As I was fixing myself up, I suddenly heard a knock on my bedroom door.
"Yes?" I called out, a hint of annoyance in my voice.
"Niona, your friends are here," came the response.
Friends?
I furrowed my brows in confusion before making my way downstairs. There, I saw Rinoa with Ariena in the living room, engaged in conversation with my mom.
"Yes, Auntie, Mom's doing fine," Rinoa chirped happily in response to my mom's query.
My mom turned her attention to Ariena. "I heard your mom is building a resort?" she inquired. Ariena grinned and nodded.
"Yes, in Palawan po,"she confirmed.
"Really? If I have the time, tell your mom I'd love to see it," my mom exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
"Sige po," Ariena replied politely.
As I approached, they all glanced at me.
"Let's go," I commanded, addressing the two of them.
They stood up obediently, prompting my mom to rise as well. "Una na po kami, tita Nat," Rinoa declared as she approached my mom and exchanged air kisses. Ariena followed suit.
"Take care," my mom bid them farewell with a warm smile.
As our eyes met, I quickly looked away and left without another word.
Walking ahead, I couldn't shake off the feeling of irritation at their unexpected visit. Who invited them, anyway? And why were they acting like they belonged here? It's not like I needed their company.
As we made our way out, I couldn't help but notice the way my mom looked at them with such warmth and interest. It was irritating how easily she could be charmed by their facade of politeness.
But whatever. I had more important things to worry about than entertaining unexpected guests.
"Oh, isn't that the nerd?" Rinoa suddenly blurted out, pointing outside the window. Ariena and I turned our heads to see what she was referring to. Indeed, we spotted the nerd riding a bike. He seemed to be heading towards the school, as our route to school intersected with the bike lane he was on. He had a backpack slung over his shoulders.
"He's just biking to school?" Rinoa's curious inquiry followed as we continued to observe the nerd.
"Yeah, probably too cheap to take a proper mode of transportation," I remarked with a snide tone, unable to resist the urge to mock him. Ariena stifled a giggle beside me, clearly amused by my comment.
I continued to watch the nerd pedal his way along the bike lane, his figure growing smaller in the distance. He looked so out of place, with his oversized glasses and nerdy demeanor. It was almost laughable how he thought he could fit in with the rest of us.
As the traffic light turned green and we continued on our way to school, I couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority wash over me. After all, why waste time thinking about someone like the nerd when there were far more important things to focus on – like maintaining my status as the queen bee of the school.
Nang makarating sa school ay agad kaming pinagtinginan. Probably because I am with Rinoa and Ariena. Hindi nila inaasahan na bababa kami sa iisang sasakyan, at sa sasakyan ko pa talaga. Well, as if I have a choice.
Nagkahiwalay lang kami nang makarating kami sa building. Nahiwalay na agad si Ariena dahil iba ang building niya habang kami naman ni Rinoa ay magkaiba ng floor.
Wala pa si prof nang pumasok ako sa klase kaya naglagay muna ako ng earphones sa tenga at nagpatugtog. Nakapatong ang isa kong hita sa isa pang hita at nakakrus ang aking mga braso habang nakapikit at dinadama ang tugtog. It's my favorite. Weightless.
Nang matapos ang tugtog ay kusa iyong lumipat sa iba. Napahinto ang paa at ulo ko sa pagsabay nang marinig ang tugtog. Ito yung pinatugtog ng lalaki kahapon sa music room. Unti-unti kong binuksan ang aking mga mata. I'm curious about his face.
Hindi ko na natapos ang tugtog dahil dumating na si prof. Bago siya nag-discuss ay nag-announce muna siya patungkol sa quiz namin friday next week.
Shit, wala pa naman akong naintindihan sa mga tinuro niya.
Dalawang lesson ang coverage at puro identification and essay ang quiz. Bumagsak ang balikat ko dahil doon ako mahina. Well, kaya ko naman ang essay, kapag alam ko nga lang yung lesson. At dahil nga wala akong natutunan ay malamang, babagsak ako. Kailangan ko na namang mag-self study mamayang gabi para makapaghanda na ako. Mahaba pa naman ang unang lesson.
Ugh, studying is so hard. Bakit ba kailangan pang mag-aral e mayaman naman na ako? I can even pay someone's tuition fee. Kung hindi lang dahil kay Mommy ay hindi na ako papasok sa school. Pwede naman akong sa bahay na lang at kumuha ng tutor.
Right! I need a tutor. Since malapit na ang quiz namin ay kukuha na ako ng tutor ngayon pa lang. Why didn't I think of it? But, hindi ko alam kung papayag si Mommy.
Nang sumapit ang lunch break ay sabay-sabay kaming kumain nina Rinoa sa cafeteria. Hindi na ako nagtanong kung bakit hindi na siya pumupunta sa rooftop.
"I heard someone's transferring here soon" aniya habang mabagal na hinahalo ang carbonara.
"Then that's good. Mas darami ang pera ng school since may papasok na naman" Sabi ko sabay subo subo ng spaghetti.
Ibinaba niya ang tinidor at tumingin sa akin, "That's the problem. Hindi ko alam kung saang class siya mapupunta since walang sinasabi si lolo"
Pagmamay-ari ng pamilya ni Rinoa ang school na ito pero walang special treatment na binibigay sa kaniya ang lolo niya. Maliban na lang sa mga estudyante na mataas talaga ang tingin kay Rinoa dahil nga apo siya ng may-ari.
"Just let them transfer here. Ginusto nila 'yon e" Ani Yena.
"Should I sneak in?" Tanong ni Rinoa na ikinailing naman ni Ariena.
"No" sagot ni yena
"If you can" I said.
Nagkatinginan kami at biglang pumalakpak si Rinoa.
"This is why I love you, Niona" sabi niya na ikinangiwi ko.
That's weird, ha?
"By the way, have you joined any clubs yet?" Rinoa asked me.
I shook my head, not being particularly athletic, but in this school, joining a club was a requirement.
"Not yet. I'm still figuring out where to join," I replied, leaning back in my chair as Rinoa propped her elbows on the table, leaning closer to me, with Ariena seated beside her. This was our usual seating arrangement.
"Then why don't you join ours?" she suggested, referring to the music club. However, I had no expertise in playing instruments, nor was I particularly skilled at singing. I simply enjoyed listening to music. I shook my head again.
"I'm not interested in yours."
"How about—" Ariena began to interject, but I cut her off abruptly.
"Not interested"
I knew she was about to invite me to join her club, the boxing club. It was often mistaken that Ariena was a boy because she joined a predominantly male club. I've heard that she was the best female boxer in their club, likely inheriting her family's talent in martial arts, given that her mother had won an international match in taekwondo. Minsan na ring inilaban si Ariena sa boxing club ng ibang school.
Despite her petite frame, Ariena's skills were formidable, and she was known to hold her own against much larger opponents. However, the thought of joining the boxing club didn't appeal to me. It wasn't my scene, and I preferred something less physically demanding. Plus, I had no desire to get punched in the face.
Ariena seemed taken aback by my curt response, but Rinoa quickly chimed in, "Leave her alone, Ariena. She'll find a club eventually." Rinoa always had a knack for diffusing tension. I offered her a grateful smile as she redirected the conversation to a safer topic.
As the conversation shifted, I couldn't help but admire Ariena's determination and skill. She was a force to be reckoned with in the ring, embodying strength and resilience. But for me, I would continue my search for a club that resonated with my interests and abilities, even if it meant navigating through the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
"Niona!" I paused in my tracks and looked back. Ah, it's Riona again.
"What?"
She linked her arm with mine and pulled me towards somewhere. "I know a place nearby that sells ice cream, let's buy some." Before I could respond, she kept dragging me along.
When we arrived at the ice cream shop she mentioned, her shoulders slumped upon seeing the long queue.
"Look, the line is so long. Let's not bother buying—" I was about to step back when she stopped me abruptly and suddenly shouted,
"Hey! You motherf*ckers! Get out of my way."
It seemed like she was recognized by the people in line, and they quickly moved aside. Rinoa then turned to me with a smile, "See? It's our turn now." I just sighed and followed her lead.
"What do you want?" she asked, scanning the flavors available. "Um, is there no more strawberry ice cream?" she asked the attendant with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Sorry, Ma'am, sold out na po kasi yung strawberry ice cream. Pero may vanilla po rito na coated with strawberry ice cream. Ayon na lang po ang natira, baka gusto niyo?" Mahinahong sabi ng babae.
"Ngi" sandali pa siyang nag-isip at sasagot na sana ng biglang sumulpot si Ariena.
"I'll take the strawberry ice cream" sabi niya at inakbayan si Rinoa na ikinagulat naman nito.
"How dare you say that? We are earlier," sabi niya at tinanggal ang kamay ni Ariena sa balikat niya.
"You're my friend naman, so ibigay mo na lang sa akin yung strawberry ice cream"
"I remember you dislike those pink stuff and strawberry ice cream is pink" sabi ni Rinoa sa mukha mismo ni Ariena.
"Hey, even though I dislike pink, I am fond of strawberry"
"No, besides..." tumingin sa akin si Rinoa, "Niona would like to taste it, right?"
Umiling ako at nauna nang um-order, "Vanilla ice cream for me" sabi ko at iniwan na sila roon. Half day lang kami ngayon kaya maaga kaming pinauwi dahil may meeting ang mga admins and teachers ng school.
"Yena, if you admit that you can't beat me in an ice cream, I may let you have a taste," Rinoa teased as we walked and indulged in our ice cream. I noticed Rinoa had chosen strawberry ice cream while Ariena opted for vanilla.
"Yuck, no way. It's a shame to win an ice cream with saliva," Ariena retorted.
"Rinoa, should girls really like strawberry ice cream?" I asked
Rinoa then glanced at me. "Hmm, not necessarily. You're not a fan of strawberry, right? There are plenty of girls like you, and that's okay. Ariena here looks like a tomboy and hates pink, but I don't know why she likes strawberry ice cream. She should be into black coffee," Rinoa explained with a chuckle, earning a glare from Ariena. "Oh, why? I'm right, aren't I?" Rinoa challenged her.
Ariena lightly kicked her shoe in retaliation, which Rinoa promptly returned. Their playful banter escalated into a shoving match as we walked.
I glanced over to where two guys were walking, one of them seemingly pulling the other along.
"Why? What's wrong?" Rinoa asked me, also looking in the same direction. "Wait, isn't that guy familiar?" she said.
"Isn't he the nerd?" Ariena chimed in, also observing the two guys in the distance. He was wearing a red t-shirt. Wait, that's the uniform he wore when I saw him at the pedestrian lane.
"What do you think are they doing?" Rinoa asked me. I just shrugged at pinagpatuloy ang paglalakad.
Hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip nang kung ano-ano. Nakaakbay ang lalaki sa nerd na 'yon pero mukha siyang hinahatak at nagmamadali sila. Mukha ring hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang mukha nung lalaki kaya hindi ko masabing magkaibigan sila.
"Sundan natin," biglang sabi ni Rinoa kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya, "Why? Gusto ko lang malaman kung anong pinagkakaabalahan ng isang nerd"
Nauna siyang naglakad papunta sa gawi kung saan pumunta ang dalawang lalaki. Nagkatinginan muna kami ni Ariena bago sumunod sa kaniya. Sumunod lang kami kay Rinoa na mukhang inaalala kung saan lumiko ang dalawang lalaki. Medyo nakalayo na rin sila at malalaki pa ang hakbang kaya tanging anino na lang ang nakikita tuwing liliko kami.
Nakarating kami sa isang court na walang tao. Nagulat kami nang makita ang dalawang lalaki kasama yung nerd. May nakita akong bike na may malaking box na color red at may tatak ng logo kung saan nagtatrabaho yung nerd. Nakita ko rin ang tatlo pang lalaki na lumapit sa kaniya at mukhang pilit na may kinukuha sa nerd. Nagulat kami nang biglang tinumba ng isang lalaki ang bike niya at binuhat ang box saka iyon tinapon dahilan para magsilabasan ang mga laman no'ng pagkain.
"Sabi nang ibigay mo e," sabi ng isang lalaki at dinukot ang bulsa niya.
"Those scums" Nagulat ako nang biglang lumapit si Rinoa sa kanila na mabilis namang sinundan ni Ariena at pinigilan ang braso nito. Tumingin ang mga lalaki sa kanila kaya wala na rin akong nagawa kundi lumapit.
"Rinoa, don't interfere. You know the rules" sabi ni Ariena sa kaniya.
"Of course I know pero hindi naman nila malalamang hindi tayo pwedeng makipaglaban sa labas ng school" aniya at muling lumapit sabay taas ng dalawang kamao.
Nakita kong napapikit si Ariena habang ako naman ay nagface palm sa sinabi niya. Seriously, Rinoa? Akala ko ako lang ang slow mag-isip sa aming tatlo.
"Sino ba 'tong mga 'to?" Tanong ng isang lalaki.
Nakita kong nakatingin ang nerd kina Rinoa habang hawak siya ng dalawang lalaki sa magkabilang braso para pigilan ito sa paghakbang.
Lumapit ang isa kay Rinoa. At dahil may katangkaran ang lalaki ay kinailangan pang tumingala ni Rinoa.
"Hoy bata, bawal ka rito" sabi ng lalaking lumapit sa kaniya.
"Excuse me, I'm not a kid" matapang na sagot ni Rinoa at umatras.
Tumawa ang lalaki sabay tingin sa mga kasama niya, "Pare, nag-eenglish. Mukhang anak mayaman 'to" aniya sabay tingin kay Rinoa. Humakbang pa siya na ikinaatras ni Rinoa. "Hoy, ibigay mo sa akin ang pera mo"
"Why would I do that? Hindi naman ikaw ang nagbigay sa akin nito"
"Aba pare, sumasagot pa 'to" Tiningnan niya mula ulo hanggang paa si Rinoa sabay basa niya sa mga labi, "Ang kinis mo naman. Kung ayaw mong ibigay ang pera mo, sarili mo na lang"
Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang batuhin ni Ariena ng apple sa noo. Napadaing naman ito sa sakit, "Anak ng, gago pala 'to e" sabi niya sabay atake kay Rinoa na mabilis namang hinawakan ni Ariena ang kamaong dapat tatama kay Rinoa. Binaluktot niya ito dahilan para sumigaw sa sakit ang lalaki.
Naalarma ang iba niyang mga kasama at sumugod na rin. Nakita kong pati ang dalawang lalaking may hawak sa nerd ay sumugod na rin. Ekspertong pinagsusuntok ni Ariena ang mga umaatake sa kaniya habang si Rinoa naman ay ganoon din.
I didn't know she can fight like that?
Biglang may lumapit sa akin na lalaki at akmang susuntukin ako nang bigla siyang sipain ni Ariena. Tumingin muna sa akin si Yena bago binalikan ang lalaki.
Tumba ang limang lalaki sa kanilang dalawa. Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa kanila. Napatingin ako sa lalaking biglang tumayo at akmang susugod sa nakatalikod na si Rinoa nang biglang may mansanas na tumama sa sentido nito. Agad iyong sinipa ni Rinoa at sinuntok.
Lumipat ang tingin ko sa lalaking bumato no'n. Napansin kong wala siyang malaking salamin ngayon. Maliit na lang iyon at manipis.
"Thank you for that" sabi ni Rinoa sa kaniya.
"Nerdy'," I called.
He glanced at me.
"You're always being bullied inside or outside of school. You should join Ariena's club to learn how to defend yourself," I told him.
"Thank you for your advice," aniya saka lumuhod para pulutin ang mga styrofoam at pagkain na nagkalat sa sahig, "But I don't think violence can resolve any problem"
Nagtinginan kami ni Ariena sa sinabi niya.
"Isa pa, ako naman ang nagsimula ng gulong ito," Isa-isa niyang nilagay sa malaking box ang pagkain, "Salamat sa tulong niyo" Sabi niya sabay sukbit ng malaking bag sa kanang balikat niya.
Hindi ko alam na backpack para ang box na iyon.
"You're weird. If you don't want violence then why did you transfer to our school? Alam mong hindi lang basta school ang pinasukan mo" Sabi ni Ariena sa kaniya.
Tumingin sa kaniya yung nerd, "Dahil kailangan ko ng scholarship."
Naglakad siya nang hindi pantay ang balikat dahil na rin sa bigat ng box na dala niya sa kanang balikat. Pinanood lang namin siyang lumapit sa bike niya. Nang patayuin niya iyon ay bigla na lang bumagsak ang carrier. Napansin kong sira rin ang kadena at stand no'n.
He lifted the bike even though he's already carrying something heavy on his shoulder. We watched the nerd as he walked away.
He needs scholarship.
"I feel so sorry for him," Rinoa said as she gazed at the nerd.
He's working while studying. He endures Sheldon's bullying for the scholarship. Nang mawala na siya sa paningin namin ay umalis na rin kami roon.
"Oh f*ck!" Biglang bura ni Rinoa at biglang tinakpan ang bibig.
"Why?" Tanong sa kaniya ni Ariena.
"The rules" nanlalaki ang mata niyang sabi. Saka lang namin na-realize ang ginawa.
Shit! I was there so I am involved?
The realization hit me like a slap in the face. If word got back to Mommy about our little escapade, it would undoubtedly spell trouble. She was already on thin ice with the school, and the last thing she needed was another scandal tarnishing her precious reputation. The mere thought of her wrath made my blood run cold.
But then again, facing the school's punishment wasn't exactly a walk in the park either. Cleaning? Detention? Suspension? Expulsion? The possibilities were enough to make me break out in a cold sweat. I couldn't afford to let anything tarnish my perfect image or jeopardize my standing among my peers.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, I begrudgingly weighed my options. On one hand, there was the risk of Mommy finding out and raining down hellfire upon me. On the other hand, there was the uncertainty of what awaited me if I chose to face the school's punishment.
As I pondered my dilemma, a sense of frustration washed over me. Why did I always have to be the one to suffer the consequences of other people's stupidity? It wasn't fair, damn it!
But then again, life wasn't fair, was it? And in the cutthroat world of our school politics, only the strong survived. If I wanted to maintain my status as queen bee, I had to be willing to make the tough decisions, no matter how distasteful they may be.
With a resigned sigh, I made up my mind. I couldn't risk Mommy finding out about our little indiscretion. The school's punishment, as daunting as it may be, was the lesser of two evils. Besides, I could handle whatever they threw my way. After all, I was a mean girl, and mean girls didn't back down from a challenge.