IVELA

IVELA | 135

Even though Thalanna and I don't usually see each other, there's still one thing that combines us together.

Camilla Raye Rodriguez.

Since I have no friends, Raye decided to pick me as her victim. She was a bully and she usually pick on those who she thinks are weak. Akala niya yata mahina ako at pwede niya lang ako pagdiskitahan. She chose the wrong person to mess with.

One day, I was having my lunch break with Thalanna and her friend Chastie when Raye and her alagads na mukhang shokoy approached us.

"There's food available for the three of you. It's right there" Tinuro niya ang isang basurahan.

"There's a place where people like you belong. It's called hell." Sabi ni Thalanna.

Thalanna is known as a bully in Eunoia University. She doesn't hurt them physically but she damages their minds mentally. She only uses her physical strength when she's fighting in a club. Alam niya kung saan ilulugar ang kaniyang kakayahang manakit.

"It's right and just for trashy people to spend time with more trashy people." Raye said.

"Cammie, stop describing you and your shokoys. Hindi ka ba nahihiya na baka marinig ng mga tao ang sinasabi mo?" Thalanna said.

Everyone calls her Cammie, but for some reason, it felt weird to call her Cammie. I decided to call her Raye. Wala na siyang magagawa kung iyon ang gusto kong itawag sa kaniya. Pasalamat nga siya at hindi ko pa siya tinatawag na masasamang salita.

"Tandaan mo, mapapaalis din kita sa eskwelahan na 'to. Not just you, isasama ko na ang peste mong kaibigan para may kasama kang maghirap" Tinuro-turo pa niya si Thalanna habang sinasabi iyon. "Mabuti na lang at walang umaaligid sa akin na ahas."

Umikot na lang ang mga mata ni Raye at umalis na siya sa paningin namin. Nakangisi si Thalanna habang si Chastie naman ay kakaiba ang mukha. Para siyang kinakabahan na hindi maipaliwanag. She's hiding something. Matagal ko nang ayaw si Chastie, siya yung tipong tao na parang nakikisama lang kasi kailangan niya. She's fake, I know that. I'm just not in the right place to tell Thalanna the truth about Chastie.

Habang kinakain ang pagkain ko, nakatingin na pala ako sa crush ko na nasa kabilang table.

"Lujian Luczon? Crush mo?" Biglang tanong ni Thalanna.

Naramdaman ko ang pagpula ng pisngi ko. Hala! Nahalata ni Thalanna! Baka sabihin niya!

"H-hindi. Binabasa ko lang yung nasa bulletin board sa may tabi niya" Pagsisinungaling ko.

"Sabi mo eh" She shrugged.

Kapag nalaman ni Thalanna ang sikreto ko, baka kumalat. Ayako naman malaman ng crush ko na gusto ko siya. Nakakahiya 'yun. Saka kung malaman man niya, hindi niya naman ako magugustuhan.

"It's normal to keep secrets, but once there's an opportunity connected to the secret, it's okay to say it. Malay mo may mas malaking opportunity ka na makukuha dahil sinabi mo ang totoo." Sabi ni Thalanna.

Since that day, what Thalanna told me sticked to my brain. Secrets are supposed to be hidden, but not always.

Telling the truth can set each and every one of us free. So that's why I decided to tell Lujian what I feel towards him.

Kaka-dismiss lang sa amin at dumiretso na ako sa Science lab. Lagi naman nandoon si Lujian. I'm ready to tell him my feelings about him. I am aware that he can reject my feelings and hurt me but it's okay. It's part of growing up.

I waited until Lujian was the only person left at the Science Lab. Ang tagal ko inipon ang lakas ng loob para lang sabihin ang totoo kong nararamdaman kay Lujian. Kahit saktan niya ako, okay lang basta 'wag niya akong itrato na parang basura.