Red Strings (Strings Series #1)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7.

"Have you heard the rumors?"

"Who is this girl na anak daw sa labas ng isang politician? And she's living with her father's real family."

"Omg, the who?!"

I heard rumors like that sa pagdaan ko sa hallway. I don't know what's their problem. Pinagchichismisan nila ang ibang tao like they have to do with it. Why can't they just mind their own business? Nakakairita.

"Yca, si Janine? Hindi ba pumasok?", tanong ni Alfred. Nagtaka naman ako dahil laging nauuna sakin si Ja at lagi pa nagyayaya mag canteen bago magsimula ang class.

"Ha? Wala pa ba sya?"

"Yca, can you text her? Please I'm worried."

Bigla akong kinabahan, "What the fuck is happening????"

"Yca... I'm sorry but it's not my story to tell. Please ask Ja herself. Text mo ha, baka sakaling sayo magreply. Hindi kasi nagrereply at di sumasagot sa mga tawag ko."

I immediately grab my phone and texted her.  I am so worried, sO WORRIED!!

Yngrid Caroline: (+639056******)

Hello Ja? How are you? Bakit di ka pumasok. I am so worried. Did I miss something? Di ka na nagkkwento.

Jananica Rosalyn: (+639094******)

I'm sorry, Yca. I can't go to class today. And you can come here in my condo later after the class, magkkwento ako.

I sighed heavily.

I immediately passed my reflection essay at kumaripas ng takbo palabas. Dumaan muna ako sa Krispy Kreme para ibili si Ja ng doughnuts, her favorite. I really miss being with her, my bestfriend.

Sinalubong ako ni Janine na may ngiti at agad na yumakap ito. I can feel her sadness. Mugto ang mga mata at naka-pajamas pa. She looks... so empty.

"What happened ba?"

"I don't know where to start, Yca." She's playing with her fingers at hindi tumitingin sakin.

"You know, you can always tell me anything diba? I won't judge naman and I am here for you."

"The rumors were true Yca. Sorry I didn't tell you, before. I was hoping back then that I can live normally and tanggap nila ako but shits happened."

The rumors... Kaninang umaga... Si Alfred...
Everything is puzzling me, is it her?

Her eyes stings and pinipigilan ang pagtubig ng mata. "Nung outing natin, I immediately went home and argued with Dad about Ate. I fought for her hoping na magiging okay kami if I sided with her but nagalit si mom, my stepmother. She said na pagsisisihan ko ang ginawa ko."

She paused for a while. This time wala nang luha. Nakatanga nalang siya at natulala. "Una, kinuhaan ako ng kotse.  Pangalawa pinalayas ako. Buti nalang naka withdraw pa ko and they didn't block it. Maybe Dad is still worried for me."

"Alam ba nila na dito ka nags-stay?"

"Maybe Vince told them. He's the one who gave me this condo. Marami raw siyang condo kaya tinanggap ko nalang kesa naman magbayad pa ko sa iba. Kinapalan ko na mukha ko. And actually Yca, Vince is my cousin. Kaya pareho kaming Alonzo but yeah his family doesn't want us to be close dahil anak lang naman ako sa labas. How dare me use my father's surname diba? HAHA."