The silence she left behind

Chapter 5

It's been one week since I started my community service. I only have another week to complete my task and I'll be a free man!

Yes, I feel like bagong laya ako if matatapos ko na ang CS ko. That Arden is making my life a living hell! He's using his power para bigyan ako nang kung ano-anong punishment! I think he is being unfair! Hindi naman siya ganon sa mga ibang students, e! Mas Malala pa ang offense nila kesa sa akin. Especially the notorious bad boy of NN, Oxygen Jose Villa!

Noong isang araw, he was caught bringing liquors in their classroom at nalasing pa niya yung si Champagne! The girl with the weird name na nakasama ko sa SSG office nang minsan mag bakod sina Ox and the Chinese guy.

"Hold it tight, little girl. Mrs. Esguerra needs that in one piece". Israel commanded me like I was his slave. Umirap ako sa kanya at mas hinigpitan ang pagkakawak sa mga lab instrument na pinapakuha ni Ma'am Esguerra, ang science teacher namin nila Israel. She was teaching both Science Grade 10 and 8.

" Why don't you help me instead? President ka pa naman pero ang tamad mo mag buhat! You're not even gentleman!" Ilang beses na akong nagrereklamo but this heartless beast didn't even dare to look at me. Nasa unahan ko lang siya at prenteng naglalakad at nakapamulsa, habang ako naman ay hirap na hirap sa pagbubuhat!

" People like you needs to learn their lesson. Huwag ka nang magreklamo and just do what I say. In this school, I'm the boss and you can't do anything about it". Nakita mo? Ang sama ng ugali niya! Pero sa iba naman ay hindi! Para nga siyang anghel kapag nakikipag usap sa ibang students dito sa school e!

" Mr. Pres! Pakisabi naman kay Ma'am Esguerra, hindi kami makakapasok sa lab mamaya. We have an urgent meeting sa org e." Two ladies approaches him with their beaming smiles. The one were wearing our school uniform and the other one is wearing a pair of skirt and a white baby tee. Sumakit ang mata ko dahil sa nakita.

" It's Monday, right? Why aren't you wearing the school uniform? Ano? May favoritism, Mr. Pres?" Gigil kong tanong. Last Thursday, kahit hindi naman required magsuot nang uniform ay halos basahan na niya ako nang student book manual dahil bawal daw! Instead of answering me, hindi na naman niya ako pinansin at nagkibit balikat lang.

" Excuse me, miss. I have a P.E class later. " Mataray na sagot nung babae. I bit my lips from embarrassment. s**t! Why I wasn't thinking that? Nakakainis kasi ang lalaking 'yon! Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin pa nila at tumakbo na ako papalayo. Pero hindi pa ako nakakalayo, someone bumped into me at nabitawan ko ang hawak kong mga lab instrument.

" What the f**k, Amari Reign! Tumingin ka sa dinadaanan mo! Ang sakit mo talaga sa ulo kahit kailan! " Israel Arden shouted at hinigit ang kamay ko. He was holding it tightly and I'm sure magkakapasa 'yon mamaya.

" Hindi ko naman sinasadya, e! They bumped into me! " Pinilit kong hindi manginig ang boses. The last thing that I would do is to cry in front of this cruel guy!

" You're so stupid, bata. Kung tumitingin ka lang sa dinadaanan mo ay hindi ka namin mababangga!" The girl who bumped into me angrily spat at me, I suddenly remembered that she was the girl na lumapit kay Israel noong PE class namin. I eyed her from head to foot, she was wearing our school uniform but her skirt were too short and her breast were almost popping out of her!

" Ikaw ang stupid po! You saw me walking towards your direction and when you saw me, bigla kayong naglakad towards me! You did it on purpose po!" Sabi ni dad, kahit inaapi, huwag kalimutang gumalang. This girl should realize that even if I'm still young, hindi nila ako pwedeng i-bully!

" Oh my god! Did you heard that, Israel? Sumasagot pa siya! Kasalanan naman niya! " I looked towards him to see if I could rely on him, but this man is just too cruel, he was looking at me like I'm a criminal!

" How can you fix this, Camero? We needed the lab instrument for our next class. Bakit kasi hindi ka nag-iingat! You're really dumb! " Malamig at galit na sigaw niya sa akin. Malapit na akong umiyak pero I won't ever do that! Not in front of him!

" I would call my dad. Papalitan na lang namin ang mga nasira. " I proudly said. Pero imbes na matuwa siya, bigla niyang hinatak ang balikat ko at marahas na inilapit sa kanya.

" Your money can't fix everything, Camero. Bagim lattan deta kwarta yon! " He let go of me with force, napaatras ako and it was too late to balance my body, dumiretso ako sa lapag and I felt something sharp pierced into my hand. Umalis siya at hindi man lang tumingin pa.

Why is he like that? Bakit sa akin lang siya galit? My offenses were light, I know that! Ang iba nga ay pakiramdam ko gawa gawa lang niya! I didn't noticed the tears cascading on my eye.

" Si ano 'to, e! Ganda! Dumudugo kamay mo! Gago, Ox! Teka nga lang! " I was already crying hard like a baby. Hindi ko alam kung saan ang masakit, kung ang kamay ko ba, yung pang upo ko, o yung likod ko. Israel Arden is really a monster! He's too much!

" Oy, miss? Kaya pa ba? Teka, dadalhin ka namin sa morge!" May boses ulit na nagsalita but I still did not look at the people who's in front of me.

" Tanga ka, Ox! Bakit sa Morge? Hindi naman patay 'yan! Sa hospital muna bago 'don! " Someone gently held my arm, helping me to get up without touching my aching body parts. Tinignan ko ang tumulong sa akin at bumungad sa akin ang dalawang lalaki. They are the two guys from SSG office!

" Miss, alam kong pogi ako pero loyal ako kay Champagne Vanilla ko. " Maangas na umangat ang labi niya. He was the one they called Ox! Yung pasaway na student, yung mga taga Grade 10!

" Ang kapal mo kamo, Ox. Takot nga 'yon sayo." The Chinese guy smirk, pumula ang mukha ni Ox at tinignan naman siya nang masama. He raised his dirty finger na nagpatawa naman sa isa.

They started guiding me to walk, I'm not sure if they will really send me to the morgue or to the hospital, wala na din akong pakialam dahil mas iniintindi ko ang sakit ng katawan at kamay ko. The two guys keeps on talking at hindi ko na din naman napakinggan dahil nawalan na ako ng malay.

" Gago, ox! Sa morge na nga 'yata ang deretso nito!" That was the last thing that I heard before drifting to wonderland.

" Okay na ang sugat niya sa kamay, Mr. Antonio. She just needs to rest and she'll be alright. " I heard faint sounds, people are talking just behind the curtains of the school clinic when I woke up. Wala na sina Ox at ang Chinese na kasama niya but I did heard my dad's name.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Ma'am Esguerra. I already called my secretary to deliver the new lab instrument. " My dad is here. I don't know why I couldn't find the joy because he went here even if he has work to do, probably, I knew that he would scold me to death kapag wala nang nakatingin sa amin.

" Thank you, Mr. Camero. We appreciate your donation. Hindi ka na dapat bumili pa ng lab instrument dahil sobra na naman ang binigay mong donation para school." I heard another voice, it was Sir Ronald. So, my dad just bribe them with his money just to clear my name again?

"For Amari, huwag mo nang pagalitan ang bata. I already talked to Israel Arden, our SSG president, to look out for her. " My fist formed into a ball. Why would they think that Israel will look out for me? Siya nga ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito ako!

They went out of the door and I was left alone, again. I didn't try to move an inch because my hand were still aching. I just wanted to rest more because I will be facing another monster when I get home. Minutes later, someone opened the door. I couldn't see who went inside because there's a curtain blocking the view. All I see is a silhouette of a man. He doesn't look like my dad, and I wonder who's he?

I noticed that the curtain moves a little bit. The man stands just beside me, he was at the back of the curtain, I was trying hard to see his face but I couldn't.

" Who are you? What do you want? You know that I could easily scream if you'll do something not so nice." I managed to speak despite of being anxious. My heart were racing, and I feel like I'm burning.

He didn't speak pero ipinasok niya ang kamay niya sa gilid nang kurtina. I skipped a little para iwasan ang kamay niya, malay ko ba if he'll touch me! Napangiwi pa ako dahil naigalaw ko ang kamay ko.

His hand were veiny, he has a not too white but not too brown skin, and based from the looks of it, he has a very soft hand! Mas soft pa compared to me! I was just staring at the hand in front of me, and I noticed that he was holding something... yung starfish sa SpongeBob!

A cute Patrick band aid! My lips parted because of this weird encounter. Who's in the right mind to do something like this? Is he one of my admirers and he's just too shy to show his face to me, and choose to hide behind the curtains?

A second later, his hand gestures like he wanted me to get the band aid. I was having a dilemma if I'll accept it, but I think he is getting impatient because his hand gestures were getting violent. I sighed. Kinuha ko ang band aid and to my surprise, the guy suddenly sprinted away and in a blink of an eye, he's gone!

I don't know what to react but I found myself laughing from that encounter. Huh, I think I have a cute secret admirer? Pero, sorry siya, I heard my dad said when I was still a little girl...little girl pa naman ako pero noong mas little pa ako, na hindi pa ako pwedeng mag boyfriend, kapag thirty two na 'daw ako! Poor guy, he still needs to wait 18 years para ligawan ako kung sakali!

Minutes later, someone barge in again. I think the person kicked the door kasi bigla na lang 'yon bumukas nang malakas!

" Tangina, nasaan si Amari?! Buhay pa ba siya? Nasaan siya? Amari! " I rolled my eyes when I heard Hetty's voice. With my aching hand, I slide the curtain to reveal myself.

" I'm here, Hetti. I'm the only patient as of the moment, no need to shout. " Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ako. Her eyes glistened with tears. What's wrong with her?

" Sorry, girl! I should've been there! Sabi sayo e! Malakas ang kaltok sa ulo ng mga Arden! Kita mo ang nangyari sayo! " Lumapit siya sa akin at umupo sa tabi ko. She held my hand and I could see how her face curled up.

"Nakausap ko sina Ox at Kento, sinadya ka daw banggain nung grupo ni Claudia! Ang gaga na 'yon! Kahit Grade 10 siya, sasampalin ko siya nang kawali!" I knew it! Hindi ko sila mababangga dahil malayo ako mula sa kinatatayuan nila kanina. I was shocked when her group just started walking towards me, and they never stop! I even saw one of them push the tray where the lab instrument were in!

"They think that I would let it pass? Ha! Hintayin nila at itong mismong kamay na'to ang tatama sa mga face nila!" Hetty's face lightened and she was nodding her head like she was hyping me.

"I will asked someone to lure Claudia sa Oval, and I will throw a pale of pig's blood to her! As for Israel, I will make his life a living hell! I will violate all the rules written on his holy book and let's see if he'll not go insane! " I smirked as I pictured these scenarios on my head.

" That's it girl! Ipakita mo ang ganti ng api!" We were both laughing like maniac. We even talked about how we are going to get even with them, there silly things that she suggested but I would ended up shrugging it off.

Our family driver picked me up. I was disappointed when my dad didn't even bother to check on me. When they went outside earlier ay tinawagan na niya si Manong Joni para sunduin ako at siya naman ay bumalik sa opisina niya.