The Legacy (COMPLETED)

VI. Unexpected Saviour

"Ma? Why did you enroll me in that school? Diba gusto mong ligtas ako? Bakit dun pa kung saan target victim ako ng lahat?"

Lumapit sa akin si Mama at tumabi sa akin sa sofa. She held my hand and squeezed it slightly.

"We can't runaway forever baby. I think it's time for you to grow up and learn to defend yourself. Sa school na yun ay matututo kang depensahan ang sarili mo. We can't erase the fact na may gustong pumatay sa'yo" I heaved a deep sigh.

"But Mama, I'm not ready"

"You are ready. I know you are"

I can't argue any further with Mama. Alam ko na kahit ano pa ang sasabihin ko, her decision is fixed. Hindi ko na mabago ang isip niya. I know that she only wants what's best for me. She loves me so why do I need to feel doubts towards her decisions?

*****

Nasa loob pa rin ako ng kotse. Nasa harap ko lang yung school pero parang ayaw ng katawan kong pumasok ngayon. After what happened yesterday I don't think I still got the guts to go to school.

"Pumasok ka na babe. May gagawin pa ako"

"Wait lang Anna. Natatakot pa rin ako"

"'Wag ka nang matakot. If anyone bullies you, sabihin mo lang and I'll make sure to teach them a lesson"

"Thanks" ngumiti ako sakanya bago bumaba ng kotse.

It's my second day at school at natatakot pa din ako na parang tuta. I really don't belong in this world but there's nothing I can do about it.

Pumasok na ako ng campus at gaya kahapon pinagtitinginan pa rin ako ng lahat. I wanted the ground to eat me whole. If only that's possible.

As I walk down the corridor, a few students were running. I suddenly bumped into someone. Unfortunately I hit the ground hard, butt first. I wasn't able to see who bumped me. I am so sure that he or she did that in purpose.

"Sucker" I heard him say.

Tumayo nalang ako and pretended that none of that ever happened. Nagsimula nalang akong maglakad.

"Hey Via" I was embraced by Chen after she called out my name.

"Hey"

"How was school so far?"

"So far? Not so good"

She nods. "That's okay. I understand. You'll get used to it"

We went silent for awhile bago ako nagtanong sa kanya.

"How was your brother?" Naalala ko kahapon yung sinapit ng kapatid niya. It was bloody. I wonder how he feels.

"My brother? Why? What happened to him?" she asked in knitted brows.

"Hindi ba siya umuwi kagabi?" she chuckled a little. Okay...

"My brother doesn't go home with me. He lives with his own. Ayaw niyang may kasama siya"

"Paano ang mga parents niyo?"

"They don't care. My mother died-- that's what my father said. And dad is not that caring. Pinabayaan niya lang kami at si Mama. Minsan nga napaisip ako kung minahal niya ba talaga si Mama"

It was my first time seeing pain in her eyes. Mahal niya siguro yung Mama niya kaya nung namatay ito, malakas ang epekto sa kanya. Who wouldn't love their own mother? Kahit nga palaging busy si Mama, mahal ko pa din siya.

"I'm sorry" I said.

"Don't be. It's not your doing"

Natahimik ako pagkatapos nun. Chen was quiet for long not until she broke the silence.

"Via, bukas yung zipper ng bag mo"

Hinubad ko naman ang bag ko at sinarado yung zipper. That's odd. I was sure I closed my bag. Hindi ko nalang ito pinansin pa dahil malapit na kami sa classroom.

As usual, nung pumasok ako parang pinapatay na ako gamit ang mga tingin nila sa akin. Melissa and the others still gave me the dagger look. It still terrifies me. I'm like that of a flower, soft and fragile. Umupo na ako sa armchair ko at hinanda lahat ng mga gagamitin ko. The moment I got the book that I needed, a white paper went out with it.

Curiosity got the best in me so I read the words at the front page. Olivia Rose Sandoval- Silva. I assumed that it was for me and so I opened it.

e4
What's your move?
-2nd October

Yun lang ang nakasulat. Hindi ko maintindihan. Is this suppose to be a love letter? I always receive love letters from strangers in my previous school. Pero parang ang weird lang kung isang love letter ito. Knowing this school, mas makakaintindi pa ako kung death threats ang ipapadala sa akin. I don't think love have a place in this school.

Nilagay ko nalang sa bag ko yung letter at nakinig sa klase. I'll find a time to pour my knowledge over that letter.

*****

"Do people here believe in love?" I asked Chen curiously. Hindi ko kasi maalis sa isip ko yung letter.

"Are you kidding? May nakita ka bang kahit konting kabaitan ni isa dito? Wala diba? Love pa kaya?"

Then what was that letter all about? Before I dug myself deeper in that thought, bigla akong tinulak ni Chen kaya natumba ako sa sahig.

"Via look out!"

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. A knife just flew right at me. Mabuti nalang tinulak ako ni Chen, if she didn't, I'd be a cold corpse. I saw how the knife struck the wooden wall.

"Who threw that f*cking knife?!" Galit na sigaw ni Chen. I wasn't able to stand up. Kung tatayo ako, madadapa pa rin ako kasi nanghihina yung mga tuhod ko. I almost died!

I was caught off-guard when a strong pair if arms carried me. His manly scent lingers in my nose. Naging curious ako kung sino man siya and so I looked at him.

F*cking sh*t!

"Who ever lies a finger on her will die"

After he said that he left with me still in his arms. This is so embarrassing. Tiningnan ko siya ulit but he didn't look at me back. Why is he doing this?

"Put me down" I whispered.

Mabuti nalang at nakinig siya sa akin. He puts me down and thankfully I found my strength to stand.

"Why are you doing this?"

He look at me with cold eyes. Err, do he have to flash that coldness at me?

"I owe you my life. And I don't want to owe something from someone"

"All you have to do is to say thank you. Okay na yun"

"You're asking too much from me" he hissed. Hmm. Looks like saying thank you is hard for him.

"Thank you." I said. He looked at me in confusion. "For carrying me." He then smirked.

"From now on, you're under my protection" he said before messing my hair.

"Hey!"

Before I knew it, he was gone. Parang ang bilis naman ata. Ginamit ko yung mga daliri ko para ayusin yung buhok ko. Noah Stein, how dare you mess my hair?