RAYANA

Chapter 12

I was busy reading when Sandy suddenly show beside me dropping her bag so loud making our classmates look at this way.

"What was that Reya!? We've been waiting you in front of your house but you didn't come and I called your phone but you didn't answer and the least I haven't expected is you being here early! Pwede mo namang sabihing early bird ka na di ba?!"

I shut my book and stare at her coldly.

"I didn't give you a permission to shout at me"

Napakurap sya at tumingin sa paligid namin making her shy a bit nut she regain her composure and seat beside me.

"Yes... but I just can't help but to get pissed because we nearly late. Bruce surely is late.. Dapat sinabi mo na nauna ka na para di na naghintay yung tao." She seriously explain to me very pointed the words.

I just look away..

"It's not his responsibility to wait for me. I don't even care if his late, it's his choice"

"Your unbelievable " I look at her and saw her hopelessly looking at me with those eyes that tells me I don't have any chance to change of what I am.

It get's me off somehow.

"Bakit ba pinipilit mong magkasundo kami? As if I could like him.." Inis kung saad.

"Did you even heard of yourself Reya?!" She gasp, with flashed cheeks and glare at me.

I had enough.

I face her fully. I don't even care if the class will start any minute by now.

"I did know myself Sandy.. I just don't understand why you can't sink into your mind that I don't like Bruce?! I treated him the way he deserve but don't ask to make things close to him like it will easy as I can with you because I can't! Did you understand?! Don't make me repeat this again!" I lividly said.

The whole class was stop with their business and shock of me with my cold stand to Sandy.

Sandy gasp loudly and her tremble lips was visible but I just stare at her, she hold her tears but failed.

"I hate you!" She suddenly shouted and turn around and run outside.

Everyone gasp when they saw Bruce standing in front of the door when Sandy open it. Agad syang tumingin sa akin with no reaction.

I just look away and continue what I haven't finished.

Parang na stop ang lahat sa loob ng room dahil sa nangyari and no one attempt to create any noise kahit ang mga lalaking maiingay dahil sa kwentuhan nila hanggang sa dumating ang teacher ay di bumalik si Sandy.

So na-report na nag cutting class sya. Break time when I saw her with Bruce and his friends. I don't even look at their way and proceed to eat quietly.

Zach wants to go with me but I give him a look while the president of the class held him not to go with me.

"I heard that you rejected Bruce?" My nose filled with strong perfume and five girls surround me.

The familiar smirk of Olive and her minions was really making me bored every time she's around.

I take a last bite of my apple and drink my fruit drink with a straw.

"His not confessing but I rejected him right away? Nice news." I said make her rolling her eyes.

"You're really full of yourself that even that Sandy girl can't take your attitude. No wonder why your dad making you stay at Ms. Villaluz house. Pity." She gully said with a win smile on her face.

I just stare at her. She smirk more and proud to flaunt her body to all around. I saw her cleavage and her tight skirt.

"Be thankful that Bruce like you even a bit kung hindi baka na bully ka na rin tulad ng Zach mo..."

She didn't finish the words because I pull her blouse and the buttons off on it's own, weak. I heard gasp but the shock on her face was priceless. She's on her bra and by the look at it, boys will have good night today.

"Flaunt your body more.. Slut." Marahan kung saad making a step to her and look at her from head to toes. Sinukbit ko ang bag ko at walang pasabing umalis sa harap nila while I'm sipping my fruit drink.

I heard her scream and shouted my name but I just take a turn going out to the cafeteria.

I got home that day without any complication, I slept the whole evening and didn't even noticed Lei got home.

The next day was rarely eventful aside from the fact that Zach and I both have top score on the research paper's project. Di ako pinansin ni Sandy even at the end of the month. I just ignore it and continue to live, waiting for Reiga to call at least say one word. 

I decided to trained and build myself up for weeks, months. Dun ko tinuon ang pansin ko hanggang sa minsan ko na lang makita si Sandy even Lei. I didn't noticed until today while looking at Lei's ring finger with that big diamond.

Her big smile and flash happiness in her eyes was evidence of what I thought it was.

She said she have a surprise to us, me Sandy and Drina. So here we are in the backyard with the little celebration that she prepared.

"I'm getting married!" She announce making the two shouted and scream like a whale.

They hugged her and make a little drama, cried and congratulated her, wish her all the best but her I am standing and just stare at them.

Lei stop when she look at me with those happy tears. Tumingin din sa akin si Drina and Sandy watching my reaction.

"Hey.." Garalgal nyang tawag calculating my reaction.

I put my hands behind my back make a fist smiling at them and look down and glance at her again.

"Your getting married?" I asked. There's this feeling that I despise the most. The first time I felt this, I had to go and hide but now.. Lei is getting married to a man I barely know.

"Yeah.. You happy?" Tanong nya at lahad ng mga kamay sa akin with those teary eyes. 

So how can I stop her from doing this if it's her own happiness?

Bahala na, Reiga is not here so I don't care anymore. This is his fault also.

It's more than a year and still missing. I get tired of making an excuse to Lei and tell her that his staying abroad for good this time. After half a year, here's the ring..

"Of course Lei.. More than you knew" I said stepping on her space and hug her.

She laugh and cry at the same time hugging me back. Drina and Sandy join us and laugh around.

We proceed to celebrating until midnight.

I got in my room after we cleaned and got up to my bed but I heard my door open.

Half eyes open I saw Lei smiling dearly at me while closing the door.

I watch her take her place to my side and lay down.

"Thank you.." She quietly said. Make my eyes fully open and look at her. She's staring at me with those teary eyes again.

"I don't have any idea what you've been thanking me for.." I said keeping my head buried to my pillow.

She laugh and carried my hair to take it off to my face.

"For accepting Flabio.. For agreeing even though it will change our lives." She whispered while weeping her tears away.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"I don't see why not?.. His been with you for 2 years, His been your happiness, even though sometimes you argued you love him." I roll on my stomach, tinagilid ko ang ulo ko to look at her.

Inayos nya ang buhok ko sa likod and find my eyes.

"This will change our life Reya.. You aren't ready for that "

"Hmmm. We people couldn't be ready for changes in our life. I wasn't ready to be here with you and you aren't with me but we make it because it happened, we pursued and understand each side.. But you are ready to have your own family Lei, even if it isn't with Reiga." I felt her hand stop on top of my hair while I just close my eyes not to see her same reaction as I saw it everytime. 

She continued to carry my hair for awhile until I doze off but I heard her say one last time but it blurred.

"He give me a family with you... Rayana." She whispered to the air.

After her announcement, we begin to be busy the whole past year. I've focus on my studies and training, sometimes hanging out with Sandy or with Zach who still remain active in my small social circle. I don't noticed the rest. I just had the house environment and school papers, weekend routine and trained myself at least two hours a day and sleep.

2 years had past, yet he didn't fulfill his promise again.

He didn't call nor text, email, or may be throwing a stone on the roof to tell me that his still alive. He didn't even put his self in the international news or just local news. Nada, he just faded.

Para syang bulang pumutok at walang bakas na naglaho, Reiga was like a passing wind to make myself protected but I've never saw his presence.

I've had my daily allowance and a package with full a bag of money and credit cards in the different bank company around the glode. Buti na lang talaga at hindi yun nakita ni Lei dahil ako ang naka receive at mukhang delivery boy lang talaga ang nagdala.

Kating kati akung hanapin sya nun at umalis na lang basta but Lei will get crazy and the next thing we knew my face will go to social medias and TVs because Lei will do everything to find me.

So I hide the package on my safest place around my room. It's more than  half a year since it happened and this week was nearly been my graduation and the way that Lei was so excited and giddily wanted to throw me to the stage to get the most high honor with 1.25 GPA wasn't really not good at all but I felt so light when I saw those faces smiling at me and the look of the parents around me.

Nung tinawag ang pangalan ko, proud na proud si Lei na pumalakpak at tumayo with her sob and tears. Drina was laughing with tears around. Sumigaw pa si Sandy.

"Bestfriend ko yan wohh!" Natawa na lang ang lahat sa sigaw nya.

And then again. My most awaited speech.

I hold a single paper with the names of the person that I wanted to thank for all of this years that they've supported.

"I wanted to uhm..!" I smile when they laugh with my pause.

I look around and saw a lot of the people looking up to me, waiting for what I have to say at least inspirational words.

I sigh and fix the mike.

"I wanted to say hi.. To say hi to those pain, and sorrowed that we felt in our high school days, I wanted to say hi to those old enemies that we forgive and forget, I wanted to say hi to those old lovers that we've met and we hurt, I wanted to say hi.. to those memories that we will never forget, to the people we cherished the most, to those past that we will never ever forget and mostly I wanted to say hi to all of my schoolmates and ready to take another journey after leaving our most memorable stage in our studies, High school years.." I quoted.

They all said hi after that so I smile. I saw Olive roll her eyes but smile a bit.

"It takes us more than just courage to know what we are and find what we should be,.. Fear is the most rival enemy that you face in your life. Uncertainties is the most confusing possibility that we had in our life but living is the most complicated and wonderful task we had in this world." I sigh looking at my paper.

"I don't even realize that I can have this tittle until they announced last week with my name in it " I said making them laugh. I saw Zach smiling at his friend beside him.

".. This is the first time I'll be doing this in front everyone... I wanted to thank all of you for that specially Lei. You never give up on me,.." I stop there and take a step back a bit.

I saw Lei weeping her tears away with the tissue.

"And to the person I mostly missed because he couldn't make it here.. Thank you. " I said and flipped my paper. The crowd was so quiet now.

"Thank you.." I said again and smile.

"I am here today for not telling you my achievement but to remind you somehow how to achieve goals with integrity and determination, build your purpose and tell the world what you've got in that fragile body, reach your dreams and roar to the world why we living in this society, make your own name and make your parents proud, struggles and problems may own your time but not your mind and body, fight your rights and say your name loud until they know that you've been existed but God's may remind you in between those events, be humble and lay your feet still on the ground, until your find your happiness don't forget to say hi on Him with those moments." I quoted with rasp voice and make them applause and stand up for me. I take a bow

I go to Lei and hug her so tight. She cried on my shoulder while I'm looking up and saw those big figure hiding behind a big tree. He smile at me and I just roll my eyes to him.