Before Reality Knocks (DLC Series #1)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I scoffed. "Are you fucking serious?"

Scarlet pressed her lips firmly before sighing. "Yes, Blair."

"There's no fucking way I'm wearing that shit." Pagmamatigas ko.

No way in hell.

They're forcing me to wear a goddamn dress. Not just any dress―a Filipiñana. Costume ko daw bilang si Maria Clara. Even the Maria Claras in other groups were wearing one. Required kasi mag-costume ngayong performance day. 

My plan was to ditch the whole thing and let them suffer the consequences of forcing me into a character I refused to be. Iyon nga lang, si Brant pinuntahan pa talaga ako sa 'min. Buti nalang at wala iyong parents ko nun. Kukutusan talaga ako nila pag nalaman nilang may nakakaalam na na isa akong DLC.

He refused to leave our house kaya naman ay napilitan akong sumama sa kanya sa school. May napapatingin kasing mga guard at kasambahay sa kanya. Baka umabot pa iyon sa parents ko.

"Blair," Scarlet said, snapping me out of my reverie. "It's just a dress."

I wrinkled my nose. 

Everyone was already wearing their costumes. Maging ang teacher namin ay nakasuot ng Filipiñana. Hindi ko alam anong trip nun sa buhay, hindi naman siya parte ng play.

"May points 'yung costume. Mas mababang chansa na manalo tayo pag hindi ka nakacostume," dagdag ni Scarlet.

Muling pumasok sa isip ko iyong sinabi sa 'kin ni Papa last week.

Papa told me that he'll be having a talk in our school during a school event. Syempre may kasama siyang translator dahil hindi naman marunong mag-English si Papa. Saktong iyong event na iyon ang event din na magpeperform iyong winning group namin. 

For some reason, I suddenly had the urge to make Papa proud. Naisip ko, kung makita niya ba akong mag-perform sa event na iyon, magiging proud siya sa'kin?

Kaya simula nun ay naging cooperative na ako during our practices. Syempre, hindi parin mawawala iyong minsan kong panggagago but I still cooperated nevertheless. 

I want our group to win. Not for myself or for my group's sake but for Papa.

Alam ko na parang maliit na bagay lang ito.. but I consider this as a big leap already. After all, I'm not one to care about winning any school activity. Tapos ngayon, biglang gusto kong manalo.

This is so not me.

But maybe... just maybe, if naging proud sa 'kin si Papa, hindi na matutuloy iyong pinaplano nila sa'kin for when I turn eighteen.

Hopefully.

"K," tipid kong wika bago kinuha iyong costume mula sa kamay ni Scarlet. Bumakas ang pagkagulat sa mukha niya ngunit hindi ko iyon ininda. I proceeded to the comfort room to change into the dress.

"Fuck," I cussed. "How do you even wear this shi―" I groaned when my shoulder bumped into the cubicle door.

Gago kang Filipiñana ka.

Pagkatapos kong makipag-wrestling sa dress, lumabas na ako sa cubicle at dumiretso sa harap ng salamin. 

"Putangina."

I bit my lower lip in irritation. I shut my eyes close and sighed.

For Mama.

For Papa.

For my freedom.

Hindi ko na tinignan iyong sarili ko at lumabas na ng comfort room. Dumiretso ako sa classroom namin.