Ludic Selcouth #4: Panacea

Chapter 13

“Letʼs do something about this, Kenzie. We canʼt just let those students treat you like a trash.” mabagal akong uminom mula sa beer glass habang nakatitig sa sumasayaw na ilaw sa buong bar. Kumpleto ang mga miyembro ng Ischyrion Phi ngayon, pati na rin ang frat nina Angelito ay nandito.

“Huwag na. I can just punch their mouth once I hear them saying something bad about me.” rinig ko ang pagtawa ni Zither kasabay ng pag-akbay niya sa 'kin.

“Itʼs better, actually. Tell me when youʼre going to punch someone, Iʼll back you up.”

“Zither,” saway ni Feia kaya nakataas ang dalawang kamay na lumayo siya sa 'kin at kinindatan ako. Bahagya lang akong ngumiti at itinaas ang beer glass sa gawi niya.

“On a serious note, Kenzie, we can really do something about this. Theyʼre looking down on an Ischyrion Phi member, itʼs not acceptable.” umiling ulit ako sa pahayag ni Feia.

“Itʼs really okay. Let them be. Iʼll deal with them alone once they crossed the line.” Iʼm trying to reduce the troubles that Iʼm making. I canʼt really engage on a petty fight right now, not when my lola is suffering from a heart attack.

Itʼs been a month since Laraʼs issue. The following days were hell for me. Laraʼs older brother kept his words. I had a one week volunteer activity on the homes for the old people. Kapag uuwi na ako ay napapansin kong laging may nakasunod sa 'kin na kotse. It went for six days until they finally moved. Last day of me being a volunteer and doing good deeds for the old and sicked people, I got into a car accident when I was finally heading home.

Itʼs not the accident that will kill me, just enough to injure me. Itʼs like a warning. Alam ko na kung sino ang may gawa. I was so furious, naka wheel chair ako nang dalawang linggo bago ako tuluyang nakapaglakad ulit nang maayos. Because of that accident, my lola suffered from heart attack. Hanggang ngayon ay nagpapagaling pa rin siya at kailangan ng maingat na pag-aalaga.

My sisters planned something to make them pay. But because of my personal request, they discarded it. Sisiguraduhin kong gaganti ako sa kanila, pero hindi ngayon. I only do minor damage at this moment. Si Lara ang tinatarget ko dahil mukha siyang konsensiyang-konsensiya sa nangyari sa 'kin. Of course, hindi ko kinalimutang sabihin sa kaniya na ang kuya niya ang may pakana kung bakit ako naaksidente. She said sorry over and over again. She cried in front of me.

I realized that sheʼs really kind and soft-hearted. Ibang-iba sa pamilya niyang akala mo may sa demonyo kung mag-isip.

Itʼs given, sheʼs a good person. But my hatred for her will never falter. I made sure that she will blame herself for what happened to me and my lola. Palagi kong pinapaalala sa kaniya na siya ang may kasalanan ng lahat. She accepts all of it.

I should be happy because she looks really miserable whenever Iʼll see her. I should be... Dapat gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Pero habang tumatagal, mas lalo lang akong nagagalit sa kaniya dahil ang bait niya. Nakaka-irita.

“Let her do what she wants. Umaayos din naman ang pakiramdam ni Kenzie kapag nakita niyang umiiyak si Lara,” tatawa-tawang sabi na naman ni Zither. Akma siyang babatuhin ng purse ni Diamond pero umirap lang siya at ngumiti sa 'kin.

“Speaking of, what happened yesterday, Kenzie? Bakit umiiyak na naman sa harapan mo kahapon?” sumandal ako sa couch at tumingin sa harap kung nasaan ang stage. It is being prepared for the next band who will play.

“She went to the hospital where my lola is admitted. For the first time, nakita niya sa personal 'yung kalagayan ng lola ko. Sheʼs guilty. Tinatanong niya ako kung ano raw ang pwede niyang gawin. I told her to slap her brother because it was his fault,” sagot ko. Bahagyang tumawa si Lauren at amused akong pinagmasdan.