Romancing The Sassy Girl (Vol 01-03)

Kabanata 11: Reclaimed

KABANATA XI

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

HE WAS TRUE TO HIS WORDS. Gaya ng sabi niya, hindi na niya ako kinukulit. Hindi na niya ako pinapansin. He's pretending that I don't exist when he's trying to talk to Jessica while I'm with her.

But that was the least of my priority. May isang bagay na kinakailangan kong ayusin — ang aking reputasyon. I just don't get what my career got to do with my issue. So I decided to talk to coach Jen personally.

"Coach Jen, I still don't know why I got kicked out from the team. I'm not even doing anything wrong!" sabi ko. "Could it be because of my issue with Carl and Brandon?"

Coach Jen heave a breath. "Oo, tama ka. Sorry kung kinakailangan ka naming tanggalin. Please understand that your tainted reputation might have a bad impact sa cheerleading team lalo na't nakikipag-compete tayo sa iba't-ibang malalaking eskwelahan."

"That's bull! I don't think may alam ang ibang school tungkol sa issue ko ngayon," I responded.

"Watch your language and tone, Claire," mariin na sambit ni Coach Jen. "Don't make your reputation even worse."

I took a breathe and remained calm because she got a point. Ayokong dumating ang araw na kumalat na din sa labas ang tungkol sa reputasyon ko lal na't hindi lang ako kilala sa loob ng Evergreen Heights High. Kilala din ako sa labas, thanks to the cheerleading competition that we won that was led by me.

"Go to class now, Claire," sabi niya. "You don't want to be late."

And with that, I turned my heels and walked away.

***

THE MOMENT I entered our noisy classroom, my classmates suddenly fell silent. I could feel their stares at me and I could even hear their whispers, but I just acted normally like nothing happened.

Still walking with my head up high. Ngayon ang panahon na kailangang matatag ako. Pagdating ko sa upuan ko, nilapitan ako ni bessy.

"Bessy..." panimula ni Jessica. I could hear the concern in her tone. "Okay ka lang ba?"

I forced a smile and said, "Oo naman. Why wouldn't I be?"

I heard someone chuckle from my back. I looked over my shoulder and saw Carl.

"Still pretentious, I see," sabi niya. He's different — cold and bitter. Hindi kagay ng Carl who once pursued me and who once I dated in the past. I didn't utter a word so Jessica spoke instead.

"Puwede ba Carl? 'Wag kang insensistive."

Carl laughed bitterly. "Oh, so you'd like to talk about insensitivity, huh?"

I could see Jessica shaking in anger so I held her head. Lumingon siya sa'kin. "Hayaan mo na, bessy. This is my fault."

Bessy calmed down and with one last glare at Carl, she turned her back against him and just chatted with me. We were about to settle down when Brandon, the loser stepped in.

"Oh, look. 'Yung affair at ang mang-aagaw, nandito na," sabi ni Carl habang tinitignan ng niya ng masama si Brandon.

The loser smirked and said, "Hindi ko kasalanan na hindi ka naman talaga mahal ni Claire."

Hindi ako makapaniwala na masasabi ni Brandon 'yan because the Brandon I knew was a quiet one.

It's either he changed or that's him when in love and fighting for the one he really liked.

And just like that, Carl dashed toward Brandon and punched him so hard that the loser fell to the ground. 

***

BECAUSE of what happened, Carl was suspended for two weeks and Brandon was kicked out of our school. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko. Parehas lang naman sila na nag-away so it doesn't make sense na si Brandon lang ang na kick-out.

I was angry at Brandon pero nag-aalala pa din ako sa kanya. After all, may pinagsamahan din naman kami kahit papaano at naging parte na din siya ng buhay ko. I consider him as someone special — as a friend.

Gusto kong malaman kung ano ang totoong nangyari kaya naman, nagpunta kaagad ako sa principal's office para kausapin si Principal Clay.

"Principal Clay! Bakit si Brandon lang ang inalis dito at hindi si Carl? Parehas lang naman sila ng ginawa!"

"Ms. Dela Vega, good question," panimula ni Principal Clay saka tumayo mula sa upuan niya. "Nagiging troublemaker na si Brandon kaya kailangan namin gawin iyon."

"How is Carl different from him? Nagiging troublemaker na din siya and Carl punched him first!" pagtatanggol ko kay Brandon.

Why am I even defending him?

"Carl is our school's brand ambassador. Partner kayo 'nung muse at lead ng cheerleading ka pa, hindi ba? Malaki ang contribution niya and not to mention, his family always give donations sa eskwelahan natin. Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, hindi maayos ang mga sira sa eskwelahan natin."

"But —"

"No more buts, Ms. Dela Vega. Mr. Orland has already been kicked out. Tanggapin mo nalang 'yun. End of the discussion."

***

"THIS IS MY FAULT," mahinang sabi ko habang nakaupo sa tabi ni Jessica sa rooftop. "Ako ang may dahilan kung bakit pinaalis si Brandon dito."

Jessica placed a hand on my shoulder. "Oo, may kasalanan ka pero 'wag mo masyadong sisihin ang sarili mo dahil may mali din naman siya."

Napabuntong hininga ako. "Kung nakinig lang siguro ako sa inyo noon, baka hindi nangyari ang mga bagay na 'to,"

I felt my bessy hugged me tight and didn't say anything. She's just hear to comfort me in silence and that is more than enough. I feel lucky to have her as my bestie.

"Calling Claire Saddie Dela Vega! Please come to the principal's room now!" biglang sabi ng microphone announcement sa buong school. Boses 'yun ni Principal Clay.

"Ano nanamang gusto niya ngayon? Kakagaling ko lang doon ah," sabi ko.

"Baka may nakalimutan lang sabihin," sabi ni bessy at nagkibit-balikat. "Punta ka nalang."

***

"GOOD NEWS Ms. Dela Vega. Ikaw na ulit ang leader ng cheerleading team at ang muse ng school!" sabi ni Principal Clay na ikinagulat ko. All the sadness I felt inside was replaced with happiness.

"Really? How?" I asked.

"'Wag mo na alamin ang reason. Ang mahalaga ay you reclaimed your throne quicker," sabi ni Principal Clay and smiled at me. "As for your issue, don't worry about it. We'll make sure that it will not spread outside the school, alright?"

Just when I thought na wala silang pakielam sa mga estudyante nila, they suddenly did this. I guess I just judged them easily.

"That's great to hear! Thank you so much, Principal Clay,"

He smiled and said, "No worries. Now, you go back to your team and pour your heart into cheerlead dancing."

***