The Witch and the Playboy (Filipino) (Published under Lifebooks)

Chapter 18- Hot Issue

JACE

"Gagawin mo ba o hindi?" paghahamon sa'kin ni Pepsi regarding sa ikalawang kondisyon.

Napakamot ako ng ulo. Nakakahiya talaga ito.

"Oo na, oo na." Nagpalinga-linga ako sa paligid at halos lahat ay nakatayo na at palabas na ng classroom.

"Ano ba, paalis na ang lahat oh." pilit niya sa'kin.

Damn, this woman is getting is into my nerves at the moment. Panigurado't pagtatawan ako ng lahat and my image is at stake!

"Eto na, eto na!" I tried my best to control my irritation.

Bahala na si VP Leni. Para maiba naman. Puro nalang si Batman, eh paniguradong pagod na 'yon.

Tiningnan ko ulit si Pepsi sa mga mata para makakuha ng lakas para gawin ito. Wow lakas? Sa mismong may pakana nito?

I took my jacket off, revealed this tiny fitting Wonderwoman T-shirt, and screamed like a shitty Tarzan.

......
......
......

I just lost it the moment I closed my eyes.

I felt like I owned the world... and I was all alone.

Oo, ako lang. No one cared about me. Mismong mga magulang ko ay laging wala sa bahay. I was always alone. Yes, I'm popular, and I do have friends and girls who love me, but why do I feel discontented?

Bakit parang may kulang?

I just continued screaming, and hurting my chest.

It was painful but...surprisingly, the feeling is...great.

The freedom was like an explosion—it was liberating. Para bang, lahat ng negative energy ko ay nagconcentrate sa chest ko and through screaming ay lumabas lahat.

In every second that passed by, my scream just became even more powerful, forceful...

And then, my voice started shaking.

Tumunog ang watch ko. Sixty seconds have passed.

I opened my eyes and the very first thing I saw was Pepsi's face through my clouded vision...

Kahit nakakademonyo ang pagmumukha nito dahil sa makeup at polbo ay biglang gumaan ang feeling ko.

"Hoy, okay ka lang ba?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Pepsi. Ngayon ko lang nakita ang concern sa mga mata niya.

Pasimple kung pinahid ang luha kong hindi ko namalayan kanina.

"Huy..." she poked my abs.

Another huge wave of tears pooled in my eyes and was threatening to roll down my cheeks.

I don't cry, for fuck's sake. Crying is for the weak!

I bowed my head down and blinked the tears away. I then looked around and saw those curious and intriguing faces. Anak ng...

Nakakahiya!

I just wanted to get lost at the moment. Dali-dali akong lumabas ng classroom at nang nakapaglayu-layo na ako at mahimasmasan ay may narinig akong pag-uusap ng isang grupo ng mga babae sa gilid.

"Baka may nag dare lang sa kanya na gawin iyon?"

"Oo nga, pero kung ibang tao siguro yun ay nagmukhang timang na. Pero si Jace...gosh how brave he was! Kuhang-kuha pa niya yung boses ni Tarzan!"