Chapter 4

"Hinihintay ka na ni Racer sa labas. Don't you have plan to come with him? Pinagihintay mo pa talaga yung tao."

I immediately fixed my things before going out of our room. Kanina pa ako pinagmamadali ni Mau dahil kakain daw kami ni Racer sa cafeteria. I don't even know kung anong sadya niya pero baka importante kaya pumayag nalang ako. I saw him busy looking at his phone but when he saw me, he immediately put his phone away.

"Uy! Anong sadya mo? Why do you want to see me?" tanong ko agad nang makalapit siya sa'kin. 

He just shrugged his shoulders and waved his hands on the girls who were screaming his name."Wala lang. I just want to eat with you and have a little chitchat. Hindi ka naman siguro busy 'di ba?"

Umiling naman ako sa tanong niya."Nah. Ang boring nga eh kase busy lahat ng teachers para bukas. Ikaw ba? You're a member of the SSG Councilors so you should be doing some things right now."

"Yeah. I'm also the in charge in partnering of the students. Bale, I'm going to put the names of the students in a box, by section siya at grade. Then I'm going to exchange the box to the other section and they will pick a paper to know who's their partner. Walang daya kase nakapiring sila kapag bubunot." Sinabayan niya ako sa paglalakad at tiningnan ang reaksyon ko. 

Bumagsak naman ang balikat ko sa sinabi niya. I almost forgot about that partners thingy. Every grade has four sections, A, B, C, and D. The A has the students full of populars and I'm pretty sure that they would be our partner. I belong to the section B and since magkasunod sila sa alphabet, alam kong sila ang partner namin. Ugh. I don't like their attitudes pa naman! 

"Pwede bang mandaya ako, Racer? Just for this time, please? Ako 'yong papiliin mo ng magiging partner ko," I pleaded him that made him shocked, still processing what I've said. 

"Mandaya? Ah.. eh.. Sorry Shara pero hindi ko magagawa 'yun. There were watchers who were going to watch us for the whole time. Mahirap mandaya sa ganun." Napakamot naman siya sa batok niya nang sabihin niya 'yon. 

I just pouted like a baby while we're walking in the hallway. Nauna siya sa'kin ng konti dahil kinakausap niya ang mga estudyanteng nakakasalamuha namin. He's friendly so he's already used to it. Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pag-iisip ng may biglang nagtulak ng noo ko kaya napaatras ako. I was back on reality and there I saw Caseth with his friends. Don't tell me he's the one who did it! 

"You look like a walking dead. Anong meron dyan sa itsura mo? Mukha kang natatae na ewan," he commented that made me throw him a deadly look. 

Lord naman! Why do I have to see his face whenever I'm walking around?! Required ba talagang magkita kami oras oras?! 

"Why are you always ruining my day?! Nakakainis ka na alam mo ba 'yun?" I hissed. Marami na nga akong iniisip dumadagdag pa siya.

Racer probably heard me yelling that's why he stopped talking to the guy. Tumabi siya sa'kin at nakipagtitigan kay Caseth and he did the same way. Seems like there was an electricity connecting to their eyes dahil sa sama ng tingin nila sa isa't-isa. I don't even know what are they doing. 

"Hey, guys! Okay lang kayo?" I asked the both of them. Palipat-lipat lang ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa na hindi parin kumikibo.

"Dude, tara na. Just let the both of them. We have to do something," pilit na hinihila ni Ziro si Caseth pero hindi parin siya nagpatinag. 

I turned my gaze on Racer and shake him a little."Uy! Tara na, hayaan mo na siya. I'm hungry na."

Finally, he looked at me and let out a sigh. Tiningnan niya muna saglit si Caseth bago ako inakbayan at umalis. I don't know why I felt a little bit uneasy that's why I stopped and turned around to see him. Nakatingin din pala siya sa'kin pero agad ding tumalikod ng may ibulong si Hades sa kanya. Seriously, what's with him?! 

"You okay? Is he always bugging you? Sabihin mo lang, isusumbong ko siya kay President para mabigyan siya ng leksyon," sambit ni bigla kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. 

Lumayo ako saglit sa kanya and gave him a convenient smile."Hindi 'wag na, sanay naman na ako dun. Besides, he doesn't hurt me physically so there's no need to worry. Wala rin namang mangyayari kase mataas ang posisyon niya dito."

Pagkatapos naming maglunch ni Racer ay nagpaalam agad siyang umalis dahil marami pa raw siyang gagawin. Of course I agreed because Mau just told me that our adviser assigned us to clean the whole ground together with the other sections. It's okay with me but seeing Caseth was never okay. 

"Gosh! Why do we have to clean this gazebo?! It's a private school, right?! Saan naman napupunta yung binabayad nating tuition every month kung hindi rin naman pala sila naghire ng janitor?!" reklamo ni Fiona ng makababa kami sa ground. 

"Oh eh bakit kami ang tinatanong mo?! Kami ba 'yong tumatanggap ng mga tuition?!" pambabara naman sa kanya ni Roses. 

"Guys, listen to me." Tinaas ni President Jelo ang kamay niya tanda na dapat kaming makinig sa sasabihin niya."As what I've said earlier, we're going to clean the whole gazebo because it's our assigned place. Each one of us will going to do different tasks to make it easier and faster. I'm going to check the attendances and will give you perfect scores if you did it well." he added that made them gasped and nodded in an instant. 

"Takte! Ayokong pagpawisan ang gwapo kong mukha. I think you guys should check my attendance even though I won't help you in cleaning the gazebo," singit naman ni Josh na akala mo kung sino, mukha namang kabayo. Chos! 

Maureen nudged him and rolled her eyes."Ano ka sinuswerte?! Could you please get out of my sight if you don't want me to kick your ass."

Hinayaan ko nalang silang magbangayan doon at nagsimula nang magwalis ng mga tuyong dahon. Iniipon ko 'yon sa gitna habang sina Mau at Lorie ang naglalagay sa trashcan. I was confused when some of my classmates were screaming like nakalunok sila ng megaphone. Is there any artist or even a model here for them to shout that loud?! They don't even continue their tasks and kept on doing it. Jelo just shook his head and wrote something on the attendance sheet. He motioned me to continue cleaning and so I did. Ako lang naman kase ang dakilang mabait sa aming lahat kaya hindi rin ako nakichismis sa kanila. 

"Acckk! Caseth sa'kin ka nalang"

"Hades please, can we go out for a date?"

"Wah! Ziro pansinin mo'ko"

Kaya pala ganun nalang ang saya nila dahil dumating na pala ang mga taga-section A. Good thing thet were blocking the way that's why he couldn't see me. Mas mabuti narin 'yon dahil makakapagfocus ako sa paglilinis. Bahala sila dyan, malaki naman ang points na makukuha ko kumpara sa kanila. 

"Hi guys! Are you going to clean the quadrangle?" 

I heard Jelo asked one of them but I didn't bother to look up to see them. Why would I? Is it that important?! Well, I bet it's not. 

"Of course not! Bakit naman kami maglilinis dito eh high rank kami sa school na 'to. You guys belongs to the ordinary ones so it's your work. 'Wag niyo kaming idamay," rinig kong sagot ng isang babae na alam kong taga-section A. Based on how she talk, I already have a hint that she's one of them. 

"Eh? Meganon? Sa pagkakaalam ko, estudyante rin naman kayo dito. Your ranks doesn't indicates the things you have to do as a student. Am I right?" pagsagot naman ni Fiona sa kanya. I think it would lead to a fight knowing that they're both warfreaks. 

"What?! Are you demanding us to do the works that you losers supposed to do?! Paano kung ayaw namin, ha?! Anong magagawa niyo?" palaban naman na sabi ng isa. 

Hindi na ako nakatiis kaya nag-angat ako ng tingin at saka lumapit sa kinaroroonan nila habang dala dala ang walis. My classmates immediately moved away to give me space before facing the ugly duckling. My brows arched while looking at her while she just rolled her eyes. 

"Oh! Kunin mo," utos ko sa kanya.

Tiningnan niya naman ito saglit bago binalik ang tingin niya sa'kin."Ano 'yan?! What am I going to do with that thing?."

"Walis malamang, asa'n nang utak mo lumipad sa pluto?! Use it on yourself, baka sakaling malinis mo 'yang marumi mong ugali," mataray kong sambit at pinahawak 'yon sa kanya.

My classmates burst out of laughing that made her pissed. Mabait naman talaga ako, sinapian lang ng demonyo. Napunta ang tingin ko kay Caseth na nasa kabilang gilid kasama parin ang mga kaibigan niya. He was looking  at me intently but I just rolled my eyes on him. Hindi niya man lang pinagsabihan 'tong mukhang palaka niyang kaklase. But I'm sure panig siya dito kase parehas naman silang lahat ng ugali eh. 

"Weyt, you're a scholar right? Sa tingin mo ba ganyan dapat ang inaasta mo dito?" Lumapit sa'kin ang isa na namang kaklase nila and this time, mukha siyang alipunga. 

"Bakit? What should I supposed to act?! Maging alalay niyo dito porket mayayaman kayo? Dream on!" umirap ako na ikinatawa niya. 

"Exactly! May utak ka rin pala"

"Yeah. Ikaw din naman eh, kinalawang nga lang kase hindi mo naman ginagamit." Tumayo ako ng tuwid at saka matapang siyang hinarap."Look, I studied here to graduate and not to become a slave of yours. Kung gusto mong kumuha ng alalay, edi maghanap ka. If you want, you can wait na magsnow ang Philippines before it would happen." I added and turn my back on her. 

It was already 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon when we finished cleaning the gazebo. Maureen decided to go to the mall since we don't have classes na naman. At first I disagreed because I still have to work in the restaurant. Mas mabuti nga na ngayon ako magsimula para maaga akong matapos pero ayaw niya. Knowing Mau, she easily gets mad  whenever I'm not in favor of her decision. She even told me that she'll going to treat me but I didn't accept her offer. May pera naman ako at kaya kong bilhin ang gusto ko.

"I already told you, Shara. It's my treat for today so you don't have to spend your money."

Napailing nalang ako habang hila-hila niya ako papasok sa boutique."Nag-aaksaya ka lang ng pera, Mau. I don't need expensive things for tomorrow. Basta makapunta lang ako okay na, hindi naman pagandahan ang ipupunta ko. It's for my grades, you know that."

Kahit anong pigil ko sa kanya, hindi parin siya nagpatalo. She's my bestfriend, what should I expect? Her hobby is fashion and she knows everything on it. Wala akong nagawa kaya hinayaan ko nalang siya kung anong bilhin niya. She brought a silver tube gown with a pair of 5 inches silver sandals. She's not yet contented on it and even added an accessories for me. At dahil siya ang nag-insist na bumili lahat ay ako naman ang nagrepresentang magdala ng mga pinamili niya. 

"Where's yours? Don't tell me you just brought these things for me?!" hindi makapaniwala kong sambit. 

She just gave me a thumbs up and nodded."Yup. I have so many things like this a home and I know that wala kang masusuot bukas kaya binilhan nalang kita. No buts, it's your bestfriend's choice so just accept it."

"I don't even know how to put this things on. Alam mo namang wala akong alam sa mga 'yan." Tinaggap ko ang perfumes na binigay niya at pumunta kami sa counter para bayaran ang mga 'yon. 

She just rolled her eyes on me."As if I won't help you, duh. Magpapaalam ako sa Mama at Papa mo mamaya na sa bahay ko nalang ikaw matulog. Besides, maids lang naman ang kasama ko dahil wala ang parents ko."

My eyes widened and looked at her."What?! Why do I have to sleep on your house?! Pwede namang pumunta nalang ako bukas ng umaga."

"Late na tayo kung ganoon. We still have to fix ourselves and it would took several hours. 'Wag ka na kaseng kumontra pa bess." Napailing lang siya at lumabas na kami ng mall pagkatapos naming mabili ang lahat. 

Jusme! May mukha pa ba akong maihaharap bukas?!