Perennial Blooms (Ciudad de Escalante #2)

Phase 06

Cassiel's friends in our class called him. Kaya napanatag ako na hindi na siya lalapit para manira ng araw. Namataan ko naman si Azariah na naglalakad palayo sa kanyang pinsan. Severine on the other side is talking to the good-looking guy.

Naglakad naman ako palapit sa kanya na mag-isa na lamang ngayon. Nakaupo siya sa isang bench habang yakap ang lunch bag.

"We need to talk, Prado la Silvestre," I informed her, and she slowly nodded at me. I inhaled a deep breath before addressing my agenda. Buti naman ay madaling kausap at handang makinig sa sasabihin ko. I don't like talking to her sometimes because she's too nice to me. Kahit anong pagmamaldita ko ay mabait pa rin.

"I need to say this straight to the point. We already lost five points in our last meeting, right? I don't like it..." diretsahan kong sabi sa kanya at napayuko lamang siya.

Pinaglaruan ang mga daliri at napapaikot na lamang ako ng mata ng masilayan na may namumuong luha sa mga mata niya. What kind of drama is this?

"I'm sorry... hindi ko sinasadya," she rustled but it's enough to hear.

"You're sorry is not enough. Do your best later and don't disappoint me. Hindi mo magugustuhan kapag pumalpak ka na naman..." dugtong ko gamit ang pagbabantang tono.

"I'll try my best..."

"Don't try! Just do it, okay? Hindi ka ba nakokonsensya na bababa grades namin dahil sa'yo?" singhal ko at hindi siya nakasagot doon.

"Sorry, pero baka kasi —" pangangatwiran niya pa kaya agad ko iyong pinutol.

"I don't care whatever your reason is. Basta ayusin mo ang trabaho mo mamaya para manalo naman tayo kahit papano! Or you better lose some weight so you're not a burden in a group for the next semester..."

I gazed at her body. I think she's around 70 or 75 kilograms. She can lessen 30 kilograms in two months to have a physically fit body like mine.

"I'm sorry for being a burden..." sambit niyang muli kaya napabuntong-hininga ako sa inis. What? Iyon lang ang sasabihin niya pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon sa kanya? Why does she keep saying sorry?! I can't believe her. Bakit hindi niya ako sagut-sagutin gaya ni Ametrine? That's why people keep bullying her. She doesn't know how to fight.

Binibigyan ko na nga siya ng opportunity ngayon para ipaglaban ang sarili niya pero ano itong ginagawa niya? Saying sorry?

"Can you stop being stupid? I don't need your sorry! Why don't you learn to stand up for yourself? I'm being a bitch here but you just let me trample your dignity," giit ko sa kanya kaya inangatan niya ako ng tingin na tila nalilito.

Gosh, seriously? Doesn't she get what I mean?

I don't want to be mean, and yes, I need to pressure her, but I didn't expect that she'll only say sorry.

"I'm saying is, if someone like me bad-mouthing or bitching you, whether your cousins, classmate, or other brainless people out there, you should speak for yourself! Stop saying sorry, sorry, sorry! You're stressing me out!" sigaw ko sa kanya at nagmartsa palayo.

My head is boiling. My face contracted with anger. I need to calm down. I know how it feels to be bullied, and I don't like someone who's kindhearted like her experience that. Gosh, I'm inconsistent. I shouldn't care about her, right?

"Salcedo's team, 50 points..." our instructor declared, and my groupmates applauded in happiness behind me.

I celebrated my victory in my thoughts. I didn't make a reaction about what I heard. I expected it anyway, Azariah did a great job. Kaya naman palang bilisan ang pagtakbo, gusto pa na kausapin ko. I stand up from my seat and walked to our teacher to get my index card. Guiliana will not be able to comment about having mistakes again. Bumalik ako sa kinauupuan ko habang hindi mapigilan na mapangiti kapag nakikita ang mga umuulang 50 na scores. Panira lang ang nag-iisang 45.