Tall, Dark and Dead (Rewritten)

From H. Jekyll to E. Hyde

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A l e k

When I opened my social media account, si Natalia agad ang bumungad sa akin. "Maddie, look," Ipinakita ko kay Maddie ang aking kasalukuyang tinitignan. Pababa pa lang kami ng sasakyan. "She looks just like her. I mean, what she's wearing, it looks like the one that they have in their museum. Do you have something to do with this, huh?"

"I'm guilty about that, Alek. Ni-recommend ko sa kanya ang design na 'yun."

"Madison!"

"Chill. Does it make you sad?"

"Not so much. I can handle it." Nakapagtataka. I don't know why but her memory doesn't make me cry or angry anymore. The feeling is there, sadness and longing, pero hindi na gaya ng dati. "I thought it would but it didn't. I guess I'm okay." I took another look at the picture before putting my phone back in my purse. "Am I?"

"Gotta be optimistic, sweety."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Are you sure you wanna go?" Tanong sa akin ni Maddie. I'm already wearing my dress when I walked down the red carpet. I left my coat back in the limo. "Sabagay, we're already here. Wala na tayong magagawa." I'm wearing a black dress. Sabi naman nila oldies ang theme pero may touch ng pagiging modern. "Naks, ganyan ang suot, tapos modest ka pa nyan ah."

"Let's just get this over with."

I did my research. Ayokong magmukhang baduy sa ball na 'to, lalo pa't nagtapatan na kami ni Natalia. Ay, siya lang pala. My feelings? Sa'kin na lang 'yun. I have to save her from judgments. From myself as well. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I have to."

"Smile for the camera, darling. The shutters are craving for you."

Kakapasok ko pa lang sa auditorium, sinalubong ako agad ng isa sa mga propesor gaya ko. "Professor Cefiro, can we talk for a minute? I just have a little concern about a student of yours."

"I think I know who it is."

"You're probably right." Nakatayo kami malapit sa buffet ngayon. The freshmen were busy serving their seniority, while the others were busy chatting with their friends and their chosen dates. "You see, Wilbur is my son, and he told me about your rage episode in one of your classes." Tumawa lang ako. Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang bagay na nagawa ko. The kid deserves it, he and his friends. "I just wanna say how clever you are. Napapasunod mo ang mga estudyante mo sa'yo. I admire your teaching strategy, professor Cefiro. You have good feedback."

"Hindi ho ba kayo galit, sir Angelo?"

"No, of course, not. In fact, I told my son to follow your orders." He tapped my left arm twice. I'm surprised 'cause he didn't get mad. I didn't see this coming. I knew the kid was going to tell his father about my actions but I didn't expect to be praised by it. "Look, there they are." Sama-samang nakatambay malapit sa DJ ang tropa. Akala siguro ng batang si Wilbur, pinagalitan na 'ko ng tatay niya. His dad even told me that they had spare dress robes and tuxedos in their car. "Son, come here."

"What's up, professor? Did you and my dad finished having chit-chat?" I giggled when he waved to his friends. Akala siguro nila nakabawi na sila sa akin. "Dad, pwede na ba kaming magbihis? I don't want people to see this in the yearbook."