When The Weather Is Nice, Let's Meet Again (El Diva Series #1)

CHAPTER 17

Warning: This chapter contains self-harm.

"What are you planning to do now, Ms. Valdez? It's your decision to make. How do you want to address this issue?" Nakarating na sa pinaka-head ng school ang nangyari matapos ang isang linggo na hindi ako pumasok para palakasin muli ang katawan ko.

Isang linggo ako na nasa bahay lang ni Zainmir at kahapon lang nang bumalik sa mansion. Hindi ko pa rin nakakausap ng masinsinan si Daddy kahit na nandoon siya noong umuwi ako. Nag-uusap naman kami ni Tita Mildred sa ilang araw na wala ako sa bahay para lang ipaalam sa kaniya na ligtas ako. I just couldn't bring myself to face Daddy and talk to him without raising my voice and thinking about what he did to Sunny's mom.

Judging from the expression on the chancellor's face, he seemed to be expecting me to say the only solution to end this discussion. At 'yon ang patalsikin sa unibersidad na ito sina Dave, Aeri, Sunny, at ang iba pa nilang mga kasama noong gabing 'yon. Pero ayoko. Hindi ganoon ang gusto kong mangyari. Hindi 'yon sapat para sa ginawa nila sa akin.

Tahimik ang buong office. Ako lang ang nandoon at ang chancellor. Nakahiwalay ang kuwarto na pinagdalhan kina Dave, Sunny, at Aeri. Dahil mismong chancellor na ang kumausap sa akin, alam kong malaki na ang magiging epekto nito kina Dave at sa iba pa niyang kasama. Puwedeng mawala ang puwesto nila bilang isang estudyante na kasapi ng paaralan na 'to. O pwede silang lumipat ng school, pero hindi na sa loob ng El Diva at El Nieves. Dahil ganoon kalakas ang kapangyarihan ng El Diva University kapag nasasangkot ang pangalan ng paaralan na iniingatan nila.

The whole footage of what they did to me that night leaked across the internet, capturing the media's attention. This prompted several reporters to inquire about El Diva University's official response regarding the leaked video.

"Let them stay here," Maikli kong tugon.

The chancellor sighed with a hint of disappointment but soon fixed his eyeglasses before nodding at me. "Regarding the leaked video, it won't be easy to turn down since a lot of people have already seen it, and despite the fact that we can help delete it, we can't guarantee you that it will be deleted as well from some devices that have already downloaded it."

I nodded. "I am aware of that, Sir. Let the two of them stay here," Natigilan naman 'yung kaharap ko at kumunot ang noo.

"I beg your pardon, Ms. Valdez."

"Let Sunny and Aeri stay here, Sir. I want them to keep seeing me every single day and reminding them of what they did to me. Make sure we continue to be in the same class. Don't separate them from where I am. Make us sit in the same room. Inhaled the same oxygen. Heard each other's voices. That's the only thing I ask for, Sir. I hope you respect my decision."

"I understand what you're trying to say. But how about Mr. Valle?" Diniinan ko ang pagkakahawak sa sarili kong kamay nang marinig ang pangalan ni Dave, saka malalim na napabuntong-hininga.