This Is Not Strange

Chapter Eight

Bridgette

We're fine na. She apologized and I understand why she snapped at me. I shouldn't have bothered her din naman noon. Makulit lang talaga ako. We also finished the task and we're now going back to our quarter. We're back to talking and she's even more energetic now.

  Ma'am Chen asked all of us to review para tomorrow. It's three in the afternoon pa naman. She also said na mamaya ay may pupuntahan kaming pageant na kanina lang namin nalaman na gaganapin pala. After studying, we all ate our dinner and nag ayos na to go to the venue. Ella insisted pa na hindi raw siya sasama but I managed to drag her out. We found an empty space in the big hall and decided to sit there nalang.

  “I can't believe hindi tayo ininform na may pageant para sa mga nakasali. Every school may representative tapos tayo lang ang wala,” said the student from our school. She's right naman, we were surprised to know na kami lang ang walang pambato and wala naman talagang nag inform sa amin.

  “Next year talaga babawi tayo. Dapat si Bridgette ang pambato!” I turn my attention to another student na hindi ko kilala.

  “Tama! Ang galing kaya niya. Baka introduction part palang, declared na panalo na tayo.”

  I shook my head and smile a little. “Hey, manood nalang tayo. Next year na natin problemahin ang pasasalihin natin.” 

  They all nod naman and turn back their attention to the contestants. In the middle of the talent portion, I felt Ella nudged me. I turn to look at her, one of my brows lifted in question.

  “Gusto mo ba lumabas para bumili ng pagkain? Nakakagutom manood.”

  Mabilis akong pumayag and asked permission to the teacher with us. She let us go naman basta raw huwag kaming lalayo.

  We found a 7-Eleven place near the school and decided to go there. She bought chocolates and I bought chips and soda. Naupo kami sa table sa labas dahil tinatamad pa raw siyang bumalik.

  “Bakit ba kasi ako pumayag na lumabas?” I heard her ask.

  I popped the food in my mouth, munch it fast, bago ako sumagot, “Kasi ikaw lang ang maiiwan sa room and wala kang kasama.”

  “Bakit kailangan ba sumama?”

  “Because need mo lumabas.”

  She sigh and stared at the cars passing before turning her attention back to me. “Bridgette? Kilala mo ba si Ma'am Rev? I mean, personally.”

  I stopped eating my chips and wondered for a moment. Well, she's a teacher in school and a member of the writers club facilitators. “Not really. Hindi ko siya masyadong nakakausap, and I've never been handled by her. Bakit mo natanong?”

  “May sasabihin ako, pero dapat wala kang pagsabihan. Ayos ba?”

  What is she up to na naman? The last time I saw her making this face, she made me agree to play rock paper scissors para mag cutting sa class.

  “Hindi ba tayo mapapakulong sa sasabihin mo?”

  She narrowed her eyes at my question. “Baliw ka ba? Anong tingin mo sa akin? Hindi nga ako makapatay lamok, tapos hindi nga ako nakikichismis ng wagas, tapos sasabihin mong mapapakulong pa tayo. Kung mapapakulong man tayo, hindi dahil sa sasabihin ko, kung hindi ay dahil sa maling pag-assume mo.”