Among All Nightmares

Chapter 16

Silence enveloped the four corners of our classroom when our subject teacher from General Biology, Ma'am Fiona, entered the room. She had a serious expression in her face that gives off a terrifying aura from her.

"You may now start presenting your diorama, group 1," she announced.

Without wasting any second, the members of the first group grabbed the diorama from the back of the room and placed it on the teacher's table. Si Ma'am Fiona ay pumunta naman sa likuran habang binabanggit ang pangalan ng mga miyembro sa grupo galing sa one fourth na papel kung saan pinalagay niya sa mga leaders ang pangalan ng members. She said that it was for clarification.

"May hindi ba nabanggit?" She asked. To no response, she nodded, "Alright. Simulan niyo na," sabi niya sa mga nasa harapan.

There were only five of them. Lima lang kasi ang ni-require na mag-present. Unfortunately, hindi ako sinama ro'n ni Marina kahit pa nag-volunteer ako. Now, I'm worrying about my grades. Leaders were tasked to evaluate their members. I'm aware that Marina will do something to sabotage my grades, hindi ko lang alam kung gaano kalala ang kaya niyang gawin para lang bumagsak ako.

Why are senior high school students more problematic than those in junior high? Akala ko kapag senior high na, mas matured na ang students at hindi na toxic gaya nito. I guess I was wrong.

Halos sampung minuto lang ang tinagal ng presentation ng unang grupo. Our group was the next. Hindi man parte ng magpe-present, tinulungan ko sila na buhatin ang diorama at nilagay ito sa harap. Habang pabalik sa upuan ko, binanggit ni Ma'am Fiona ang mga miyembro sa grupo. I sat down and waited for my name to be mentioned, but it wasn't.

"May hindi nabanggit?" Tanong muli ni Ma'am. Nahihiya man, tinaas ko ang kamay ko. Ma'am Fiona looked at me, then down on the paper as she searched for my name on the list.

"Wala nga siya rito," tumingin siya kay Marina nang may pagtatanong sa mukha.

Marina froze for a moment, as though unprepared to respond. She rubbed her hands together, "Ma'am, kasi... Wala naman po siyang nai-ambag sa amin."

Umawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. Halo halong emosyon ang naramdaman ko— Kaba, takot, hiya, inis, galit.

She continued, "Pumunta po kami sa bahay namin, several times, but she never attended any of our meetings."

My hand trembled. "B-But..." I tried to speak, but she spoke again, completely cutting me off.

"Sorry for removing you from the group," she looked at me with an emotion that shows guilt. Paano niya nagawang ipakita ang gano'n? "But it is my responsibility as a leader to remove irresponsible members."

Tumingin ako sa mga ka-grupo namin, hoping that someone would stand up for me, because I knew I couldn't defend myself. I couldn't even utter a word. Ngunit lahat sila ay nakayuko, as if they had no choice but to stay quiet.

How did this happen? How could Marina manipulate them?

"That explains why, Miss Lovisa," Ma'am Fiona said. I hung my head low when I realized that everyone's attention was focused on me again.

"You got what you deserve, don't question us about it," sabi pa niya.

I wish I was braver. Kung sana'y malakas ang loob ko na ipagtanggol ang sarili ko, I would. I deserve to be heard. 'Yun nga lang, I wasn't blessed with a courageous voice. 

Laking pasasalamat ko nalang na last subject namin 'yon that day, because I had a hard time preventing my tears from escaping. After our dismissal, I went straight to the washroom immediately, and cried behind a cubicle.