Chapter 4: Sharp Fangs of Insecurities

A morning march in the hallway is one of my usual routines. It has never been a hassle nor a hindrance to me. But ever since I started hanging out with Tori and the others, people around me started drawing their attention towards me, simply ruining my peaceful, low-key life.

Their sneer, brooded eyes laid on me, judging every inch of my body as I roamed my sight with a sluggish sigh.

“Ms. Dela Vega?”

“Attorney Salvatore…”

Isang ngiwi ang kumubra sa aking mga labi dahil sa biglaang pagkabunggo ko kay Atty. Salvatore, hindi ko magawang maitunghay ang aking ulo dahil sa hiya at sa takot sa kanyang prisensya at kung kaya ko lamang mag-dive patungo sa lupa ay nagawa ko na.

“Dela Vega—”

“Yes, Attorney?!” Mabilis kong tinampal ang aking bibig dahil sa biglaang pagsigaw ko at pakiramdam ko’y pinagtatawanan at hinuhusgahan na ako ni Atty. Salvatore sa loob n’ya.

Kunot-noo na bumaba ang kanyang mga mata sa hawak kong folder, nang mapansin niyang balak kong iabot sa kanya iyon ay tumingin siya sa paligid saka niya ako ginawi sa pinto niyang nanatiling nakabukas, “Let’s talk inside.”

“Inutusan po ako ni Perez na ibigay sa inyo ito.” Inabot ko sa kanya iyon nang makaupo kami parehas, nang kuhanin niya iyon at buklatin ay mabilis na umusbong ang isang mayabang at nasisiyahan na ngisi sa kanyang labi.

Pinanood ko lamang si Atty. Salvatore hanggang matapos niyang buklatin ang lahat ng pahina sa kanyang binabasa at habang pinapanood siya, kapansin-pansin ang pagkakaparehas nila ni Asher.

‘Yong kakaibang kumpiyansa na umaaligid sa kanila na tila ba lahat ng balakid sa kanila ay kaya nilang sulungin, ang mga mata nila na nagpapahiwatig na para bang alam na nila lahat maging ang kanilang susunod na hakbang at ang kanilang mga kilos na kahit gaano mo sila katagal panoorin ay hindi mo magagawang maintindihan.

“Is this set up… alright with you, Dela Vega?” I looked him quizzically, making him eye me with amusement, “This case will definitely ruin your father’s reputation not just to the Philippines, but also to you.”

And for a moment, a sudden glint of anger bloom within. Parang gusto ko manapak ng abogado, “I do not look up to him… if that’s what your pertaining.”

His steel eyes examined me thoroughly as if I am being interrogated as he was simply judging my statement. And as I calmly remained my posture, he drifted his attention to the folder and handed it back to me, “We’ll be needing a search warrant for this, but let me handle this one. And once I prove that Allaine is lying to me, I will definitely drop this case.”

“You will leave this case unsolved?”

Seryoso niya akong tiningnan at nagbuntong hininga, “As much as possible I want this case to close, Ms. Dela Vega, but—”

“It is not the lawyer’s job to prove your client guilty.”

“Exactly.”

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang isasagot o sasabihin ko sa kanya dahil basta na lamang siya nagbuklat ng libro sa tabi niya’t iniwan akong nakatanga rito. Hindi ko alam kung aalis na ba ako o hindi dahil hindi na siya umimik pagkaapos no’n.

“Why are you still here, Dela Vega?” Sabi ko nga aalis na!

Kagat-labi akong tumayo’t nahihiyang tumingin sa kanya, naiilangang akong yumuko sa kanya’ akmang kakaripas na sa pagtakbo palabas sa kanyang opisina nang bigla na lamang umalingangaw ang halakhak niya sa silid.

“I’m just kidding. You looked tense, just like Perez describes.”

I awkwardly blink multiple times, trying to sink in what he just told me, “Po?” Perez describes?

Atty. Salvatore just shrugged and stood from his seat; he silently explored the entire room until he halted in front of a bookshelf. And with his back facing me, he suddenly cleared his throat and spoke, “Have you tried reading Alice in Wonderland?”

“Not yet. But I’ve already watched the movie.”

And in his mountain of books, his fingertips traveled as they search for something along the way. He slowly reaches for a specific book with his head nodding and immediately diverted his attention to me as he walks in my direction.

“Perez is an aggressive warrior… But, what kind of warrior are you, Dela Vega?”

I looked at him confusedly, “What do you mean, Attorney?”

At imbes na sagutin ang aking munting tanong ay isang simpleng ngiti lamang ang binigay kasabay ang pagtpatong niya ng isang libro sa aking palad at saka niya ako iniwang nakatayo at nag-iisa sa kanyang opisina.

Alice in Wonderland.

Tangina… ang dami ko na ngang ginagawa tapos gusto niya pang basahin ko ‘to?

Feeling ba ni Atty. Salvatore ay marami akong time?

At sa paglabas ko sa opisina ni Atty. Salvatore, samut saring mga tingin ang naani ko mula sa mga kapwa kong law students, pakiramdam ko talaga na hindi uso rito ang salitang kalma lang dahil para silang palaging mangangain. Like kalma, guys. Ako lang ‘to.

I was left dumbfounded when a smell of coffee suddenly lingered on my nose, and I frustratingly bit my lower lip as I noticed that Asher’s files are now covered with coffee along with my blouse. Yet, instead of displaying a choleric look, I stayed calm and gently looked in front.

“Oh, I didn’t saw you there.” She didn’t sound honest nor apologetic at all; her eyes scream that I deserved her fucking treatment at all, “I didn’t saw you… an invisible like you, Dela Vega.”

“Ah…” I was about to walk away and let the issue slide when another two girls step in my way. They also have the same look as the first woman.

I carefully analyzed their faces and finally realized who they are. The first woman was Serenity Ortega, while I forgot the other two girls’ names. Wala rin naman kasi akong pakielam sa kanila.

“So, what the hell did you do that Asher noticed you?” Sinabihan ko lang na mayabang siya. Pinagmasdan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa na may mapanglait na tingin sa mga mata n’ya, “Oh… I get it. You used your father.”

Calm down, Thea. Bawal mang-away ng hayop, malay ba natin kung endangered species na ‘yan.

Saglit ko siyang tiningnan sa mga mata saka tinuon ang atensyon sa paligid, marami ang nag-uusisa sa amin at naghihintay sa isasagot ko kay Serenity ngunit sa totoo lamang ay ayokong pumatol at gusto ko lamang manahimik sa gilid.

Buntong-hininga ko silang nilagpasan ngunit sadyang ayaw akong tigilan ni Serenity at puwersahan niyang hinigit ang aking braso. Inis ang mga mata niya, ang mga mata ng taong hindi tanggap na naungasan siya ng isang babae na hindi ganoon napapansin ng karamihan.

“You used your body. It seems like Asher became tasteless—”

“I have a skill—a skill that you don’t have.” I interrupted, making her blood boil more, “That’s the only reason why I’ve to get to join his study group.”

“You, bitch—”

“You can conclude whatever you want, but you shouldn’t justify your words as if you have pieces of evidence to prove your claim,” I cheerlessly said. Serenity was about to say something when I interrupted her again, “You’re a disgrace as a law student.”

“Dela Vega, do you think I will let you easily get away with this?” She hissed.

Isang palad ang pumulupot sa kanyang palapulsuhan dahilan upang matuon ang atensyon namin sa taong iyon, mahigpit ang kapit nito sa kamay ni Serenity at pilit na inaalis ang kasing higpit na hawak nito sa aking braso.

“You’re already humiliated, Ortega.” Tori jeered. She playfully roamed her sight, simply mocking and teasing Serenity, “Now, let go of Thea, or else I will let you taste hell.”

“H’wag kang pakielamera, Villaruel,” sambit ni Serenity.

Mas lalong humigpit ang kapit ni Tori kay Serenity dahilan upang ganoon din ang gawin nito sa akin, “Sinusubukan mo ba talaga ako, Ortega? Nakakalimutan mo atang sa eskwelahan ay mas mababa ang estado mo sa akin.”

“Manahimik ka—”

Ngumisi si Tori sa kanya’t binaling ang atensyon sa dalawang kasama ni Serenity, “Mind dragging your so-called queen out of my face, or do you want me to fucking—”

I blinked multiple times when the two women immediately pulled Serenity away from us as if they were really scared of Tori’s unsaid remarks. I slowly drifted my attention to Tori, who was pouting while looking straight into the direction where Serenity and the others runoff.

“Hindi ko man lang nasabi ‘yong catchphrase ko,” nakangusong sambit ni Tori.

I squinted my eyes on her for a moment until I decided to walk away from the crowd, making her follow me, “How dare you, Thea! Ba’t mo ako iniwan do’n?” she uttered.

“I don’t like crowds.”

“Do you have an extra shirt in your locker?” Umiling naman ako bilang sagot sa kanyang tanong, “Okay, okay. Tatakbo ako papunta sa locker ko tapos pumunta ka na lang study room para makapagpalit ka since medyo hassle kung uuwi ka pa sa apartment mo.”

I was about to hank her, but when I diverted my eyes to her direction, she runs off without letting me speak first, making me wryly smile at her back.

“Thanks, Tori…” I mumbled.

As soon as she disappeared from my sight, I immediately walked in the direction of our study room. And, of course, I wasn’t able to escape the eyes of the onlookers, especially with my stained blouse and Serenity’s childish skit earlier. And when I reached the study room, I sighed in relief because none of them are there.

Mabilis akong tumungo sa puwesto ko’t kumuha ng wipes upang punasan ang blouse ko habang wala pa si Tori. Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi natapunan ang libro ni Atty. Salvatore dahil hindi ko ata kakayanin na dalawang tigre ang magagalit sa ‘kin.

Nang matapos ako sa aking blouse ay binuksan ko agad ang aking laptop upang i-type ang mga sinulat ni Asher, in case naman na hindi ko matapos ‘to at dumating siya ay magdadasal na lang ako.

Zacharias Enrile, a successful businessman reigning the province of Bulacan. He was known as the founder of Goodlife Incorporation, in the expertise of production of dried mangoes and other snacks exported inside and outside of the Philippines. He is the first Bulaqueño to ever rank in the Top 10 wealthiest people in the Philippines; not only he owned Goodlife Corporation, but Zacharias Enrile owned most of the land in Bulacan, especially in the Municipality of Angat and Norzagaray.

“Why do you smell like coffee?”

Mabilis akong napatayo dahilan upang mauntog ang ulo ko sa panga ng taong bigla na lamang nagsalita. Nakangiwi kong tiningnan siya habang nagrereklamo sa sakit na dulot ng pagkabigla ko.

“Van?”

“What the hell, Thea…” Shit. Nandito na sila, ibig sabihin ay kailangan ko na umakyat sa langit.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ay mabilis kong tinago sa aking bag ang basing folder ni Asher saka nagpatay malisya na umupo muli sa aking puwesto. Laglag-panga naman akong tiningnan ni Van nang pumasok sina Asher sa loob kasama si Ethan.

Tangina. Nasaan na ba si Tori?

“Dela Vega, nasaan na ang—”

“Ang alin, Perez?” Sige, magpatapang ka pa, Thea.

“‘Yong files—”

“Ano? Hindi kita marinig… bakit ang hina ng boses mo?”

“Ginagago mo ba ako, Dela Vega?”

Ngumiti lamang ako sa kanya’t nang makita ko si Tori sa pinto ay mabilis akong tumayo, “Uy, si Tori!” Parehas lumingon sina Ethan at Van sa pinto ngunit masama pa rin ang tingin sa akin ni Asher.

At dahil sa takot ko kay Asher, nilagpasan ko siya’t tumakbo papunta kay Tori at walang pasabi na kinuha ang hawak nitong itim na t-shirt. Kumaripas ako ng takbo papunta sa pinakamalapit na CR, mabuti na lang din at sobrang timing ni Tori sa pagtakas ko sa sindak ni Asher.

After changing my shirt, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled awkwardly, “So… Alithea, what should I tell Perez?” I asked myself.

It was actually Serenity’s fault, but I can’t just point fingers at her even though Tori witness the whole thing. I don’t want to cause another issue. This is enough.

After leaving the comfort room, I immediately halted when I noticed Asher in my peripheral vision. His eyes were closed, but I knew that he already know that I was standing next to him. Damn it.

“Who hurt you, Dela Vega?”

My eyes glinted a sudden spark as I heavily gulped with my eyes locked to the ground. His words hit something, but it was not the butterflies that causes discomfort. It was a pleasant feeling, yet it is also an unexplainable one.

“Do I have to repeat my question again, Dela Vega?” He sounded pissed, but I remain silent. All of a sudden, he stole my wrist and pulled me to him, making our eyes met, “Who hurt you?”

“No one…”

“You’re really a liar, Dela Vega.”

I was about to speak when he suddenly let go of my wrist and leaned towards me, and hugged my head, making me feel another sparkle within as he was silently torturing me with his unexplainable actions.

“No one hurt me, so let go…”

Asher playfully caressed my hair, “Hmm?”

“You already knew that person’s name, so why are you still asking?”

He leaned more, making me feel his warm breath more, “I was just testing my prey’s loyalty,” he mumbled. I unconsciously shut my eyes when I felt the tip of his lips to my neck. Tangina.

“Perez… what are you going to do to Ortega?”

I heard him snickered, “Tell her off.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I don’t like sharing my prey, Dela Vega.”

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