"A beauty to die for."
Stunning, smart, soft-hearted. Having all these qualities, Carrie even gets called an angel who descended from heaven.
Everyone loves her. Everyone adores her.
Little does Carrie know, someone has taken a different level of d...
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Carrie
I have worn this white buttoned long-sleeve shirt several times in the past. The straight-leg jeans hugging my waist are recognized by hundreds of eyes already. Even the soles of my black rubber shoes have kissed the grass on the school fields about a thousand times before.
Yelton University is still the same school as it was the last time I stepped in here.
But unlike the past days when people who look at me would either say hi, smile, or ignore, the glances shooting through me right now are like sheets of thick fabric clinging to my face one by one, blocking my airways and causing me to catch my breath.
I cautiously turned my head to Chantal on my left, and she pressed my palm enclosed with her right hand as she expressed the kind of smile that said, "It's okay, things will be fine."
I'm not sure about that.
"Ihahatid ko na kayo sa quarters." Napalingon ako kay Kold na nakatayo sa likuran naming dalawa. He placed his right hand on my shoulder and smiled faintly as he went around to be in front of us. Pinangunahan niya kaming maglakad.
Maingay pa rin sa paligid dahil foundation week pa, pero pakiramdam ko ay parang medyo tumatahimik sa bawat dinaraanan naming tatlo. Hindi ako makatingin nang diretso sa kahit saan at paikot-ikot ang paningin ko.
Do they know about it?
They probably do. Even with just short moments of my eyes meeting with theirs, I can see what reflects in them.
I wonder what they think of me now. Pathetic? Stupid? Lame?
"Don't mind them," Kold whispered as we walk, but enough for me and Chantal to hear. I heaved a sigh and decided to just stare at the back of Kold's black shirt.
He's right. I should not pay attention because no, it doesn't matter. It should not even matter. Wala dapat akong pakialam kung ano man ang iniisip o sinasabi nila. Alam ko ang totoong nangyari, at alam kong wala akong kasalanan.
I won't listen to anyone who talks like her anymore. Absurd.
I tried to bring out a facade. I held my chin up, took a deep breath, and made sure that my eyes emanated a firm and brave gaze.
Nakarating kami sa fourth floor ng building. It's 43 minutes past eight at sa pagkakatanda ko, finals na ng ilang sports competition kaya iilan lang ang tao sa loob, karamihan ay nanonood sa team players namin.
Professor Leilani Galvez was the only faculty member inside. Professor namin siya sa Natural Science noong first semester, at isa sa mga advisers ng Team Emerald. We greeted her as she stood up from facing her laptop.
"I didn't expect na makakabalik ka agad, Miss Caroline," she said. Hindi naman kami nakasagot at nagpalitan lang kami ng naiilang na ngiti ni Chantal.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, that was so out of place. Narinig ako ang tungkol sa nangyari. Are you sure that you're already attending the events today? The university would understand if you need ample time to rest." The professor extended her left hand and held my right. She genuinely seemed concerned and I just smiled at her.
