The Badass Next Door

4: Terrified

Chapter 4: Terrified

Zoe

"INTRODUCE yourself, Miss." Tumango naman ako at lumapit sa unahan. Lahat sila nakatingin sa 'kin na para bang kinikilatis nila ang mukha ko.

"I'm Maria Zoella Dy Hernaez, 18 years old." Maikling sabi ko.

"Do you have any special talent or hobbies?" Tanong pa ng Prof.

"Ah. . . I'm a former driver. . ." Sagot ko at 'yung mga estudyanteng nasa harap ko nagtawanan.

"Class, shut up!" Saway niya, "You mean. . .public transportation driver?"

I smiled, "No, Ma'am. I'm a former race driver. . ." Lahat sila natigilan ng sinabi ko 'yon, para bang namangha sila at lahat sila napa-wow.

"Seriously? Ang astig no'n!" Sigaw ng isang lalake na nakaupo sa may bandang likod.

"You've said, you're a former race driver. So, what made you stop?" She asked.

"Long story, Ma'am." Ayun na lang ang naisagot ko.

"Okay. Help yourself, you may sit anywhere." Nakangiting sabi niya. Tumango na lang ako saka ko inikot ang paningin ko, sa may bandang dulo gawing kanan, ika third row sa may aisle nakita ko si Akisha. Nakangiti siya sa 'kin at kumakaway, tinuturo niya 'yung bakanteng upuan sa tabi niya.

"Yehey! From now on, dito ka na uupo!" Sabi niya kaya napangiti ako.

"Mabuti na lang talaga at nakilala kita bago nagsimula ang klase. Kung hindi siguro kita nakilala baka loner ako rito." Sabi ko habang inaayos ang gamit ko.

"Magkaka-kilala pa rin naman tayo kasi dito at dito ka talaga uupo, dahil wala ng ibang bakanteng upuan." Nakangiti pa sya habang tinutulungan ako.

"Bakit pala walang nakaupo rito?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Nag-transfer na siya. . ." Mahinang sabi niya.

"Bakit?" Tanong ko pero hindi siya nakapagsalita, parang natahimik siya. "Aki?"

"Nagtransfer na siya, Zoe." Nag-aalangan niyang sabi.

"Okay. But, why?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin sa white board para hindi mapansin ng Prof na nag-uusap kami.

"She was bullied." I accidentally dropped my pen upon hearing those words, ". . .she was the new face during that time, and she was bullied by the Badass. No one dares to help her because they were afraid that they might get involved."

"Seryoso?" Napalunok ako dahil sa kwento niya.

"Yes. . ." Sagot niya, "Zoe 'wag ka sanang matakot sa sinabi ko, gusto ko lang maging honest sa 'yo."

Umiling ako at ngumiti, "I'm not afraid of anyone."

"Mabuti naman kung gano'n." Para bang nakahinga siya ng maluwag.

". . .pero, bakit ba kasi siya na-bully ng tinatawag niyong Badass?" Curious na tanong ko.

"That, I really don't know." Aniya kasabay ng pagkibit balikat.

Nahihiwagaan ako sa grupo nila, sa Badass. Sino ba sila at bakit lahat ng mga bagong mukha rito sa University ay binubully nila? Isa pa sa misteryo sa 'kin ay bakit parang walang naglalakas ng loob na isumbong sa mga Professors o kahit sa Guidance Councilor and grupo nila?

Weird.

Lumipas ang oras at natapos ang ibang mga subjects, hanggang sa maglunch time na at nagyaya ng kumain si Akisha. Nakaupo na kami sa isang table at kasalukuyang kumakain nang biglang nagkagulo ang ibang estudyante, lumakas ang bulungan at ilang saglit lang ay may dumating na grupo mula sa labas ng Cafeteria.

"Don't look!" Hinawakan ni Aki ang mukha ko at pinihit palayo sa mga taong paparating. "You'll die if you look them in the eyes!"

I felt the sudden burst of my heart. Shit! Ano ba 'to? Nasa horror movie ba ako? Ano ba?!

"You mean, literally?" I cleared my throat and asked.

"Yes" She answered and I swear to God that I  felt sorry for all the bad things I've done. Sorry Lord, please hayaan nyo pa po akong mabuhay.

"Wait! Are you shaking?" She asked.

"Matapos ng sinabi mong mamamatay ako 'pag tumingin ako sa mata nila?" I asked sarcastically.

Napangiti siya. "Girl, what I mean is, don't look at them because you're new here and you'll get notice."

I release a deep sigh. I really felt relieved.

"Sila ba?" I asked refering to the Badass she was telling a while ago.

"Yes. . ." Uminom siya ng tubig at huminga ng malalim, "Basta tandaan mo palagi ang sasabihin ko Zoe, never walk in front of them, never look in their eyes, never talk about them in public, and don't you ever cross paths to one of them."

"Seriously?"

"Yes! I am being serious here." Uminom sya ng tubig at muling tumingin sa 'kin. "Don't be their victim, at least."

Napalunok ako dahil sa sinabi niya. "Alam mo Akisha, mas natatakot ako sa sinasabi mo kesa sa presensya nila."

"I'm telling the truth, Zoe. If you want to graduate in Stafford you must endure two things; the Professors and the Badass."

That made me think. Who the hell are they?

*

I've been thinking the whole day at halos wala na akong narinig kung 'di ang mga usap-usapan tungkol sa Badass na 'yon. I don't want to cross paths with them or at least anyone of them but I really don't understand why am I being so ridiculously curious about them.

"Bye, Zoe! See you tomorrow!" She waved her hand and smiled at me beautifully.

"Bye! Ingat ka ha!" I replied.

"Alalahanin mo lagi ang sinabi ko ha? Never cross paths with them! Bye!" Iyon na ang huling sinabi nya bago umalis ang sasakyang sinasakyan nya.

"This school is kinda weird" I start the car and drove away from the weirdest school I've ever been.

I've decided to go to the mall to buy some school stuff so I drove the car heading to the nearest mall I know, which is in Rockwell. It was a half an hour drive according to waze but it turned out an hour and a half due to the heavy traffic.

"Goodness! Sobrang traffic naman dito!" I complained.

Nasa parking lot ako at naglalakad papuntang mall habang kasalukuyang hinahanap ang phone kong hindi ko alam kung saan ko naisuksok.

I tried as much as possible to look for it inside my bag until I realized that I left it inside my car. So, I rushed back to my car and just as when I'm about three steps away, a car who is parked beside mine suddenly move forward and that terrifies the hell out of me.

Dahil sa pagkabigla at sa matinding takot, dala na rin siguro ng malakas niyang pag-busina, napasalampak ako sa sahig. Napatakip pa ako sa mukha ko dahil sa matinding ilaw ng sasakyan nya.

"What the hell?! Are you fucking serious?!"

*