Caught in the middle

Chapter 6

Pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko sa Guidance Office, agad kong hinanap ang pinsan ko and I saw him lazily sitting on the couch with a bruise on his left cheek.

When I roamed around, I saw Joaquin in the corner, his hands both inside his pocket and he's just looking downward, I waited until he meets my gaze but he didn't

But I was surprised when I also saw Justine! What the hell? Why did they all get here?

I went to Tristan first. Tinignan ko yung pasa niya and medyo malala yun. Baka makwestyon kami ni Nanay, mahaba-habang paliwanagan nanaman ito!

"Good afternoon ma'am" I greeted first Ma'am Villamor, our Guidance Counselor

"Good afternoon hija, take your seat" ngunit wala nang upuan dahil in-occupy na ni Tristan at Justine

Justine stood up and motioned me to just sit to the chair. Narinig ko si Joaquin na bumulong "tss, sipsip"

Umiling naman ako "No I'm okay, I can just stand there's no problem with that" bumaling ako kay Ma'am Villamor "Ma'am with all due respect, may I know what happened po why my cousin have bruises?"

"May sugat din ako!" angal ni Tristan

"Ano pa ako?" Si Justine naman ngayon na naupo na ulit sa upuan

"Shut up!" thank you Ma'am Villamor "Ok Katrina, your cousin and these two ay nagsuntukan" panimula niya "and bilang pinsan ka naman nito, pinatawag ka na rin namin because his parents can't make it here because they're abroad right?"

"Bakit naman kayo nag-away?" I looked at each of them, lahat sila umiiwas ng tingin

"We already talked about it a while ago and it's already settled so you don't have to know it na Trina" Justine looked at me calmly then he glared at Joaquin

"You'll receive punishments starting tomorrow until Friday, it's just two days and you'll know your punishment tomorrow, for now go to clinic and Trina please make sure they won't have a round two. Dismiss"

As soon as we're dismissed, isa-isa silang naglakd palayo and nagpaiwan lang ako saglit para humingi ng pasensya kay Ma'am and mag thank you na rin.

Naabutan ko silang tatlo sa labas. "So pwede niyo na iexplain sakin?"

"Wala na ngang ieexplain! Settled na nga raw eh" note the sarcasm to the way Joaquin delivered this

They have this black aura around their body kaya medyo natakot na ako plus their deadly glares. I was just looking at them. Di alam ang sasabihin aba mahirap na! Babae pa rin ako e baka biglang maground two tong mga ito!

"Ahm pumunta nab a kayo ng clinic?" mahina at nanginginig ang boses ko

"Mukha ba?" sabay-sabay nilang bigkas

Natakot naman ako dahil ang tataas ng tono nilang tatlo but I didn't let them see my fear "Sorry ha? Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo magrambulan pa kayo! Kulang pa yan" then iniwan ko na sila doon bahala sila. Di ko na inisip yung bilin sakin ni Ma'am Villamor dir in naman makikinig yang mga yan sakin

I heard them call my name sabay-sabay ulit "Trina!"

Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo!

~~~~

I was so pissed that time. All I did was just to walk myself home, actually not walk because I rode a jeepney but still, I walked until our house.

I typed a text to my friends

"Come here girls"

Right after 5 minutes they all replied

Ayi: Already asked Mom and Dad, I'm on my way xx