It's a school day. As usual, maaga pa rin ako sa school. Six AM pa lang nasa campus na ako. Wala pa ngang mga tao sa loob, e. Sobrang tahimik pa sa buong paligid at iyong mga janitors na naglilinis pa lang ang nakikita ko. I just shrugged and went to the SSG headquarters. It's my usual tambayan naman everytime naghihintay ako ng classes. Miski roon ay wala pa ring dumarating. Weird, super aga ko ba o talagang matagal sila? I shook my head and placed my bag on my table na lang. I sat on the chair and checked the files na nasa desk ko at ni-review iyon.

I also took my planner out and checked my schedule for the day. For sure this will be a very busy day kasi syempre simula na talaga ng real class namin tapos marami pa akong paplanuhing event for the SSG since in charge kami sa almost all of the activities sa whole year.

Gosh. Hindi ko pa pala napapa-check ito sa Adviser namin! Need pa naman na ma-check na itong mga calendar of activities!

Nakagat ko ang aking labi at agad na nilagay ang dapat kong gawin sa to do list ko. I heaved a sigh and looked at the papers again. Nag-angat lang ako ng tingin nang may marinig akong parang mga boses sa labas. Our door is made of glass naman kaya kita ko rin iyong labas. I thought it was the officers na, turns out some varsity ata na nag-iingay.

I shrugged and continued doing my work anyway. Nang malapit na ang time ay in-arrange ko na lang ang mga gamit ko. Nakasalubong ko pa ang ibang officers na kadarating lang. I smiled at them while they just looked at me.

I wore my bag and went out of the council headquarters. Nakahawak sa strap ng backpack ko iyong dalawa kong kamay habang naglalakad sa building ng Grade 12.

I was minding my own business nang mapansin kong iyong mga nadadaanan ko ay halos lahat pinagtitinginan ako tapos magbubulungan. Napailing na lang ako. I mean seriously? Still about that break up? They're still not over it? Come on! I've got other things to be busy about, no.

I just shook my head and walked faster. During the first class, I could still feel the weird stares that even my classmates were giving me. As in, the whole class pag nag-re-recite or sumasagot ako parang lahat nagtitinginan tapos I could hear some murmurs pa.

To be honest, I'm starting to get pissed na. I mean seriously? Ugh. Kainis na rin.

The next subject, ganoon pa rin. I just calmed myself na lang para hindi ako ma-bad vibes. It's a boring subject pa naman.

"Okay, class, I will group you into five for this next activity," our teacher in Philosophy said.

Umayos ako ng upo, then. We started counting for the group numbers. "Go to your group."

I sighed and stood na rin nang sabihin iyong ni Sir. I looked around to find my group. Naglakad ako papunta sa likod. Napamaang pa ako nang wala ng vacant na chair sa circle nila. I heaved a sigh and went to my chair sa harap at kinaladkad iyon papunta sa likod.

"Excuse me," I firmly said para makapasok sa circle nila.

I felt them staring at me again. I just sighed na lang.

I waited for someone to speak in behalf of the group, so noong walang nagsalit, ako na ang nag-initiative.

"So what are we gonna do? Will you be okay for roleplay or the usual na lang na reporting?" tanong ko kasi pinapa-present kami in a creative way sa assigned topics. Nagkatinginan pa sila. Some of them shrugged, a few chose between the two and the others wala talaga.

We began discussing na lang kung anong gagawin namin. I could still feel the others staring at me na para bang may chismis na naman sila or anything. Hindi ko na lang pinansin iyon at nag-focus na lang ako sa activity namin. After all, I cannot do anything about them naman. Bahala na sila sa life nila.

"Would it be possible kung mag-video na lang tayo?" I suggested. I can almost hear each of them groan with my suggestion.

"Time consuming."

"Yeah, minor lang naman ito. It's not as if performance task siya di ba?"

"True. I think fine na iyong PPT lang after all, it's casual reporting lang naman,"

Most of them agree sa comments noong tatlo naming ka-group na girls. I sighed.

"Hmm yeah, but I think may plus points if we make it extra naman kasi di ba, Sir said it should be creative. For sure maraming mag PPT lang. We wanna be unique, di ba?" I convinced them. I smiled pa and then isa-isa silang tiningnan.

I understand their sentiments naman but then I treat every subject kasi equally, no matter if minor siya or major kasi they all contribute naman sa grades ko. One subject should not be compromised just because it's not a major subject, no.

"Okay na naman iyon, Resche."

"Oo nga, let's settle for that na lang. Pareho lang din naman iyon, e."

They were nodding at each other na. I heaved a sigh and tried to smile.

"I'll volunteer naman kung saka-"

"Luhh wag ka nang pabibo, pwede?" one classmate cut me off.

Saglit akong napatigil at agad na napatingin sa kanya. It was Rica, who was sitting across from me. She has this maldita look on her face. My mouth parted in shock.

"Excuse me?" I said, sounded offended kasi it was offensive naman talaga. I mean really? I was just volunteering!

I looked at my other group mates who were already looking at us din. Feel na feel ko iyong tension sa pagitan namin, and I really did not intend the atmosphere to be that way, pero di ko talaga alam kung anong deal na naman ni Rica. Honestly, she's annoying na.

"Well, ang akin lang naman, bakit pa natin pakokomplikahin ang mga buhay natin, e, okay lang naman na mag PPT na lang. Ang pabibo mo pa, e." Umirap siya.

Mas lalo akong napanganga. Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ko siya.

"I was just suggesting, and I was volunteering na nga para iwas bigat na sa inyo, di ba? What's wrong with that?"

I could already feel my chest tightening and beating abnormally. I really don't want to make this a big deal, but she's slowly getting into my nerves.

"Ohh? So what about the majority's decision, then? Disregard na lang? Stop it with your leader-leader-an school of action na nga." She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes again.

I looked at him in disbelief.

What's worse pa ay nagsisang-ayunan ang mga group mates namin. Oh my gosh, seriously?

"Let's just stick sa plan na lang."

"True."

"Sige na mag-start na rin tayo."

"Okay, okay."

All of them hovered towards Rica, and they even excluded me from the planning na. What the heck?!

"Ito na lang, Resche, wag ka nang maarte diyan." I heard one of our groupmate, Lira, say.

Napatanga na lang ako. I could hear the murmurs from my other classmates. Nang lumingon ako, nakita kong halos lahat sila, nakatingin na sa amin. What the hell? Nakagat ko na lang ang aking labi at saka napayuko na lang. I am, once again, the center of attention. Wow, Just great.

"Excuse me, Group 4, is everything alright?" Napalunok pa ako nang marinig si Sir.

I immediately looked at my group mates who were also appalled by the call. Tumikhim ako at umayos ng upo. Nilingon ko si Sir.

"We're fine po," sabi ko na lang at tipid na ngumiti.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at saka binalik ang tingin sa mga ka-grupo ko na noon ay kunot-noo na ang mga noo sa akin. I heaved a sigh and joined them na lang.

Seriously?! Could this day get any better?

~***~

After that annoying encounter with the class kanina, mas lalo pa akong nainis kasi feeling ko kahit saan ako magpunta ay ramdam na ramdam ko ang mga tinginan ng mga tao sa akin. I mean, my gosh? Really? Still not over that?! First day pa iyon, ilang days na ang nakalipas at official start na nga ng klase! And really? Those classmates kanina tapos si Rica pa, what's with them? What's with all the hate? Seriously? Tumutulong lang ako!

Honestly, ever since that day na pinahiya ako ng ex kong bwisit, and ever since the whole school heard what he said to me, parang ako na ang pinagchi-chismisan nila. And what's more annoying is that I feel like parang wala nang nakikinig sa akin. It was not the first time na na-encounter ko iyong ganoong attitude whenever I suggested something for improvisation. It's really irritating and nakakainis na!

Maski nga ngayong nasa canteen ako todo pa rin sila sa pagtitig sa akin. I can't believe this! Sa inis ko ay agad akong umalis doon. I wore my bag at dinala na lang ang foods ko palabas ng canteen. I went to the Council Headquarters. Later pa naman ang class ko, so mas mabuti pang doon na lang muna ako. Okay lang naman kumain doon.

I kept my head down as I walked towards the SSG headquarters. Pagkabukas ko ng pinto ng opisina namin ay agad na bumungad sa akin ang iilang mga council members na nasa kani-kanilang mga pwesto. They all looked at me pa noong pumasok ako.

I smiled a bit bago ko sinara ang pinto. I went to my table directly. I cleaned my desk muna tapos ay bumalik na ako sa pagkain. Nang maayos na ang desk ko ay kinuha ko na lang ang notes ko for next class. Naka-open din ang monitor ko para sa emails at para rin tingnan ang mga activities namin for the whole school year. Hindi ko na inisip pa ang mga nararamdaman kong titig ng mga kasama ko sa akin. I've had enough drama na for today, and it's seriously bothering na ganyan ang titig nila sa akin, so mabuti pang tumahimik na lang muna ako.

I spent my free time that day na nasa SSG council lang ako. Noong mag-lunch ay doon lang din ako nag-lunch. Kung hindi pa nga ako nag-alarm baka hindi na ako nakaalis doon. Napailing na alng ako at umalis na rin doon. Halos takbuhin ko na nga ang building namin para makaabot lang sa next class ko. Pagkarating na pagkarating ko sa classroom ay mabilis akong umupo sa upuan ko. Bumuga ako ng hininga para makalma ang sarili. Thank God wala pa iyong teacher namin kaya medyo nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

Umayos ako ng upo at saka kinuha ang mga notes ko. I look around my classmates and I could still feel their weird stares at me. Gosh, When will this end, really? I mean, it's been days na! Tch. Bahala na nga sila.

That whole afternoon was just focused on my classes. I didn't mind na the staring and all kasi ako lang din naman ang masi-stress. Nang mag-dismissed na kami tinext ko na ang Momsi para magpasundo na sana kaso wala pa raw ang driver at kasama ni Popsi kaya sa garden na lang muna ako nagpunta. I've always like it here. Napaka-fresh kasi ng hangin at nakaka-relax din ang mga bulaklak sa harapan. I sighed at saka umupo na sa bench doon.

Huminga ako nang malalim, ang bag ko nasa tabi ko lang. Both of my hands are on my side at nakatukod sa bench. Tumingala ako at pumikit para damhin ang malamig na hanging humahampas sa aking mukha at katawan. This is what I always love about Glorious High. Kahit kasi maraming building dito may spot pa rin na super daming puno at saka may mga flowers pa na nakaka-good mood.

I was just in that state nang may narinig akong mga ingay sa malapit. Well sa tabi kasi ng garden iyong cafeteria tapos sa likod ko pa iyong open field which is marami talagang mga tao because of practice ng mga soccer players tapos across this pa iyong swimming pool naman.

Kumunot lang ang noo ko nang parang mas lumalakas ang ingay. Napadialt tuloy ako tapos ay lumingon sa may cafeteria. I saw guys who were wearing big gym backs on their bags. They were super noisy at nagtatawanan pa. Naka-PE uniform sila tapos mamasa-masa ang mga buhok. From the looks of it and from the gym bag that they have at mga members sila ng swimming team. I stared at them for a bit. I was about to look away na nang mapansin kong parang may titig nang titig sa akin habang nasa counter iyong iba at nag-uusap sila noong iba niyang mga kasama.

It was that guy who had brown-ish and messy hair. I don't know, but I could really feel his stares creeping into my skin. Weird. What's with the stare? I mean it's not the same stare kasi sa ibang mga school mates namin. I don't know but parang kakaiba talaga iyong titig niya. It's weird.

What's with that guy ba? Tsaka bakit ganoon siya makatitig? Ilang minuto rin ata siyang nakatitig sa akin hanggang sa nag-abot ang mga tingin namin. Umawang pa ang bibig ko. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay kaso tinawag siya noong isa niyang kasama then nagtawanan na sila.

What?

Umirap ako. What the heck? Gosh. Napailing na lang ako at bumalik na sa pagtingin sa mga flowers. I closed my eyes again. Gosh, all I thought, magiging great year itong taon na ito kais nga nasa last year na kami ng Senior High School, but then these things happen. I don't even know why this is happening. I never imagined to be the center of the Campus gossip. Huh. What a great year indeed.

I bit my lip and heaved a deep sigh. Damn it. I could feel my eyes stinging and watering. What the heck? I blinked multiple times and took a deep breath. Gosh why am I even teary eyed?

I can't help but think tuloy. I just don't get it. I don't get the people and the gossipers. Talaga bang hindi sila marunong mag-move on? Isn't enough na napahiya na ako on the first day of class dahil sa ginawa ng ex ko? Talagang kailangan nilang ipamukha sa akin every day iyong pangyayaring iyon? Kailangan nila akong pagpiyestahan? Tsk. They're so ironic. Some of them are promoting for mental health pa naman tapos sila lang din naman pala itong mga hipokritong pinagpipiyestahan ang pinagdaanan ng mga tao.

Ugh. It's frustrating and really irritating.

Bumuga ako ng hininga at saka huminga nang malalim. I calmed myself muna kasi nagiging emotional na naman ako. I stayed there for how many minutes pa bago tuluyang tumayo dahil nag-text na si Momsi na nandoon na si Kuya sa may gate. I wore my bag and went out of the garden. Sa field na ako dumaan. Before I finally left the garden, sinulyapan ko pa ulit ang cafeteria at nakita kong nandoon pa rin iyong mga swimmers na varsity and iyong brown-ish haired na guy. I bit my lip and avoided his gaze na lang. Ang weird niya talagang makatingin tapos nakangiti pa. Tsaka bakit parang familiar siya?

Hay, Resche, you should really go home na.

Pinilig ko ang ulo at naglakad na ulit. I was in the middle of the field when I noticed some of the students na nagkukumpulan sa may grandstand. Nang tingnan ko iyon ay napairap na lang ulit ako. Wow. Just great. Iyong ex ko lang naman at ang bago niyang girlfriend ang nandoon. Nagdadalawang-isip na tuloy ako kung dadaan pa ba roon. But why not naman di ba? Tsk.

I shook my head and eventually walked past them. I made sure na diretso lang ang tingin ko sa harapan habang naglalakas pero hindi pa rin nakaligtas sa pandinig ko ang mga sinabi ng ibang mga estudyante.

"Ay ayan na iyong ex."

"Ang sungit, halatang bitter."

"Gosh, president pa naman siya."

"Yeah right."

Oh gosh! Ugh!

Mas lalo lang akong nainis. Really, people?! Mas lalo kong binilisan ang paglalakad hanggang sa makaabot na ako sa gate ng school. Sa inis ko ay padabog kong natabig iyong gate.

"Woah! Chill lang, pres!" I stopped on my tracks when I heard that. Sinundan pa iyon ng isang tawa kaya napalingon ako.

Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata ko nang makitang ang lalaking nasa likod ko ay iyong swimmer kanina sa cafeteria na tingin nang tingin sa akin. Wait, I think I know this guy...

Naningkit ang mga mata ko, trying to remember the guy exactly. Then it hit me!

"Oh my gosh. It's you!" I said in disbelief.

The brown-ish guy smirked.

"Yep. Me again." Mas ngumisi siya tapos ay kumindat. Magsasalita pa sana ako nang marinig kong may nagtikhiman sa likod niya tapos sinundan pa ng asaran at hiyawan. It's as if they were teasing us. What the hell?

"Naks pinansin na rin siya ni Pres!"

"Ikaw na boss!"

"Yiee!"

Napasinghap ako. Oh my gosh! What the heck?!