KABANATA 6

Sinira ko ang libro at sinandig ang likod sa upuan, pinaikot ang panulat sa mga daliri at nag-isip ng mataimtim.

Gregore was spoiled. And hard headed, yes. Kung anong gusto niya, papanindigan niya. Kung anong ayaw niya, mananatiling ayaw niya. She doesn't like the idea of clubs nor booths. At isa pa, isasama ito ng ama sa isang business trip, maagang pag hahasa sa kanya. 

Kung wala akong gagawin, siguradong hindi mapipigilan ang pag-angat ni Austin. Perfect plan, indeed. She knew Gregore won't participate...At alam niya rin mismong pagkakataon na niya ito. Siguradong mapapanalo niya ang tatlong patimpalak. She was a genius and competitive after all.

Hinarap ko si Merelle at mag sasalita na sana nang sinalubong ako nito ng kanyang palad. "I know, I know, girl."

Napaawang ang labi ko.

"You'll join, right?" Humagikgik siya at winagayway ang isang folder. "This folder contains the forms of three clubs: Math, Science, and Board Games." 

My lips pursed. This chipmunk...she planned this very well.

"How much," Nilabas ko ang wallet at binuksan ito, binilang ang laman. 

"Three thousand."

Mabilis akong napatingin sa kanya. That much for just three papers? One thousand each?

"Are you kidding me?"

She made a cute face and made a peace sign. "Sorry. Mali pala ang presyo ko."

"Ayus ayusin mo, Merelle." Seryosong saad ko bago ko kinuha ang folder.

Kakatungan pa yata ako, ah

She cleared her throat. "It's three thousand and six pesos, Ery. You'll pay for the folder too, right..."

Hindi ako makapaniwalang tinitigan ulit siya. I opened my mouth for a complain but because I couldn't find words, I closed them again. 

Ano pa ba ang aasahan ko sa babaeng ito?

"Alam kong nakakagulat, pero that's business talaga, Ery. I hope you understand." Nag kibit balikat siya at kamay pa rin sa likod ng ulo, sumipol sipol ito kasabay ng pag patong ng dalawang paa sa kanyang lamesa, tila walang may binibiktima sa kanyang kasakiman.

Corrupt.

Walang awa, walang puso. Walang pautang, walang patawad.

"Kakasuhan kita. You're over pricing." 

Tumawa siya. "Sige. Kitakits nalang sa kulungan. Ikaw, makukulong dahil lulubog ka sa kautangan para may ipambayad lang sa iyong abogado, at ako naman ay dadamayan kita, aking kaibigan. Sa kasiyahan man o sa pighati, nandito lang ako--"

"Paano naging ganito kalaki?" Mariin kong tanong sa kanya. Hindi niya ito ibebenta sa ganitong halaga kung alam niyang hindi ako dehadong makuha ang mga ito. 

"Those are the last forms, Ery. Kahit mag tumbling at mag split ka pa, wala kang mahahanap na." Ngumiti siya ng matamis. "And the application forms for clubs were already closed yesterday. But because you have a kind friend, I'll spare you and I'll find a way in. I'm amazing, and I know that." 

Gamit na gamit ang mga connections, ah. 

Ibinigay ko ang hinihingi niyang halaga at mabilis na ni-fill up-an ang mga forms. 

"Tuso ka talaga, Merelle." Sabi ko at binigay balik sa kanya ang folder. 

"Negosyo lang, Ery. Walang personalan."

Ngumisi siya at kasabay ng pagtayo, ang siyang pagtunog ng bell, takda na tapos na ang oras ng klase at kailangan ng maghanda para sa panibago. "I'll see you tomorrow."   

"Mag c-cuting ka nanaman?" Tumaas ang kilay ko.

Umikot ang kanyang mga mata. "Aasikasuhin ko muna ang mga forms natin. At alam ko na rin naman ang aralin ni Sir Doughlas eh. Why waste my time here?"

This lowkey hambog.

Ngunit totoo naman. Hindi man halata, ngunit maalam ang babae. Kung hindi lamang nito prayoridad ang salapi, maaaring mapabilang din ito sa mataas na ranko sa skwelahan.

 "Natin? I thought you're done applying?" Nakataas pa rin ang kilay ko.

"Kinulang ang isang araw ko para mapasukan lahat ng club." Yumuko agad siya at nag tago sa likod ko nang dumating na ang maestro.

"Balak mo bang maging Summa Cum Laude, Merelle? Patay na patay ka yata sa mga puntos?" 

"Dimwit. Anong makukuha ko sa awards? Magiging sexy ba ako? Tss. Hindi. There are so many things that matter the most, Ery. That is just temporary...And you must give importance to what is permanent. Kayo ni Gregore lang naman ang patay na patay sa puntos, eh." 

I smiled. I liked this side of Merelle. 

"I'm just doing my job, Merelle." 

"Imaginary clap to that, then."

My job was to take care of Gregore. And protecting her fame, her honor, the respect and the authority were a part of it. Hindi ako uhaw sa puntos. Uhaw akong magawa ng mabuti ang trabaho ko. Dahil tulad ni Merelle, hindi ko rin nakikita ang halaga ng mga medalya at certificates. Those things will perish someday. My loyalty, my faithfulness, my obedience to the commandments of my masters were the most important. I would rather lose honor than lose my principle.

"And imaginary medals to the most participative and cooperative student of the year." 

Tumawa siya ng mahina. "I'll join all the clubs in order for me to do my business. You know, more connections, more power. And more power means more money. Yehey. Happy na naman si inday."

Umiling ako at hindi na siya pinansin.

"Goodness child! May hayop na nakawala!" Dali-daling bumalik si Merelle sa kanyang upuan at garalgal na inaayos ang mga kagamitan.

"Wow, long time no see." 

Hilaw siyang ngumiti. "I missed you too."

"Ery," Napatingin ako sa harapan nang magsalita ang guro. "Go to the faculty."

Natigilan ako. It's Gregore's papers again. I bet. 

Tikom ang bibig, inayos ko ang mga kagamitan at tumayo para sundin ang guro. Ngunit bago umalis, tinignan ko ang babae sa gilid. 

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at tinaboy gamit ang isang kamay. "Sho sho."

My lip pursed but then I never commented. Himalang hindi ito sumama sa akin ngayon kung pinapatawag man ako sa faculty. Himala ring bumalik ito at pinagpalit ang pag-aaral kaysa sa agenda. Agenda na mag papayaman daw sa kanya.

"Get me a bottle of water." 

Tumango ako kay Gregore nang na daanan ang silya niya. 

Nakita ko ang pag kaway ni Merelle sa glass window ng aming classroom. Malaki ang ngisi nito sa akin na tila nanunukso. Ngunit ang masayahing mukha nito ay agad napalitan ng hindi mawaring reaksyon nang nabaling ang tingin sa likod ko.

Nangunot ang noo ko nang bigla itong yumuko at itinakip ang bag sa mukha, sinamahan pa ng pag padyak-padyak. Tila isang nakakasindak na pangyayari ang kanyang nasaksihan na dumating sa puntong pinagtitinginan siya ng ilang mga kaklase.  

At tantya ko, hindi magtatagal, detention na naman ang pupuntahan nito. Nanggugulo nanaman sa klase eh.

"I was waiting for you, pretty girl." 

Kaya pala nakakasindak.

Ngumisi naman siya. "I was the one who told the faculty to call you out."

This manggot…

Of course. Because of power, he could manipulate everything, including the teachers.

"What do you want from me?" 

"Wrong question." He tilted his head. "What does he want from you?"

He pointed his finger at me. "Reu wants, Reu gets."

I knew it. 

Mariin ko siyang tinitigan. "Didn't know you became a slave."

He smirked. "I had other business. I want to see it myself..."

Natigilan ako. His smirk...was different. It was not his normal smirk.

"So...that's your friend, huh." Tumabi si Gaulin saakin at tinignan ang bintana sa aking likod. 

This is bad. 

"No." Matigas kong sabi sabay lakad.

Friends and acquaintances are different.

"What's her full name?" 

"Why would you like to know?" 

Tanging halakhak niya ang umakupa sa tahimik na hallway. 

"Shall I hire a private investigator instead?"

"Asleah Merelle Sweiden." I clenched my jaw. This maggot was showing off his riches. Rubbing it on my face, huh.

"Sweiden...daughter of Doctor Darlene and Doctor Albie Sweiden? Interesting."

Hindi ako nag salita.  

Gaulin was unpredictable. And now that he seemed interested in the identity of someone, which never happened before, slightly worries me. What's on his mind now?

"If I report their daughter to the authorities, do you think it will tarnish the image of her parents?" Tumawa ulit siya. "Of course, yeah?"

I stopped.

"I can imagine now the beautiful front page of some tabloids: Daughter of Two Gifted Doctors and Owner of Hospitals, Arrested because her daughter--"

"What did she do this time?" Knowing that girl, kayang kaya niyang gawin ang lahat para lang sa pera.

People are not dangerous, money is. Hindi mo alam kung anong magagawa ng pera sa buhay ng tao. 

"Sweiden's abilities are dangerous. And it irritates me...It pisses me off. She pisses me off, big time, Ery." 

"D-Did she kill someone?"  

He chuckled. "That body of hers cannot even kill a fly."

Then what? Anong kinairita ni Gualin?

At sa lahat pa namang tao, pinili ng babae na kalabanin ito?

Bigla siyang sumeryoso at nilagpasan ako. Ngunit nanlamig ako sa bulong niya sa hangin. 

I heard that. I seriously heard that!

 Nanginginig ang kamay, kinuha ko ang cellphone at nagtipa.

To: Merelle

What have you done, Merelle?

From: Merelle

Anderson's mad, no? hahaha

This girl...

"He wants to break your neck, you imbecile..." 

From: Merelle

Pinasok ko ang room ng Student Supreme Government without anyone noticing it. I forged his signature in order for me to get the approval of every club president. Para sa special entries. For you and for me. Swak na swak ang plano parang swak na gatas lang hehe ;<

Kaya pala.

And...Vice President si Gualin. Kaya bakit hindi ito lumapit sa President?

From: Merelle

I know you are curious right now, baby girl. Money down muna. Wag kang kurakot, ah..

Pinatay ko ang cellphone at binalik sa bulsa. Kinuha rin naman agad nang mag vibrate ito.

From: Merelle

Utang'to, ha.

From: Merelle

Reu is kinda scary. He can terminate me any second you know. And isa pa, si Anderson ang nagh-handle ng clubs. His approval still matters. So bakit pa ako lalapit doon sa monster kung pwede naman sa rabbit, right? Reu is troublesome. While Anderson is kinda cute. He can't be mad at me kyah >.> 

To: Merelle

So you aren't scared of Gualin, huh? That "rabbit" will report you to the authority, Merelle. You will pay for your sin, you will pay according to your own wickedness. Aren't you afraid of that?

Tinitigan ko nang matagal ang screen nang hindi ito nag reply. By now, Sir Doughlas probably saw her using her phone during class hour. I smirked. I knew it. Detention is welcoming you again.

"Who you are texting, Ery? Cousin Reu, I bet?" At nagtawanan sila.

Napaangat ako ng tingin at napa awang na lamang ang mga labi sa babaeng nasa harapan.

"Gen..."

"He still has a liking on this maid, Lali?" Sagot naman ni Axis sa gilid.

"Oh it will pass. You know Reu very well, Ax." Jamaijen, brother of Gen, chuckled.

Nagulat ako nang hinawakan ako ni Gualin sa balikat at inilapit sa kanya. 

"I know him too. And knowing him, he doesn't want news, particularly news about his three cousins present and on the hospital bed." 

Tumaas ang kilay ni Gen. "Are you threatening us, Gualin?" 

Pasimple kong inilayo ang sarili mula sa lalaki at pasimpleng tumikim. 

"Merely, Gen." Ngumisi siya. 

Dumapo ang tingin ni Ax sa akin. "You also like this maid, Gualin?"

"Do I still need to answer that, Ax?" 

Tinitigan ko pabalik si Axis. Agad naman siyang umiwas ng tingin.

Fighting for yourself doesn't mean you need to fight physically and fight them back with words. An eye for an eye is enough.

And sometimes, you just need to let it pass, but never let go of the determination to never give up. You just need to wait patiently for the truth to reveal itself, silence to rule the situation, and peace reign within your heart and mind. 

Tinignan ko ang cellphone nang nag vibrate ito, inaasahan ang reply ni Merelle. Ngunit hindi.

From: +639*********

What are you doing with Gualin? Why are both of you late? What's happening behind my back?

Nangunot ang noo ko. Ngunit umayos din nang may napagtantong si Reu ito.

From: +639*********

Are you dating him, Ery?