It's been days, and I feel better right now.
Tahimik akong naglalakad sa hallway and kakatapos lang ng SSG meeting namin. I am exhausted. Mahirap pag student council na academic achiever eh, hirap pagsabayin ang time.
May quiz kami ngayon.
"Pearl!" Tawag ko. Nakangiti akong lumapit dahil mag-isa lang syang lumabas ng room.
Hindi ko pa rin talaga alam ang hidwaan nitong Brielle at Pearl, but I choose not to meddle whatever the chaos between them. Natigilan naman sya, "Iniiwasan mo ba kami? Or ako?"
"Ha?" Naguguluhang sabi niya. "wala wala." Umiling iling pa sya.
"Lagi kang absent, it may affect your grades this semester. What happened?" I asked. "Hindi ka na rin sumasama saamin." I even pouted a bit. I miss her a lot.
"Bakit, kung sasama ba ako sa inyo mababayadan ang tuition ko? 40k ang kailangan kong pera para ma fully paid na lahat para sa school year na 'to." And when she said that, I feel bad.
I know her struggles because of financial problem lalo na that his father has cancer and ang lahat ng pera napunta na lahat sa pagpagamot, her mom is a ofw and minsan kulang naman 'yon lalo pa at private school din si Pearl. Though she's a scholar, malaki pa rin ang magagastos.
"You can ask us, Pearl. What are friends for if nahihiya ka namang lumapit saamin." Sabi ko dahil talagang malalapitan niya naman kami, siya nga lang itong lumalayo. "If you're shy kina Gab, saakin wag kang mahiya. I can lend you money, Pearl."
Talaga naman kasing naguguluhan kaming tatlo sa dalawa. Si Pearl na rin ang kusang lumayo so we just let her.
"Don't worry, lilipat ako next school year." Sabi niya pa bago umalis sa harap ko.
I want her to stay here, but I can't also force her.
Tamang tama naman na nag-bell na for the next period. Umupo lang ako sa seat ko habang pinagmamasdan ang upuan ni Pearl. "What's with the tulala?" Gab asked.
"About Pearl." I answered.
"Pupunta ako ng office mamaya to pay her tuition." Lumaki naman bigla ang mata ko.
"Are you willing to do that?" I asked.
Lumapit naman si Brielle. "Mayaman ka talaga lodi." Sambit niya dahil sa narinig. "I can give money too!" Excited pang sabi niya.
"Akala ko magka-away kayo?" What the hell is happening. Akala ko ba magkaaway 'tong dalawang 'to?
"Oh, that? She started to distance herself, and I got mad. Nagalit ako kasi she neglected us as her friends." She sighed. "But I am willing to help her behind her back kahit pa inaaway at nag away kami."
Napahinga ako ng maluwag. Dahil lang naman pala doon, akala ko kasi tungkol na sa lalaki or ano eh.
Nang matapos ang last period namin bago mag lunch, sabay kaming apat. The og five are no longer together, hence the four. I hope Pearl will soon break her walls.
Hindi ko nga rin alam paano ba kami naging magkakaibigang lima? Yoshi and I are both STE students. Gab is from the special project in journalism, habang si Pearl ay scholar sa special project in arts. Technically, we're not from the same class. I am friends with Yoshi and Gab since their parents are close with my Dad's.
"Yoshi, nagpupuyat ka 'no?" Brielle asked her.
"Medyo, inaantok talaga ako pag stats na." He then yawned.
"Kahit naman ako," Gabriel chimed in.
"Agree! Masakit sa ulo ang numbers." I said kaya natawa kaming lahat. Humble lang 'yan si Gab pero matalino ang hinayupak na yan.
