Living Dead

LD: 7

DANAE

Isa sa pinaka-ayaw ko sa lahat ay yung tinititigan ako. I am fully aware of my appearance not being attractive so I certainly know that if ever someone was staring at me, that was because something's off.

And something's off.

I know it.

I feel it.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo ko dito sa cafeteria at dinala ang tray ko sa counter. But even before I was able to land the tray down, someone tripped me that caused me from falling. And it was a hard downfall.

Laughter and giggles and murmurs were evident. Ni hindi man lang sila nag-effort na itago ang pagkatuwa nila sa nangyari.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakadapa. Good thing that until now, wala pa rin akong uniform kaya hindi ako masisilipan. Hindi pa binibigay ng dean. It was good though.

I eyed the one who tripped me for about a sec before picking the bowls which were scattered. Nang matapos akong magpulot ay ipinatong ko na sa counter ang tray. I walked my way to the exit of the cafeteria. But again, even before I was able to move another step, someone grabbed my hair. And for the record, the pain I felt when Erica grabbed my hair was the same...

"Hey bitch, we heard what you did to Princess Erica the other day. You're gonna pay, bitch!"

Oh, no. It was more fucking painful! Bakit ba lagi na lang ang buhok ko? The freaking stupidents around us continued eating as if not a single soul was being hurt in front of them!

Mas diniinan niya ang pagkahawak sa buhok ko at iniharap ang mukha ko sa kanya. Medyo nakatingala ngayon ako sa kanya dahil pwersahan niya 'tong ginagawa.

Fuck, ang sakit.

"What now, bitch? Hindi mo naman pala kaya!"

Kanina, hindi ko siya tinitignan. Ayoko siyang tignan. Mababanas lang ako. Pinanatili kong nakababa ang mata ko kahit pa nakatingala ang ulo ko.

"You don't have any manners, bitch! Kinakausap kita! Look at me! Oh, baka hindi mo kaya? Duwag ka pala? Ako pa nga lang hindi mo na kaya, pa'no pa kaya kapag marami na kami? Duwag!"

Call me everything.

But never, ever call me coward.

I looked at her straight in the eyes.

The moment my eyes met hers, I felt her grasp become loosened. Naramdaman ko ang pagkagulat niya. At pagkatakot. So I took the opportunity. Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at hinawakan ang kamay niyang pinangsabunot sa akin at dahan dahan itong inalis.

Nang maalis ko na ng tuluyan ang kamay niya, inabot ko ang bag kong nahulog kanina.

"My god, Danae, what happened to you? Look at your hair! Who did this to you?!"

Everyone, even I, was shocked by the sudden appearance of Elsa looking all worried.

Tinignan ko siya ng blangko. Pero iniwas niya ang tingin niya sa akin at binaling sa babaeng sumabunot sa akin sa hindi ko malaman na dahilan.

"Why did you grab her hair?" mahinahong tanong ni Erin.

"B-because she bitched you r-right? I was getting you even from her." nagtatapang-tapangan pero halatang kinakabahang sabi ng babae.

"Who told you that?"

"We heard the rumor—"

"Who told you I needed your stupid help?"

"E-erica."

Tumalikod ako at itinuloy ang paglalakad palabas dito. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad hanggang sa makalabas ako at hindi na marinig ang bangayan nila.

"Danae, w-wait."

Tinignan ko ng blangko ang kamay ni Elsa na nakahawak sa braso ko. Hinihingal siya at halatang hinabol ako. Napapahiya, unti-unti niyang inalis ang pagkakahawak sa braso ko.

"Are you okay? Were you hurt by her? My gad! Hey, why aren't you talking?"

Tinalikuran ko siya ulit and for the nth time, naglakad. Pero sumabay siya sa akin. Pinabayaan ko na lang na maglakad siya kasabay ko. Kahit hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lang itong naging mabait sa akin pagkatapos nang ginawa at sinabi niya sa akin last Friday.

Pagdating namin sa classroom, saktong kararating lang din ng teacher. English.

"Good morning class," bumati kami pabalik.

"Today, out lesson is about The Gorgon's Head. Get your books and open it on page 25. I'll give you fifteen minutes to read it and we'll discuss it afterwards. Start now."

After fifteen minutes.

"Okay class, stop reading. And now lets discuss the story..." at nagsimula na siyang magdiscuss tungkol sa mito.

"After King Acraceus learned about the oracle that he will be killed by his grandchild, he was frightened. Then he thought of hiding his only daughter who was the only one capable of giving him a grandchild, his ever beautiful daughter, Danae..."

And then everyone looked at me.

Bakit ba kasi ngayong grade 10 pa tinetake itong story na 'to. This school is outdated. This story was taught to us back in grade 9. Kaya nga umpisa pa lang ng grade 10, kapag narinig na ang pangalan ko, Greek Mythology agad ang naalala nila at iyon na din ang tinatawag nila sa akin.

"Oh, Danae, 'wag masyadong assuming. Kapangalan mo lang 'yon pero hindi ka maganda. Hahahahaha."

The Kiddo beside me said and started laughing and then the others followed. But being me, I did not mind them. Tinignan ko ang teacher na parang sinasabing 'continue your lesson idiot', and he did.

Tumikhim ito at pinatahimik ang lahat. Tumahimik naman ang lahat maliban pa rin kay Kiddo na hindi tumigil sa pagtawa. Kahit na nakaharap pa rin ako sa white board ay kita pa rin sa peripheral vision ko ang paghawak niya sa tyan niya na para bang yun na ang pinakanakakatawang joke na sinabi nito buong buhay niya.

"El, stop it already. Mocking Danae isn't funny."

We all looked at Elsa who stood with her arms crossed. She was looking at the Kiddo as if she was disappointed that the girl she called bitch last time was being laugh at by the person who was actually the reason behind her calling me a bitch.

But at least, that made Kiddo stop. Tinignan niya si Elsa at para bang siya rin ay hindi makapaniwala sa inakto nito. Everyone, tho.

Elsa then looked at me and smiled. Her smile seemed to be a genuine one, yes.

But I was Danae.

And I certainly knew better.