Pagkababa ni Rachel sa sasakyan ay halos liparin niya ang lugar papunta sa student lounge kung saan naghihintay si Kelsey.
Pagdating niya, dalawang tao na lang ang nakaupo dun.
Patakbo siyang lumapit at ng makita ang itsura ni Kelsey ay hinawakan niya ito sa pisngi.
"Anong nangyari?"
"You should have seen the other girl." Si Flo ang sumagot.
"You must be Flo. I'm Rachel."
"Hi. I know who you are." Kumaway ito sa kanya at pinilit ni Rachel na huwag tumitig sa bangs nito na hindi pantay.
"Kelsey, do you want to tell me what happened?"
May bandage sa kanang pisngi si Kelsey at namamaga ang labi.
Namumula din ang kalmot sa kaliwang braso nito.
Kung ganito ang itsura niya, ano nga kaya ang nangyari sa nakalaban nito?
"It hurts to talk." Sagot nito.
"Gusto mo ako na lang ang magsabi sa kanya?" Mungkahi ni Flo.
Tumango si Kelsey.
"We were hanging out at the secret garden when Tessa and her squad came. Pumupunta kasi siya dun to bitch about other people. This time, Kelsey was her target."
"Sinabi niya na gagawin niya ang lahat to push her out of the team. Even if it means being in the lowest ranking this semester, okay lang. At least that way daw, makukumbinsi niya si Coach A na palitan si Kelsey. Her plan was to make Kelsey look bad. Kahit anong set ang gawin ni Kelsey, she threatened the other players na huwag sagutin ang mga tira or to purposefully miss an attack to make it look like it was Kelsey's fault."
"It was at this point when Kelsey came out behind the tree kung saan kami nakaupo. She confronted Tessa and they had a shouting match. Tinawag ni Kelsey si Tessa na evil bitch. After she said that, bigla na lang hinila ni Tessa ang buhok ni Kelsey.
To get away, Kelsey pushed her hard.
She landed on the ground pero tumayo din agad and used all her strength to hit Kelsey. Her fist landed on Kelsey's mouth but Kelsey knocked her out with an upper cut."
"Oh my god!" Tinabihan niya si Kelsey.
"Is there anything else that hurts? Si Tessa, nagising ba?"
"May scalp hurts like a mother." Hinawakan ni Kelsey ang likod ng ulo niya.
"She woke up. My punch wasn't hard enough to knock some sense into her."
Pinandilatan siya ni Rachel tapos tumingin ito kay Flo.
"Does anyone else know about this?"
"Aside from Lexi and Eliza, I was the only witness...and their phones."
"What?"
"Those bitches, instead of stopping the fight, recorded everything on video."
"Did you try to stop Kelsey and Tessa?"
"Yes." Inangat ni Flo ang braso. May mahabang gasgas mula sa pulsuhan niya papunta sa siko.
"Tessa did this. That girl has claws like a cat."
"I'm sorry at nadamay ka."
"Don't be sorry. I could have done nothing but I just can't stand there and watch them beat the shit out of each other. Too bad I'm not much of a fighter. These two were fierce. Maybe they should consider a career in the MMA. One of them could be the future Ronda Rousey." Natawa si Flo at nagkatinginan naman si Rachel at Kelsey.
"What about the teachers? Do they know?" Tanong niya kay Kelsey.
"I'm not sure. But I won't be surprised if ipatawag kami ng dean on Monday."
"Did you call your parents?"
"Only Ate Sara."
"Is she going to pick you up?"
"She can't. She's stuck in a meeting."
"Ihahatid kita sa inyo."
"I'm scared to go home."
"Pero kung hindi ka uuwi, mas lalong mag-aalala ang parents mo."
Tumulo ang luha ni Kelsey.
Inabutan siya ni Rachel ng panyo at dahan-dahan niyang dinampi ito sa mukha niya.
"Let's go. It's getting late." Tumayo si Rachel at ganun din si Kelsey at Flo.
Pumunta sila sa parking lot kung saan magkatabing nakaparada ang itim na Volvo station wagon ni Flo.
"Thank you for staying with Kelsey."
"No problem. We're friends and that's what friends do."
Nagpaalam siya kay Kelsey.
"You should ice your jaw. It's starting to swell."
"Thanks for stating the obvious." Sabi ni Kelsey.
"Anytime." Tinapik niya si Kelsey sa balikat bago binuksan ang sasakyan.
Umikot naman papunta sa driver's side si Kelsey.
"What are you doing?" Tanong ni Rachel.
"Driving?"
"I'm not letting you drive."
Nagtaka si Kelsey.
"Do you drive?"
"Oo naman."
"How come I didn't know?"
"Because you never asked." Inabot ni Rachel ang kamay niya kay Kelsey para kunin ang susi.
Kinuha niya ito sa bulsa ng jeans at umikot ulit papunta sa passenger seat.
"You never fail to amaze me." Sabi niya ng makaupo.
"Ikaw din naman. Hindi ko alam na balak mong maging boksingero." Ngumiti si Rachel at ganun din si Kelsey pero napangiwi ito.
"Does it hurt bad?"
Tumango si Kelsey.
"I'll take you to a hospital."
"No need. I'll take Advil and ice this then I'll be okay."
"Babe, I don't think home remedy will be enough for this. You could have a concussion or a fracture."
"Rach, I'll be okay."
"Alright." Pinaandar na ni Rachel ang sasakyan.
BINABASA MO ANG
She's Dating The Teacher
RomanceAfter graduating from high school, Kelsey Chan, the former star player of the St. Michael's Archangels volleyball team, pursued her adviser, Rachel Gonzales. Determined to prove that they can have a relationship despite their age difference, she soo...
