SAIRO

iii. alone

Chapter 3 : Alone

Because of what happened yesterday, drowsiness has not visited me since afternoon. I was a bit out of sync earlier in class as I struggled not to drop my head and eyes on my desk. I don't want to sleep. Every time I think about it, I get chills that run down to my spine.

Someone pulled my arm as the carriage almost hit me as my heart was about to fall. "Mga animal, nakaharang kasi!" the driver fumed as I watched him get away. Shuta.

"Hoy, Viola!" Diane mentioned my name as I found her holding my arm. "Jesus Christ, muntik ka na! Ano ba ang nangyayari sa iyo?"

"Inaantok pa 'ata," Celeste added as I remember we were on the town that we are surrounded by a wide variety of shops and people, at the same time, we were making our way home after class. Celeste was studying at another school and by chance we met in her car and chose to walk with us.

"S-sorry.."

As we continued walking, we couldn't help but talk about what happened on the phone call yesterday while I didn't mention what I saw. Maybe I was just hallucinating especially it's already afternoon and I was drowsy then. We just had prank calls and our time got wasted, waiting.

"Tsk! Teenagers nowadays malalakas ang sayad," Diane sighed.

"Buti minura mo," Celeste mentioned me as the three of us can't help but let out a laugh. Suddenly the wind picked up as the paper hit Celeste's face causing Diane and I to burst into laughter as Celeste removed it and gave us a glare. "Katuwa 'yon?"

"Sorry, sorry," Diane repeated as she suppressed her laughter.

"L-let me," I chortle reaching the paper as I tried to hide my smile. I checked the paper and found out it was the poster we made. It looks blown away. "Do you guys have thumbtacks?"

"I do," Celeste answered as she took off her bag on her shoulder, handing me a small carton of a dozen thumbtacks.

I pinned the paper to the wall as I returned the thumbtacks to Celeste. While walking, my eye caught Percy blocking our way. He removed the paper that hung on the wall and showed it to the two, who was with him. "Bathing a cow for one thousand five hundred bucks? Weird," he chuckled.

"What are they doing?" asked Celeste in lower tone.

"I'm not sure. They may tear it. No doubt." I mutter as we watch the tip of his finger caught fire and attempting to burn it.

"Hey you, the three of you!" with no prognosis, Diane yelp causing my heart to flick suddenly as they turned to us. Celeste pressed her hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her. "Pati ba naman dito? Wala kayong ginawa kundi manira! Magsi-uwi kayo!"

"Bakit? Sa iyo ba 'to?" Percy smirked as his friends let out a laugh. Diana couldn't answer as he approached us waving the paper. "Parang sulat kamay mo,"

"I did," I partake as their eyes went on me. My heart pumps faster as I swallowed on my throat. I took a deep breath before speaking. Take it easy. "C-can you please, pin it back?"

"Why would I?"

"Cause we're doing this on purpose!" Diana fumed.

"How's that?"

"More than your life!"

Percy clenched his fist as he was about to direct his fist at Diane. Celeste and I pulled her behind us as I waited for it to hit me. "You shit-!"

"Hey, hey! What do you think you're doing?" a guy in vermilion uniform intervened and blocked us from them as they fell silent. "Bro, chill. Babae ang mga ito,"