Wretched Choices

Chapter 20

#WretchedChoicesWP

Chapter 20
Surrender

I was busy simultaneously scanning the cafeteria, looking for a vacant table, while texting Sharry who was still in her class.

From: Sharry
Malapit nang matapos klase namin. Kita na lang tayo sa cafeteria.

Iyon ang sabi niya kaya naghahanap ako ngayon ng aming mauupuan. The cafeteria was always crowded during this hour because it's lunchtime. Pati ang mga iilang professors ay dito rin kumakain na nakakadagdag sa populasyon ng mga estudyante.

To: Sharry
Okay. Just text me.

I kept the phone on my pocket when I finally found a vacant table nearby. Tahimik akong umupo roon habang hinihintay ni Sharry. Saka na ako bibili ng pagkain kapag nandito na siya. Baka may makakuha pa ng lamesa na ito kapag umalis ako.

I was so bored to death while waiting that I just played mobile games on my phone. But that boredom didn't last long, especially when I heard the lowlifes talking behind me.

"So, what happened sa reporting ninyo kanina, Hope?"

My ears stretched just to hear them clearly the moment I heard Hope's name and something about the reporting. I stopped playing games on my phone and put it down on the table.

"OMG! Let me tell them about it, Hope!" Marga's familiar voice caught my attention.

Marga's a friend of Hope, and she's also one of my classmates. Hearing her only made things more interesting. Gusto kong malaman kung saan tutungo ang usapan nilang magkakaibigan na paniguradong magiging tungkol sa akin.

"It almost didn't go well because Keia put the wrong information on her part," Marga told them which made me raise my eyebrows. "Muntik na niyang mapahamak si Hope. Kung hindi niya siguro naitawid 'yon, even Hope's grade for the reporting might be in danger."

I couldn't keep a cool head when she started to put the blame on me for something that I didn't do. I clenched my jaw and kept my temper on track.

Napakagaling nga naman talaga ng Hope na 'yan. Lumalabas pa ngayon na ako ang may kasalanan sa bagay na siya ang gumawa. She did that to frame me and be humiliated. It was unfortunate for her that she didn't succeed, though.

But to be honest, I didn't expect that she would do that. It's not just my grade which would be at risk if I didn't notice the mistake. Pati ang sarili niyang grade ay ipinahamak niya para lamang mapahiya ako. I didn't realize that's how petty she was. Just to save herself and gain sympathy, she acted like a victim. Didn't know she could be this low. She totally lost all the respect I had for her.

"At alam ninyo kung ano ang nakakainis? Si Keia pa talaga ang napuri ng professor namin kahit na siya 'yong muntik nang magkamali!" Bahagyang tumaas ang kanyang boses. "Hope and I also heard that she even surpassed Hope. Nakakagigil! Si Hope pa tuloy ngayon ang lumalabas na mahina. Panigurado namang nakatiyamba lang siya kanina."

"Marga, it's okay..." Hope sounded so wounded that it irritated me even more. "I believe I'm also at fault..."

Ano na naman ang pinapaawa nitong babaeng 'to? Gigil na gigil na ako ah!

"If only I didn't have to attend an important family matter, I could have paid more attention to our research," Hope added and blamed herself for a different matter.

Oh, come on!

Even when she was out of town, she kept on messaging me just to keep me updated about the report. That's how grade conscious she was. She's just really trying to save face because I managed to step down on her pride.