Hiraya Manawari

13

Sayuri

It's been four days after the issue broke out, now it's all over the campus. Uriel knew and talked to me about it at home, gladly yaya and mom doesn't know about the issue yet, as well as father too. He'd freak out about it and send me back to Japan once he knows. Joaquin's friends have been accompanying me a lot too, they're always with me all the time. They're nice to me, unlike Suzy's friends.

We're now having lunch at the med cafeteria, Gio and Renzo couldn't join us because they're in a different building and they have something else to do. I'm still uncomfortable with the rumors around campus, when I would go to class alone they would look at me. Some of them would talk about me, some would laugh at me.

Even professors are now aware of the issue, some of them pitied me, some of them are cautious because they thought that I might cheat in their class. I wanted to transfer schools but Uriel told me that I shouldn't, I should face my problems and prove them that they're wrong. I wonder how Joaquin is doing? He's one week suspended because of me, because of what happened.

"Okay ka lang?" Yuan asked, I gave him a smile and nodded, "You're quiet kasi."

"Don't worry, I'm okay." I assured him and started to eat my food.

Joaquin really have nice set of friends. Ashley told me how their friendship started, Lance and Joaquin first met during their elementary years but the three of them are schoolmates. Yuan and Ashley met during high school then later on became friends with Joaquin and Lance. They met Gio and Renzo on their 2nd year in high school, Ashley told me Gio and Renzo have this other friend named Joshua but he transferred to a different school.

Ashley said that Klye was originally Suzy's best friend but they had a fight and Suzy changed. She started spreading rumors about Klye and her family—which I don't know what that is yet. It changed Klye and she starts being distant to everyone, Joaquin approached her though and they became friends. And here I am right now, being in the same circle as them.

"Oh my goodness! Look!" A familiar voice said, "Loser's table."

They all laughed, "Nice one Pauline!" Thea said, they sat on the table next to ours. I wanted to get out of this room.

"Hey, 'di ba that's Sayuri?" Kaye pointed at me. "Yung cheater?" They all laughed.

"Don't mind them, talo ka kapag nagpa-apekto ka." Klye said and we continued eating. Suzy and her friends kept on rambling about me from the other table, gaining some attention from the people here. I feel so small right now.

"Have you guys heard? Joaquin got suspended because of her and the nerve to eat lunch with his friends." Suzy said and they all laughed, "Tell me Sayuri, plano mo ba 'to to get more friends? 'Di ba sabi mo wala kang friends before? Is this how you make friends?" She smirked.

"Why don't you put more food on your mouth so you can stop talking, huh, Susana?" Ashley spat. She glared at them and Lance told her to calm down, "Hindi ko na kaya 'tong pambu-bully nila." She said.

"Who says we're bullying her? Nagsasabi lang kami ng totoo." Kaye said and raised a brow, "Totoo naman na she cheated and Joaquin covered her up para hindi siya ma-kick out sa school. Unless, you guys know something."

"Hoy Kaycee, hindi ko gusto tabas ng dila mo ha!" Ashley said, "Bakit ba sobrang invested niyo sa issue? Oh! That's right because may kinalaman kayo?!" She exclaims so that the others can hear that.

"Sabi na, mahilig magsama-sama ang mga sinungaling." Thea rolled her eyes, "Britania, pick your words wisely."

"Why don't you pick your words?" Lance warned and glared at them, "Nananahimik kami dito."