"Excuse me!"
Tumabi ako at pinagmasdan silang magtatakbo. Nasa function hall kami ngayon. Nagkahiwa-hiwalay kaming lahat pero kasama ko pa naman si Anna.
"All SRA students, quiet down, please."
Tumahimik kaming lahat para tignan si kuya Cairo. He stood tall up on the stage, his posture perfectly intact. Nagsiksikan kaming lahat, si Anna naman ay nasa kaliwa ko at lumilingon-lingon.
"General Buenafiro is here to deliver an announcement, make sure to listen and cooperate with him, that's all. Sir," inabot nya ang mic sa isag matangkad na lalaki na naka-uniporme na pangsundalo. His image flashed on the big screen. Malaki yung event hall sa school kaya hindi kita 'yung nagsasalita sa stage kapag nasa likod ka, kaya may screen kami sa hall.
"Good evening. I'm General Buenafiro. I-inform ko lang kayo na hindi kayo pwedeng lumabas ng school o sa magpunta sa mga lugar na ipagbabawa
It was around that time… when I met him.I can hear the droplets of rain outside the building and I was stuck in that dark classroom crying.“I saw it,” he says.Humihikbi akong tumingin pataas sa kanya. I was angry at myself. I was so annoyed that I couldn’t do anything. Bakit kailangan ko itong pagdaanan? It wasn’t my choice. This school is a school for society’s royalties. I know I’m not suitable for it. But it was free education and I have no money.“Don’t cry,” he leans down to me and gives me a dark blue handkerchief. “You look ugly.”Napanganga ako at biglang tumigil ang luha ko sa gulat. I hiccupped. His usual steel gray eyes shone in the moonlight as he looked up at the ceiling and he smiled, “Sabi na gagana iyon e.”“Are you done crying?”
"Tutor?"Tumango ako at patuloy na ininom ang milkshake ko."Sysfairóno? Ibang level na iyon. Alam ko na kilala ka sa pagpapa-amo ng mga bata pero…"I sighed and looked at Brix. He gave me a glance before looking down at the ground, his frowning face clouded with worry."Kahit highschool lang yung matapos ko, Brix. Makakapasok ako sa kahit anong trabaho ng walang kahirap-hirap," dahilan ko pa. Halos lahat ng mga kaibigan, kakilala at kapamilya ko ay may issue din sa SRA.His sunny eyes looked grim, "You can go to college, though."
Pagod akong bumagsak sa upuan ko. Kakatapos lang ng presentation namin.Business, statistics, accountancy, and politics. Mandatory classes kahit senior highschool palang kami. Hindi ko nga alam kung makakapag-college pa ako!When the bell rang for our break time, umalis na ang mga kaklase ko. As usual may mga tumitingin sa akin but I didn't pay any attention to it."So, Criasha," umupo sa tabi ko ang isang babae 'kong kaklase at ang dalawa niyang mga kaibigan, isang lalaki at isang babae, sa mga upuan malapit sa akin. "Did your parents make you handle stocks na?"Napakamot ako sa batok ko, "Well, I did handle stocks pero hindi naman ako inutusan ng parents ko. I did it on my own."Nagtinginan silang lahat at mukhang mangha na nag-apir. Nagtataka ko silang tinignan at medyo nahilo ng masinghot ang matapang na pabango nila. Mabango pero... hihimatayin ako sa kanila. Naliligo ba sil
Parang estatwa sila Ayana, Jax, at Anna. Maging ang mga tao na nakapalibot sa amin ay hindi gumagalaw. Even I couldn't move.Silence...Stillness...Heavy breaths...I felt it. The adrenaline pumping inside my entirety. I breathed deeply, in and out. I cursed myself and shook my head when ridiculous thoughts crossed my head."I don't care about who you are, the only question I have with me is what do you want?" tanong ni Jax, his voice surprisingly calm. His arm is shaking, though.Namumula ang mata at nanginginig sa saya, nagsalita ang lalaki, "Manahimik ka! P-Papatayin ko kayong lahat! Papatayin ko kayong mga Buenaventura!"
"Criasha, why are you going home this early again?" Ayana pouted. "It's my mom's birthday, doofus. Kailangan ko pang bumili ng cake," sabi ko at mahinang pinitik ang nuo nya. Parang bata talaga itong si Ayana. Parang Koala din. "Really? Can I eat the cake then?" prisinta ng bibong si Matrix. I can't afford a big cake, that's why I couldn't invite them. Mahirap lang ako, e'. It doesn't mean that I would be poor forever, of course. My dream is to rise from the dirt and give my mother a happy and carefree life. "Next time, kiddo. Sa birthday mo bibilhan kita ng cake," tawa ko at nanggigigil na pinisil ang pogi nyang mukha. Agad siyang sumimangot at tinanggal ang kamay ko. He pointed at me. "I'm not a kid! Just wait 'till I marry you one day. Because you're the only girl who can beat me in video games!" he exclaims coolly. Ayana giggled and layed her head on the bag beside
Maddox's POV "Shoot it, aim right, Ax!" sabi ni Storm. Hawak ang tako sa isang kamay ay humikab ako, inaantok. "This isn't my forte, dude! Kelan ba tayo pupunta sa Alejandro's?" reklamo ni Ax at tinira ulit ang billiard ball. It didn't go in, of course. This dumbass really does suck at pool. "We can't tonight. Dad wants me home," I replied and went into position. I moved my arms along with the cue stick. Halatang may halong galit ang pagtira ko ng lumipad ang bola. "You probably won't do as he says, anyway," sabi sa akin ni Storm. Tama naman sya. I've always been a rebel. But this time, I just couldn't say no. It's Mom's death anniversary. "Probably," I agreed. "But have you checked on them yet?" tanong ni Ax at biglang dumapa sa billiard table. Nginisian nya ako at pinalo naman ni Storm si Ax sa pwet ng cue stick.
"This is my favorite!" tili ni Anna at humablot ng maraming chitchirya. Nasa tabi ko si Ayana na tumitingin din ng dadalhin."You think this will be enough for three days?" tanong nya sa akin."Oo naman. Snacks lang naman iyan. Kuya Cairo and the others will bring the meat and rice, right?""Yup, may fridge naman and stove sa coaster but the problem is, who will cook?" she said, her shiny brunette hair flowing down her shoulders. Mukha talaga siyang foreigner. "Mag-grocery nalang ulit tayo para umabot ng 1 week.""Walang malapit na mall sa camping grounds nila Jax, Ate," sabi ni Anna at linapag sa shopping cart ni Ayana ang hawak nya. "All they have is a small convenience store and it's 8 miles away."This past few days we've been planning this camping trip. I said yes but I took it back because I have work and I was worried about my Mom. Kinulit ni Ayana yung pinsan nya na
Huminga ako ng malalim, pumikit, at pinakiramdaman ang init."Put more firewood, Ethan!" sigaw ni ate Afhro. We smiled at her cuteness. She's shouting yet her voice is still so soft."Why are you calling me Ethan?!" sabi ni kuya Cairo pabalik. He's older than me, so that's the right thing to do."Oooh~" sabay-sabay na huni nila Ayana but it just sounds like plain teasing. I didn't get it so I just watched. Nakapalibot kami ngayon sa bonfire at sinusubukang 'wag kagatin ng mga lamok."What?" reklamo ni kuya Cairo. "I didn't do anything wrong!""Sinasabi ko sa'yo Cairo, ha! Alam mong linalamok ako dito e," she rolled her eyes."Kasalanan ko bang kinakagat ka ng mga kauri mo?"Napatigil kaming lahat sa ginagawa namin. He fiddled with the stick and poked the firewood to put it in place."Anong sinabi mo!?" tum