Paper Memories

Chapter 24-II

       Chapter 24-II

  "Watch where you are going, Ricos! Bakit bigla kang sumusulpot?" Bulyaw ko kay Ricos dahil nabangga ko siya. I just want to follow Ralph and Percival, but the crowd suddenly emerge and now Ricos bump into me! Napaluhod na lang ako dahil natumba siya sa sahig."Bakit nandito ka pa? Diba magsisimula na ang next class natin? Are you hurt anywhere?"

He shook his head, but he's holding his shoulders."...May titingnan lang po, Ate."

I breathed in, I help him got up." May masakit ba sayo?"

"Wala po, ayos lang ako. Pabalik na rin po ako sa klase." Ricos explained while still holding his right shoulder, I can see him wince. Wala siyang dalang gamit o sketchbook, mukhang lumabas nga lang siya ng saglit, I grab him with his another arm and started to gently push him to walk." Pabalik ka rin po, Ate Sheena?"

"...Yeah, let's go----I guess, nevermind my weird boyfriend."

"Ate. Ate, Sheena. That girl is looking at you----do you know her?"

I instantly glance at the direction he's pointing...

I saw was an average built girl wearing thick glasses and a cap, her eyes were madly looking at me. Her face scrunched, and almost contorted into a growl as her arms is occupied with a pile of folders. Hindi siya matinang sa kinakatayuan niya, kahit na maraming estudyante ang nilalagpasan siya at nagmamadali para next lass.. Parang tumigil ang oras at nawala na lang ang ibang estudyante dahil hindi ko magawang umalis na lang din--- I wasz frozen like a statue.

The hatred in her eyes locks me in...

"Sheena, are you now happy you expelled us? Ang rami namin. Ayaw pa rin nila ako patawarin, ayaw pa rin nila ako pabalikin sa pag-aaral!" The girl's voice was hollow and broken.Halos malukot din ang dala-dala niyang papeles at matambunan ng mahaba niya buhok kanyang mukha." I was an honor student, they had hopes for me. Pero ngayon mandaraya na lang ang tingin nila sa akin!."

I pulled Ricos behind me, labas siya dito." I'm not the one who cheated."

Nanlaki ang mata niya, she turned pale." We were force too! Your privilege buddies bullied us into it! Matalino kami pero bakit kami ang utusan lang? Yung talino namin para sa ganun lang na hingan ng sagot at pagawin ng homework? Pero kulang pa? Dapat advance answer rin para sa exam? Dapat kami rin madungisan yung kamay para sa korapsyon at pandaraya ng iba?! Dapat gumawa kami ng paraan para pumasa sila kahit sobrang risky?"

"Those people who bullied you...And everyone else, they were not my friends." Nanghihina akong magpaliwanag habang humihigpit ang hawak k okay Ricos. The intention to have any more of my image ruined in front of him is the only thing that keep me awake." Hindi ako katulad nila, kung kaya ko lang mas gugustuhin kong tulungan kayo."

The girl started to sob." You're worse..."

I shut my eyes, I hate this damned misunderstanding." Sa katunayan kayo yung kaibigan ko, pero hindi ako yung kaibigan na gusto niyo. I'm sorry for telling the professor that you access the university's data for your bullies' grades. I didn't know everything at that time---baka dapat nga pinagtakpan ko kayo."

"You're acting as if just that?!"

"I know that's what you're mad about."

Napatawa siya, she's struggling for words." You told us on how we can get revenge! On how we can finally pin them for the cheaters they are! Pero kahit kami damay!"

"I'm sorry, I really am. But all you brought yourselves to this predicament. I'm sorry you're expelled. I'm sorry I didn't lie. "Napatitig ako kay Ricos saka napagpasyahan mas mahalaga ang ngayon. I grabbed my younger classmates hand to walk away." Mauna na kami, may klase pa kami. Sana mapatawad mo ako."

"Your audacity to bring up about class..."

"And for you, goodluck. I know you're smart."

The girl remained like a statue as we walk pass her, but even with the slightest distance I when I was near her makes me shiver. Her eyes curses me as stared at me sideways. Nang makalayo na kami ni Ricos, muli nagsalita ang dating ko kaibigan at kamag-aral." Naalala ko pa rin yung araw na binigyan mo kami ng ideya kung ano ang dapat naming gawin-----looking back aren't you just a bitch who was playing god on us?"