Merceline Cinco's High School Survival Guide By: Rose Tan (COMPLETED)

Chapter 15

HITMAN TONY MADE A MISTAKE.

Akala ni Ayeng okay na ang lahat. Kahit napaiyak siya sa kagagahan niya, nang mabasa naman niya ang mga sumunod pang messages ni Declan, gumaan na rin ang pakiramdam niya. Declan assured Amber he was cool with the whole incident. Gusto pa raw magreklamo ng mommy nito sa school dahil sa nangyari, pinigilan na lang ni Declan. Baka raw masisante pa ang janitor o kung sino man na may pananagutan sa sirang pinto. Iyon ang iniisip nitong dahilan kung bakit na-lock ito sa banyo.

Hindi alam ni Ayeng kung ano ang eksaktong ginawa ni Anton, kung sinira ba talaga niyon ang pinto and if so, how did he do it. Hindi iyon sumasagot sa texts at kung tatawagan naman niya ang numero, '..please check the number and dial again' ang naririnig niya. Baka nagpalit na naman ng number si Anton. Sa Messenger, kalimutan na lang. Anton didn't give a damn about Fb. May Facebook account iyon pero madalang pa sa blue moon kung mag-login.

But Declan assured her he was cool with the incident. The shock and anger had worn off when he got home. Pasalamat na lang daw na hindi ito seryosong nasaktan. Unforgettable experience na lang daw ang nangyari, something to write about in Pilipino and English subjects.

Declan even asked for another meet-up. Magre-chedule daw sila. Nag-alibi na lang si Amber na 'grounded' siya ng lola niya dahil nga ginabi umuwi. Natatakot siya na hindi siya payagan mag-over stay sa school, bagay na kailangan sa mga panahong iyon ng Performance Tasks.

<MAGPAPALAMIG MUNA AKO KAY LOLA>

Declan accepted that. He should Dahil tambak naman talaga ang projects nila kapag nalalapit na ang quarterly exams. Tinanggap nito na ganoon rin sa school ni Amber. Si Declan na rin ang nag-suggest na sa Christmas break na lang sila mag-eyeball.

Pumayag na si Ayeng. May panahon pa siya para mag-isip ng panibagong paraan para hindi matuloy ang eyeball.

Umaasa rin siya na by that time, may lakas na siya ng loob na sabihin ang totoo.

Either way, safe siya for another two weeks.

She thought so.

Until this morning.

Kasabay ng pagtunog ng bell dumating si Anton sa room. He was his usual self--mayabang, walang pakialam, may dalang basketball na walang pakundangang hinagis kay Marvis. Hindi naman aware ang science nerd na ihahagis dito ni Anton ang bola, sapul sa dibdib si Marvis. Anton laughed. Miss Tessa entered the room, greeted them and summoned Anton. Lumabas ang dalawa.

Akala nilang lahat, nakita ni Miss Tessa ang ginawa ni Anton kay Marvis kaya dinala sa guidance.

"He never learns." Komento ni Deminique. "If he gets kicked out, I can't blame the school."

"Wag naman." Kontra ni Ayeng. "Mabait naman si Anton kahit ganoon."

"Only with you!" Si Marvis.

"Yeah, cos you're his gf!"

Pinaulanan na si Ayeng ang panunukso.

May bumungad sa pinto, "Hi, guys! Missed me?" Si Arvy.

Tilian sila, "Oh, my gosh, you're back!"

"Yeah, what did I miss?"

"You're late." Wika ni Ayeng sa kaibigan.

"I had to go to the Moderator to show my letter and medical certificate. Duh." Kapag nag-absent, required sila na sa opisina muna ng Moderator pumunta, hindi deretso sa classroom. Doon ipiprisinta ang excuse letter. "Ohmigosh, I still feel weird--"

Biglang dumating ulit si Miss Tessa, sans Anton. Napansin si Arvy, "Oh, hi, Arvy. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good, Miss. Good as new."

"Glad to hear that. Um, Declan, come with me for a sec."

And Ayeng's world fell.

BY RECESS, alam na ng lahat ang nangyari. Kung bakit ipinatawag sa guidance sina Declan at Anton.

"Is he stupid or what?" Bulalas ni Arvy kahit may laman pang pansit bihon ang bibig. She missed food raw. Kasama nila sa mesa si Marvis. "I kind of like him pa naman." Wika pa ni Arvy.

"Yeah, me too." Sagot ni Ayeng.

"He's gonna be kicked out."

"Can we do something? I mean, can we help him--we can talk to the teachers or something? Anton deserves another chance."

Sumabat si Marvis, "He's given too many chances already. He really doesn't want to change. Maybe he can't cos he's born that way."

Hindi masisi ni Ayeng si Marvis. Isa ito sa laging napapag-tripan ni Anton.

"How come no one heard Declan shouting?" Tanong ni Arvy.

"We were all in the rooftop." Si Marvis.

"I can't imagine, my God...oh, I can imagine..he's sooo strong, he maaged to kick the door open all by himself." Arvy gushed and ate her pancit.

"He's got a bruise on his feet." Wika nI Marvis.

"I just can't understand." Wika ulit ni Arvy. "What was Anton thinking? Why Declan? I thought they were, you know, okay?" Kay Ayeng ito naghahanap ng sagot.

Nagkibit na lang siya ng balikat, hindi masalubong ang mga mata ng kaibigan.

Siniko ni Marvis si Arvy, "Hurry up, we're gonna be late."

"Why don't YOU hurry up?"

Sopla si Marvis. Hindi na kumibo.

"Uh, guys, CR lang ako." Tumayo na si Ayeng, hindi na niya kayang kainin pa ang macaroni niya. She felt like throwing up. Maki-kickout na si Anton dahil sa kanya?

And she could not tell the truth.

Gusto niyang umiyak pero ayaw na rin makisama ng luha niya. She was so angry and disgusted with herself.

Yet she could not....didn't want to incriminate herself.

Ano'ng klaseng tao siya? She didn't deserve all her friends. She didn't deserve anything. Ni hindi niya magawang tingnan ang sarili sa salamin.

"What have I done?" Poor Anton. Si Anton na naging mabait sa kanya kahit maraming kalokohan. Kahit minsan, hindi naman s'ya binully ni Anton. Tapos, ngayong kailangan nito ang tulong niya, hindi niya maibigay dahil takot siyang mapahiya.