Skin Deep

Chapter 21

N: I was listening to the song Robbers by The 1975 as I write the latter part.Play the song on top for better reading experience.

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Luna's POV

The next day, tulala lang ako sa kawalan habang nasa kamay ko ang isang mainit na kape.Frida stayed at my house last night.Lalo na nang malaman niyang wala ang parents ko.Wala daw magbabantay saakin lalo na't may sakit pa ako.I wasn't in the mood to argue kaya hinayaan ko na siya.

"Our breakfast for this morning is my specialty called Chocolate dream!" She proudly said.I let out a small chuckle and place some of her food on my plate.It's a chocolate waffle with berries on top.Umupo siya sa harapan ko at kumain kaming dalawa ng tahimik.

"It's been pretty rough lately.Thanks for staying." Sabi ko kay Frida.Ngumiti siya at tumango.Tinapos namin ang pagkain namin at nagprepare na kami.Sinubukan kong tawagan si Kacey pero hindi niya ito sinasagot.Hindi ko na pinilit pa dahil baka malate pa kami.We went to school in silence.Nagets naman ni Frida na ayaw kong makipag-usap ngayon.Good news however, wala na akong sinat.

Naglakad na kami papunta sa classroom pero tumigil muna kami ni Frida sa activity board para tignan ang assignments namin bukas.Si Frida ang taga abot ng mga toiletries habang ako naman ang taga bigay ng pagkain nila.Bawat isa rin saamin ay kailangang magpakain.One student per kid.

"Move." Napatalikod kami ni Frida sa nagsalita.It was Mandy with her girls.Tinulak ako ng isa sa mga kaibigan niya.I rolled my eyes at her then shook my head.Sinenyasan ako ni Frida na umalis na kami kaya sinundan ko siya.Naglakad na kami papunta sa classroom and almost everyone is there except for Kacey.Napansin ko din na nagbubulong bulungan silang lahat.All I can hear is Kacey's name.

I let out a huge sigh and stand in front of them.I slapped my hand on the teacher's desk which caught their attention.Lahat sila napatingin saakin.I narrowed my eyes, gave them the deadliest death stare.

"What are you gossiping about?Baka gusto niyong mag share?" I said then smirked at them.Tumahimik silang lahat at umayos sila ng upo.

"Bakit tumahimik kayo?Kanina lang pinagchichismisan niyo si Kacey bakit hindi niyo magawa ngayon?" 

"Why are you even protecting her?" Sabi nang isa kong kaklase na puno ng makeup ang mukha.

"Because," Sinampa ko ang dalawa kong kamay sa desk at nilapit ko sakanila ang ulo ko.

"Her past doesn't define who she is.You all are sick, judgemental people." Sabi ko at naglakad papunta sa lugar ko.I saw Frida smiling with pride.Lahat sila tahimik hanggang sa dumating na nag first subject teacher namin.But Kacey did not appear.Neither at the second, third or fourth class.No sign of her.

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Outreach day came and we were forced to wear matching shirts.ang mganda lang s aaraw na ito, wala kaming academics.We're gonna go out there and help people.May limang bus na gagamitin for our transportation and me and Frida went on the last one.Medyo late na kasi kami dumating pareho.

"Wala pa rin si Kacey?" Tanong saaki ni Frida.Umiling nalang ako bilang sagot.Buong biyahe nakinig lang ako sa mga music sa phone ko habang si Frida naman nakatulog.After a few hours, nakarating na kami sa lugar nang outreach.It's an orphanage.Where kids are abandoned or an orphans.

May isang malaking gymnasium duon at may mga upuan kung saan uupo ang mga bata mamaya.We unloaded then all the buses went outside for parking.Magiging crowded kasi kapag nandito pa ang mga sasakyan.Pinilit ng mama ko na magpahatid nalang ako but I insisted.She's not here anyways kaya wala siyang magagawa.

We started with some introductions at pinakilala kami sa mga bata.Some of them are on their wheelchairs, yung iba iba naman nakacrutches sila.Somehow, I became curious on how they ended up on that situation.What happened to them?What are their stories?