Guidance
I know that she will be mad at my decision, but I have no choice. I didn't know anyone who could rule this school.
As I expected, I received a hard slap from her. T-ngina, para namang hindi babae mga nasa paligid ko. How can they punch harder than Javier?
"H-yop na'to! Dinamay pa ako sa kalokohan niya. Anong trip mo ha, Grayson Josh? For god sake's, binigyan mo pa ako ng responsibilidad, jusko!" galit na galit na pagrereklamo ni Ava. Well, I couldn't blame her. I just decided without her consultation.
"Ah! Ah! Pwede akong vice president," napatawa na lang ako sa nasasabik na pagboboluntaryo ni Keaira. Akala mo talaga kaya niya. She can't even do an assignment.
Hinawakan naman ni Aubrey ang noo ni Keaira, I mean I would do the same if she didn't do it.
"Ano ginagawa mo, Aubrey?" naguguluhan at inosenteng tanong ng babae.
"Tinitingnan kung may lagnat ka. Para kasing kasing wala ka sa sa tamang pag-iisip mo ngayon," mapaglarong sagot naman ni Aubrey.
Keaira slapped Aubrey's hand and acted like she's pouting. She even hides behind Ava.
"Suss, baby-baby-han, hindi bagay sayo," Javier teased.
"Nahiya naman sayo," she replied but Javier just shook his head while smiling.
I felt weird about how Ava looked at me. Pakiramdam ko, binubugbog na niya ako sa kaloob-looban ko.
"Got'a go! May varsity meeting pa kasi kami. Kaya mo na yan," I tap Ava's shoulder. She couldn't help but put her hands on his waist and gape. I chose her because I trust her. I know she can do that. Wala lang talaga akong choice. Wala e, naipit ako.
I hurriedly left that place before the ghost chased me, I mean Ava chased me.
The intrams just ended. Yael, Javier, and I are varsity players, while Rocco was nothing, just hanging out. He likes board games, but I don't know why he didn't participate. I'm sure he knows that this is our last year as high school students. Hindi ko alam pero obsessed na yata yun sa aral at libro. That's all he always does. Well, may magandang epekto, oo, but he doesn't need to soak. It's also important to have fun from time to time, especially since this is our last year; he should make the most of it.
"No pressure, okay? Just do your best this upcoming District Meet. Kung kating-kati kayong manalo then be it. But remember the most important thing in basketball, don't take it too seriously and have fun. Senior High pa lang kayo, you still have a long journey ahead," coach Miem advising us.
I didn't know coach has this side.
"You will know the game bracket later on,"
"And also before I forgot, magiging strict ako about sa practice time niyo. Next week, susukatan na kayo after taking the medical," he added.
"Dismiss," and our coach has ended our meeting.
I entered our room peacefully while Yael and Javier are chitchatting about something. Hindi ko alam kung ano nangyayari sa akin but I feel like so empty right now. By the way, where is he? I didn't see him since this morning. I grinned foolishly. What am I thinking? I shook my head while heading at my chair.
"May special someone na si Gray, mga tol! Bigla-bigla na lang tumatawa," Yael shouted and all of the students in our classroom heard it. May iba pang mga babae na nadismaya habang ang iba naman ay nagbulungan. What would I expect? I'm popular with girls but I've never been attracted to anyone. Of course, they know that. Sila pa, they are like detective conan when investigating. They already know almost everything about me. So I am no longer surprised by their act.
I kicked Yael's butt. G-go talaga 'tong lalaking 'to kahit kailan. Lahat na lang napansin. Porket tumawa may special someone na agad? Kaya walang bagay na malilihim sa lalaking 'to eh. Imagining, he was the first to know about my family's secret. No one at this school knew about that, and I didn't intend to tell anyone, but everyone in my cof found out because of this man.
"Saan ka galing?" Javier asked Rocco as soon as he entered the room.
"Sa cafeteria," si Rocco habang binibigay kay Javier ang binili niyang paborito nitong cake.
Sumilay ang malaking ngiti kay Javier. Kaya lumalaki ang ulo e. Ini-spoil niya.
"Pahingi ako," kukuha na sana si Yael ng tapikin ni Javier ang kamay nito.
"Bumili ka," pagdadamot ng spoil na baby damulag.
Kahit kailan talaga, para silang mga utak bata.
Hindi pa man nakakarating ang guro namin ay pumasok si Sephora sa classroom namin at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.
"T-ngina, Seph" pagmumura ko at napansin kong wala namang nagulat sa mga nakakita dahil alam na naman nila na kung sino-sinong tao na lang ang hinahalikan ng babaeng 'to. Mapapalalaki man o hindi. That's why many women are jealous of her because she can kiss even Rocco. There's nothing we can do, we're used to it.
"Nagtoothbrush ka ba?" nandidiri kong tanong habang pinupunasan ang parte na hinalikan niya.
"Naneto, wala akong germs," she said annoyingly.
"Nandito lang naman ako kasi gusto kong sabihin sa inyo na pupunta tayo sa bar ng Kuya mo mamaya. Isama mo yang mga kupal dahil ico-comfort natin si Aubrey," maarte niyang wika.
"Bakit? Nagpriprisinta lang yun kanina na mag vi-vice president siya ah," nagtatakang tanong ni Javier.
"Anong nangyari?" seryosong tanong ni Gavin habang naglalakad papunta sa gawi namin.
Bakas na ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Seph. Kitang-kita mo ang takot sa kaniyang mga mata. Because Gavin approached us in this way, I feel like the temperature of the classroom suddenly changed. I could clearly see the curiosity on his face.
"Eh k-kasi..." Seph stammered.
"What?" hindi sigaw ngunit isang malamig at malakas na boses ang inilabas ni Gavin. Even the students were looking at us.
Tumingin ako kay Seph ng may pagtatanong sa mukha. It would be better if she said it until early. Kahit ako ay medyo umiba rin ang pakiramdam. I was nervous with anger. Ewan ko pero hindi ako mapakali. Kahit si Javier ay natigil din sa pagkain at biglang nagasumot ang mukha. Gavin can really change the mood of the gang.
"Right after you two left," tumingin siya sa amin ni Javier. The three approached where we were. Seph sighed heavily before continuing, "Right after you to left, nakita namin si Ralph na may kasamang babae. We approached him. Pero ang sabi ni Ralph, hindi niya raw kilala si Aubrey. Tapos maya-maya, kinausap ni Ava yung lalaki. He said that being with Aubrey was boring. He says she's ugly to style clothes. He even said that it's not worth it to be Aub's girlfriend. Nagalit si Ava, sinuntok niya yung lalaki. Ayun, nagkarecord sa guidance. I am worried because she will be the school's president. Until now, we still don't know anything about the decision of the guidance,"
Gavin kicked the table near to him. "Bakit hindi nyo agad sinabi sa amin?" galit na sigaw ni Javier.
Tsk, why did we get in this situation? Kanina nag-aasaran lang sila.
"I already told him not to mess with us," Yael's yapping.
I looked at Rocco but he's the same with me. He's calm but I know he's also angry. I can feel it. I think he's just also thinking about the consequences of these three once they act.
Gavin was about to leave when I stop him. "Gavin!" as I shook my head.
Inalis ni Gavin ang kamay ko sa kaniya at nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo. I can see the darkness of his eyes. Napakamainitin talaga ng ulo ng lalaking 'yon. Bakit kasi ang tagal dumating nung subject teacher namin? Kakupal kumilos!
I looked at the three, and I was surprised when Rocco was the only one there. "Nasaan na yung dalawa?"
Rocco sighed. "They followed Gavin,"
I licked my inner cheek. That three really.
Rocco and I had no choice but to follow them.
Rocco and I ended up here in the abandoned building. The three are standing in front of the 20 people with Ralph. So, handa pala ang kumag. I told Gavin to step back but he's refusing as well as the two. Don't they know that I don't want to be made to repeat myself? I was about to yell at them because I already told them twice when Ralph spoke. "Akala niyo ba natatakot ako sa inyo? Si Aubrey? Parausan ko lang 'yon. Hingian ng pera 'pag naubos yung akin. Balak ko nga sanang iwan pagkatapos kong matikman kaso ayaw magpatikim. Sayang nga e, ang gaganda pa naman ng mga babae sa cof niyo. Siguro masasarap din sila," I clenched my fist because of my anger and my vision are getting darker and darker. "Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, nakakaboring kasama ng kaibigan niyo. Hindi lang 'yon, nakakairita pa. Siguro marami na ring lalaki ang nagsawa doon," he laughed so his companions also laughed.
Gavin was about to rush to punch that bastard when I preceded him. The bastard was about to say something again when my hands approached his dirty face. His face received one blow after another. He's bloody, and they can't see anything but anger on my face. No one let go of me, so I'm sure that the four behind won't be able to move in shock. This is the first time they have seen this side of me because I have never been this angry before. I don't know if this man's colleagues will attack me or grab me, but all I know is that not a single hand landed on me to grab me.
I never stopped punching. I calculated that it took me more than two minutes to do this. No one can insult my friends. Not the people around me, not my family, and especially not a useless person like you. Just be thankful, and I'm on top of you right now, hating you because if it's Gavin, you're going to do worse, and most likely, you're not going to make it alive.
Another blow; I'm not satisfied yet.
If you didn't say that, baka sakaling nakapagpigil pa ako. No bad words can describe who they are. Maya-maya ay may umawat na sa akin and I thought sina Gavin 'yon that's why tinulak ko. Then, Yael shouted "Huy g-go ka Gray, ba't mo tinulak si escort?" another blow was about to touch the man's face again when I stop, hearing that word. Madali akong tumingin sa pinagbagsakan ni Arden. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at tiningnan kung okay ba siya "F-ck are you okay? Ba't ba kasi singit ka ng singit? Ba't kasi ikaw yung umawat sa akin?" I looked at the four and they had many bruises on their faces. I observe my surroundings, and I notice that the other 20 are already lying on the ground.
Dahan-dahang tumayo si Arden. "Kung hindi kita inawat edi sana napatay mo na yan," he annoyingly uttered and pointed this bastard using his head.
I once again look at the four badly. Why didn't they grab me?
Javier whistle and acted like he didn't see anything. "Nakakatakot ka kaya, pre. Ibang-iba hitsura mo kanina," Yael explained.
"Even I, I don't have enough strength to come to you. Hindi nga kita nakilala kanina," there we go again with Rocco's calm voice even though he has the most bruises among them.
I glanced at Gavin, "Teka, ba't ako? Si Rocco nga 'di ka magawang lapitan kanina, ako pa kaya?"
I closed my eyes tightly. "Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo dito? Paano mo nalaman na nandito kami?" I asked with less anger than lately and with an iny bitty tiny bit worried emotion.
"H'wag mo ng alamin," he answered flatly.
Man... Mas mataray pa siya sa isang babae.
"What are you thinking, Mr. Mendez?" a loud shout from the principal and a deadly gazed of a head teacher dawned on me.
Sh-t! Ang sakit sa taynga.
"Isa ka pa naman sa top student but you didn't use your brain!" she shouted again.
Dami talagang pakialamero sa mundo.
"I think you should called his parents and get him an expulsion. He beat my son's beautiful face," the mother of that bastard cried without tears. She's acting like her son is the victim here. Tsk! She should stop doing it, the audience will laugh at what she act instead of crying. I'm not good at acting, but her acting is at a different level, pang role play sa Grade-1. Wanted to call my parents? Then do it. Gusto niyo, samahan ko pa kayo.
Even my friends also noticed, so instead of being afraid of our situation, they just laughed.
"Let just wait at your parents," said the head teacher. She's looking at me like I have done the most bad thing in her life.
"Excuse me, Ma'am" Arden raised his hand. I was confused. What is he thinking?
He stopped in front of me. He looked at me before continuing his path on the principal. "Wala silang kasalanan. Self-defense ang nangyari,"
"That's not true," the bastard shouted in anger and fear.
Bago magsimula ulit si Arden ay nagsidatingan ang mga babae sa cof namin. Hyacinth even slapped Gavin's head and whisper something that our cof can only hear, "Ba't ba ang hilig mo sa away? Kasangkot ka rin nung nakaraan ah,"
Gavin rubbed the part Hyacinth slapped and pouted. Hindi talaga maka-imik ang lalaking 'to pagdating kay Hya.
I once again heard Arden's voice explaining, "First of all, Ma'am, ano sa tingin niyo ang mas masakit? Emotional damage or physical damage?" he glanced at the bastard then look back at the principal. "I have a proof and I witness it all," all of us got surprised. He saw all? He knew it all? Ganoon na siya katagal dun?
"What do you think you can do once your loved one has been insulted?" a grinned can't escape on my lips. Damn you, Arden.
"Madali lang maghilom yan mga suntok na yan but the pain he caused can't cure as simple as he thinks. He has no right to judge other people. Even according to Republic Act No. 7610, sometimes referred to as the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act," places emphasis on the necessity of creating a protected environment for children, emphasizing empathy and understanding above condemnation. The statute recognizes that children frequently find themselves in trying situations that call for compassion and support rather than judgment, especially those who are the victims of abuse or exploitation,"
Arden left everyone in the office gaping. I didn't expect that he's this smart. But I'm not accepting defeat. I'm going to win this game and be the valedictorian. But to be honest, I don't understand any single thing. What was this act related to?
"Seems like you all don't understand anything,"
"This act shows the people's judgment on the importance of protecting children. This law reflects society's strong belief that children should be safe from harm and abuse. It provides a framework for holding offenders accountable, aligning with public expectations for justice. The act also responds to advocacy from various groups who pushed for better child protection laws. Overall, RA 7610 represents how the values and opinions of the people can lead to meaningful legal changes aimed at safeguarding children," he titled he's head because he knows everyone except me still didn't understand his statement even the principal and the head teacher.
Nasa office ba kami or nasa discussion?
"I'm just saying that you shouldn't be judged someone physically or mentally. I will passed the record to you asap," looks like he gave up explaining. I get his point. Everything he says make sense.
"A-ah, o-okay," the principal seems still not functioning and she's still shock.
In the end, the principal only gave us punishment. We would even be kicked out of the varsity, but we have no choice but to beg. We have to clean the university in a month. That's a heavy punishment, but it's better than expulsion and being kicked out of the varsity.
"Iho, thank you for saving these bastards. We owe you one," my mom thanked him gratefully.
I rolled my eyes in the air. Tsk! Kaya ko din yun, naunahan niya lang ako.
My friends parents also thanked him, but my mother is on another level. She invited him to have dinner with us. I refused, so my dad hit me because of my actions. Why did they even have to invite him? A simple thank you will do.