[RTSG] Kabanata 01

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Stomach in, chest out, and ignore the noise. I have to stand out in our school, Evergreen Heights High.

I flipped my brown wavy hair as I walked past the students who kept looking at me. I could hear some girls admiring my OOTD — a dark pink leather jacket with a white tube inside, a leather skirt for the bottoms, and high-knee cut shoewear.

My name is Claire Saddie Dela Vega.

I am well-known at school as 'Claire' — the captain cheerleader, the top achiever in class, and the muse of Evergreen Heights High. 

Maganda ang reputasyon ng Evergreen Heights High kaya naman kilalang-kilala ito sa amin. The teachers could teach well, maganda din ang ambiance ng school grounds, classrooms, cafeteria, gymnasium, and music room. 

Ang maganda din sa Evergreen Heights High ay napapalibutan ito ng mga puno kaya naman presko ang hangin sa paligid. 

Malawak ang school grounds kung saan kadalasan ginaganap ang mga school events kagaya ng Sports Fest, Foundation Day, Graduation Ceremony at JS Prom.

The only problem with this school was the students who kept bashing me. Alam ko na may sinasabi ang iilan tungkol sa akin kapag nakatalikod ako.

I tried not to pay attention to those haters and only focused on other people's kind words. Sabi nga nila, we are not everyone’s cup of tea which is true. 

Mabuti na lang, mayroon akong isang matalik na kaibigan na hindi nakikinig sa ibang tao. As long as may kaibigan ako na ganon, I’m all good.

Her name is Jessica Abad.

Siya ang bestfriend ko since first year highschool. We were both in our last year of highschool at ilang buwan nalang, matatapos na din kami sa highschool.

Sadly, after ng graduation, pupunta siya sa Canada para mag-aral ng college. Lihim akong napa buntong hininga dahil dun. 

Lost in thoughts, I heard Jessica's voice calling my name. I stopped and turned around to face her.

“Claire!”

As usual, her brown eyes glimmered in joy as she kept on waving her arms up in the air at me. Napakamasayahing tao ni Jessica at bihira mo lang siyang makikita na nakasimangot. 

Unlike me, Jessica is very simple. Kagaya ngayon, her long brown hair was tied up in a bun and she was wearing a simple t-shirt and simple jeans. Pero kahit na simple ang suotan niya, kayang-kaya niyang dalhin ng walang ka effort effort.

“Jessie!”

Hinintay ko siya hanggang sa nakarating na siya sa tabi ko at sabay na kaming naglakad papunta sa classroom namin. While walking, I could feel that people’s attention was on us and I loved every bit of it. We continued talking until we reached the second floor and began walking through the hallway. 

Habang naglalakad kaming dalawa, may dalawang estudyante na tumakbo who "accidentally" bumped into me. I stumbled a little but was able to regain my composure quickly. 

“Whoa, watch where you're going!” I called out to that student. 

Alam ko na sadya 'yun dahil naramdaman ko kung paano niya itinima ang balikat niya sa balikat ko. 

Buti't hindi ako lampa kaya hindi ako napatumba agad. “Saka, hindi ba, against the rules ang pagtakbo sa hallway?”

“Ugh, look at her. Pabibo nanaman.” 

Tinignan ko ng masama ang nagsabi 'non saka siya nanahimik. Akala ko, okay na pero biglang may isa pang nagsalita, and the others followed. 

Are they ganging up on me? 

Definitely.

It’s always been this way. Pero marunong akong lumaban dahil nasanay and immune na ako sa ganitong sistema. 

I marched up to the group of students who gave nasty remarks and folded my arms together under my chest.

“Excuse me? Are you talking about someone who only follows the rules?”

“Ano ka? Tatakbong presidente? Why do you always have to show-off kapag may chance?” Narinig kong sabi ng arch nemesis ko mula sa likod ko.

I spun my heels to face her. “Penelope…”

She faked a smile. “If you think that showing off will make you rise, you are wrong. As long as nandito ako, hindi ka agad-agad makakaakyat.” She flipped her long blonde hair.

I rolled my eyes at her. Kung may long-time friend ako, mayroon din akong long-time rival and that is no other than Penelope Vazquez. 

I must admit that she's not that bad. She has the beauty, brains, and bitterness in her heart.

Thankfully, she's not going to Starlight University – my dream university. 

No Penelope, no problem.

Until then, I have to endure her. Kaya lang naman siya ganyan sa akin ay dahil kay Carl, ang taong gusto niya, na ako ang gusto for a very long time.  

Carl is fine but he's not my type. If she wants Carl, she can have him.

“Okay, Penelope, it's too early to fight. Saka, imbes na mang-away ka diyan, bakit hindi mo nalang sawayin ang mga estudyante na tumatakbo sa hallway? Tutal, tambay ka naman ng hallway, hindi ba?” 

She stepped closer and glared at me. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag at pumirmi lamang sa lugar ko habang binibigyan siya ng masamang tingin. 

“Don’t you dare boss me around!”

Biglang tumahimik ang paligid, at ramdam ko ang titig ng mga estudyante sa aming dalawa.

“Then do yourself a favor, and be a great and reputable student,” sagot ko ng seryoso. “Kung tama lang ang ginagawa mo, tingin mo, ica-call out ko ang atensyon mo?”

“Wala kang karapatan. Hindi naman ikaw ang presidente o ang hall monitor, hindi ba?”

“Well at least I am trying to be a good student,” sabi ko. “Hindi kagaya mo na hina-harass ang babaeng kinaka-inggitan  mo.”

“Excuse me? Me? Jealous of you?” She laughed sarcastically. “Don’t make me laugh, Claire. Ano ang dapat kong pagselosan sa’yo?” She looked at me from head to toe. “I’m like, a hundred times better than you!”

“Oh, sorry, I should have been more precise,” I smirked at her and continued. “You’re envious of me because I am the girl Carl loved the most.”

She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth.  My lips curved in victory.

“Oh, did I hit a nerve?” I spoke again and chuckled. Bago pa siya magsalita muli, Jessica stepped in and dragged me out of the situation kasi alam niya kung ano ang ending kapag nagpatuloy — catfight.

“Tara na, Bessy. Don't waste your time dealing with that girl. Baka ma-late lang din tayo.” 

We left Penelope with her minions behind and proceeded to our classroom. 

---

As soon as we entered the room, we walked to our seats. Sobrang ingay ng klase at sobrang gulo ng classroom. 

Nagkalat ang mga papel at notebooks, may mga chalks din sa lapag na durog-durog at disorganized din ang mga upuan. Parang nasa kindergarten classroom ako. 

Inilapag ko ang mga gamit ko sa upuan, at ganon rin ang ginawa ni bessy na nakaupo lang sa tabi ko. Habang wala pa ang teacher, nagchikahan na muna kaming dalawa ni bessy. 

Napahinto kami saglit nang maramdaman namin ang paglapit ng isang lalaki na nakaupo sa likod ko.

His name is Brandon Orland.

We are in the same class, but we never talked. I was convinced that he was the quiet type, but I wasn’t sure if he was a snob or unfriendly. 

Minsan, nakikita ko na may mga kasama siya pero minsan naman ay wala. Other than that, wala na akong alam tungkol sa kanya. Jessica was friends with him, but I never tried befriending that guy. 

He looked kind and hot with his tanned skin, faded hairstyle, and pointed brown eyes. He got this bad boy baby face look, but I couldn’t feel the bad boy vibes from him. 

‘Yung gupit niya ngayon ay isa sa mga kilalang men hairstyle this 2014. But still, he didn’t pass my standard. 

He wasn’t an achiever at school and he looked laid-back. I didn’t mean to judge or be mean but he was no match for me. 

“Good morning, Brandon!” Masiglang bati ni Jessica.

“Good morning, Jessie!” Bati niya pabalik.

He addressed her using her nickname. Close nga talaga sila. Ang mga tumatawag lang sa kanya na 'Jessie' ay ang mga taong malalapit sa kanya kagaya ko.

“Hindi ka ba babati, bessy?” Tanong ni Jessie sa akin habang nakangiti.

She looked hopeful na batiin ko siya but to her dismay, I said, “Why would I? Eh hindi naman kami close and hindi din naman ako interesado.” 

Hindi kumibo itong si Brandon which was good.

“'Wag ka ngang ganyan! Brandon is my childhood friend kaya gusto kong maging magkaibigan kayong dalawa,” sabi niya. “He's not mean. Mas mabait pa nga siya kaysa sa'yo.”

I rolled my eyes and ignored her. Then nag-usap silang dalawa sa likod ko at hinayaan ko nalang. Instead, I began fiddling with my phone. 

Habang busy ako kaka-scroll sa social media, I saw Penelope's groupie sa Facebook ngayong umaga lang. Wala ba silang klase or what? Nagpicture kasi sila sa garden kung saan may magandang view. Perfect spot for chilling and taking photos. 

Suddenly, I received a message from Carl. It's been a while since he talked to me kaya nakakapagtaka kung bakit siya biglang nagparamdam.

Carl tried to pursue me for years, but I kept rejecting him until he stopped trying. 

We have known each other since elementary here at Evergreen Heights High. Carl was nice and I appreciated the efforts he put in when he was trying to pursue me. 

Kaso, wala talaga eh. I couldn’t feel anything special for him so I had to stop him. Sinimulan kong basahin ang message niya at saka nagreply.

Akala ko, sumuko na siya kasi bigla nalang siyang tumigil. Akala ko lang pala. I want him to move on from me and focus on himself so I blocked him.