MARICON
It's been a week since I entered Avalon High. A week that is full of fun and excitement.
But of course, hindi dahil sa pag-aaral. It's because of Chase and Psyche. Who would have thought that I would make friends here? I mean, it's only Psyche that I can consider as a friend since I want more for Chase but still, we're friends.
"Did you study last night, Maricon? You looked sleepy," Psyche asked.
I shook my head a few times while yawning. I propped my chin on my palm and pouted.
"I stayed up late last night while working on my compositions," I answered.
"Composition?" she asked curiously.
Tumango naman ako. "I like music and I'm trying to write my own song."
"Uy Chase! Hindi ba kumakanta ka?" tanong ni Psyche sa kanina pang tahimik na si Chase.
Chase shrugged his shoulders and continued to read his book. I let out a harsh breath. He's really... Boring.
"You really like him, huh?" Psyche whispered on me.
Taka ko siyang tiningnan. "Huh?"
"Kulang nalang maging hugis puso ang mata mo tuwing tinitingnan mo siya. You looks so obvious," she answered.
I nodded my head as I tried to stifle a smile. "Halata talaga?" bulong ko.
Mahina siyang tumawa at tumango. "Sobra, girl."
Naputol ang pagkukwentuhan namin nang biglang pumasok ang teacher namin. Kulang na lamang ay mag-rosaryo ako nang marinig ko ang tunog ng heels niya. Sa isang linggong pagpasok ko rito sa Avalon High, iyon na yata ang pinaka-nakakatakot na tunog na narinig ko.
"Get one whole sheet of paper."
My eyes widened as I stiffened on my seat. May test?!
"Hala," I whispered.
"Hindi ka nag-review?" Psyche asked me while taking out her pad of paper.
I bit my lower lip before I nod my head. "I forgot," sagot ko.
Her expression darkened before nudging Chase's arm. "Hindi raw nakapag-review," dinig kong sabi niya.
Chase suddenly looked at me before giving Psyche a half shrug. "Not my problem," he stated.
I slapped my forehead upon hearing what he said. Hindi na naman niya talaga dapat problemahin iyon. Ako. Ako ang may malaking problema!
Hindi naman ako biniyayaan ng katalinuhan tulad nina Chase at Psyche na kahit hindi mag-aral ay makakapasa. Kahit nga mag-aral ako, baka bumagsak pa rin ako. I shut my eyes tightly as I uttered a silent prayer.
Bawas points na naman ako sa puso ni Chase kapag bumagsak ako. Ugh! What should I do?
I pressed my heel into the ground as my chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. Mayamaya pa ay nagsimula nang magtanong ang teacher namin.
"What is the slope of the line perpendicular to line x = -3?"
My lips parted when I heard a familiar question. Parang naitanong na iyon sa akin dati ni Ate Kelly!
Familiar 'yung tanong. Pero hanggang familiar lang. Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot. I facepalmed once again as I scratched my head.
Mabilis natapos ang quiz nang hindi ko alam kung tama ba o mali ang mga isinagot ko. I roamed my eyes around the room. Mas lalo akong napabuntong hininga nang tila ako lamang yata ang hindi sigurado sa mga sagot ko.
"Did you study last night?" tanong ko kay Psyche.
She nodded. "I did. Pero kasi, pakiramdam ko mali ang mga sagot ko."
Taka akong lumingon sa kaniya. She massaged her temples before sighing repeatedly. Hindi ko alam kung sinasabi niya lamang iyon para pagaanin ang loob ko o dahil totoong hindi talaga siya confident sa sagot niya.
Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay nagsimula nang magtawag ng mga scores. Of course, Chase is perfect. He's always perfect.
"Bishop, forty three."
I smiled brightly before looking at Psyche. "Cong... rats?" I said, unsurely.
Tiningnan niya ako at malakas na bumuntong hininga. "See? I did bad," she stated and pouted her lips.
Agad namang kumunot ang noo ko. "Pito lang ang mali mo, ah?"
"Exactly. Seven mistakes... Ugh, kainis!" reklamo niya.
"You should try your best next time, Psyche," Chase suddenly interfered.
Pati siya, tingin niya ay mababa na ang forty three?! Pitong mali lang naman 'yun pero bakit sobrang big deal sa kanila?
"Alferro, twelve."
Twelve. See? 'Yun ang big deal! Out of fifty, twelve lang ang nakuha. Tapos silang forty three, nagrereklamo na sa score nila?
"Twelve?!" Psyche exclaimed.
I looked at her confusedly. "Sinong naka-twelve?" I asked her.
"You."
My eyes widened before pointing my fingers towards myself. "M-Me?" I stuttered.
"Could you please recheck it, Ma'am? Twelve is too... Low," sabi ni Psyche.
I bit my lower lip. I lowered my head as I sighed.
"I already recheck it a few moments ago. Miss Alferro really got twelve," sagot ng teacher namin.
She fixed the rim of her glasses before sitting on the chair infront of us. Ilang segundo niyang tiningnan ang test paper ko at rinig na rinig sa buong classroom ang malakas niyang pagbuntong hininga.
Naputol ang katahimikan nang bumagsak sa sahig ang testpaper ko. I looked at it, feeling bad. I blinked a few times before looking at our teacher.
She raised her eyebrows and leaned against her chair. "Hindi kita tinuturuan para lamang bigyan mo ako ng ganitong marka, Miss Alferro."
"I-I'm sorry po."
"What did you do last night, Miss Alferro? Bakit hindi ka nag-aral?"
"I..." I bit my lower lower lip and lowered my gaze. Magsasabi ba ako ng totoo? I don't lie but... She'll scold me.
I sighed. "I was busy doing music, Ma'am," pag-amin ko.
She nod her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "Music, huh? Interesting."
"P-Po?" I asked confusedly.
"So you did music instead of studying Math?" Muli kong ibinaba ang paningin ko nang magtaas siya ng boses.
My chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as my eyes welled up. "I'm sorry po," I apologized.
"What would you gain from doing that stuff? Miss Alferro, you need to study well in order to have a good future. Paano magiging maganda ang kinabukasan mo kung pati simpleng Math problems, hindi mo masagot?"
I swallowed the lump on my throat, still looking down. "I'm... I'm sorry po."
She loudly sighed. "Sabagay. What would I expect to someone who got the lowest score in the Admission Test? Paano ka nga ba nakapasok sa Avalon High? Is it because of your father? He's one of the shareholders, am I right?"
My breaths quickened. I trust my Dad. He won't do such thing. Kahit na gustong-gusto niyang makapasok ako rito, may tiwala pa rin siya sa akin. I did it without his help.
"I-I'm sorry po," I apologized once again.
"I still wonder how someone can be as stupid as you. Twelve out of fifty? Ridiculous!"
Padabog siyang tumayo at inilagay sa braso niya ang mga dalang papel. "Class dismissed," malakas na bigkas niya.
I let out a harsh breath after she left. I bit my lower lip as I raised my head.
"Magrerestroom lang ako," paalam ko kay Psyche at agad na tumayo.
"H-Huh? Samahan na kit—"
Hindi ko na siya pinatapos nang marahan akong umiling. "No need."
Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang makasagot at nagmartsa na papunta sa labas ng classroom namin.
I don't even know where I'm going. Basta kung saan na lamang ako dalhin ng mga paa ko. I was too tired... and hurt.
I sighed and sat on the nearest bench that I saw. Hindi ko alam kung nasaang bahagi na ako ng Avalon High, basta ang alam ko, kakaunti na ang tao sa parteng ito.
I looked heavenward as my eyes swam with tears. Agad ko naman itong pinunasan. I shouldn't be hurt by now. Dapat sanay na ako.
"Are you alright?"
My eyes widened before looking at someone who spoke infront of me. Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kung sino ito. "Chase?" I uttered.
He shrugged before he sat beside me. He crossed his arms over his chest, still not looking at me.
"You should have prepare yourself before entering here," panimula niya.
"I... I already did."
I shook my head before I lifted my gaze. He confusedly looked at me. Agad naman akong nag-iwas nang magtama ang paningin namin.
"I entered this school to study and learn new things. But why am I being fed up with tons of judgements and comparisons?" I added.
"That's why you should try harder to prove yourself."
"Why do I need to prove myself to them? At the end of the day, I should satisfy myself and not them. So why? Why should I prove myself to those people who barely knows me?" I looked away and bit my lower lip.
He sighed. "To prove to those who belittled you that a no one like you can be someone someday."
Agad na kumunot ang noo ko. Taka akong tumingin sa kaniya. "H-Huh?"
He shrugged and shook his head. "So you should try harder than before."
"I am trying. It's just that I'm not smart. I don't belong here," giit ko.
"You belong here."
My brows drew together as I looked at him confusedly. "What did you say?"
"You belong here. You belong in Avalon High."
----
♡