THE MASTERS

The new school year means a new hell year for me, why? Because for a student like me who is not that smart and kinda aloof, I am often the target of bullying. Cliché right? Well, that's how my life goes, ever since I stepped into this school, that's what's been my encounter. What do you expect in a school where the students are all brats and jerks? It's probably like what we read or watched in books and televisions, so I know that's not new to y'all anymore. The only annoying thing is why there are such people? Why do they need to intervene with other people's lives if they have their own lives that they should focus on? Aren't they aware that they just look pathetic when they do that because they look uneducated? Or maybe their parents didn't teach them proper manners? Kasi 'di ba, the attitude of a person comes first to their family because since childhood they have been with them. Sa pamilya muna mag-uumpisa ang lahat. My only wish is that somehow this school year will go smoothly for me. This year is all I need to be able to leave this school. I'm now in grade 10 and I don't want to take my Senior year in this school, sapat na ang apat na taon na pagtitiis kasama sila. I sighed before entering the gate of this school. Until now I still can't help but laugh when I read the name of our school. How come that the name they went up is Cupid University! Kulang ba sa pagmamahal si Principal or ang Owner ng school na ito? Geez. I go straight to the bulletin board to see which room and which section I am in this year. I was not able to know it when I enrolled because I was in a hurry to change my clothes. Someone just threw a soft drink on my clothes and I didn't have extra clothes with me like hello? Do I need to bring extra clothes kahit mag-e-enroll lang naman ako? I am no longer a girls scout, elementary pa 'yon. I was with my cousin at that time but I couldn't find her and because I was sticky at that time, I left her. My eyes narrowed when I can't find my name on the list. I immediately smiled when I eventually found it. Grade 10 - Mercury and Section 2. Haay, I wasn't even given a chance to step on Section 1. Well, there's no wonder, I am not gifted with a higher IQ like my cousins. Some may be surprised when I become a Section 1 and then susumbong pa sa Principal, so no thanks na lang. I'm good with what I have now. I was about to walk away from the front of the bulletin when someone pulled my arm so napaharap ulit ako doon. A grinning woman exposed herself to me. I sighed, here we go again. "Hey missy, I thought lumipat ka na ng school? But you're still here though, why is it?" Mataray na tanong nito sa akin and then she gave me her infamous rolled eyes. "Hindi natuloy." I answered briefly and tried to remove her hold on me. Yes, that's true. I almost certainly moved school if my Grandmother hadn't forced me not to move and just finish another year here. I didn't do anything because she was the one who's supporting me so I need to follow her, even against my will. "Well well well, poor you. Kung ako sa 'yo ay lilipat na ako ng school by now dahil sisiguraduhin kong hindi ka makakatapos ng pag-aaral mo dito!" She smiled and she flipped her hair towards me, before bumping my shoulders and walking away. I took a deep breath because of what happened. If you're wondering who she is. She's Agatha, the famous brat of all brats here in Cupid University and maybe even outside the premises. She is always the instigator of bullying here at school and lucky me, she always sees me. "PINSAN!!" I heard someone shout when I was in front of the Section 1 room. I turned around and I saw my cousin running towards me and she came from inside the room. "Bakit?" I asked as soon as she approached me. "Good morning! Anong section ka?" Nakangiting tanong niya. "As usual." Bagot na sagot ko, napailing-iling naman siya. "Well, same here!" She replied so I just smiled too. That's not surprising at all since she's none other than Cristina Graspela, my not so little cousin but sure a very smart one. The smaller she is, the bigger her brain is, especially in Mathematics, she is said to be a future accountant. In short, she's my total opposite. She is only my age but I'm older than her for four months. I often being compared to her especially with our Grandmother, she always says that I should imitate her. Smart and hardworking. But what can I do? I'm just like this and no one can ever change that. No matter how hard I try, I can't imitate, equal, or surpass her. I'm proud of being me and if they can't accept that, that's not my problem anymore. "Oo nga pala, kaklase ko ulit ang crush mo." She said while just whispering the last words she said that immediately grabbed my attention. I feel like my mood went up because of the news. "Totoo?!" I asked in a whisper too, she nodded quickly. "Nasaan siya? Nandiyan na ba?" I asked eagerly as I simply peeked inside their room. "HAHAHAHA oo nandito na siya pero lumabas yata kanina, baka pabalik na 'yon ngayon." She replied so I couldn't stop smiling. Actually, I don't really have a crush on him. I just seem to admire him but not totally a crush. Ahh basta iyon na 'yon. "Ano hihintayin mo ba? May pasok ka na yata." She asked so I looked at my black wristwatch and shoot! It's seven-thirty! I'll be late kapag hinintay ko pa siya. I still have time to see him later in our break time. So I said goodbye to Cristina and quickly went to my room which is three rooms away. When I entered our room I suppressed a smile when I saw that I had no classmates who once bullied me. There are also a lot of new faces so I chose to sit in the middle, but next to the window because it was a bit windy there at iyon ang pinaka-magandang pwesto sa loob ng classroom. Iginala ko ang paningin ko para sana makahanap nang makokopyahan in the near future but my eye caught the two people sitting in the back. They also look like transferees, the woman looks kind while the man looks serious type I think. Halos fifteen minutes pa yata kaming naghintay bago dumating ang lecturer kaya kaagad nang nagsi-tahimikan ang mga kaklase ko. Hindi na ako nagulat nang makita kung sino ang bago naming adviser. Every first subject kasi ay 'yon ang magiging adviser ng isang section. Nilibot niya muna ang paningin niya and when it landed to my direction ay tinanguan lang ako nito na sinuklian ko naman ng tipid na ngiti. "Hello, good morning everyone. Welcome to another school year here at Cupid University. I am Mrs. Marife Cortez, your Filipino Teacher. I know some of you are already know me except sa mga transferees natin. So before we start our discussion I want you all to please introduce yourselves here in front. Para magkakila-kilala na kayong lahat dito." Turan ni Mrs. Cortez. I know it's bad but I really laugh at Mrs. Cortez because she is a Filipino Teacher but she always speaks English when she's discussing. Parang na-force lang tuloy siyang magturo ng Filipino. My new classmates started to introduce themselves. When it's my turn to introduce myself, I walked to the front, looking at them all before speaking. "Good morning. I'm Rose Ann Graspela, 16 years old. Hope we get along, thank you." Formally introducing myself, I first looked at Mrs. Cortez before returning to my seat. Many more introduced themselves until only the two at the back left, the woman stood up first. "Hi, hello. I am Levia Carson, 17. Good to see you all and please be nice to us, thank you." She introduced herself with a smile so I just nodded, the man followed. "I'm Icen Black, 17." The guy introduced himself briefly, really stuck. Edi wow. Huwag lang sanang maangasan sa kaniya ang mga classmates naming boys na feeling siga. Kawawa naman. After everyone introduced themselves, there was a short briefing about the subject and we were immediately dismissed. The other subjects followed immediately until break time and then went home. Only introductions and briefings on subjects took place throughout the day, so the faces of my classmates were still in order and they didn't look like haggards like monkeys. Oops. Sorry for the word. Peace out! After I arranged my things, I went straight to Cristina's classroom, because we always go home together and at the same time I can see Clyde. Yep, the name of my so-called–crush is Clyde Agustin. I'm not the only one who's attracted to him here at school, there are many too. He was blessed with a really beautiful face with brains so it's not surprising. But I immediately frowned when I saw who was clutching his arm as their lecturer discussing ahead. The fudge? Of all the women who can cling to him, why it has to be her? Bakit ang Agatha pa na iyan?! They seemed close because Clyde just let go of whatever Agatha was trying to do to him. I saw her looking at me with a smirk on her face as if teasing me. What's wrong with her? Arrgh! It didn't take me long to see what the two were doing so I left in a hurry. I'll just wait for Cristina outside the gate since there's a waiting shed there. But the world seems to agree with them dahil naroon na rin pala sa gate ang alipores ng linta. "Rose Ann! Good to see you girl. How's your first day?" Zyra asked kindly, serving as Agatha's right-hand sa pagka-b***h. "Ayos lang naman at mas lalong gumanda dahil nakita ko kayo." Walang ngiting sagot ko. "How sweet naman pala HA HA HA," Erika commented, all in all, they are four in the group. Kristia was the only one who seemed to be quiet but when she spoke, the three of them were beaten. "Ano na naman bang kailangan ninyo sa akin?" I asked boredly. Let's say they are bullying me but that doesn't mean I just let them do that to me. Nakaka-chamba lang talaga ang mga lokaret na 'to kaya kung ano-ano ang nagagawa nila sa akin. Maybe that's also why I'm the one they often tease at because I'm the only one who has the courage to fight them. I'm not that weak to let them do what they want to me without defending myself. My Grandmother didn't raise me just to be taken advantage of by other people. I just need to prove myself to them that I'm not an easy target. "I really like your guts, missy. Siguraduhin mo lang na hindi ka kaagad susuko at uuwing nanlalagkit ulit." Sambit ni Kristia kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. "I'm not a weakling Kristia, mag-isa lang ako kaya nagagawa ninyo sa akin iyon. Kung wala 'yang mga kasama mo, tingin mo magagawa ninyo pa rin ang mga iyon? Nahh. You only depends on your numbers and connections." Seryosong sagot ko na ikina-bago ng expression niya. I was stunned when Erika suddenly inched the gap between us and pulled my hair and the force of it almost removed them from my scalp. I tried to reach for her hair also but someone took hold of both my hands and pulled it behind me so that I could not move and stretch. Pinagtu-tulungan na rin nila yata akong tatlo dahil nararamdaman kong hindi na lang i-isa ang nananabunot sa akin. I also felt kicks on my side and my leg. My eyes began to teary-eyed but I'm holding it back, there's no way I'll let them see me crying for what they're doing to me. I'm sure they'll just enjoy it and do worse to make me look even more miserable. "ITIGIL NINYO 'YAN!!!" A deafening shout caught the attention of the three that stopped them. I grab this opportunity to free myself and immediately get away from them. Darn! The soaring pain of my scalp, legs, and side are so damn sucks. I also have scratches on my arm and on my neck. "Hindi na ba talaga kayo titigil sa pambu-bully ha?! Last year ninyo na dito sa Cupid pero hindi man lang kayo natatakot na baka hindi kayo makasabay sa pag-akyat sa stage!?" Galit na sigaw ni Mrs. Cortez ang Filipino Teacher and Adviser ko. "H-hindi naman po kami ang nagsimula Ma'am e....sinasagot-sagot niya po kasi kami tapos....tapos binabastos pa....kaya nagawa po namin sa kaniya 'yan at kasalanan niya po 'yon!" Zyra answered while looking down. My mouth gape open by what she said, the audacity of this b***h? How dare they turn the tables around?! Best actress! They truly deserve the best new actress award. "Do you really think I'll buy that? Go to the guidance office! Now!" Mrs. Cortez shouted angrily so the three did nothing but follow. "Except to you Rose Ann." She added so I stopped walking immediately. I even heard the three howl so I smiled a little before I faced Mrs. Cortez. "Thank you po, Ma'am," I answered while bowing slightly to look even more oppressed. "Umuwi ka na. Ako nang bahala dito. Gamutin mo na rin ang sarili mo, wala na ang nurse dito sa school." She said before turning around and follow those three. I raised my head and just followed them with gaze until they disappeared from my sight. I turned around and went to the waiting shed to sit down and rest myself. Mrs. Cortez, she's like my knight in shining teacher uniform. She was the one who always saw the four of them bullying me, so I was a little relieved when I found out that she was my new adviser. Agatha was lucky because she wasn't with me but I'm sure if she was with me earlier, it would be even worse for me. I just laughed to myself while looking at my state. Is this how defending myself? Parang mas ipinain ko pa ang sarili ko e. Cristina came right away so we went home. She was even surprised by my appearance but I couldn't answer her because my brain seemed to want to come out because of the pain in my scalp. It's good that she doesn't notice that I've been moaning in pain every time I touch my head or even just my hair. May pagka-war freak din kasi 'to kahit ang liit-liit. Saksi rin naman kasi siya ng mga ginagawang pambu-bully sa akin n'ong apat. Hindi nga lang siya makalaban kasi bukod sa maliit na siya pwede pa siyang paliparin nang kahit mahinang tulak lang kaya medyo iniiwas ko din siya. Mahirap nang madamay siya sa ka-immature-an ng mga bwisit na 'yon. When I got home I didn't find Lola so I just went straight to the bedroom and lay down on the bed. Lately, Lola is always away from home and I don't ask where she is going because she comes home safe and sound, so panatag na rin ang loob ko. Maybe she's just hanging out with her fellow senior citizens who she often goes with when they're claiming their pensions. I just took a shower for a while before changing into house clothes and lying down on the bed again. I'll just rest my body first because I'm planning to cook what we're going to eat for dinner. Panigurado kasi na Lola won't be able to cook for us when she arrives because she's tired from lakwatsa. Hayyy this day sucks. The first days are really awesome.