Her Unheard Weeps

Issues

Chapter 2

"ASTRID HAYDNNN! HOYYY!! DIZOOONN!!!"

Napalingon ako nang marinig ang isang pamilyar na boses na tintawag ang pangalan ko.

"What are you looking at!? Keep walking b***h!" She snapped and rolled her eyes at a certain group of girls na nakatingin sa kaniya nang sumigaw siya.

I expected her to run towards me pero imbes na tumakbo ay naglakad lang siya, she was freely walking like a victoria's secret model in a runway..minding her own Goddamn business and careless of the stares that she receives.

"Tinitingin-tingin mo diyan? Move!" She rolled her eyes once more at the poor girl na dadaan lang sana.

"Alam mo, kung hindi lang kita kaibigan, baka naging isa na din ako sa mga babaeng pinag-uusapan ka. Napaka eskandalosa mo." i chuckled.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. May ininguso ako at nilingon niya iyon. Galing sa pagbubulungan ay agad namang natahimik at nagsialisan ang grupo ng mga babaeng sininghalan niya kanina nang makitang masama ng tingin ni tori sa kanila.

"Halika na nga!" Hinawakan ko na siya sa kamay at hinila na paalis doon.

"I've been calling you! Kanina pa sa jeep! Hindi ka man lang lumingon!"

"Talaga? Hindi kita narinig" i chuckled. She just grunted.

Nang makarating sa classroom ay nakita ko doon ang isa pa naming kaibigan na tahimik lang na nagbabasa sa isang sulok. Nang makita kaming papasok ay kaagad siyang napangiti.

"You're early" tori stated.

"You're both just late" our plus size, but stunning friend venice chuckled.

Minutes later ay agad din namang dumating ang prof namin. Pagkatapos ng tatlong batch ng klase at ilang oras ng pangangalay ng pwet ko sa kakaupo ay sa wakas ay lunch time na.

"You know...i was about to call you last night but your phone was busy" ani ni nissy.

"Why? Was there a problem?"

"Did those stupids stinky rats bothered you again?" Kunot noo naman ni tori.

"No! Hindi..." she said still looked amused by our defensiveness towards her. Kakakilala lang din kasi namin sa kaniya. Before we knew her, she was loved being picked on by some stupid immature bimbos who has nothing to do with their lives. Mostly, the reason of the bullying was because of her...uh..of her being plus sized.

And the bullying only stopped when we came and befriended her. And of course, no one gets away from tori and her harsh judgement. Kahit ako minsan natatakot sa kaniya, lalo na kapag bumuka ang magaspang niyang bunganga na walang tigil kung manglait.

Victoria knows everything...and everyone. That's why majority of the school's population ay iniiwasan siya.

"E ano 'yon?" Umupo na kami ng makarating sa cafetria. At the end of the conversation, we found out that it was just about her upcoming birthday party that she was forced to socialize on by her stepmother.

"Sino ba 'yong kausap mo kagabi? Si boyfie na naman ba?" Irap ni tori. "God! You and the oldie hot doctor are inseparable" she murmered pero narinig ko pa din.

Tumawa ng malakas si nissy. "He's not old! He's just what?...twenty-eight?" Pagtatanggol niya.

"Yeah, he is...twenty-eight" i confirmed.

"See! Kulang na lang ng sampong taon pwede mo nang maging sugar daddy iyon....kung sa bagay, kahit kulang ng sampong taon, papasa na siyang sugar daddy, maraming naman siyang..." she then made her thumb and index finger touch, a non-verbal way of stating that oliver possessed a lot of money.

I snorted. "Oh here we go again..." i chuckled. "Kung naiinggit ka victoria, edi mag boyfriend ka din! Sagutin mo na kasi 'yong—"

She made a disgusted face na nagpatawa sa aming dalawa ni nissy. Umalis siya ng nakasimangot para bumili ng makakain kaya kami na lang ni nissy ang natira sa lamesa.

"How are you guys by the way?" She asked.

"Who? Oli and I? We're good. Bakit mo naman naitanong?"

"Well...i'm just concerned. Tori is somewhat right you know...your boyfriend is far more older than us. And he already has a job. Meaning...he couldn't have enough time to spend for you. How about you? Aren't you a little concerned?"

"Well as i grew older, i started to think mature of course, i realized that spending most time with each other isn't the basis of a continuous relationship. Hindi naman kailangan na palagi kayong katawagan o magkausap. Soon...nissy, once you have your own relationship, you will came to the realization and appreciate that each of us has more important things to do than just lying on bed and feeling giddy of a pick up line being thrown at you" i smiled at her.

Napaisip naman siya ng ilang segundo.

"Sorry. I had to ask. I'm just curious. Alam mo namang hindi ako makarelate sa inyo. Wala akong boyfriend" she laughed.

"Soon. In God's time, you will"

"I don't think so. I mean, look at me" she smirked and looked at her body. "I'm hugeee"

Inirapan ko siya.

"You are not huge! Okay? You actually have a nice body, with the right curves in places! Some people just don't see it dahil palagi kang naka jeans at shirt. You just need to wear some clothes that will define your body shape." I tapped her shoulder. "Nevertheless, it's still your choice. Dress on what you're comfortable in. Don't let anyone dictate you"

Nakangiting umiling lang siya.

"Bakit? May nagugustuhan ka na ba?" I grinned.

Napatawa ako ng malakas ng umiwas siya ng tingin, pero hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pamumula ng pisngi niya. I just assumed may nagugustuhan na nga siya pero hindi na siya kinulit pa para umamin. I understand dahil ilang buwan pa lang naman simula nang maging kaibigan namin siya, it'll take time before she'll feel more comfortable with us.

Pagkatapos dumating ni tori ay kaming dalawa naman ang umalis para bumili ng makakain. We chatted the whole lunch and came back to our room when the bell rang.

"Classes for the whole day tomorrow will be suspended" our prof announced at naging puno ng hiyawan ang buong klase.

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlong magkakaibigan. We grinned at each other at bago pa namin maplano kung saan kami gagala bukas ay nagsalita ulit ang guro sa harapan.

"But despite that, you are all required to go back, most especially your batch since the school will be holding an orientation regarding your choice of workplace" She said making us all grunt loudly.

Akala ko makakagala na ako. Tsk!

"As you all are taking up medical courses, a group of professionals and individuals who have higher ranks will be evaluating and orienting you all tomorrow. So i expect you all to be in your best behaviors."

I rolled my eyes. I leaned on my arm chair, wala ng ganang makinig. Mrs. Rivera was babbling about the same things, on how we should behave so that some of us will meet those professional's expectation para matanggap daw kami sa papasukan naming ospital pagkatapos naming grumaduate.

Napalingon ako nang may marinig akong may sumisitsit sa tabi ko.

"Wag na lang tayong pumunta bukas. Siguradong boring 'yon. Mall na lang tayo. Ano?" A demon in a form of a woman whispered on my ear.

"I'm talking Ms. Celeste. So stop whispering and pestering ms. Dizon because i can hear you loud and clear. There will be an Attendance tomorrow. For those who will not attend will serve a day in Guidance." Masamang tingin ng prof kay tori. Tila hindi natatakot ay gano'n din ang ginawa ni tori sa guro. She had served a lot of guidance, too many to count maybe that's why it doesn't just faze her anymore.

"Ms. Celeste...stop pestering ms Dizon. There will be an attendace tomorrow...nyenyenye~ tsk!" She mocked nang papalabas na kami ng silid. Baliw talaga.

"Café tayo" panyaya ni nissy.

"Libre mo?" Walang hiyang tanong pabalik ni tori.

Nissy laughed. "Sige ba" at nauna na siyang maglakad dahil may kukunin pa daw sa locker.

Sinamaan ko naman ng tingin ang katabi.

"What?" She asked innocently.

"Tumigil ka nga. Nakakahiya!" Saway ko.

"Bakit? Umuoo naman siya ah? Hindi ko siya pinilit" she shrugged nonchalantly. "Tsaka hayaan mo na. Mayaman naman 'yon."

Umiling ako at sumunod na sa kaniya sa paglakad. While waiting for them, i took my phone out to see kung may text ba galing sa boyfriend o di kaya missed calls. Pero wala.

Maybe he had another operation. O baka busy lang. I thought. I just sent him a text at naglakad na papunta sa sasakyan ni nissy.

"Saan ka galing?" Halukipkip ng ina nang makita akong papasok ng bahay.

I came and kissed her on the cheeks. Masama pa din ang tingin niya sa akin.

"Lumabas lang po kasama ang mga kaibigan"

"Madalas ka ng ginagabi astrid ha! Akala mo hindi ko napapansin?" I was just silent the whole time. "Nauna pang umuwi ang kapatid mo sa'yo"

Nakitang kong pababa si ate.

"Oh my? Ano na naman 'yan?"

"Pagsabihan mo nga itong kapatid mo dianne! Baka mamaya may boyfriend na 'to at mabuntis pa ng maaga!" Napatuptop ako ng labi.

"Atupagin mo ang pag-aaral mo Astrid huh? Malilintikan ka sa'kin" aniya bago tumalikod.

Tumalikod na din ako para umakyat sa kwarto. Sumunod din pala si ate.

"Ano? Ice cream ulit?" She leaned on the door.

I chuckled. "Pass muna. Ayokong maging diabetic"

Tumawa din siya. Umupo siya sa kama ko habang nagbibihis ako.

"Kamusta kayo nung doktor?"

Napalingon ako nang marinig siya. Bakit maraming nagtatanong sa akin niyan buong araw?

"Okay lang naman. As long as hindi malaman ni mommy"

"You know, you can just tell her"

"And make me break up with my boyfriend? No thank you."

"You'll never know. Maybe she'll approve. I have never met your boyfriend but based on your story, i think he's nice"

Umiling ako. "She will disapprove. He's not tom. And i am not you. I can never please her. And besides, ano ang magiging reaction niya kapag malaman niyang ang boyfriend ng bunso niya ay kasing edad lng ng panganay niya? I can only imagine" i chuckled. So did she.

"Okay. Let's just wait 'till you graduate then" she came to me. "But i just want to let you know that i'm not against with you and your relationship. I support you both. As long as you're not doing anything wrong...well at least not too much..fun " she winked then left.

Binagsak ko ang sarili sa kama pagkatapos magbihis. I took my phone out and was expecting a text, a reply at least. But none. Sumimangot ako.

Okay ash...mature tayo remember? Mature tayo...

Sinubukan ko siyang tawagan pero ilang ring din iyon pero walang sumagot. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mairita nang ikang ulit akong tumawag pero wala pa ding sumasagot. Hanggang sa nakatulogan ko na lang.