Sins of the Rebels (Lush Trans Series #1)

Chapter 44

I blinked my eyes unbelievably. I gasped for the nth time. No doubt. This girl is her, she's the one and only Lian Margaux Lim. She used to be friends with me and Sophia back in junior high. Ang kaso lang ngayon ay hindi na sila friends ni Sophia dahil sa malalang puksaan nilang dalawa noon.

Her familiar heart-shaped facial structure, her upturned chinky eyes. Small pointed nose and bow-shaped lips. Fair and smooth skin as a porcelain doll and a petite frame. Walang masyadong nag-bago sa hitsura niya maliban sa kanyang height, pero kapansin-pansin ang kanyang kagandahan.

The first fellow trans woman friend I have been friends with is right in front of me, catching her breath.

Pawisan siya at namumutla ang kanyang balat. Mabilis din ang pag-hinga niya at parang natameme nang bulyawan siya ni Hermideo. Gusto ko tuloy kurutin sa singit ang lalaking 'to, he probably frightened her even more! She looked like she was in trouble and she was running away from someone who was a threat. Kasi ganyan na ganyan ang hitsura ko noong iniiwasan at tinatakbuhan ko si Hermideo after nang may mangyari sa aming dalawa.

Si Matet lang naman talaga ang pumuksa sakanya dahil umiyak noon si Margaux at hindi siya nilabanan pabalik, litong-lito at gulantang pa siya sa biglaang pang-aaway sakanya ni Sophia. Maski ako, nalito nang bigla siyang sugodin ni Matet. And there's no reason for me to attack her, I even consider her as my sister since we came from the same community— the trans community that we've been supporting and uplifting for years.

Sophia had a hunch that Margaux was being a snake, a backstabber, and a two-faced bitch years ago and she confronted her at school. Ang sabi pa ni Matet ay kaya kami nag-hiwalay ni David ay dahil sakanya. I tried to stop her from engaging.

A part of me believed in Sophia but there's another part of me that Margaux wouldn't do something like that behind my back, our backs, because she's our friend. Why would she do something that would upset us?

Sophia called Margaux a leech in the making. A manipulator. A victim in disguise.

The people sided with Margaux after Sophia confronted her causing her to cry in front of everyone.

Kami ang nag-mukhang masama sa kanila, kaloka. Kaya after nun, ang dami na naming naging kaaway ni Sophia pero dedma lang kaming dalawa.

Unbothered kami sa mga pamba-bash nila sa amin.

"M-Margaux?"

I sensed that Hermideo wanted to speak again so I elbowed him. She seemed tense and terrified by his presence, I can't blame her.

"Margaux." Ulit ko kaya para siyang natauhan dahil bahagya siyang umigtad.

Agad tumuon ang mga mata niya sa akin at nanlaki ang mga 'yon. "R-Reese?" She uttered, almost inaudible to hear.

Muli niyang sinulyapan si Hermideo sa tabi ko na matigas lang naka-tayo at ubod ng kasungitan.

"Hi! Long time no see. Uh, are you okay?—" She cleared her throat before cutting me off.

"Uh, okay lang naman ako. I was just in a hurry kasi. I-I'm sorry but I have to go. It was nice to see you again, Reese! Bye!" She smiled a little before surpassing right through us, she was obviously in a hurry to get out of this place. But why? An urge for me to hold her wrist to stop her from leaving and ask what was wrong was strong but I didn't do it.

Hindi naman na kami gano'n kalapit sa isa't isa dahil lumipat na siya ng school after moving up. At dahil sa nangyari noon ay hindi ko na siya naka-salamuha pa. She completely ignored me and Sophia after the confrontation.