Rough Roads Ahead (COTABATO SERIES#2)

Chapter 5

Merry Christmas!
Chapter 5 - Graduation

Friendship is something that's described as a blessing by everyone. And if I'm gonna look back, the version of me last year certainly can't believe I have a friend now. A bestfriend. A family.

Siguro nga, nangyayari ang mga bagay sa misteryosong paraan. Just when I thought I'll be alone for the rest of my life, he showed up. When everyone's busy hating me... when everyone's being so harsh to me, he reached for me and held me with so much gentleness.

How can someone... someone who is not a relative... not blood related, accept and treat me this good?

"Sa frontrow ka."

"Okay na ako sa likod." I insisted.

"No," I heard him close his car, "Mommy will be reserving a seat for you. I'll send you my sister's number, siya ang tawagan mo mamaya dahil baka hindi ko masagot."

Napailing ako at muling napatitig sa sarili ko gamit ang salamin. I am wearing a very simple white dress. Long sleeves, turtle neck with a black ribbon on the neckline. Hanggang tuhod ko ito. Pinaresan ko ito ng doll shoes ko na may takong na one inch. I let my hair down and wore contact lenses instead of my eyeglasses. And since I didn't have any jewelry, wala akong sinuot.

Enoc is someone who came in my life unexpectedly. I was never the type to get along with other people. But I learned that in life, someone will really come and will make you realize a lot of things.

I didn't need a hero, until he stood up for me... I didn't need any rescue, until he saved me...

"I said, apologize." Malamig na boses ni Enoc ang unukupa sa buong silid.

He didn't just lessen the perils on my way... he destroyed them for me. So that I can walk through without having to deal with them.

I am shivering because of the cold water they splashed on me. I was too shock to respond, hindi ko kasi ni minsan naisip na may gagawa sa akin ng ganito. I tried so hard to be invisible to everyone. I hated attention, but then they did this because according to them, I am such an attention seeker bitch. Galit sila dahil papasin ako at malandi. In what aspect? I cannot fathom.

"E-Enoc... it's her fault. Alam mo ba anong ginawa niya?" She sobbed, "She flirted with my boyfriend, she seems innocent and kind pero she's not!" Eliza said, while crying and pointing at me.

Tama nga ako, that SSG President is really something. Girlfriend niya pala ang babaeng ito. Truth is, I tried to be friends with him. Gaya ng ginawa ko kay Enoc. But then it turned out like this.

I just tried to be... friendly. I thought I can finally be friends with anyone. Pero mali ako. This world is full of people who's a slave of their own narcissistic thoughts.

"Did I ask you to explain?" Marahas na inagaw ni Enoc ang hawak niyang balde at buong lakas na itinapon ito sa dingding na siyang ikinasira nito, "fucking apologize!"

Pati ako ay napatalon sa gulat... sa takot... sa kaba. Enoc, why are you so mad? Magiging katulad karin ba nila?

Halos hindi ko na masundan ang nangyayari. Eliza apologized. But then her words are faint, I can't comprehend them properly. I just nodded and pleaded Enoc to get me away from all of the mess.

Dinala niya ako sa kotse niya. He lend me his shirt and made me wear them. Nang matapos ako ay kaagad akong lumabas. I prepared myself. I am so ready to be scolded. Alam kong may mali rin ako. And just like my own father... my own family, he will blame me and be mad at me.