The Girl on Gray | Soshiki Series 1

Chapter 2

MARGARITA'S POV

SH'T! I'M LATE

I panicked nang nakita ko yung clock. It was 7 in the morning. I'm pretty sure that I setted the alarm last time. How come na hindi ito tumunog.

Then, I realized na it's not on full volume. Gosh! Oo nga pala! I put it on mute because there's this guy na tawag ng tawag.

Pano na to? I can't go to school being unready. Despite being on the top of the pyramid, I still need to go to school neat.

Also, there's a punishment para sa mga late. Iyon ang pinakahate ni Dad. People that don't give importance to time. So lame!

Sadly,  the punishment is to stand infront the flag pole hanggang lunch while forming your arms to a parallel line.

There was a time na nalate kami nila Jorgie at Kristal due to clubbing in five consecutive days tapos pinatayo kami don until dismissal. Can you imagine? It's like a sentence between life and death. Yan tuloy, I needed to pay money for the Derma.

That time was on my first year, noong nagbulakbol na ako sa school.

Nakuwento ko ba na because of that incident we became more famous? BOOM! Additional fame. The thing is, I don't care.

I took a fast wash at sinuot ang uniform. Messy bun nalang as my hairstyle. I ran outside and called manong driver to fetch me. Kaso nga lang, traffic. I looked at my phone, then there was messages from my friends.

kristalclinton: hey, where are you? You're late.

jorgiewendelll: GIRL, NASAN KA NA?

DON'T SAY NAG ANO KA KAGABI

OH PLEASE PAKIBILISAN

STANDING OVATION KA NA NAMAN NIYAN

HALA FLAG NA GIRL

Napa-curse nalang ako sa galit. Geez, I hate paying money para sa Derma. Sobrang layo pa naman ng house sa school.

At the point na nakarating ako sa school, I ran as fast as I can however, Ma'am is standing beside the chalkboard talking about the Reproductive System.

Lahat sila tumingin sa akin, maliban kay JC. Then Mam Germaine cleared her throat and spoke.

"Miss Buenavista, please come with me"

I rolled my eyes in dismay and moved some strands of my hair to my ear. I'm still breathing hardly dahil nagmarathon ako kanina.

Following Mam Germaine's steps, we reached Dad's office.

Noong binuksan ni Ma'am iyong pintuan, nasilayan ko agad si Papa, nakangiti. Iyong ngiti na hinding-hindi ko nakikita sa bahay. Joy is present on that smile. Palaging nakasimangot si Daddy sa bahay. Like every time.

When he saw her daughter's face, that smile instantly faded. His eyes are now filled with disappointment. My feet started to tremble again. My hands are shaking. Sweat flows relentlessly despite the cold surrounding. Siguro kung magsasalita ako, my tone will crack.

Then, my Dad started to speak.

"What brings you here Ms. Dela Fuente? And Ms. Buenavista?" he formally asked while moving his bowtie down.

Si Mam Germaine na ang nagsalita. "Late for 30 minutes, Sir"

Kumunot ang nuo ni Dad. "I will take care of the punishment" he commanded

This is new. Palaging tayo hanggang lunch ang punishment. Mas nakakatakot. I was always happy dahil sa mga punishment na ito, meron ng attention na binibigay sa akin si Dad. But today's different, it was something I am not expecting for.

Out of the blue, tinawag ako ni Dad.

"Ms. Buenavitsa? Can I have a talk with you?"

"Sure sir" nanenerbyos kong sabi.

"Ms. Dela Fuente, you may excuse us for a minute"

Saka na lumabas si Mam sa kwarto. Pinutol ni Dad ang katahimikan ng muli siyang magsalita.

"Balak mo na naman bang sayangin ang huling taon mo dito sa paaralang ito?" kalmado niyang sabi

"H-hindi naman-" hindi ko na napatuloy yung sinasabi ko ng sumigaw na si Dad.

"Kung ganon bakit ganito ka umasta?! Ano?! Magpapalate ka tapos mangtitrip na naman nga mga staff sa paaralan ko?! Tapos grades mo babagsakin mo?! Tapos hihingi ka sa-kin ng pera para sa mga walang kwentang bagay?! Hindi ka naman ganyan a! When you entered this school, you were on top! But now?! Kinakahiya kita! Alam mo ba yun?! Sana hindi nalang kita naging anak!"

Those words crush my heart into pieces. Tears went flowing down to my neck. Ironically, siya yung taong hindi ako inaalagaan, siya pa ang may karapatan na magsalita ng ganito.  I want to reason out na I won't be like this if he'll be my father! Na he's the reason why I'm like this! Pero sobrang sakit. It hurted so much na hindi ko na nagawang magsalita.

Nagsalita si Dad ulit. "Your punishment is lifted. If you ever do something stupid again, I will get you out of this school"

Smiling bitterly and said, "Okay, Dad"

I wenr outside the office, walked towards the washroom and composed myself for my next class.

Wala sa kawalan ang pag-iisip ko. I can't barely focus. Every time I close my eyes, his words slowly kills and breaks my heart. Those freaking words na hindi ko inaasahang manggagaling sa kaniya.

"Psssttt!" tawag sa akin ni Jorgie.

"Huh?" nilingon ko siya at binigyan ng nakakatamad na tingin.

"Ayos ka lang?"

I nodded. Time ticks so fast, I didn't noticed that lunch came . Inaya ako nila Jorgie at Kristal sa pagkain.

Kristal sat beside me and gave a small hug.

"Okay lang ako" I tried to create a smile.

"Your words oppose what your eyes tell," she whispered while still hugging me.

"Girl, tingnan mo naman kase yung plato mo, double dead na yung chicken oh"

I smiled at her. "I appreciate you making me smile"

I'm really happy dahil sa kanila. They really know me. We went back to class and same pa rin ang comdition ko. Stunned. Sad. Empty.

I waited until the class dismissal. I  went home early and slept on the sofa. When I woke up, I saw Mom with her hand rubbing on her chest.

When she saw me, she instantly removed her hand from her chest and smiled at me. I wasn't sure if that was hallucination or what.

"Honey, bakit ka diyan natulog sa sofa?" tanong ni Mom.

"I was just too tired,Mom"

"I'll lead you sa kwarto mo" alok sakin ni Mom.

"No Mom, thanks. I just got right sleep"

"Okay honey, let's eat nalang. I brought us fast food"

"Sure Mom."

Matapos na'min kumain ay pumunta na ako sa kwarto. That sleep really doesn't help at all. I tried my best para hindi mapansin ni Mom yung nangyari sa akin. It really haunts me so much.

If went to my restroom and took a shower. Habang umiilig yung tubig papunta sa aking katawan, naalala ko na naman yung mga sinabi sa akin ni Dad.

Kinakahiya kita!

Alam ba yun?

Sana hindi nalang kita naging anak!

Sana hindi nalang kita naging anak!

Sana hindi nalang kita naging anak!

"Elisa, one last cry para sa walang kwenta mong tatay" sabi ko sa sarili ko.

At that moment, I let it all flow. I cried while I was in the shower. It was like fifteen minutes of crying. I went outside and decided to sleep, even with reddish eyes. I know that my life will never be the same again. Not now, but soon.