Art of Temptation Series: Ousting Janus

Chapter 15

Gaya nga ng sabi niya, my Dad went to the school the next morning and settled things. He hired an investigator just to fix the problem.

Kahit suspended ako ng ilang araw, halos walang nagbago sa trato ng tao sa akin. I have to deal with it anyway, I slowly accepted that things will now remain like this.

May iba namang nagsasabing tigilan na ang ganitong approach sa akin dahil hindi ito makatao. I did not release any statements yet out of fear that it might fireback at me.

Oh,  Janus and I also explained everything to his parents. His mother loathes me so much for doing such an attack on their son. In fact she was about to sue me for blackmail, kung hindi lang umabante si Mr. De Silva para pigilan ang asawa.

Nonetheless, Janus stayed with me and its  more than enough for me.

I noticed students going in and out of the auditorium. They must be practicing their graduation already. It's a shame and a regret I was not there.

Habang naglalakad sa tabi ni Dad, nilapitan kami ni Janus na nanggaling din sa auditorium. I suppose he's the valedictorian.

Right now, I don't feel anything towards the award that I wasted my dignity for. It seems as if, finally, I've been freed and I don't have to face the same pressure.

"Sir," bati niya kay Dad saka nagmano.. Tumango lamang ito. Tumabi agad siya sa akin saka hinawakan ang kamay ko.

Pinigil ko ang aking paghinga hababg dama ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso at pag-iinit ng batok. Sa harap ba naman ni Dad!

Hindi siya nagsalita bagkus ay nagpatuloy kami papuntang Principal's Office.

"Wish you could've been there," sabi ni Janus. Tukoy niya ay ang practice.

Mapakla akong ngumiti.

"Yeah, that'll be awesome."

"I saved a seat for you though, next to me," sabi niya. Nangunot ang noo ko. Kung siya ang top student, hindi ba dapat lang na wala siyang katabi? I mean, he has his own position.

"Aren't you the top--"

"Mr. Gallenego, please come in, everyone is waiting for you," wika ng Principal saka ako tinignan.

"Ms. Lara...Janus."

Tumango ako sa kanya saka ngumiti bago sumunod kay Dad. Nandoon sa loob ng opisina ang pamilya ko, pamilya ni Janus si Yvonne at Meg.

I remained a calm face even though daggers are thrown at me by how Mrs. De Silva looks at me. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa kamay namin ni Janus at sa akin.

Pagkaupo namin ay nagsimula agad ang principal sa pagpapaliwanag.

"Since the day the issue came out, I already requested a Team to investigate this issue alongside with the proper authorities. And upon Mr. Gallenego's request, we are here to finally close this." Napatingin sandali ang lahat kay Dad pero hindi nagbago ang expresyon nito.

"Here are the pictures taken days prior the release of the video," sabi niya at binigay sa amin isa-isa ang mga folder na may lamang litrato.

"This is from a CCTV camera at the back of the campus. It is established that only two people had copies of the video, Lara which is the victim and her friend, Yvonne. And if you look into the photo, you can recognize one person." my breathing hitched as I realized who it was. Meg.

Immediately people looked at her. I was not confused like everyone else. She called me after the incident, and so I knew she was involved.

I can see her turning pale from the eyes that looked at her.

"Now, Meg, would you like to tell us who is the other person in the photo?" the principal asked.

Nakita ko ang pagiging kalmado niya kahit sa ganitong sitwasyon.

"Janus. It was him," everyone except us who knows better gasped. Including my parents and his.

They transferred their eyes on him. My dad was about to lash out when the principal again spoke.

"That is not true," nanlaki ang mata ni Meg sa sinabi nito.

"Turn to the next page and you will see where Janus is at the same day at the same time," patuloy nito.

Binuklat ko ang papel sa folder at nakitang nasa cafeteria si Janus, sa parehong oras at araw. Nakabilog ito sa papel upang mas makita.

Now, the my anger is slowly rising. Who the fuck in the right mind, accuse someone of their sins?!

My breathing slowly rose as Meg tries to reason it out. But the evidence is louder than her barks.

"You are not considering that the photo may be photoshopped? It would be a---"

"Shut up bitch," malamig kong sabi. Nabaling ang kanilang atensyon sa akin.

"Aamin ka o aamin ka? Sino sa impyerno ang paglalagyan mo ng kasalanan mo ah?!" sigaw ko.

"Lara, calm down," Janus whispered. My mom looked at me and shook her head. I know what they mean. If I attack at this point the answer we long may not even come.

"Fine! It was me who posted it! So what?! She clearly deserved it for being such a ho--"  Wala pang nagsalita pero tumayo na si Mom saka sinampal sa magkabilang pisngi si Meg.

"Regardless of your reason, I will never accept that you ruined my daughter."

Nanlalaki ang mga mata namin sa nangyari.

"OO NA! MALI ANG GINAWA KO! HIBDI AKO NAGSISISI ANG KATI KASI NG BABAENG IYAN! PERO ALAM NIYO BA KUNG SINO ANG NAGBIGAY SA AKIN NG VIDEO?! SI YVONNE! SIYA!"

Dumagundong ang buong silid sa rebelasyon niya. Maliban sa principal, lahat kami ay nagulat sa sinabi nito.

Mabagal ang mundo ko habang tinitignan ang reaksyon ng kaibigan ko. Gumuho ito ng tuluyan dahil halos hindi man lang ito nanlaban. She indirectly admitted it was her. My eyes immediately got blurry and tears started falling down from my eyes.

Mabagal ang lahat sa paligid ko at nakatutok lamang kay Yvonne. Nakita ko pa ang pagsigaw ni Mom sa kanya habang pinagigitnaan ng Principal at ni Dad. Habang napatakip sa bibig ang nanay ni Janus.

I can't breath. This is too much. She. She would never do that to me. She. I was then shaking my head vigorously. The disbelief was beyond my comprehension. The person I trusted the most.

On the spot I tried to look for reasons. Went back to our relationship and saw nothing that would have caused her to do it. Or there was but I couldn't figure out what.

I ran out of the room and dashed to anywhere far from the place. Everything is too much for me. My heart can---

"LARA!!!!" Janus' scream woke me up and it was too late. The car was in front of me.

I felt a hand touch mine but he was a split second late and I flew away as my body clashed with the car.

My body immediately felt weak. I had to energy to move a thing. Janus immediately carried me and put me on a black car that parked nearby, supposing it was my dad.

My vision went blurry.

"Lara, baby please stay strong, come on honey you got this. Don't leave us, don't leave me please."

I can feel his tear falling on my cheek as he placed his forehesd against mine.

"J-Janus."

"Hush baby, don't speak. Stay still, were near."

"I-I l-love you,"nanghihina kong sabi. Ramdam ko ang kanyang mainit na haplos sa aking nanlalamig na kamay. Mahigpit niya itong hinahawakan.

"I love you too baby, now promise me you'll survive. Please stay strong. I'm here okay? It'll be fine."

In that moment. I wish I was able to look at Dad and told him I'm sorry for being unable to be enough for him. And to thank mom for everything.

I wish I had. But...