When We Fall

Yna Velasquez

"I like wearing and using black colored things but I don't like black people. Sorry,

I'm a racist. I have a chinky eyes, perfect nose formation, black kissable lips because I wear a black lipstick, ofcourse. I also have a perfect body structure and a flawless skin. Now that you heard what I said, maybe you can stay away from me. Hindi. tayo. bagay. Okay? Dahil una sa lahat mahiyain ka. Second, you look awful with your thick eye glasses. Third, you're not perfect. Fourth, you look like a geek," sabi ko sa lalaking kausap ko ngayon sa isang coffee shop.

Can you believe it? Ang lakas ng loob niyang umupo sa harap ko at sabihing gusto niyang manligaw. I don't even know him. All I know is-well maybe, he's one of my stalkers. My goodness, how I hate to see this man right now! Masama na nga ang loob ko ngayon dahil sa magling kong tatay tapos dadagdagan pa ng pagmumukha niya! Argh!

"Why do you have to be so rude?" sabi ni...never mind at umalis.

"Rude? Tss... mukha niya! It's your fault," I said under my breath.

Let's go back doon sa sinabi kong masama ang loob ko kay Dad. I hate him because he didn't even defend me sa harap ng principal para hindi ako ma-kick-out. Well, mayaman naman kami kaya kahit saang school makakapasok ako kahit na I have a RFT record. Asking what's that? It's what you call Refer For Transfering. Well, paano nga ba ako nakakuha noon?

I was just roaming around the hallways because it's break time when I saw Skylyn Tuazon and the bullies. She's the daughter of my Dad's bestfriend that's why I know her freakin' name.

"You look really bad Skylyn!" sabi ng isang bully doon sa Skylyn.

She's the daughter of the Multi-billionnaire, Mr. Vincent Tuazon pero heto nabu-bully siya. Hindi kasi marunong lumaban and most of all baduy siya. She looks like a jologs. Wala rin siyang ipagmamalaki rito dahil hindi siya ganoon katalino. Got it?

"Parang awa niyo na, ibigay niyo na lang 'yung bag ko. May project kasi 'yun sa loob. Promise hindi ako magsusumbong na kayo ang nagtapon ng paint sa damit ko," she begged.

I was just going to ignore her and just pretend na hindi ko siya nakita pero wala, bigla niya na lang akong tinawag. I was caught in the act. Lumapit ako sa kanila. I need to help her or else baka magsumbong pa ito sa Daddy nita.

"What's happening here?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

She wiped her tears that escaped from her eyes first then she talk, "nabuhusan nila kasi ako ng paint kanina tapos kinuha pa nila ang bag ko. Nandoon ang project ko, kapag hindi ko iyon napasa mamaya babagsak ako." Now she look like a kid na nagsusumbong sa parent niya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko at tumingin sa mga hinayupak, "nabuhusan o binuhusan?"

"Ano naman ang gagawin mo GG?" Aba! Minumura pa yata ako ng hayop na 'to, ah.

"What's GG?" baling ko kay Skylyn ng pabulong.

Suminghot muna siya at saka bumulong, "Goth Girl."

Tumango-tango ako kay Skylyn at saka tumingin muli sa mga walang hiya. Tinatantsa ko muna kung dapat bang awayin o pagbantaan lang ang mga babaeng walang magawa sa buhay. Then I decide that it should be the later dahil hindi sila worth ng oras ko. They're just middle class students, we are not in the same level.

"Ibabalik niyo ba 'yung bag ni Skylyn o magsusumbong ako sa-"

"'Yan lang ba ang kaya mong gawin? Hahaha.... My goodness," sabi noong echoserang froglet.