Tales of Antagonist

Chapter 11

What a shameless girls!

"Sorry!" paumanhin ng babaeng bumunggo sa'kin. Nakakainis naman, oh! This is the new product of gucci jacket.

"Hey!" sigaw ko sa kanya. Hindi na niya ako narinig dahil sa daming nagku-kumpulang estudyante.

Ano na naman 'to? I rolled my eyes and sips my milk tea. Then I started to walk towards them.

"Excuse me. Excuse me." Binunggo ko ang mga estudyanteng humaharang sa'kin. I even pushed one of them so that I can see what's happening in front of these bunch of idiots.

"Ano ba 'yan," daing ng babae sa gilid ko. I sipped my milk tea and gave her a sarcastic smile. "Sorry not sorry," I said.

She rolled her eyes and didn't talk after. Yes, that's right. You shouldn't talk back if you aren't prettier than me.

I smiled and gaze in front. My jaw drops when I saw Charles together with his girlfriend being lovey-dovey in the school grounds.

Nakita kong inaayos ng babae ang scarf ni Charles sa kanyang uniporme na pang boy scout. Balita ko ngayon ang alis nila papunta sa jamboree. Today is our first day in Press Conference too. It's around 6:00 in the morning so we still have 3 hours to prepare since alas 9:00 pa ang alis namin.

I mean, it's really, really, early to do such things, right? Ano tong ginagawa nila sa harap ng maraming tao? They were like screaming that they're in a relationship. Oh God, this is childish and corny. Tch.

"Galingan mo, ah?" rinig kong sabi ng babae. Ano nga ulit yung pangalan niya? Ow nevermind, I forgot it.

"Ikaw din, Hijiranze," sabi ni Charles. Pagkatapos nilang magtitigan nang sobrang lagkit ay tumawa silang dalawa.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms on the chest. Really, in front of my f*****g milk tea?

"Aray naman," daing ko nang may bumundol sa likod ko. Tinignan ko kung sino iyun. 'Yun naman pala, mga babaeng kinikilig dahil sa ginagawa nila Charles at ng kanyang girlfriend.

"Sorry, hindi ko sinasadya," sabi niya sa'kin at tumawa. I rolled my eyes again and flips my hair. Feeling close, ampota. Binalingan ko ng tingin si Charles. Ngayon ay tinutukso na silang dalawa ng mga kabarkada ni Charles.

Oh c'mon, so they like the girlfriend for their friend? Tinignan ko mula paa hanggang ulo si Hijiranze. And all I could say is medyo okay lang. Nothing less. Plain and simple-looking. The innocent and introvert type. She's pretty and has a fair skin. But if she were compared to my beauty, it's a waste of time because she's nothing compared to me.

I am gorgeous, she is just pretty. Nothing more, nothing less.

Naglakad ako papunta sa kanila at dumaan sa gitna nila Charles at Hijiranze. It's clear to them that I was messing up with her but she just smiled at me.

"Excuse me," tawag niya sa'kin. Tinignan ko siya at napataas ng kilay, "Yes?" Sige, pagsabihan mo ako at ipahiya sa lahat. I am more than ready to fight back.

"Yung jacket mo..." Tinignan ko ang jacket ko at nakitang may stain ito ng milk tea. Yeah right, so what?

Hindi ako makapaniwalang tinignan siya at tumawa ng malakas. I think that was 1 minute of wicked laugh.

"What are you... laughing about?" inosente naman niyang tanong. Those big eyes, I want to dig up the hole out of it.

"Are you seriously asking about why I laughed?" I asked her. She nodded twice and looked at Charles. "Right, Charles?" sabi niya.

Napatingin si Charles sa'kin at nagulat nang makita ako. Nakatalikod ako kanina kaya hindi niya nakita ang mukha ko. I'm pretty sure he didn't notice me when I walked in front of them because he was too busy looking at his girlfriend.

"Oh, Irene?" tanong ni Charles.

"Kilala mo, Charles?" tanong ni Hijiranze.

He nodded. "Yeah, she's my neighbor."

Neighbor, my foot. Can't he say I'm his friend? Ah, I get it. Maybe he's afraid his girlfriend would freak out if she  finds out he has a very gorgeous friend and neighbor.

The girl smiled widely. "Really? Then that's good! We could hang out together in your house and invite her." Tinignan ako ni Hijiranze at gustong makipag-kamay. "Hi, I'm Hijiranze Constantino, Charles's girlfriend. And you are... "

Girl, what do you expect me to do? Hands-shake? That's too old. No-uh-uh.

Napangiwi ako ng labi at tinignan ang kanyang kamay na wala man lang manicure. "Let's do a hand shake next time if you're fingernails passed my standards," huli kong sabi at nginitian silang dalawa.

"Bye boys!" sigaw ko sa mga lalaking barkada ni Charles na nakatingin pala sa'kin buong magdamag. I gave them a flying kiss and saw how their cheeks flushed pink.

Ugh! So much with that old kind of high school drama. I'm sick watching it.

Dumating ang aming sundo papunta sa venue ng Press Conference. When I got there, I saw one of my schoolmates before so I was exhausted the whole day hiding from them.

They must not see me wearing this plain white and navy blue uniform, okay? I don't want them to looked down on me!

Finally, the results came out and I got the first place. It's not something to brag about because this is only the district level. My goal is to win in National Competition and have a trip to wherever the venue is. Basta hindi sa Visayas.

"Congrats, Irene!" bati ng mga schoolmates ko na kasali din sa contest. Mostly, those who got first place comes in our school.

I smiled to them. "Thanks."

"Alam mo ba? Ikaw lang yung tumalo kay Hijiranze after the consecutive years of being the first place," sabi nung isa.

Napataas ang kilay ko. "Huh? News writing filipino din siya?" gulat kong tanong. Bakit hindi ko siya nakita kanina?

"Oo, nagulat nga kami nung inilabas na yung resulta. Hindi yung pangalan niya ang una."

"Oo nga! Whoa daebak! Idol na kita, Irene," the other girl said and slaps my back.

"Don't touch me," I aggresively said.

Napatikhim silang tatlo at nagpaalam na pupunta muna sa canteen para bumili ng snacks.

I sighed and sit on the near bench.

I kinda feel proud about that though. I beat Charles's girlfriend. Well, that's a good thing.

"Hi cheater. Why are you alone?" Tinignan ko ang mga babaeng umupo sa magkabilang gilid ko. They're not my schoolmates based from their uniform.

I wonder how they knew me? Oh right, by this gorgeous face of mine, they wouldn't forget it and maybe asked my identity that's why they knew me. But I don't like their hands on my shoulder.

"You better remove your filthy hands, dear," I said and checked my fingernails. Hinipan ko ito sa kanilang harapan. Naghintay ako ng ilang segundo para gawin ang inutos ko sa kanila pero tumawa lang silang tatlo.

These bitches, they don't know who they are messing with. And what did they call me? A cheater? They deserve a beating.

"Sorry, I think my hands were glued on your shoulder," sabi nung isa.

I shrugged and tried to stand up before I slap them hard but they pulled me on the bench, hard enough that pisses my ass off.

"Anong ginawa mo sa contest? Bakit nanalo ka?" insultong tanong naman nung isa.

"Anong pake mo?" bara ko sa kanya.

Imbes na sagutin ang tanong ko ay binato na naman ako ng mga tanong. "Nag-cheat ka siguro no? Baka na-love at first sight yung mga judges at proctor sa'yo? O baka naman may connections ka siguro dito kaya ka nanalo? Mukhang mayaman ka, eh."

"Your questions makes me sick. Your jealousy is clear as crystal water. Aren't you?" I said lazily and stand up again but they pulled me, like they did a while ago.

"Well, we're not jealous. We just want to know the reason how did you managed to kick off the queen in the first place." Napatawa ako dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Ah, so this is about Charles's girlfriend, Hijiranze?

And what did she said? Queen? Lame as f**k.

"Aren't you friends with her? Why are you asking me those kinds of questions?"

"Ano ba yan, englishera masyado, kayo na nga ang kumausap diyan. Tch." The girl walked out in front of me, leaving the two behind.

"Did Hijiranze asked you to do this?" tanong ko sa dalawa na nasa gilid ko. I pity them. They have that kind of a lame leader.

"Hindi, ah. It's our own will."

"Oo nga. Gusto lang namin malaman paano mo siya napatumba."

I answered them in a most boring tone. "First step, magpa-register ka muna sa contest para makasali ka."

"Ah, she's stupid."

"Yes, I agree."

Matapos kong marinig ang sinabi nila ay tumayo na ako. "The two of you, what's your name?" I asked.

They looked at each other and said in unison, "Rita Salivino/Samantha Dizon."

I smiled.

Tumikhim muna sila bago nagsalita. "Ba-Bakit mo naman natanong ang pangalan namin?"

"Oo nga. Anong gagawin mo?"

Sinulyupan ko sila at napangisi. "I'm giving you the chance to switch your loyalty."

"Huh?" silang dalawa.

"Come to my party tonight, you're invited."

Nanlaki ang kanilang mata. "Talaga?" silang dalawa.

I nodded and smiled fakely. Shame on them. "Sure, I'll send you the address. You can invite Hijiranze." Pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yun ay umalis na ako doon. Narinig ko pa ang kanilang kanilang hagikhikan at tuwa dahil sa sinabi ko.

+ + +

I heard a knock on my door. "Yes?"

"Anak, are you ready?" boses ni Mommy.

"Yeah! Coming!" sigaw ko at inayos na ang lipstick sa harap ng salamin.

"Done," bulong ko sa sarili at lumabas na sa kwarto. It's my victory party because I won in the contest. My mother prepared this beforehand because she knows I will win and I just did.