Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 6

The day is very exhausting. Hindi talaga nakalagpas sa akin ang isa ring nerd na iyon. Inutusan ko sina Kairi at Joshua na punuin ng basura ang locker ni Jasharee. I saw her reaction, and I witnessed how she cried hard. She was also bullied by some students for keeping all the trash in her locker. Little did they know that I and my friends were the ones who did it. She deserves it anyway.

Huwag niya akong kalabanin kung hindi niya naman kayang harapin ang mga kahinatnan niya! Iyon kasi kaagad ang ginawa ko matapos ang eksena at maaga rin akong napauwi dahil hindi ako pumasok sa class ni Mr. Baldo tutal si Ryder naman ang nag-sub sa kanya.

"Someone reported to us what you just did, Carolina!" bulyaw ni daddy pagkarating ko sa bahay.

I lazily looked at him. "Dad, just relax, okay?"

"Paano ako makapag-relax sa mga kabulastugan mo, ha?! Bullshit!" sigaw ni daddy at napasentido pa. "Carolina, sumusobra ka na talaga!"

"Darling, apologize to Ryder when he got here, okay?" si mommy. "Just learn to deal with him, Carolina, he's a good man. You don't know a thing about this yet because you are still young.. kapag maging magulang ka rin o kapag tumanda ka na.. maiintindihan mo rin kami, hija. Your father and I just want the best for you, we don't want you to be like this. Please, anak, apologize to Ryder..."

Tumiim-bagang ako. Apologize for what? Ang nerd na 'yon mismo ang nagsabi na wala akong kasalanan, hindi ba? Kaya ano pa ang silbi ng paghingi ko ng paumanhin?! And I am not even sorry for what I did! Kung galit sila dahil sa ginawa ko, wala akong pakialam! Sarilihin na lang nila ang opinyon nila sa akin, dahil masyadong bulok na iyon para sa akin!

"Pag-uwi ni Ryder, dapat nakahingi ka na ng paumanhin sa kanya, Carolina! Kung hindi, you will be grounded!"

My eyes widened. "No, daddy! Please don't do that to me! I won't be grounded, right?"

"Kung ayaw mong ma-grounded, sundin mo ang sinabi namin sa iyo, Carolina!" said dad. "I want you to apologize to Ryder for what you just did to him! Sa ayaw o sa gusto mo, hihingi ka ng tawad sa kanya! You bullied him again! I don't accept any excuses or any explanations, Carolina! My decision is final, apologize to him or I will ground you and cut all your cards!"

Nanggigilid ang mga luha ko sa narinig. Matalim ang tingin ko kay daddy, ganoon din siya sa akin. Samantalang si mommy naman ay dismayadong umiling sa akin, hindi makapaniwala sa binalita sa kanila. Did they also know that Ryder bought me things? I was sure they would get mad more once they found out about it. I was just quite lucky that they did not bring it up here. I just keep my mouth shut and let dad say anything he wants to say.

Nagkunwari akong walang naririnig habang nagsasalita siya. He's talking a lot and telling me what I should do or what are the right things that I have to do. He keeps repeating his words, and they echoed inside my mind. Gusto ko na tuloy takpan ang tainga ko, pero sa halip ay inabala ko ang sarili ko sa cellphone ko. I just took some selfies and posted them on my wall.

"Carolina!"

Muntikan akong mapatalon dahil sa malakas na sigaw ni dad. I took a deep breath before gazing at him lazily. Mom is now glaring at me like I did something wrong. Kahit ano naman talaga ang gawin ko, para sa kina mommy at daddy ay mali na iyon. I put my phone down on my lap and face-palmed. Dad is controlling his temper now. He's clenching his fist. Kung hindi lang siguro ako babae, baka nasuntok na niya ako dahil sa kinikimkim niyang galit.

"Nakikinig ka ba?! Naiintindihan mo ba lahat ng mga sinabi ko, ha?!" His voice rose again.

I slowly nodded my head, trying to convince him that I already understood what he told me. He doesn't have any idea that I am not interested in his advice. Gusto kong isipin niya na naintindihan ko na siya dahil ayaw ko nang ulitin niya pa ang lahat dahil sumasakit na ang ulo ko, ayaw ko siyang pakinggan pa dahil nabibingi na ako sa mga pangangaral niya sa akin na wala namang silbi.