Chapter 2: Fitting In

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 sila sa pabango?

"That's amazing. How many stocks did you handle?" tanong ng isa nya pang kaibigan. One month here in SRA, wala pa din akong kaibigan o kakilala. Kawawang Criasha. But hey! at least I wasn't bullied. 

"I couldn't count it."

"Woah," sabay sabay ulit nilang sabi. Nalilito pa din ako pero ngumiti nalang ako.

"When you were presenting a while ago, the whole class was stunned. Yung Q&A portion? You nailed it so damn well. Now we know why," sabi ng lalaki sa tabi ko. Hindi ko alam ang mga pangalan nila pero muli ay tumango nalang ako.

"Thank you."

"But yung stocks na ni-handle mo, sa isang company lang? Don't you think that's too much stocks for one company?" the other girl beside me questioned.

"Hindi naman?" nag-iisip na sabi ko. Tagabuhat at taga-ayos lang naman ako ng stocks sa convenience store. "And iba't-ibang company yung stocks na hinawakan ko."

Natahimik sila. They looked so awed and speechless but I only cleared my throat.

"I have to go to the canteen, I'm, uh, hungry," sabi ko kahit hindi naman ako nagka-canteen at tumayo agad pero tumayo din sila. 

"Go with us nalang," the first one who asked me proposed. "And babe, it's luncheonette in SRA, hindi canteen."

Tumawa silang tatlo at nauna ng maglakad. One pulled me by my cropped coat jacket. Actually, masyadong nasobrahan sa iksi ng palda dito sa SRA. Our uniform consists of a charcoal-black pleated skirt na mid-thigh lang ang haba. May charcoal-blue na knee-high socks at cropped na waistcoat. Puting dress shirt at cropped na suit jacket. Yung ID namin ay crests na may iba't-ibang color depende sa grade tapos naga-ukit iyong pangalan at class namin sa gilid.

The manticore crest... symbolizes the power of the elites here in Sysfairóno. A legendary animal having the head of a man (often with horns), the body of a lion, and the tail of a dragon or scorpion. Naguluhan ako sa crests nung mga pinagkakaguluhan dito sa school. Magkakahiwalay silang pumapasok pero si Jax lang yung nakita 'kong may golden crest. I got curious so I researched what a freaking manticore is.

But a manticore symbolizes the devil too, though...

"Why did you enroll in SRA this late, though?" Tanong sa akin ng babaeng kasama 'kong naglalakad. 

"Ah, galing kasi kami sa malayo. Sa…" I trailed off, thinking about what city did we last live in. Sa sobrang dami na naming nalipatan, hindi ko na din tinatandaan ang mga pinupuntahan namin. "Oh, basta sa may UK."

"Omg!" the two girls squealed. 

"Oh, you like UK din? Hindi halata iyon ah," tawa ko. Akala ko pura arte ang mga mayayaman, pero nagu-ukay ukay din pala sila. Nag-apir kaming tatlo at naglakad papunta sa canteen. I mean luncheonette.

"Of course. UK is one of the best places I have ever went to. My name's Maris nga pala!" sabi ng unang babaeng kumausap sa akin kanina. "The other one is Lola and Dale. Join our squad cause you're fit for it!"

Medyo hindi komportable ay napangiwi ako at ngumiti nalang. We walked for a while and they were talking about their nails and the stuff they want to buy in the weekends. I already felt out of place but I stayed silent.

Sa sobrang lawak ng school ay may kanya-kanyang buildings ang bawat grade. Each building ay may 10 floors at may anim na elevators. Isang buong building din ang professor's lounge. Centralized ang air conditioner sa buong Academy. It makes sense to me now, why this Academy is so famous. Kaya din pala sobrang mahal… it's top-notch.

Attending school in a castle. Actually, no. It's more fitting to describe it as, "An unbelievably wide field of castles…" 

Maswerte talaga ako dahil nagkaroon ako ng oportunidad na makapag-aral dito.

"We're here. I'll get us a table. Order my food, Lola," sambit ng kasama naming lalaki. I forgot his name again but I'll just pretend that I do.

"Okay. Your usual?" Tanong ni Lola at hinawakan ang manggas ng coat ko. I clutched my wallet tightly in my hand. Kailangan ko pa ding gumasta, by the end of the day. Damn their overpriced food.

"Yup."

Hinila na ako nila Lola at Maris. When we reached the counter, I quickly looked up where the menu is. Nanlaki ang mata ko at pinigilan ko ang sarili 'kong sumigaw sa gulat. Bacon and ham white pasta… 300 pesos for one serving. Anim! Anim na kilo ng bigas ang mabibili ko doon. I actually did tear up.

"I-I'll have a Ceasar salad," mahina 'kong sabi at medyo nanginginig ang kamay na hinugot sa wallet ko ang 200 pesos. Hindi naman ako kambing 'e. Ano bang ginagawa ko? 

There's no way I'm buying food tomorrow! Magbabaon nalang ulit ako.

"You on a diet?" Tanong agad nung kasama naming lalaki sa akin. He's nice and he has cute dimples, but I keep forgetting his name.

"Yeah," mahina 'kong sabi at sinaksak ang mga dahon sa salad ko. Nandidiri na isinubo ko ang gulay sa bibig ko. It actually tastes good. Just exotic. 

And there I was, sitting, eating, and actually enjoying my food when the can-luncheonette's grand glass double door banged against the wall. People whispered.

Nagsiksikan ang mga estudyanteng palabas at papasok sa gilid kaya bumangga ang pinto. Even the door looks expensive, am I the only cheap thing in here?

Sumubo ulit ako ng pagkain ko at muntikan ng masamid ng makita ko ang mukha ni Jax sa harapan ko. 

Umangat agad ang kamay ko pero buti nalang ay nahablot nya ito. I sighed in relief and murmured a silent thanks.

"Mind eating with me, sweetheart?" 

I heard Maris' gasp beside me.

Hindi ako nagsalita at binawi ang kamay ko sa kanya. I'm not trying to be a snob so I just gave him a tiny smile and shook my head, "No, thanks,"

Narinig ko nanaman si Maris sa likod ko. My head whipped to look at her, "Why?"

Nakanganga lang siyang nakatingin sa akin. 

"Oh, you want some of my salad?" Angat ko sa tinidor 'kong may lettuce. She didn't answer so I lifted up my fork to her mouth. Mukha naman syang naalibadbaran at sinubo nya ang nasa tinidor ko. She chewed slowly, still looking confused. I gave her a small smile and ate but I saw Jax's dumfounded face still beside me. 

Nakatingin pa din sya sa akin at nakaawang ang mga labi nya, a small smile on his face. It's as if he's telling me that I'm ridiculous. I smelled chocolate from his mouth. I leaned slightly to the side just to give our faces a few more spaces, "Ay, bakit? Gusto mo din ba?"

He gave me a are-you-fucking-with-me-right-now face.

I blinked and shrugged. Tinignan ko ang mga taong nakatingin sa amin. 

"They're looking at you," turo ko sa likod nya.

"What's the tea, people?" Isang malakas pero eleganteng boses ang umalingawngaw sa luncheonette. In stepped a smiling young lady. When her eyes met mine, she smiled wider, kind of as a greeting.

"Jax, what are you doing?" Tanong nya ngumiti hindi sya liningon ni Jax.

"If you're doing this just for Anna to leave you alone, she won't," she says and picks up a cookie from the small paper bag she's carrying.

Finally, Jax looked at her. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. He didn't even look at me after we made an acquaintance. Pero okay lang din. I was just trying to act chill. Nung malaman ko na kabilang sya sa Power 6 ay hindi ko na din sya binalak kausapin. They're trouble.

"Who's Anna?" Tanong ni Jax, iritado.

"Whatever," sabi nalang ni Ayana at tinignan ulit ako. She looked at me from head to toe, her smile long gone. "I think you're new. Just so you know, he's engaged."

Gulat ko syang tinignan. Pero bakit kailangan 'kong malaman?

Nag-ngangalit ang bagang na tinignan nya si Ayana. I think they're gonna have a fight. Kaya agad akong tumayo at liningon ang mga kasama ko. They were silent the whole time but they stood up with me. Magpapa-alam lang sana ako na mauna na pero susunod naman pala sila sa akin.

Naglakad kami ng tahimik palabas habang nagpapalitan ng salita si Jax at Ayana. Yumuko lang ako saglit ay tumama na ako sa isang tao. I looked up to say sorry but I ended up with a scrunched forehead. He smells like liquor...

Amoy tambay.

He looked at me with slightly red eyes. I slightly bowed and got out of his way, my heart beating fast.

Tumayo lang sya sa gilid at hinagod ng tingin ang buong luncheonette, as if he's looking for someone. Not like it's any of my business.

We walked out again. Ilang hakbang mula sa pinto ay bumangga nanaman ako sa tao. It wasn't me who bumps them, though! Nagkatinginan kami at kita ko agad ang inis na nakabungad sa mukha nya.

"The fuck is your problem? Bakit ka kasi nakaharang sa daanan!" she screamed like a banshee and everyone looked at us. I cringed. 'Eto na naman tayo...

Dahil inis din ako hindi ko sya pinansin at naglakad nalang paalis sa kanya. I thought I would get out of it unscathed but when her hand grabbed my hair, everyone already formed a circle. Binigyan pa nila kami ng sapat na space para mag-away.

"Let go!" sigaw ko pero mas hinila nya lang ang buhok ko.

"Anna, stop!" narinig ko ang boses ni Ayana Buenaventura. She rushed beside us.

"Stop being a brat, Anna! Are you this much of an attention freak?" agad na umalingawngaw ang sigaw ni Jax. She stopped pulling my hair, but she didnt let go if it. I can feel her shaking in anger.

"Me, an attention freak? Bumaba ako dito sa luncheonette kasi narinig ko na may linalandi ka nanamang estudyante. I'm you fiancee, asshole!" iyak nya. I kind of felt sorry for her that's why I didn't talk.

Nangangalay na'ko ng hilahin ni Jax ang braso ko palayo kay Anna. I clacked my head and groaned in pain.

Bumitaw agad ako kay Jax at tinignan si Anna. 

"I'm sorry I need to go."

Bumakat ulit ang galit sa mukha nya. Her hand went for my hair but I dodged this time. I'm not that stupid, medyo lang.

"Come here, wench! I'm gonna ki-" she screamed. Natahimik kaming lahat ng hilahin sya ng lalaking nabangga ko kanina. The knife at her throat shone and reflected the chandelier's lights.

We all froze in a quiet panic. 

Maybe this is how I'll die...