Between the Rainbow (Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #1)

Chapter 29

Victim

I will never tolerate any harsh words thrown at Shiloh. My movements were so aggressive that as soon as I attacked him, he couldn't even balance himself when I pushed him hard, fell on the floor, and failed to stop me. Three consecutive punches, and he drew blood.

"Tama na, Brent," si Mavric na nanonood at nakatakip ang buong likod sa bintana ng kotse.

I pulled myself up and clicked my neck. The man coughed and spat some blood while he rolled to the ground. Pinatunog ko ang mga darili ko.

"Nahanap mo ngayon ang katapat mo. Ako nga ang bugbugin mo," hamon ko.

He laughed and pointed at the CCTV camera crazily, as if I had finally taken his bait.

"Patay ka ngayong gago ka." Ngisi niya.

Yumuko ako at sinabayan ang nanunuyang ngisi niya.

"I have the video where you harassed Shiloh. With your team. Naka jersey kayong lahat doon ah? Where was that? Inside the school? Did the school favor all of you and kick out the person who was actually the real victim?"

Napawi ang ngiti niya. Ah? So that video wasn't exposed, huh? I tapped his shoulder.

"I'll hold back. Sa court natin 'to tapusin. I'd expect you'd shoot at least once in the court since your punches didn't even reach on my face. Make sure the ball would at least reach the ring, huh."

With the wrath in his eyes, I know he's determined to play with us.

"Brent Matthew Jarsdel. Search me on the internet so you'd see my play too. It might motivate you." I urged.

Nailing si Mavric at nanunuya ang ngiti sa labi. Tumayo ako at naglakad na palapit sa kotse.

"Bakit mo 'yan pinagtatanggol eh bakla 'yan? Nagpapanggap lang 'yan na lalake pero gusto niyan mangmolestya," natatawang bigkas ng lalake kahit na umuukit ang sakit sa mukha niya at tinutulungang itayo ang sarili.

Nilingon ko siyang muli.

"Really? When the video I've seen is the opposite of your accusations."

Gumalaw ang panga niya sa sobrang iritasyon. Ngunit kalaunan, natawa.

"Sige nga, ipagkalat mo ang video. Tingnan natin kung sinong kakampihan. Lalo na't alam mo na agresibo ang mga bakla sa lalake. Tingin mo kung sasampahan niya kami ng kaso kasi binugbog namin siya, at sinampahan din namin siya ng kaso na minolestya niya kaming lahat, sino bang mas paniniwalaan? Tingin mo kakaawaan siya kung alam ng lahat ang ugali ng mga bakla pagdating sa lalake!"

My expression darkened. He was flipping the real side of the story to make Shiloh look dirty and so that they could get away from harassing him. That it was Shiloh who harrased them first, when the video showed it was them who harrased him for that petty reason of his! Dahil doon sa binibintang niyang inaahas siya ni Shiloh!

"Kaya nga 'yan umalis sa Cebu dahil sa eskandalo niya! Hindi 'yan papayag na masiwalat ang kabaklaan niya para makapangbiktima pa! Sige! Ilabas mo ang video! Tingnan natin kung sino ang hindi magiging katawa tawa sa internet. Isang labas lang namin ng paliwanag na minolestya kami, kakampihan kaming lahat. Lalo na't lalake kami. At bakla siya. At kayo, magiging katawa tawa para ipagtanggol ang taong nangmolestya."

My jaw clenched. I stepped forward for another punch, and this time I was eager to bang his face until he couldn't speak, but Mavric pulled me back. Umiling siya sa akin, seryoso ang tingin.

The man laughed and pulled himself up.

"Tingnan mo nga 'yang kilos niya! Binabae! Malambot pa sa babae! Mahilig pa nga 'yan sa lipstick! Sinong lalake ang gagamit ng make-up? Bakla ang gagong 'yan!"