10 Last Months

Chapter 9

"She did what?!"

That was Sandra's reaction upon learning what that ate girl have told me.

It's Friday night and on Fridays, we do sleepover. This time, we are at her place. Si Sandra kasi 'yung tipong sheltered na anak mayaman kaya hinding hindi pinapayagang mag-sleepover sa iba, even in my own house.

Mabagal akong tumango sa kaniya, "Uh-huh. I know right. That was exactly my reaction after she's told me those."

Nakatayo na siya dahil sa tensyon habang ako ay nakaupo sa kama niya, nakasandal sa headboard, at nilalaro ang aking mga daliri.

"And you did nothing?!"

"Sandra, you know me. I do my way on actions rather than words. I can't let her see how much her words can affect me just by throwing the same downgrading words."

It's true, though. Hindi ako kilala bilang bardagulera at kailanman ay hindi napalaban. Well, except when I was in grade school, I guess.

Ginulo niya ang kaniyang buhok, then looked at me, amused. "Yeah, right." Sarcastic ang kaniyang pagkakasabi. "When you were in Grade three, these guys were mocking you and calling you names because you're a fat ass. Instead of talking to them or calling them names as they did, you secretly filled their bags with some disgusting mixed sauces."

Nagulat akong napatingin sa kaniya at umawang ang bibig dahil doon. I can't believe she knew that!

"What the hell? How did you know about that?!" I hysterically asked her.

Iilan lang ang nakakaalam noon at kabilang doon si Cherry dahil tumulong siya sa paggawa noong nakakadiring mixture. Hanggang ngayon ay nandidiri pa rin ako tuwing naaalala ang amoy niyon.

"Your house helper." She shrugged her shoulders then sit on her computer chair.

Sabi ko na nga ba! "Si Cherry?"

"Yes. Alam mo naman 'yung kasambahay niyo, madaldal 'yun. I was waiting for you to finally get ready when she just randomly told me about it." Casual ang pagkakasabi niya niyon habang binubuksan ang kaniyang Mac.

But that's one of my greatest secrets!

Saglit siyang tumingin bago muling binalik ang mga mata sa computer nang bumukas iyon. "I'd honestly help you with that too if we'd known each other back then."

Muli naman siyang sumulyap sa akin pagkasabi noon at nang-aasar na nginitian. Inirapan ko siya kaya tinawanan niya naman ako.

"Not gonna lie, I won't take a shit and do it again." Bored na pagsasalita ko pero tila naalarma siya at agad na tumingin sa akin. Bago naman siya makapagsalita pa ay nagsalita na ako,  "Kung babalik sa panahong 'yon," paglilinaw ko.

She let out a heavy sigh, "As much as I support you about it, I just can't let you do such thing now, given our age."

Binaba ko ang katawan sa kama para tuluyang makahiga at tumingin sa kisame. "I know. I'm not that immature." Sagot kong may pagdidiin sa salitang 'that' dahil baka pa may sabihin siya dahil alam niyang may pagka-immature naman talaga ako. Just not that.

Bumalik naman ang tingin ko sa kaniya at Mac niya. I saw how she opened the browser on her computer then typed 'fb' on the search bar. Upon logging in to her account, saglit siyang natigilan at tila nag-iisip. Lumingon naman siya sa akin.

"Do you know her name, though?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tinanong niya. "Who?"

Tinuro niya ang screen ng computer at muling humarap sa akin, "Your ate girl. We gotta know at least some little details about your competitor."