Kristin's POV

Days had passed and small gimmicks from Farita hasn't slow down, perhaps day by day she's making sure I wont be free from her tricks and games.

Ayaw ko sanang pag tuunan ng pansin ang lahat ng pinag gagawa niya pero sumobra naman ata sa part na meron nading ibang estudyante na nakikisali  sa pangti-trip sa akin.

What they mostly do is purposely trip me or, even worse, kick me in the hallway or cafeteria. Bruises are already forming on my lower legs, and it's really starting to hurt.

Kadalasan kasi sa restroom lang ako sinusugod pero ngayon lantaran na. Lintik nga lang at ang galing din nilang tyumempo. Nagiging anghel ang lahat kapag kasama ko sina Ivy at Yna pero pag wala na sila, maghahasik na nang lagim ang lahat.

Papatapos na nga ang araw at lahat kami ay pagod na nagliligpit ng kanya-kanyang mga gamit dito sa gym. Nagkaroon kasi kami ng physical exam sa PE at nililigpit namin itong mga equipment na ginamit namin sa exam.

Mag-isa ako ngayong nagliligpit sa iilang gym mats at habang abala sa paglulukot niyon ay nakita ko si Yna na papalapit. Agad kong iniwasan ang mga titig niya ng makalapit ito. Hindi rin naman siya nagsalita pero tinulungan niya akong iligpit ang mat.

She continued helping me put the gym mats back in the storage room. The silence between us felt heavy, with only the sound of mats being folded and placed breaking the stillness. I focused on the task, trying not to think about the fact that she was right there, so close.

As we turned back the last mat, I didn't even notice that she was about to say something. I just couldn't stay there any longer—I quickly turned on my heel and walked out of the gym.

Alam ko namang sinusubukan niyang pagbatiin kaming dalawa ni Ivy pero nasabi ko naman sa kanyang gusto ko munang mapag-isa.

Ayaw ko kasing masangkot pa sila sa kahibangan ngayon ni Farita. And knowing Ivy, guidance office bagsak namin at kapag ganoon, aabot pa kina mama. Iyon ang pinaka-ayaw kong mangyari. So, as much as possible... I will endure this game of hers, alone.

And about Yna, I know she understands me as she also tries to tell me that Ivy wasn't really mad at me. She explained that Ivy ended up feeling guilty because she vented out her anger on me, and she was sorry. Alam ko namang hindi iyon sinasadyang sabihin ni Ivy.

I know she was just worried about me and didn't mean everything she said. Pero sa mga sinabi niya noong nakaraang Lunes, may totoo naman. Sa sobrang gusto kong maintindihan ang isang tao, I sometimes end up neglecting my own feelings.

I get so caught up in trying to see things from their perspective that I forget about myself. I think that's why Ivy got frustrated with me. She could see I wasn't standing up for myself, and maybe that made her feel like I wasn't really listening to her either.

But even knowing all this, it still stings. It's hard to shake the feeling that her words knocked the wind out of me, leaving a heavy weight in my throat that makes it hard to swallow.

I headed to the girls' locker room, feeling my heartbeat slow as I also realize how I put some distance between myself and to them. Lalo na ang pag-iwas kay Yna kanina.

Naisip ko ngang hindi ko dapat siya iniwan roon at ngayon palang, humihingi na ako ng tawad sa kanya dahil mas importante sa akin ngayon na mapag-isa. Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng oras para maproseso ko ng maayos ang lahat ng nangyayari at nararamdaman ko.

I want to make it clear to myself that I fully acknowledge my feelings and everyone else's, para kapag nakausap ko na sila, hindi na mauulit ang nangyari noong nakaraan.

The cool air inside the room was a relief, giving me a moment to gather myself. But just as I was starting to calm down, Farita suddenly appeared out of nowhere, her usual energy buzzing as she filled the space.

"Tin, there you are! I've been looking for you! Andito kalang pa, kaya hindi kita mahanap-hanap sa mga restrooms." she said, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

My thoughts shutdown as I stared at her reflection in the mirror. Lumapit siya na para bang wala siyang ginawa sa aking pangti-trip araw-araw. Lakas loob ko rin siyang hinarap ng hinila niya ang braso ko para simulan ang kung ano na naman ang trip niyang gawin ngayong araw.

"Everything okay?" she giggled asking. "Bigla ka kasing namutla, hindi naman ako multo!" tawa nito sabay hampas sa balikat ko na para bang ganoon kami ka close para gawin iyon. Si Ivy lang naman ang gumagawa no'n sa amin ni Yna.

She then shoved me with such force that my back slammed against the metal locker, knocking the breath out of me. The impact echoed through the cramped space, and all I could think of was the pain ricocheting on my back.

Just then, I heard stifled giggles from behind the huge locker I had collided with. Talaga namang nangilabot nalang ako dahil hindi ko alam na nakapasok din sila o andito na sila bago paman ako maka pasok.

"Ibuhos niyo na!" sigaw ni Farita.

Before I could even process what was happening, may narinig akong kalabog sa itaas ng locker. Tumingala ako para tignan iyon and there was a bucket that was slowly pouring down.

Sa amoy palang niyon alam ko na kung saan galing iyon at wala nanga akong takas ng bumuhos na ang lahat ng laman niyon sa akin. The cold, murky liquid soaked me from head to toe, dripping down my face and clothes, leaving me drenched and humiliated.

The laughter intensified, echoing in the tiled room, as I stood there, stunned and dripping, unable to find the words to respond.

Gasping in shock, I spun around to find Farita's friends standing at the back, smirking. "Oops, may tao pala riyan?!" one of them taunted, while the others erupted into laughter.

My soaked clothes clung uncomfortably to my skin, and I could feel the grimy water trailing down my face and neck. My eyes burned with the threat of tears, but I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Summoning all the dignity I had left, I pushed past them and walked out of the room, their mocking laughter still ringing in my ears.

I trudged down the hallway, every step a reminder of the filthy water that soaked through my clothes. The stench clung to me, making my skin crawl. As I passed by, students glanced my way, their expressions shifting from surprise to disgust.

Some covered their noses, others took a step back, avoiding me as if I carried some contagious disease. Their whispers echoed in my ears, sharp and cutting.

"Gross..."

"Is she serious?"

"Ugh, the smell..."

I kept my head down, trying to block out their voices, but the humiliation gnawed at me. My vision blurred, and I realized too late that I was crying. Tears streamed down my cheeks, mingling with the dirty water still dripping from my hair. I wanted to disappear, to vanish.

Then, through my haze of tears, I suddenly noticed him—Ethan—standing in the middle of the corridor, staring at me with wide eyes. His expression was a mix of shock and confusion, and for a moment, the hallway seemed to freeze around us.

I stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding in my chest. Ethan's gaze flicked from my tear-streaked face to my soaked clothes, and I could see the concern in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to say something, but I couldn't bear it. I turned away, wiping my tears with trembling hands, embarrassed to let him see me like this.

But he didn't leave. Instead, I felt his presence beside me, warm and steady, as he gently placed a hand on my shoulder. Agad ko rin namang winasiwas ang kanyang kamay dahil ayaw ko siyang marumihan at sa takot na mabasa siya.

"'W-wag kang lalapit..." pigil ko.

"Anong nangyari? Sinong gumawa niyan sa'yo?" may halong diin sa kanyang boses at nang makita ang mukha niya ay nangungunot ito na tila ba'y nagagalit.

"Where have you been?" iyan ang mga katagang gusto kong sabihin pero naiwan lamang sila sa aking nanginginig na bibig dahil sa ginaw. "Ang sabi mo, I have you..." dugtong ng aking isipan.

Umasa naman ako roon sa sinabi mo pero hindi mo naman ako binalikan. Tapos makikita kita ngayon sa ganitong situwasyon? Nakaka-gago naman 'yong panahon.

Walang ngang may alam sa pinag gagawa sa akin ni Farita, kasi sinasadya niyang pagtripan ako ng hindi na kasama sina Ivy at Yna. Though everyone saw what she was doing but no one did ever speak.

At ngayon ang pinaka malala sa lahat ng ginawa niya. Nalaman niya sigurong hindi pa kami bati ni Ivy kaya sinunggaban niya na ang pagkakataon. Pero naiiba ang araw na'to kasi merong nakakita sa akin at talagang si Ethan pa.

Galing din tumayming ng pagkakataon. Akala ko sa mga pelikula lang nangyayari ang mga ganitong eksena, sa totoong buhay din pala.

"Tin, nanginginig kana..." bumalik ako sa ulirat ng madinig siya. "Tara sa locker room—"

"Huwag mo'kong hawakan!" sigaw ko ng akma niyang abutan ang aking braso.

"You need to change, Krsitin." muli akong umiwas sa akma niyang pag-abot sa akin.

Doon ko naman naramdaman ang panglalambot ng aking mga binti dahil muntik pa akong mawalan ng balanse nang umatras. But, Ethan managed to grabbed my elbows and I immediately felt embarassed.

Sobrang basa at napakabaho ko yet he still hold and looked at me like it didn't matter to him. I immediately trailed off at his deep stares and looked down.

"Y-you'll get dirty, Ethan."

"Are you sick?" he asked, not minding what I said. "Krsitin, alam mo bang nilalagnat ka?" puno talaga ng pag-aalalang aniya pero wala ni kahit anong salita ang lumabas sa aking bibig.

I felt my head getting light, as if I was made from paper, ready to be swept away by the faintest breeze. My vision started to blur, black smoke creeping into the corners of my eyes.

An overwhelming drowsiness took over, my eyelids growing heavier with each step I took toward Ethan.

"Tin? Hey, wake up!" his voice cut through the haze, but it sounded distant, almost as if it were coming from underwater.

"You said I have you..." I murmured, my voice weak, as I clung desperately to the fabric of his dry clothes, feeling the warmth of his body seep into my cold, wet skin.

"Kristin!" sigaw nito pero hindi ko na talaga kaya. His hands gripped my shoulders, shaking me slightly, trying to keep me awake. His voice was laced with panic.

"I thought I could have you," I whispered, the words slipping out before I could hold them back, my breath shuddering with the effort.

His face twisted with regret, and he pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me protectively. "I am really sorry, Tin. I'm a complete jerk for leaving you unattended last Saturday."

"No!" I cried out, my voice breaking. My fingers clutched his shirt tighter, tears welling up in my eyes. "It was fine... It didn't hurt that time, but right now it does. I just questioned my worth... Are you playing with me, hm?"

Ethan's eyes widened, his hands trembling slightly as he held me. "No, I'm not—"

"Liar—" I choked out, the word barely escaping my lips as my strength left me completely. My knees buckled beneath me, and everything went dark.

The next thing I felt was a sensation of being lifted, my body cradled in Ethan's arms. He was moving quickly, his breath ragged as he spoke to me in a soft, frantic tone, though the words were muffled by the thick fog of unconsciousness wrapping around my mind. His warmth was all I could feel as I drifted further into the darkness, the world slipping away completely.

         
        
Weeks Later...

        
I made my way over to where Anne was sitting, her laptop open in front of her as she tapped away at the keyboard. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional click of the mouse. I had the club summary report in my hand, neatly printed and stapled.

"Hey, Anne," I said, approaching her table. She looked up, her eyes scanning my face before they flicked down to the papers I was holding.

"Is that the report?" she asked, already reaching out.

"Yeah," I nodded, handing it over. "I double-checked the details for the fundraiser and the volunteer hours. Everything should be accurate now."

She flipped through the pages, her eyes skimming over the text. "Thanks for this. I’ll go through it again and finalize everything before we send it to Mr. De Leon."

I stood there for a second, watching her read. I could feel my heartbeat slowing down, sa wakas ay makaka-uwi na ako at makakapag pahinga. "Let me know if anything needs fixing," I added.

Anne glanced up, giving me a small smile. "Will do. I appreciate you taking care of this."

"No problem," I said, turning to leave. Pero bago ako makahakbang ay hinabol niya ang aking braso at hinawakan iyon.

"Tin, ayos ka lang?" napalingon ako sa kanya sabay iwas ng tingin. "Namumutla ka eh, may masakit ba sa'yo?"

"Ah, pagod lang. Sige, alis na ako..."

"Teka, Tin. Uhm, matagal na kitang gustong kausapin kaso madalang kitang makita eh. Ano... gusto ko lang sana humingi ng tawad patungkol do'n sa party."

I blinked, caught off guard. Why would she bring that up and apologize now? Nakalimutan ko na nga ang tungkol do'n. I wasn’t really sure how to respond, but my mind was racing, like a ticking time bomb telling me I needed to rest.

Naiinip na ako kaya agad kong binawi ang aking braso. "Ah, that didn’t really matter. I didn’t even expect to be invited anyway, so no hard feelings, really." I knew I sounded sarcastic, but honestly, wala na talaga akong pakialam sa bagay na 'yon.

"Tin—"

"Gotta go," pigil ko kaagad at tuluyan nang umalis.

Damn, gusto ko nalang talagang mahiga at matulog kaya pagkarating sa bahay ay hindi na ako nag-abalang magbihis at sinalampak nalang ang sarili sa kama.

Masama nanga ang gising ko mas lalong pinasama pa ang mood ko ng ma-late sa araw ng exam. Ako lang siguro ang mage-exam na sabog. Finals na finals pero ito pa hindi ko napaghandaan.

I was busy keeping myself okay while everything around me seemed to affect me so negatively that had me thinking about not attending to school. Forever.

Nilalagnat pa ako na halos isang linggo na, grabe naman 'tong happenings ng aking life. Ang oa ko na nga kahit ngayong buwan na ako ga-graduate. Hahaha, bakit ganito na ako mag-isip?

Nawawalan nalang ako ng gana sa lahat. Nagkabati naman kami ni Ivy at Yna kaso bakit parang pakiramdam ko, hindi ko sila nafi-feel? Maski sarili ko nga hindi ko rin ramdam.

Para nalang akong palutang-lutang sa ere. Nagpapatangay sa hangin ang aking presensya habang pinipilit kong hinahanap kung saan man nawala ang aking katinuan.

Heck, I think I'm going nuts.

As the finals exams began, the classroom was filled with the quiet rustle of papers and the occasional scribble of pencils. I sat at my desk, trying to focus on the questions in front of me, but my mind was a foggy mess. My head throbbed, and I felt like I was drifting in and out of reality.

Mr. Santos, our proctor, walked slowly up and down the aisles, his eyes scanning the room. He paused beside my desk, his gaze softer than usual. "Kristin, are you alright? You seem a bit off today."

I looked up, struggling to shake off the haze. "Ah, ayos naman po sir. Just a bit tired, that’s all."

He gave me a concerned look. "If you need a break or some extra time, just let me know. Your health is more important than this exam."

I managed a weak nod, trying to concentrate on the paper in front of me. "Thanks, Mr. Santos. I’ll be okay."

He patted my shoulder gently before moving on. I took a deep breath, trying to focus, but the exam felt like it was slipping through my fingers.

"TIN!" agad akong napa-pikit sa inis ng marinig ang boses ni Ethan sa'king likuran. Kakalabas ko lang ng classroom at nahuli nga ako sa pag sagot ng exam.

Kaya sobrang wrong timing na makita siya ngayon. Kitang-kita ko pa si Farita kasama ang mga alipores niyang naglalakad sa hallway, tsk. At ngayon lang talaga siya nagpakita ulit sa akin. Hanep, din 'tong taong 'to.

Ang lalang trippings's naman neto, lord.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako bago siya nilingon ng nakangiti. Plastik na ngiti. Gustong-gusto ko na sanang sumibat matapos ang anim na oras na exam. Ano naman kaya ang kailangan ng lalaking ito at mukang nagmamadali?

"I'm glad I saw you. How's your exam?" puno rin ng ngiting aniya.

"Ayos naman,"

"Sa nakikita ko parang hindi... Ano, kain tayo sa labas? My treat."

"Ha? 'Wag na, nakakahiya naman. Uuwi nalang ako—"

"Please?" lintik naman. Hindi ko alam kung sa paningin ko lang ito pero nakita ko kung paano nakaka apekto ang simpleng salitang sinabi niya.

His eyes softened, his gaze holding mine with a strange intensity that made me want to look away but kept me rooted to the spot. Ethan said the word “please” like it carried more weight than it should, as though he knew it had the power to break down walls if spoken just right.

The way he said it wasn’t just a request, it was almost like he was convincing me that whatever he wanted—whether it was my trust, my time, or something else entirely—wasn't something I should even consider resisting.

I hesitated. There was a tightness in my chest that had nothing to do with my physical state, this time—it was just him, Ethan, standing so close and looking at me like that.

I couldn’t figure out if he was asking for more than what his words implied, or if I was simply reading into it because, well, it was Ethan. The guy I like.

Just as I opened my mouth to respond, the clamour in the hallway surged. Bigla nalang atang nagka-gulo ang lahat na para bang naka kita ng artista. Paglingon ko ay papalapit nanga sina Farita.

Grabe. Of course, it was Farita.

Her presence had that effect on people. The students seemed to part like a wave as she walked down the hall, her polished appearance and air of entitlement commanding attention without her even needing to try.

For a moment, I saw her glance our way, her eyes flicking toward Ethan, but then she continued on her path, like we were beneath notice.

“Farita’s passing,” someone murmured beside us, barely containing their excitement.

Before I could make sense of what was happening, I felt a sudden shove—a bump, maybe just an accident from the rush of people. But it wasn’t just any bump.

Someone caught my leg awkwardly, and I lost my balance, the floor rushing up to meet me faster than I could brace myself.

I hit the ground hard, the impact jolting my body. A sharp pain shot through my knee as my hands scrambled against the cold, polished floor. Ethan’s startled voice reached me, but my attention was elsewhere, and then I saw her—Farita.

She was glancing over her shoulder, a barely-there smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, so subtle it might have gone unnoticed if I hadn’t been looking right at her.

But I saw it.

The way her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, as though my fall had been a perfectly timed moment in her orchestrated day.

Ethan knelt beside me, worry etched into his features, but my focus was still on Farita as she continued walking, at hindi ko binitawan ang pag tingin sa kanya hanggang sa narinig ko si Ethan.

"What the heck? Bakit ang dami mong pasa?" puna nito ng masilayan ang mga binti ko.

             
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