Queen Of Damn

CHAPTER 19 (The Last Call)

‡ Flashback ‡
The scene below was actually from the mid part of Birthday, which was Wednesday, Thursday yung birthday ni Benny.

*Devlin*

It was a relatively peaceful and calm day, just like any other day. It was the third day of the week, a week after SSC athletics finally ended. We need to catch up, if we still want to pursue our goals.

I was walking heading to the headmaster's office after my first subject. Since vacant naman yung next, I chose to visit Mr Jaronilla's office para hawak ko ang buong oras ko sa break.

I was thinking I might catch up on some sleep.

Medyo hindi rin kasi ako nakakapagpahinga gawa nung kakatatapos lang na SSC at activities dito sa school. I'm fully loaded, ni wala na akong time sa sarili ko. Naisip ko bigla si Nana Yngrid, my foster parent.

Hindi ko na nadadalaw ang lola ko.

Though alam naman niyang busy rin ako sa school, I always find a way to connect with her. Naiisip kong tawagan mamaya.

I was reminiscing my childhood days at the Abingdon Orphanage when someone bumped into me.

Nasira tuloy yung daydreaming ko. Sino ba 'tong hindi tumitingin...

"Hey, watch your—" natigilan ako saglit nang makilala kung sino.

I saw Reina who was thoughtlessly staring at me while tears ran down her cheeks.

What the—

"What's wrong, are you okay?" hinawakan ko pa ang kamay niya. Parang hindi niya ako narinig o nakita.

May pagka-snub talaga ang babaeng ito.

She nodded and automatically shook my hand off her then left without a word.

Ganun ganun lang. Halos matawa ako na walang halong nakakatawa. Tanging siya lang at si Lorraine ang kayang umi-snub sa akin nang ganito.

Nailing ko na lang ang ulo ko. "Whatta witch."

I was thinking of saying the other word kaso, hindi naman siya talagang ganun. Maybe she's just having a bad day.

Everyone has that one or two.

Kaya di ko na lang pinansin. I wouldn't waste my time bothering to care for her bad hair day. Naglalakad na ako patungo sa pupuntahan nang makita ko ang dalawang taong nag-uusap sa may bungad ng kanto paliko sa administration office.

Very sweet at magkahawak pa ang kamay. Kung ibang tao lang, hindi ko na papansin yun kaso student council ako.  Tsaka ang alam ako, lagpas na ang oras na allowed ang civilian para mag-stay sa school.

Tumikhim muna ako. "Good morning to you two. Do you think it's past the visiting hour? May klase na po kami, Miss."

"Ikaw pala, Mr Tolentino, " humarap si Sir Alcantara sa babae. "He's Devlin Roy Tolentino, the student council president, babe." saka ako tiningnan nang diretso.

"My girlfriend has an appointment actually sa Marketing office. She's a junior business associate and working for Crown Ace Corp." he introduced.

"Good morning, Mr President." ngumiti naman ang naturang babae.

So these two are a couple. That's obvious. Wait... Parang dito galing si Reina kanina...

"Oh, my bad. I'm sorry for my crassness, Ms..."

"Wilhelmina Alvarez, nice to meet you." she even gestured her hand. It was rude not to take it so I did and briefly shook it.

"If you don't mind, I'll go ahead, I'm sorry again for being rude. Please excuse me." so I did my exit.