RAYANA

Chapter 8

You don't know what it's like to be in someone shoes because I know that we have a different experience regardless on the same situation.

But it barely sink in my mind how we cope up with the new environment.

It takes months for Reina Leine Villaluz short for Lei and me to be comfortable with each other, she tried everyday to talk to me and tell me about things about the town and the people, what's her job and hobbies, her dislikes and likes.

She act like she know me and close enough to say at least about things I can understand even if I didn't ask.

I'm not open to her, but I trained to mingle with people so I act and go with her flow. I laugh and smile, listening, giving a reactions, responding and observing.

In awhile, I didn't expect that it's been months since I come here. The town of Tiercherro, Southeastern we're the sunrise mesmerizing like a painting and the green grass filled the mountains and the yellowish color of the up coming harvest of rice in Tiercherro.

I sigh when I heard the girly shout of Sandy laughing around the front yard.

I am in my room and trying to read. 4 days before the first day of school, I wanted to know what's the environment of my school but I can't concentrate because of Sandy.

I got up of my bed and go to the window to see her playing with her small dog. I crinkle my nose when her clothes was thin and short short with her pig tail, she glance to the other side of the road which the big houses located. I saw group of boys playing basketball and by the look at it, they know Sandy because some was glancing this way. May narinig pa kung nagsisigawan sa kabila at nanonood din ng laban. There's a group of people over there not in the same grade level.

I just go down stairs and find something to eat. Lei have her own flower shop and she's always busy in the weekdays and stayed home in weekend but she always find a way to talk to me even if I wasn't go with her to the Centro. It's the city of Tiercherro which crowded and popular. 15 minutes lang ang byahe at pwede ring lakarin.

I go to the living room after and turn on the TV. Nag iinit pa lang ang pwet ko sa sofa ng may biglang may malakas na kalampag galing sa labas, I even heard Sandy's shouted to death.

I jump on my feet and let go of my food. I go to the front door and open it to see the shattered pots around the three steps of the terraces and the other side of the front yard.

There's a group of girls arrogant and fiercely standing on the yard laughing while Sandy hugging her dog. She stance was in defense and by the look at it, mukhang tinapon sa kanya ang mga pots.

"Did I already warned you Sandria? Dapat kasi nakikinig ka, yan tuloy " Ngisi nung babae habang tinatapik tapik ang pisngi ni Sandy. The stance look like nothing but even the blind will feel the threats of this girls.

Her companions looks like enjoying and trilled about this. Don't tell me I'm going to school with them?

"O-Olive.. Wala akung ginagawang masama " Garalgal na sabi ni Sandy and step backward but the Olive suddenly gripped her pig tail.

Napasandal ako sa hambana ng pinto. I can't believe I have the same age as this girls, hindi din pala magiging boring ang highschool ko pag nagkataon.

"Talaga? You staring at Lukas like you want him! Ginawa mo pang excuse yang aso mo. I saw you watching the game.. Malandi!" Gigil na saad nung Olive at pabalyang binitiwan ang buhok niya. She whimpered and stumble but she balance herself.

I sigh when I look at the other road but the boys don't even look this way. How nice.

"I like her dog.. Can I have it Olive?" Sabi nung matinis na boses. Ahh I'm trying to rest here yet they destroyed my mood.

"You can have it.." Ngisi nung Olive.

Napairap ako sa hangin at humakbang palapit sa kanila. This is not what I'm wishing for. I'm starting to re-new my life here.

Bago pa maabot ng babae ang aso ni Sandy na pilit nyang tinatago sa babae , I grabbed that girl hair and pull her hard away from Sandy. She screamed and struggle to my grasp.

I let her go to let her be but she stumble and face the dirty ground. 

I saw how Sandy's eyes big while looking up to me. Inirapan ko sya at hinarap ang apat na babae.

I saw them gasp while the Olive look at me angrily.

"You..!" I didn't let her talk and just slap her on the face. The girls gasp and shocked. Hindi pa nga yung malakas kumpara sa suntok ko.

I smirk.

"You should slap her hard.. Hindi mo nilakasan kaya ako na lang ang gagawa nun sa iyo.." She look at me breathlessly. I stare blankly at her with lifted lip on the side.

I saw the two girls step backwards when I glance at them quickly.

I drop my smile and slap her again on the other side this time, I didn't hold a bit. Muntik na syang matumba kung hindi ko lang nahuli ang buhok nya.

"Oh my gosh!" Tili nung babaeng kakatayo lang sa pagkakatumba.

I pulled her hair and force her to face me, she didn't move by the shock and sudden attack that she received.

Nagusot ang mukha nya ng pilipitin ko ang buhok nya.

"You!... Let me go!" Tili nya at hihilahin nya sana ang buhok ko but I turn her around to face the we're they have been awhile ago. Drag her to walk. Holding her tight.

I heard Sandy called but I can't stop now. I'm enjoying this. 

"Let me go you b***h!" Tili nya at kawag sa akin. In just a seconds she cried in my hands. I wanted to laugh at her but nahh. Tinatamad ako.

Her friends wanted to help her but I give them a glare and attempt to go to them but the Almightly Olive was screaming because I dragged her around. She clawed my hands, but did she realize that I missed blood on my hand right now?

Tss. How I wish she know..

Sinalubong kami ng malakas na sigawan at cheer ng ibang babae sa loob ng court at mga lalaking nagtatakbuhan sa gitna. Sweating everywhere.

Agad din namang huminga ng mapansin nilang may papasok na babaing umiiyak at nagsisisigaw na bitiwan sya. 

"I'm gonna kill you b***h I swear!" Tili nya at iyak.

I sigh and push her inside the court. Natumba sya sa pagbitaw ko at nag iiyak na kinapa ang buhok nya.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko ng may makita akung mga buhok. Yuck, Anong gamit nyang shampoo? Bakit malagkit?

"Olive!"  Lapit nung lalaking matangkad.

"Lukas! " Ngawa nung Olive at nagpatulong pang tumayo sabay akap sa pawisan nyang katawan. This Lukas is too old for Sandy, she serious? May nakita akung mga kaedad namin na naglalaro pero ito ang gusto nya?

Agad namang nagsitabihan sa kanila ang mga kaibigan ni Olive at masama ang tingin sa akin. Their stare look like an ant to me.

"What happened?"

"She dragged Olive in the hair Kuya Lukas!" Sumbong nung isang bob hair ang buhok.

"Opo! Wala naman kaming ginagawa sa kanya!" Naiiyak na saad pa nung mapula ang labi.

I don't really understand why putting too much make up makes you good? or di lang ako sanay?

Hindi naman kasi masyadong magmi-make up si Lei eh. I saw Drina, Sandy's Mom but it's not too much.

"Ano bang nangyayari? Dude bilis na!" Sabat nung isang player at tumingin sa amin. Busangot ang mukha dahil sa naudlot na laro. 

"Pare, Ano? oh bakit umiiyak si Olive?" Sunod pa nung isang player, hanggang sa sunod sunod na ang pag lapit nila at na bore na ko. I don't even know why I'm still here.

Nahinto lahat ng dahil dito, mukhang nanonood pa. Tss.

Paalis na sana ako ng may biglang kamay na hahawak sana sa akin pero mabilis kung tinapik ng kamay ko.

Taka tuloy akung tumingin sa lalaking hahawak sa akin. This is not the Lukas but another guy, this one is good looking and have a air around him. Bad boy ang dating nya at nakapag padagdag ang makapal nyang mga kilay at malalim na mga mata.  Nakita ko sa gilid nya ang mga chismosong players na mukhang magkakaibigan. Lahat ata sila kilala ang isa't isa.

Pinapalibutan na kami ng lahat.

"Kid, apologize to Olive.." Seryoso nyang utos.

"Oo nga bata.. Hindi tama yang ginagawa mo"

"Mag sorry ka.."

"Dapat dyan sinusumbong sa magulang para magtanda.."

"Bagong mukha?"

"Hindi ba yan taga rito?"

"Nakita ko yan kasama ni Ms. Lei dati.. Pamangkin ata?"

I saw those girls trying to hide their grinned and that Olive pretending to cry on that Lukas shoulder. It gets my nerve when they talk around while watching me, I am ready to talk when Sandy showed on my side and hold my arm try to held me out of the crowd.

I refused and push her hands.

"Hoyy! Lukas di ba?!" Asik kung tawag sa gitna nilang lahat. Buong buo ang boses ko, ngayon lang to, lulubusin ko na dahil sa susunod na mga taon, boring na.

"Pedophile ka ba?!" Agad na nanghina ang kamay ni Sandy sa akin ng marinig yun. That's the stop of those murmur around.

Diritso kung tinitigan yung Lukas na nabigla rin sa tanong ko.

"Two 13 years old girls fighting around you.. sa harap mismo ng bahay ko." I stated every words. Umayos ako ng tayo at tinanggal ang salamin ko.

Running my tongue to my braces smirking at them.

"They destroyed the pots I've made because Olive oil didn't contained her jealousy. Nag aaral ako but she destroyed my concentration. Now tell me again if I should apologize or should I tell that this girls destroyed someone's property?" Turo ko sa apat na nagsisiksikan sa kanya.

"Kahit minor de edad ka pwede kitang ipakulong at ipasundo sa magulang mo.. Paano pa kaya kapag involve ang pangalang Lukas dito? Ahhh. Sandy didn't do anything because Olive and her friends trespassed on our property.. Even the pots that I give effort to make was destroyed and filled on my doorsteps." I puppy eyes said making a sweet smile to them.

"We'll give compensate to it..." The other girl gasp and so pale. I saw them face turn pale white. Lukas stay still and gaping at me.

"I don't need your money.." I cut her off waving my glasses to them.

 You wasted my effort anyway.." I mocked and give them a meaningful stare.

"Should I apologize Sir?" Baling ko sa lalaki sa gilid ko. He didn't said anything and just stare at me intently, I smirk and roll my eyes to him before turning around and put my glasses again.

I heard Sandy apologize and her frantic steps.

"You'll gonna pay for this Nerd!" Habol nung Olive so I turn around. Throwing my messy hair on my back and smoothly show to her middle finger, showing my big smirk and braces to them.

I heard Sandy gasp and the shock people around making me enjoy this show. Not bad for introducing myself to the town.

"Reya!" Asik ni Sandy at hinila ang kamay ko pababa.

Natatawang nagpahila ako sa kanya palayo.

"That was fun Sandy.." I said but my voice was flat.

Tinampal nya ko sa braso ko ng paulit ulit.

"I've never know that you had this side Reya Gosh!" Gigil nya habang patawid kami. She was flustered even I saw her red cheeks.

Inirapan ko lang sya.

"At hindi ko alam na ganun ka kahina.. Ang pathetic." Ingos ko.

"Yaahh! Hindi lang ako lumalaban because it's wrong to hurt others." Habol nya.

I just sigh. As I said we don't know what it's like to be in someone else shoes. Just like I don't know Sandy and those girls or those people.

But one thing is for sure. I know what I am even if this town give me peace and solemn vibes.