Ludic Selcouth #4: Panacea

Chapter 9

I didnʼt know that I was already ruining the nail polish on my thumb because I keep on scratching it using the nail on my middle finger. Binitawan ko ang hawak na pen at inabot ang cellphone na nasa gilid ko lang. I was so tensed when I tried to check my messages on telegram. Kaninang umaga ay bigla na namang may nagpadala sa 'kin ng picture.

It was on my old school... Nasa likod ako ng campus kasama ang isang babae na binuhusan ko ng pig blood. Nagkalat ang mga papel sa harapan niya na kapwa nagkaroon na ng stain dahil sa dugo. Sobrang obvious na ako 'yon dahil hawak ko pa 'yung balde.

I did it. Kasama siya sa journalism ng school namin at nakatanggap ng tip sina Pressy noon na nagsusulat siya ng article na puro tungkol paninira sa 'kin. It was a right timing because she was about to publish it anonymously and plaster it on the bulletin board and all around the school. I was so mad that I did those things.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang na-uungkat... Who took the pictures? I was so sure that we were alone that time!

This is stressing me out. The person behind this is threatening me... Hindi ko naman siya maka-usap dahil dinidelete niya agad kapag nakita niyang naseen ko na. Lagi siyang nakabantay... Bago pa ako makapag-screenshot ay nabura niya na nang tuluyan. Sigurado na akong taga Laguna ang gumagawa nito... Pero bakit? Wala na akong inaaway ngayon!

“Hey.” napahawak ako sa dibdib nang biglang may sumulpot sa gilid ko. Mabigat ang paghinga na binalingan ko si Georgia. Inilapag niya ang bag sa couch at naglabas ng ipad.

“What are you doing here? I thought umuwi ka na?” tanong niya. Umiling ako at ibinalik ang tingin sa cellphone na hawak.

“I was waiting for someone to join me. Labas tayo,” aya ko at nagligpit ng mga gamit. Narito pa kasi ako sa office slash domicile ng Ischyrion Phi na nasa labas lang ng university. Hindi ganoon kalayo ang distansya kaya rito ginaganap ang mga meetings ng sorority. Pwede ring matulog at tumuloy dito ang members kung gugustuhin namin. Itʼs like a house with complete furnitures.

“Why? You looks like youʼre still doing something.” I sighed.

“Gusto ko lang magpalamig ng ulo. Zither is upstairs, but sleeping. Tinatamad daw siyang lumabas. Ikaw na lang.” she smiled and nodded.

“Still problematic with the person who keeps on threatening you? I already told you to consult that with Feia. Sheʼll definitely help you locate that asshole,” she said and stood up. I chewed on my lower lip. Sa totoo lang ay gustong-gusto ko nang gawin 'yon, pero ano namang gagawin ko kapag nahanap ko na ang taong 'yon?

“None of our sisters will judge you here, Kenzie. Magkakakampi tayo rito, we will support and help each other as long as we can. Kaya para matapos na 'yang problema mo, kausapin mo na si Feia, okay? You can also go to Lauren, sheʼs good at technologies.” ngumiti ako at isinukbit na ang bag sa balikat.

“Thank you, George,” ang tanging sabi ko kaya umiling-iling na lang siya.

We went out of the Ischyrion Phiʼs domicile to head at the mall. Wala naman talaga akong balak gawin, gusto ko lang maglakad at mag-isip-isip. Kinakarma na ba ako? No... I donʼt want to think of it as karma. Nakikipag-away ako noon dahil alam kong may sense ang pakikipag-away ko. I just donʼt attack anyone without a reason.

If theyʼre trying to ruin me, and they keep on attempting to take away what should have been mine, then I will also ruin them. They deserve the harsh words, pulling of hair, claws, and slaps that I gave them.

“Did you really engage yourself with a lot of girl fights before?” natatawang tanong ni Georgia habang namimili kami ng damit sa isang boutique. Tumango ako at inangat ang isang red tiny dress. Itʼs pretty.