TORTURING HER INNOCENCE °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

29. Survival

Tama nga si Uno, ako ang pinupunterya ni Jillian. Isang maling galaw ko lang, kahit ang pagkahulog ng ballpen ko, ginagawa niyang issue para palabasin ako sa klase. Yes, that happened. Lumabas ako dahil ayoko ng gulo. Pero nang isauli niya ang exam paper for our semi-finals with the zero score on it, hindi na ako tumahimik. Una, hindi pwede. Pangalawa, alam kong hindi ko deserve ang score na 'yon.

"Excuse me, ma'am."

"Yes Gabriella? Do you have a problem with your score?"

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga para pigilan ang galit ko.

"No offense po... But I believe we all are entitled to our own opinions—"

"Exactly, Lacsamana. My opinion says that you haven't answered the question correctly that is why you failed the exam."

"Ma'am Belmonte, those were subjective essay questions!" Hindi ko napigilang magtaas ng boses. "You are not asking for facts and evidences. Your questions are not asking for objective answers. You want us to reason and stand for our own judgment about the topics given."

"Get out of my class."

"Miss Belmonte. I am not leaving this class. This time, I am just doing what I need to do. You can't make me leave this classroom just because I know how to reason! Isn't this why we're studying this subject anyway?" Pang-iinsulto kong hindi ko napigilan.

"Alright class. Because your classmate is demanding for our attention, maybe to prove something... I will consider that examination void. Everyone will have an exam retake." Anunsiyo niya at nagmamadaling lumabas. Napapikit ako sa bulungan ng mga kaklase ko.

"What the hell is your problem, Gabbi! Ba't mo kami dinadamay kung zero ka?"

"Hoy Lacsamana! Wag ka ngang papapel!"

"Tumahimik kayo!" Sigaw ni Sydney na nagpadilat sa'kin. "Ang kapal din ng pagmumukha niyo ano? When have you ever heard Gabriella not passing an examination? Are you out of your head? Ganyan ba kayo ka-selfish? Hahayaan niyo siyang bumagsak nang hindi niya naipaglalaban ang sarili niya? Huh! Ang kapal ng mukha niyo! Wag na 'wag kayong lalapit sa kaibigan ko kapag hindi niyo naiintindihan ang klase! Dahil ako mismo ang lalamukos diyan sa mga pagmumukha niyong ang kakapal!" Galit na singhal ni Sydney saka ako hinila palabas ng klase. Umiyak na ako ng tuluyan.

"I can't fail. Hindi pwede, Syd. Hindi pwede. Ayokong madisappoint si tatay o ang kapatid ko. Ayokong pati pag-aaral ko, poproblemahin pa nila—"

"Shh. You've done the right thing, Gabbi. And you are not going to fail. Magsisimula ako ng alyansa laban sa bruhildang 'yon kapag ibinagsak ka niya sa klase. She can't do it Gab. Sigurado akong magtataka ang administration kapag nangyari 'yon. You are one of the brilliant minds of this academy. Plus, you've covered 2 flat ones for the two quarters. The only way for you to fail is for that witch to give you failing grades for semi and finals which definitely will cause suspicion. You are too brilliant my dear. And you are a solid rock. It will take her a lot of machineries to break you. Plus, I got you covered this time. You've done so much for me already Gabriella. Ilang beses kang napahamak ng dahil sa'kin. This time, let me do the same for you, bestfriend."

Nagyakapan kami sa gitna ng hallway at wala akong pakialam. Masaya akong nagkaroon ng isang Sydney sa buhay ko.

"I heard about the exam issue." Mahinahong saad ni Uno that night he came to see me. "Kakausapin ko siya—"

"No. 'Yan ang hindi mo gagawin Uno. Iyan ang gusto niya e. Pinupunterya niya ako para lumapit ka sa kanya. I'm not sharing you with her. Not even a second of your time."

Galit parin talaga ako sa bruhildang 'yon kaya ganito nalang ako katapang.

"Letting me out of class because I picked up my pen, okay! Na-late ng 2 seconds, pinalabas, okay lang. Nahuling nakipag-usap sa kaklaseng nanghihiram ng ballpen during quiz, pinalabas at okay lang. Pero ang bigyan ako ng zero points? Hindi ako tanga. Kung gusto niya ng away, ibibigay ko 'yon sa kanya. She can do whatever she wants with her life but she will not stand in the way for my dreams and definitely not my man."