Chasing Ms. Sungit

Chapter 1:

"Are you sure about this?"

Ysabella stared at the head mistress of Magnoushtad Academy void of any emotions. Nakikita niya ang labis na pag-aalala sa mukha nito ngunit wala nang makakapigil sa desisyon niya.

"Miss Salvatore, are you even listening?", tawag nito sa atensyon niya. "We can send someone else. You don't have to go."

She sighed and put up a smile. "Madam, you needed a student to send to Crisostomo National High School and here I am trying to volunteer and now your hesitating. I'm pretty sure everyone declined."

Mukhang hindi nakatulong ang mga sinabi niya sa head mistress dahil mas lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito. She doesn't look convinced at all.

"Pinapasakit niyo talaga ang ulo ko. You make it sound so simple though it doesnt."

"But it is simple. Besides, three months lang naman akong papasok sa CNHS. Its not that long."

The head mistress took a deep breath. She looks troubled. No scratch that. She looks problematic.

"It is long!" At hindi na nga nakapagpigil ang ginang. The head mistress just freaked out. "You're the only heir of the Salvatore. Paano kung may mangyari sayo?!"

Napangisi siya. Edi lumabas din ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit hirap itong ipadala siya sa public school. Ang kanina'y ngisi ay  tuluyang nauwi sa isang pagak na tawa. "Kagaya ka rin nilang lahat. You want to chain us like dogs. Mapa-bahay man o eskwelahan wala ring ipinagkaiba." She throw a cold stare to the old woman. "Forget it. It doesn't make a difference anyway. Wherever I go, it will stay the same. Good day, head mistress."

Agad siyang lumabas sa opisina nito at padabog na isinara ang pinto. Napalingon lahat ng estudyante sa hallway dahil sa ginawang ingay ng pinto. Everyone had a smug smile on their faces. Ang ilan ay natatawa habang napapailing. Students on Magnoushtad are hidden rebels. They found satisfaction knowing that they bring problems to the admin who listens to their parents' shit.

"Woah! Someone is in a bad mood." Marahas niyang nilingon ang nagsalita.

"Don't start, Rave. You won't like to know what I will do to you if you'll piss me.", she hissed.

Nalukot ang mukha niya ng malakas itong tumawa. Like he's amused on something. "Anyway, the class is about to start. Let's get going."

"I'm skipping. You go ahead."

Rave pouted. "Bomber. You always skip music class. Why?"

"None of your damn business." She answered as she turned and walk away.

"Everyone is waiting for you, Elle!" She stopped on her track for a second but continued walking after a moment. "Come back to us." Rave said that almost sound like a whisper pero umabot pa rin sa kanyang pandinig.

A bitter smile escaped from her lips. Music was her voice from her controlling world. Music was her escape from reality. Music was her vanity. Music was her life. Pero kahit iyon ay kinuha pa sa kanya. Hindi niya lubos akalain na ang isang bagay na iyon na kanyang pinanghahawakan ay kamumuhian niya balang araw. How can something you love today becomes the most hateful thing tomorrow?

Kaya kahit ngayon lang ay mabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na hanapin ang isang Ysabella na walang kinalaman ang musika.

"Miss Salvatore!"

Napahinto siya sa paglalakad at agad nilingon ang kung sino man ang tumatawag sa pangalan niya. Nakita niya ang head mistress na naglalakad papunta sa kanyang direksyon.

"What?", mataray niyang tanong nang tuluyan na itong makalapit sa kanya. Conceited as it sounds pero bilang myembro ng isang makapangyarihang angkan she can mess with everyone however she pleased without being punished for it. Unfair as it is, the weak one's needs the stronger clan to stay on their status.

"Bakit gusto mong ikaw ang ipadala ko sa CNHS?", bigla nitong tanong.

"Because you don't have volunteers." Agad niya ring sagot. Which is true but not entirely. Of course, may agenda rin siya. Besides, wala namang estudyante sa Magnoushtad ang gustong mag-aral sa isang public school. Magnoushtad is a kingdom for rich heirs. Kung hindi lang talaga nakikialam ang mga magulang ng mga estudyante sa school affairs then they could have rule this school. School is suppose to be an escape from your dominating parents. Pero kahit sa school ay sinusundan pa rin sila nang koneksyon ng mga magulang. There's no escape from the grasp of their parents. They will chain your neck and train you like a dog.

"Not enough reason. Give me firm reason why you want to go. And I will let you." Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata sa narinig. "So?"

She looked at the head mistress straight on her eyes. Alam nito ang pinagdadaanan niya.  "I need this. If I stay here any further, I will lose my sanity."

To her surprise, the old woman hugged her tightly. "You have three months then.", she whispered. "Good luck, dear."

Isa-isang nagbagsakan ang kanyang mga luha kasabay nang isang matamis na ngiti. Hindi niya napigilan ang yakapin ito ng mahigpit saka bumulong. "Thank you, head mistress Rosalie."

"Anak, sigurado ka na ba talaga?", nababahalang tanong nang yaya niya.

"Yaya, three months lang ako mawawala. At nasa Pilipinas lang naman ang CNHS. You can visit me anytime you want. The chopper is always ready for you to use.", she assured the old lady.

"Kailangan mo ba talagang umalis?", tanong nito.

"Hindi ko na kayang manatili pa sa bahay na 'to. My sanity is barely holding, yaya." Hindi niya napigilang mapaiyak. "Gusto mo bang makita akong mawala sa sarili? Because that is what I'll become if I stay here any longer."

Tuluyan na ring napaiyak ang matanda. "Gawin mo ang sa tingin mo ay makakabuti para sayo. Pero sana ay hayaan mo 'kaming' mga nagmamahal sayo na samahan at damayan ka.", she said as she held her hand tightly. "Wag mo kaming pagsarhan ng pinto. Naiintindihan mo ba?"

Mahigpit niya itong niyakap. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry.", paulit-ulit niyang sambit. She is sorry. Pero hindi pa siya handang harapin ang lahat. She wants to heal. If not heal then maybe 'til the point where she can smile or laugh genuinely. Kahit hanggang dun lang muna. She'll take one step at a time. Until she get closer to healing.