High School Detectives

Volume 2, Chapter 2: Freya's Life

"You're right. Usually, iyong ganitong gawain ay nangyayari kapag ayaw mong madagdagan ka ng timbang. But in Aster's case, this was because of a trauma response. She liked eating, there is no doubt about that, and people would always criticize her for how much she eats and how big she looks. Aster came in this clinic first because of excessively doing that habit. She was so dehydrated and her body was missing too much electrolytes." Miss Tavera explained with her bleak facial expression. 

"Pero ang sabi sa CCTV footage ay hindi lang isang beses pumunta rito si Aster. After her first visit, can you tell me her reason of coming here again? Did she encounter any health problems perhaps?" Charteris thoroughly asked. 

"I advised her to go to mental counseling, but she never listened or her family could not afford to pay for each session. She was stubborn and would not stop starving herself." 

I thought, they own a big hacienda? I was about to voice out my concern when Frey mumbled. "Tss, what a stupid girl." She said in a low voice,  enough for all of us to hear.

"Then, what do you call yourself?" Miss Tavera turned to her with hazy eyes. "If you're done resting, you can write your name here on the log book and leave, may klase pa yata kayo."

I saw Frey glare at her bago ito marahas na tumayo sa kama. Miss Tavera was watching her every move with derisive eyes. Nauna siyang maglakad sa amin noong matapos niyang ilista ang pangalan sa log book, me and Charteris silently followed her from behind.  

"How dare she compare me to that big fat girl! Of course, they'd starve themselves because they regret eating too much! They lacked discipline in the first place and is refusing to face the consequences! Now, all of a sudden gusto nilang pumayat nang mabilis? Lazy pigs!" She walked on our front, crossed her arms, and angrily stomped her feet.

"You're no different from them." Charteris stopped walking, said those words with his usual reserved voice. 

Usually, when someone is angry, you let it pass and wait for them to calm down first (at least, that's the most efficient way to deal with it). Pero si Charteris, gusto pa yatang gatungan iyong apoy. Parang nagpalpitate ang tainga ni Frey sa narinig; she's definitely triggered at this point. Bigla siyang napatigil sa paglalakad at humarap sa amin ni Charteris-- nagdidilim ang mukha. She was already angry because of the slight tension she had with Miss Tavera earlier.

"What the hell did you just say?" She asked through gritted teeth. 

Pinantayan ni Charteris ang apoy sa mga mata ni Frey, kulang na lang ay magkaroon ng kuryente sa pagitan ng mga tinginan nila dahil sa nabubuong tensiyon. I stepped forward once but Charteris held my arm tightly so I couldn't continue going in between them. 

"Didn't you just starve yourself to death as well? You are no different from them." Charteris repeated in a menacing voice. 

"Ha! I am nothing near those pigs! I grew up with a nice figure and normal weight! Sila, lumaki silang walang disiplina sa pagkain that's why they accumulated that much weight!" Frey sounded like she was possessed, everything she had just said is just diabolic. "No. This is an insult, why would you think I was like them in the first place?! How dare you!" She was so angry, she could not deliver her arguments properly already. 

"Frey.." Mahina kong tawag ngunit mas matimbang ang takot na naramdaman ko kay Charteris nang mas humigpit ang kanyang hawak sa aking braso-- pinipigalan akong sawayin si Frey. 

"You're so stupid. You are trying so hard to become someone you shouldn't be. Why don't you just kill yourself, Freya? Since, that's what you're doing, right?" 

"What?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Frey. 

"I said, why don't you just kill your-"

Slap!