Athena’s POVNatapos na ang operasyon ni Justin and I could still feel the tremor in my hands as I took off my gloves. Justin was finally stable, nagawa king natanggap ang mga balang nakabaon sa kanya, he's still unconscious at hindi pa namin alam kung kailan siya magigising. The thought of him lying on that stretcher, covered in blood, still haunted me. I had to stay strong, but my heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces.Tito and Tita is out of the country, nasabihan ko na rin sila about Justin pero pareparehas kaming walang alam sa nangyari. I still don't have any idea on what exactly happened, kung bakit siya nabaril and so on. As I walked out of the operating room, I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. My mind was racing. Paano ito nangyari? Sino ang gumawa nito kay Justin? “Athena,” It was Micka na siyang sumalubong sa akin. "How was it? Are you okay? Si Justin?"- tuloy tuloy niyang tanong. "Na-nagawa kong matanggal ang mga bala sa katawan niya
Athena’s POV Weeks passed after Justin’s recovery, and although we’d had that heart-to-heart, things didn’t magically get better. Justin tried—oh, he tried so hard to make it up to me. Every time he’d come home early from work, he’d bring me flowers, my favorite food, or sometimes just a simple note telling me how much he loved me. Ilang araw din matapos ng paggaling niya ay bulamik ulit siya sa dati in terms of his work. Mas madalang narin. Siyang umuwi kaysa dati which made me more worried. Madalang narin nagkakasalubong ang oras namin. Days turned into weeks, and the stress of our situation started to weigh heavily on me. I found myself overthinking everything—every time Justin was late, every time he couldn’t explain where he’d been, my mind would spiral into worst-case scenarios. I knew I needed to stop, to trust him like I said I would, but it was easier said than done. Because of this constant anxiety, I stopped taking care of myself the way I used to. Meals became someth
"Hi Doc kumusta ang last surgery niyo"- Tanong ni Nurse Micka as I was checking some patient's details. "Hayyyst, do I have to answer that nurse Micka?"- pagod kong sagot sa kanya."*Hehehe* sabi ko nga pagod na kayo eh, here, I bought that for you"- Micka said kasabay ng paglahad niya sa akin ng Isang inumin.I gave her a question look as I look at the drinks she gave me. May trust issue ako sa mga yelling drinks na binigay sa akin eh, ayokong mag expect. "It's a pineapple milkshake, hindi yan mango flavor promise"- sabi niya sabay taas pa ng kanyang kamay na para bang nanunumpa.Pagkarinig ko non ay ay nakangiti kong tinanggap ang inumin at ininum agad iyon. "Haayyyy... Heaven"- sabi ko na para bang nawala lahat ng pagod ko sa katawan as I taste it. "*Hahaha* people said you've changed a lot pero pagdating sa pinya ganon parin reaction mo"- masayang komento ni Micka. "Tssskk. Iyon talaga ang nasagap mong balita sa hospital na to no?"- sabi ko at sumipsip ulit sa pineapple milks
Athena's POVHi there! I'm Athena Delight Teneza, a pretty lovely grade 8 student of Montera National High School at syempre nasa star section ang lola niyo *insert laughs*.Anyway I'm with my twinny slash my best friend 'maybe not by blood but by heart' Czareenah Twilight Ruiz, I call her Enah, same section rin kami, same age but not in birthday *insert me pouting*On the way kami sa Library dahil sa lahat ng parte ng school ay sa Library ang pinakasafe malayo sa mga bullies dahil secured masyado doon plus we have a super strict librarians. "Czareenah! Athena! baka naman pwede niyo akong turuan dun sa Math natin. Konti nalang talaga ikamamatay ko na ang subject na iyon"- Veronica said. It's Veronica Chua our classmate who is a half Chinese and half Filipino. Transfer student from private which is the reason why 'according to her' is lagi siyang nabubully sa past school niya dahil daw sa lahi niya. "uh-oh, Ikaw na bahala jan Tina Tina"- before I could speak, nanlumo ako sa sinabi n
Athena's POV "Now tell me, may naka away ka ba or something? It's obvious that the ball was intended for you Athena"- seryosong tanong sa akin ni Czareenah."Maybe some another insecure again? Oh come on, believe me! As much as I can remember wala naman akong alam kung sino ang pwedeng gumawa non"- medyo naiinis kong sagot dahil hindi ko maisip kung sino ang pwedeng gumawa non.'Duh! As far as I can remember, wala akong atraso kahit kanino noh!'Narinig ko naman ang pagbuntong hininga ni Czareenah. I know she's worried."Haish! Bakit ba kasi naimbento iyang insecurities na yan"- may iritang boses na sabi niya as she pick up her books and fixed them."Relax okay, kung may pasasalamatan man ako kay Ariana, yun ay ang dulot ng mga pinaggagagawa niya sa atin last year, it serve as our training you know"- Kalmadong sabi ko. Yeah... I just remember that bitch who's been kick out from the school last year because of being a bully b*tch girl. "Let's go, baka hinihintay na tayo ni Mang Efre
Athena's POV The next grade nagbago na naman ang listahan ng star section which is ilan sa mga classmates namin last year ay inilipat sa ibang section. Everybody called it 'star section' dahil dito naiipon ang mga achievers every year at magkaklase parin kami ni Czareenah. Sa taong ito siguro ang pinaka kakaiba dahil magiging classmate namin ang Justin and friends. Hindi ko alam kung ikakamalas ko o ikatutuwa ko ba dahil nasa likod na naman kami ni Czareenah at katabi pa talaga namin ang Justin and friends. Window - Dwight, Justin (space) Czareenah, Me (space) Dustin, Kalix window Dwight Rey Blanco Justin Meyer Cruz (which is nabanggit ko na sa nakaraan)Czareenah Twilight Ruiz (my best friend na nabanggit ko na rin)Dustin Albert SalazarKalix Grey Dino Ganyan ang naging sitting arrangement namin sa likod."Great, sa likod ulit" (sabay naming banggit ni Justin) Ang kaibahan lang ay sabi ko iyon in a bad mood way, samantalang si Justin, he said it more like excited. Nilingon ko
Athena's POV Nagiging madalas na ang pagko- cross ng landas namin ni Justin aside of halos magkatabi na nga rin kami ng upuan. Actually, hindi siya halos dahil space lang naman (like an space between a row) if you can imagine what I'm saying. Nasa library ako ngayon and I'm looking for some reference. Tumingala ako sa isang shelve kung saan naroon ang section ng librong hinahanap ko. Sinubukang kong abutin ito at hindi ko manlang mahawakan. Tumingkayad ako as I tried again to reach for it until I felt someone behind me at may umabot na sa librong sinusubukan kong abutin. Sa gulat ko ay muntik na akong ma out of balance pero may katawang sumalo sa akin. "Tsskk, clumsy"- mahinang sabi niya. Mahina man iyon ay rinig na rinig ko dahil malapit lang naman siya sa akin."Here"- abot ni Justin sa librong sinusubukan kong abutin kanina. 'Yes! You heard me, it's Justin, Justin Meyer Cruz!'"Thanks, but you don't have to, at hindi rin ako clumsy. Ikaw, kabute ka ba? Bigla bigla ka nalang k
Athena's POV "Sabi na nga ba at may kakaiba sa babaeng iyon that time eh"- I said as i dart my sight to a group of girls. Tahimik lang sila na nagkukwentuhan sa isang bench at nakikita ko sila mula rito sa second floor ng building namin. Ilang araw na rin simula noong isinugod ko sa hospital si Czareenah. "Who?"- Napabalikwas naman ako sa gulat ng biglang may nagsalita sa bandang likuran ko. 'Si Dustin pala'- "Huh?"- me "Sino ang mga tinutukoy mo?"- seryoso nitong tanong sa akin. "Those girls from that bench. Before you go out, akala ko namalik mata lang ako nang tinignan niya ako na parang pinagtatawanan, binalewala ko iyon dahil akala ko wala lang. Now I'm having this instinct na may kinalaman sila sa nangyari kay Czareenah "- paliwanag ko sa kanya habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa grupo ng babaeng iyon. Natahimik lang siya at nakatingin lang din sa grupo ng mga babaeng tinutukoy ko. "Salamat nga pala, huh. For saving my friend"- Seryosong sabi ko. "You don't need t