Illicit Sky [✓]

Chapter 43

tw: violence

"I was an outcast. My father is the biggest shareholder in my school. Wala akong ideya kung bakit ayaw sa akin ng mga kaklase ko. They said I was weird and hard to talk to. They treated me as their human cash and used me shamelessly. I was too stupid to notice." 

I couldn't talk. Malaya siyang nakatanaw sa mga bulaklak sa aming harapan. There's a small smile on her glossy lips, but her eyes look in pain. It seemed as though looking back at that moment was never pleasant.

Hindi ko alam na may ganoong pangyayari. She didn't mention that to me. Ang tanging sinabi niya lang sa akin ay wala siyang tunay na kaibigan at iyong insidente tungkol sa bar. That's all. 

"Pinagtawanan nila ako. Sinampal nila sa akin kung gaano ako katanga. I was almost speechless at that time because the whole class was against me. They turned me into their laughingstock." She chuckled and sighed. "But I am glad I have pride despite being an outcast. Everything escalated quickly. I almost killed the person I was arguing with and ruined her nose in front of everyone."

Nilingon niya ako at ngumisi. I can't smile. I was bullied. Hindi ako kailanman natakot sa mga iyon. But I felt pathetic and resentful. I've always fantasized about killing them in front of everyone.

She probably felt that lust for violence at that moment. I could never do that in front of other people. She had more guts than me when I was younger.

"Well, in the end, everything worked out in my favor. Papa kicked them out, and I was transferred to a different class."

That must be hard. If I were her, I'd probably just shut up like I have always done. As a teenager, I lack guts and let anyone beat the shit out of me. Ilang beses ko nang hinayaan ang mga tarantadong iyon na bugbugin ako at ipahiya sa harap ng maraming tao. 

I didn't bother to fight back. I don't pick a losing battle. It's useless, and I'll just feel more pathetic. But Gunther was always there to aid me. Kaya lagi akong suki sa mga bully noon. 

To think about it, bullying is also one of the reasons why I am here today. Everything started because of that simple act of bullying. I wanted to get back at someone. Sa lahat nang pangbubuyo sa akin, laging si Gunther ang dahilan.

Gunther did this to them; Gunther did this to their cousins and friends; Gunther did that. But even so, I never blamed him. Why would I blame him for something he didn't do? 

"Hoy, Griego!" 

Seryoso kong nilingon si Isko na mukhang galit na naman. Ganito lagi araw-araw. Mula noong magsimula ang unang araw ng eskuwela ay ako ang ginawa niyang taga-bili ng pagkain niya. He'd drag me to the internet cafe and make me pay for them. They'd also boss me around to do their errands.