Afterglow

"Were here, Madam." Hindi ko nilingon ang driver kong si Manong Tani at pinagbuksan ang sarili. I don't let my driver nor assistant do these basic things, hindi pa naman putol ang isang kamay ko. Unang araw ko ito bilang tagapamana ng Vermilion Institute. Matagal na panahon ding muli akong nakatapak sa paaralang ito. Maliit na masasayang alaala, umaapaw na pagdudusa. Napapatingin sa akin ang bawat estudyanteng nasa parking lot, who wouldn't? Sa paglalakad ko unang pumukaw sa aking atensyon ang fountain na nasa centro ng paaralan. Marami na din palang nagbago sa paaralang ito, lots of new buildings have been established. Still, I'm not impressed or even pleased. Hirap talaga pag-ipinamana sayo ang isang bagay, hindi mo pwedeng ipamigay nalang. Alas dyes na nang umaga pero maraming estudyante parin ang nasa hallway. Minata ko ang bawat isa sa kanila but it was fulite. Noong nag-aaral ako dito, nagkanda-ugaga ako pag-aaral para lang mareach ang expectations ng parents ko. I can't believe these spoiled brats! Ayokong maging ganito lang ang norm ng mga students sa school na 'to, lalo na't pinamamahalaan ko ito. "Back to your rooms." I calmly said. "Why naman gagawin namin 'yon?" Sagot ng isang babaeng pulang-pula ang labi. She's with her friends, the typical btchy girl group. "Yeah, who do you think you are? M y dad don't even talk to me like that." Dagdag pa ng isa. "Because your dad doesn't care for you." "Aba, strong naman ng apog ng girl na 'to! My dad will make your parent's peasant life miserable!" Sigaw niya na umagaw ng atensyon ng iba. "Go, sumbong mo." Hamon ko pa. "You sure are arrogant. Let's tingnan later kung sino iiyak after paalisin sa school na 'to, pakialamerang ugly!" Sapaw isa pang babaeng super dry ang buhok, she's think she's human looking like that. "Yes, I am arrogant but so much better than all of you in terms beauty and I'll see you soon Granpa's my office." "Office?" "Girl-l, don't tell me she's th—." Nilampasan ko sila't dumeritso patungong office, I could hear their gasped and I had no time for that. I went my way, sana lang hindi nilipat ang office ni Lolo. I'm pissed off, nakakatamad maghanap. "You seemed irritated." Nakangiting bungad sa akin ng isang pamilyar na lalaki na naghihintay sa labas ng office. "Cake?" It was Prexy, one of my childhood friend and he's damn tall, 6'2. We were only seperated when I left this school years ago. Ngayon bumalik na ako hindi makakapagkaila na lalo siyang gumuwapo, ang turn off lang sa kanya ang cake na hawak niya. "You know I hate cakes Prexy." He just giggled, hinihintay na mag-explain ako sa nangyari. "Yong mga maldita kasing estudyante! Akala siguro nilang hindi ako dadating kaya nagpagala-gala sila sa hallway, malas sila't late na ako nagising." "Chill, enjoy your first day." Pilit akong ngumiti sa sinabi ni Prexy. "Eh kung pumayag ka na ipakilala ka ng Lolo mo sa buong school they would've shivered fear knowing you're the next successor." "Shivered? OA mo, where's lolo?" "He's on a meeting, he told that we'll meet him here at noon." "Kapanghinayang naman, I missed Lolo so much. Ang tagal na din noong huli naming pagkikita." "Then you'll have to be patient. Tara na, we're late for the next class." Aya niya't sumunod ako sa gilid niya. Nagkwentohan kami ni Prexy sa daan about my stay in Japan. He's pretty much interested, sabagay aswang pa naman siya lalo na't tungkol sa anime and japanese culture. Dumating kami sa tahimik at malawak na classroom bandang likuran ng paaralan. Napatigil ang teacher na nagtuturo sa pagdating namin, napatigil siya ng ilang segundo bago pumunta sa aming gawi. Instead of scolding of for interrupting his class, he smiled at us. Sa aking pagpasok, namangha ako sa kalidad ng classroom. It can par with the private school that I went to in Japan. Lolo's been taking care and spending lots of money for this school. "Okay class, your new classmate has arrive and she's quite important so listen to what she says." Masiglang panimula ng guro habang ang ilang bagohang esdyanteng hindi ako kilala noong nag-aaral pa ako dito, kumunot ang noo. Pagdating ko sa gitna isang malalim na pagtitig ang aking naramdaman upang medyo mailang ako. I eventually know who it is. I scanned the place and coldly stared at him while smiling. Hindi naman siya nagpatinag gaya ng inaasahan ko. He still hasn't changed, hindi mababagong isa siyang mangloloko. "Maven Mellisa Morado. I'm thrilled to be here, hoping to be friends with everyone." I maintained my eye contact with him. He won't recognize me, any people from my past life could never. Because of that tragedy I had to go through some arduos surgeries, altering my face. Hindi ko malilimutan ang araw na 'yon. One of the reasons why I'm here is for revenge. Pagbabayadin ko siya, sila, sa kataksilan na ginawa nila. I've left years ago because I wasn't strong enough but now I'm stronger than ever.