The Bridge

First

Julie's POV

Kinabukasan, I performed my everyday routine preparing to go to hell.  Then I started walking to school. At usual, nadadaanan ko ang bridge. Napapaisip ako kung ano na kaya ang gagawin ng mga kaklase ko sa araw nato?

One of the worst things is opening the door to the room. But I've got no choice. Bakit nga ba hindi pa ako lumipat kung inaabuso nga ako rito? Well it's because I don't want my tita to be involved in this. I don't want her to go here because of this. And also the fact na, pag-ililipat niya ako, siguradong hindi na ako magiging malaya. Paniguradong pati sa skwelahan, may mga bantay ako. Everywhere. She's that damn rich. 

Pag open ko sa door, syempre feel ko talaga artista ako. Nililingon nila ako eh. I ignored the stares until I got to my chair. And now the interview for me starts. 

"So, did you enjoy the color we gave you?" Trisha asked.

"Sana naman nagbleach kayo, para naman gumana ang powdered hair color" I sarcastically remarked.

"Tapang-tapangan ka ngayon ah? You just gave me an idea" her idiotic friend said.

"Ano kaya ang lasa ng medyas na kinain mo nung isang araw?" The guy who made me eat that sock said

---Malamang lasang tubig sa bowl. Dun nyo naman nilagay diba? Alangan naman magiging fried chicken.

"It was sweet and sour" I answered. Tumawa siya nang tumawa. Akala naman niya nakakaturn on yung tawa niya. Nakapustiso lang naman. 

Trisha stood up and took the scissors from her bag at lumapit saakin. Bago pa ako makaatras ay dali-dali ako ginapos ng mga alipores niya. Most of my classmates were waiting. 

"I'm sure you had a hard time taking the flour off your head. Now I'm going to end that by giving you a haircut. Don't worry it's free. I know you can't afford a haircut" She said habang paunti unti ng lumapit saakin. And what? Can't afford a haircut? Eh may pinapaaral nga akong bata eh. Buhayin pa kita. Tsk

Yesterday

"Hello Miss Julie. It's a first, you called" After a few seconds, sinagot niya ang tawag ko. I'm calling from my aunt's office. Ang sekretary ni Tita.

"Yes, I wanted you to know na I'm sponsoring a child. Enroll him to a good school immediately and hanapan mo ng bahay at bigyan ng trabaho ang ina." Walang pag-alinlangan at diretso kong sagot dito.

"T-teka miss bakit ang bilis naman ata?" Nagtatakang tanong nito.

"Mabilis ba? Sige ulitin ko. Yes...I...wanted...you...to...know...na-" He cut me off

"Hindi po, ibig kong sabihin, gagawin ko na po. Right now. As in now. I'll take care of it but ipapaalam ko muna ito kay Boss" After that, I dropped the call. 

Tita is somewhat a really hard person to contact. Through these years, ang laging nagbibigay impormasyon sakin ay ang kanyang secretary.  She can't be bothered. A very busy person.

But...I wasn't expecting a call galing sakanya mismo. Nung una nag-alinlangan ako kung sasagutin ko ba ang tawag, for I thought it was surreal. Pero I answered it in the end.

"T-tita" damn. Bakit ako ninenerbyos? Siguro dahil ito ang kauna unahang pagtawag sa akin ni tita.

"What is this that I've heard, Fuko?" Her icy cold voice pierced through my ears. Damn. That name again. Fuuko is a combined words of Fuun and Ko. Fuun in japanese is unlucky and Ko is child. It means Unlucky Child