State of Grace

Chapter 5: People Always Leave

A.N: This chapter is written in the third-person perspective.

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(Flashback to Elementary)

"Ang panget mo!"

"Lampayatot!"

"Four eyes! Four eyes! Four eyes!"

Savannah Gabrielle kept her head down, covering her ears as she was being called those names... again.

It's been like this almost every day, especially since she started wearing eyeglasses at the age of five. Now eight years old, she got just a new pair of glasses as her old one was already worn out.

Instead of fighting back, she chose to stay silent and ignore those who were making fun of her. Her amber eyes were pooled with tears.

"Mga gago kayo! Tumigil kayo diyan!" Singhal ni Sancho Gabriel sa mga batang nanggugulo kay Savannah. Tinulak pa niya ang mga yun at inagaw ang pagkain na hawak nila.

"Kaya ganyan kayo eh! Mga baboy na, bully pa! Ang lakas pa ng loob niyong pagkaisahan ang kapatid ko!" Dinuraan niya ang mga pagkain bago itinapon sa basurahan.

"Hoy, yung baon ko, gago!" Bulol na sumigaw ang isa sa mga tinumba ni Sancho. May lumalabas pang mga tipak ng pagkain sa bunganga niya.

Sabi naman ng isa, "Itutumbong kita ta teacher ko!" Sabay tumakbong paalis ang mga bully, pero nadapa sila dahil sa sobrang laki nila.

Sancho's howling laughter echoed throughout the entire hallway. At age twelve, he wouldn't take any bullshit from anyone who would try to lay a finger on his sisters. Thus he was one of the headstrong students of Hillsborough Academe. Kahit ang mga siga sa campus ay walang laban sa kanya.

"Savannah, okay ka lang?" Asked a female voice.

She looked up and saw her classmate and best friend, Melissa Vistan. Her face registered concern. Bukod kay Sancho, isa si Melissa sa mga nagtatanggol kay Savannah tuwing binubully siya sa school.

She removed her eyeglasses to wipe away the tears in her eyes. "Ayos lang ako, Mel."

"No, you're not," Sancho was not convinced. "Wag mong hayaan na ginaganyan ka dito. You need to fight back, Savannah."

She shook her head in defeat. "I can't do it, Kuya. Hindi rin naman sila titigil eh."

"Hindi pwede yan, Savannah." Melissa protested. "Tama ang kuya mo. Wag kang magpa-apekto sa mga nanggugulo sa 'yo. Wag kang mag-alala. Tutulungan ka pa rin namin para tigilan ka na nila."

Melissa hugged her best friend to comfort her as the latter wept quietly. Sancho just heaved a sigh.

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Before kicking off the holiday break, it's Christmas party season in Hillsborough Academe. Each class had its own preparations for the festivity on top of the activities for everyone on the campus.

After a series of games and feasting on their potluck, it was time for the exchange of gifts. Savannah, who was nine years old and already in fifth grade, got lucky when she received the most coveted gift in their class: an elegant set of beaded accessories. Yun kasi ang uso sa school nang mga panahong yun.

"Teacher!" Galit na sumigaw si Jinky, classmate ni Savannah. She was notorious for bullying everyone in their section. "Bakit kay Savannah napunta yan? Hindi naman yan bagay sa kanya eh!"