Becoming The Man (COMPLETED)

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Nate rendered me speechless.

Hindi ako naka-galaw. The next thing I knew, nasampal ko na siya.

"Do you hear yourself?" I managed to ask through the tears. "I opened up kasi I thought I could trust you... Bakit ganyan ka?"

"Debbie, sorry—" I quickly dodged his hand trying to reach my shoulder.

"Don't touch me," I said, shaking my head. "Don't ever talk to me again. Umalis ka sa bahay ko."

"Di ko naman sina-sadya, Debbie—"

"Umalis ka na!" I shouted dahil parang wala siyang narinig.

I hugged my knees closer to my chest and buried my face between them to cry. I never learned...

"Paano 'tong activity natin?" he asked.

"Gdocs," I replied.

Naninikip na 'yung chest ko sa pag-hikbi.

Narinig ko na kunin ni Nate ang bag niya at lumabas ng house. I heard him say sorry pa bago isara ni Manang 'yung door. At saka lang ako nag-wipe away ng tears.

"Ma'am Debbie, okay lang po kayo?"

"Do I look okay?!" I shouted at Manang before I ran upstairs to my room.

* * *

"SANHS Spotted?" I asked, looking at the Facebook page Bridgette showed me. My forehead creased. Nag-scroll ako sa page and saw a bunch of pictures ng girl schoolmates namin.

Oh look, there's me also! 'SANHS Spotted: Debbie Lofranco of 12-Rizal!' the caption said.

"So basically, they post pictures of pretty girls sa school natin?" She nodded. "So, what seems to be the problem?"

"Matanong ko lang, ate," Bridgette said. "Kinausap ka ba nung admin niyan bago ka i-post?"

I shook my head. Wala naman akong idea about this until i-bring up niya sa akin today. Pero grateful naman ako sa thought nung admins!

"Nope. Bakit?" I asked.

"So, wala ding consent 'yung sayo?"

My lips parted. Oo nga, 'no. "But... I posted this pic naman sa IG ko. I guess it's fine naman? Diba?"

Bridgette sighed. "Buti sayo okay lang, ate. Pero yung iba dyan, kahit pinapa-tanggal na sa admin 'yung pic dahil naba-bastos, ayaw pa rin."

Literal na napa-nganga ako. "What the hell? Ano pang kailangan kong malaman about this freaking page?!" I asked in panic. Akala ko naman the page's intent was to uplift and empower women, pero 'di pa rin pala safe sa pangse-sexualize?!

"Harmless talaga 'yan nung una, e," Bridgette explained. "Fun-fun lang. Hanggang taga-ibang school na 'yung bina-bastos o pinagta-tawanan. Kaya gumawa 'yung ibang school ng page para naman dun pag-tawanan at bastusin 'yung schoolmates natin. Dun na nag-simula 'yung mga parinigan st shitposts, ate."

"Omg, you've got to be kidding me," I said in shock. "Bridgette, serious stuff 'to!"

"Alam ko, Ate Debbie. Kaya nga po sinasabi ko na sayo hangga't pwede pang agapan," sagot niya.

Napa-facepalm ako. Gosh, humanda talaga 'yung admin ng freaking page na 'yan! I heaved a deep breath and said, "Okay. Let's bring this up sa meeting later."

Bridgette and I went back inside na nung mag-start ang regular meeting ng SSG. Nangamusta lang si Ms. Arellano about our duties and accomplishment reports. She became busy na kasi sa grad school niya kaya we had to make salo the workload.