Chapter 4

Misunderstanding

On my very first day, I was send off to the guidance office because of the issue I did earlier with the banged up word—which I don't wanna talk about anymore and that causes a lot of attention, not just to the majority of the students but also to the faculty staff which before I get to leave my class, I had no reasons not to go because reddy's also going with me at the guidance office.

Pagkatapos ng class namin sa physical education, uwian ko na dapat dahil tapos na ang klase ko pero hindi nangyari iyon dahil mula sa speaker na nakapalibot sa bawat sulok ng building ay nag-announce ang guidance officers for our presence sa kanilang office at mukhang hindi ko deserved ang mapunta doon, to think that in the first, I already crew up everything.

Reddy and I walked together to come at the guidance office, he's not talking to me and if I'm going to come up with a conversation, he doesn't wanna hear about it and so we give each other a silent treatment until we got to the office and I'm knee's shaking because they have Reddy first on their office while I just needed to wait and sit tight on the waiting line and wait for them to call my name which really doesn't sound so good.

Hindi rin naman katagalan ng lumabas ng office si Reddy. I immediately approached him because I wanted to know what they did talked about and why they needed us here.

"What did the counselor said to you?" I asked on him.

He smirked and out his hands to his jeans pocket, "I think you need yourself to find it out."

Saglit lang din ay lumapit na sa amin ang counselor, "Miss Carreon, in my office."

Tumango na lang din naman ako sa kanya saka ko binalikan ng tingin si Reddy pero tinatawanan lang din niya ako. Inirapan ko naman siya kahit medyo labag sa dibdib ko 'yon saka ako sumunod sa counselor sa loob ng kanyang office. Dahan dahan pa akong naglakad pero nang tinignan niya ako ay agad din naman akong naupo sa silya doon at ngitian ko siya—na halos bumigay na dahil nanginginig ang labi ko sa pag-ngiti.

"I think you know why you're here, Miss Carreon." She started.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako sa sinabi niya, "yes Ma'am... but it was all misunderstanding and clearly it's not my fault because he calls me desperate blonde and he started to say that word that didn't even know what's the definition and so I came up to counter him to show that I'm not weak to step backward."

"Hmm..." she nodded like she's worried on what I said.

"Did I say too much or there's something wrong on what I just said?"

She immediately wave her hands saying that I did fine, obviously and I think by that I give what's really my point of view here. "I think I'm fine with that, Miss Carreon. My concern really here is, also what brought our attention is the word you used that gets the attention of every students. I would like you to refrain using foul language and be implicit about it because you were in school premises. I hope you understand that, Miss Carreon."

I nodded on her because it is the kindest thing to do and couldn't refuse all her words because I think it's all gonna make it worst. "I understand, Ma'am... sorry for what happened and I promise that won't happen again."

"Good to hear that," she nodded. "And also I add up, it brings to my attention that you're a new student on Savvy, right?"

I nodded to her because she's right.

"Have you read the students handbook?" she said, "it includes the school policy for students and all anything that matters in school."

"Yes..." I bit my lower lip, "but I didn't get to finished it because I get bored by it."

She laughed a little like there's something funny in what I just said but there isn't. Why is that?

"Okay, now I know Miss Carreon." She's still laughing—no, giggling. She calmed herself for a minute and she opened a drawer on her desk and when she did, she handed over to me a booklet which says Savvy's Handbook revised edition. "That's all new, Miss Carreon. You can read it again."

"It says revised edition... what changes I should find?"

She shook her head, "no, but I still think you need it." Aniya, "there's still no offense for this Miss Carreon but for now, I must have know that you were reading the Savvy's handbook to catch up on our policy. I think that's for now and it's fair."

Before I get to leave her office, I can't get it off my brain to asked, "did Reddy—I mean, Korg get to have the same punishment as me?"

"Yes?" she said not so sure, "but it's not a punishment Miss Carreron, that's all matters, okay? Thank you for seeing me and may leave the office."

I was about to ask more but she wanted to leave her office and I just did what she said and let myself out of her office. When I leave the guidance office, nagulat na lang ako nang biglang bumungad sa akin si Reddy—I mean, nakatayo at nakasandal lang siya sa gilid at sa tingin ko ay hinihintay niya ako dahil nang lumabas ako, napunta kaagad ang atensyon niya sa akin.

Lumapit naman ako sa kanya, "are you waiting for me?"

Napangisi naman siya sa sinabi ko, "what's goin' on your mind?"

"Brain..." I whispered.

"What?" he asked but then he continue his words, "I'm not waiting for you, I just wanted to see you crying out of the office... but clearly you're not, so I'm gonna leave now."

He turned his back on me at nagbalak nang maglakad pero sa hindi ko rin malamang dahilan, kinuha ko ang braso niya at pinigilan ko siyang umalis—or is it because gusto ko lang hawakan ang braso niya?

"So you're gonna leave now?" I asked narrowing my eyes on him.

He shrugged off his shoulder, "what do you think should I do? I still need to prepare for my football practice."

"Can I watch?" I asked and he's surprised by it, "that's just come out and don't it because I'm not interested in football, ever!"

"Even if its on your school?"

I nodded, stood up with my pride. "Yes."

"So what are you keeping me leaving?" he asked.

Agad naman akong umiling sa sinabi niya, "I don't, you know what, leave me alone."

He just laughed and I don't think it's on what I said and I never get to know because he didn't say what it was. I just watched him leaves the building but my eyes were on his butt and it is so smooth, kinda like it's so soft more than a bread.

I get startled when the counselor came out of the door.

"What are you still doing here, Miss Carreon?"

I shook my head, "nothing Ma'am... just wandering around."

"You should go home now, Miss Carreon."

I nodded, "that's a good decision Ma'am, will do that!"

Her face crunches when I hugged her and walked away from her 'till I get out of the building. When I looked around and see Reddy going towards the open field and maybe he's going to their practice. I don't think it would be okay kung sisilip ako sa practice nila and he won't know it naman. But when I'm already moving steps papunta sa open field, bigla namang sumulpot si pee shooter at Bella.

"Alex, saan ka pupunta?" tanong ni Bella sa akin kaya umiling na lang din naman ako. "The bus were ready to leave, tara na."

"Oh, do we take the same school bus?" tanong ko naman.

Umiling naman si Bella sa akin, "no, but they were going to leave if we don't get there on time."

"Okay, that's actually where I was heading." Sagot ko na lang din sa kanila.

"No, you're not." Sagot naman ni Pee shooter. "You were going to the open field and you can't lie to me dahil alam kong may practice ang football team ngayon."

"Can we just watch them, first?" I asked.

Umiling naman silang dalawa. "we can watch them at their game day, okay."

I nodded, "okay... sayang."

"How about telling us what happened on the guidance office?"

Whil were walking towards the school bus, I did tell them what happened at the guidance office and showed them what the counselor gave me and they just laughed at me because the school's policy is nonsense and they didn't also read the handbook because is it's a natural boring to read. I was helpless because I have to forced myself not to do anything wrong again, they don't because from years they knew how the system works but because I'm new, I need to set things right and do the adjusting.

When get separated when we go to our buses. My bus didn't go to pee shooter or Bella's house because their on another route and that's it. I seated on the first row because I couldn't bear sitting again in the back were boys are already there and their eyes were at me acting of banging me up—and that's gross, they're gorgeous but they're gross.

It is not a long drive when the school bus dropped me off. What actually suprises me ay inaabangan pala ako ng parents ko sa harap ng pinto. Naglakad din naman ako palapit sa kanila at sinalubong naman nila ako ng yakap at ang hindi ko maintindihan ay may kinakawayan na lang sila bigla sa likuran ko.

Pagtingin ko mula sa kinakawayan nila ay nandoon pa pala ang school bus at most of the students ay nakatingin sa amin na akala mo ay isang television series ang pinapanood nila ngayon at ang mismong bus driver ay kumaway pa pabalik.

"I think we should go inside." Aniko saka ko sila hinatak papasok sa loob ng bahay. "I'm gonna change now."

"Okay!" mom said, "but come down again and we'll talk about your first day!"

I sighed, "okay, Mom!"

I hurriedly come into my room and jump right in the bed and I feel so exhausted that I cannot stand up again and do anything. I took a deep breath and forced myself to sit up and stand up to change my clothes. When I'm done changing clothes, bumaba naman ako para pumunta sa sala kung nasaan sila.

"So, what happened, Alex?" Mom asked.

I nodded, "it's good, so far it's great actually..." I said.

"Get yourself a friends?"

"Two actually." I said, "He's Philippines and Bella."

"Oh, really, does your friend really named a country?"

I shook my head, "no, but it sounded like that." I said, "and you know what, there's this football player in our school and he's so handsome but sadly full of himself but he's way better because of his red hair but that doesn't count because he put me on guidance on my first day."

My eyes widened when I realize what did I just said. "What did you say, Alex? You got yourself in the guidance?"

I shook my head for disagreeing, "not really, it was just a misunderstanding but it's all good."

Tumango naman silang dalawa that makes me confortable dahil kung hindi, kung ano ano na naman ang mangyayari and I think it's no fun at all. We talked about something kaya naman nakampante na rin ako but it was just all about school stuff—and I keep to myself not to speak about banging up because I know for sure, they'll gonna freak out, like really!

Mom set out our dinner and when she calls us at the dining, we get to eat together, yeah, as a family. While on dinner, they're still picking up something on me and I still keep saying that would not make myself grounded or embarrass myself in front of them.

"You know," father said out of the context, "bring that red hair here, I don't know, for some dinner and we can talk to him."

"That doesn't really needed to happen." I said, "but what are you gonna talk about with him?"

"We're thinking," Mom said and reach for my dad's hand above the table. "that you are new to this school and this person shouldn't make you feel so outcasts, so we kinda wanted to talk to him and treat you way better."

My eyes narrowed, "that's your idea actually Mom right?"

"Yep, it's her." Dad said. "But I also it's great to have him around here."

"No..." umiling naman ako sa kanya. "This isn't the time for meet the parents?! It's too early but if you wanna know him better... I'll try my best..."

They smiled at me, "thank you, Alex..." Dad said.

After dinner, bumalik kaagad ako sa kwarto ko, nakalimutan kong gawin ang homework ko dahil sa kakaisip kung paano ko gagawin 'yon. That person really hates me and that wouldn't change everything. Oh, gosh, it's really a worse day for me!