Chapter 33

Boring-bobby black

I open up my eyes, wishfully thinking that today could be a good one for me. Sa pagbangon ay kasabay ang malalim na pagbuntunghininga. It is like nowadays, for me, were hard to keep going—not in anyway of what they are thinking. Para kasing alam mo naman iyong ginagawa mo pero hindi nagtutugma sa nararamdaman ko 'yong paligid ko. I wanted to be happy but how can I, when you were surrounded by people who thinks you're the reason why they are a messed.

Tumuloy ako sa bathroom at naghilamos. Muling tumambad ang orange hair ko sa salamin. Nagtataka naman ako sa mga pinagsasabi nila sa akin. That this hair suits me, bagay na bagay sa akin but I really don't see how fit it is on me. Hindi ko ma-appreciate ang sarili ko, sobrang nakakababa lalo ng confidence ko.

Is this me or something has really going on me?

"Alex?" napalingon naman ako sa tumawag sa akin. It's my Mom, she found me in the bathroom. "Glad you're awake, bakit hindi ka pa nag-aayos?"

"I'm gonna be late Mom, baka hindi na rin ako makasabay sa school bus."

"Why? What's the reason?" she asked.

Umiling naman ako at ngumiti sa kanya, "nothing Mom, can you please told Dad na siya ang maghatid sa akin?"

Mom nodded, "okay... but whatever you're doing, bilisan mo lang."

"Yes, Mom. I'll be down in fifteen."

Umalis naman ng kwarto ko si Mom at nagsimula na akong maghanda. I did a quick bath. Saka ko muling pinatuyo ang buhok ko gamit ang blower. Sunod ko namang hinanda ang mga hair color materials. Sinalin ko naman ang black hair color at peroxide sa container. Hinalo ko naman ito saka unti-unti kong ipinahid sa buhok ko iyon. Mabilis na kumapit ang itim sa nangingintab kong buhok at wala akong nararamdamang regrets sa ginagawa ko, siguro dahil ito naman ang natural hair color ko at dapat mas pangatawan ko ang ganitong look.

Nang matapos ko ang pagpahid sa buhok ko. I let it stayed for few minutes. Alam kong hindi sapat ang ganoong kabilis na oras dahil hindi masyadong kakapit ang kulay nito pero kung tatagalan ko ay male-late na talaga ako ng tuluyan. At saka pa, sinabi kong matatapos rin kaagad ako.

I rinsed and washed my hair off. Kinuha ko naman ang blower para patuyuin na ang buhok ko. At habang ginagawa ko naman iyon ay bigla namang may ideya na pumasok sa isipan ko. I know it is not recommendable at hindi naman ako professional para gawin iyon, but for some reasons, wala namang masama kung gagawin ang bagay na ito.

Kinuha ko ang gunting. I took a deep breath. Nanginginig naman ang kamay ko pero kinalma ko naman. I trimmed my hair on the length of my shoulder. Two inches ang nabawas noon sa buhok ko and I think mas okay na ito sa akin. I give it a style and I think this hair will do. Nilinis ko naman ang nagkalat na buhok sa lapag at tinapon sa basurahan. You don't keep trashes.

When I'm done, I headed my way to the kitchen where they are sitting.

I greeted them with a smile but what reaction they gave make me burst in laugh. Dad almost spill the coffee he's drinking and Mom were looking at me with surprise. Tumayo si Mom at saka nilapitan ako, hinawakan naman niya ang magkabilang pisngi ko. Hindi maalis ang bungisngis ko sa ginagawa niya sa akin.

"Mom... stop..." aniko.

"You're not my Alex. What have you done to her? Ilabas mo siya."

I frowned, and then she laughed. I pouted when she does that but it was cute how my family reacted to the sudden changes of my look.

"Hindi kaya mamatay na ang buhok mo niyan, Alex?" Dad said.

Natawa naman ako, "no, tindi kaya kumapit niyan, mas matindi pa sa mga commercial ng conditioners."

"Good to know you're loving your new look." He said.

I nodded, "it's for a change."

"What change?" Mom questioned.

But I just hinted a smile on her, "secret!"

"Whatever is that, Alex. I hope it really makes your day a good one."

"I hope so." I mumbled.

Dumiretsyo naman ako sa table at pinaghandaan ni Mom ng breakfast. Garlic rice are the highlights of my breakfast plus sunny side up and bacon. Sinamahan naman nila ako kumain. After this ay mabilisang pag-aayos lang ay ihahatid na ako ni Dad sa Savvy. And he will go after sa laundry shop to help the staff there.

Nang matapos naman ako kumain ay muli akong bumalik sa pag-aayos ko. I brushed my teeth and do all the finishing touches. Hindi naman ako ma-make-up na tao kaya kahit simpleng pulbo lang din ay ayos na sa akin. Hindi ako maarteng tao—well, except sa buhok which they called girl's crowning glory. And as we're set to go, nauna na si Dad sa labas at hinihintay na lang ako nito ng tawagin ako ni Mom.

She place her hands on both of my arms. I don't know where this talk would be headed but I have one in my mind.

"Alex, you don't have to tell what happened at the party last-last nights, but I just wanna know if you're okay?"

I smiled on her, "yes, Mom... you have nothing to worry about. I'm okay..."

She nodded, and I think contended to hear those words. "Glad to hear that, anyway, go now to your father. He's waiting on you."

I hugged and kissed her before leaving the house. I hurriedly come to my Dad, pinagbuksan naman niya ako ng pinto ng sasakyan and when we're ready to go. Nagtaka na lang ako dahil titig na titig sa akin si Dad—na akala mo'y nakakita ng multo sa expression ng mukha.

"Dad, are you gonna do that all day? Baka hindi na ako makapasok niyan." Hagikgik ko pa.

Napailing sabay ngiti naman si Dad, "no, it was just, nakakapanibago lang."

Napakunot-noo naman ako sa sinabi niya, "you have seen me since birth with black hair, anong nakakapanibago doon?"

He shrugged off, "I don't know... I'm just happy that my daughter really had her life going."

"Anong ibigsabihin mo d'on, Dad?"

Inabot naman niya ang balikat ko, "you're turning eighteen soon, and you won't need our consent anymore."

Napangiwi naman ako sa sinabi niya, "Dad, if you were that, I would abide your advices when I reached the legal age. You gotta prove yourself wrong. I admit that legal age would be the start to be an independent person but it doesn't mean I don't have to be your daughter, anymore, diba Dad?"

He chuckles at muli niyang binawi ang kanyang kamay, "your Mom and I really thought your well, huh?"

"Correction!" aniko kaya mabilis na kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Mom was my teacher when I was homeschooled."

"Just only for pre-school to elementary."

"Fair enough." Aniko, "I think we should now go, Dad."

"And I have might forget about that." Aniya sabay tawa.

Dad started the engine's car. Lumabas si Mom ng bahay at kinawayan naman kami nito. Tuluyan naman kaming umalis at tinahak na ang daan papuntang Savvy. Excited akong harapin ang mga schoolmate ko ngayon, hindi ko alam kung bakit pero kailangan kong alisin sa sistema ko ang pagiging bagot at walang gana. Hindi ginawang madrama ang buhay ko para pasanin lang ang mga gano'ng eksena. I'm not for those kind of drama to dwell. Move-on, that's the better way to resolve a situation.

It doesn't take long when we reach Savvy, halos kakaunti pa lang din naman ang nagdaratingang estudyante though five minutes na lang ay magsisimula na ang mga klase. Bago ako magpaalam kay Dad ay pinigilan pa ako nito.

"Yes, Dad?" I asked.

"Don't let anyone ruin your day, honey, okay? We don't wanna see the last night of you going home with a saddened face... it's not who you are."

Napatango na lamang ako sa sinabi ni Dad, "thank you, Dad and don't your worry, just like what I told to Mom, I'm okay and everything would be fine. You are best parents I ever had, okay? Don't you ever forget that."

"I know. I know." He smiled, "so, jumped out and go to your class!"

"See ya, later Dad!" aniko at saka ako bumaba ng sasakyan.

Dali-dali ko namang tinungo ang building at pumasok sa loob. The students were heading to their homeroom at ilang minuto na lang ay tutunog na ang bell. Nagmadali na rin akong marating ang room ko. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang wala akong madatnan na professor kaya tuloy-tuloy naman ako sa upuan ko.

Habang inaayos ko ang gamit ko ay biglang may kumalabit sa akin, "girl, may nakaupo na diyan—so you gotta find your own seat na." aniya.

Hinarap ko naman si Pee shooter at unang reaksyon pa lamang niya ay halos humagalpak na ako sa kakatawa. I can't even describe his surreal reaction. His eyes are widen of shock. Namilog din ang bibig niya at hindi pabalik-balik ang tingin sa histura at buhok ko ngayon. He didn't expect to see me again in another hair color.

"If anyone could video your reaction, that would go viral." I giggles.

Hinampas naman ako nito sa braso, hindi naman malakas pero tama lang na maramdaman ko. He couldn't still believe I guess. Iyong ibang classmate rin namin ay napatingin sa amin—mostly sa akin at syempre puno ng pagkagulat ang reaksyon ng makita nilang wala na ang desperate blonde—and the one they never seen, the ginger's ginger girl.

"What happened, Alex?! Anong nakain mo at nagbago ka na naman ng kulay ng buhok mo and one more thing, bakit ka nagpa-ikli?! Oh my gosh, Bella would be so surprise to see you with that hair!"

"I need to back it normal, and I cut my hair alone, for your information."

"The hell, Alex. You could do that?"

"I did and look at me." Aniko, I shake my head so my hair can dance in everyway. Halos hindi pa rin naman siya makapaniwala. "You don't like it?"

Ilang Segundo pa bago siya sumagot at umiling, "no... you look good there."

"Walang halong bola?"

Determinado naman siyang tumango, "of course, you're now the boring-bobby black."

"What the f, Pee shooter? May matawag lang sa akin?"

"Well, it suits you well... but what in the sudden change of it, huh? Na-broken hearted ka ba?"

Umiling ako sa sinabi niya, "no, pa'no naman ako mabo-broken hearted. Wala naman akong boyfriend, duh."

"Duh, duh ka diyan. Korg and Alec made their way on you and you just rejected them."

"I didn't rejected them!" depensa ko naman sa kanya. "I never reject someone..." aniko, natigil na lang din ako dahil iniisip ko kung saan pa mapupunta ang usapan naming dalawa. I just wanted to have the day na walang bad vibes—if that's possible. "You know what, nevermind the both of them. Matatauhan din silang dalawa but for now, we should talk about my birthday!"

"Oh, I've got something for that, Alex. I already have."

I would have ask him kung ano iyong naisip niya pero biglang dumating ang professor namin, which is Mr. Sawyer. He already notice my sudden change of appearance, siguro dahil kapansin-pansin naman talaga—mostly, nangingibabaw ako noon dahil sa blonde kong buhok but this time I am still the attraction of everybody. Ano na lang kaya ang magiging reaksyon nila kung nagpakalbo na ako? But I wouldn't do that.

The class started. Lecture and after, quiz naman kami. Pero pansin ko habang nale-lesson kanina ay panay ang tingin ni Mr. Sawyer sa direksyon ko. Pansin din ni Pee shooter iyon. Hindi ko naman inisip sa ibang bagay ang ginagawa niya, o baka gusto niya lang din magpakulay ng itim? Hindi ko alam, binaling ko na lang din sa iba ang atensyon.

When we are dismissed, palabas na kami ng room ng tawagin ako pabalik ni Mr. Sawyer. Hinatak ko rin si Pee shooter palapit sa kanya, hindi naman niya ito pinuna kaya nakahinga rin ako ng maluwag. Wala naman siguro akong failing grade ano? Ayoko naman mangyari kung gano'n.

"Gell told me you're on a ginger hair..." he said, "and now its black." Wala akong ideya kung bakit iyon ang sinabi niya, nagkatinginan pa kaming dalawa ni Pee shooter. "But anyway, that's not the point, Ms. Carreon."

"Yes, sir, ano po iyon?" I asked.

"Do you have any idea where Korg is?"

Muli kaming nagkatinginan ni Pee shooter, binalik ko ang tingin kay Mr. Sawyer at umiling, "wala po... ano pong meron?"

"Gell told us, Korg left the house where the party is happening and until now... he hasn't come home."

"Hala... baka nakidnap na?"

Siniko ko naman si Pee shooter sa sinabi niya, "sorry Sir, pero wala po akong idea..." 

"Thank you... I thought you knew where he was."

"I hope I did." All I knew was Korg needing some rest after the fight but he find some rests somewhere... maybe.

Palabas na sana kami ng room ng may tumawag sa phone ni Mr. Sawyer. Hindi naman masamang maki-chismis kung about kay Korg ang phone call na iyon. Mr. Sawyer took a deep sighed after he ended the call. Agad naman kaming lumapit para kausapin siya.

"Sir, was that Korg?"

He shook his head, "no, it was Mia... he stays on her home... by the way, thank you Miss Carreon."

I was left dumbfounded knowing those things from Mr. Sawyer. Pee shooter couldn't even believe himself nang malamang iyon. How could Korg run to Mia where he doesn't want her all this time? Anong nakain ni Korg ngayon? This things makes me go around and frustrated.

But, what the hell, Korg run to Mia... on what cause?