Don't Get Caught (Completed)

Chapter 3

Although I was completely bothered and wasn't comfortable by the fact that kuya Alexis got a frat, I tried to ignore it kasi wala namang nangyayaring masama sa kan'ya—or at least wala naman akong nakitang nangyayaring masama.

Back during PTA meetings in Junior High, teachers kept on warning parents to keep their eyes on their children lalo na't laganap ang mga fraternity. Kuya Alexis is the one I least to expect to actually have one since Tito and Tita were responsible parents. Too responsible if you'd ask me.

I asked Jolly why did his brother decided to join a frat since I wasn't comfortable asking kuya Alexis, and she shrugged and said, "Hindi ko alam. Hindi niya rin nasasabi. Siguro para may kapit siya."

I was tempted to ask further questions but I might save those for later. Knowing that he got a frat was too much to process for me already.

"Bakit takot na takot ka naman ata sa mga may frat, e hindi ka naman noon magagalaw at 'yung Papa mo nasa pol—" I didn't let her finish her sentence at tinakpan ko na 'yung bibig niya. I can't afford to be carrying my father's reputation wherever I go, nakakapressure.

"Hindi ka ba nanonood ng balita? Ang daming namamatay dahil sa mga fraternities. It was frightening!" Napalingon naman ako kay kuya Alexis pero lumihis din agad ako ng tingin. "No offense kuya, marami ka bang kaaway sa school niyo o ano, at kailangan mong magfrat?" I dared ask.

Binigyan niya lang ako ng inosenteng ngiti saka hinawaka 'yung buhok na 'kala mo ako bata. "H'wag kang mag-alala sa'kin," sabi naman niya.

I looked back at Jolly. "I have a friend whose brother—" I stopped as I remembered the times Viva were telling us about his brother who died because of a frat. She never told us about it in details, but I can see pain in her eyes every time she's mentioning it. "—died because of a frat," I continued.

"Hindi naman ako mamamatay, h'wag kang mag-alala." As if he can guarantee that.

Jolly and I get to cook habang tamang mobile game lang si kuya Alexis. I don't know what he's playing since I wasn't really that fond of mobile games. I tried to play LOL once but I wasn't sure what was I doing.

I got to stay in Jolly's bedroom because I refused to take the guest room. Palagi rin naman akong sa kwarto ni Jolly natutulog kapag nandito ako. In the daytime, nagbabantay kaming dalawa ni Jolly ng store nila or ng internet café, depende sa gusto namin, at pinagbibigyan naman kami ni kuya Alexis. We're spoiled.

Although, one day, nasa server kami ng internet shop, and there's this costumer na naghihintay ng may matapos na other customer since occupied lahat ng PC, todo titig siya sa desktop namin.

"Privacy, please?" I asked out loud. Nahiya naman siya kaya medyo lumayo siya pero sumisilip-silip pa din. So I settled with my phone and let Jolly used the PC all by herself. It was so later when I received an incoming call from my Mom.

"Hello."

"You're kicked out," bungad niya.

Napakunot naman ng noo ko. "Kicked out?"

"Sa school."

"I wasn't even enrolled yet," I said, almost yelling, loud enough na napatingin sa'kin 'yung lalaking kanina pa nakikichismis sa'min, tapos napatigil pa 'yung ibang nagsisigawan na naglalaro ng DOTA. I tried to ignore them. "How was I kicked out?"

"Your video. They used it against you. I won't be surprised kung ginamit 'yon ng mga kalaban ng Papa mo noong election," she said. Pati ba naman ako dinamay ng mga kalaban ni Papa? Kinalaman ko sa kanila. "So d'yan ka mag-aaral."

"What?!"

I was so carried with what Mama just said, masiyadong napalakas 'yung boses ko. Halos lahat napatingin sa'min. Narinig talaga ng iba kahit naka-headphones sila? The others even mocked me.