Chapter 2: Accidental Friend

"Have you heard? Katrina is missing." 

"I did, but I just saw her yesterday leaving the school with her friends."

The gossip about Katrina being missing spread like wildfire. The news, as I heard it, claimed that at 9 pm, Katrina was last seen leaving her house alone. Her family said that she just left to buy some foods from a department store. However, she didn't came back from then on. 

Well, some might think that she was just with her friends but none of her friends also knew where she was. 

Kakatapos lamang ng PE session namin kaya nagtungo ako sa CR upang magpalit ng damit.

Just as I was about to enter the room, I heard a group of women talking about Katrina's disappearance. Nanatili muna ako sa labas, habang hinintay silang lumabas dahil hindi ako komportable kung marami akong kasama sa loob ng banyo.

"Katrina isn't someone who leaves her house for a long time without informing her parents about her wherebouts. Yes, the relationship between her and her step-mother wasn't good but she is very close to her father. Surely she had called him already."

"'Yon na nga din ang pinagtatakahan ko. Plus, ang nakakatakot pa, may iilang mga tao ang nagsasabi na may nakita daw silang isang itim na SUV na sobrang bilis magpatakbo kagabi."

"Hay naku, baka coincidence lang yun, Tiffany. Kayo talagang dalawa kung ano-ano na lang mga iniisip niyo. Malay niyo naman kasi sumama lang 'yon si Katrina sa isa sa kanyang mga lalaki. Alam niyo naman yun, medyo may pagkamalandi din ang higad na yun."

"Yah, you know what? I think you're right, Tracy. We should not dwell too much on this gossip. Mas mabuti pa pumasok na tayo sa klase bago pa tayo mapagalitan 'uli ni Sir Gamora."

The three women emerged in the comfort room's door. Nakita nila akong naghihintay sa labas at tiitnitigan nila ako mula ulo hanggang paa na para pang may mali sa suot ko. Napayuko na lang ako, habang iniiwasan ang mapanglait nilang mga tingin. 

Nagtinginan sila sa isa't isa bago sila umalis sa harap ko. 

Finally, I got the whole comfort room all to myself.

Matapos kung magpalit ng damit ay lumabas na ako cubicle. Ngunit nagulat ako nang may nakita akong isang matangkad na babaeng nagli-lipstick sa harap ng malapad na salamin. Hindi ko napansing may pumasok kanina kaya nagtaka ako. 

Her uniform perfectly complemented her slim physique. Her long straight black hair falls down to her waist. Siguro kong di siya nakauniporme aakalain kong isa siyang modelo na dumayo dito sa school.  

Hindi ko siya ininda at nagtungo na lang ako palabas ng pinto.

Ngunit bago ko pa tuluyang naabot ang door knob, biglang siyang nagsalita.

"Bella, right?" Napatigil ako at hinarap siya.  

Sinalubong niya ako ng malalapad niyang mga ngiti ngunit sinuklian ko lang ito ng  isang kunot noong ekspresyon. 

How did she knew my name?

"Oh, sorry that was rude of me. I'm Nahlia. You must be wondering how I know your name. Magkaklase tayo sa Oral Communication at Earth Science. I heard that our teacher addressed you as Bella. Did I get your name right?"

"Ah, oo, tama ka nga. Ako si Bella."

"Perfect, I hope you don't mind kung sasabay na ako sayo papasok sa klase. Bago lang ako dito and this campus is too big for me to get used to in just a day.  You know… just yesterday, It took me more than half an hour to look for my next class," natatawa niyang saad.

"Ah sure no problem but I need to get some things on my locker first, I hope it's okay," I politely said. 

"Sure thing! Thank you so much! You don't know how much trouble you're saving me from."

She kept talking as we headed to the hallway to get few of my belongings from my locker. She was suprisingly talkative and me, being an introvert just silently nodded to all of her stories. 

"So yah, that's how I get here. How about you? Matagal ka na bang nag-aaral dito?"

"Oo. Junior student pa lang ako dito na ako nag-aaral."

Sa wakas at nakarating na rin kami sa harapan ng locker ko. Hinugot ko ang susi sa bulsa ko nang mapansin kong nakabukas na agad ang locker ko.

Ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lang ito. Minsan nangyayari rin kasi talaga na di ko na naisasara nang maayos ito dahil sa pagmamadali. 

Baka nalimutan ko lang sarhan. 

However, just as I opened my locker I saw a white envelope neatly placed on top of my books. 

I didn't remember putting a white envelope here, so it was really odd. Still, I kept a straight face. Ayaw kong mahalata ng kasama ko na may kakaibang bagay sa locker ko.

Pasikreto kong sinilid ang envelope sa bulsa ko. 

"I'm good. Tara na." I slammed the locker shut. This time, I made sure that it was completely locked. 

Habang naglalakad kami di ko pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang misteryosong white envelope. Mabuti na lang at 'di masyado napapansin ni Nahlia ang kinikilos ko dahil abalang-abala siya sa pagkukuwento. 

Finally, we arrived at our class. Wala akong katabi sa upuan kaya lumipat si Nahlia malapit sa puwesto ko. 

She didn't stop talking to me the whole period. Our teacher didn't came so we spent the whole time chatting with each other. 

"Yes! I know right! I love them too! I didn't know you were also a fan of Hamilton the Musical. King George is my favorite, although he only appeared for a few times," she exitedly squilled and then sang King George's whole solo on the musical, with matching hand gestures. 

Hindi ko inaasahang magiging magaan  ang loob ko sa kanya. Surprisingly, we have a lot of similiraties.

Kahit nahihiya, sinabayan ko na rin siya sa pagkanta. Mabuti na lang at abala rin ang mga kaklase ko sa mga ginagawa nila kaya hindi nila kami pinapansin. 

Ilang sandali, umalingawngaw sa buong silid ang tunog ng bell, hudyat na maaari na kaming mag-recess.

"Sa wakas! Ano? Sabay na tayong bumaba." Tatangapin ko na sana ang alok niya nang maalala ko ang sulat na nakita ko sa loob ng locker ko. 

Hindi ko iyon pwedeng ilabas nang kasama ko si Nahlia. 

Who knows? It could be Katrina's ex-boyfriend again. If that will be the case, I don't want anyone to know about it. I already had enough of Katrina's bullying, and her knowing that her "ex" is still into me, will only make things worse. 

"No, sorry. Busog pa kasi ako. Salamat na lang sa alok." 

"Are you sure?" May pag-aalala niyang saad, "Baka magutom ka mamaya."

"Yes, I'm sure." I smiled at her.

She released a deep sigh. "Okay, sabi mo eh."

Nang makaalis na siya, dinukot ko na ang envelope mula sa bulsa ko. Medyo nagusot na ito dahil sa kung paano ko ito nilagay.

Walang ibang nakasulat sa labas nito kaya kinain ako ng kuryusidad ko at dali-dali itong binuksan. 

Napataas-kilay ako nang makitang isang pangungusap lang ang nakasulat  dito.

"Meet me at the library, aisle 17, tomorrow at 12 noon."

Anong ibig sabihin nito?

Just as I was about to close it, I found something at its lower left that made my heart raced. 

It was a name. A very familiar one.

Parang umikot ang paningin ko. My legs began to lose its strength. I needed something to hold into just to support my whole weight. 

I took a deep breath. 

The name was Stephanie, my elder 

sister who disappeared one year ago. 

Surely, someone is just messing with me. Stephanie couldn't have sent me this envelope, right? 

Hindi ko napansing nakumot ko na pala ang papel sa palad ko dahil sa kaba at gulat.  I began to sweat profusely. Suddenly, the cold temperature in the room began to get hotter. 

Nanginginig kung tinago muli ang papel sa bulsa. This could have been some pranks administered by some students—but I still can't shake off the feeling that this letter is important.

Recess time was over so I headed to my next class, still unable to get the thought of the letter out of my mind.