Ashes in the Dusk [CBS#4]

Chapter 8

🏇

Blangko ang ekspresyon ko habang pinagmamasdan ang ceiling at ang iilang bookshelves sa paligid. May isinusulat na kung ano ang guidance counselor matapos ang kaunting katanungan sa akin. I couldn't believe that it was just my third day and I instantly got sent to the Guidance Office.

Nahuli ako ng History Teacher naming may suksok na earphones habang nagtuturo siya. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya napansin gayung nakatago naman iyon sa buhok ko. I had a gut feeling that my very insecure classmates had something to do with this.

From the very first day, I knew that most girls in the class--in the campus, rather, hated me. Isa lang ang palagi kong kasama na hanggang ngayon, inoobserbahan ko pa rin kung totoo nga ang intensyon nitong makipagkaibigan sa'kin. She might be one of those crazy bashers who were secretly making strange plans on letting me down.

"Before I let you go, let me give you some reminders first, Miss Zalameda--"

"Yeah, I shouldn't do that again." tamad kong sagot dito, halos kabisado ko na ang linyahan ng guidance counselors dahil madalas na akong dalhin sa guidance office sa dating school ko.

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Good. And for countless times, Miss Zalameda, please blacken your hair. Siguro nabasa mo naman 'yan sa mga protocols sa ating handbook. Also, I hope you could already wear your uniform by next week. Kung nakikita mo naman, ikaw lang ang hindi nakasuot ng uniporme rito."

"Got it." sabi ko at tumayo na.

Pagkalabas pa lang, sumalubong na sa'kin si Anza at ang boyfriend nitong si Colby, ahead sa'min ng isang taon. I don't like the way how he stared at me, so I didn't really talk to him that much.

"Ano'ng nangyari, Syntia?" si Colby pa ang unang sumalubong.

Inirapan ko lang ito at nilampasan. Sumunod kaagad si Anza sa akin.

"Syntia! Ayos ka lang?"

"Yeah, it's not like it is my first time." I muttered boredly.

"Si Adeline ang may pakana nito! Siya ang nagsumbong kay Miss Calvario nang nagpasa kami ng papel."

Tumango lang ako at umakyat sa mga hagdan para magtungo sa aming classroom. Sunod nang sunod sa'kin ang dalawa na hindi ko naman masyadong kinakausap. I wasn't after befriending everyone here, I didn't really care if I'd be alone all throughout the school year. Lalong-lalo na kung mukhang mga plastik naman ang mga tao rito.

As for that Adeline-bitch, I didn't give a damn. She may pull me down all she wanted, she may do anything to ruin my image, I didn't really care. She just didn't know that she was actually helping me out with my plans.

"Hello, Syntia! May lunch ka ba para mamaya?" Ito ang lalaking madalas na sumalubong sa akin.

Nasa first section. Palagi itong bumabati kada daan ko rito sa classroom nila. Seriously, he never got worn out. Kapag mapansin na niya ako, sesegunda na ang iilang kaklase niyang kalalakihan. That was the funny thing in this school. While girls craved to get rid of me, boys, however, thirsted to see me everyday.

"No," tipid kong sagot dito, diretso ang lakad.

Lumakad din ito sa loob ng classroom, pinapantayan ang tamang bilis ko. Ang bintana lang ang pagitan namin.

"Lunch tayo sa canteen?" presko nitong tanong.

"No thanks, will have it at home."

Nagkamot ito ng ulo. Narinig ko ang hiyawan ng mga lalaking kaklase nito. Hindi na ito nakasunod dahil nalampasan ko na ang classroom nila. I heard him laughing with his classmates.