It's been days that had past and our work immersion days were over. We're back to normal, normal days to spend in school and school works.
It's been days after that eavesdropping incident and just like what I always did, I always tried my best to conceal at the back of my mind what was the truth and pretend like I didn't listen to a sudden revelation of my true identity.
It's been days that I was acting like nothing had happened and just focus on all the requirements given to us.
"I can do it!" I said multiple times convincing myself that I won't give up until I finally succeed in burying it from the past. "Yes, I can!"
I even convinced myself through writing in my notebook those words. I write over and over again and again on the same line even though I know it is already emphasized in the notebook.
I was engrossed in it and for sure, Amber watching me in confusion though she wasn't asking why I acted weirdly.
I let out a deep sigh and loosened my grip on the pen I was holding.
"What? Are you okay?" Amber asked after noticing my sudden change of mood. "Next time, don't act like a weirdo."
"Come on, when did I not act weirdly?" I sarcastically said. She rolled her eyes and went back to what she was typing on his laptop.
"Stop, will you? I would go more insane than you thinking that you won't able to let out what is running to your mind." There is a glint of sadness in her voice, sulking that made me feel guilty.
I sighed and looked at her. I felt like I need to console her. I sighed again for the second time before I stood up. "I will go to the cafeteria. You want me to buy something for you?"
Amber's emotions suddenly change with her sparkling eyes.
"I love you, friend. Hmm!" she enthusiastically said and then, paused a bit. "I want pizza and coke in a can."
I nodded and was about to turn around when she called my name. I saw her pull bills out of her skirt pocket and hand them to me but I refused.
"Rich kid, Andrea. I love you so much," she said mischievously. I turned around and walked away to the cafeteria while shaking my head in emptiness.
After buying some snacks and drinks for us, I noticed a group of students in the booth busy with their phones. What caught my attention was the name they let out! I suddenly got curious and have the urge to ask but my introverted personality overpowers. That's why I continue to walk.
"There she is!" I heard someone say.
"Yeah, is there any shame left in her?"
"The nerve of that girl!"
"Slut!"
"Bitch!"
"Know her place."
I have no idea what they are saying. I don't know if who is that girl they are talking about and I pity her for being the talk of the day.
I quickly walked and went back to Amber. I hand over her snack but she was engrossed with her phone so I place it beside her books.
"Amber," I called her attention but she just looked at me with her teary-eyed so I felt panic. Did I go overboard earlier? Did she feel hurt because I can't share with her what I discovered?
"Amber." I went to her side and sat near her. "Why?"
"Did you already know what was posted on the school publication page? Is that the reason why you are not in the mood?" she asked. I felt confused about what she said. What page! What post?
"Huh? You don't know? It was from an anonymous account?" I shook my head trying to understand what she was saying. Suddenly, I finally understand that it was all about the girl they talking to in the booth. Amber showed the post.
I felt numbed and empty. It was a photo collage of Asher and the girl. The photos show a lot of possibilities. They are walking the street, eating street foods, watching movies, studying together, in the library and all. Of course, everyone who can see the post will conclude.
The caption makes it worst.
"She stole my love. Bitch. Slut. Whore. Like her mom," Amber managed to read the caption because I insisted her to read it without hesitation.
Double kill. Because the girl was none other than me. Does someone was wishing me to have a hopeless life?
What they were saying before came to my mind again and it was pure slander! They, even, involved my mom who was now resting in peace.
Sometimes we are judged based on what our eyes can see. Sometimes we utter hurtful words because of what we read. Sometimes we believe things we don't know if the story is true or are done just to hurt someone.
Yes, some of the photos were true but not all because some are edited.
"Andrea," I heard voices call me. It was Asher's friends.
"It so cliché to ask this but are you okay? Is someone hurt you physically?" Lila said. She went near me and hugged me. I saw Amber glare at Lila's gesture because I know she still did not forgive what Lila did before. After a minute, she broke the hug.
"Who posted it?" Amber said firmly.
"We are still in the process of figuring out who posted. Asher and Robin even asked help from the IT department to trace who is the account owner," Joshua explained.
"Are you part of the student council and yet the action was too slow? Really?" I felt how Amber's heart races while looking at Joshua and Ken. She tapped her left hand on the table. She even curled her lip.
I felt the tension and I'm thankful that no one added fuel to her action. "Amber, please!" I said in low voice.
I know why Amber acted that way. Even if I won't say anything, she already knows me.
"Do you have with you your laptop?" she asked in her high pitch tone. Joshua nodded and immediately open his bag to get his laptop. He, maybe, was a little bit surprised since Amber acted that way. "Open your laptop and connect it with a stable internet connection."
It's hard for me to process what happened because I don't know if this day will be expected to come. I never thought that what I read in books could happen in my real life.
If then, I was satisfied to look at him from afar hoping that the day would come when I could approach him and yet that day has come but suddenly, why do I suddenly want to ask to get away from him?
"Here."
"Thanks," Amber said to Joshua and started typing on the keyboard. I snapped from reality.
"What are you doing?" Lila curiously asked but Ken halted her to react so she shut up.
In a split of seconds, Amber looked at me asking permission if she will continue or not. I nodded.
"Sure?"
"Yeah, but let me do it," I said in conviction. She put the laptop in front of me and continue what was supposed to do.
Some things need to be studied to defend oneself. Not even physically but possibly, mentally affected.
I can no longer remember when Amber and I both started to have an interest in simple troubleshooting, hacking, cracking codes, tracing IP addresses and much more. It just happened. But we only use the skills we have when we are aggrieved.
"Done," I said. The owner was none other than the girl who confessed to Asher in front of her friends but got a rejection.
"Gemmalyn Pipo Alcambra," Lila read the name flashing on the screen of the laptop. "It was Skyline, younger sister."
Ken and Joshua clapped their hands. They didn't expect that we have the skills to do so.
"Wait, should I do my part?" Amber boyishly said and let her do what was in her mind.
The next thing I knew was a video of Gemmalyn Pipo Alcambra confessing to Asher in front of her friends and how she was rejected by him was posted on the school publication page.
Now, the table flips. She was the one who is now accepting a feast of evil words.
"Thanks," Amber handed the laptop to Joshua after shutting down it. I noticed how Joshua acted shyly and shortened a little bit after noticing how Amber smiled at him.
"She deserves it," Lila commented that shifting my observation.
"She did it herself," Ken added to what his girlfriend said.
"I texted Asher that we are with you and he will come," Joshua change the topic.
But why did my chest suddenly tighten?
After a minute, Asher walked toward us heaving. I felt his raging heart, maybe, because he seemed to run towards it and was still panting. Without any hesitation, he plopped down on the seat across me beside Ken with a sigh. I couldn't help but notice the redness on his cheek and his forehead was glistening with sweat.
Without any word, I gave him the drinks I bought earlier in the cafeteria that is supposed to be for me. He opened the bottle and gulped it.
"Can we talk?" he asked after drinking. "Can we?" he gestured to them to give us some space and they immediately obeyed him.
"Andrea, can we have this?" Amber asked and point to the box of pizza. I nodded.
They went away leaving the two of us.
I heard Asher clear his throat. "I,' he paused. I saw how he composed himself. "I'm sorry. They shouldn't involve you." He started.
"I didn't expect that girl was crazy enough to do that stupid action. As the student council president, I will give her the punishment she deserves. I'm sorry. I know sorry was useless if the action has been done. I won't promise that this kind of thing will not happen again I can't handle whatever's running in their mind. Still, I'm sorry," he apologetically said. I know that he was sorry because I know that he was concerned that the girl he loved saw it.
"I understand," I looked at him intently from the eyes. "She already received her punishment."
I shifted my gaze.
"I didn't expect that this time will come. I won't mind about those pictures posted. Even if they spread rumours that I'm your boyfriend or any picture I pictures of us being together, I won't mind but hurtful words throwing at you was unforgivable." I unexpectedly feel confused.
"You are the girl I like. Even before."