Download Chereads APP
Chereads App StoreGoogle Play
Chereads

The Death Strand (School Of Lies) [On Going]

Rolf_Azzil
--
chs / week
--
NOT RATINGS
8.4k
Views
Synopsis
The most notorious and merciless and hated of all strands and also the nightmares of all the teachers and staff will conquer the whole nation, with their attitude and behavior. Everyone hates them, everyone wants them to disappear, everyone doesn't claim them as their schoolmates, everyone surrenders and everyone doesn't like them for being the most foolish. They're the rule breakers, no one can stop them, hearing their strand makes everyone scared. Their strand's name defines what people they are, just by hearing their strand everyone turns their back. Everyone treats them as The Death Strand, they don't kill physically but they can kill a person mentally and emotionally. But behind those evil attitudes, behind those foolish actions, there's an unrevealed story. Behind of the most notrious and killer strand of all strand, there's a secret that will keep u awake the whole night. Prologue They're the rule breakers on the school, they're the most notorious strand when it comes in doing bad things and playing dirty games, they can't be stop. What they want is what they get, they're the happy-go-lucky of this modern generation. No one ever dare to cross their path, even the teachers and staff and even the dean can't do anything about their behavior and attitude. Not until a woman appear, a woman who really needs a job to live. A woman who will dare to cross their path, a woman who will be hindrance to them and to their plans, a woman who will ruin everything what they've started and what they've been through just to be what they are and who they are. Will she handle and endure everything even if it takes a lot of sacrifices and even if it takes her own personal life? OR she'll accept the behavior of the students and educate them the real and good manners? Will she handle everything about the students or she will just go away and disappear just like the other teacher did? Let see what will happen if you combined the person with full of dreams in life and the people who are dreamless in one roof? Who do you think will win? In this modern generation dreams are nothing without money, but for her chasing her dream is like a mission. In order to achieve it you have to go through a lot of challenges, struggles, hardships, hatred, and laslty sacrifices. She'll do everything and take whatever it takes to make her dreams come true. Will she last? And be the last teacher of the most notorious devil foolish strand? Find out the whole story of a school we're most students has the most darkiest and most dirtiest secrets behind those innocent faces. The one who has the most innocent face has the most darkiest and dirtiest secret of all, fake people has an image to maintain and those people who doesn't give a fuck are those people who are real. Can you guess those people just by judging them in their physical appearance? rolF_azziL
VIEW MORE

Chapter 1 - Chapter 1

In this world, in this modern generation, teenagers are wasting their life in Enjoyment, Partying, Clubbing, Drugs, Addiction, Sex, and Abortion just to please theirselves and thinking it'll benefit them.

This generation killed the value of Friendship, Relationship, Morals, and Loyalty. People doesn't care about the feelings anymore, for them enjoying and destroying everything is the reason why we're living in this world.

Life isn't just about enjoying every moment, doing the things that makes you happy or living in a luxury world you always wanted to be, that's not it. Life is about chasing your dreams, overcoming hardships, accepting the painful truth, saving memories, and lastly living in a world you would rather be a fool than to have regrets of not doing something.

Lies, Secrets, Mistakes, Sorry's and Truth are the most common thing nowadays. People won't lie and hide something if they're not hiding Secrets. People won't maintain an image if they're True to theirself and not faking everything, people won't Lie if they're really sincere and true to their love once and to theirself, Sorry, Sorry is actually meant for our next mistake and lastly Mistake, we make mistake for the people we love.

Judging a few people by how others describe them to you is stupidity, you believe how cruel and evil they're without knowing their untold and unrevealed stories.

Sometimes those people you use to trust and use to think who are good people are actually the most worst of all and their behavior is utmost, their behaviors are more utmost than to those people you know who are extremely monsters.

It's now or never, it's your life or their life, they're dangerous, they can kill you physically, spiritually and emotionally. They're the most dirty players on their own games, would you enter their game and play with them knowing that you're entering into a cemetery and waiting for you to fall for their trap.

Would you still enter? Knowing someone already died on their own hands, knowing they're the most dangerous living things in this world.... Would you dare?

"Bitawan mo ko!! Ano ba!! Hayop ka!!" sigaw ng isang babaeng nagpupumiglas habang nakapatong sa kanya ang isang lalaki, parang bingi na walang naririnig naman ang lalaki at tuloy lang sa paghalik sa leeg ng babae. "Fuck!!!" daing ng lalaki ng masipa ang ari nya, kaagad na nakatayo at nakatakbo ang babae.

Di pa nakakaabot sa pintuan ang babae ng makita nya ang isang babae na nakatingin sa kanya, the other girl look so shocked when she got notice by the girl that being exploited.

"Tulungan-" di na natapos pa ng babae ang sasabihin nya ng biglang may humablot at tumakip sa bibig nya at sinubukan na naman syang pahigain, this time pinagsusuntok nya na ang mukha ng lalaki para di makalapit sa kanya.

"AHHHHH!!!" and in a split of seconds the girl suddenly fell into a four -story building and the guy in the rooftop was shock and shaking to what just happened. Dali-dali syang umalis sa rooftop at nagmamadaling bumaba, while the other girl was speechless, shocked and guilty. Di nya alam ang gagawin dahil sa mga nasaksihan nya, ang alam nya nalang gawin ay tumakas at magpanggap na walang nakita.

~~~~~•••~~~~~•••~~~~~•••~~~~~•••~~~

Someone's POV

Habang busy ang dalawang babae sa pag-aayos sa maganda at mahabamg buhok ng isa pang estudyante ay di  maiwasang hindi ma-imbyerna nung inaayusan "It's freaking monday sobrang bagal ng araw at oras. Kating kati na akong pumunta sa house party mo, Alex"  sabi nung babaeng inaayusan sabay buntong hininga.

"Have you heard of the new teacher?" biglang tanong nung isang babaeng nag-aayos, the other girl look at her and ask.  "New teacher? I thought temporary teacher?" sabat naman nung nagtanong. "I guess, pero kilala mo na ba kung sino?" the girl in the center sigh at di maiwasang di makinig sa pinag-uusapan nung dalawa, paanong di sya makikinig  eh nasa likod lang nya yung dalawa at rinig na rinig nya ang mga sinasabi nila.

"Not yet and I think no one sees her yet in our strand since di naman tayo nakakapunta sa kahit saang building to gossip with right, Desiree" the other girl ask the girl who's in the center  "Her? So how did you know na babae ang bagong teacher? " the other girl in the side ask na ikinailing naman nung nasa gitna na inaayusan. "Well sabihin na nating narinig ko sa ibang strand since may tenga naman ako"

"Alex and Mean, you should at least get the clearer and whole info before talking that kind of b*llsh*t in my back"  natahimik naman yung dalawa dahil sa sinabi nung Desiree. How rude right? Yes, that's how rude and mean she is to her friends.

"How old is she? Matanda na ba? Dalaga or menopausal?" ask by the name of Desiree. "Aray!"  Desiree was shocked when suddenly her hair got pulled so hard by one of the girl, kaagad syang napatingin ng masama dun sa Alex. "Sorry sis, look" Alex said and pouted like she's pointing on something, mabuti nalang at witty at madaling maka-gets si Desiree kaya mabilis nyang na-gets ang ibig sabihin.

Napatingin silang tatlo sa pinto and saw a girl, a girl on the ground, in front of their corridor habang nakatayo sa gilid nung babaeng nasa sahig is also her one b¡tch friend, Camille.

Kaagad na tumayo si Desiree without thinking about her hair, sumunod naman sa kanya yung dalawa. "Anong ginagawa ng taga ibang strand sa building at teritoryo ng GAS?" she ask the girl in a sweet and calm tone, kaagad namang tumayo yung babae pero di pa nakakaayos ng tayo yung babae ay kaagad nyang ipinatong ang isa nyang daliri sa balikat nung babae at pwersahang pinabalik sya sa sahig.

"How dare you stand in front of me? Do you even know who is in front of you right now? Did you even ask for permission to stand up?" sunod sunod na tanong ni Desiree dun sa babaeng nakaupo na ulit sa sahig, she didn't replied she instead shake her head. "Look at me or I'll slap you straightly" the three girls smirk when the girl look at Desiree as fast as she can.

"So you dare you invade our privacy? How dare you come to our building if you doesn't belong here?" medyo may inis na tanong ni Desiree. "Naligaw lang ako, I thought papuntang banyo ang building na to. Pasensya na" she said na ipinanliit ng mga mata nilang apat. "Umayyy, building papuntang banyo?" di makapaniwalang tanong ni Alex. "Are you freaking kidding me? Mukha bang banyo ang building namin?" singit naman ni Camille. "Your getting on my brain cells!" sabat naman ni Mean.

"Who sent you here to spy? Do you think may makukuha ka talaga kapag nagpunta ka dito? How pathetic. What strand are you?" biglang umiling yung babae at itinago ang nakasulat sa uniform nya. "Put her hands away" utos ni Desiree dun sa dalawa, kaagad naman nilang sinunod ang sinabi nya and they all saw her strand.

"ABM?" banggit ni Desiree sa strand nung babae ng may pagtataka, "Dalhin nyo sya" utos nya kina Alex and Mean pati na rin kay Camille at naunang lumabas ng room. "Teka! Saan nyo ko dadalhin?!" the girl ask in an angry tone but no one gives any attention to her, dere-deretso lang sila sa paglalakad papalabas ng building kasama yung babae na nagpupumiglas.

"We got to let them see how we treat an spy like her, bring her in the middle of the field and tie her up and put something on her body na makikita at mababasa ng lahat. Strip her too and let that something cover her ugly body, I bet di mo makakalimutan ang gagawin namin sayo sa buong buhay mo. Girl, you pick the wrong strand to mess with"

Nakangiting sabi ni Desiree dun sa babae na ABM strand, kaagad syang lumayo when the girl tries to reach her with her face. She just chuckles and smirk when her friends start stripping her, this is what they do when other strands or students cross their path to their strand. They're gonna kill you spiritually and emotionally that you won't be avaible to come to your senses anymore.

So better watch out who you are messing up with inside the school or you're gonna be dead. This is not the only thing they are capable of, madami pang iba and you all might witness it in your entire life.

~~~~~•••~~~~~•••~~~~~•••~~~~~•••~~~

Alyona's POV

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko ng pintuan ng NAIA kaagad na sumagi sa isip ko kung bakit ako bumalik dito, dito sa mismong nasyon na isinilang ako, dito kung saan nasira at nawala ang mga masasaya at magagandang ala-ala ko.

It's almost 5 years and it seems everything has changed already, pati amoy ng hangin nag-iba na rin, well what should I expect, it's almost 5 years na nawala ako dito. Well everything change sabi pa nga.

Well, Feathania Soul Alyona Pareda, 25 years old and I just came home from the US  and now I just arrived here in Manila. Yup, kararating ko lang galing US. Well, college graduate with a Degree of Bachelor Of Science In Tourism Management, I also studied nursing but because what happened before di ko na natapos ang pagnu-nursing ko.

I was a teacher before in US, yes naging teacher ako sa US and marami na akong experience sa pagtuturo lalo na at Senior High School ang mga tinuruan ko before. I also have an adopted brother which is Wyatt, nasa US rin sya ngayon at dun sya nag-aaral and I came back here for something important.

Maya nako magkwento may tumatawag kasi sa akin.

(Conversation)

Angelie: OMG!!!! Nasaan ka na?! Nasaan ka na?! Yung pasalubong ko nandyan na ba?! Di talaga kita susunduin kung di mo nabili ang mga pasalubong ko, hmp!

Kaagad kong nailayo ang selpon ko sa tenga ko dahil sa sobrang lakas ng boses ni Angelie, partida nasa kabilang linya palang yan, musta nalang sa personal pustahan pinagtitinginan ngayon tong babaeng to.

Sobrang lakas kasi ng boses, parang bakla lang na malakas ang boses eh.

Me: Di ka pa rin nagbabago, inuuna mo pa rin yung pasalubong kesa sa akin na bespren mo.

Angelie: Ayy hindi ah, mas excited lang talaga akong makita yung pasalubong ko kesa sayo.

Me: Ansakit mo magsalita, parang mas matagal pinagsamahan nyo ng chanel bag kesa saatin noh.

Angelie: Hahaha charot lang naman, asan ka na nga kasi? Susunduin na ba kita sa airport? Bilis!!

Me: Huwag na, nadito na ako sa byahe papuntang....

Napatingin ako sa labas ng bintana and trying to tell where I am and I saw a lot of buildings, saan ba maganda kaming magkita?

Angelie: Asan ka na oyy?!

Me: Magkita tayo sa dati nating pinupuntahan na coffee shop-

Angelie: Andaya mo rin noh, kala ko ba ako susundo sayo sa airport?

Me: Hahaha sorry na, nainip kasi ako sa NAIA kaya sumakay nalang ako. Pero dun tayo sa coffee shop na palagi nating tinatambayan dati nung college tayo, sige na huwag ka na magtampo, nandito naman pasalubong mo eh tsaka kita nalang tayo dun lab u, hemweh.

Pinatay ko kaagad ang tawag dahil panigurado hahaba lang usapan namin kung di ko pa ibababa ang tawag, matampuhin pa naman yun kaya mahirap na baka kung ano pa maipangako ko dun.

Tsaka pagod rin ako makipag-usap pero kakayanin para sa inuwi ko dito, nasa US palang kasi ako nagkakatawag na kami ni Angelie and we talked a lot about my problem here and she really insist of helping me out kaya umuwi ako. Di ko alam kung anong mangyayari pagkatapos ng lahat, maybe I'll just disappear again like before, I don't know.

(B.L.I.N.K Coffee Shop)

"You look so different" she said pagkatapos naming magyakapan ng mahigpit at magkiskisan ng mukha, syempre kiskisan talaga almost 5 years ba naman na di kami nagkita ewan ko lang kung di kami magkapalit ng mukha ngayon, mabuti nga at nakilala ko pa sya eh ibang iba na pagmumukha nitong babaeng to.

"You look so different din kaya" biro ko sa kanya pero totoo naman, di lang talaga uso samin na di magbiro kapag nagsasabi ng maganda. "Bakit, mas maganda na ba ako sayo ngayon?" natawa naman ako ng nag-pose sya na parang tanga. "Sus, mas maganda pa rin ako noh. Oh" sabi ko sabay pose rin na parang tanga.

"Hahaha, parang mga college days lang noh. Para talaga tayong mga sira dati" "Oyy, kayo lang noh. Inosente pa ako dati" "Luh, inosente eh palagi kayong magkayakap dati ni Hunt-" "Ayyss kailangan pa talagang ibalik yung dati? Kailangan pa ba?" putol ko sa sinabi nya.

"Ahaha joke lang, past na pala yun. Let's talk about Keith, bakit ako pala pinapasundo mo sayo? Baka sa akin magalit si Keith pag nalaman nyang umuwi ka ng hindi sya ang sumundo sayo" pag-iiba nya ng topic, I sigh and then answer her question. "Well, gusto ko kasi syang i-surprise tsaka di ko rin sinabing ngayon ako uuwi"

"Luh qaqi ka! Sanaol sino-surprise, ako kasi sino-surprise din palagi ng mga nakaka-date ko. Di ko namamalayan ako na pala ang kabit, tangna" "Hahaha at least sino-surprise ka" natatawang sabi ko.

"Pero tangna ako pa talaga ginawang kabet, wahahaha!"  "Aba, sayang ganda mo kung kabit lang kukunin mong role sa buhay mo HAHAHA" para kaming mga tanga na nagtatawanan dahil sa pinagsasabi namin, I miss this kind of conversation with her. Not only with her but the whole squad.

Yes, may squad kami dati nung college kami, 5 kami magjowa na kami nun ni Keith but Keith already graduated that time while kami nasa college pa rin. While the other one couple sa squad namin is sila Carlo and Karrie at ito namang si Angelie loner sa amin.

Syempre walang boyfriend kaya loner, panira nga palagi sa amin kasi ayaw nya ng mga sweet scene kasi nga single ampota tapos dinamay damay pa kami ni Karrie na mang boy hunting daw na sinasakyan naman namin palagi para di nya ma-feel na di sya nag-iisa.

Argghh! Taena naiiyak na tuloy ako, nakaka-miss talaga ang mga kaibigan lalo na at almost 5 years na di kami nagkita-kita, tapos ngayon na bumalik naman ako dun naman nag-kanya kanya ng trabaho at buhay.

A moment of silence while we are silently eating our cake and taking a sip in our coffee, infairness nabusog ako kahit di ganun kadami ang kinain ko. "Kung si Keith sana ang nandito at kasama mo for sure mas enjoy kayo, tapos pwede nyo ring pag-usapan nyo yung inuwi mo dito" basag nya sa katahimikan, natawa naman ako ng pilit at umiling.

"He's busy, alam mo naman kung bakit sya busy. Tsaka ayoko ng madagdagan pa ang sakit ng ulo nya at gawain, and also masaya naman tayo kahit wala sya eh" sagot ko at uminom ng kape, oo di pa rin maubos ubos ang kape ko eh sa namiss ko ang kape kaya umorder ulit ako ng panibagong kape.

"Sakit lang naman pala ng ulo tong gagawin natin, bakit pa natin itutuloy?" "It's not like that and yeah sakit nga ng ulo but.... Alam mo na, I have to do this" singit ko sa sinabi nya. "Then what?" seryoso nyang tanong na ikinabuntong hininga ko.

"I have to know what really happened that day, I want to know everything what happened the day he's in his way to the airport, I want to know everything and I won't turn my back anymore and you promised me you'll help me about my problem kaya umuwi ako dito" sabi ko sa kanya, napakamot naman sya sa batok nya and nod.

"And what about Keith? Di mo man lang ba sasabihin sa kanya ang tungkol dito?" she ask na ikinailing ko. "I told you, I already told him about it" I look away as I said those words.  "Then when should we talk about the problem with him?" napataas naman ang dalawa kong kilay dahil sa tanong nya. "You know na madami syang ginagawa sa trabaho nya ngayon di ba, ayokong magdadagan pa yun so it's better tayo nalang muna ang mag-usap about it and maybe we could talk about it with him after his work. Tutulungan mo naman ako di ba?"

"Oo naman but I think Keith has to be with us to know everything we do, matulungan nya tayo sa gastusin or sa kahit ano para mapabilis ang gagawin natin"  she's right on the other hand pero there's also a part of me na hindi sang-ayon sa sinabi nya. I know Keith more than she knows.

Keith won't let me do the things na alam nyang dati pang nangyari, di nya ako papayagan na pakialaman at hukayin ulit ang mga nangyari dati pa. That's why instead of Keith si Angelie ang tinawagan ko at gusto kong sumundo sa akin, I don't know what will happen if ever Angelie will know that Keith don't know about this.

This is the only way I can use Angelie's professionalism in my problem. Well, yes call me a user or whatsoever but idgaf.

"I know, don't worry I'll always mention about it to him. Tsaka, parang mas bespren mo pa si Keith kesa sa akin eh noh" pagtatampo ko na di nya ikinatawa, she's acting weird. Bakit pag si Keith ang pinag-uusapan namin napaka seryoso nya?

She never change when talking about Keith, wala syang pinapalampas na kahit ano tungkol kay Keith. Well maybe that's the real definition of real friends, yeah right.

"Hindi sa ganun, I've been friends with Keith for so long and I know how his life turned into miserable ng umalis ka and I don't want to see him suffer again like before" kitang kita ko ang sinseredad sa mga mata nya habang sinasabi ang lahat ng yun, she really must be so close to Keith na di ko namamalayan dati.

"You two are really treating each other like brother and sister" nakangiti kong sabi na ikinangiti nya rin, I smirk later on. "Anyways bago ko makalimutan I won't be able to enter our house anymore, alam mo na kinuha ng bangko ang bahay namin dahil sa mga nangyari" pag-iiba ko ng topic. "What do you want to do with it?" she ask na ikinangiti ko. "I need to find a job as soon as possible" sagot ko na ikinatawa nya.

"Why? Nandyan naman si Keith di ba, his job can help you live in a luxurious life" I chuckle as to what she said.

"Ayokong iasa sa kanya ang lahat, you know di pa naman ako baldado o paralyze para di magtrabaho. So I'll work as I can" she nod na parang sumang-ayun sa sinabi ko. "Well you're right, don't worry may  kaibigan akong pwedeng tumulong sayo" nanlaki naman bigla ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi nya.

"Really?! Gosh, mabuti nalang talaga at sayo ako unang lumapit" masayang sabi ko. "Tsk, nung tumawag ka last time and you said na uuwi ka and you'll gonna stay for months I already knew na kakailanganin mo ng trabaho. So I told one of my friend to search some decent vacant job" kaagad ko syang niyakap kahit na nasa pagitan namin ang mesa, well medyo masakit nga sa puson pero di ko yun ininda.

"Iba ka na talaga ngayon, kilalang kilala mo talaga ako. Matalinong matalino ka pa rin tulad ng dati, except sa love" sabi ko ng sobrang saya sabay halik ng sobrang diin sa pisnge nya, kilalang kilala na talaga ako nitong babaeng to. Kahit na almost 5 years kaming di nagkita at nagkasama alam nya pa rin ang kailangan at kulang sa akin, kaya sya ang pinagkakatiwalaan ko sa lahat kasi kilalang kilala nya ako ng sobra.

I treasure her for real, she's one of the best and kind best friend I had.

Sya nalang kasi ang natitirang kaibigan ko the whole time, I don't know what happened to Karrie. We've been communicating 2 years ago and then nawala sya bigla. Di na sya nagparamdam, nagtawag o nagtext man lang as in nawala talaga sya at di ko na matawagan. I ask Keith and Angelie about Karrie but they said di rin nila alam.

Even them di nila alam kung nasaan na ngayon si Karrie, gusto ko sanang puntahan si Karrie ngayon sa kanila pero I think magpapahinga muna ako. May jetlag pa kasi ako tapos may gagawin rin pala ako, maybe the day after tomorrow I will go check on Karrie's house marami pa pala kasi akong aasikasuhin para masigurado ko ang stay ko dito sa pilipinas.

I have to settle things first before doing my plans, di pwedeng gumalaw kaagad ako nang di ko pa nasisigurado na settled na lahat. But first lemme have my rest before settling myself.

~

Habang nag-aayos ng mga gamit ko ay di ko maisip ang una kong gagawin bukas pag nagkita kami ni Keith, while thinking of something biglang tumunog ang selpon ko, I saw a message from Keith. I smile as soon as I read his message, di pa rin sya nagbabago, he still know how to make me smile.

From: Keith

Seriously??? Di mo sinabing ngayon ka uuwi!

Ba't kaya di makatawag tong lalaking to, ahh baka nasa trabaho but well I don't have the energy to text him back. Masyadong pagod ang isip at katawan ko para mag-isip pa ng irereply, pero heto nag-aayos pa rin ako ng mga damit at gamit ko para bukas wala na akong ibang gagawin.

As soon as I settled my things in the cabinet ay kaagad akong nagpunta sa kusina, I just bought a new condo for myself and the money I wasted wasn't mine. Sabihin nalang natin na galing sa isang mabuting tao na gustong tumulong sa akin, well this condo is just a temporary condo for me, it's actually a big condo.

Napaupo ako sa sofa when my stomach suddenly rank, shuta gutom ka na naman self? I sigh thinking how to cook for myself, hayyss pano ba kasi magluto ng masasarap na ulam? Since I was a kid until now di ako marunong magluto ng mga ulam, pero di naman literal na di ako marunong magluto ng kahit anong ulam.

Alam ko namang magluto ng mga basic at madali lang na ulam like itlog, beacon basta mga fried yun lang kaya kong lutuin. Napahawak nalang ako sa tiyan ko, kumain nalang kaya ako sa labas? Pero nakakapagod nasa 13th floor pa naman ako, pero no freaking way na hahayaan ko sarili kong magutom noh.

I grab my phone and my purse and walk straightly to the door, pero actually pwede naman akong magpa deliver nalang noh pero mas bet ko talaga maglakad at tumingin tingin sa paligid. After I lock the door I was about to start walking when someone bump me in the hallway, nahulog nya ang isang card but the guy didn't stop at dere-deretso lang sya sa paglakad at pumasok sa katabing condo.

"What a weird guy"  sabi ko at maglalakad na ulit sana when I remember the card, kinuha ko ang card and saw a brand or a company name? It also has a drawing of a two hands shaking with a cigarettes. "Adik ba yun?"  takang tanong ko sa sarili ko at ipinasok nalang sa bulsa ang card sabay lakad.

~

(Morning)

Tanghali na ng magising ako, this is the very first time na nagising ako ng tanghali. Sobrang nakakapagod at di ko feel bumangon o gumawa ng kahit anong gawain, feel ko lang matulog at magpahinga buong araw. Napagod rin ako, gumala lang naman ako kagabi.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon ng biglang tumunog ang selpon ko sa may side table, nang makita ko kung sino ang tumatawag ay kaagad ko itong sinagot.

Jerome: I just arrived, what do you want me to do about him?

Jerome is Engeleen's boyfriend and Engeleen is the only person in the US I trust in my brother, Wyatt and to my aunties, Jerome isa syang NBI agent sa California and what he is talking about is about Wyatt. Palagi kasing nagsusumbong sa akin sila Auntie na palaging nagbubulakbol ang batang yun, kaya ayun pinamanmanan at pinabantayan ko na kay Jerome.

Me: Pakausap sa kanya.

Wyatt: What now? I'm in the middle of the class.

Me: Huwag mo kong ine-Englishan Wyatt, mag-aral ka ng mabuti dyan. Alam mong di madaling makaipon ng pera, alam mo ng nandito ako sa piliinas kaya mas mahirap makaipon ng pera at magpadala dyan.

Wyatt: Like I said, I'm in the middle of the class. Ano satingin mo ang ginagawa ko sa school? Tsk.

Me: Kala mo di ko alam mga pinaggagagawa mo dyan, umayos ka.

Wyatt: Bakit ba kasi di mo nalang ako isinama dyan, it'll be easier if dyan ako mag-aaral. the closer I am to you the better.

I sigh and then think, he's right. Mas madali kung dito sya mag-aaral, mas malapit kaya mas mababantayan ko sya pero di rin ganun kadali yun lalo na at di naman ako magtatagal dito. Wyatt is about to turn 18 next next month and yes he's in 12th Grade, lalaking pasaway and he's the one I am talking to y'all, my adopted brother.

Yup, adopted brother. He's not my brother or half brother, as in adopted brother ko talaga sya. Inampon kasi sya ng parents ko which is nagustuhan ko naman, at first mahiyain sya at di sanay na may kausap but then ng makasanayan nya na kami ayun lumabas ang pagiging matigasin ang ulo at puro kalokohan lang ang alam.

9 years old sya ng mapunta sya sa amin, I was so happy kasi only child lang ako nun so medyo boring dahil wala akong kalaro at kasama. Close kami, sobrang close kaya ayaw kong nababalitaan na nagloloko o nagbubulakbol sa school yan.

Actually pati ako dati nakikipagrambulan para lang kay Wyatt, pag-nababalitaan kong inaway sya ng kahit na sino inaaway ko talaga kahit lalaki pa makaaway ko. Syempre feel na feel ko dati maging ate.

Wyatt: Are you still there, ate?

Nabalik ako sa ulirat ng magsalita si Wyatt sa kabilang linya.

Me: No, bawal. Tapusin mo ang nasimulan mo dyan, di rin ako magtatagal dito kaya ayos ayusin mo ginagawa mo dyan. Pag nalaman kong mababa grado mo alam mo na mangyayari.

Wyatt: Yeah yeah yeah, love you ingat ka palagi dyan. Bye.

Kahit papaano napangiti ako dahil sa sinabi nya, shy type sya pag dating sa lambingan. Di talaga yan nagpapakita ng kahit anong concern or care, pero kapag nasa malayo ka at di kayo magkikita ng matagal he'll say sweet words to you, hayyss I think matatagalan bago magkajowa yun. Mahiyain eh.

Jerome: I'll hang up now, umalis na sya.

Me: Salamat sa pagbabantay sa kanya, don't worry pagnaka-ipon ako baka mabayaran kita-

Jerome: Tsk, you don't have to. Alam mo namang parang kapatid ko na rin si Wyatt, tsaka tama lang din na bantayan ko sya lalo na at mga walang sinasanto dito ang mga tao baka mapaaway pa sya.

Me: Maraming salamat talaga Jerome, kaya botong boto ako sayo eh. The best ka.

Jerome: Hahaha, basta yung usapan natin na tutulungan mo ko mag-propose kay Engeleen ha.

Me: Aysus, huwag mo ng isipin yun. Ako na bahala dun, dinadahan dahan ko na nga ang pagsabi nun sa kanya. No worries ako bahala sa bebe mo.

Jerome: Niceee haha, you're the best talaga.

Me: IKR hahaha.

Bigla kong nailayo ang selpon ko sa tenga ng biglang may kumatok sa  pinto, nagtaka naman ako kung sino ang nasa labas. I never told my location to anyone, not even to Angelie and Keith. 

Me: Thanks again, I'll hang up na.

Pagkababa ko ng tawag ay kaagad kong inilapag sa side table and selpon ko and get my small knife under the sheet, OA na kung OA but I don't have anyone to trust here anymore. It's better safe than sorry, someone still knocking in the door and how the fuck that person get inside my condo?

I stand in front of the door and shaking asf dahil sa kaba at takot, I really get so traumatic kapag sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, I had been in this kind of situation before and believe me or not the last time I opened the door without knowing who's the person outside is I almost die.

The day I almost get stab was also the day the accident happened and that day I start not to trust anyone and but myself alone.

Automatic na napatingin ako sa door ng unti unti itong umikot at biglang bumukas and I automatically stuck the knife in the neck of a stranger

while my eyes closed.

I slowly opened my eyes when I felt that the stranger didn't do a move, when I open my eyes I was so surprised seeing Keith in front of me totally froze dahil sa kutsilyong nasa leeg nya, kaagad ko namang tinanggal ang kutsilyo sa leeg nya sabay atras na ikinasagi ng isang vase sa gilid ng pinto kaya nabasag.

"Are you okay?"  takang tanong nya ng mabitawan ko ang kutsilyo, kaagad ko namang tinakpan ang bibig ko dahil sa nangyari. "My bad, I thought you were an outsider. Okay lang ba ang leeg mo, nasugatan ka ba?"  tanong ko at tinignan ang leeg nya pero hinawakan lang nya ang kamay ko at ngumiti. "I'm fine and are you really that nervous na kailangan mo pang humawak ng kutsilyo? Para namang may mangyayaring masama sayo dahil sa hawak mo"

Tanong nya at napatingin sa kutsilyo sa sahig, I sigh and shake my head. "I am really freaking sorr-- dala lang siguro ng pagod ko kaya kung ano ang naiisip at nakukuha kong gamit"  sabi ko sabay napaupo sa upuan na malapit sa kinatatayuan ko, napahilamos ako sa mukha ko dahil sa nangyari. "Pagmahinga ka muna, ako na maglilinis sa nabasag. Ipagluluto na rin kita"

Lumabas sya ng kwarto kaya tinanggal ko ang mga kamay ko sa mukha ko. "What just happened?"  tanong ko sa sarili ko at napatingin sa kamay ko, kaya ko ba talagang pumatay ng tao para sa sarili ko? Do I have really to do that in case of emergency? What if--  "Akala ko maso-surprise ka sa pagpunta ko dito ng biglaan, but the heck I was the one who got surprised"

He started talking while cleaning the glass, bigla syang napatingin sa akin at ngumiti. "I didn't expect my girl has become so strong and independent and even know how to defend herself already"  he said and smile even wider, I smile and  "You don't how nervous I was not knowing it was you outside. You should have said in the first place it was you--"  "I was trying to surprise you!"

"Then who got surprised earlier?"  he laughs as if everything earlier was a joke. "Well at least you didn't cut my neck that hard" pabiro nyang sabi "What if I did?!"  seryoso ko namang tanong. "Why are you so mad and serious? I should be the one who's mad"  he said at lumapit sa kinauupuan ko. "But if it's who would stab me, why not"  I glared at him na ikinatawa nya. "Stop joking around"

Sabi ko sabay suntok ng mahina sa bewang nya, he laughs and then pinch my cheeks. "Then stop being a mood, let's have a lunch together. I'll bought a lot of ready to eat foods for you"  napangiti naman ako ng halikan nya ako sa pisnge ng mabilis at bumalik dun sa mga bubog. "I'll just finish this"  sabi nya na ikinatango ko. "I'll just take a shower then, hintayin mo nalang ako sa labas, I'm sorry again about--"  "Shhh, I understand. Go ahead"

He nods kaya nagsimula na akong maglakad papuntang banyo when he suddenly called my name. "I love you"  he said before finishing and leaving my room. "How the heck does he know where I am?"  takang tanong ko habang magkasalubong ang dalawa kong kilay, I was in the middle of thinking when I heard my phone rang.

From: Angelie

Are you up for a job as a teacher?

Basa ko sa message nya, teacher? Teacher na naman? I mean, my degree isn't education at oo naging teacher na rin ako dati pero I don't think I can be hired as a teacher since I don't have any documents or papers with me right now.

To: Angelie

Requirements?

Maikli kong reply at naghintay ng hindi nagtagal ay tumunog ulit ang selpon ko.

From: Angelie

Meet my friend in the school and she'll tell you everything about the requirements..

To: Angelie

Pa-send ng location tsaka ask mo na rin kung anong oras kami pwedeng magkita. Thanks

Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang susunod na message ni Angelie at kaagad na akong naglakad papuntang banyo.

I have to find a job not just for me but also for Wyatt di ko naman pwedeng hayaan na sila Auntie ang gumastos kay Wyatt at di ko rin pedeng hayaan na si Engeleen ang gumastos sa mga kailangan na gamit ni Wyatt sa school. Meron din syang pinagkakaabalahan sa pera nya noh.

Tsaka sina Auntie may pinag-gagastusan rin sila and Wyatt is my responsibility not theirs kaya kailangan ko na talagang makahanap ng trabaho. Di naman pwedeng magpatulong ako kay Keith sa paghahanap ng trabaho kasi di yun papayag na mag trabaho ako.

Magtatanong pa yun instead tulungan ako, ayoko kasi na palagi nya nalang ako sinasanay sa madaling paraan. Gusto ko ako yung naghihirap sa pera, ako yung naghahanap at ako yung nagsasakripisyo hindi yung basta basta nalang ako hihingi.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

~ End ~