Athaliah's Redemption (Ortega Series 1)

Kabanata 1

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I - Who

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I looked at the girl being bullied by my friends. Considering I am with them, I guess the bullies also include me. I don't even know when it all started.  I just know it's something petty. Nagbuntong-hininga ako. I have been playing with my fingers for too long, standing together with my friends.

Narinig kong nagbuntong-hininga rin ang binu-bully namin. Kinuha niya ang kanyang backpack at saka tumayo. But then again, Akierah and Addessa blocked her way. Nagpumilit pa rin ang babae.

I rolled my eyes as I silently sighed. Wrong move girl. Now, Assunta will even bully her more. Sighing deeply again, I moved towards the girl. I pushed her with enough force to let her take a seat again. Assunta smirked.

"Don't show your face again," I said icily just so we can go back to our quiet lunch.

Gutom na ako dahil hindi pa ako nakakapag-breakfast and this scene is just prolonging my hunger. I walked out of that group and went to the academy cafeteria's direction. Sumunod naman ang iba. Pagpasok, nakita kong punong-puno na ang mga lamesa. I searched for Ahira, my sister, wanting to join her for lunch. Ngunit dahil kumpol-kumpol nga ay imposible ko siyang mahanap.

Assunta was texting when she lifted her head to face us. "May space pa raw sa college cafeteria sabi ni Kuya," she said, her voice still etched with irritation. "He saved us a table."

Good thing I'm craving for that cafeteria's blueberry cheesecake or else I would have just went out and ate at any nearby fastfood chain.

Pagkarating sa cafeteria ng college students, nakita agad namin ang kapatid ni Assunta. Cosimo Lorenzo Gondi smiled at her sister before turning to me. Now I think I'm regretting coming here. Cosimo always showed his affections toward me but I decline his moves every time. He's three years older, already in his first year as an undergraduate student.

"Margruite," he said with etch of sweetness, his hand extending to reach mine.

I instantly jerked away. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama.

"It's Athaliah," mariin kong sinabi. I hate people calling me by my second name. Only those close to me are the ones who call me by that and he is not among them.

Cosimo just smiled. I saw Assunta casting me an irritated look for what I did to her brother but I don't really care. It's always been this way.

Iginiya kami ni Cosimo sa table na wala pang nakaupo, malapit sa table nila ng kanyang mga kaibigan. Tumingin ako sa paligid at may mga nakitang pamilyar na mukha. Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang nakita ang aking kapatid sa isa sa round tables. I didn't know Ahira prefers having lunch in this specific cafeteria. Kasama niya sa lamesa ang palagi niyang kasabay. As fate has it, Ahira rin ang pangalan.

Umiling ako. I hope hindi malito ang mga tao sa paligid nila.

Addessa nudged me. Natuon ang atensiyon ko sa kanya.

"Nandito si Osborne," bulong niya sa akin. Tumingin ako sa direksiyong tinitingnan niya. Sa dulong round table malapit sa glass windows ay naroon si Osborne Demeter Appleton.

If I were a year younger, I would have grinned widely and my heart would have raced too. But I'm already a Grade 9 student, dahil siguro sa pagiging busy at hectic ng schedule ay hindi ko na namalayang nawala ang crush ko kay Osborne.

"Hindi ko na siya crush," sabi ko kaagad kay Addessa para tumigil siya.

Tiningnan ako ni Addessa para kumpirmahin kung totoo ang sinasabi. Ngumisi siya. "Ako, crush ko pa rin siya," sabi niya sabay hagikgik.