Chapter Six

I cautiously gave Totoro a small smile as I slowly shook my head at him when I sensed that he was about to take action against the much unexpected event that was happening to me just because our Dean Ong had smartly chosen me to assist the new girl.

Hindi ito ang unang beses na naging tour guide ako ng mga bagong estudyante, may mga pagkakataon talagang ako ang pinapatawag ni Dean Ong dahil sa tingin niya, mapapakisamahan ko ng maayos iyong mga estudyanteng sa tingin niya, may issue sa attitude.

Those were freshmen since our school didn’t really accept transferees so I was kind of a little bit rattled when I found out that the new girl was of my age. She would be my classmate. Dapat ay inasahan ko na iyon dahil sa hitsura niya, hindi naman siya mukhang freshman pero nakakapagtaka lang talagang tinanggap siya ng school gayong nasa Senior Highschool na kami sa pasukan.

Her family might be something big for her to have the special privilege. Sa pagpapalitan nila ni Dean Ong ng mga salita kanina ay tila kilala ng butihing Dean ang mga magulang niya. Hindi na rin naman iyon bago dahil kilala ni Dean Ong ang parents ng halos lahat ng estudyante sa MCI.

It was a must as the appointed Dean of the school since most of the parents were a part of board of directors or shareholders.

She was a de Villa for what I could remember. My family was in a center part of business, and I might be too young to get involved or even knew things about it, it couldn’t be helped since I was always dragged by my parents every time they were attending a business centered occasion. At ang makakilala ng mga taong may surname na matunog sa mundo ng business ay hindi na bago sa akin.

It was just a piece of cake.

Kung ang apelyido nga naman niya ang pagbabasehan kung paano siya nakapasok dito, it was no doubt very reasonable. Katulad ng de Asis, it wasn’t hard to notice her surname since they were in the same field as my family’s business.

Ang DV Holdings or De Villa Holdings ay isa sa mga direct competitors ng De Asis Holdings. Both were at the higher part of the industry, nagkakatalo lang talaga sa dami ng subsidiaries and investors.

“Can you tell that giant guy to stop giving me looks?! It’s creepy!” Cali de Villa finally noticed how Totoro had been intently watching her every move while I escorted her to some places around the school, I told her things about this and that that she should know of.

Dito sa MCI ko na ginugol ang buong high school life ko kaya madali na lang para sa akin ang mga lugar-lugar dito. There were lots of establishments inside the school but they were not included in the places I should guide her to. Libraries, admin offices, clinics, auditoriums, gyms, labs and courts were what she needed to know. Hindi pa man din magkakalapit ang kinaroroonan ng mga iyon. Ang mga lockers ay nasa labas lang ng bawat classrooms kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang ituro sa kaniya iyon.

She kindly went with me first to the English Access room to have my project submitted to Miss Fionn before we started the tour. May ilang mga estudyante ang napapatingin sa amin dahil panigurado naninibago sa kaniya.

I deeply sighed, pressing my lips together as I once again turned to Pagoda Blue who was just silently following us, three meters behind us. Cali had been looking back, kaya siguro napansin niya si Totoro.

“I’m s-sorry about them. What about we finish this immediately so we c-can go…?” mahina kong sabi sa kaniya, umaasang maiintindihan niyang hindi ko naman puwedeng paalisin ang Pagoda Blue. Isa pa, they were not allowed to talk to me so I should somehow give consideration and keep myself from talking to them too.

Ayaw ko namang sila ang mapagalitan ni Kuya Yoongi dahil lang pasaway ako.

Humalukipkip siya saka ngumuso sa akin. Bahagyang nalaglag pa sa mukha niya ang ilang mga kalat ng bangs niyang nakawala na sa ponytail ng buhok niya. Centralized ang mga buildings dito sa school pero dahil dumaan kami kanina sa grounds ay pareho na kaming pawisan, natuyuan na nga ako ng pawis kanina pa.

“Can you just…” Nilingon niya muna ang Pagoda Blue sa likod namin saka dahan-dahan inilapit sa akin ang mukha niya na bahagyang nagpa-atras sa akin. From the corners of my eyes, I even saw Totoro alert his men and in the act of cutting the distance between us. “Send them away? It feels like I was being followed by zombies. It’s creepy!”

Hindi ko alam kung aware ba siyang malakas ang boses niya o sinadya niyang iparinig sa Pagoda Blue ang sinabi niya dahil nag-abala pa siyang bumulong.

Umatras ako mula sa kaniya saka inayos ang suot kong damit. Hindi naman iyon nagusot pero kailangan ko ng gagawin para ma-divert ang awkwardness na nararamdaman ko. She just invaded my personal space and it didn’t feel good. Hindi pa nakatulong na matitig masyado ang bilog na bilog niyang mga mata.

They were faintly familiar though.

Ginaya niya ang ginawa ko pero kunot na ang noo habang nakatitig sa akin. Hindi niya yata nagustuhan ang ginawa ko pero kasi, hindi ako komportable.

“S-Sending them away isn’t an order that should come from m-me. Hindi nila iyon susundin, pasensya na…” Itinago ko sa likod ko ang mga kamay ko saka yumuko.

“Why? They’re your bodyguards, they should only be at ground when you need them and clearly, it’s not like you’re in danger with me.” Humalukipkip siya saka isang beses pa uling binalingan ang Pagoda Blue, hindi pa nakalagpas sa paningin ko kung paano niyang inirapan si Tororo.

The kind big man just sighed and stepped back a little, seemed like he was already assured about my safety.

“I’m v-very sorry. It’s only the pool gym and soccer field and then w-we are done.” Hindi ko na siya hinintay na makasagot dahil naglakad na ako patungo sa direksiyong tinatahak namin kanina.

I had been questioning why there was such people dominating other’s life. In my case, I had Kuya Yoongi. He was in my life for how long already, I couldn’t remember anymore. He was that part of my life I had come to unwillingly get used to, but what could I do? My parents trusted him so much, just who was I to question that?

They only wanted what was good for me. Kahit na hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nakikita nilang mabuti para sa akin ang pagmamanipula ni Kuya Yoongi sa buhay ko, tinanggap ko kasi may tiwala ako sa mga magulang ko.

And that was something other people would fail to understand since they weren’t in my shoes.

Akala ko pagkatapos noon ay mananahimik na siya pero habang itinuturo ko sa kaniya ang iba pang lugar na puwede niyang puntahan ay sige pa rin siya sa kakadaldal na para bang hindi siya nainis sa akin kanina. Niyaya din niya akong kumain sa isa sa mga establisimiyentong nakakalat sa ground pero tumanggi ako dahil kumain na ako kanina at hindi pa ako nagugutom.

Gusto ko na rin kasing matapos ito nang maka-uwi na ako. I seriously missed my bedroom and my roses.

“Don’t tell me you’re also not allowed to eat?” tanong niya sa akin, naka-arko na ang isang kilay habang nakatayo kami pareho sa harap ng Starbucks.

Mataas pa rin ang sikat ng araw dahil mag-aalas-tres pa lang ng hapon, pero nasisilungan naman kami ng excess roof ng structure kaya hindi kami naiinitan. Ang Pagoda Blue ay nakasilong na rin.

“It’s not like that—“

“Your parents are very strict! Hindi na nga magandang may tatlong naglalakihang mga lalaki ang nakasunod sa’yo buong araw tapos you also don’t have the luxury to eat whatever you want?! Siguro matagal na akong na-ipadala sa labas ng bansa kung ako ikaw! I won’t take it!” She snapped, her voice was in a high pitch I swore she got even the attention of those who were inside the café.

Mabilis niyang inabot ang kamay ko saka ako marahas na kinaladkad ako papasok ng café, hindi niya talaga niya alintana na nasa amin na ang mga mata ng halos lahat ng estudyante sa loob.

Sighing internally, I wished I also had the guts like hers because she chose to be oblivious of every pair of eyes while still dragging my pathetic awkward form towards the counter as I just had my head down, very much conscious of all the stares thrown to our way.

Hindi ko na rin napansin kung sumunod ba ang Pagoda Blue dahil natatakot akong kapag nag-angat ako ng tingin ay makasalubong ng mga mata ko ang ilan sa mga matang nakatitig sa amin.

Please, not eyes, I could afford anything, just not eyes.

Eyes staring at me would only remind me of those of Kuya Yoongi’s scary and cold ones. I didn't like it… not even one bit.

“You know why I was thrown to this school by my parents?” Narinig ko bigla ang banayad niyang boses habang nararamdaman ko rin ang pagbagal ng paglalakad namin. Suddenly, the counter was too far that we were still not there. “Because other schools are already too pent up with my attitude, they all don’t want me anymore. Kahit ang parents ko ay pagod na pagod na sa akin, I just want a fun company so I don’t have to transfer school again.”

Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay nakita ko na lang ang likod niya at ang mahaba niyang buhok na naka-ponytail habang um-o-order siya. Everything she said had immediately sunk into my mind that a single tug struck my heart with how her voice sounded so lonely and sad.

Hindi ko pa siya kilala, ilang oras ko pa lang siya nakakasama at ni wala pa kaming matinong pag-uusap na masasabi kong puwede na akong maging komportable sa kaniya. She was too carefree, as if she could act so herself in front of other people without minding what they would think of her… she somehow reminded me of the bubbly behavior Kuya Taehyung always emitted every time he was around me.

I tried imagining Kuya Taehyung’s sad smile, his lips pulled down in a frown as his eyes filled with sadness.

Mariin akong pumikit dahil masakit sa dibdib iyon. It would also probably make me sad if I saw Kuya Taehyung upset, so when Cali de Villa vulnerably sounded like that… it somehow, just a little bit, made me sad.

Narinig ko siyang um-order ng dalawang magkaparehong inumin saka siya muling humarap sa akin, maaliwalas na ulit ang mukha, ang mga mata ay ngumingiti rin dahil sa pagkakabinat pataas ng mga labi niya.

I wanted a friend, and if God had finally answered my prayers then who I was to question Him? Loud or not, bubbly or not, carefree or not, I might be uncomfortable with her, it was better than nothing at all.

“I hope you don’t mind the drink I chose for you…” She happily told me, lightly skipping at her ground while still holding on the edge of the counter.

Umiling ako at imbis na tumitig sa mga mata niya, sa ilong na lang niya ako tumingin. “I d-don’t…”

Nang magkasalubong ang mga mata namin ni Totoro sa labas ng café ay bahagya akong ngumiti sa kaniya na sinuklian niya lang ng pagyuko. Hindi sila pumasok gayong sa normal na pagkakataon ay hindi nila puputulin ang tatlong metrong distansya nila sa akin kahit na saan pa ako magpunta.

I didn’t know how they reported things about me to Kuya Yoongi but I was sure, they were being honest to him. Kaya nga minsan may mga ginagawa ako sa school na agad nakakarating kay Kuya Yoongi dahil sa kanila at kung malalaman nito ang nangyari ngayon, malalagot sila.

Pagoda Blue was a loyal men of Min Agents, and Kuya Yoongi.

Nagpatuloy naman kami sa huling pupuntahan namin habang tahimik akong umiinom sa iced coffee na binigay niya sa akin. It was perfect for the hot weather. Hindi kasi namin pareho tinanggap iyong payong na in-offer ni Totoro dahil ayaw kong maglakad ng may dala tapos may hawak pa akong inumin, ganoon din naman siya.

I told her I would pay the drink she bought but she just shook her head. “Don’t bother for now. You’ll have to treat me too some other time.”

Madaldal pa rin siya, isa iyon sa mga ugali niyang napagtanto ko. Para bang madali niyang na-itataboy ang bad vibes sa sarili niya kaya nagagawa niyang ngumiti kaagad.

“Sa labas ng bansa na talaga ako mag-aaral kapag napatalsik din ako sa school na ito…”

Ang pinakahuling pupuntahan namin ay ang soccer field kung nasaan madalas nakatambay ang soccer team ng school. They were a bunch of sporty girls, almost spending their day in the field when there was no class. Hindi naman mainit doon dahil may sunscreen sa tuktok ng makeshift stadium, parang ginawa lang talaga iyon para may lugar kung saan puwedeng mag-practice ang soccer team.

Badminton ang main sport dito sa school dahil mas maraming babae ang may gusto ng sport na iyon, pumapangalawa ang volleyball at panghuli ang soccer. Ang pool ay para lang sa physical education namin na para lang sa grade 10. Bawat grade level ay iba’t iba ang uri ng physical education.

Base sa curriculum ko sa susunod na pasukan, dance ang physical education namin.

I just listened silently to her talks, they were somehow entertaining though I couldn’t understand why she seemed so comfortable telling me about that ugly part of herself. Ilang beses na siyang nai-transfer sa iba’t ibang school dahil madalas siyang ma-kick out. And if I was her, it would be very humiliating to tell that to someone I just met.

“They were not troubles, they just couldn’t cope up with my active self!” She reasoned out for her doings, face scrunched up and voice irritated. “Hindi ako bully, hindi rin ako cheater at mas lalong hindi ako pasaway!”

She said she was kicked out from her first school because they said she was a bully, dahil lang nahuli siyang binuhusan ng juice iyong ka-schoolmate niya. “They didn’t know he was who started it! He wanted my number and when I refused to give it, he told me bad things! Pasalamat nga siya kasi wala si Kuya Cody noon e!”

Sa pangalawang school ay nahuli siyang nag-sneak sa loob ng office ng science teacher niya dahil sinubukan niyang i-access ang computer nito. They thought she was trying to get a copy of the answer sheet since it was the examination week when in fact she was just trying to get back the soft copy of the project she had passed because she needed a good revision for it. “You see, I was always deprived of my chance to explain. Babagsak ako kapag hindi ko nabago ang mga pinaglalagay ko roon sa paper na iyon, so I thought, being kicked out was better.”

Sa pangatlong school naman ay tinulugan niya ang first subject period nila unang araw pa lang niya sa school, at terror teacher iyon kaya na-kick out ulit siya. “She was five minutes early. May limang minuto pa bago ang klase niya. Believe me, they all just misunderstood me.”

All of it happened in just one school year.

Kung titingnan, hindi naman gaanon kabigat ang mga nagawa niya to the point of expulsion pero naisip kong kung ako ang gagawa ng mga iyon, siguro ay hindi ko nga magagawa. Those were too bad for me, extremes. Ni hindi ko nga kayang humikab man lang sa loob ng klase habang nagtuturo ang teacher, ni hindi ko rin kayang mag-sneak in sa loob ng teacher’s office at paki-alaman ang computer nito. And if someone would seriously ask for my number, why not give it?

It was just a number.

Truthfully, her life was very active she must have done almost everything I hadn’t done yet. Pakiramdam ko, napaka-boring ng buhay ko.

“This is the soccer field, the last in our list. It’s the farthest spot from the main building so it’s kind of secluded. Nagkakaroon lang talaga ng mga estudyante rito kapag may nagaganap na inter-school games at nabibigyan ng chance ang mga students na manood ng practices.”

Nasa gilid lang kami ng fence dahil hindi kami permitted sa loob ng field, tanging mga soccer team members lang ang puwede sa loob at staffs, puwede rin doon ang mga miyembro ng newspaper club dahil permitted sila sa lahat ng spots. Walang tao sa part na ito ng school, mapuno rito na para bang parte na ng kagubatan ang part na ito.

Ang likod na bahagi ng MCI ay diretso gubat na pero may fence ding humaharang para hindi makalabas ang mga estudyante.

“So there are girls interested in soccer? The last time I held a ball, someone had his nose bleed…” Narinig kong bulong niya habang naglalakad palapit sa fence saka kumapit doon. Hindi namin napansin ang bolang paparating sa direksiyon namin kaya pareho kaming nagulat nang tumama iyon sa fence.

The fence shook in a hard manner as my heart fell in surprise and fear. Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatitig ako sa field kung nasaan ang soccer team. They were all staring at us, wicked smiles were painted on their already sweat-stained faces as I sighed exasperatedly.

They were real wicked, I never thought of crossing fates with them.

Pagoda Blue was quick when they instantly appeared in front of me. Nakatitig sila sa loob ng field pero nanatiling nakatayo lang sa harap ko dahil hindi naman ako nasaktan. Though I knew, they wouldn’t mind using their skills if I was hurt.

“Wench, you gotta know where to properly kick the ball!”

I was just in the middle of getting myself together from the shock and trying to calm my frightened heart when Cali screamed loudly and angrily beside me. She immediately held the fence as she shook it hardly. Galit na galit siya na kung hindi lang siguro nakaharang sa amin ang fence ay baka sumugod na siya sa loob.

The girls on the field just laughed mockingly at us. Isang kumpas lang mula sa team captain nila ay may isa na agad ang tumakbo palapit sa amin para i-retrieve ang bolang nasa damuhan na. They all had their hair tied in a high bun, all wearing a black sports brassiere with a black tight shorts. Iyon ang uniform ng soccer team kapag wala sila sa competition. Pareho-pareho rin silang nakasuot ng itim na running shoes.

Imbis na pansinin pa sila ay binalingan ko na lang si Cali na galit pa ring nakatitig sa loob ng field. Inalog niya pa ulit iyong fence nang tuluyan nang makalapit sa amin iyong babaeng siyang kumuha ng bola pero tumawa lang iyon at tumalikod na para bumalik sa field.

“Did you just see that? Sinadya nila iyon!” Cali almost screamed at my face, her arm stretched to point the field where the girls were.

“H-Hindi naman tayo tinamaan. Let’s go…”

She first stared confusedly at me but in the end, she just nodded her head and went along with my slow pace going back to where we came from. She said she couldn’t do another trouble inside the school or else, she would have to study outside the country and she didn’t want that.

“So this school allows such disgusting attitude? No wonder my parents chose this school as my last resort. Iniisip malamang nila na kahit gumawa ako ng gulo rito, hindi ako ma-ki-kick out.” Cali was still furious and had been saying something while we were on the way back to the main building.

“It’s not like they tolerate violence. Walang nagsasakitan dito…” I answered her in a low voice, defending the school I had grown to love.

May mga bullies nga rito, pero hindi nila dinadaan sa violence. They out-casted us. They made us feel alone and unfriendly. Sabagay, you can’t force people to befriend you if they don’t like you.

“They haven’t hurt us because we were out of the fence! At hindi man lang sila nag-sorry!”

“You couldn’t expect Dawn to apologize. If anything, she’d only mock at us. Apo siya ng may-ari ng MCI, Cali…”

Dawn Cresencia Vonmorte, the team captain of MCI’s soccer team, was the youngest granddaughter of the late great Giovanni Vonmorte, the founder of Vonmorte Group of Companies, MCI being as one.

I heard from my parents that the eldest grandchildren were already in their prime ages, they already had their own families. She grew up in the arms of her grandparents because her parents were already dead. As Giovanni Vonmorte died, she was left with only her grandmother together with their businesses.

Isa ang Maria Cresencia Institute sa mga iyon. Na-itayo rin ang school na ito bilang tribute sa pagkakaligtas niya sa kinasangkutang airplane crash kasama ng mga magulang niya. The news about her parents’ death was a trend way back but I was still too young those times. My parents were both an enthusiasts in business so they were always updated. Si Dawn at iyong piloto lang ang nakaligtas, kasamang namatay ng mga magulang niya ang ilan pang staffs na kasama nila noon sa eroplano.

Based from the articles I once accidentally read while at the manor’s library, they were off to Europe for their family trip when the private plane where they were had crashed down. Bago pa raw tuluyang bumagsak ang eroplano ay na-ilabas na raw si Dawn using a parachute together with the pilot. Assumption iyon ng lahat since they were both found at a forest somewhere the countries of Europe.

That was tragic so every time I saw her, even if sometimes she was doing bad things to me or to other students, I always tried my best to get her off the hook because I knew, she was deprived of a parental love.

“My parents invested a lot of money in this school, they were even appointed as one of the boards, so she can’t show me such attitude.”

I let Cali think whatever she wanted. Surely, we, people, always tend to judge other people by just the first impression. We all based from the outer appearance, from how they act in front of us and from how they speak. That's people’s nature, to judge. At nakikita kong hindi magiging maganda ang susunod nilang pagkikita.

Sighing deeply with that, I just wished to go home so that I could finally sink into the comfortable cloudiness and softness of my bed and talk to my roses.

I wanted to tell them a very out-going new friend I met.