Power

Chapter 3

 Parang namanhid ang pisngi ko sa lakas ng sampal niya unti-unting uminit at kumirot. I'm still holding my cheeks. What was that? She suddenly barge into my room and slap me? 

Masakit ang sampal niya but I can't afford to cry in front of her.

"Didn't I tell you not to mess with Kate?! You embarassed me in front of her parents!" She's really mad.

What does she mean by that? Wala naman akong ginawa kay Kate. Never kung sinumbong si Kate kahit na kanino kahit na she's hurting me physically. I never dared because I know this will happen.

"I didn't do-"

"Nagsumbong ka sa Teacher niyo na inaway ka ni Kate and she called Kate's parents. You didn't know how embarassed I am habang nasa bahay nila ako!"

She's really mad. She's mad because of what happened to Kate. Wala man lang siyang pakialam sa ginawa ni Kate sa akin. Ano pa bang mapapala ko? 

And what? My Teacher called Kate's parents? Why would she? I don't know if it is an act of kindness or worriedness o gusto niya lang akong ipahamak. I grew up doubting people's intention lalo na at masama ang kinalabasan ng ginawa nila.

"Hindi ako nagsumbong" I calmly said.

Hindi naman talaga. Ni hindi ko nga nakausap ang Teacher ko. Matagal nang nangyayayari ang nangyari kanina and ngayon lang siya nagbigay ng atensiyon?

"Then why?! Why did your adviser called her parents?! Throughout the dinner pinaparinggan nila! You btch! You did it on purpose didn't you?!" 

"Hindi ako nagsumbong. I'll talk to my adviser tomorrow, Ate!"

"You better be! She threatened them to call the attention of the schools officials. Ayusin mo 'yan kung ayaw mong managot sa akin!" 

She will call the school's officials? As if may mangyayari. Kate's family is also powerful. They can easily buy the favor of the school's officials. Pwede rin silang pumanig sa akin because my parents also have a money but my sister is obsessed with Kate's brother. Bali-balitang ia-arrange marriage sila so my family would probably don't want to mess with Kate's family.

"Catherine, stop it" lumihis ang tingin ko sa pintuan. Kuya is standing near my door. 

"Lexi need to learn her lesson, Kuya"

"I told you stop it, Catherine" Kumalma ang mukha niya. Kuya's warning voice must have an effect to her.

"Binabalaan kita, Lexi. If you mess with her again ako ang makakalaban mo" 

Nakatingin lang ako sa likuran niya habang papalabas siya ng kwarto ko. She's so fast responding on Kate's issue pero hindi niya man lang binigyan ng pansin ang isssue ko. Mukhang hindi niya naiintindihan na ako ang biktima dito at hindi si Kate.

She's busy getting their favor that she's neglecting me, her sister.

"Magpapadala ako ng cold compress dito" Kuya said before he close the door.

Pabagsak akong naupo sa swivel chair. God knows how much I tried holding myself. Gusto kong lumaban at ipagtanggol ang sarili ko pero alam kong walang mangyayaring maganda kung makikipag-away ako. Ayoko ring umabot sa punto na kailangang pumili ni

Mommy sa aming dalawa kung sino ang kakampihan niya.

"Ayos ka lang?" I heard him talk. Lumipad agad ang tingin ko sa cellphone na hindi ko napatay. I sigh.

"I still am. Check my email and inform me if you are able to persuade her" 

"Alright. Call you soon"

I end the call. Ngayon may kailangan na naman akong ayusin. I have to go early tomorrow to talk to my adviser. I don't know why she did this pero sana ay nagbulag-bulagan na lang siya because this won't do me any good.

"Miss..." someone knock on my door. Tumayo ako at nagtungo sa pintuan. I open the door and saw one of our maids. May dala nga siyang cold compress.

Araw ba ng cold compress ngayon? 

"Thank you" I close the door and put the cold compress on my cheeks. 

Shit. Ang sakit. Bumalik ako sa mesa at niligpit ang gamit. I type my messae to Gia on what she should do to divert the attention of the media. Kahit na gusto ko na lang magpahinga because today is really tiring but I can't dahil alam kong hindi niya ako titigilan. 

I was about to send my message to her when my phone started ringing because of Manong Arnold's call.

"Did you found something?" Bungad ko sa kaniya.

"Yes, Miss. Nakakuha ako ng mga larawan na kung saan dine-deliver pa rin nila ang mga sirang isda. Nakakuha rin ako ng statement ng isa sa mga witness na nagsasabing gumagamit ng dinamita ang Cuenca fishing"

They are using dynamite? Pinagbabawal na ang paggamit ng dinamita ang yet they are using it. 

"Can you send me the file?"

"I will send it to you right now"

Binuksan ko ang email sa Ipad at agad na saktong pumasok ang message galing sa butler ko. May transcript and voice record ng witness. May picture rin tulad ng sinasabi ni Manong Arnold. This is great. I just acquired a strong evidence.

"I will send this to a reporter. I want you to secure the witness. Cuenca's will probably hunt the witness send her abroad if you must"

"Okay, Miss"

I end the call. Mabilis kong inayos ang pagka-compile ng file. I edited the witness voice para hindi siya makilala. After compiling the file ay sinend ko na ito sa isang sikat na reporter. I send it to someone thirsty of fame. Iyong reporter na alam kong hindi mababayaran ng pera ang ambition.

After sending the file ay inayos ko na ang mga gamit. Sinunog ko ang mga papel that would give my family an idea that I am helping the Cuenca's. 

I sleep with cold compress on my cheeks. Nagising ako na nasa side table na ang cold compress. Mom probably went here. Naligo agad ako at hindi na nagtagal pa. I need to talk to my adviser.

My Ate and Kuya is still eating in the dining nang bumaba ako kaya hindi na ako pumasok at umalis na lang. I texted my Mom na umalis na ako. Madalas ay maaga ang adviser ko kaya maaga rin akong pupunta. 

"Saan mo gustong mag-almusal, Miss?" Manong Arnold ask me nang palabas na kami ng bahay.

"I want burger, Manong. I think may malapit dito e"

"Sige, Miss"

Huminto kami sa isang sikat food shop na nago-offer ng burger. Walang drive thru kaya bumaba si Manong para bilhan ako. Inilabas

ko ang Ipad at tiningnan kung anong trending ngayon.

I smile widely when I saw Cuenca on the Top trending list. What I sent to the reporter last night is all over the social media. Cuenca fishing receive various criticism for what they did. Most of the people want Cuenca fishing to shut down. 

"There's a rally?" 

Pictures of people rallying in front of the Cuenca company is all over the internet. Bunch of people are also calling out the attention of FDA and the government.

"Ito na, Miss"

Pumasok si Manong at ibinigay sa akin ang burger. Kinuha ko agad ito. Habang nasa biyahe ay kumakain ako at nagbabasa ng mga balita. What I sent the reporter really ignited the issue.

I checked the current status of Cuenca's stocks. Mabilis ang pagbaba ng stocks nila. Madami ng gustong ibenta ang shares na hawak nila. Madaming investors ang nag-pull out ng pera.

I'm using a third person to buy shares from Cuenca company. Pangalan niya ang ginamit ko para bumili ng shares at siya rin ang pumupunta sa mga meetings. I sent her a message immediately to buy some shares. Hindi pwedeng mapalagpas ang pagkakataong ito.

"Keep me updated" Iyong ang bilin ko sa Butler ko. 

Diretso ang lakad ko papuntang faculty kung saan nalalagi ang adviser ko. Tama nga ang hinala ko at nandoon nga siya. Dalawa pa lang ang tao sa faculty at malayo ang isang teacher kaya lumapit agad ako sa adviser namin.

"Ma'am" she's writing something. Tiningala niya ako.

"Oh Lexi ikaw pala. Maupo ka" umupo ako sa upuang nasa harap ng mesa niya.

"Hindi na po ako magpapaligoy pa. I want to clarify something. Hindi po ako binu-bully ni Kate" diniretso ko na siya. Doon rin naman kami pupunta kung sakaling magpaligoy-ligoy pa ako.

"She does, Lexi. Alam ko"

"No po. We are friends and that's just how we show our affection towards each other. I'm sorry if you misinterpret it"

"Silence is never a good answer on violence, Lexi. Speak up nandito naman ako. I'll support you. Hindi pwedeng hayaan mo lang sila. Masasanay lang sila. They will think it's okay to bully you kasi hindi ka nagre-reklamo" I smile.

I can feel her sincerity. She does really look worried pero hindi sagot ang paga-alala niya dito. We are talking about Kate Estacio and my sister. 

"For now silence is the best answer. I appreciate your concern but voicing it out is not a good answer either. I can take care of myself. I'm here to inform you po that I am not a victim of bulying" Tumayo ako.

There's no use on complaining. They are big people and they can turn the tables. I don't want to complicate things kaya mas mabuting ako na umiwas. Hindi ko pa sila kaya ngayon but I will soon. Maniningil ako.

"Lexi..."

"Aalis na po ako"

Umalis agad ako. I hope she understand what I said her. It's for her own goo dahil kung hindi siya titigil ay baka mawalan siya ng trabaho because Estacio is capable of doing so.

Boung araw kong hindi nakita si Kate. Don't tell me natakot siya? Woah tumalab ba ang pananakot ng adviser ko? For the first time since my Senior High School year I felt at peace.

Last subject na namin at papasok na ang subject adviser namin when my phone rings because of his call. Mabilis ko agad itong sinagot dahil may kausap pa naman ang adviser ko sa labas ng classroom.

"May klase pa ako. Make it quick" I whispered.

I don't know what he needs but he won't call me this hour with nonsense things.

"Damn it, Lexi! s**t! You need to hurry" he's whispering as if nasa isang lugar siya na hindi pwedeng magsalita ng malakas dahil

baka may makarinig sa kaniya.

"Bakit?"

"Cesar Cuenca ordered to kill Alayna Almonte and blame it to his brother Axel Almonte. You need to hurry or else everything will go down!"