Forbidden Relationship (Forbidden Series #3) (Completed)

Chapter 10

"Sino-sino ngang mga nam-bu-bully sa 'yo?" Pangungulit sa akin ni Yhael nang makaupo kami sa waiting shed.

Muli akong umiling. "Kahit naman malaman mo hindi pa rin nila ako titigilan," sagot ko.

"Kakausapin ko sila—"

"Iba 'yung kakausapin para tigilan ako sa sasaktan para tumigil na," pagpuputol ko sa kaniyang sinasabi.

He chuckled softly, almost childlike. "I'm fine as is; I've grown accustomed to it. After enduring months of their bullying, one learns to adapt," I added.

"Nasanay ka na kaya ayaw mo na silang patigilin? May sira ka ba sa ulo?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Kahit nasanay ka na, hindi pa rin maganda 'yung ginagawa nila sa 'yo. Nasasaktan ka."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Wala, roon sila masaya kaya hinahayaan ko na lang. Magsasawa rin naman siguro sila," sambit ko.

"Paano kapag hindi?" tanong niya sa akin. Hindi ako sumagot dahil hindi ko alam. "Parang kapatid ko na si Sovie, ayokong nasasaktan 'yon ng mga bully, kaya ganoon din ako sa 'yo."

"Hindi naman kita Kuya," taka kong sinabi.

"Pero Kuya na ako ni Sovie. Dapat ang Kuya ni Sovie, tinuturing mo rin na Kuya," saad niya.

Hindi na lang ako umimik. Parang ayoko siyang maging Kuya. Si Kuya Zhack, pwede pa.

Once my driver arrived, I promptly rose to bid farewell to Yhael. He waved goodbye in return. "Ingat sa biyahe," aniya.

"Ingat din sa paglalakad," saad ko bago sumakay sa kotse.

***

In the ensuing weeks, the exams were administered once more. It marked our initial examination of the second semester.

Following our conversation at the waiting shed, I never crossed paths with Yhael again.

Sovie refrained from inviting me to her house due to the frequent presence of her two friends. Parang nakakatunog na ang dalawang iyon na may tinatago si Sovie kaya nag-iingat kami.

Hindi sa ayaw niyang ma-bully din kun'di ayaw niyang mas lumala ang galit sa akin nung dalawa dahil baka isipin nitong inaagaw ko siya sa dalawang iyon.

Mapapatunayan ko lang na pareho kaming mang-aagaw ni Daddy.

While Daddy may be seen as a home wrecker, I consider myself a friendship wrecker. I anticipate facing even more severe bullying as a consequence.

"Mag-thirst trap na lang tayo, 'wag na mag-review," ani Steffi.

I heaved a sigh—while I was trying to study, my classmates were busy scrolling through TikTok, looking for trends. Their noise made it hard for me to concentrate.

I was highlighting definitions, a method that helped me remember things more easily.

Still, it was difficult to focus with all the noise they were making. I realized I was the only one reviewing in the classroom; the other top students from our section were outside. 

I glanced at the time on my cellphone—there were still 20 minutes before the next exam began. I started organizing my things and stood up.

Just as I was about to leave the room, Flint suddenly grabbed my arm. "Let go of me," I snapped, yanking my arm away from him.

Sarkastiko siyang tumawa kasabay ang iba naming mga kaklase. Napailing naman si Sovie. "Saan ka pupunta?" Taas kilay na tanong ni Flint.

"Mag-re-review sa labas," sagot ko.