THSK 8: Truth Will Destroy You
1117 Words
[Alec]
"I'm fine. I don't mind being the first to testify. I want to be the first. Yeah. I told the lawyers that. And I don't want to be afraid anymore. I don't want to be afraid." I said.
[Mom]
"I don't know why this case is going forward. I don't know why you need to be the first. The way these kids abuse you---" she said and I just looking at her.
"That's why I have to be the be first. They want me to talk about how things are at school, and somebody has to do that." lumapit naman ito sa akin at sabay hawak sa kamay ko.
"It's very brave to do that. Alec, to want to-do this for Haviba." naka ngiti nitong sabi.
"It's not just for Haviba, Okay? It's for me, and Jendel and... and I have to." sagot ko naman.
-
[Mrs. Castaneda]
"Why did we starting with Alec?" tumingin naman ito sa akin.
[Atty. Ferrer]
"Because he can speak to the climate of bullying at Hamelton. And because we had yesterday to get subpoenas out."
"I know. I'm sorry, Wendel. Haviba's story needs to be told." nginitian naman ako neto.
[Atty. Ferrer]
"And we're gonna tell it."
-
[Alec]
Kinabukasan habang naglalakad ako ng hallway, I know what will happen to me and I'm kinda prepared from it. Biglang may tumulak sa akin papuntang pader.
"What the hell is your problem?" sigaw ko sa kanila.
"I never laid my hand on you. So, why are you talking about my name in court?" sigaw ni Zion saken.
"How did you know that already?"
"Never mind, just f*****g tell me why you talked." inis nitong sabi.
"You can f**k with me all you want. I don't care. You'll pay. It's time to pay back time, Zion." seryoso kong sabi sabay tulak sa kanya sabay takbo ko papalayo sa kanila.
-
[Fraucs]
"I heard about the trial. So, I'll get to testify about Zion?" lumingon naman si Mom sa akin.
"Geniva, did tell me that you're not on either witness list." she said. Kumunot naman noo ko.
"No way, Why not?"
"Fraucs, each side choose witnesses based on a variety of factors."
"But mom, Zion r***d Haviba. Why is nobody talking about that s**t? You heard his confession. You heard everything, before they dropped out the case."
"They didn't drop out of the case. Mrs. Castaneda withdraw because everyone's involved with this case."
"Well, I'm not involved anymore. So, can someone do something?"
"If we knew the other girl victims, on the voice records."
"Mom, It's not my place to tell you that." napabuntong hininga naman ito habang naka tingin sa akin.
"Fraucs, I'm worried about your emotions. I want you to be safe. You put a lock on your door. I know this is going very hard for you." tumayo naman ako at naglakad papuntang pinto, nilingon ko muna si Mom bago buksan ang pinto.
"It's not. I haven't thought about Haviba in months. So I'll just keep on like that." sabay lakad ko palabas ng bahay.
-
[Jarvy]
Pagpasok ko ng school nakita ko naman si Fraucs kaya agad ko itong tinawag.
"Hey." napalingon naman ito sa akin agad akong lumapit sa kanya.
"Fraucs. Well, when do you testify?" napakunot naman noo nito.
"I don't." tipid nitong sagot sabay lakad papuntang locker niya.
"What? Why would they call me and not call you?" lumingon naman ito sa akin habang seryoso ang mukha niya.
"I don't know and don't care." walang ganang sagot nito.
"How could you not care about?" inis kong sabi rito.
"Can't you that? I care about my life and I care about my grades. And I don't f*****g care with that thing.Okay?" diin nitong sabi.
"When you're in the court, they can ask you anything, right?" sinarado naman nito ang locker niya sabay lingon sa akin.
"What are you worried about?" kunot noo nitong tanong.
"What about the video records?"
"Why are you still with Zion and his friends? What does he have on you?" seryosong tanong nito.
"We're not longer friends with Zion, Okay? Remember we're just in the same team and I was just hoping that this trial wouldn't f**k up everybody's life." seryoso lang itong naka tingin sa akin.
"Well, it's too late. We already started it, we will end this." sabay lakad nito.
-
[Jendel]
"Dad, what other people talking about what I did or what Haviba did and I failed to do. I'm tired of hiding from them all." tumingin naman ito sa akin.
"You're not hiding from anyone. You're just lost your memory." seryoso nitong sabi.
"I know dad, but Haviba trial means people are finally gonna hear her story, and I want to help tell it." lumapit naman ito sa akin sabay upo sa tabi ko.
"Okay, you keep pushing ahead." he said.
"You think I'll get to testify?" I asked him.
"I think it's up to your doctors and the court. Okay? You better take a shower, you're getting late to school." sabi nito sabay lakad palabas ng room ko.
-
"What have people been saying about us? What do they know?" tanong ko kay Apryll habang naka upo kami gilid ng bookshelf dito sa library.
"Look, whatever happens, we're gonna stick to the plan. I don't remember what happened to me, just like you don't remember what happened to you." seryoso nitong sabi.
"Alright. You feel okay about seeing Zion again?" tumingin naman ito sa akin at halatang nahihirapan itong sumagot.
"Yeah." tipid nitong sabi sabay kuha ng libro at agad na tumayo.
-
[Fraucs]
Habang naglalakad ako ng cafeteria ng makita ko si Alec agad ko naman itong nilapitan.
"Why'd you lie about Haviba?" nagulat naman ito at agad akong umupo kaharap siya.
"I didn't lie." seryosong sagot nito.
"Why would she be sexting, after what happened on her?" inis kong sabi.
"I don't know, but that what I've seen."
"Then who was it with?" kunot noon tanong ko sa kanya.
"I'm not afraid of you." diin nitong sabi saken. Naguluhan naman ako sa sinabi nito.
"What's that mean?" ngumisi naman siya.
"The darkroom last night? Come on." kununot naman noo ko
"What about the darkroom?" seryosong tabong ko.
"Someone's trying to keep me quiet."
"Yeah, well, it wasn't me."
"Then I bet they'll come after you, too."
"I don't f*****g care. Who was she texting with?" tanong ko ulit sa kanya.
"I. Don't. Know."
"f**k this." sigaw ko sabay tayo at agad na tinalikoran siya.
"I know you thought she was a perfect innocent girl, but she wasn't. Fraucs, I'm not the only one who knows that, right?" rinig kong sabi nito at nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad palabas ng cafeteria.
- Writer
