Chapter 3: Break up

Bumaling si Jade sa direksyon ko at nanlaki ang mata. Kumindat ako sa kaniya at tumalikod na.

"Ba't natagalan ka?" tanong ni Marga.

I smirked. "I saw Fiona," I answered.

"Talaga? Ano sabi?" si Rhiane at inilapag sa harap ko ang tray ng lunch ko.

Kinuha ko ang tinidor at tinusok doon ang beef steak. "She said I am a loser."

Hay, Fiona. Tingnan lang natin kung sino ang mas loser sa 'ting dalawa.

"At pumayag ka namang sabihan ka lang ng ganoon?" Marga asked.

I shook my head and just ate my food.

"Naiinis talaga ako sa ate mong 'yan," Rhiane murmurred.

"Excuse you. Huwag mo nga mabanggit-banggit iyang salitang iyan."

"Sorry, your highness."

I rolled my eyes.

Minutes later, an empty bottle landed on our table.

"Ano 'to?!" singhal ni Marga at kinuha ang plastic bottle.

"Bote iyan, Margaret," si Rhiane.

"Tanga. Malamang alam ko 'to," sagot naman sa kaniya ni Marga.

Bumuntong hininga ako at pagod na nag-angat ng tingin sa grupo ng babae na ngayon ay nasa harap na namin. Including Rea.

"Oops, akala ko basurahan," aniya.

I flipped my hair and stood up.  "Are you a stupid blind? Do this table looks like a trash can?" I pointed on the table.

They laughed.

"Mga baliw," Rhiane whispered, nakaupo pa rin siya upuan at pinanonood lang kami.

"Anong talent mo bukod sa pagiging malandi at mang-aagaw, Audrey?" sabi no'ng isa.

I heard gasps inside the cafeteria.

These girls likely to choose this place to pick a fight.

"How dare you to say those words at her!" Marga threw the bottle in front of the girls.

Tamad ko siyang binalingan. "Stop it, Marga."

She immediately stopped when Rhiane grabbed her to sit.

"How about you? Aside from being a trash, what's your other purpose in life?" I shot back.

She went closer and pushed me a bit.

I flicked my tongue. "You're wishing to have your death early, aren't you?" gigil na tanong ko.

She chuckled. "Ano ka? Si Kamatayan?"

I rolled my eyes. Immatured bitches.

"Let's go, girls."

Tumayo na sina Rhiane at Marga, habang ako ay nakahalukipkip sa mga babaeng nasa harap ko.

"Lumapit pa kayo sa 'kin, ibibigay ko talaga ang hinahanap niyo. You bitches are getting on my nerves."

Inurong ko ang upuan para makalabas at sinipa ang sapatos ng isa bago umalis.

"Bago 'yon, ah. Wala ka ba sa mood para makipag-away ngayon?" Rhiane joked.

I glared at her. "Get out of my sight."

Ngumisi siya. "Yes, queen."

After our class, sabay kaming lumabas ni Rhiane ng classroom nang naabutan namin si Marga sa hallway.

She's with someone, and they were laughing together.

I snorted. "Tingnan mo nga naman," sambit ko habang pinagmamasdan sa 'di kalayuan si Marga at ang lalaking kasama.

"Hayaan mo 'yan, iiyak din iyan bukas. Hoy, Margaret!" she called her.

Marga widely grinned and approached us. "Hi, guys. This is Dante, a transferee in my section." She took a glance at the guy. "These are my friends. Rhiane and Audrey," she introduced us.

I just looked at the guy and raised a brow. He awkwardly lift his hand for a shake. When I didn't accept it, Rhiane did instead.

"Hi, ako si Rhiane. Pasensya ka na, ah? Audrey's just like this lang talaga kapag wala sa mood."

I rolled my eyes. No need to sugarcoat, ganito talaga ako kahit nasa mood pa.

"Okay lang."

"So, girls, wanna come with us?" Marga giggled.

"Oo naman!"

"No."

They both looked at me, shocked.

"Bakit?"

"Sure ka?"

"Yeah, I need to go home early. I'll go now," I said.

Their lips parted as I walked away. It's surprising. I don't know what has gotten into me also.

"Oh, Audrey! Sa'n 'yong dalawang kasama, ba't ka mag-isa?"

Sumabay si Kurt sa akin sa paglalakad nang naabutan niya ako papalabas ng gymnasium.

Hindi ko siya sinagot at nagpatuloy lang nang may naalala.

"Kurt," I called without glancing.

"Yes?"

"You're classmate with Fiona, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

Kurt and Fiona are in the same age, they were both closer than me.

"Do you know that bitch has a boyfriend, don't you?"

"Yeah? Si Jade sa kabilang section. Why?"

I smirked. "You know too well, huh?"

"Malamang lagi kaming magkasama ni Fiona. Ikaw lang naman 'tong ayaw kami kasabay, e."

Bukod sa ayaw ko ay ayaw rin naman ni Fiona. We hate each other, kaya bakit kami magsasabay?

I stopped and faced him. "Do you badly want to eat with me, Kurt?"

He chuckled. "What's with you, Audrey?" He then looked away.

I saw his ears reddened.

Hindi ko nalang pinansin at nagsalita ulit. "Starting tomorrow, let's have a lunch together." I then turned my back.

This is it, Audrey.

"Ma'am!"

Nakita ko si Kuya Henry na kumaway galing sa parking lot.

I rolled my eyes and crossed the street. Nang nakarating sa sasakyan ay pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ni Kuya Henry.

"Thanks, ma'am."

I just ignored him.

Nang nakarating kami sa bahay ay wala pa akong naabutan na tao kaya lumabas ulit ako at naabutan si Kuya Henry kasama ang guard ng bahay.

"Hindi pa ba sila umuuwi?"

"Ah, ma'am. Si Ma'am Fiona sinundo na ng driver niya, pero wala pa. Wala naman ding sinabi si Ma'am Scarlet at Sir Peter kung anong oras uuwi."

Tumango ako at bumalik nalang sa loob. I shouldn't have went home early. It bores me so much.

After I took a bath, bumaba ako para pumunta ng kitchen island.

"Manang. Is there any food?" pagtawag ko sa isang katulong namin. Matagal na si Manang Lita na naninilbihan sa amin, and actually my parents treat her us a part of family too.

"Oo, Audrey. Paghahandaan kita. Ang aga mo, ah?"

"Yeah, hindi ko rin alam."

Aside kay Manang, wala ng ibang tao sa bahay ang magaan ang loob ko. I like her a bit, dahil wala siyang kinakampihan, at ever since siya lang din ang nakakausap ko minsan kapag ako lang ang mag-isa sa bahay.

"Naku, kailangan mo na talagang umayos, hija. Galit na galit ang Daddy mo kagabi."

Napaismid ako at tinanggap ang apple juice na inilapag niya sa countertop.

"Lagi naman siyang galit sa 'kin, ano pa bang bago?" sabi ko at kumagat sa chocolate cake.

Napabuntong hininga si Manang at umupo sa katapat ko. "Naiintindihan naman kita, hija. Ang akin lang, huwag kang magpasaway dahil sobrang pagod lagi ang mga magulang mo. Kaya mo naman 'yon, 'di ba, hija?" mataman niyang ani.

Ibinaba ko ang tinidor at pumangahalumbaba. "Mas importante pa ba ang trabaho nila kaysa sa akin, Manang?"

"Anong tanong 'yan? S'yempre, mas importante ka! Ano ka bang bata ka."

I tsked.

Valderamas came into a family of doctors. We do have a medical hospital, and my parents were the one who running it. Sina Tito Isiah at Tita Nadya, ang mga magulang ni Archie, na pinsan ko naman. They are also doctors, pero hindi sa hospital namin.

Pinili ni Tito Isiah na sa ibang hospital nalang magtrabaho, at hinayaan nalang si Daddy na ang mamahala. Pero minsan kapag busy na talaga ay tumutulong si Tito Isiah, at naisip ko rin na baka sa susunod ay lumipat na talaga siya sa Valderama Medical hospital dito sa Makati.

Ever since, busy na talaga sila lagi. Naiintindihan ko iyon, pero ang hindi ko maintindihan minsan kung bakit laging si Fiona sa ganiyan, sa ganoon kapag may bakanteng oras sila. Para lang akong hangin sa tabi, at kapag napapansin naman, sesermonan lang.

"Nevermind, Manang."

Aalis na sana ako nang pumasok naman si Fiona kaya nanatili muna ako ro'n.

"Manang, wala pa ho ba sina Mommy?" Iyan na naman ang pa-anghel niyang katangian.

"Mukha bang hanapan ng nawawala si Manang?" pagsingit ko.

She glanced at me. "Oh, nandito ka na pala, little sister." She sarcastically smiled. "Ang aga mo, ah? Hindi ka ba magba-bar ngayon? Sayang naman, baka matuyuan ng alak ang lalamunan mo."

"Kayong dalawa! Mag-aaway na naman ba kayo? Tumigil ka na, Fiona, ikaw ang nakatatanda kaya dapat ikaw —"

"Okay... fine, Manang," she rudely cut off Manang and stormed out of the kitchen.

"That devil," asik ko.

"Naku, tama na 'yan, Audrey. Ang tatanda niyo na nag-aaway pa kayo."

I didn't talk and just stood up to take a nap for a bit upstairs.

I turned my speaker on to listen some music to refresh my mind, until I dozed off to sleep.

"Audrey, bumaba ka na at magdi-dinner na raw kayo."

Kinusot ko ang mata at pinatay ang speaker nang magising dahil sa katok.

"Audrey, gising ka na ba? Bumaba ka na, ah."

Hindi ako nagsalita at bumangon na para mag-ayos. Pagkatapos, bumaba na ako para dumiretso sa dining area.

I took a glance on the clock, and it was already eight in the night.

"Oh, hija. Come here, and let's dinner together," aya ni Daddy sa akin.

Sumunod nalang ako at umupo sa katapat na upuan ni Fiona.

"Daddy, Mommy. Hindi niyo ba pupurihin si Audrey? Maaga siyang umuwi ngayon, oh."

"Let's just eat, hija," si Daddy na may lihim na ngiti sa labi.

Mommy took a glance at me. "It's kinda miracle, Audrey."

I clenched my other fist under the table. Is she really my mom?

"Scarlet, don't start it and will you please just eat? Minsan lang tayo nagdi-dinner, at magbabangayan pa tayo," sabi ni Daddy kay Mommy.

Huminga ako nang malalim at malamya lang na kumakain.

"How's your school, Audrey?" tanong ni Daddy.

"Just usual, Dad."

Hindi na siya nagtanong pa at nag-usap nalang sila ni Mommy tungkol sa trabaho. Kahit sa bahay, trabaho pa rin.

Wala na bang bago?

Kinabukasan ay nakita kong naghihintay si Kurt sa labas ng classroom namin.

"Bakit nandiyan si Kurt?" usisa ni Rhiane.

"I have a plan, don't ask many questions."

"Pero..."

Binalingan ko siya. "I will let you know, not just today. I'm going to eat lunch with Kurt from now on, Rhiane. Just tell Marga about it, got it?"

Sumama pa ang mukha niya, pero wala na siyang nagawa.

"Masyado ka bang sabik at pinuntahan mo pa talaga ako rito?" sabi ko nang nasa labas na.

Napasinghap si Kurt. "Malay ko ba. Baka magbago pa isip mo, e."

I made a face. "Let's go."

"Where's Fiona, by the way?" I asked Kurt when I noticed Fiona isn't around.

"Ah, nando'n sa kabila. Sabi ko kasi sabay tayo," aniya at itinuro ang nasa sulok na table.

I frustratedly sighed. "Doon tayo sa table nila."

"Okay, tara na." He grabbed me while his other hand holding the tray of our food.

When we arrived we sat acrossed to them, Fiona and her boyfriend.

It's your turn, Audrey.

"What the... heck? Bakit nandito ka?" mariing tanong ni Fiona nang nakita ako.

I pouted. "Ganiyan mo ba talaga ako kaayaw, sister?" I teased.

I took a glance at Jade when he cleared his throat.

I smirked when I saw his nervous expression.

"Umalis ka rito, Audrey."

"Hayaan mo na, Fiona. Minsan nga lang sumasabay sa 'tin si Audrey."

"Oh, who are you? Are you..." I glanced at Fiona. "Fiona's boyfriend?"

"Audrey!" Fiona hissed.

"Did Mommy and Daddy know about this, sis?" I menacingly said.

She gritted her teeth. "Of course, they did. Hindi naman ako gaya mo na kung sino-sino ang lang ang lalaking kahalikan!" gigil na aniya.

I acted surprised while looking at his boyfriend.

"Kung sino-sino?" I raised a brow. "Tulad ba ni..." Hindi ako natuloy nang hinampas ni Kurt ang mesa.

"Fiona, let's talk!" Kurt grabbed Fiona's arm.

"Ano ba, Kurt?"

Aapila na sana si Jade nang paabot kong hinawakan ang braso niya pagkaalis nila.

"Where do you think you are going?"

"Audrey Valderama. Can you..." He closed his eyes and let out a problematic sigh. "Can we just forget what we did?"

My face soured. "We did? Did we do something?" panunuya ko.

"Don't joke around. I love Fiona, and I don't want her to break up with me."

"Bullsh!t." Humigpit ang hawak ko sa braso niya at bumaon ang aking kuko roon. "Jerk, you should listen to me, okay? If you really love that bitch, why would you make out with someone? And me, really? Did you get seduced that hard to cheat on your lovely bitch of a girlfriend?"

"Stop it, please." Pasimple niyang inaagaw ang braso sa akin pero mas lalo ko pang hinigpitan iyon. "Break up with Fiona, or else..." I wandered my eyes. "I'll spread fake news about you," I threatened before letting his arm.

Pinagmasdan niya ang braso niya na may sugat-sugat dahil sa pagbaon ng kuko ko.

"I'll give you time just for today," sabi ko at tumayo.

Sakto namang pabalik na sina Fiona at Kurt nang nasalubong ko sila.

"Sa'n ka pupunta? Tara na," ani Kurt.

"I already lost my appetite."

Nakita ko sina Marga at Rhiane sa isang table kaya lumapit ako roon.

"Oh, akala ko ba sasabay ka sa kanila, ba't ka nandito?" kunot noo na tanong ni Rhiane.

"Hindi mo siguro natagalan ang ugali ni Fiona, 'no?" si Marga.

I shrugged.

I went at the bathroom after we had our lunch to retouch my face. Ako ang pinakamatangkad sa aming tatlo, I have paper white skin and a long black straight hair na laging nakahati sa gitna. Marga has the longest hair while Rhiane has a short hair.

While putting some cream on my face, I just suddenly heard a sob in one of the cubicles.

I ignored it at first, and was about to go outside when I saw who it was.

"Fiona?"

"Gosh," she mumbled and went back in the cubicle.

A realization dawned on me.

That jerk really did what I say, huh? He should, kung ayaw niyang mapahiya.

"Were you crying?" I asked when she went out.

She crossed her arms and act cooly when her eyes were swollen.

A loser Fiona.

"Tapatin mo nga 'ko, Audrey." Humakbang siya papalapit sa 'kin.

I didn't step back and just confidently stood there.

"Ikaw ba ang dahilan kung bakit nakipag-break si Jade sa 'kin?!"

I acted shocked. "He broke up with you? Was that the reason you cried? How loser you are, Fiona."

"How dare you!" She slapped me hard, that I didn't see it coming.

Bumuga ako ng hangin at pinapitik ang leeg. "Ikaw pa ang may ganang manampal?"

Taas-baba ang dibdib niya habang masama ang tingin sa akin.

I hardly punched her face. "How dare you too."

She screamed and started to pull my hair. Hindi ako nagpatalo at tinuhod ko siya hanggang sa hindi siya nakaganti agad. Hinila ko naman ang buhok niya. "Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit galit na galit ka sa 'kin dahil diyan sa boyfriend mo. You love that asshole? I pity you..." I whispered. "Buti nalang at may natitira pang awa sa katawan ko, at baka ngayon nakaratay ka na rito." Pabalibag kong binitawan ang buhok niya.

Her nose is bleeding while she has bruise on her cheek. "Go to infirmary, sis, and heal your wounds. Baka mamaga lalo," sambit ko at iniwan siya roon.

"You little devil!" pahabol niya pa.

After our class, I went to shopping with Rhiane and Marga to chill.

"I'll buy these." Itinuro ko sa saleslady ang naka-display na Prada hobo bag at baguette sa loob ng glass.

"What color, ma'am?"

"I want black, white, beige, indigo, olive green —"

"Ilabas niyo lahat ng available color, Miss, dahil bibilhin niya lahat iyan," putol ni Marga.

The saleslady's mouth went open. "Totoo po?"

"Hindi naman ako palabiro, Miss," Marga replied.

After I bought all of the colors of those two bags, we went to the other boutique.

"Nagsisi ako kung bakit binili mo pa 'to lahat. Akin dalawa rito, ah!" reklamo ni Marga.

Parehas kaming tatlo na may dala-dalang paper bags dahil sa binili ko.

"Paano kaya ako makakabili nito?" si Rhiane.

"You should've brought your driver here!"

"Kayong dalawa 'wag na kayong magreklamo diyan. I'll buy whatever shoes you want."

"Sabi mo 'yan."

"No talkshit, Audrey. Dalian mo, Rhiane!"

When we finished buying some things we went to the shoes department. While I was waiting for them to finish picking a shoes, my phone rang.

Daddy is calling...

I gulped.

"Yes, Dad?" I answered.

"Where are you, Audrey? Get home now."

Hindi pa man ako nakakapagsalita at ibinaba niya na agad.

"Girls, can you make it a little bit faster? I am in a hurry."

"Gano'n ba? Oh, dalian mo, Rhiane, dalhin mo na 'to sa counter lahat." She puts a five different pair of shoes in the cart and pushed Rhiane.

I glared at her. "Ang dami niyan, ikaw magbabayad?"

"Hindi, kaya nga dinamihan ko, tutal ikaw naman magbabayag," she smiled.

"Whatever." I stood up and walked toward the counter. I gave my credit card to pay those.

"Grabe, halos 100,000 ang nagastos mo, Audrey!"

I ignored her statement. "Ihatid mo nalang ako as a payment."

She nodded.

"Manong, ihatid muna po natin si Audrey," Rhiane said when we already outside.

"Ano 'tong mga 'to, Audrey?" Manang asked when she saw many paper bags on the floor.

"I went shopping, Manang. Can you bring those in the guest room?" sabi ko at nilagpasan siya.

Hindi pa man ako nakakapasok nang tuluyan ay sinalubong na ako ng sampal galing kay Mommy.

I held my cheek when I felt pain. At may nalasahan din akong parang kalawang.

"I did not raise you to become like this! Have you really gone mad, Persian Audrey?!" Mommy yelled at me.

Hindi pa rin ako humaharap sa kaniya at nanatiling nakayuko habang hawak-hawak ang pisngi.

Mommy pushed me, but Daddy immediately stopped her. "Enough, Scarlet. Just go and check to Fiona upstairs."

"I feel like you're not my daughter anymore," Mommy once said.

Same feelings, mom. I feel like you're not my mom either.