The Project Perfect

19: Hidden in black

Allison

Five days went so fast. Everything's been going smooth between me and Blake. Wish I could tell this to Bridge but can't so I'll just deal it with myself idagdag pa na simula na ng career talk naming mga seniors. Dad kissed my cheek when we arrived at school. 

"I will pick you up later. Bye." I waved him goodbye before I walk to my classroom. When I arrived, everyone is talking about something. Agad naman nila akong binati ng mapansin ako.

"What are you guys talking about?" I try to hide my curiousity.

"Oh. It's about Michael. The school has come to a decision to expel him." si Hana ang sumagot sa akin. A week after we had an argument he was caught using narcotics at the back of the school. They were in a group. Lahat sila ay nasuspend ng dalawang buwan tapos another three months sa rehabilitation center. Dahil sa gulong nagawa nito sa reputation ng school ay i-eexpel nila ito.

"Oh." nasabi ko nalang. The truth is, wala naman akong pakialam sa kung ano mang mangyari sa kaniya. He went against the school rules, dapat lang iyon sa kaniya. A senior high school student using narcotics? That's disgraceful enough.

"Ang narinig ko pa ay idederetso na siya sa courtroom." dagdag pa ni Perry. Itong lalaking to talaga lahat ng tsismis sa school ay alam niya. Siya ang boy version ni Bridgette. Speaking of Bridgette, she's sleeping on top of her desk. Anong ginawa nito kagabi at natutulog to. Nilapitan ko ito at tinapik upang magising.

"What?" antok na wika nito.

"What did you do last night? Bakit antok ka?" parang nanay na tanong ko rito. Lagi niyang kinukumpleto ang ten hours of sleep niya.

"Thinking about my course. Even Kuya Sam is asking me." pagod na sabi nito. Magsasalita pa sana ako ng pumasok na si Miss Dianne sa loob. Lahat ay nagsibalik sa kani kanilang upuan. Pati ako.

"Good morning. As you all know today is the start of our career talk. Sir Harris will handle that as our school counselor. So, Sheena you can start pumunta ka na sa counselling room." iyon lang ang sinabi nito at lumabas kasama ni Sheena. Naiwang maingay ang klase. They are talking about the career path they will take.

"Ali, sigurado ka na ba sa neurosurgery?" tanong ni Bridgette sa akin habang nakapikit.

"Yes." sagot ko at tumango. Actually, hindi ko rin alan kung ito nga ba ang career na gusto kong kuhain. But we all agreed to be doctors so maybe this is right.

"Nga pala. May nabasa akong article tungkol sa kapatid ni Desiree. She caused a riot in the prison kaya siya kinulong sa bartolina." kwento nito. Hindi ako sumagot. Ilang buwan na rin ang lumipas mula ng huli kong makita ang kapatid nito. And that was when I suggested that we stop the wannabe investigation. Dahil sa mga nakuha kong mga papeles mula sa bahay nila, hindi ko na alam kung sino ang paniniwalaan ko.

And there's this unknown number who sends me messages every night. Sometimes pictures that I don't understand what does it mean. I asked someone to track it but he said it's from a burner phone. So I spend two hours every night to decipher the hidden words behind it.

I was brought back to reality when Bridge tapped my shoulder telling me that it is my turn. Nakabalik na pala ito mula sa counselling room. Tumayo na ako at lumabas ng classroom. Dumaan muna ako sa canteen para bumili ng yogurt bago dumiretso sa counselling room. I knocked three tines before going inside.

Sa loob ay nandodoon si Sir Harris na siyang guidance counselor namin. Nakaupo ito sa lamesa nito habang nagfi-flip ng page ng binabasa nito. Hindi niya ata napansing nandito na ako. Umupo ako sa harapan nito.

"Oh hey, Miss Montreux! I'm sorry, I'm just reading what your classmates wrote." sabi nito at inalis ang tingin sa mga papel.

"So how are you, Allison?" masiglang tanong nito.