Believing Lies

Prologue: She Cried Because He Lied

Words keep flashing as I opened my phone and saw my picture together with Aiden- Fucking Walker. Inane words like malandi, boyfriend stealer, bitch, slut and other offensive description that doens't fit me were intended to hurt me, but I know myself. These words are far from the truth.

The phone in front of me went blurred as I blinked furiously to hold the tears from cascading down my cheeks.

"Stop crying Riley. Hindi ito ang tamang panahon para kaawaan mo ang sarili mo. Wala kang kasalanan. Wala kang ginawang masama. Ikaw ang naloko," wika sa aking sarili.

I can't hold my tears anymore. Patuloy lang ito sa pag-agos. I could taste on my tears the anger and emotions that I've been holding on for so long.

Nasa punto ako ngayon ng pag-iisip kung itutuloy ko ba ang kinasanayan kong buhay, at pumasok sa school o manatili nalang sa madalim kong kwarto at sisihin ang aking sarili sa mga bagay na kinakaharap ko ngayon. Natatakot ako sa mga mangyayari. Oo! Alam kong may mangyayari.

There are muted sounds of cars honking and dogs barking outside, the rattle of the neighbor's door and the rustle of the trees. Inside this room, however, were the mere sound of my heart beating.

"Enough! Fetch your bag! Harapin mo ang dapat mong harapin! Ipamukha mo sa kanila na mali ang iniisip nila, na hindi ikaw ang nagkamali at wala kang kasalanan."

I stood up and grab my bag.

Nagtungo ako sa pintuan at pinihit ang saradora nito. Nahirapan ako sa pagbukas dahil namamasa na ang aking kamay, siguro dahil sa kaba. I wiped off my tears and let my uncontrollable feet lead the way. There is this voice inside my head which hinders me to go but part of it says I shall clean up my mess.

....

I'm now standing in front of our school, and realized that I've been frozen in my place, to where the taximan dropped me off, for minutes. Unmoved. Stucked. Stiffed.

I decided to go inside.

The time when I took my feet onto the hallway caused deafening silence for couple of seconds as all eyes turned on my spot. It didn't take long for people to begin whispering again, their voices are soft but loud when united.

"Hey, That's Riley right? The one who stole Aiden from Alyssa, isn't she?" A voice spoke from one side causing my ears to prick up at the sound.

"Such a whore. Alam na ngang may girlfriend yung tao, sinungkit parin. Such a mandaragit!" Her friend replied, voice a little louder.

"Malandi talaga 'yan. Mukha lang siyang inosente pero nasa loob pala ang kulo."

"The photos are real and vivid. Siya yung girl na kahalikan ni Aiden. Ang kapal!"

"Akala mo kung sinong inosente. Talagang yung sikat pa talaga na si Aiden ang napiling landiin."

Ramdam kong nagdurugo na ang tenga ko sa mga naririnig ko. Lahat nang 'yan ay kasinungalingan. Wala akong inagaw! Hindi ako malandi! Hindi ko nilandi si Aiden! Hindi ko rin alam na may girlfriend siya. Wala akong alam.

Nagsimula ang lahat ng ito nang kumalat ang photos namin ni Aiden na magkasama at meron ding isang photo na spotted ang paghalik niya sa akin. Mag iisang buwan na rin nang lumapit sa akin si Aiden and nag confess siya ng nararamdaman niya sa akin. I refused him. Hindi ako pumayag sa pag-aalok niya na ligawan ako. Ayaw ko ng gulo. Ayaw ko munang mag boyfriend dahil marami pa akong priorities sa buhay ko and isa pa, Highschool palang ako. Since then, palagi niya akong ginugulo and he keep on pursuing me. One time he invited me for a dinner. Pumayag ako. Friendly dinner lang kasi yun. While eating, he placed his index and thumb finger on my chin and made me looked up on his refined face. Without saying any word, he came closer to my face. I know what he's going to do. I kept my face out of the way when he's coming closer.