BAKIT ka lumipat dito?” Shanta incessantly asked her sister for the nth time in gritted teeth. “Bakit ka pa lumipat dito, ha?”
Lumalaki ang mga mata ni Shanta at namumula ang mga pisngi niya. The heat was excruciating, for the way she looked at her was blazing with fire.
But the woman who called her sister served as the wind and fuel that ignited Shanta’s inner bomb.
“Ano na naman ang gusto mong mangyari, ha? Naghahasik ka ba ng gulo? Nais mong mang-agaw muli? Sumagot ka." Shanta continued and stepped closer before her. “At inuulit ko lang sa ‘yo, Avancea...”
Tumigil siya saka ngumisi bago magpatuloy muli. “Hindi mo Daddy ang Papa ko. Isa ka lang sampid sa
THE NEXT DAY at Sande University was odd. From what you could tell 'odd', it was really odd. Like a rain in a sunny afternoon. Every student I walked past was grinning to their ears and whispering to each other. Hindi ganito ang karaniwang bungad sa akin noon dahil iba't iba ang kanilang mga ekspresyon. Before, bright students would have a busy time reading a book while walking and others would be running in the hallway just to get to their next class. While most of them, particularly the girls, would be gossiping beside a post in an unsuspicious manner. Pero nag-iba na 'yon habang naglalakad ako sa pasilyo patungo sa third floor sa aming classroom. Bitbit ang backpack ko sa isang balikat,
HUMAKBANG paatras si Clavis nang sumulong si Shanta. Her brown orbs turned into an eye of a wolf. Bawat hakbang niya ay parang sinlaki ng mga hakbang ng isang higante. Nakakatakot at nakakakaba. "Magpaliwanag ka," walang halong birong utos ni Shanta. Tinitigin niya nang maigi ang kanyang pinsan. "Bakit wala akong alam tungkol dito? Ba't kayo naglihim sa akin? Bakit... hindi niyo ako sinama?" Her cousin latched onto my uniform with trembling hands. Inis na nilingon ko siya. I tried pulling it back while he continuously clutched it. Pero ayaw niyang bitawan! "P're…" He frowned, his eyes begging me. "Patigilin mo siya, p're…" Believe me, I wanted to pity him. Pero kinukusot niya ang damit ko kaya bahala siya! H
SHANTA STILL showed her teeth, implying that everything was okay, despite having to deal with late cancellations. Kahit na labag sa loob ko ay ngumiti na rin ako. It was the best thing to do at the moment.Ayaw kong maramdaman niyang may nalulungkot o naaawa para sa kanya. Hindi niya gugustuhin ‘yon. That's how I have observed her for the past few months. Frankly, it would hurt her pride.Kaya kung nais kong makatulong, kailangan ko lang sumabay sa agos, like I was a log floating on a river. I should not tell more that would provoke her emotions.“Dalmi! Ayos ka lang ba?! Hindi na kayo matutuloy?” tawag-pansin ni Clavis mula sa kanyang upuan. “Anong nangyari? Ba’t umalis ang mga ‘yon? Anong ginawa sa 'yo?”
ALLEVA forwarded to Shanta with eyes filled with guilt and fakeness. Kinuha niya ang dalawang kamay nito at hinalikan. Samantala, nakatungo si Elmary at patuloy sa paghimas ng kanyang buhok.Alleva begged and said, "Sizzy, we're sorry! I will explain. There must have been a misunderstanding. Let me clarify everything.""It's true, Dalshie!" Elmary seconded and pouted. "May hindi kami na-explain to you, so please hear us out. The truth is… the dinner was postponed. Mom chatted me just a while ago. I didn't expect it!"She then covered her mouth. "Sorry! Nabalitaan ko lang talaga kanina! I tried chatting with you, pero nag-aya si Yeva bigla. Sorry talaga, Dalshie!""Eh, kung hindi ka pala bobo, sana ay sasabiha
DAL… is that you?" Hinawi ni Euart ang tatlong babae sa gilid. "D-Dal, what are you doing here? I mean… mag-usap tayo."Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad sa harap ni Shanta habang nanlalaki ang kanyang mga mata. Marahil ay hindi nito inaasahang makikita niya kami sa parehong lugar kung nasaan siya."Lagot na…" bulong ni Lachlan. "P're, kabado ako. Samahan mo 'ko.""Oh, shit. Ako rin. Dito ka lanf sa akin." Napahawak si Katlego sa braso ng kanyang katabi. "Guerra na yata ito, erp."Ngunit bahagyang sumama ang loob ko sa kaibigan ko. Well, it was not only me. Pati na rin si Clavis na masama na ang tingin kay Euart ngayon. Even I heard Jirario click his tongue in disappointment. 
SA MGA ARAW na nagdaan ay hindi pa rin pinaunlakan ng pansin ni Shanta ang kaibigan ko. Sobra ang sama ng loob niya sa kanyang nobyo. Sa paraan ng pagtrato niya kay Euart, she's as cold as Christmas night, the polar zones, places in high altitudes, and the kind of weather before six in the morning. Ibang klase ng sama ng loob iyon, for she was truly stabbed in the back. In the core. Deep. The dagger used to injure her heart was held by her dearest friends while puppeteered by her one greatest rival. Plus, the damage only got worse when she witnessed her boyfriend with them. It was a normal reaction, but frustrating. Inaakala niyang abala sila ngunit pinag kasinungalingan lang siya. The kind of di
AFTER TWO WEEKS of preparation para sa nalalapit na mid-quarter examinations sa Sande University, hindi ko pa rin nakukuha ang isang topic sa Physics. Sobra akong naiirita!"Hoy, Kagan sa planeta! Tulala ka na naman! Ba't ka nakasibangot, ha?" Clavis clapped his hands while laughing at me, and I flinched.Tumingala ako sa kanya mula sa pagkaka upo. I glared at him, but did not say anything dahil wala akong gana.He then went to his seat and sat there while still smiling. How could he be so relaxed after the intense brain workout? Nanunuyo ang utak ko!"Hulaan ko kung bakit masama ang loob mo?" He said.I raised a brow as I watched him contain hi
MATAPOS siyang umalis ay naghanap ako ng mesa para doon magbasa ng lessons. It was at the back end beside a tall antique window. I settled myself on a chair. Katapat ko 'yong mismong bintana at sa labas, natatanaw ko ang asul na kalangitan. The peak of the trees also peeped out like a sly kid. Its leaves swayed, but the cool air could not be felt. Sarado kasi ang bintana. Although it calmed my nerves, my heart was still bruised and my body felt weak. I don't know if I still have the courage to finish reading the novel. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong ganang ituloy iyon. There was no reason for me to read it. I hoped for a happy en