A Thousand Wounds

Wound 19

Wound 19

Totoo nga ang kasabihang kung may umaalis, may dumarating naman. Ngunit hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako sa pagkakataong ito.

Melanina Rodriguez is a pain in the ass. Compared to my soft-spoken cousin, she's bold, wild, and uncontrollable.

"Magandang umaga, reyna.." nanunuyang bati niya sa akin sabay hampas sa aking kanang balikat.

I was just having my quiet morning scanning my notes when Melanina entered the room with her usual boyish grin. Umagang-umaga ay pinapainit na naman niya ang ang aking ulo.

Bago pa siya makalagpas ay muli kong hinuli ang kaniyang kamay. She flinched in pain when I held it firmly.

"Good morning too, Mela.." I whispered while twisting her arm.

Napa-aray siya sa aking ginawa. When she can't take it anymore, I let her hand go with my usual triumphant grin.

"Call me Nina," matigas na wika niya habang hindi pa rin napapawi ang matalim na tinging ipinupukol niya sa akin.

"You don't deserve such a name, Mela."

"Don't stain it with your foolishness," I spat at her.

She rolled her eyes. "Ugh, fine. Whatever."

She hates me. I know that, ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit at saan niya pinaghuhugutan ang galit niya sa akin. Alam ko rin na dapat hindi ko na ini-entertain ang kaniyang kabobohan pero sadya lang talagang nakakapang-init ng ulo ang kaniyang mga ginagawa.

"That girl is hopeless," minsang komento ni Reese while we are having our snacks.

"And she's Nina, kapangalan pa ng pinsan mo, bruha," she added as she pointed her stares to me.

Mara and Sky took a glance, and I sighed with their attention. They knew how much it caused to me when my cousin left.

"I know, but Melanina is very different to Nina."

Natahimik sila. When I stared at them, they had these worried gazes directed to me.

"What?" pagmamaang-maangan ko at pilit na ngumiti.

"Did your cousin called you already?" Mara asked, nananantiya ang timbre ng boses.

I pressed my lips into a grim line and shook my head.

The three sighed. Mara held my hand as she tore her lips for a gentle smile.

"It's okay. We're here for you," madamdaming pahayag niya na siyang nagpaawang sa aking labi.

"Mara's right. Were here for you, bruha," segunda naman ni Reese na yumakap sa aking kabilang braso.

"Anyways, is Mela still bothering you?" Sky shifted the topic, and the gloomy tension wavered.

I scrunched my nose when I remembered our transferee classmate.

"Yeah," walang buhay na turan ko.

"Talaga ang babaeng 'yun. Naku.." inis namang pahayag na Reese.

"Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan, bakit ako ang ginugulo niya? May galit ba siya sa akin or what?"

"Insecure siguro. Alam mo naman, you're the queen of Linavio," turan ni Sky.

I just puckered my lips in response.

"Hayaan niyo na. Huwag niyo na lang pansinin dahil mas lalong lalaki lang ang ulo 'nun," Mara, as usual, reminded us to be humane.

Hindi na lamang ako umimik.

On our way home, the group decided to stop by muna for KFC, which stands for Kikiam, Fishball, and Chicken ball. Abala kami sa paghihintay sa aming order when loud voices entered the tambayan.