The Mendacious Top Tier

Chapter 2: Abusive

When I finished dressing in my school uniform, I sat on my bed. I was about to put my flat school shoes on nang biglang magsalita si Manang Clara.

"Huwag mo 'yang suotin, Ma'am Lyra." She took my flat school shoes and replaced them with black high-heeled ankle boots.

I was about to complain, but I suddenly remembered something. I was sure Mom ordered it to manang again. Napayuko na lang ako. I didn't have a choice kung hindi ang pumayag sa gusto ni Mom. Isinuot ko na lang ito.

"Ganito na lang, Ma'am Lyra. Dalhin mo na lang ang flat na sapatos na 'yan, at saka mo suotin sa eskwelahan. Hindi ko sasabihin sa mommy mo," Manang Clara said.

"Really, manang? You won't tell Mom?" She nodded immediately. I quickly grabbed a paper bag and put my flat shoes in there before hiding it inside my school bag.

"Ma'am Lyra, tinatawag na kayo ni madam." Biglang pasok ni Ate Joyce sa room ko. She was the daughter of Manang Clara.

"Okay, Ate," I answered. I stood up and went out of my room. My heart was beating so fast as I went down the stairs. My hands were already sweating because of the nervousness I was feeling.

Although Mom and I eat together every day, I was still not comfortable around her. I always keep an eye on myself while talking to her or doing something that she sees. Mom had high expectations of me, so I was afraid to make any mistakes. I was afraid she'd be disappointed in me.

"Good morning, Mom," I greeted her when I saw her in the dining area. Lumapit ako sa kaniya. She didn't answer, so I greeted her again, but isang malakas na sampal sa mukha ang natanggap na sagot ko. Pinigilan kong hindi tumulo ang luha ko sa harapan niya.

"Boyfriend mo ba ang lalaki na 'yun? Kaya ikaw ang sumagot sa tanong na para sa kaniya?" Mom shouted in my face. Napayuko na lang ako. "Ang bata-bata mo pa, pero ang landi mo na!"

"Tinulungan ko lang siya as a class president. There is no other reason, Mom," I explained. Hinawakan ko ang isa kong kamay nang magsimula na itong manginig.

"Tinuruan ba kitang tumulong sa iba, Lyra?" 

"No, Mom," I said nervously.

"Then bakit mo siya tinulungan?"

I did not answer her question. Napatingin ako kay Mom nang kuhanin niya ang isang flower vase at malakas iyong itinapon sa floor. "Sumagot ka, Lyra!"

Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I immediately knelt in front of Mom so she would calm down. I could feel na bumaon ang mga bubog sa knee ko. Kaya napapikit na lang ako sa sobrang sakit.

"I-I'm sorry, Mom. I-I won't do it a-again." Mas lalo akong napayuko while saying it.

"Madam Vina, tama na. Natatakot na ang anak ninyo," biglang sabat ni Manang Clara. Inalalayan naman niya akong tumayo. "Malapit na ring magsimula ang klase ni Ma'am Lyra. Kaya sana, madam, huwag n'yo na siyang pagalitan pa."

"Mabuti na lang talaga at wala ang dad mo rito. Baka hindi lang 'yan ang aabutin mo. Hindi ko na sasabihin sa dad mo ang tungkol doon. Kaya umayos ka, Lyra. Umayos ka!"

"Yes, Mom. Thank you for not telling Dad," I said and bit my lips para pigilan ang pag-iyak.

Inalalayan ako ni Manang Clara palabas ng house hanggang sa makapunta kami sa car. Inabot sa akin ni manang ang bag ko. I took it agad.

"Ikaw talagang bata ka, nagpasalamat ka pa sa mom mo kahit pinagalitan ka na niya. Bakit ba sobra mong bait na anak? Sinampal ka pa niya. Anong klaseng ina ang gano'n ang turing sa anak niya?" Manang Clara said worriedly. 

"I'm okay, manang. Sanay na po ako sa attitude na gano'n ni Mom," I lied so she wouldn't have to worry about me anymore.

Manang looked at me with a pitiful look. I immediately avoided looking at her. I didn’t want her to feel pity for me.

"Aalis na po kami, manang." Manang just nodded and closed the door of the car. 

A few minutes later we reached the school. I looked at the front gate of the school first. I felt relieved to see that there weren’t many students in the school yet. I took the black jacket I had put earlier in the bag and isinuot ito. I also changed my high heels to flat shoes. I also wore a mask and eyeglasses so that no one would recognize me once I go to the clinic. Ayaw ko nang makarating pa 'to kay Mom.

I looked at my cellphone para malaman kung anong time na. It was 6:48 a.m. pa lang naman. Nagpatulong ako kay Manong Edward na alalayan ako papunta sa clinic ng school. 

Malapit lang ang clinic sa front gate ng school kaya nakarating kaagad kami roon. Sinalubong kaagad kami ng nurse and pinaupo ako sa isang hospital bed. 

"Thank you, manong, for helping me. You can go na," I said to manong.

"Sige, Ma'am Lyra," Manong Edward answered and lumabas na sa clinic.

"Anong ba'ng nangyari sa tuhod mo? Bakit ang daming bubog?" the nurse asked confusedly.

"Nadapa po ako sa floor na maraming bubog," I lied. Kung hindi ko lang sana na isipan na tulungan ang lalaki na iyon kahapon, wala na sanang magyayaring ganito sa akin ngayon.

Sinimulan na niya itong linisin and unti-unting kinuha ang bubog na nakabaon sa tuhod ko. Napapikit na lang ako and napahawak nang mahigpit sa unan na malapit sa akin. Ang sakit talaga. 

A few minutes later, she finished treating my wounds. 

"Magpahinga ka na lang saglit at puwede ka nang umalis sa clinic," the nurse said. I nodded.

I look at my phone again para malaman ang oras. 7:30 a.m. na. Thirty minutes left before the class started.

"Bakit nandito ka?" 

I looked at the person who asked that question. I immediately avoided my eyes and did not answer his question.

"May masakit ba sa katawan mo?" he asked again. I still did not answer. "Hindi ka na ba nakakarinig . . . kaya nandito ka?" 

I glared at him when he said that. "If hindi na ako nakakarinig. I would go to the hospital immediately, not here in the clinic."

"Kung gano'n, bakit ayaw mong sumagot sa tanong ko?" he asked confusedly. 

"Hindi ako na-inform na required na palang sagutin lahat ng question mo sa akin," I said in a sarcastic way.

"Hindi ba puwedeng nag-alala lang ako sa 'yo kaya nagtanong ako?"

I glared at him even more because of what he said. "Hindi mo kailangang mag-alala sa akin," I said coldly.

"Kaya ikaw lang ang puwedeng mag-alala?" He was nodding while saying those.

"When did I feel concerned about you? I don't even know your name."

"Ako si Rafael, ang na-late na kaklase mo kahapon. Nakalimutan mo ba 'yun? Hindi ba pag-aalala ang tawag doon?"

If he only knew that he was the reason I was here today at the clinic . . . I breathed heavily. It was my fault din naman na nagdesisyon akong tulungan siya. 

"I'm not okay," I answered. I thought magtatanong pa siya kung bakit ako hindi okay. But he stayed silent instead. Gusto niya bang magkuwento ako? But I was still not comfortable talking about my life to someone who was not close to me.

He went to me and softly patted my shoulder. It was so fast kaya hindi na ako nakailag pa.

"Aalis na ako, magkita na lang tayo sa classroom," he said and went out of the clinic.

I breathed heavily. I should not expect to see him like that. Sino ba naman kasi ang magkaka-interest sa life ko na puro lang masasakit ang ibinibigay sa akin? Wala namang magandang nangyari.