Three
1189 Words
2 YEARS LATER...
"ONE more time!" we groaned as we heard our cheer captain, Lara, asked us to do the final routine. "Come on, guys. One last time. We just need to do it perfectly," she added.
Lara, who's a senior and the current captain of the cheering squad, was really a perfectionist. We know that she just wants us to win the cheer leading tournament next week but I believed that we did it well earlier. And personally, I was really tired. I can see my colleagues are exhausted as well. The final routine was really exhausting.
"Lara, that's all good," Miss Lyra butted in. She's our adviser s***h coach in the cheer leading team. She's one of the teachers here in Marion High.
"But, Miss..."
"No but's," she cut off Lara before she can reason. I saw everyone's face light up when our coach said the next sentences. "You can go home now and take a rest. I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, we instantly took off before our captain could say anything. Our captain just shook her head when we headed out of the field.
"Thank God, Miss Lyra was there," I heard one of my cheer teammates say.
I just smiled. I took a quick shower and was about to take off when I saw someone getting bullied again at the entrance of the school.
I pretended not to see them as the three girl bullies were my cheer teammates who are also my sophomore classmates.
"You're here again, nerd," I heard one of the bullies say. They circled the nerd who's actually taller than them.
"You really are stalking someone here, aren't you?" said the other one, who pushed the nerd on her shoulder.
The nerd was so weak that she got easily pushed away. The nerd was just looking down while letting the bullies attack her.
"Why aren't you answering? You are really asking to be beaten, aren't you?" the smaller bully said.
I just walked past them but the other bully asked me to join them. I just reasoned that I am tired and they should go home too to get some rest. But they just retorted that they will lose some steam on the nerd. I just shrugged and took off.
I looked at the nerd one more time but she was still looking down and just letting the bullies attack her. I continued walking back home and made sure to use the shortcuts so no one will know where I live.
I was home and as usual, no one was there. Uncle Primo and mom were away again for their jobs. I headed straight to my room, changed my clothes, and cooked for dinner.
It has been more than 10 minutes now since I went home and I start to get worried. I keep checking my phone but I'm undecided to make a phone call.
Twenty minutes and she's still not here. When I was about to call her, I heard the front door open. I was in the living room and pretending to watch something on the TV so that I could easily see the front door. When I was sure it was her and saw that she locked the door behind her, I immediately ran to meet her and give her a tight hug.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" I asked and loosen the hug as I scan her face and arms.
"No. I'm fine. You know they can't hurt me." Lily reassuringly smiled. "But yeah, thanks to Lara. She saved me again," she sheepishly added and did her usual gesture which is scratching the back of her neck.
Upon hearing that, I felt guilty. Again.
"I am sorry, Lily. I'm a coward." I looked down. I can't face her because I am ashamed of what I did to her. I abandoned her. Again. "Please don't wait for me anymore. Just go home directly after class so that those bullies won't be able to pick on you."
"Hey,” Lily said. "Look at me, Nini." I followed what she said and looked straight to her brown eyes. Two years ago, Lily and I were the same height but as years passed by, she keeps getting taller. Me? Let's not talk about it. "I promised Dad and Mom to protect you whatever happens especially when they're not around. So don't worry about it, I can take care of myself."
They knew me at school as a tough girl but what they don't know is that I am a cry baby especially when it comes to my family.
"I am really sorry for being selfish. I am sorry, Lily. I am sorry I can't protect you from them. I am sorry I am a coward. I am sorry." I know I keep repeating these words but I truly mean it.
If you're lost on what I am talking about. It was the incident earlier with the bullies and the nerd. Lily was the nerd and I just let those girls bully her. Why? Because I am a selfish, fame w***e b***h. My reputation at school is more important than being known to be closed with Lily.
Getting bullied was never easy. I know that because I experienced it in my previous school. During grade school. It was a painful experience and I promised myself that I will never undergo that kind of life again.
But then on the first day of my freshman year in Marion High, I learned that Lily was the prey of the bully. It was too much for me to handle because I was traumatized as well with the experiences I had during grade school. My mom did not know I suffered from bullying because I was really good at hiding it from her. I don't want her to get worried about me, that is why I kept it from her.
I am not happy seeing Lily getting bullied but I was too scared to fight for her. Lily, as kind as she is, she chose to understand me instead of being remorseful. She told me before that I might have a reason why I did what I did. Gradually, I revealed to her the real reason why I was so afraid to meddle with her bullies. Again, Lily chose to understand my situation. Truly, Lily was one of a kind.
Despite her young age, I can say that Lily has mature thinking and a better understanding of what's going on in her surroundings. I thought I was a strong girl already but I am nothing compared to Lily.
"That's okay. Cheer up. Nothing happened to me. I came back as a whole," I heard Lily say that snapped me back from my thoughts. Lily can still smile even if the people around her were so cruel.
"I hope you can wait for me until the day I can stand up for you. I hope you will never get tired of understanding. I hope you will never change. Please, hang in there, Lily," I told her and gave her another hug.
"I am here. I am not going anywhere, Nini," she said and gave me a soft kiss on my forehead.
Lily was not only my step sister but the one I can call my best friend. I guess.
- Writer
