Veronica

Chapter 6: Venice

So? Miss Veronica, or Miss Venice?”

I am still at shock! Fucking shock! How did he know? Masiyado ba ako naging halata? Fuck fuck fuck!!! He'll wreck the plan! I’m not this far but I want to be far! For my ate! Tangina!

I exhaled, “what are you talking about?” I spoke without any nervousness, well, perks of being a police officer and an agent, I was trained like this, be tough, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“Don't try to hide it, I knew it since the time I looked at your face, c'mon miss.” I fucking don’t have a choice! “How’d you know?” I questioned. “well I-I just knew!” he looked away, he's too obvious! “knowing your sister's grudges, I knew that she wouldn’t say that law from the activity earlier.” He said confidently this time.

“what do you mean?” what does he mean by 'grudges'? “well, your sister did not even say anything to anybody about you!” he laughed, “do you think gagawa siya ng gano'n na batas eh hindi ka nga niya maipagmalaki?” I started to het pissed, what is he fucking saying! Veronica’s not like that! She treasured me! So much that she has to sacrifice herself!

“shut your mouth and your fucking lies!” he tisked, his aura was different from earlier, it's like I'm looking at a different person, “poor Venice does not even know! If I was lying, why don’t you ask your friends later on if you told them you have a sister” he covered his mouth, “oops! I’m sorry! Hindi pala ikaw si Veronica, replacement ka lang pala,” I lost the last thread of my patience.

“Fuck you stop this! What do you want!” I came to him, “nothing! Just a confirmation!” he's back to being Prof Alarcon, “uhm, why are you here Ms. Buendia?” now he’s back to being serious, “you told me to?” I asked getting confused, “oh, right! I called you to tell you that I know you are not Veronica, and just tell me about it so that I can talk to you professors to exempt you for the finals!” he smiled.

What the fuck just happened?

As I walked down my way to the cafeteria, I can’t help but to think,

wala ba talaga siyang pinagsabihan about sakin? Kinakahiya niya ba ako? Totoo ba lahat ng sinabi niya?

Questions keep popping until someone held my hand, “Veronica! Kanina pa kita tinatawag!” I saw Manuel smiling form ear to ear, and Timothy behind him. “oh, i'm sorry, i-i'm—I was just— uhm” I can’t help but to stutter, “shh, is there something bothering you?” he hugged me and patted my back, I heard noises and saw some piercing eyes.

“Pano niya nayahakap yan?”

“Sa gitna pa ng daan!”

“eww!”

Did they really hate her that much? Time to mock, self, I hugged him even tighter, “nothing to worry about Manny! I’m fine! Just stressed,” I let go from the hug and held his face, “you sure?” he held my face too, “oo naman! Why wouldn’t I be okay?” I pinched his nose, “ouch!” I let his poor nose go, he draped his arms over my shoulder, I looked at those people who has hatred in their eyes while looking at me, I stared down and rolled my eyes. Take that bitches, si Zeus lang naman naka-akbay sakin! Mga inggitera talaga!

“What’s my baby been thinking?” he asked and hugged me while sitting, we were eating with my friends now, “ew bitch! Get a fucking room! Punyeta!”  Karina said full of digust, “too fucking sweet.” Dani said and took her drink and drank, “much fucking sweeter.” She put her drink aside,

“sana all talaga! Ako Manuel wala?” Sharri asked with puppy eyes, “wala!” sigaw ni Eliza, “punyeta! pati jowa ng iba yayakapin mo?” she rolled her eyes, “what’s wrong with that! There’s a word 'Friendly Hug' sissy!” she laughed a bit, “friend, friend ka jan!” Karina joined the fight, dati I thought pa nung una na si Karina was the most responsible, but now gusto ko nang bawiin yun, “kung 'di kita kilala pwede, kaso kaibigan kita, eh malandi ka eh!” pang aasar pa niya, she high fived with Eliza, “Elena oh! Inaaway ako!” and the bickering begins!

“hey! Okay ka lang ba talaga?” Manuel asked, “yes, nothing to worry about!” I assured him, “no you’re not! You did not even touch your favourite food!” I looked at the food in front of me, right, kare-kare is her fave. “It's just that,” think of fucking alibis! “I feel like an alien to my life! I don’t know people, even you! Them!” turo ko sa mag kakaibigan na hindi pa tapos mag away, but something caught my attention, Timothy was quiet, among them, Timothy was one of the jolliest, I don't know why, i sighed, “I just feel lost” best actress! Nice fucking alibi Venice! He looked at me dearly, “ aww, my poor little baby alien is sad!” fucking mang aasar!  “uhm, guys?” i said taking their attention.

"Did i ever mention having a sister to all of you?" Agad na nagsipagkunot ang noo nila, "sister? Nananaginip ka nanaman ba?" Sarkastikong sabi ni Karina, "wala, dala ba yan ng Renegade mo?" May pa sayaw pang sagot ni Dani, i looked at all of them, at silang lahat ay umiling,

Siguro nga totoo nga, hindi talaga ako kinwetno ni ate sa kanila, i was saddened by the tought.

“HEY, don’t you like cocolate?” I heard Timothy, “no, I'm kinda allergic to it,” I told him, we're here sa isang ice cream shop, Timothy’s my company because Manuel had an emergency meeting, and he doesn’t want me to feel alien-ish that prick! Tawagin daw ba ako na alien, kasalanan ko naman eh,  “so any progress to your memory?” I sighed, acting muna siyempre! “wala pa, ewan ko, feeling ko na talaga ibang tao ako eh, much worse baka hindi ako 'to” hindi naman talaga! “By the way, bakit pala lagi mong kasama si Manuel?” I asked,

“uy! Nag seselos siya!” Panunudyo nito, “I’m his secretary, slash, bestfriend, slash, sub niya pag wala siya?” I laughed, “you part of the gang?” I asked pertaining to our group of friends, “Naku Veronica! Wag mo ako tanungin sa ganiyan! Anong gang? Jusko ayoko pa mamatay ng maaga! Patuli nga takot ako bugbugan pa kay—” I laughed, “i mean, sa friends sa univ?” he calmed down a bit, “ahh! Akala ko naman kung ano,” pinunasan niya ng tissue ang mukha, “oo naman! Magkakasama na kami ng mga yon since third year! Kabisado ko na ang likaw ng bituka niyan!”

“bakit ang tahimik mo kanina?” he tensed up a bit, “It’s nothing! A–ano lang kasi, may pr–problema lang,” he looked uncomfortable kaya hindi na ako nag tanong pa.

“THANK you for driving me home! Ingat ka!” I waved my hand, “sige! Bye!” I got inside the, “ayan! Magdalena ka talaga! Ano ba'ng problema? Bakit di ka makaalis sa kadena? Anong nagyari sayo, oh?” pang aasar pa ni Dad “Ano ba Dad! Magdale-magdalena ka diyan!” I retorted,

“hoy! Babae kubg sino-sino nang lalaki nag hahatid sayo dito! Aba, bayarin ka ba?” what the fuck Dad? “Ay ang O.A. panagalawa pa lang 'yun Dad! ‘tsaka anong bayarin, free lang ang service ko!” I laughed, “hoy anong free services services ka riyan! Jowa nga wala ka! Pa-sercvices ka pang nalalaman!” I went to the kitchen to fetch some water.

“Anak, I’ll be leaving tomorrow na,” muntik pa ako mabilaukan, “why?” I asked, the thought saddened me a little, well nasanay kasi akong magkasama kami ni Dad lagi, “you know naman, I can’t leave our business sa bahay! Tsaka I’ll call you naman from time to time, pinili  mo naman yan eh, ang mag stay dito.” May pa tampo pa sa boses niya.

We watched movies and series, well sinulit ko lang naman kasi, baka mamaya matulad siya kay ate, I hope not!

“MORNING anak! Luto na ang breakfast mo, eat ka na ha, bye, 'nak! Love you!” Dad kissed my forehead, “bye Dad! Ingat ka, love you too!” I answered feeling groggy, I have no sleep, only like thirty minutes or one hour? If only i could skip this day, Shit I don’t wanna go to school, but I have to.

I guess they have to meet The-No-Sleep-Venice!

J.S.|Dreameist