As You Lie Awake

CHAPTER 1: SEMPER

Chapter 1

"Daven asked me out tonight!"

Isinalampak ko ang earbuds sa tainga ko. Ayaw kong marinig ang mga kwento ni Iradessa, my ex's current fling. Sa katunayan ay wala akong pinapakinggan na music. Gusto ko lamang isipin nila na may pinapakinggan ako.

My professor for today's subject always comes late. Ibig sabihin ay kailangan ko pang magtiis ng ilang minuto sa pakikinig sa mga kwento ni Iradessa na sinasadya niyang iparinig sa akin. Bigla na lamang siyang napaatras at tinapon ang laman ng dalang bottled water sa akin.

"Ops, sorry." Her voice was teasing.

Napatayo ako at pinahid ang panyo sa sarili ko. My philosophy notes were soaking kaya naiinis na tinanggal ko ang suot na earbuds at hinarap siya.

"Ano ba ang problema mo?"

A twisted smile escaped her lips, but it was only for a while. She faced our classmates and gave them an apologetic look. "Did you see that? Nag-sorry naman ako, 'di ba, but she's still galit." She pouted her lips and it was very irksome.

One thing I don't like about her ay ang pagiging conyo. She flashed a pitiful look again and now my classmates are picking on me. And yep, she was the girl on my boyfriend— I mean ex-boyfriend's lap, almost three months ago. Daven broke up with me without valid reason at sila na ngayon ni Ira.

"Ang sama talaga ng ugali ng Violet na 'yan!"

"Oo nga! Baka galit siya kay Ira dahil kay Daven!"

I prevented myself to roll eyes when I heard their whispers. Nang muli kong tiningnan si Iradessa ay naka-smirk siya sa akin na tila ba sinasabing nanalo siya. I looked at her with an angry expression. Sumusobra na siya. The last time, she poured me an ice coffee and acted like it's an accident. The other day it was frappe. Now water? Ano ba talaga ang gusto niyang mangyari?

"Ang tanga mo na rin ano? Last time kape ang natapon mo, then frappe and now this?!" I can't help but burst. Pagod na akong magtimpi. I don't mind rescheduling this class kahit pa paborito ko ang prof namin dito kung ganito din naman lagi ang eksena namin ni Iradessa. And wow for myself! I was able to say what I wanted to say to her.

"What? Ilang sorry ba ang need mo?" She said, acting like she's the victim here. And it boiled my blood. Sa inis ko ang hinablot ko ang bottled water mula sa kanya at itinapon ang laman niyon sa mismong mukha niya. Oh's filled the room at matinding gulat naman ang reaksyon ni Iradessa at ng kanyang mga kampon. Maging ako ay nagulat sa sarili ko.

"How dare you!" She screamed and then slapped me in the face. The next thing I did shocked me. I grabbed her hair and pulled it. I am not the troublesome student but surprisingly today, I am! Nagsigawan naman ang mga kaklase namin lalo na at nanlaban na rin si Iradessa. She pulled my hair on different directions— no it wasn't just her. There were four pairs of hands that grabbed my hair.

It hurts like hell, but I didn't cry. Sa halip ay pinaglipat-lipat ko ang pagsabunot sa kanila samantalang panay pa rin ang sigawan ng iba naming kaklase. They were cheering and some were betting.

The pulling of hair and scratching of faces continued hanggang sa makarinig kami ng sigaw.

"STOP!"

We all stopped but Iradessa pulled my hair for the last time and gave me a victorious smile.

"I'm so disappointed with all of you! Lahat kayo, pumunta kayo sa guidance office! God, you're all grownups and you're acting like a child!" Wika ng propesor. "Go to the guidance office now!"

I throw them angry glares bago ko pinulot ang bag ko at naunang lumabas. Nang dumating kaming lahat sa guidance ay masasama pa rin ang tinging ibinabato ko sa kanila. My head hurts. It feels like every strand of my hair was plucked. Napaka-unfair naman kasi! There were eight hands pulling my hair!