The Hers

Chapter 4

Amora Cely's Point of View

I'm here na in front of the science lab. Inabot pa ako nang thirty minutes bago ko mahanap kung saan ito dahil sa sobrang lawak ng school na 'to.

I was about to opened the door but someone opened it kaya napaatras ako bigla. I saw the vice president na palabas kaya hindi na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at nilahad ko na ang kamay ko para hingin ang phone ko.

"Oh, you!" she smiled at me. "What's your name again?"

"Am—"

"No, don't say it! I'm guessing it," she acts like she's guessing it. "Amy?"

"It's Amora," I said in a irritated face.

"Oh, yes! I'm so sorry," tumawa ito.

"My phone?"

"Ah, yes your phone!" kumapa-kapa ito sa bulsa ng palda niya. "Kinuha pala ni Nayeli. Nasa loob siya, kunin mo na lang."

Are you freaking kidding me?

"Approach her in a nice way, okay?" pabulong na sabi niya. "Bye-bye, marami pa akong gagawin," she taps my shoulder and leaves.

I took a deep breath. Why would she take my phone to her friend?! My gosh naman, oh!

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pintuan and I saw her arranging the test tubes. May hawak parin siyang libro sa kanang kamay niya, nakaipit ang hintuturo niya sa magkabilang page.

I clears my throat kaya roon siya napalingon sa akin. "Uhm. Hi."

No response.

"Your friend said na you have my phone so... kukunin ko na kasi uuwi na 'po' ako."

Still no response from her but she puts down her book that she's holding. She puts her two hands in the pockets of the laboratory coat and starts walking towards me.

I remaining stay still as she walks. Nang sobrang lapit na namin sa isa't-isa ay lumayo na ako nang kaunti 'cuz this is getting awkward lalo na't kaming dalawa lang ang nandito at sobrang tahimik.

She tilts her head. "You want your phone?"

Her voice...

"M-Mhm.." I nods. "Yes. My phone. Can I have it back?"

Napababa ako nang tingin sa bulsa ng coat niya nang makita kong nay kinukuha siya ro'n and that's my phone. I was about to take it but tinaasan niya 'yon kaya I'm annoyed.

Is she for real?! If she thinks doing this is so funny to her, IT'S NOT! I really want to go home na, gosh naman!

"Please. Miss Pressy?" pagmamakaawa ko kunware. "Can I have it back?"

"Then take it."

"Okay."

She was so shocked when I pulled her arm down that easily and took my phone. Kinuha ko na ang bag kong nilapag ko saglit sa gilid ng pintuan at saka aakmang lalabas sana.

But ganoon na lamang gulat ko nang bigla niya akong hilahin pabalik at saka pabalibag na sinandal sa pader. Akala ko mauuntog ang ulo ko but suddenly I feel her palm in my back of my head.

"You have courage," she said while looking into my eyes.

Inis na inis na ako kaya tinulak ko siya. "Of course, I have courage! Why? Who the eff are you ba, ha?!"

Sa inis ko ay padabog kong kinuha ulit ang bag kong nalaglag at saka lumabas, pabagsak kong sinara ang pintuan ng science lab. Buti na lang, hindi nasira.

While I'm walking in the hallway, naririnig ko pa rin ang boses niya sa isip ko.

'You want you phone?'

PLEASE STOP, MIND! This is not the time! That president! I hate her!

Finally! Makakapag-phone na rin ako sa wakas! I'm so tired... sobrang daming pinagawa today. I miss my old school, minsan lang may gagawin. Here is like they are torturing you with those school works.

I think I need a massage...

"Amora!"

I automatically looked up when I heard someone is calling me with that really familliar voice. I saw someone's waving in the gate so lumapit ako para makita kung sino 'yon.

"Oh my, gosh! Maverick!"

Agad ko siyang niyakap nang makalapit ako sakaniya. I didn't expect him to visit me here. I saw him carrying a paper bag, may naaamoy akong pagkain.

"What brings you here?" I ask him immediately.

"Oh, since my uhm... kakatapos lang ng klase namin so... naisipan kong puntahan ka."

I can't stop smiling. I missed him. "Where's Echo nga pala?"

"He can't make it today kasi birthday ng mother niya so ako na lang ang pumunta," he explains. "Hindi talaga ako kumain mula kanina kasi naisip kong dalhan ka ng pagkain para sabay tayong kumain. Kumain ka na ba?"

"Nope," mabilis na sagot ko. "I haven't eaten yet. So—"

"There's a gentlemen here."

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang may biglang nagsalita sa gilid namin. It's the vice president, kasama ang kaniyang malupit na kaibigan na president kaya nagchange na naman ang mood ko.

"What's up, Amora! Nakuha mo na 'yung phone mo kay Nayeli?" she asks me. Nakaakbay ito sakaniya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Yes."

"Naks! Buti buhay ka pa?"

"Nangangain ba siya ng tao?" I crossed my arms at saka siya binalingan nang tingin.

Wala siyang reaksyon. She's reading a book in one hand. She's reading uhm... How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasglow.

Weird ng mga binabasa niya. Making friends with what? With the dark? Weird. Parang siya lang.

"Who's this guy, Amora?" the vice asks.

"He's my friend. Maverick."

"Hi but no boys are allowed here."

"Uh... it's okay," Maverick's response. "Hindi naman ako papasok. Hanap na lang tayong spot para kainin 'tong dinala ko. Let's go, Amora?"

Nang lumingon ako ulit sakanilang dalawa para magpaalam ay nakita kong nakatingin sa akin ang president kaya I gave her an annoying stare too at saka na ako sumunod kay Maverick.

There's a park near in the school kaya roon na lang kami pumunta. May nakita kaming occupied table sa isang gilid kaya nilapitan namin 'yon at saka naupo.

"So..." Mave started. "How is your new school?"

"I hate it," I said at saka sumubo ng pagkaing dala niya. "Idagdag mo pa 'yung ano na 'yon! That shitty president. She's getting in my nerves!"

"What? Why naman? Ano'ng nangyari?"

"You don't have to know."

While we're eating, nagkwentuhan kami tungkol sa mga ganap ng both schools namin. He said na Jericho and him misses me already. I wish, I can go back to my old school but of couse... dad is so kontrabida.

After we eat ay ihahatid na sana ako ni Mave but I refused. Kapag nakita kasi siya ni dad, alam kong sesermonan na naman niya ako so I just took a bus. Dad texted me earlier na hindi niya raw kasi ako masusundo 'cuz may meeting sila ng mga ka-trabaho niya.

I know na maarte akong tao but I know to commute duh.

Nang makababa na ako sa bus since ilang lakad na lang ay bahay ko na, I saw dad's car na kakarating lang din. Parehas lang pala kaming kakarating lang.

He saw me first nu'ng bumaba siya kaya kinawayan niya ako at hinintay sa may pintuan.

"Hi, sweetie," bumeso siya sa akin. "How's your first day of school?"

"Exhausting."

Pinapatunog ko pa ang leeg ko habang umaakyat ako sa kwarto ko. Ni hindi ko na nga nahubad ang uniform ko dahil sa sobrang pagod ko at nakatulog ako pagkatapos.