It's not my first time inside the guidance counsellor office. Well, it's my second time but I didn't intend to go here. I was just involved in the first place. If no one drags me into this messed, I won't be here. I won't reproof.
"No one dares to answer me? Why did you fight? You, Ms Santiago care to explain why your cheeks have swollen? Ms Madrigal, what are those bruises?" Sir William, our guidance counsellor asked us for the third time but no one dares to talk about the root of the fight. I looked at Lila who's not talking. If she was the one who reported us, why she did not dare to utter words? It's not even us because we are together after the incident.
"I will ask one more time, care to explain? You, Ms Madrigal."
I swallowed hard. Honestly, I don't know where to start and how will I explain what had happened. I know I was right, that Lila started the fight by pulling and pushing me, accusing me of the things I didn't commit and pulling my hair. She even throwing insults at me below the belt. My only mistake was allowing her to do it and didn't fight back.
But if I will tell them what had happened, Amber will get into trouble. I know Amber that she was willingly doing to defend me as long as she knows if it was the right thing to do. But right now, she didn't dare to spill the tea without my consent. I know I will feel regretful. Lila dragged me into her issues with her boyfriend and I dragged Amber as well.
"Ms Madrigal, a simple question, you can't even answer. I know you are intelligent enough to discern what I want. Don't you dare to ask if who reported? Should I send you all to detention or I will call your parents, right now?"
I suddenly felt uncomfortable. This is my second time here as a guidance counsellor but not to the point that I got into detention. I just did community service with those involved. I'm planning not to involve myself again but look at me now.
I'm a senior high school student about to graduate. How am I supposed to face my dad, my Auntie? I'm expecting that Auntie will get mad. The last time she heard it, I cleaned the entire house and grounded for the whole week.
I felt my stomach churn. I suddenly want to vomit to ease the hotness inside me.
"Sorry sir," I started but something seemed to get stuck in my throat and I couldn't continue what I wanted to say.
"It's my fault, sir," Amber cut in the conversation. I glared at her but she was not shaken about the possible outcome. "I saw Lila pulled Andrea's arm and pushed her away. She even pulled her hair. She's dragging and pointing Andrea about her boyfriend's----"
"I will strangle your neck if you won't stop," Lila hissed and the guidance counsellor glared at him furiously so she bowed out of nowhere in time. Amber grinned.
"You do not know the whole story, Lila. Your boyfriend, no scratch that, your ex-boyfriend, he doesn't hit on my best friend and she was not the reason why he broke up with you. Do you know why? You're just pointing someone else because of your stupidity."
"Enough? And you Ms Cruz, you even slapped Ms Santiago?"
Amber simply looked at Sir William innocently, as if she had no idea what she was talking about and that it was just a matter of self-defence.
"It's not Sir. She purposely slapped me," Lila persistently said.
"You are about to slap Andrea but I came in the picture and caught your hand. All I did was slap you using your hand," Amber rebutted. I admired how fiercely she is. She doesn't give benediction to anyone if she knows she's right. Based on her reaction, she's enjoying it. I looked at her. She smiled at me as if telling me not to be afraid, to tell the truth.
"Is all are true?" the guidance counsellor looks at me that there's no harm in telling the truth. I have a deep sighed and nodded. My attention shifted to the one who knocked on the door and went inside.
Asher Valderama, the school president and a friend of Lila's ex-boyfriend. I blushed to know that he was aware that I got into this fight.
"Okay, the three of you," pointing Amber, Lila and me. "Starting tomorrow to Friday, you will clean the school auditorium. Mister Valderrama will be in charge of supervising the cleanliness. Are we clear?"
And another person was even involved.
"Sir, I was even involved?" Amber asked.
"Yeah. I appreciate you for saving your friend, but slapping your school mate cheeks is not the reasonable way to do it. No buts," Sir William said firmly.
I didn't say a word but honestly, I want to complain.
We all apologized to each other but knowing Amber's attitude, she was sincere to say sorry.
The worst part is Asher was aware of the whole story. It was a shame. Even if I want to have a good record, still nothing will change and I have now a bad record, the more reason that I won't notice.
Flooded with so many what if lingered in my mind. I was useless.
We are all dismissed and went out of the guidance counsellor office. The moment the door closed, Lila faced me. "You reported this, right? Don't you dare to deny it?"
"No, I'm not," I said.
"Just make sure," she threatened and walked out going to their building.
"She still has the guts when in fact, she's the reason why I will clean," Amber said sound pissed.
"See you tomorrow afternoon in the school auditorium," Asher said that interrupted us as he bid his goodbye and went to their building while the two of us went straight to our building, as well.
"Is that Asher Valderrama? The so-called genius of the STEM strand. He was so cool," Amber said enthusiastically as if she was not from the guidance office. She's swaying like an idiot. "No wonder that you had a huge crush on him."
"Lower your voice. Someone might hear you," I hissed. I looked around and I'm thankful that no one is around.
"Don't be shy. It's okay to have a crush, to admire someone."
"But I have no right, Amber. Can't you see? Who would want to admire me if I'm not even beautiful? Look how plain-looking I was." It was true. I do not have the complexion that reddens when it was exposed to the sun. Having hair that bounces without edited, was natural. The height fits with the body. The beauty that made others appreciate. In short, all features were enacted in all right places.
While me, I'm just consoling myself that I'm close to a beautiful person. That I'm not that someone who would steal away the limelight effortlessly. That I'm a boring and a mere person without any assets to be proud of.
"Here we go, Andrea. God doesn't create us so ugly. We are created in God's image. It's just that, people generated those standards. People set their basis on their judgment," Amber insisted.
We continued to walk and now we're in the corridor of the ABM strand building.
"And by the way, Andrea why did you take ABM strand? I can clearly remember that you want to be an engineer," asked out of the blue far away from our topic. Before I answered her question, my mind started to count how many times she asked about the reason why I took ABM but I gave up remembering how many times.
"Well, they needed me. They want me to help the family business to stay successful," I respond truthfully. She chuckled like a mad person.
"Aren't you exhausted to say the word they want? They want, they want. When will be the time I will hear the two words coming from your mouth, I want?" she paused. "You know, that's the reason you're saying how you are."
Her statement made me stop for a bit from walking trying to figure out the exact answer.
"Is that even wrong? You know my situation, right?" I calmly said and continued to walk.
"That's why I hate Auntie Julie," she retorted.
"Why? It's not bad taking ABM, so far. You even chose it. Like what you said, it was aligned with your future course in college and it was your highest rank."
"Your wrong," I tried to correct that I was mistaken because I heard it before her reason. "I want to become rich."
My eyes widened to her sudden remarks. It's not bad wanting to be rich but coming from her is so impossible. What kind of rich does she want? They are already rich, an extravagant life. I sighed.
My thoughts came back when I realized that we're already inside the classroom.
During the entire class hours, I was a little bit distracted even in our quiz. I can't help thinking if they will inform our parents about what happened.
The guidance counsellor, Sir William didn't give a detention slip or any letter to our parents or guardian but I'm still worried. Knowing Auntie Julie, she has many connections and power here in school. I didn't even have the guts to show my face to dad.
The entire day went fast and it's dismissal time.
"Andrea, I'll go first. Dad is waiting for me, you know? Just let me know if there's went wrong," she waved his right hand, grabbed the bag and hurriedly ran down the hallway.
Now I'm alone. But why did I suddenly feel dizzy? Knowing that I will go home made me nauseated again my knees seemed to soften. The mere thought of distinguishing to go home or not.
"Andrea," a familiar voice called me an expected person, before I even notice it, he's now in my back supporting me. "Are you okay? You looked pale."
It was Asher Valderama. I suddenly feel cold and seems to have increased even more my dizziness. I shrugged.
"Wait, I'll just get water," he said but I hold his uniform to stop him. I swallowed hard.
"I'm hungry," I said trying to calm down my inner self. But my hand still shaking. He reached my hand to stop from shaking. I glanced at him and he's giving me a warm smile.
Tell me how can I calm down?