Rinoa and Ariena approached me when they saw me standing in the corridor, gazing down below.
"Hey, how are you?" Rinoa asked as she sidled up beside me. Ariena was with her.
"What kind of question is that?" I retorted, watching the students below, who looked like ants scurrying about.
"I mean, you and Sheldon," she clarified.
"You know we'll never get along. And I haven't talked to him in days," I replied dismissively.
"I heard he went to your house," she said, making me turn to look at her.
"How did you find out?" I asked, and she just shrugged.
"Well, the news has wings," she said cryptically.
I glanced back down below. "Yeah, but I didn't entertain him. It was him and Mommy who talked," I said.
That was the last interaction I had with Sheldon. I didn't know what he was up to now, but it was fine by me if he didn't pay much attention to me. It was better to have fewer people ruining my day.
As I scanned the area with my eyes, I suddenly spotted a guy walking out of the school. He had a bag with him and looked like he was heading home.
"Who's that?" I asked Rinoa as I watched the guy.
"Who? Oh, him? He's the one Sheldon bullied. I've heard he's transferring schools. I didn't know it was today," she replied. So, Sheldon had driven another student out of Fairfield.
"I can't believe he made it this far," I overheard Ariena saying beside Rinoa.
I couldn't help but smirk at Ariena's comment. Sheldon had a knack for causing trouble, and it seemed like he didn't care who he stepped on to get his way. It was no surprise that he had a hand in driving another student away.
"Well, that's Sheldon for you," I remarked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Always leaving a trail of chaos wherever he goes."
Rinoa and Ariena nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring my disdain for Sheldon's antics. It was frustrating how someone like him could continue to wreak havoc without facing any consequences.
As the three of us watched the departing student disappear from sight, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. Maybe now that he was gone, things would be a little less chaotic around here. But knowing Sheldon, trouble was never far behind.
Bagsak ang balikat ko habang naglalakad sa hallway. Tamad kong binuksan ang locker at kumuha ng mga gamit nang biglang tumunog ang cell phone ko. Kinuha ko iyon at tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag.
Yank calling...
I scoffed and rejected it. Wala akong panahon para makipagtalastasan sa kaniya. Marami akong iniisip ngayon. Tumunog na naman ito kaya umirap ako at akmang maglalakad para sana sagutin nang makita ko siya sa likod ko.
Bahagya akong napaatras. "You startled me!" Inis kong sabi sa kaniya.
"Yank?" Nakangisi niyang tanong.
"What are you doing here?" Mataray kong tanong.
Tinanggal niya ang cell phone sa tenga at binaba iyon.
"Nothing, I just miss my sister"
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko. "Who said I'm your sister?"
"Come on. You're being cold to me. You're making me upset"
Tinarayan ko lang siya at isinara ang locker. Masamang tingin ang ibinigay ko sa kaniya nang humarap ako.
"Bakit yank ang pangalan ko sa contact?" Nakataas ang kilay niyang tanong.
Binigyan ko siya ng pekeng ngiti. "Suits you, right?" Sabi ko at muli siyang tinarayan saka naglakad paalis.
Wala na namang magawa sa buhay ang lalaking iyon at ako na naman ang guguluhin niya. Sa dinami-rami ng estudyante rito, kahit sino ay pwede niyang siraan ng araw.
"Don't act so cold to me, sister." rinig kong sabi niya sa tabi ko, sinusundan ako sa paglalakad.
"I told you don't call me that" nanggigigil kong sabi habang binibilisan ang paghakbang.
"Then, how about 'my princess'?"
Huminto ako at tumingin sa kaniya. "Don't ruin my day, Sheldon. Not now"
Tumingin ako sa mga estudyanteng nakatingin na sa amin. This is why I hate being with him.
"Iba na lang ang guluhin mo. I have to get to class"
Ngumisi siya at yumuko para bumulong. "I even acquiesced to the favor you asked for. Don't forget you owe me," he said coldly and left me standing there.
That man...
I shot him a sharp glare, a silent retort to his icy words, but he didn't turn back. He kept walking, his silhouette fading into the distance, leaving me to wrestle with the weight of his ultimatum and the unsettling realization that our relationship had just taken an unexpected turn.
"Miss Davies" tawag sa akin ni prof.
"Yes?"
"Can you give an example of social influence in marketing?" Tanong niya.
Ngumiwi ako dahil hindi ko inaasahan na tatawagin niya ako. Hindi naman ako madalas matawag kahit na lagi akong sa labas nakatingin at hindi nakikinig.
"Uhm...celebrity endorsements, prof." Sagot ko dahil naalala ko yung sinabi ni Nerdy sa akin kagabi. Hindi naman ito kasama sa dapat ire-review namin pero pinahapyawan niya lang dahil itong subject na 'to ang pag-aaralan namin mamaya.
"At paano mo naman nasabi?"
"When a celebrity promotes a product, it can sway consumer opinions and encourage purchases." Gusto kong umirap dahil talagang nagtanong pa siya.
Ngumiti siya at tumango. "That's right. Celebrity endorsements leverage social influence to build trust and credibility. Thank you so much, Miss Davies"
Tumango lang ako at tumingin na ulit sa labas. Mabuti na lang pala at nabigyan ako ni Nerdy ng knowledge niya. Kung hindi ay napahiya na ako rito. Narinig ko ang singhal at bulong ng kung sino sa likod. Ngumisi ako. Mabuti na lang at hindi ako napahiya sa harap ng babaeng 'yon.
"Strategic Marketing. This is all about planning and implementing marketing initiatives to achieve specific business objectives."
"Strategic marketing? What exactly does it involve?" Tanong ko sabay subo ng isang grapes.
May ipinakita siya sa aking papel.
"It involves analyzing market trends, identifying target audiences, and developing strategies to reach and engage your audiences effectively. It's about positioning your product or service in the market in a way that sets you apart from competitors and creates value for customers." Paliwanag ni Nerdy.
I nodded "Hmm, so, it's about more than just advertising?"
"Yes. While advertising is a part of it, it goes beyond just promotion."
Ah, so, it serves as a roadmap that outlines my objectives, target audience, messaging, and tactics to achieve my goals.
Isa-isa niyang nilagay sa bag ang mga gamit niya nang matapos kami. Inayos niya ang papel na sinulat at tinabi iyon nang maayos sa lamesa.
"Iiwan ko na 'to rito para may review ka" aniya at bumalik sa ginagawa.
Pinapanood ko lang siyang maglagay ng mga gamit sa bag niya. Malinis at organized ang pagkakalagay niya. Parang kabisadong-kabisado niya talaga kung saan nakalagay ang bawat gamit niya sa bag.
"Do you really like studying?" I asked him.
"Even if I say I don't, I still need to study," he replied while fixing his things. I just watched him as he worked. He squeezed the pens into the side.
"True," I said. I stood up and grabbed my purse from the side of the sofa. I took out five thousand pesos and approached him. "Here," I said, handing him the money. He looked at it and counted with his eyes.
"Isn't it just one thousand for each hour and a half?" I nodded and took his hand, placing the money there.
"Just take it," I urged. He looked at it and then lifted his gaze to me.
"Early payment?" he began, but I cut him off.
"No, don't say too much," I said, sitting down on the long sofa. "Go home because your siblings might be looking for you," I said, leaning back against the cushion.
He hesitated for a moment, his expression reflecting a mix of surprise and uncertainty. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.
I shrugged nonchalantly, a hint of irritation flickering across my features. "Just take it," I reiterated, my tone firm.
After a brief pause, he finally nodded, reluctantly accepting the money. "Thanks," he mumbled, his gratitude tinged with a hint of discomfort.
I waved him off dismissively, eager to bring the awkward exchange to a close. "No need to thank me. Just make sure you're prepared for our next session," I said curtly, already mentally moving on to other matters.
With a final nod, he gathered his belongings and made his way towards the door. As he disappeared from view, I let out a sigh of relief, glad to be rid of the tension that had momentarily clouded the air.
Alone once more, I settled back into the sofa, my mind already wandering to the tasks and responsibilities that awaited me. Despite the brief interruption, I was determined to stay focused and make the most of the time ahead.
As I sat there, the room seemed to echo with the weight of our exchange. The atmosphere felt charged with unspoken tension, leaving me feeling somewhat unsettled.
I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering discomfort. It wasn't like me to be so abrupt, but something about the situation had rubbed me the wrong way.
Lost in thought, I glanced around the penthouse, taking in the opulent surroundings that usually brought me a sense of comfort and tranquility. Yet, at that moment, even the lavish decor seemed to mock my unease.
Shaking my head, I pushed aside the lingering doubts and focused on the tasks at hand. There were emails I'm too lazy to answer, plans to finalize, and a myriad of other responsibilities that demanded my attention.
Habang lumalim ang gabi, mabigat na nadarama ko ang pagod sa aking mga balikat. Matapos ang mahabang sesyon ng pag-aaral kasama ang nerd na iyon, pakiramdam ko'y ubos na ang aking lakas, bawat piraso ng aking pag-iisip ay nauubos sa paghahanap ng kaalaman.
Tumayo ako mula sa sofa na may bigat na hininga, nadama ang pagod na sumisiksik sa aking buto. Ang penthouse, ang bahay kong puno ng karangyaan at kasaganaan, ngayon ay para bang humihigop ng hangin, ang atmosphere ay mabigat dahil sa mga pagsubok ng bawat araw.
Habang naglalakad papunta sa kwarto, nagnanais ako ng pahinga, hinihintay ang kaginhawahan na pangakong dala ng pagtulog mula sa kaharap ng araw-araw. Sa bawat hakbang, ang bigat ng pagod ay humihila sa akin patungo sa malambing na yakap ng kama.
Pumapailalim sa kumot, pinapayagan ko ang aking sarili na magpasakop sa nakakalibang kadiliman, ang katahimikan ng gabi ay nag-aalok ng sandaling ginhawa mula sa ingay ng mundo. Sa bawat paglipas ng oras, ang pabagong paghinga ng gabi ay yumuyuko sa akin, nagbibigay-daan sa pagtulog, kung saan ang mga hamon at pakikibaka ng araw ay nauupos sa aking panaginip.
The next morning, I woke up early. I stretched my arm and grabbed my cell phone from the bedside table. Messages from Rinoa and notifications from my social media greeted me. There wasn't a single message from Mommy. She probably knew I was home. I turned off my cell phone and plugged it in to charge because it was already low on battery. I went into the bathroom and soaked in the bathtub.
As I lay in the warm water, I felt relaxed. It helped me forget about being tired from yesterday. The bath made me feel calm and peaceful. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the quiet. When I finished, I dried myself with a soft towel.
I fixed myself up. I sat on the chair in front of the mirror and applied lotion on my arms. I put on creams on my face and blow-dried my hair. Then, I did my makeup. As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but admire how the makeup enhanced my features. My eyes sparkled with the touch of mascara and eyeshadow, and my lips looked luscious with a hint of color. I felt confident and beautiful as I finished getting ready for the day ahead.
After finishing my makeup, I glanced at the clock and realized it was time to head to school. I quickly grabbed my bag and slipped on my shoes before rushing out the door. Maaga naman akong nagising. Wait, maaga ba? Baka namali lang ako ng tingin sa orasan kanina.
Habang nasa kotse ay biglang tumunog ang cell phone ko. Message iyon galing kay Rinoa. Binuksan ko iyon at nakita kong link iyon. I clicked it. My eyes widened as I read the headline. An article about Chanel and Aelle, claiming they're engaged. Seriously? I didn't see that coming. It's not like I care about their relationship or anything, but the idea of those two getting engaged is just... unexpected. Who would've thought?
In a twist that has left many stunned, Chanel Sullivan and Aelle Mintz Alarie, two prominent figures in our community, have announced their engagement, sending shockwaves through social circles.
The news of their impending nuptials came as a surprise to many, as the relationship between Chanel and Aelle had largely flown under the radar. While Chanel's affection for Aelle had been speculated upon by some, the confirmation of their engagement still caught many off guard.
The couple's love story is as intriguing as it is unexpected. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and personalities, Chanel and Aelle found common ground in their shared interests and values. Their relationship blossomed quietly, away from the prying eyes of the public, culminating in a heartfelt proposal that took many by surprise.
I chuckled and didn't bother to read what else was written in the article. I think I already know why there was an engagement between them. Just like my mother's, I'm pretty sure it was just for the sake of their company's unity.
Nang makapasok sa school ang sasakyan ko ay kita ko ang kumpulan ng mga estudyante. May pinagkakaguluhan silang kotse sa gitna. Nagsigawan sila nang may lumabas na tao sa sasakyan. Hindi ko makita kung sino iyon dahil maraming nakapalibot sa kaniya. Unti-unting naglakad ang mga estudyante na parang sinusundan ang taong iyon.
Nang makapasok sila ang lumipat ang tingin ko sa sasakyang pinaglabasan ng taong iyon. So it was Chanel, huh?
Kami na ang nasa harap ng pila kaya lumabas si Kuya Joberth at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. Nilibot ko ang tingin sa kapaligiran. Walang kahit anong estudyante ang pakalat-kalat dito dahil may pinagpipyestahan sila. Umalis na rin si Kuya Joberth matapos akong ibaba.
"I'm glad they're not talking about tita Natalie and daddy anymore." Napatingin ako sa taong nagsabi no'n.
"They're talking about mommy?" Tanong ko at tumango siya.
"Yes, hindi mo ba naririnig?" Nakangisi niyang sabi at lumipat ang tingin niya sa kung saan. "Hey there, Miss Independent" aniya kaya napalingon din ako roon.
Nasa kabilang side siya ng kotse ni Sheldon nakatayo at nakayuko na mukhang pinagtataguan ang isang 'to.
"Who is she?" Tanong ko habang pinipilit silipin ang mukha ng babae.
"Hindi mo siya maalala? Yung babaeng nakatapon sa'yo?"
Napahinto ako sa pagsilip at kunot noong tumingin sa kaniya. Hindi nawala ang ngisi niya habang nakatingin sa akin.
"What's her name again?" Tanong ko at nakita ko kung paano naglaho ang ngisi sa labi niya.
"You're hopeless" sabi niya at nailing pa sabay lakad para puntahan ang babae. Pinanood ko lang siya habang nakahalukipkip.
Yumuko siya para magpantay ang mukha nila. Nakita kong mas lalong yumuko at umatras ang kalahati ng katawan nung babae na parang ilag na ilag kay Sheldon.
"Don't go near. Baka raw mahawa siya" natatawa kong sabi.
Hindi naman niya ako pinansin at nanatili ang tingin sa babae. Wala nang ibang sasakyan ang nakapila at tanging kami na lang ang hindi pa pumapasok.
"Are you scared of me?"
I rolled my eyes at the air when he asked that. Isn't it obvious? Just looking at him is scary enough. Pwede pa nga siyang isabak sa horror movie. Paniguradong bebenta ang movie kapag siya ang ginawang scary monster. Sa talim ba naman ng mga titig niya.
"A-anong kailangan mo..." utal na tanong nung babae.
Her voice sounds familiar. Saan ko ba siya nakita? Inisip ko ang sinabi ni Sheldon kanina. Babaeng nakatapon sa akin? When? Wala akong matandaan.
"Nezel?" Tawag ng isang lalaki kaya pare-pareho kaming napatingin doon.
"Oh, your knight and shining nerd is here" sabi ni Sheldon.
Bagong dating lang din siya. Tiningnan niya si Sheldon at yung babaeng tinawag niyang Nezel.
Nezel...?
Kumunot ang noo ko. That's familiar.
"Can't you see that I'm walking?!"
Humugis bilog ang bibig ko nang maalala iyon. Ngayon ay naaalala ko na siya. Tumingin sa akin yung babaeng nagngangalang Nezel. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay kaya umiwas siya ng tingin. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa bagong dating at nakita kong nakatingin din siya sa akin kaya umiwas ako ng tingin.
"What are you doing here? Male-late ka na" rinig kong sabi niya.
Tumingin ako sa malayo at nakita ko ang building nila. Naningkit ang mga mata ko at nakitang may mga taong nakatayo sa corridor na parang nakatingin sa amin. Wala ba silang klase? Bumaba ang tingin ko sa relo. We still have ten minutes.
"Can't you see that I'm talking to her" malamig na sabi ni Sheldon kaya umangat ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Nasa tabi na ni Nezel si Nerdy.
"I'm sorry pero kailangan na naming pumasok. Baka ma-late kami" sagot ni Nerdy.
Sheldon scoffed at humakbang palapit sa nerd. Matangkad ng konti si Sheldon.
"You dare to talk back at me now, huh?" Matalim ang mata ni Sheldon habang nakatingin sa nerd. Wala namang emosyon si Nerdy.
"Pasensya na pero kailangan na talaga naming pumasok" aniya sabay hawak sa pulso ni Nezel. Bumaba ang tingin ko roon.
I heard Sheldon laughed without humor. "I see that you two are friends" pinagkadiinan niya ang huling salita.
"Sige, mauna na kami"
Gumalaw ang mga kamay nila. I blinked. Ngayon ko lang napansin na nakatitig lang pala ako roon.
"Sinong may sabing pwede na kayong umalis? I'm not done with you guys"
So cold.
"Pasensya na, pero sa tingin ko ay hindi namin kailangan ng permiso ng kahit sino para pumasok" sagot sa kaniya ni Nerdy.
"What did you say..."
Sa pagkakataon na iyon ay umangat ang tingin ko at nakitang hawak ni Sheldon ang kwelyo ni Nerdy. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa babaeng hawak niya. Nakatingin siya sa dalawa nang may takot at gulat.
I looked at Sheldon.
"Sheldon, let's go" I interrupted.
Nanatili ang matalim niyang titig kay Nerdy.
"Why are you still here, Niona? Just go."
"Just continue that later. Baka makita pa tayo ni Nate rito. Let's go" sabi ko para hindi matuloy ang balak niya. Para kasing sa oras na magsalita yung nerd ay may mangyari na namang gulo rito.
"Sheldon..." tawag ko nang hindi siya sumunod. Tumiim ang bagang niya bago ito marahas na binitawan. Nalukot ang uniform nung nerd sa bandang dibdib dahil sa higpit ng pagkakahawak ni Sheldon dito.
Inayos ni Sheldon ang blazer saka naglakad papasok. Matalim pa rin ang mga mata niya habang naglalakad. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa dalawa at bumaba ang ito sa kamay nila. Umiwas ako ng tingin at sumunod na rin kay Sheldon.