CHAPTER TEN

KRISTINE'S POV

Sa wakas! Natapos na ang klase at makakapag-CR na ako.

"Calling the attention of Miss Blaire Sanchez, Miss Cath Pangilinan, and Miss Maria Kristine Abella. Please proceed to the principal's office," sabi sa speaker.

"Oh my! I know the reason why!" pagre-react ni Xei na agad tumabi sa akin after kong tumayo.

"Two versus one? Andaya nun!" sabi rin ni Hyaciel.

"I'm going to file a complaint kapag hindi pinanigan si Kristine."

"Kalma, kambal... Why not talk to Nathan na lang?"

"Fine, I'll do that first."

Napailing na lang ako sa usapan nung dalawa. Whatever happens, I'll say the truth and nothing but the truth. Napahinto naman ako sa paglabas ng room nang makita ko ang bullies, kasama na si Bryle at Jairo.

"Anong ginagawa niyo rito?" 'di ko mapigilang magtanong,

"We heard the announcement," sagot sa akin ni Bryle.

Mahina namang natawa si JP. "At baka sugurin ka dito ng mean girls."

"We can't let that incident happen again." Napatango-tango pa si Sean.

"Would you mind telling us what happened? Para matulungan ka namin," suggestion ni Nathan.

Umiling naman ako. "Ayos lang. Bahala na kung anong mangyari." Tumango naman si Nathan at nanatiling tahimik yung iba.

Papunta na dapat kami sa principal's office nang may humarang na babae sa amin, and siya talaga yung matatawag mong nerd.

"Ikaw si Kristine Abella, diba?" mahinhin niyang tanong.

"Yes, why?"

"I'm Cath's younger sister, and I can be your witness if ever na magsinungaling sila Ate." Napatitig naman ako sa kanya. "Look. Yes, she's my sister, pero sobra na yung ginawa niya sayo. Nakarating ka pa nga ng clinic because of what she did, and I'm not happy about it."

"Wait wait, babe, are you sure?" Mas lalo naman akong napatitig sa nakikita ko.

May girlfriend pala si John Paul.

"JP, I have to do something. Ate needs to know her limits."

"Yes, pero Joselle, alam mong mag-aaway lang na naman kayo."

"What's new?" Tumingin sa akin yung tinutukoy na Joselle. "Aware akong plano nilang gawin 'yun. They have a hunch na gaganti ka kay Blaire if ever na sinampal ka niya." Medyo natawa si Joselle. "'Di lang siguro nila inexpect na sasapakin mo siya."

"Wait, how did you know about this?" pagtatanong ko.

"I was there when they were talking about it." Sumilip pa siya sa likod ko. "Mr. Jairo, you are aware that you are the cause of this incident, right?"

"Yeah," simpleng tugon ni Jairo.

"Mmm-hmm... so let's go?" pagyayaya ni Joselle kaya ang ending ay andami naming naglakad papunta sa principal's office.

Nasa labas kami ng office nang makita naming paparating ang Mean Girls—I mean 'yun 'yung tawag nila eh.

"At talagang pakawawa effect ka pang babae ka ha?" salita ni Cath.

I laid my emotionless eyes on her. "I didn't ask them to be here."

"'Wag kang mag-feeling goody two shoes," sabi sa akin ni Mariella.

"Kung nag-feeling goody two shoes ako, edi sana 'di ko sinapak yang kaibigan niyo."

Natawa ang mga kasama ko at mas lalong sumama yung tingin sa akin ng Mean Girls. Pansin ko namang tahimik si Blaire at nakatingin kay Jairo.

After mong saktan, papaawa effect ka. Napairap ako sa hangin.

May biglang lumabas sa Principal's office. "Sino sila Miss Abella, Pangilinan at Sanchez?" tanong ng babae. All three of us raised our hands. "You may now enter." At pinauna ko yung dalawa.

"Good afternoon, ladies. Sit down," utos sa amin ni Mrs. Haru, ang principal namin. "Okay. Let's settle the mess you made earlier. Miss Sanchez. Care to tell me your side?"

Humarap si Blaire sa kay Ma'am Haru. "Miss, I went inside the restroom, and then biglang pumasok si Kristine. She started shouting at me, telling me that I'm trying to steal Jairo away from her. Then I tried to tell her na hindi ko naman siya inaagaw pero mas nagalit si Kristine and it resulted in her, punching my face. Ayan po oh. Namumula pa po yung part ng ilong ko."

Miss Haru looked at Blaire's face before looking at me and then looking at Cath. "How about your side, Miss Pangilinan? Care to explain why you were making a scene in the corridor?"

"I was defending my friend, Miss Principal. Pagpasok namin sa CR, nakita na lang naming dumudugo yung ilong ni Blaire. Of course, my first move would be attacking the person responsible for my friend's bleeding, and pain," pagsasalita ni Cath.

Tumingin sa akin ulit si Misis Haru. "Let me hear your side, Miss Abella."

"Number one, it's true that I punched Blaire's face—"

"See, Miss Principal‽ Aminado siya—"

"Hindi pa ako tapos." Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Blaire. "Kaninang nagsasalita ka, hindi kita c-in-ut off kahit gustong-gusto ko na, because I have manners. So if you have manners as well, don't cut me off." Natahimik naman si Blaire pero pareho nila akong sinamaan ng tingin ni Cath.

"Very well. Miss Abella has a point, continue Miss Abella," sabi ni principal.

"As I was saying, I admit that I punched her, but this is my side, and I swear that what I'll say is nothing but the truth."Napahinga ako nang malalim bago nagpatuloy. "I went inside the comfort room. Ako pa lang po ang nasa loob, and then I heard the door close, paglingon ko po nandoon na si Blaire. And then, she asked me what's my relationship with Mr. Guevarra, and I answered her sarcastically na lovers. Again, sarcastically, kasi po kung may nakapansin man noon po, nadamay din ako sa bullying ng tropa ni Mr. Guevarra. I have my classmates to testify that event. So, my real relationship with the man involved is enemies. Next, napikon ata si Ms. Sanchez sa sagot ko kaya bigla niya akong sinugod, and slapped my face. Hindi ko po siya pinatulan nun, pero sumobra na siya sa katatawag sa akin ng masasamang salita, such as flirt, kaya naman nang muli niya akong pagbalakang sampalin, inunahan ko na po siya." Tingnan ko si Blaire. "And I'm sorry for punching you, I don't do slaps." Bumalik ang tingin ko kay principal. "And 'yun na po yung nadatnan ng mga kaibigan ni Blaire." I ended my statement with that.

"Thank you girls for explaining your sides." Pinalapit ni principal yung kaninang babae na mukhang assistant niya. "According to Miss Sanchez' side, ang naunang pumasok ng comfort room ay siya." Blaire agreed. "And as for Miss Abella's side, siya naman ang unang pumasok." May inabot na USB yung ate girl. "This has the copy of the CCTV footage of the earlier event. The camera is facing the door to the ladies' comfort room." Sinaksak ni principal yung USB sa laptop niya at may pinlay bago hinarap sa amin.

Kitang-kita naman sa video na nauna akong pumasok, at agad na sumunod si Blaire. Ang mga kaibigan naman niya ay naghihintay sa labas ng CR. Just like what Joselle said, it was all planned.

"As you can see, malinaw naman kung sino ang nagsisinungaling. Kanina ko pa ito pinanood and I also have witnesses of the event." Sinara ni principal yung laptop, bago humarap sa amin. "The CCTVs are secretly installed sa buong campus. Its purpose is to provide evidence for incidents such as this." Tumingin sa akin si principal. "Miss Abella, you will receive a punishment of a two-day service at the canteen for causing physical damage to your co-student."

Oh well, I think I deserve that.

Humarap si principal sa dalawa na ngayon ay nawalan ng kulay ang mukha. "For you Miss Sanchez and Miss Pangilinan, you will receive a punishment of a 2 week-suspension for creating a scene, causing physical damage, and for lying to an incident you created." Tumayo si principal. "That's all ladies, enjoy your weekend."

"Kindly leave the principal's office immediately," utos sa amin nung babae. At katulad kanina, pinauna ko yung dalawa.

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas namin ay agad kaming sinalubong ng mga kasama namin.

"Kumusta?"

"Anong nangyari?"

Nagkanya-kanya silang tanong,

I shrugged. "Two day-service at the canteen. Yehey," I sarcastically said.

Agad namang nag-react si Hyaciel. "Ba't ka makaka-receive ng punishment?"

"Duh! She punched Blaire. She still broke a rule," sagot naman ng kakambal niya.

"Eh paano yung dalawa?" tanong ulit ni Hyaciel.

"You!" Biglang may nagsalita sa likod ko, si Cath pala habang nakaturo sa akin. "I'm still not done with you. I'll make sure na makakaganti ako sayo."

"Ba't ka naman gaganti sa akin? I did nothing wrong to you. FYFI and that's for your f*cking information, ikaw ang humatak ng buhok sa ating dalawa, and the punishment you received from the principal is the consequence."

Sasabunutan na naman sana ako ni Cath nang magsalita si Joselle. "It serves you right, ate."

"J-Joselle‽ What the hell‽ You're my sister! You should side with me."

"I side with what's right," sagot ni Joselle. "And at this moment, you're not right."

You're left! isasagot ko sana pero 'wag na lang. Nauna na akong umalis, nakakatamad mag-narrate ng story ng iba.

"Hey, you okay?" Si Bryle pala yung nagtanong. Tumango na lang ako. "So, you punched Blaire's face? 'Di pa rin ako maka-get over. My nickname for you suits you well."

"Alam mo?"

"Hindi pa."

"Bwiset ka," sagot ko sa kanya. "Uuwi na ako at andaming ganap ngayong araw, pakiramdam ko, drain na yung utak ko."

"Kaya mo ba sinasabi yan kasi gusto mong magpahatid sa akin?" Nilingon ko siya at nakangisi ang loko.

"'Wag kang assuming. Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong mo, kaya kong umuwi mag-isa." Tuloy pa rin ako sa paglalakad.

"Fine fine. Pero abangan mo 'ko sa monday ha?"

Nagtaka naman ako sa sinabi niya. "At bakit naman?"

"Secret. Anyways, ito na yung gate. Sure kang ayaw mong magpahatid?" Tumango ako. "Fine, I won't force you. Welp. See you on Monday, Miss Matapang." Saka siya tumakbo papunta sa kotse niya.

Ako naman ay diretsong naglakad palabas ng gate at pauwi, medyo malayo na ako sa school nang may biglang bumusina sa tabi ko. "Ay porkchop! Mr. Trying, sinabi nang ayoko—"

"I'm not Bryle, Kristine," sabi ng lalakeng kalalabas pa lang ng kotse. "But I can still give you a ride home."

"You may not be him, but my answer stays the same, so no thanks." At nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad pero napansin kong nakasunod yung kotse niya sa akin.

"Again, I'm not Bryle, so I won't give up." Nakababa yung window niya.

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. "A. Yo. Ko," sagot ko pero biglang umulan at wala akong masisilungan. Porkchop! Nasaan na ba kasi 'yung payong ko!

Naramdaman kong 'di na ako nababasa kaya tumingala ako. But instead of seeing the rain stop, nakakita ako ng jacket na nakatakip sa akin. "Still not letting me give you a ride?" Ang lapit ng mukha niya na medyo nagpakaba sa akin.

Shemay naman kasing panahon 'to eh! "Fine!" At wala na akong nagawa kundi pumayag.