Forever Agape [FS#1]

GOOD LIAR

C h a p t e r   23

Tila ba sandaling naulos ang aking hininga nang mapagtanto ang nangyayari. Patricia, this bitch, cried louder. Tito Paul is with the Dean and the head of our department, I bow my head a little when I realized that all of them are already staring at us.

The headteacher told the students to go back to their classroom, all of them did. In an instant, the hallway fell into silence and we're the only people left here.

"Ms. De Vera, Ms. Fernandez, and the whole company, please proceed... To the guidance office." Ani Dean, wala akong nagawa kung hindu huminga nang malalim at tumango. Napatingin ako kina Aleana, tumango lang din sila. Patricia's squad left first, I'm going to slam the hell out of this bitch.

Dahan dahan kong tinanggal ang kapit ni Hell sa aking baywang, hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay hanggang sa unti unting lumuwag ang kapit nito. Ramdam ko ang kanyang pagtitig, hindi iyon natanggal sa akin kahit isang segundo lang. Kinagat ko ang labi, nakaramdam ako ng hiya para sa kanya, at kay Tito Paul.

"I'm sorry," I whispered like a prayer. Handa na akong tumalikod sa kanya, handa na rin akong humakbang para matapos na ngunit naramdaman ko ang muling paghawak niya sa akin. Napapikit ako at pilit na inagaw ang kamay ngunit mas lalong humigpit iyon.

"Hell, let her be." Ani kanyang ama, ramdam ko ang pagkadismaya sa kanyang boses.

"She didn't do anything wrong," Malamig na sabi ni Hell at hinila ako papalapit sa kanya, muling tumama ang katawan ko sa dibdib nito na ikinangiwi ko. Kahit sina Aleana ay hindi makaalis sa aming tabi. "She'll explain it here, hindi niya kailangang pumunta roon."

"What do we know, Mr. Laurette? That's why they will be sent to the guidance office." His father said, addressing him with too much formality. I feel like that's a warning.

"Hell, I'm alright... I promise. Go back to your room, I'll just see you later." Bulong ko, muli itong tumingin sa akin. Tila naintindihan na namin ang isa't isa sa isang tingin, lumuwag ang kapit nito at marahan pa akong yumuko.

Kaagad akong naglakad habang ang dalawa ay nakasunod sa akin, mabilis ang hakbang ko dahil gusto ko nang manampal. I'll slap justice right into her face that her father will be ashamed of her for the rest of his life. I'll make her beg to me, ipapakita ko sa mundo kung gaano siya kababa.

Binuksan ko ang pinto ng guidance office at kaagad na pumasok, ang councilor ay nasa upuan niya na habang si Patricia ay nakaupo sa harap nito. Her garbage sqaud is sitting on the sofa, sa kabilang sofa naman naupo sina Aleana. I sat in front of Patricia, in an instant, she stopped crying.

"Truth to be told, in all fairness, this is just disappointing. In front of Mr. Laurette, of the Dean, and the head of STEM? Ms. De Vera, Ms. Fernandez, with your parents towering their field?"

Hindi na maitatago pa ang pagkadismaya sa kanyang boses, inayos niya ang salamin at huminga nang malalim. She's in his 40s, her wrinkles are already visible. Ang itim ng kanyang buhok ay halatang artispisyal lang, ngunit isa lang ang alam ko, matalim ang tingin niya sa amin.

"Don't blame this to our parents, of how we behave. It's our choices that build us. What disappoints me is, the fact that this girl in front of me, has too much confidence to slander me..." Kulang na lang ay iduro ko siya, ngunit nakayuko lang ito at tila ako pa ang nagmumukhang masama rito.

"I know the whole story, Ms. De Vera. You snatch her ID, threw it somewhere. Gripped her tightly and slammed her in the wall. You threatened her with a case, too."

Napakagat ako sa aking labi, umayos ito ng upo ngunit nanatiling iwas ang tingin. She just turned the table in such a degree and dropped the victim card too?