First and Only

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I woke up feeling tired. Nasobrahan ata sa galaw kagabi.

Last night was a blast. I had a lot of fun with Miguel kahit nasa bleachers lang kami most of the night.

Miss Salomon said yes to Sir Ramos and that was the most romantic moment I have ever seen in my entire life. They look very much in love and happy. Mukhang hindi naman sila katandaan but Sir Ramos but think is on his late thirties already.

Aabutin ko na sana ang phone ko nang biglang may malakas na kumatok sa pinto ko. I knew that meant something bad is freaking happening!

Agad akong tumayo at binuksan ang pinto. I saw Peony crying and wiping her tears.

"Kailan ka pa natuto neto huh?!" Malakas na boses ni Abuela ang narinig ko mula sa baba.

"Statice is kneeling again." Naiiyak parin niyang sabi.

Agad akong tumakbo papunta sa hagdanan at agad bumagsak ang balikat ko ng makita si Statice na nakaluhod sa floormat which I am sure full of mung beans and rock salt. May libro din siyang hawak sa taas ng ulo niya habang si Freesia naman ay umiiyak na nakaupo sa sofa.

"What happened?" I asked helplessly.

This is the first time since the classes started. Nangyayari lang to kapag may masama kaming ginawa.

"Someone videotaped Freesia drinking alcoholic drinks with her friends." Malamig na sabi ni Cypress. "Tanga."

Ipinakita ni Peony sa akin yung cellphone niya at napanuod ko yung video. It was posted in facebook at dahil sa flash ng cellphone ay hindi maitatangging si Freesia nga yun.

She was holding a glass with a liquor inside it while someone was holding a bottle of tequila. I can even see smoke from god knows what.

A girl squeezed a lemon for her at agad namang nalukot ang mukha niya ng tuluyan niya nang mainom yun. They were cheering for her and I can see how drunk some of them are.

"Nag-iisip ka ba?! You are just sixteen, Freesia! Kung hindi pa 'to ipinasa ng assistant ko sa akin, hindi ko to malalaman! Kailan ka pa nagsimulang uminom?! Sino nagturo sayo ha?" Galit na galit na sabi ni Abuela. "Nagrerebelde ka na ba talaga?! Hindi ka ba talaga nakakaintindi?!"

"T-They forced me to d-drink, Abuela. I don't want to drink but they forced me. They said isang beses lang naman daw so I tried it. Hindi ko naman alam na magv-video pala yung kasama namin e. I'm sorry. Please let Statice stand, ako nalang po." Pagmamakaawa niya.

This is why I am always careful with what I do. Natatakot akong mangyari ito ulit because her punishments are unfair!

Abuela never punished us physically, si Statice ang nakakaranas lahat ng parusa. When we do something bad, siya ang tumatanggap ng lahat ng yun. I don't know why but that's how it works for Abuela.

At first I thought it was just words but when I made my first, second, and third stupid mistakes, I knew it was real. Si Freesia at si Peony ang palaging nagkakasala lalo na noong una dahil sadyang matigas ang ulo ng dalawa.

"It's around your university now! Kalat na ang video na ito sa buong Mindoro! Matagal na kitang sinabihan na tigilan na yang pagbabarkada pero hindi ka nakinig! Now look what you've done." Gigil na sabi ni Abuela.

"I'm sorry, okay? They're my friends and I can't just turn my back at them Abuela! Ilang beses ko namang tinanggihan." Umiiyak na sabi ni Freesia. "Tsaka uminom lang naman yan e."

"Now you're justifying your actions! And friends? Stupid! Alam ng mga kaibigan mo na bawal pa yang ginagawa ninyo and yet they forced you to do such things! Should I expect worse from you now? Tutal hindi ka naman nakikinig! Hindi ka na nahiya at sa mismong school ka pa umiinom!"