BOOK 1 | ESOTERIC

Chapter 35

| CHAPTER XXXV |

"The Crime of Chaos"

STELLAN

"You really have to go this far?"

"Why? You think it's fair na hindi nila alam na mali sila?" she asked, returning her sunglasses. "I will make sure she will know how wrong she is. That she will forever be embarrassed that she spread such information about you and she made Sheridan suffer."

"You do not have to be vengeful. The karma will find its way. Baka ikaw pa ang mapahamak. Paano kung makilala ka ng nanay? The principal knows who you are but we can ask her to shut her mouth. Pero paano yang nanay?"

"Ako ang karma nila. I am too impatient to wait for karma to strike. I will do the job myself." She's too unbothered for this one. She is too fearless and that trait of hers can put her in trouble. "Of course, I will make sure she is not going to talk. I know people like her. It is easy to tame jealous people once you feed their insecurities."

There she is again with her peculiar thoughts.

"Let's make a bet." Nilingon niya ako, nakangisi. "That woman is a single mom who has financial struggles."

Kumunot ang aking noo. Manghuhula na siya ngayon? "Paano mo nasabi yan?"

"If you are rich and contented you won't make someone else's success a big deal. However, your sudden wealth ticked her off that she started spreading rumors. Whilst about the single mom, why do you think she is spreading it? She wants attention. Hindi siya nabibigyan ng asawa niya? Perhaps it's because she is not with him in the first place."

I just stared at her. This woman...She scoffed at me at binalik na ang tingin sa harapan.

I wonder if totoo ang sinasabi ni Eris? Medyo nakikita ko naman ang koneksyon ng kaniyang mga sinasabi but perhaps there is another explanation for her behavior. I can only know the truth from Sherry. Hindi naman ako pwedeng makichismis sa principal dito.

Pinalipat kami sa isang kwarto dito rin sa loob ng principal's office. Dahil na rin magaantay kami ay pinaupo na muna kami sa living room. They even served us drinks na tingin ko ay dahil nandito si Eris.

After more than an hour, the principal again visited us here but this time she is with this mom. I can tell she is ready to fight dahil sa itsura ng kaniyang mukha and from how she looked at Eris kahit hindi pa ito tumatayo at harapin siya. Her arms are crossed at mataray na tinitignan ang aking kasama.

"Idedemanda mo raw ako? At anong complaint ang finile niyo tungkol sa akin at sa anak ko?" Tinignan ako ng babae. "Ikaw ang kapatid ng batang iyon? At ano ang ginawa ko sayo? Sino ka ba?"

The fact that she doesn't know what she did..."I am Stellan Salvatore, the older brother of Sheridan Salvatore. My sister and your daughter share the same class."

Took her so long to speak. "Ah...so that's you huh? My princess did mention this classmate of hers whose life suddenly changed. And just as she said..." she looked at me from head to toe. "Mukhang totoo nga ang kumakalat na balitang binenta mo ang sarili mo para lamang yumaman. Kawawa naman ang nanay niyo na nasa langit! Malamang ay hindi siya matutuwa sa mga naging desisyon mo sa buhay.

Something inside me suddenly clicked. "What?" I heard Eris scoffing. She is still sitting habang ako ay nakatayo na dahil nagpakilala ako sa babaeng ito.

"Ms. Karen paguusapan natin ito nang maayos. Umupo ho tayo rito at pagusapan ang mga kailangan pagusapan..." The principal motioned her hand sa isang bakanteng sofa para roon sila umupo. I returned to my seat and remained calm.