Warmth of Summer

Chapter 6

Safe

I stare at those three girls who have bruises on their faces. Mas malala nga lang 'yung tinarget ni Winter. I know that the moment we got caught by those damn SSG officers, we're fucking damned.

Kanina pa ako irap nang irap sakanila kasi they were crying nonstop since we got here at the detention room with Mrs. Morente, who's the head of the disciplinary action in this university.

"Hindi ka ba titigil sa kakangawa mo?" pambabasag ni Winter sa katahimikan.

"It's so damn annoying," pagsang-ayon ko.

Pero imbis na tumigil sila ay mas lumakas pa tuloy ang iyak nila na ikinainis naming dalawa ni Winter. They're just faking their cries para kaawaan sila ni Mrs. Morente. These damn bitches! Akala mo sila talaga ang biktima dito. We wouldn't attacked them if only they didn't hurt my sister!

"Ms. Summer and Ms. Winter Yamazaki, kindly shut your mouth because those words that you've said can be used against the both of you and can prove that you were the one who started this havoc," Mrs. Morente calmly said, yet you can tell that there's an authority in it.

"But we're not the one who started it—"

"We will know that when all of your parents arrive," she uttered in a monotone.

I heavily sighed and leaned on the couch. Magkakatabi kaming tatlo ni Winter at Autumn. Autumn has been silent since we arrived here, she didn't talked even though Mrs. Morente asked her. She just stayed quiet and lowered her head, which annoys me kasi I know what she's thinking.

I bet that she's blaming herself. When clearly she shouldn't blame herself kasi hindi naman siya ang may kasalanan. Those girls who hurt her should be the one to blame.

Muli kong sinamaan ng tingin ang tatlong babaeng nasa harapan lang namin. I grip my palm when I saw the girl that Winter kicked, smirked at me. I want to detach her disgusting lips from her ugly face.

Kaming anim lang dito dahil ang mga kaibigan ni Winter ay agad na naglaho na parang bula nang nagdatingan ang mga SSG officers kanina.

We all look at the door when someone knocked. After three knocks, bumukas ito at bahagyang pumasok si Finn nang walang bakas na kahit na emosyon sa mukha niya.

"They're here, Mrs. Morente," he lethargically said.

Binawi ko ang tingin ko sakanya dahil galit parin ako sakanya sa pamamahiya niya sa'kin kanina. He said that he's disappointed in me in front of many people? Was I the one who started it? Ako lang din ba ang tao doon para sa'kin lang siya maging disappointed?

"Let them in, Mr. Abelardo."

Nanatili akong nakatingin kay Mrs. Morente hanggang sa marinig ko nalang ang mga iba't ibang boses papasok. Nag-angat na ako ng tingin at sumalubong sa'kin ang walang emosyong mukha ni mommy. I gulped and averted my eyes from her and it landed on daddy— who also don't have any emotion on his face. Dad is wearing his suit and he looks like he just came out from the meeting while mom wears her sophisticated dress and I know that she's from her amiga's tea party.

"Welcome, thank you for coming here, dear parents. You may sit with your children so we can now discourse on this issue," Mrs. Morente formally said while standing.

Tahimik na tumabi sa'min si mommy at daddy habang ang kabilang panig naman ay panay na ang ingay. Money can't buy class talaga.

"Oh my God! What happened to your face, sweety?" I rolled my eyes when I heard that screechy voice. Like mother, like daughter.

Ngumiwi naman ako nang biglang lumakas ang iyak ng babaeng isa sa sinabunutan ko. "She did this to me, mommy!" she screamed as she pointed me.

Lahat naman sila ay napatingin sa akin and I can sense that Finn is also looking at me. I act as if I'm unbothered while crossing my legs.