Chapter 7: Cat Fight

One of the class that I hate the most? PE. Well, there are times that I love it lalo na kapag archery ang activity but then when it involves balls and other equipment? Meh, PE sucks.

I am not comfortable with the rest of the gang lately. Bakit? Math annoys me and Gray? Uh, ano nga ba si Gray?... Ah, a jerk? Why? I just realized how he was toying me. Kissing me and then act like there's nothing. And I hate it.

Iwinaksi ko muna iyon sa isipan at pilit na minamahal ang sandaling ito. Basing on the net and the racket on the gym's floor, maglalaro kami ng tennis. The teacher instructed the boys to set up the net. Excited na ang iba na maglaro while I just maintained my pokerface. I am not really in good terms with balls. If it would be bow and arrow, I would have love it. But tennis racket and ball? I guess I'll have a hard time loving it.

"Ang tahimik mo Bestie, may problema ba?", he asked. I shook my head at nilingon ang paligid. Our classmates were gathered around Math, congratulating her for the case she just solved. Geez, that wasn't even a big one. I solved a lot of cases with Gray but I was never- Okay.

I am not jealous with the attention and spotlight that is focusing on Math right now. Ang sa akin lamang ay... I don't know. I am really annoyed!

"Wala", wika ko kay Jeremy at iniwasan pa ang mga tanong nito. The class started at pinaglaro kami ng guro. Sa simula ay simpleng warm up pa lamang ang pinagawa hanggang sa pinagpares na niya kami upang maglaro.

I wish Bridle would have abolish PE in their curriculum. O kaya ay wala na lamang physical activities. I am pretty good in class, I guess I can still get a good grade even if I will not participate in activities like this. But the teacher already assigned pairs to play. And what's the news? I was paired with Math.

"I'm not letting you win this", she said with a smirk. If I did not suppress my annoyed feeling towards her, I would have rolled my eyes and stick my tongue out but I didn't though I still acted a little bratty.

"Whatever."

Bahagya siyang nagulat sa sinabi ko but it was only for a while. Hindi naman nagtagal ay tinawag na kami ng guro upang maglaro. Pumunta kami sa harap at kinuha ang mga racket. Ah! Ayaw ko talaga nito! The tennis rackets are kinda heavy than the other rackets. Sana table tennis na lang ang pinaglaro sa amin, I would have enjoy it even just a little!

Math started the game after she shouted play. At dahil ako si Amber, I did not exert some efforts to run after the ball and toss it back to her. You know what they say? Never chase for things that will not make you happy. And that ball there isn't making me happy. And never chase for the things that are not worth it. And I swear that ball is not really worth it.

"One, Love", sigaw ng scorer.

Nagpatuloy ang laro at puro love lang ang naririnig ko sa score ko. I am good with love eh? And yup, love is zero and I don't care. Alam kong naiinis na si Math sa akin. She loves the game and she's taking it seriously but then I was not even exerting effort to make the game nice. I cannot equal her excitement in the game.

"Amber losser!"

I ignore the shouts of my classmates. Yeah, they cheer for Math, ano pa ba ang inaasahan ko? My classmates don't like me that much. Or maybe they don't really like me at all. At wala akong pakialam doon.

Math was burning with will to play kaya napalakas ang palo niya sa bola. It went straight to me and hit me on my chest. I almost cursed to hell when that happened. Does she know how much it hurts to be hit in the chest?! She shouted an apology from the other side of the court when I glared at her. Alam niyo ba ang nasa isip ko ngayon? I wanna return the favor.

I raised the ball and hit it with full force using the racket. Tumahimik ang paligid nang matamaan ko ang tennis and it went straight towards the other side and hit Math directly in the head which caused her to pass out immediately.

Agad na nagkagulo ang mga kaklase ko, they ran immediately towards her direction. I threw the racket away at nanatiling nakatayo doon. It was not my intention to hit her, gusto ko lang lakasan ang pagpalo sa bola! Even Gray and Je rushed towards Math at pilit na tinatawag ang pangalan nito. But hearing no response from her, Gray immediately carried her in his arms.

"Dadalhin ko siya sa infirmary", he said to the class. Naririnig ko pa rin ang pag-aalala ng mga kaklase ko para kay Math while I still stood here, without any emotion.

Ano ba ang nagawa ko? I hope it's not severe. At sana makatulong iyon sa kanya at ng mabawasan ang kayabangan niya sa katawan. Tsk.

A part of me become worried. Did I hit her hard? I know the feeling of being hit with the ball at ayaw na ayaw kong magkabukol. No! I hope Math will be fine-

Fine.

It's not my fault. I just played at hindi ko na kasalanan kong natamaan siya ng bola. She should have move away when she saw the ball coming. Who told her to meet the ball with her head by the way? Ako ba? Of course not so I shouldn't feel guilty even a little.

Bigla na lamang may tumama sa akin na nilakumos na papel. Paglingon ko sa pinagmulan niyon ay nakita ko ang kaklase kong si Honey na sadyang ibinato iyon sa akin.

"Sinadya mong tamaan si Math!", sigaw nito sa akin. Did she just accuse me of hitting Math?!

"Oo nga! Hindi ka kasi marunong at naiinggit ka sa kanya!"

"Inggitera ka!"

Now my classmates were all around me, blaming me for Math's situation. If I am the old Amber, I would have shut my mouth and run somewhere where I can cry. But then the old Amber is dead. This Amber is new and I'm not letting anyone do this to me.

Anong karapatan nilang batuhin ako ng nilakumos na papel at akusahan ng kung anu-ano?!

"What are you saying? Kasalanan ko bang hindi niya tinamaan ang bola kaya tumama sa mukha niya?", I gritted through my teeth. Yung totoo? Nangangati ang kamay kong hilahin ang buhok ng kaklase ko at ibuhol sa kasamahan niya.

"No! You did it on purpose!"

"Kasalanan mo ang nangyari!"

Tss! These people here are crazy! Pinagbibintangan nila ako! I did not do it on purpose! At kung natamaan nga si Math, why do they care so much? Sila ba ang natamaan?

"Enough girls", sayaw ng guro sa amin. This little scene that we're creating is attracting attention. And never in my entire life that I love people's attention.

"Kasi inggit ka! Mas matalino kasi si Math sa iyo. Mas maganda at higit sa lahat-"

That's it. Sa lahat ng pinakaayaw ko ay ang ikinukumpara ako. I guess everyone hates it. I hate being compared. Kaya nga kapag tumitingin ako sa isang sikat na magazine, I hate the section where they put photos of celebrities wearing the same clothes with the caption Who wore it better. Bakit kailangan pa nilang ikumpara ang isang tao sa iba? Tsk!

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. I stepped forward towards Honey and pulled her hair with all my might. But don't expect me to be pulling her hair till the end of this fight. Paraan ko lang iyon upang maabot siya. When I was able to pull her, pinakawalan ko ang suntok sa mukha niya. Ever heard of never mess with Amber Sison- no. Amber Allejo. Never mess with me. Never.

Sobrang nagulat ang lahat at hindi agad nakagalaw. When Honey shouted after seeing blood in her nose, she attacked me by pulling my hair and slapping me all over. The rumble started and I have no intention of being the underdog in this fight. No way. Nagkagulo na ang lahat at pilit na inilalayo kami sa bawat isa. Ngunit kapag may nagtatangkang hilahin ako, I wince in pain since Honey is still pulling my hair and she has no intention of letting it go. Wala akong magawa kundi tapunan ng suntok ang bawat kaklase ko na humihila sa akin.

"Stop it!", sigaw ng guro.

But do you know that feeling that when someone says Stop it, you just find yourself doing more? Yeah teacher, like I'll listen to you.~

Nagpatuloy ang suntukan at hilahan. My scalp hurts like hell pero wala akong pakialam. This is the first time I've been involved in something like this at-arghh! Napakasakit pala talagang masabunutan!

Paulit-ulit na ang pagpito at pagsigaw ng guro na itigil na namin ang away but no one's letting go of each other. Hell! Balak yata akong kalbuhin ni Honey! And she's been mumbling so many words while I remain silent. Really? Kailangan ba talagang mag-ingay kapag nag-aaway?!

"I SAID STOP IT! THE TWO OF YOU, GO TO THE GUIDANCE RIGHT NOW!", Ma'am Sena shouted. Her voice roared on the gym that it made the two of us stop. I can sense in her voice that she is really angry.

Inayos ko ang nagulo kong buhok samantalang pinunasan naman ni Honey ang duguang ilong. Saka ko lamang napansin na umiiyak pala ito. Coo! Coward! My head hurts but I'm not crying. Pinangako ko na iyon sa sarili ko. HINDI NA AKO IIYAK.

I scowled at her at maging sa mga kaklase ko. Tsk! Guidance huh? Magkakarecord ako? Who cares?! Muli ko silang sinamaan ng tingin bago pumunta sa bleachers at kinuha ang bag ko and went straight to the gym's door upang pumunta sa guidance. Sakto namang nakabalik na sina Gray at Jeremy.

Kumunot ang noo nila nang mapansing napakagulo ng buhok ko. Mas lalo tuloy silang nagtaka ng makitang nakatingin sa akin ang lahat ng mga kaklase namin and Honey is still wiping her nose.

"Miss Sison, saan ka pupunta?", the teacher asked and I mentally rolled my eyes.

"I thought you want me to go to the guidance office, MA'AM?", I answered, emphasizing the Maam. Mahirap na at baka madagdagan pa ang charges ko ng pagiging disrespectful. Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya at tuluyang lumabas, passing over Gray and Jeremy na hindi pa tuluyang nai-internalize ang mga pangyayari.

**

Halos dalawang oras din ako sa detention. Napagod na ang guidance counselor sa kakasabi sa akin but I keep on giving her my poker face. Tsk. She should be glad that I only respond in such way dahil maiinis lang siya kapag sumagot ako, in my current mood. At isa pa ay ayaw ko ng madagdagan pa ang record ko.

When I went back to the classroom, my classmates were already in their school uniforms. PE class is over at naroon na rin si Math. May bukol siya sa gilid ng noo but nothing serious happened to her, I guess.

Natahimik ang maingay na classroom nang pumasok ako. The door created a loud sound ng isinara ko iyon. All eyes were on me and when I returned the rude look, agad silang nag-iwas ng tingin. Pfft. What's wrong with them?

I tossed my bag on the table at umupo sa pwesto ko at nasubsob sa mesa. I have no intention of talking to them. Not now. Muling umingay ang paligid at nagkwentuhan na ulit ang mga kaklase ko. It's like they were paused when I entered and now they're resumed.

"Math, sigurado ka bang natatandaan mo pa ang pangalan mo?", Jeremy asked jokingly. Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Math dahil sa sinabi nito.

"Mathilde Corazon. Am I right?"

"Eenk! Dapat kompleto."

"Mathilde Cordova Corazon."

"Eenk! Mali pa rin."

"Hala, anong mali doon?"

"Dapat sabihin mo, Mathilde Corazon, furniture shop proprietor, expanding business-", he stopped and moved at bahagyang nasagi ako. I bet Math hit him at umilag ito.

"Hilom ra!"

"Wag kang mag-alien language."

"Sabi ko tumahimik ka."

I can feel the seriousness of someone on my other side at hindi ko na lamang pinansin iyon. My scalp still hurts like hell at iyon na lamang ang pinagtuonan ko ng pansin. Paano ko kaya gagamutin ito?

Patuloy lang sila sa kulitan hanggang sa may nagsabi na kaklase namin na wala kaming guro kaya pwede na kaming umuwi. I immediately straighten from my seat at kinuha ang bag ko at walang sabi-sabing lumabas ng classroom. Hindi ko namalayang sumunod pala sa akin si Gray at ganoon din sina Math at Je.

"Amber!"

I stopped on my track at nilingon ang pagtawag ni Gray sa akin. He had the very serious facial expression. Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ako sa braso.

"You're not going anywhere without asking apology to Math" he said in a voice full of conviction.

"Gray, hindi naman kailangan", wika ni Math mula sa likuran ni Gray. "Amber did not mean it, right Amber?"

Hindi ko siya sinagot at sinalubong ang mga mata ni Gray. Ah, he's defending Math. Ako pa ba talaga ang naging masama ngayon? And that Math over there? Hindi ko alam kung nagbabait-baitan lang ba ito or what.

"Why should I? It's not my fault and she already said na hindi ko iyon sinasadya", sagot ko sa kanya. Wow. Math really got everyone's sympathy. Bigyan niyo ng jacket.

"Kahit na. You should apologize."

Magsosorry ako kahit hindi ko sinasadya ang nangyari? Nagjo-joke ba siya? It's just like he's asking me to do something pointless.

"She hit me first in my chest!"

"And she did not mean it too but she apologized! She shouted it right?", Gray said and then reality struck me. Kinakampihan ba niya si Math over me!

"Kinakampihan mo si Math?" Wow. Just wow. So everyone thinks I'm the villain here. Hindi ba nila nakita na hindi ko iyon sinasadya? It's not my intention to hit her in the head! Tinaasan ko sila ng isang kilay at nagsukatan kami ng tingin.

"Bestie", Je called me in a shaky voice.

"What?"

"I think you really owe Math an apology", wika ni Jeremy. Gaya ni Gray ay seryoso din ang mukha nito. Huh. Did Jeremy just said I OWE Math an apology? Si Jeremy na naiinis sa kanya ay pumapanig na ngayon sa kanya? Just look how the tables are turn. Tsss.

Pakiramdam ko ay ito ang tinatawag nilang Me against the World. Everyone do not see my point. Why are they like this? Getting upset over an apology? There's no way I will ask for an APOLOGY. NO WAY. And I am bound with my words.

"I do not owe anyone an apology", I said in a firm voice. Sige lang, patulungan niyo lang ako. Choose Math over me!

"Or atleast apologize", Je asnwered. Eh? What difference does it makes?

"AYAW KO."

Madiin na ipinikit ni Gray ang kanyang mga mata na tila ba nagtitimpi ito sa sitwasyon. Balimbing! Akala ko ay sa akin siya kakampi. See how he ditches me at a moment like this?!

"What's wrong with you?", he asked calmly. Mahigpit pa rin niyang hawak ang aking braso. I guess he has no intention of letting me go.

I tried to free my arms from him but he did not let go. He's determined to hold me until I apologize. "No, what's wrong with you?! Ikakamatay ba ni Math kung hindi ako nag-apologize sa kanya?"

Saka ko lamang napansin na marami na pa lang tao sa paligid at nakamasid sa amin. I never fail to attract attention, right?

"And it won't kill you either if you apologize", sagot niya. Ah Gray! Magsama kayo!

"So you chose to take her side? Not a problem with me!"

"I'm not taking sides."

"Duh, you're obviously on Math's side!" I know I sounded like I'm disappointed over his choice. At gayundin kay Jeremy! Edi magsama silang tatlo!

"I did not chose Math's side! I just chose the right side!"

Right side, my ass! So ako ang mali dito?!

"I'm not going to apologize", I looked around the students nakatingin sa amin. One of them was sipping an ice coffee. "Mas gugustuhin ko na lang na buhusan ang sarili ko ng kape kaysa sa mag-sorry kahit wala naman akong kasalanan!", I gritted through my teeth. I am very certain na hindi ko kasalanan kung matamaan man ng bola si Math. Call it pride or ego, but I am not really apologizing. Not in a million years! Lalo na ngayong ako pa ang nagmumukhang masama!

"Then do it", Gray challenged me. Hindi ko alam kung seryoso siya sa sinasabi niya. He seems angry too. Ano naman ang ikinagagalit niya? Base sa reaksyon ng mukha niya, alam kong marami siyang iniisip, probably bad things about me. But he just challenge me to s the coffee over myself, didn't he?! He looked at me as if he's observing me kung kaya ko nga bang gawin ang sinasabi ko.

Wait, did I really say that I'd rather pour myself some coffee than apologize to Math? I hear mumbles and whispers mula sa paligid. Everyone is expressing opinion about me.

"Buhusan daw. Tss, imposible!"

"Bakit kasi di na lang siya mag-sorry!"

"OO nga, after all, kasalanan naman talaga niya!"

"Okay lang kaya si Math? Buti na lang bukol lang ano?"

Naramdaman ko ang pagbangon ng galit sa dibdib ko. Why are they like this? Why is everyone taking Math's side? Dahil ba mas friendly kaysa sa akin si Math? Mas approachable? Mas matalino? Mas maganda?

I was challenged when Gray dared me to pour myself the coffee. Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang expression ng mukha nito. He still looks angry as his gaze roam around my face. Bakit tila may hinahanap siya sa mukha ko? What is he looking for? If he's looking for the old Amber, maybe I will remind him that she's dead.

I grabbed the cup of iced coffee from one of the student. Mukhang bago pa lamang iyon dahil hindi pa nanganalahati ang laman. She was surprised for a while when I grabbed the coffee.

"I'll pay you back for this, kahit dalawa pa", I said at hindi na ito nagsalita pa. I lift the lid of the styro cup at tiningnan iyon. The ice inside were still there and I cannot imagine how sticky the feeling is if I would pour such thing on myself. But Gray's face seems determined to see me eat my words. At mananalo sila kapag hindi ko gagawin ang sinabi ko. They will think that I am only good in taunting them with my words.

Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na ibinuhos iyon sa ulo ko. I felt the coldness of the liquid na unti-unting bumababa sa mukha ko. The ice hit my head but I did not show any reaction and just maintained my straight face habang nakatingin sa kanya, at kina Math at Jeremy na halos hindi makapaniwala sa ginawa ko. I heard gasp from the people around us na hindi rin makapaniwala sa ginawa ko.

"This is not you", Gray said. Unlike the other people here, siya lang yata ang hindi nagulat sa ginawa ko. "I know you're stubborn and hard-headed but you are not like this. This is not you Amber."

Tama ba ang tonong nahihimigan ko sa boses niya? Pagkalungkot? Pag-aalala? Ngunit bakit mas pinili niyang labanan si Math kaysa sa akin? From a moment, I thought I'd like to explain myself but realized that I don't have too. Pinagtulungan nila akong lahat and if I will try explaining myself, I will look pathetic. Sa ganoong paraan ay loser ako masyado. And I am not a loser no matter what they think about me!

"See? I told you, no one's apologizing here", I said at nilagpasan silang lahat na hindi pa rin lubusang mai-proseso sa utak ang nangyari.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.