The Principal
"Alora, look! You are the top topic on the website," Alice announced while tapping on her laptop.
We are in the cafeteria, sitting at the table in the corner. This is the right spot to avoid the scrutiny of those student who still couldn't move on from what happened to me yesterday. But maybe I should start caring less about the things I have no control about, even though I am noticing some, especially those at the nearby tables gossiping about me.
"Patingin!" Jinx stood up from her seat next to me and move behind Alice. "Uy, Alora! Famous ka na oh!" Her voice gets all gushy, pointing the screen to me even though I only see the apple logo of the laptop.
Nasa harapan ko nakaupo si Alice. Nang akmang ihaharap niya na sa akin ang screen, pinulot ko na ang tinidor at pinaikot-ikot iyon sa pasta.
"In-expect ko na 'yan. I don't want to see it," I dryly say while watching my pasta getting tangle on the fork.
Kahit sinabi ko na ang disgusto, hinila ni Megan ang laptop at binasa ang kung anong nasa screen. "Alora Steppingstone, the laughing stock of Herismians during her penalty."
Umismid ako.
"Sus! Kung hindi lang tayo kinulong kahapon, malamang wala silang mapagtitripan. Tapangtapangan sila porket mag-isa lang si Alora no'n!" Jinx commented.
Ayon sa sinabi nila, they were locked up in a room that's why they couldn't be able to come for me.
Hinayaan ko na silang tatlong pagkaguluhan ang laptop. Busy ako sa kinakain. Kapag may kaharap akong pagkain, gusto ko na lang kalimutan ang mga taong nasa paligid ko. The sweet and sour taste of this Spaghetti with Meatballs is savoury. I can't wait to devour this on my plate....
Until Alice interrupts me by poking my arm.
"What?" Kunot-noong tanong ko.
Nakatingin silang tatlo sa likuran ko. Tinuro ni Jinx sa akin ang kung anong meron doon gamit lamang ang nguso niya. Marahan naman akong lumingon para tingnan kung ano 'yon.
Then I see Calter with his group walking to a vacant table in the center of this cafeteria. Tumahimik ang mga tao pero ngiting-ngiti naman ang mga babae. Umirap ako. Why are they romanticizing those assholes? Ganoon na ba talaga ang standards ng mga mababang babae ngayon? May hitsura nga ang mga lalaking 'yon pero mayayabang naman!
Tumalikod na ako at pinagpatuloy na lang ang pagkain. Sila lang naman 'yan. Gutom ako.
"Alora..." Si Megan.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya pero nakatitig lang siya sa likuran ko. Nang hindi siya nagsalita, sinubo ko na ang pasta sa tinidor. Hinila ko ang tuna sandwich na nasa platito at iyon naman ang tinikman.
"Alora!" tawag ni Jinx sa impit na tono.
Umirap ako habang inaabot ang baso ng juice.
Sila lang naman 'yan! Kailangan ko pa bang tingnan ang mga lalaking 'yon? Kumakain ako oh! Di ba nila nakikita?
"Hi!" A lad's voice suddenly heard at my back and his hand flew on the edge of my left shoulder.
I flinched away that made him get his hand off of me. Mabilis akong lumingon sa kaniya. He looks surprised with my sudden reaction.
"D-Did I do something wrong?" he asked, confused. Then he chuckle awkwardly that triggers me to smack his goddamn face with my fist.
How dare him touch me?

BINABASA MO ANG
Her Final Bullet
ActionAlora Steppingstone spent 4 years practicing in shooting range, boxing ring and running field. She moved to New York when she was 14 and trained by her uncle to be a great mafia herself to avenge once she gets back in the Philippines at 18 years old...