Queen Of Bitterness Meets Her Match

Chapter 10

After my mom died, Stasia and I didn't come to school for a week. Since she died, I don't let anyone enter her room. I even locked it para walang ibang pumasok dun, kundi kami lang dalawa ni Stasia.

Everytime I remember her, I always go to her room and talk to her pictures.

Wala akong ginawa buong linggo kundi magmukmok sa kwarto ko. I don't go out because I wanted to be alone. I wanted to think.

Today is Monday and I have class. My teachers already told me that they can excuse me to my classes because they knew that I'm still in a deep sorrow now because of my mom's death. But I don't wanna be weak. I want to continue life. Besides, my world won't stop even though the most special person in my life was gone. One week of grieving was enough.

I know that mom doesn't also want to see me weak because of her. I wanted to be strong like her.

(At School)

As I enter my classroom, agad tumahimik yung mga kaklase ko. They weren't expecting that I'll come.

Nagpoker face lang ako then, walk directly to my seat.

I saw a sticky note above my desk.

'Good morning.'

That's written on the note. I got it and crumpled. And I walk to the trashcan near me and throw it.

Napanganga ang seatmate ko and ask,

"Why did you throw it?" Nakangangang tanong niya.

"Who cares? Alangan namang itago ko yun?" Still have my poker face look.

He didn't answer so I decided to just take a nap.

Dumating na ang aming guro and she was shocked to see me.

"Oh Ms. Cruz. I thought you'll be absent for today?" She asked, curiously.

"Obviously, no ma'am. My journey in life won't stop because of what happened." Diretso kong sagot without taking my eye contact from her.

"You really have a strong personality, don't you?" Manghang tanong niya.

"I guess so, ma'am." I said and shrugged.

I'm not strong. I'm just trying to be strong.

Ganun lang buong araw. Laging nagtataka ang teacher kung bakit ako pumasok ngayon. I wanna forget but they are always reminding me of what happened. Kainis lang!

While my seatmate is so weird now. Lagi niya akong inaalalayan even though I can handle myself.

*Kriiiiiiiiiiiing*

The bell rang as a sign of our lunch. Nagtungo na ako sa mga kaibigan ko nang biglang lumapit na naman si Xander.

"Can i join you in lunch?" He asked my friends.

Bumaling ako sa kanya sabay sabing, "Again?"

Since recess, he's always coming with us. Ay ewan! He's so weird. Very weird.

"Sure fafa Xander! Ikaw pa! This is a very big opportunity for us." Kinikilig na sagot ni Jeyves habang kumikinang pa ang kanyang mga mata. Yuck!

Hindi na lang ako umimik dahil wala na akong lakas para makipag-away.

(At the Canteen)

"Ahm! Frischia, what do you want for lunch? I'll buy it. Just tell me what you want." Medyo nahihiya pa siya habang inaalok yun.

"I have my own money. I'm not poor para bilhan mo ng lunch."

"But I want to volunteer. Sige na, please." He begged.

Kanina pa to siya nanglilibre eh. Baka singilin ako nito.

"Your treat?" I asked.

"Of course!" He answered, proudly.

"How about us?" Hirit nila Rufi.

"Hahaha okay. Ituro nyo kung anong gusto nyo and I'll pay for it." Nakangiti niyang sagot.

He also volunteered to buy me the foods that I want. Siya na nga nanglibre, siya pa ang pumila para sakin. Bait noh? Hahaha.

After they bought their lunch, they headed straight to our seats. And I almost jump on my seat when Xander sat beside me. While my three friends are in front of us. They can't get off their smiles on their faces.

"What?!" I asked, irritatedly when they can't get off their stares from us.

"Nothing. There are just many ants around the both of you." They said and laugh.

Bigla naman akong napalingon sa pwesto namin, but I can't find any ants near us. Is this a joke?

"Wala naman ah!" I told them.

"Read between the lines, Frisch. Not literal." Natatawa pa rin nilang sabi.

My hint is really right. Hindi naman kami sweet nitong Xander na to ah!

"Shut up." I just said.

Nagfocus na sila sa kani-kanilang mga kinakain while talking about nonsense topics.

After they finished their foods, Bumaling na naman ang tatlo sakin.

"Frisch, aren't you curious why your secret admirer didn't send you lunch today?" They asked, curiously.

"Baka naghirap na kaya di na nagpadala ng lunch, or maybe he found another girl." Walang gana kong sagot.

"Or maybe napansin niya na lagi kayong magkasama ni Xander kaya he thought that he needs to back-off." Nanunuya yung tono ng pagsasalita nila at ngiti.

"What are you implying?" I asked, irritatedly.

"We're just trying to say that maybe he stopped sending you gifts because he thought that you and

Xander have relationship." May ngisi sa mga mukha nila while saying that.

"Duh! Dream on!" I'm really irritated now.

Itong Xander naman sa tabi ko ay tahimik lang but it's obvious that his listenning dahil ngisi lang siya ng ngisi. Pero laging nahuhuli ng peripheral vision ko, that he's always staring at me.

We are now heading back to our classroom because it's so boring there at the canteen. Xander is still tailing on my back. While walking, may humarang na babae sa harap ko at nagkunwaring hindi sinasadya na mabuhusan niya ako ng tubig sa damit.

"Woah!" Screamed by my friends and see that Xander was also shocked. All the attentions of all the people here at the canteen, are on us.

"Ay! Sorry!" Nakita ko ang pagngisi nung babae kaya nakumpirma ko na sinadya niya talaga yung nangyari.

Hindi pa rin siya umaalis sa harap ko, so I look at everywhere and find a cup of juice. Kinuha ko yun agad at mabilis na binuhos din sa damit niya. Now we're fair.

Ngumisi ako while saying, "Ay! Sorry din." At umalis na kaming magkakaibigan.

Nakita kong susugurin sana ako nung babae pero hinarangan na siya nung mga kabanda ni Xander. Naks! May kakampi pala ako hahaha.

"Frisch, are you okay?!" Ella's face is so worried to me.

"Yeah. I'll just get my extra clothes on my locker." I said and leave.

After I changed, I walk directly to my classroom. I found out that there is still no teacher, so I walk straight to my chair on the back. It's obvious that Xander is still worried.

"Are you alright?" Nakakunot yung noo niya while asking me.

"Yeah. Buti nalang at tubig lang yung natapon sakin." I smile as I said that.

Himala! Marunong na akong ngumiti ngayon sa mga lalaki hahaha.

"It seems like that girl really plans to do that to you. It's her big mistake kasi ikaw yung binangga niya. We'll take care of her." Kunot noo pa rin niyang sabi.

"What do you mean?" I'm so curious.

"Nothing. Basta bukas, I promise you that she'll say sorry to you." Nakangisi niyang sagot.

It's more like an evilsmile! But who cares? Wala naman akong pake dun sa babaeng yun eh.