One Night in September (BAND SERIES #1)

Chapter 03

Naging kalat sa college department ang nangyari noong gabi sa gig. Little did I know that the man who sexually assaulted me that night is our senior. The school suspended this man after they knew about the incident that night.

Indeed, Lucas's band is well-known in our campus. Ang bilis kumalat ng balita. Saturday morning, when I woke up I was bombarded with lots of notifications from friends and other people from our school. Lahat sila ay nagtatanong kung anong nangyari noong gabi na iyon at mayroon pang video noong gabi na 'yon na kumalat.

"Are you sure you don't want to press charges on Mr. Buenaventura, Ms. Herrera?" the College President asked.

"Yes, sir. Ayaw ko na po na lalo pang gumulo yung sitwasyon." tugon ko.

"Okay, I'll assure you that it won't happen again, Ms. Herrera. You may now go home." I bow my head as a response and leave the College President's office.

Sinalubong ako nina Liv, Lucas at Dylan ang kapatid at kabanda ni Lucas sa labas ng office at nagumpisa silang magtanong ng kung anu-ano.

"What?! Seryoso ka ba, Selene?" usal ni Liv nang malaman niya na hindi ako pumayag na magsampa ng kaso doon sa lalaki na iyon.

"Look, I don't want to make an issue about that night. Isa pa halos lahat ng nandoon sa gig is schoolmates natin and he's under the influence of alcohol that night..." natigil ako nang marinig ang sarili ko. Bigla akong hinawakan ni Liv sa magkabilang balikat ko at kunot noo akong tinignan.

"Naririnig mo ba sarili mo, Selene?! It's not an excuse that he's drunk that night para gawin niya iyon sayo!" I bit my lower lip when Liv raised her voice at me. Dumagdag pa nang maalala ko yung mga comments na nandoon sa video. They are blaming me. Sinasabi nila na it was my fault that I am sexually assaulted by a stranger because of how I dress that night.

"That was her di ba? She's not even pretty, I wish I was the one with Bradley that night." nilingon ko ang nagsabi non. It was Trina, isa sa mga personalities daw ng university. She raised one of her eyebrows and then stares at me from head to toe.

"What are you looking at our precious victim?" She smirked.

"Trina, will you please stop?" ani Lucas.

"Oh! Hi there, Lucas!" tugon niya at kumapit sa braso ni Lucas.

"Friends with the victim, huh?" aniya at tinignan ako uli mula ulo hanggang paa.

Lumapit siya lalo kay Lucas at itinapat niya ang bibig siya sa tenga nito. "Next time, Lucas, tell your friends to dress appropriately when she's attending that kind of party. Mahirap na baka masira band niyo because of issues. You don't want that to happen, right?" aniya na sapat lang na marinig naming apat na malapit sa kaniya.

Why all of a sudden the blame is on me? Hindi ko naman ginusto yung nangyari noong gabi na 'yon.

"Watch your words, Trina." ani Dylan at saka niya tinanggal ang pagkakakapit ni Trina sa braso ni Lucas.

"You're blaming her because of how she dresses that night? How ironic 'no? You blamed her and at the same time your wishing that you are the one with Bradley that night? You must be out of your mind, Trina, nakakatawa ka." ani Liv at sarkastikong tumawa. I saw how Trina's expression changes. Ngayon ay parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Liv sa kaniya.

"Wow, you're talking pala black girl?" tugon niya kay Liv, parang walang epekto yon kay Liv dahil mas natawa lang siya matapos sabihin yon ni Trina.

"OMG, Trina! Umabot ka ng college ng hindi alam ang pinagkaiba ng black sa ibang kulay?" nagulat ako ng bigla siyang lumapit kay Trina at hinawakan ang buhok nito. "Okay, let me teach you. This is color black." tinapat niya ang buhok ni Trina sa balat niya. "Kakulay ba ng skin ko, ha? Hindi diba? Saka wag mo nga akong malditahan diyan, anong akala mo kinaganda mo yang pagkaputi mo? I'm not black, I'm morena, okay? Morena. Say it again after me. Mo-re-na." nakita ko ang pagkainis sa mukha ni Trina nang mag-umpisang tumawa si Liv at Dylan.