Shattered Jar (Fiorello Series #1)

12

12

My knees were trembling when I stepped into  the guidance office. I'm about to face the wrath of our guidance counselor together with Amanda and her parents. Parehong guro sa paaralan namin ang kaniyang mga magulang at doon ako mas nagulat. It's so funny because they can teach other people about good manners and right conduct but they couldn't do it on their own daughter. How I wish they're aware about Amanda's trashy attitude towards her schoolmates. Hindi lang din naman kasi ako ang inaalipusta niyan, may mga iba pa riyan na mas takot kaysa sa akin.

"Amanda!" bungad ni Ma'am Imelda, Amanda's mother. Personal Development ang subject na itinuturo niya pero hindi siya ang guro namin.

"M-Mommy!" umiiyak na tawag ni Amanda sa kaniyang ina. She looks scared and I don't know why.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanila. Naiisip ko lang si Mama na wala rito ngayon. Ayoko rin naman siyang pumunta rito dahil alam kong pagkakatuwaan lang siya ng mga estudyanteng narito. They saw the pictures that Amanda posted on our bulletin board, so I won't be shock if everyone's talking about my personal life now.

Ang ama ni Amanda na si Sir Amad ay nakatayo lang sa gilid at seryosong nakatingin sa amin. He's a practical research teacher and I've heard some feedbacks about him, terror daw pero mabait naman.

"What happened?" Amanda's mom asked.

Nilingon ko sila habang ang dalawang kamay ko ay pinaglalaruan ang bawat daliring meron ako. I feel so nervous right now. It's not my entire fault but I hurt Amanda and that makes me at fault too.

"Kindly tell us what happened, Ms. Zanteban?" ani ng guidance counselor.

"Nagpaskil po si Amanda sa bulletin board..." I gulped quickly. "It was a picture of my mother with some insults as a captions..."

"Is that true, Amanda?!" mariing tanong ni Sir Amad na ikinabigla ko. He said it angrily as he held Amanda by her elbow. That must be painful...

"P-Papa, hindi p-po!" tanggi ni Amanda na para bang takot na takot sa kaniyang ama.

Ilang beses akong kumurap nang ako ang tignan ni Sir Amad. His eyes were asking me some unanswered questions, he wants me to tell them the truth which I already did earlier.

"Amanda, you even accused me of stealing things last Saturday in Bershka! Kamuntikan na nga akong mapahak nang dahil sa'yo, 'di ba?" tuloy-tuloy kong sabi.

Her eyes widened as she held her mother's arm. She looks so innocent and fragile at the same time while looking at me. Mukhang determinado siyang baligtarin ang buong sitwasyon at ako ang palalabasin niyang may kasalanan. I will accept every punishment that I think I deserve to have because I did something wrong, but I obviously did nothing aside from standing up for myself. This is a self-defense!

"Liar! Sinungaling ka! I hate you!" gigil niyang sabi bago siya umiyak. Tinuro niya ang kaniyang braso na may sugat, maliit lang naman iyon. "You did this to me! You pushed me because you're insecure!"

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya. Saan banda naman ako naging insecure? Hindi nga tumatagal nang higit pa sa 30 seconds ang tingin ko sa kaniya tapos insecure pa ako? Bakit parang siya pa ang dehado sa sinasabi niya?

I was about to say something but Barachiel came in with a flashdrive on his hand. He smiled at me brightly as he wiggled his eyebrows a bit. He's just wearing his usual uniform but he looks extra handsome today, with his disheveled hair and dark brooding eyes, he can already take every sanity that is left for me.

"Mr. Fiorello, what brings you here?" tanong ng guidance counselor.

"I'm just going to show this one," aniya sabay lapag ng flashdrive sa mesa. Tumaas ang kilay ng guidance counselor bago ito sinalpak sa laptop na naroon.