Upside Down ( On-going)

CHAPTER 4

"What took you so long Sophie? Ang tagal mong mag-Cr ah" ngingisi-ngising sambit ni Charisse habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Wala, may nakasalubong lang ako" sagot ko. Agad namang napabalikwas si Charisse at mas lumapit pa sa akin.

"Uy sino? Ang Winks ba? Omg dapat sumama ako sayo!" Excited nitong saad.

"Actually, yung limang yun ang nakasalubong ko. Yung ponytail mo kase eh, nahulog sa pagkakahawak ko. Mabuti na lang at kinuha ni Marvin, tas ayun, nakipag-usap pa sa akin ang mga kabanda niya' tuloy-tuloy kong sabi habang tinatali ang nakalugay kong buhok.

"Grabe Sophie, nakausap mo talaga ang Winks? Swerte mo naman. Ako kase, matagal ko na ngang gustong makausap yung mga yun, kaso nahihiya lang ako" nakanguso nitong saad.

"Inaya nga akong manood ng gig nila. Wanna come with me? I told them that I'll come with my friend" nakangiti kong tugon. Nakita kong biglang nagbago ang timpla niya at ngumiti ng malapad.

"Talaga? You're the best Sophie! Grabe, excited na ako mamaya!" Sambit niya habang pumapalakpak pa. Mabuti na lang at maingay rin ang iba naming kaklase kaya hindi lang kami ang nag-iingay sa loob ng classroom.

"Gusto mo dumaan sa bahay? Magpapalit lang ako and then daan din tayo sa bahay niyo, para ikaw naman ang makapagpalit" I suggested while smiling at her. She was so happy that she eventually hugged me tight.

"Thanks God I got a classmate and a great friend like you. Dati kase, loner lang ako. Hindi ko kayang makibagay sa iba nating classmates" ang ngiti na kaninang lumalabas sa kanyang labi ay napalitan ng lungkot sa kanyang mata.

"Victim ka rin ng bullying?" Tanong ko kaya mas lalo kong inilapit ang armchair ko sa kanya.

"Unfortunately, yes. I was really thin when I was in first year highschool. Marami akong pimples and I even had a dark skin. I was a victim of bullying and I was also depressed because of it. And then my Mom told me that I should make a change instead of crying inside my room the whole night. And then I changed myself, from my skin color, I also try to eat healthy foods and I started treating my pimples. And then I got this new Charisse infront of you. Pero nahirapan pa rin akong makisalamuha sa iba, lalo na't hindi ko kababayan. Until you entered this room a while ago. Alam kong magiging kaibigan kita. Thank you Sophie for letting me have you" halos maluha-luha ako sa sinabi niya. Parehas pala kaming nakaranas ng bullying.

"No, thank you for letting me have you, Charisse. We're both victims of bullying and we changed for the better. Don't cry. Those bad memories from the past? Let's just forget about it. Let's help each other to forget those shitty days. We're friends right?" I uttered as I smile at her.

"Yeah, we're friends" She answered as she formed a sweet smile while looking at me.

I guess it wasn't really a bad idea to study here at Vendez High. Afterall, it turned out to be an awesome idea.

*******

My first day here at Vendez High was pretty fine. I meet a great friend, and then my crush hihi.

The classes dismissed at exactly 5:00 PM. Nandito na ako sa bahay at nakapagbihis na. I'm wearing a korean off shoulder dress with my gold earrings and necklace.

"Mom, alis na po kami. Dadaanan pa namin ang bahay nila Charisse" I said.

"Nice meeting you po tita Sandy" nakangiting sambit ni Charisse. Napangiti naman si Mommy at nagsalita.

"Balik ka hija. I'm glad Sophie found a friend on her first day at Vendez High. Nung una kase ayaw niya dun kase mahal daw ang tuition fee" tatawa-tawang saad ni Mommy kaya napakamot na lang ako sa batok ko. Nakita kong sumabay din sa tawa si Charisse kaya mas lalo akong nahiya.