HIGH SCHOOL POPULAR

Chapter 44

Froilan POV

The other day came, for another day of ordeal. I know I've been like this for a few days, coming home late and boozed with liquor every night.

The clock ticks on the wall and I swear it's slowing down. Sitting here alone makes me flatter than a week-old glass of coke. Every time I don't have to think about her, I feel like I'm already dancing, dancing in the club to music so loud that it makes me deaf.

It's fun that I won't be alone either, the whole gang is here. With that music, that beat, those crazy, crazy lights makes me feel I'm alive, I'm real, and reality is awesome.

By the end of the night, I'm quite intoxicated, I should cut back but who's counting? Therefore, we leave arm in arm, wobbling down the lamp-lit alley to hail a cab.

The next morning when I woke up I immediately felt dizziness and pain in my temple. But I ignored that and just picked up a glass of water that was placed on the table by the side of my bed.

When that glass of water sobered me up, I picked up my phone and left my room to go to the living room.

Isang malapad na palad ang lumipad sa aking mukha nang makababa ako. “Anong ginagawa mo sa buhay mo!? Just because you lost your band, you’re acting like this? Have you lost your mind?! Graduating ka na, Froilan! Baka nakakalimutan mo?”

It was my Dad. Alam kong ganito na ang bubungad sa akin pagkatapos kong hindi pumasok nang sunod-sunod na araw simula nang mag-sembreak kami.

“Ganiyan ba umakto ang isang Casterñado? Dinudumihan mo ang pangalan natin! Ilang guro mo na ang nagrereklamo sa akin at sinasabing marami kang incomplete! Anong ginagawa mo sa buhay mo!?”

Nakatabingi pa rin ang ulo ko dahil sa sampal niya at parang umaalingawngaw na lang sa pandinig ko ang sigaw niya.

“Hon, that’s enough.”

Alam kong si mommy 'yon at pinipigilan si dad, pero once na nagalit si Dad ay wala siyang magagawa rito. This is the second time he got mad at me.

I turned to him as he grabbed the shirt I was wearing. “Umayos kang bata ka, kung ayaw mong mawala sa 'yo ang lahat.”

He let go of me and stepped away from me, ultimately was out of my sight. I just winced at what he said. I also felt the pain on my cheek, but I ignored it because of my mom’s anxious response to Dad’s lecture towards my behavior these past few days.

“Pagpasensyahan mo na ang ama mo, Froi. Ako na ang bahala sa kaniya. Sa ngayon ay pumasok ka’t bumawi, bago kayo mag Christmas vacation.” Tipid na ngumiti ako at tumango lang kaya umalis na siya sa harapan ko.

“Matagal nang wala sa akin ang lahat. Para saan pa para bumawi?” I whispered to myself whilst step into our stairways, towards the hallway of my room.

Pagdating sa CLIS ay sunod-sunod na tasks ang binigay sa akin ng mga teacher ko sa bawat subjects. Explosively, I leaned back in the long chair as I lay down the mountain papers in front of me.

Anong gagawin ko rito?

“Tindi mo rin, Froi! Ilang linggo na lang ay Christmas vacation na natin tapos hindi ka pa pumasok. Ayan ang napala mo!” Binatukan ko si Lorence nang umupo ito sa tabi ko.

They're practicing before they took a water break, so consequently, I was annoyed because of the frustration they giving me. Hindi muna ako pinaglaro ni Coach dahil binilinan siya ni Dad na hindi ako hahawak ng bola hangga’t hindi ko natatapos ang mga task na binigay. How pathetic.

“Kung nandito ka lang para inisin ako, lumayas ka sa harapan ko baka ibalibag ko sa mukha mo ang mga papel na 'to,” sagot ko sa kaniya. “Saka akala mo naman hindi kita kasama kagabi sa bar ah?”