O L I V I A V A L E Z

"Finally, Ms. Oliva Valez is here with us."

Ms. Sally 'Witch' Roma looked at me with her annoying face as she clapped her hands slowly. We were in our violin session today, and it was too early for me to get into war with this witch. The weather is perfect. The mighty sun is standing proudly in the clear blue sky-that always reminds me of his eyes. I could never look at the sky the same way I did before. Before, whenever I looked at things in the color blue, Liberty's eyes would immediately pop up into my mind, but things were different now.

I was still in a hangover from what happened two days ago. That day was so perfect. I don't know if it was because I got to experience riding a motorcycle for the first time or because I fell in love at Atlas's workplace... Perhaps, it was because I was with him? No! Certainly not. Maybe, dahil talaga iyon sa kinain ko. First-time kong nakakain sa ganoong kainan. Yes, yes, yes! That was the real reason why it became perfect.

I looked at Witch with arrogance in my eyes, yet my lips were forming a sweet angel-like smile. I put down my fiddlestick and scan the length of it. The string of it glowed like a bar of silver under the moonlight- as if it was a sword glistening from the glory it obtained from war. My eyes went to hers, and the haughtiness in them was slowly fading.

"It was an easy task."

What I said was true. She made me memorize all the chords, and today was the day she let me play all the chords without her guidance. Perhaps, Ms. Sally was expecting me to make a mistake and taunt me sweetly with it. But jokes on her, I didn't even sweat as I glided the fiddlestick on My Love's body. It vibrated under my chin, and the sensation was so majestic. The music we produced was sweet and soft, like the first time I ate cotton candy.

Okay, I may be overreacting, but I was so happy that I did it perfectly! Playing the violin is no easy task. However, I must say that memorizing and playing all the chords in the right tune was a significant achievement. I don't know what happened with me for the past few days-I am a liar. However, I know exactly what happened and the reason why I was so absent-minded for the past few days. Atlas Mate. It was all because of him. Nevertheless, I was also feeling giddy and light because of him.

Atlas Mate was the main culprit.

Damn, why was I even thinking of him? He didn't have anything to do with my violin lessons. Well, maybe a little bit... Stop! I need to bloody concentrate here, at baka mapahiya na naman ako kay Witch nito.

"Easy? Deary, have you forgot that you even omitted the sticker task?"

"Well, I admit that I wasn't in my best those times. I was stress."

"Stress? Stress in your summer vacation?" she laughed in a high pitch sweet tone. As if that was sweet! It was a masked mockery. "Deary, no need to lie."

She even had the audacity to approach me and take my bow-wielding hand in hers. I felt my skin crawl disgustingly. I still can't believe it! She caressed me with her nasty hands. With an irritated expression on my face, I stared at her. Ms. Sally's eyes were showing concern, her brows were softly curled, but deep within, I saw the malicious delight in her eyes. Her actions are obviously visible to me. Take a look at how her statements contradict her deeds. She spat poison while appearing to be an angel.

If she thinks that I would buy all her antics then, she must think again. I am no fool. I know how this kind of game should be played. If she appeared like lilies in the middle of a dead forest, then I am a rare rose full of blade-like thorns.

I smiled at her and gripped her hands like her actions touched me.

"That was thoughtful of you, Ms. Sally. But this lips of mine only speak the truth, and perhaps it was your mind that cannot take it clearly?" I glided my hands to her arms and looked at her with concern and pity. I know the sympathy will make her feel agitated.

"If you say so, then I would be expecting your best performances starting today." her voice was challenging, but it's Olivia Valez she's trying to take on, and no one had ever won over me.

"Expect no less." I said too proudly.

I am not all talk kind of person. But I know what I have said, and I can make it on a clean slate. I am a straight A's student ever since I've stepped into school, and no one has ever taken my place at the top. Everybody knows who I am because of my splendid reputation. I can say the three of us: Liberty, Prima, and I was well-known by our own reputations. Liberty was known for her out-going and powerful aura surrounding her. She's like the queen bee. Prima was known for all the trouble and incredible stunts she pulled off in our school. And I, on the other hand, was known for being the Ms. Perfect.

That's why I was so used to sit at the top, and all those who came to challenge me always find themselves grumbling down, wounded, and bleeding. I always got to laugh at the beginning and the end. I don't give them time to laugh and smile. I've crushed them mercilessly, but with Ms. Sally, I think it would be more fun if I let her have her time before I cut her down... it would be more painful.

I smirked at the direction my thoughts went. I'm wicked, and I know it.

Our session didn't end quickly. However, I did everything perfectly like I wasn't a beginner, and I certainly enjoyed looking at her frustrated eyes. Of course, she's not enjoying that I'm doing good, but Ms. Sally was doing her best to mask it out. I didn't have any problem doing the proper posture while playing my Love, for the reason that I've practiced walking and sitting in good posture. I also never failed to guide and see her out after our lessons. It was the appropriate thing to do.

Know that Atlas started working wala na akong magawa pagkatapos ng violin lessons ko, bukod sa mag-drawing at mag-aral. I've already taken my entrance exams for college, so I don't really need to worry about it. What has been bugging my mind was the course I should take. But I shouldn't be worried about it, ako lang naman ang magmamana talaga sa business namin. Pero ayon ba talaga ang gusto ko? Sasaya ba talaga ako? They say in order to stay in your job you must love it. Perhaps, when the time comes, I would come to love it.

Habang naglalakad pa akyat ng kwarto, ay biglang tumunog ang cellphone na hawak-hawak ko. Prima Donovan's name flashed on my screen, and I immediately swipe the green button. I stopped midway and leaned on the railing of the stairs.

"Good morning!" I said enthusiastically.

I heard her chuckled, "Morning." her voice was a little hoarse.

"Kagigising mo lang?"

"Yeah." then I heard some rustling fabric. Prim was probably getting up by now. "Wanna come over?"

I looked at the clock on the wall, and its hands were pointing at ten in the morning. Wala naman akong lakad ngayon, at saktong medyo na bobored ako ngayon. Mabuting may gagawin ako ngayon dahil kung hindi, mapupunta lang ito sa iisang taong gumugulo sa aking isipan lagi.

"Sure! Grounded ka 'no?"

I heard her groaned and clicked her tongue, "It's my mom being over-emotional and... err, you know."

Yes, I know. It was her mom being her usual obnoxious self.

"I understand. What do you want to do?"

"Let's watch movies."

"All right, may gusto ka bang kainin?"

Kapag kasi grounded siya ay hindi siya pinagsisilbihan ng kanilang katulong, dahil iyon ang utos ng kaniyang parents. Sa daming beses na niya kasi gumawa ng kalokohan at lagi niyang sinusuway ang mga ito, kaya patindi nang patindi ang nagiging parusa niya. Minsan na nga niyang na kwento na marunong na siya magprito ng ulam, it may be a punishment, but she was benefiting from it. So I cannot entirely say that it was cruel. The only thing I can do is spoil her in a time like this.

"I want some cheese pizza and some soda. Thank you!"

"No biggie, Honey." I said jokingly, and I only heard her laugh and make a kissing sound.

Umiling na lamang ako habang umaakyat papuntang kwarto ko. Grounded man si Prima at bawal tumanggap ng bisita, pero dahil gusto ako ng parents niya ay papalagpasin ang pagbisita ko. Kaya sa mga apanahong ganito ay talagang ako ang tinatawagan ni Prim, and I love it. It only means that we are really friends. I meant, sino ba ang tatawagan mo kapag na nganagilangan ka? Hindi ba ang mga mahal mo sa buhay?

I wore high-waisted jeans paired with a spaghetti strap crop top and long see-through sleeves. I called Manong driver so he can drive me to Prima's place. Thank God the drive wasn't long. I cannot imagine getting stuck in a traffic jam, tapos ang pupuntahan ko lang ay twelve minutes away from home.

Pagkapindot ko ng door bell ay masaya akong sinalubong ni Manang Leslie. Kilala na ako rito dahil madalas kaming tumambay na tatlo sa bahay nila Prim. Madalas nga ay in-expect na nilang dadating kami ni Liberty tuwing grounded si Prim. Pero hindi naman sobrang lagi ang aming punta, minsan kasi ay tumatakas si Prim sa kanilang bahay para pumunta kung saan-saan nang hindi namin alam.

"Hija! Mabuti at nakadalaw ka."

Nagmano ako kay Manang Leslie bago tuluyang pumasok. Malaki ang bahay nila Prim, it almost as big as our house too. Their house was designed more modern than ours. It was square-shaped and full of glass. They have a big front yard and a back yard full of symmetrical plants, but they don't have flowers. It's more of a big leaf. They have a glass pond without a fish; however, it was full of white pebbles. Then a mini bridge composed of white.

"I miss Prim, Manang. And it's summer vacation, so I had a lot of free time po." magalang kong sabi kay Manang.

Nakakapit ako sa kaniyang braso habang naglalakad papasok. Pinisil ni Manang ang aking kamay at ngumiti.

"Mabuti't naisipan mong pumunta, Hija. Nako, at nag-away na naman si Ma'am at Prima kagabi! Sigurado akong kailangan niya ng kaibigan ngayon."

"Yes, Manang. Si Prima lang po ba ang nandito ngayon?"

"Hindi, Hija. Pero paalis na rin sila Sir. Ang mag-asawa naman ay kanina pa umalis."

Ang binanggit ni Mamang na sila Sir , ay ang mga kapatid na lalaki ni Prima. Puro lalaki ang kapatid niya, at kung gaano kapasaway si Prima ay kabaligtaran naman ang kaniyang mga kapatid. Mga seryoso sa buhay at mga dean listers or katulad kong straight A student. Si Prima ang black sheep ng kanilang pamilya, but I don't mind. I love her that way.

Nang marating namin ang main door nila, ay nakasalubong namin ang dalawang kapatid na lalaki ni Prima na sina Prudence at Percy. Si Kuya Prudence ay ang panganay sa kanila at nasa huling taon na ng college. Habang si Percy naman ay ang bunsong anak na siyang third year high school pa lamang.

Agad akong ngumiti at bumati sa dalawa, "Good morning Kuya Prudence and Percy!"

"Good morning to you too, Olivia. Prim asked you to bring that?" tanong ni Kuya prudence at nginuso ang dala-dala kong pizza at soda.

I smiled sheepishly and nodded.

"That girl." nailing niyang sabi, na siyang tinawanan ko lamang.

Percy brought his hands in the air, signaling for a high five, and I gladly gave him one. His grin got wider like a Cheshire cat.

"Where are you guys going?"

"Swimming training." agarang sagot ni Percy.

"Aw, nilakihan ko pa naman itong pizza. I want to share it with you two."

"Too bad." nakangusong sagot ni Percy.

Siniko siya ni Kuya Prudence na aking ipinagtaka. Kuya noticed that I saw what he did. He looked sideways, and then he cleared his throat.

"We'll get going. Enjoy your day here, Olivia."

After the two of them went out, I went straight to Prima's room. Isang katok pa lamang ang ginagawa ko ay bumukas na agad ang pintuan. Prima was still wearing her pajamas and two different color socks. I shake my head as I entered the room. And holy cow! It was a disaster! If chaos became a person and owned a room, this is what it would look like.

"I'm aware that you have maids." I said as I look around her messy room.

"I'm well aware too. And my Mom certainly told them not to aid me."

"Why? Pangilan mo na bang offense 'to sa Mom mo?"

I flopped myself into one of her bean bags. I kicked one of her shirts scattered all over the floor and put down the box of pizza. Prima instantly went in front of me as she pulled a bean bag to sit on.

"My third."

Prima didn't even bother blowing the freshly cooked pizza. I saw her struggled to chew and bite the steaming hot pizza. I laughed when she burned her tongue.

"Slow down, Prim."

Binuksan niya ang soda na aking dala at uminom muna bago ako sagutin, "Hindi pa ko kumakain simula kagabi, e. Too mad at everyone here." umiling-iling pa siya at uminom muli ng soda. "Thanks for the food! You are a lifesaver. I'll probably die starving here."

She took another piece and ate it like a mad man. I sighed and stood up. I looked around again and started picking up all the clothes on the ground like a rag. I put it all in the cloth basket. I even made her bed because the bed sheet was so crumpled, and the pillowcase was almost out of the pillow itself. I went to her closet and look for a mini vacuum. When I found it, I started vacuuming the floor and the corners of her room.

I clapped my hands when I finished cleaning Prima's room. She looked at me while her mouth was still full of pizza. She tried smiling even though her mouth was full. Prima send me a flying kiss that made me shake my head and smile. Hay, kids.

I put my hands on my waist, "Let's call Liberty."

Lumunok muna si Prim bago nagsalita, "Use my laptop. It's beneath my bed."

Yumuko naman ako para kunin ang laptop sa ilalim ng kama niya. Bukod sa laptop ay may nakita rin akong isa pang bagay na hindi ko alam kung ano. It looks like a coral reef na pahaba. It is in the color pink, and it has two connected branches. One is longer while the other one is shorter. The bottom of it was like stainless steel. Saan naman kaya ito ginagamit ni Prim? Is that an eye massager? But it has two sticks.

Binalewala ko na lamang iyon at kinuha na ang laptop. Umupo ako sa kama habang nasa lap ko naman ang laptop. Katapat ko lang si Prima na kumakain. Pagkabukas ko ng browser niya ay nag-automatic na nag-restore ang mga tab. Agad na nanlaki ang aking mata ng biglang nag-flash sa aking screen ang dalawang babaeng naka hubo't hubad kasama ang isang lalaki.

I was so shocked that I didn't move or even tore my eyes off the screen. I sat there like a fucking statue with my mouth hanging open. I saw Prima's confused eyes boring into me, but she was still eating. My eyes got wider when the two girls started moving! The blonde girl was lying down while the other had her head on her private part, the man was behind her caressing her but! O, my goodness! What the hell was I even watching?!

nabilaukan si Prima nang marinig niya nang biglang umungol ang mga tauhan sa palabas na ito. Nakita ko kung paano niya hampasin ang kaniyang dibdib nang ilang beses, at ang kaniyang pag-abot sa soda sa gilid niya. Nang makainom, ay dali-dali siyang lumapit sa akin. Sinilip niya ang laptop at nanlaki rin ang kaniyang mga mata nang makita ang naka flash doon.

"Dam it! Hindi ko pala na exit 'yan?" tapos tumawa siya.

Tumawa siya? Tinawanan niya lang na hindi niya na exit ang tab na iyon? Tinawanan niya lang na nahuli ko siya? Nakatatawa ba iyon? I looked at her bewildered. I was still so shocked! She sat beside me and put her laptop on her lap. Then Prima looked at me like I had grown three fucking heads. Hindi ba rapat na ako ang ganyang tumingin sa kaniya? E, bakit siya pa ang may ganang tumingin sa akin nang ganoon?

"Don't tell me you haven't watched porn, Oly?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I looked like a fish out of the surface, gasping for air. I looked so stupid. Prima laughed at hinampas niya ako sa braso. Hindi pa rin ako maka-move on sa nakita kaya hindi ako naka react sa ginawa niyang paghampas.

"Fuck, this is so hilarious!" then she continued laughing her ass out.

Nang medyo gumana na ang aking utak, ay hinampas ko siya pabalik sa braso. I could feel my cheeks heating up from embarrassment.

"What's so funny! You horny girl!"

Sinalag naman niya ang mga palo ko haban tumatawa pa rin, then her laughing face suddenly changed into an evil smirk. I instantly shake my head in disapproval. Kahit hindi ko pa alam ang pina-plano niya, basta't makita ko pa lamang ang ganiyang ngiti niya, ay alam kong hindi maganda ang naiisip niya. That's Prima Donovan's famous trouble smirk.

"Let's watch it!"

If my eye can pop out, it already did. Now I'm certain that it wasn't my cheeks that are only heating up. I could feel my whole head getting hotter. Para akong lalagnatin. I was left shock again by what she said.

Let's watch it!

Let's watch it!

Let's watch it!

"What?!"

~TBC~

Sorry for the super duper late update! I have posted my reason. If you guys haven't seen it, you can check it on my profile or follow me. Para kung may announcement ay na nonotify kayo. Anyway, if my schedule clears up tomorrow, mag-update ulit ako.

This is a raw draft. Kindly bear with all the technicalities.

Feel free to share your thoughts, and keep safe, everyone!

Love lots. :>>