The Hater 2: Love to Hate Me (The Hater Trilogy #2)

2 [Part 1] | Making Waves

"NOAH, BEFORE we tell you everything, can I tell you something?" Isla scowled with eyes open, as if asking for Noah's attention. "Sa likod mo!"

A man suddenly hit Noah on his back, making Noah hit the floor and grunt in pain. "Sino ka ba?" maangas na tanong nito habang tinitignan si Noah. "Sino naman 'tong bida-bidang 'to? Bago ninyong kaibigan? Resbak?"

"Why do you want to know what am I to them?" Noah said and stood up. "Is it that important to you?"

"Nakatayo ka pa ha," ani ng lalaki bago akmang hahampasin ulit si Noah. "Tanggapin mo 'to."

The man aimed Noah but he dodged the man's action. He them punched the man on his abdomen. Hindi naman nakita ni Noah ang paparating na lalaki sa gilid kaya hindi niya iyon naiwasan dahilan para mapaupo siya sa sahig.

Noah got bruises on his face but still managed to stand up and beat the person who wounded his face. He went back to the other person and punched them with all his might.

When there was an opportunity, he aimed for one student and punched him on his upper abdomen. Hindi naman niya inaasahan na may kumuha sa kaniya mula sa likod at inambahan siya ng suntok dahilan para siya ay masugmok sa lupa.

A whistle was blown all of a sudden, then there was a guard who was running through them. "Anong nangyayari dito?"

Chase went to face the guard. "This guy here is just defending us," he said as he point his finger to Noah. "And these bastards here are bullying us po. Kaya nagawa 'yun ni Noah dahil pinapatigil lang niya sila."

"Hindi ako ang may hawak ng desisyon dito mga hijo't hija," ani ng guard at tumalikod sa kanila. "Mabuti pa pumunta nalang tayo kay director."

Sumunod naman ang lahat sa kaniya, pati ang mga lalaking namb-bully kina Isla at Chase. Chase, however, started helping Noah to stand up and walk. "Nakakalakad ka ba?"

"My wound is on my face," Noah responded. "How come I can't walk?"

They three, with Isla, started walking after the guard. "Are you alright, Noah?" tanong ni Isla. "I'm sorry you have to be beaten up like that to save us."

"Ano ba kasing ginawa ninyo para awayin kayo no'ng mga lalaking 'yon?" tanong niya at dumaing ng sakit dahil sa sugat sa mukha. "Ang lakas pa naman manuntok no'ng isa."

"They just like to bully us," Chase replied. "Mga walang magawa. Pati mga student council members nga nabubully no'ng mga gagong 'yon. They often ask for money and such."

"And you did not give them your money?" tanong ni Noah at tumikhim. "You should have gave him your money para hindi na kayo nila saktan."

"But I really don't have money already," Chase argued. "And so as Isla, naibigay na ata namin sa kanila 'yung weekly allowance namin so wala na talagang natira sa 'min. So 'yun, kaagad kaming ni-corner at pinagtangkaan."

"Those bastards," Noah said and spitted some saliva with his blood on it. "At saka, why do we need to go directly at the director's office? Wala bang prefect of discipline here?"

"People who makes troubles often go directly at the director or the director will just order a punishment order to them," Isla said. "Base sa nakalap kong information, or should I say tsismis, madaming mata sa buong school ang director. By means of mata, alam niya ang nangyayari sa buong school."

"Hmm," Chase agreed. "Kahit na nasa loob lang siya ng office niya, alam niya ang nangyayari sa buong school. Weird nga e, pero pagkapasok natin makikita mo wala namang CCTV do'n sa office niya."

The door opened and the guard let them inside the room. There greeted them the one and only director and Sky's uncle. He smiled. "Ba't parang nakakita kayo ng multo?" Naupo na lamang sa nakalaang upuan ang lahat ng estudyanteng nasangkot sa gulo. "So who's the offender?"

"Him," the man from another side said while pointing at Noah. The latter just smirked. "He hit me with a piece of wood."

"How about you Mr. Offender?" the director said and looked at Noah. "What can you say? What's your name first? Hindi ka familiar sa mga mata ko."

"First of all, I don't call myself an offender but a defender. I'm just defending my friends here," Noah blunted. Isla and Chase looked at him when he said the word 'friends' and smiled. "I'm Noah. Noah Jeremias Peterson to be exact. A transferee here."

"Peterson?" takang tanong ng director bago napahawak sa baba. "Kaano-ano mo si Blake? Siya lang ang kilala kong Peterson dito."

"He's my brother," he said before someone opened the door. They all turned his gaze to the man wearing his worried face, who entered the room. "And speaking of, he's here."

"What happened, Noah?" Blake breathed before looking at the director and smiled at it. "Good afternoon, Mr. Lee. Pauwi na sana ako but I received a call that Noah got into trouble so I immediately went here."

Chase all of a sudden talked. "Totoo po ang sinasabi ni Noah." The director turned his gaze to him. "Those men are harassing us both ni Isla and other students. Nanghihingi pa sila ng pera na hindi ko alam kung sa'n nila gagamitin. They also threatened us once na hindi kami nagbigay."

"Totoo ba 'yon?" tanong ng director bago tumingin sa tatlong lalaki at napa-angat ng kilay.

"Hindi po 'yun totoo..."

Chase interrupted. "Of course, they will deny what they did," he said, making the director nod in agreement. "No criminal would just confess their crime. That also applies here."

"I already knew these people," the director stated, looking at those three. "Suki na ata kayo sa opisina ko e, many students are complaining about what you did. The last time you came here, what did I say na punishment ninyo kapag ginawa ninyo ulit?"

The three men slowly lowered their heads. "Suspension," they answered while still not directly looking at the director.

"So I will do that already," the director said. "I will order a whole month suspension for you three. Kapag hindi pa kayo nagtino, I will really order an expulsion for you. Hopefully, we understands each other this time." They all nodded.

"So, can we already leave, Mr. Lee?" Blake asked. "Our parents must be already worried about us."

"Not yet," the director said and turned his gaze to Noah. "Because of causing damage and casualty, I'll also give Mr. Peterson a punishment..."

"But Mr. Lee..." Isla complained. "Kasasabi lang namin na he defended us. Why are you giving him punishments?"

"Because he chose to go into the trouble instead of telling the higher authority." Noah rolled his eyes and tsked after hearing the director's statement. "But because you just defended them, I'll give you lower punishment..."

"Don't just give him punishments," Chase complained. Napatingin naman sa kaniya sina Noah at Isla. "If you're gonna give him punishment, then we'll do it ni Isla as well?"

"Hala," ani Isla na tila gulat sa sinabi ni Chase. "Ba't nadamay ako?"

"Um-oo ka nalang," Chase breathed, speaking in a volume only Isla can hear. "Hindi ba, Isla? Dapat kasali din kami sa punishments. Kasi first of all, hindi rin namin sinunod ang dapat na sinumbong namin sa awtoridad."

Isla shouted and raised her fist. "Tama!" she agreed. "We will face the punishments as well!"

"You have a point and I guess you really wanted to be punished as well," the director looked at them with a sparkling grin. "You three will be doing a community service. Every end of your class schedule, you should be helping our janitor and janitress in cleaning your area. For Noah, you will be cleaning the infirmary. For Chase and Isla, you both will clean the men and women's comfort room. You all will do that in sixty school days. Is that okay with you?"