ikkick-out.

“So, kick out again?” bungad sa'kin ni Lolo noong araw na iyon.

“Sorry Lolo..” nakayuko kong saad.

I don't want to disappoint him. He's a perfectionist. He teached me how to handle my emotion, how to protect myself and how to be a good follower. He's a powerful man. He's Don Henry Montiveros, the multi-billionaire business tycoon. He's famous. Kinatatakutan siya ng lahat.

He patted my head. “This time, I know it's not your fault”. Yeah, he's a sweet man despite of him, being known as rich and powerful. “It's a good thing na wala kang nabugbog ngayon at walang natatanggap na tawag si Jackson na humihingi ng settlement.” Then he chuckled.

For the past years, iyon ang nagiging reason kung bakit ako nakikick-out. Sa maling paraan ko nagagamit iyong pagiging black belter ko. Hindi ko rin naman kasalanan. Sila iyong nambubully. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit, but according to Trisxh, marami lang daw naiinsecure sa'kin as being beauty and brain. Pero sa tingin ko, wala lang talaga silang magawa kaya ako ang pinagtitripan. Tahimik lang kasi ako, hindi nila alam na kapag naaapi na ako, marunong din akong lumaban.

“I tried my best to hold my temper Lolo..” tugon ko.

“I know, I know. But hindi rin naman makakabuti sa'yo ang pagiging cold and distant. Hindi naman masamang magpakita ng emotion paminsan-minsan. Tao pa rin naman tayo.” Then he smiled and handed me a folder. “It's your new school. I decided to enroll you in a public school. I know it will help you a lot.”

“P-public school? But-”

“Don't worry Hija, you're still protected. I just want you to enjoy life. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kung hahayaan kong tuluyang maging bato ang puso mo.”

Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin ni Lolo. Kailan pa ba ako naging pusong bato? Ang alam ko tumitibok pa rin naman iyong puso ko.

Natigil lang ako sa pag-iisip ng bumulong si Trisxh.

“Beshie? Look, why they’re staring at us?”

Tumingin naman ako sa paligid. Yeah, if looks can kill, then we're dead now. Iyong mga babae lang naman ang masamang makatingin, with matching pagtaas pa ng kilay. While the guys, they're just staring. They look, fascinated?

Ano bang meron? Dumadaan lang naman kami. Ano bang kakaiba sa'min? Dahil ba sa back pack kong Spongebob? Napagkamalan na ba nila kaming si Dora at si Boots?

I don't like attention. Kasi for sure, mapapaaway na naman ako.

“Just don't mind them.” sabi ko na lang kay Trisxh na halos dumikit na sa'kin. Nasaan na ba kasi 'iyong Principal's Office?

“Akala ata nila artista tayo Beshie. Tumitigil talaga sila sa mga ginagawa nila para lang titigan tayo.” wika ulit ni Trisxh na manghang-mangha pa sa mga nangyayari.

Pasimple ko ring tinitigan ang paligid. We're on a hallway at marami talagang students. Makikita mo naman na they're busy; chatting, cleaning their rooms, putting make-ups. But, kapag nasa tapat na nila kami, they will stop just to stare at us. Ganito ba talaga dito? Pakiramdam ko nasa lungga kami ng mga aswang tapos kami iyong gagawin nilang pagkain. Ano bang napasok namin?

--

At last, after ng experience na halos mahubaran na kami sa sobrang titig na ginagawa ng mga students, narating na rin namin ang Principal's Office. Trisxh knocked. Then we heard a simple come in. Pumasok na kami at sinalubong ng isang magandang nilalang.

“So, you're the new students, Ms. Lagdameo and Ms. Montero?” saad nito, we nodded. “Have a seat.”

Umupo naman kami.

Siya ba ang Principal? Parang ang bata naman niya. I think, she's in her early 20's. Maganda siya, I love her long shiny hair, tapos ang tangos ng ilong, makinis ang mukha, tapos chinita pa siya.

“By the way, I'm Charisma Valdez, the School Principal.” nakangiti niyang saad. “My mother owned this school, wala ata siyang magawa sa buhay kaya hinayaan niya akong pamahalaan ang school na ito.” natatawang dugtong pa nito. “And yeah here I am, your beautiful and young principal.”

“Tama po Mam, ang ganda niyo po talaga. Pwede pa-picture?” bulalas ni Trisxh.

Seriously? Papicture?

Natawa naman si Mam Principal, then tumango. “Sure.”

“Yehey!” turan ni Trisxh at kinuha ang cellphone niya, iaabot niya sana sa'kin pero nagbago din ang isip, at siya na lang ang humawak “Okay Mam, say selfie!” then clicked. “Waah, ang ganda natin Mam, post ko ito mamaya sa Twitter and i********:!”

“Sige Ms. Lagdameo, add mo na rin ako ha, search mo na lang, @acuxiixcharisma.”

Napaface-palm na lang ako sa isip ko. Pinatulan talaga pagiging childish ni Trisxh? Kaya pala weird mga students dito, pati pala Principal nila, weird.

“Well, anyways, here's your class schedules. You're one month late for this school year, but since pareho namang mataas ang scores niyo sa entrance exam, well actually you got a perfect score Ms. Montero.” she smiled at me, bahagya naman akong tinabig ni Trisxh. Psh. “Naniniwala akong madali kayong makakahabol sa mga lessons niyo. You belong in 4-A class. “ nakangiti pa rin niyang wika. “Welcome to EXO National High School, enjoy and study hard.”

Then inilahad niya ang kamay niya. We accepted it and said our thanks before we leave the room.

So, where's the 4-A class?