Chapter 48: History

River...

Why can't he leave my mind? I still can't believe that he has a definition for love!

Kasalukuyan akong nakahiga sa kama ko and it's already 9:30 in the evening. At kaninang six ay naghapunan kami ni Julia. And now, we will be resting already. Pero ako, sa halip na matulog na, hindi pa ako makatulog! While Julia is already sleeping peacefully!

Nagpaikot-ikot pa ako sa kama ng ilang beses at napag-isipan ko pang magbasa ng libro upang antokin. At uminom rin ako ng fresh milk and it helped. I fell asleep after a few minutes...

*****

When I woke up, I decided to cook breakfast. I cooked some pancakes that we don't usually eat for breakfast. But let's just give it a try if pancakes are good in the morning.

"Why does that smell so good? It smells sweet." Sabi ni Julia ng nakapasok siya sa kusina.

"Let's try pancakes for breakfast."

Namutla naman agad ang mukha ng kaibigan ko. From the jolly face, her face turned... dull. Like something broke her.

"A-Are you, okay? Do you have allergies with pancakes? I'm sorry I'll just throw it out—"

"N-No, it's okay... I-I just remembered my Mom. She used to make pancakes for me and Kuya. Her pancakes were the best." Maluha-luha niyang sabi. Shit, feeling ko tuloy ang sama-sama kong tao! I shouldn't have thought about pancakes!

"I'm sorry. I-I didn't know, Julia. I didn't think that this will happen—"

"No, it's okay. Let's eat it. It's not your fault. Hindi mo naman alam eh at tsaka gusto ko ring kumain ulit ng pancakes. It's been a while since I had one." Nakangiti niyang putol sa sinabi ko. But I still can see sparkle of tears in her eyes.

"Are you sure?" Usisa ko sa kanya. Baka mamaya kasi, pinipilit niya lang ang sarili niya.

"Oo naman!" Masigla niyang sabi.

"Okay then," Sagot ko at kumuha na kami ng pinggan at mga kubyertos upang maka-kain.

Habang kumakain kami, biglang nagsalita si Julia. "Bakit mo nga pala naisipang magluto ng pancake?"

"Wala lang... I just wanna try if pancakes are good for breakfast."

Namilog naman ang mga mata niya sa sinabi ko. "You don't eat pancakes for breakfast?!"

"No, I don't. Why, is it really necessary to eat pancakes for breakfast?"

"Hindi naman. But I am just surprised that you don't eat pancakes for breakfast. And this means that this is your first time eating pancakes for breakfast?"

"Well yeah, this is my first time. I eat pancakes for dessert only."

Yeah, it's true. I don't eat pancakes for breakfast and this is the first time I did. Kapag umagahan kasi, ang kinakain ko talaga ay kanin at ulam o kaya'y sandwich. But sweets for breakfast? I don't.

"Oh, I see! So how is it?" Tanong ng best friend ko.

"The pancake is good... But I don't like it for breakfast. I don't like sweets for breakfast, and that's a fact about me." Nakangiti kong sabi habang kinakain ang natitira kong pancake sa plato. "I stick with salty foods for breakfast and not sweets."

"Oh, okay. I'll take note of that." Nakangiting sabi ni Julia habang naglalagay ng syrup sa pancake niya.

Bigla ko na namang naalala ang pamilya ko. The memories I have with my family when me and my brother were still kids. We are so joyful when we eat with our parents. But now, that we are both grown ups, everything is so different from before. Yes, nagsasabay pa rin kaming apat na kumain sa hapag pero ibang-iba na kami sa dati.

We used to talk about a lot of stuff and then we all laugh at each other's jokes. Pero ngayon na malalaki na kami, all has changed. Sina Mommy at Daddy ay hindi na nakikipag-kwentuhan sa amin at nakikitawa. Kinakamusta nila ang pag-aaral namin at palagi nila kaming sinasabihan na dapat kaming magtagumpay sa buhay so we will be their successors.

Our father is often reading the newspaper or answering calls from his office while he sips his favorite coffee, and our mother is always reading magazines or busy answering calls too while she's eating.

There are lots of times that we don't eat together. Ang rason ay abala sa trabaho o kaya may pupuntahang occasions sina Mommy at Daddy. Pero sanay na ako despite all of these. And I know my brother is too.

I wonder, how are Julia's parents? Paano ba sila nakikitungo kay Julia? Are they strict and forceful like my parents, or are they not?

"Julia, how's your parents? Do they force you on something or are they good to you and they let you do what you want?" Hindi ko maiwasang magtanong sa kaibigan ko. I really wanna know.

Natigilan naman si Julia. "Bakit mo naman natanong 'yan?"

"Hmm... I'm just wondering."

"Well, they are strict to me and Kuya. Pero sabi nila, sa huli, mananaig parin ang desisyon namin para sa mga sarili namin."

"Oh okay," Tanging nasabi ko.

Pagkatapos naming kumain at gawin ang mga dapat gawin, umalis na kami sa dorm at dumiretso na sa una naming klase. Which is again, Mrs. Cassandra Suldivar's class.

Bigla ko namang naalala ang nangyari nung nakaraang araw. The bruise I got from saving a newbie, hurts. But again, I don't regret it at all. And I managed to keep it from my best friend by putting concealer on it that really matches my skin tone.

Yeah, I know that it's a crazy thing to do. I know it's a crazy idea but heck, it works! I can still see a little bit of purple on my skin but the concealer managed to hide most of it.

*****

After the two classes, it's recess time. Hindi naman ako gutom at tanging tubig lang ang ininom ko. Me and Julia are currently in the cafeteria and she's eating a cupcake.

Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng pag-uusap ng may naka-cloak na namang pumunta sa amin. "Miss Julia, pinapatawag po kayo ni Madame. She said you need to be in her office, ASAP."

I can't help but to roll my eyes. Ano na naman ba ang pakana ni Madame? Tungkol na naman ba ito sa party? O kaya'y kill fest?

"Okay, I'll go." Sabi ni Julia at agad-agad siyang tumayo. Pero bago siya umalis, nagpaalam muna siya sa akin. "Aalis muna ako, Zee."

"Sige,"

I saw sadness on my best friend's face. "Pasensya na, ha? Hindi ko alam kung ano na naman ba ang sasabihin sa akin ni Madame. Nakakainis siya! Inaabala niya ako."

Julia told me her last two sentences in a low voice. Nandyan pa kasi yung naka-cloak, at hinihintay siya. Gusto nitong makasiguro na pupunta kaagad si Julia sa opisina ni Madame.

"Walang problema... Go ahead, huwag mo na akong isipin." I said to her with an assuring smile.

"I'll be back as soon as possible." Sabi niya na ikinatango ko lamang at pagkatapos 'non, umalis na ito kasama ang naka-cloak.

Meron pa akong oras para magliwaliw dahil recess time pa lamang at malaki pa ang oras na natitira. Kaya, pumunta ako sa Fountain Area.

I found relaxation in this place. Kahit papaano ay napapagaan nito ang pakiramdam ko. I don't know why I like this place so much. I know, it's just a fountain area but I found peace in it. Walang masyadong tao ang dumadayo rito.

I can say that this place is not liked by the other students. Why? Because this place is just nothing to them because it's quiet here and for them, this place seems to be so boring. Ano naman ang mapapala nila rito? They don't want peace and quiet. They want parties and lots and lots of crowds.

Well, I'm not that type of person. I don't seek attention and I don't want noisy, messy, and crowded places. And here in DU, kahit papaano ay may maganda rin pala rito. The fountain area they have here is so brilliant, so amazing, and so mesmerizing to me. But it doesn't change the fact that this school is hell.

Habang inaamoy ko ang simo'y ng hangin, a woman in a dark blue dress caught my attention. I immediately turned to her to see who she was.

It's Demi! Demi Rave! It's been a long long time since I last saw her! And now, after months of not seeing her, she became bolder and more darker. Her wavy brown shoulder-level hair is just flowing freely on her shoulders. And she is sitting on a bench and she's so prim and proper!

She immediately saw me and her eyes are still the same. She's sending me deadly glares. Naalala ko yung nagawa ko noon sa kanya na hindi ko alam kung paano at bakit ko nagawa... I fuckin' threw a bench at her and I don't know why that happened!

"D-Demi..."

"Hello, Miss Dawnt," Walang gana niyang sabi. But her voice brings shivers on my spine. Matagal-tagal ko ng hindi narinig ang maginaw niyang boses!

"I-It's been a long time since I last saw you..." Wika ko.

"That's for you. You haven't seen me for a long time but me, I always see you." She smirked. Nakakapanindig ng balahibo ang boses niya at ang kanyang ekspresyon!

She's sitting comfortably on the bench. Even if she's just sitting on a bench, you will immediately see that she's a cold woman because of her aura and of how she sits! Her appearance says it all!

"W-What?" Wala sa sarili kong tanong.

She just smirked again.

I observed her full figure. I think we are at the same age. Her curves are in the right places and you can really see it because her body is molded by her dark blue knee-level dress. And her legs are so... smooth! Demi Rave is a sexy woman! Ngayon ko lang napansin ito sa kanya.

She's always wearing a cloak or long dresses that covers her skin and now is the time that she's not wearing one of the likes. Ngayon ko lang na-realize na ang ganda ng kutis niya.

"I should tell you this," My thoughts were interrupted when she spoke again.

"What w-would you tell me?" Tanong ko naman.

"Do you want to know the history of this university? You're a curious girl, right? Tss."

Is she serious?! Is she gonna tell me? 'Cause I really want to know! Maybe some of my questions will be answered after Demi will tell me about the history of DU!

"Please tell me. I want to know the history of this school." I begged her.

"Because I am in the mood to tell a story, I'll tell you." She said in a bored tone while checking on her nails.

"Thank you—"

"But it doesn't change the fact that I don't like you." She cutted me.

I just nodded as a response.

"This university was built twenty years ago... Ipinagawa ito ni Don Renato Vivaldi para sa kanyang asawa na mahal na mahal niya. At ang asawa niya ay si Maria Eleah Castro. Maria Eleah is kind-hearted, and so is Don Renato."

Their names are so old-fashioned but at the same time, elegant! And this university has been standing for twenty years already!

"Yung pangalan ba talaga ng paaralang ito ay Death University?" Tanong ko sa kanya at naupo na rin ako sa kabilang bench.

"No. This school is a peaceful and an awesome school before... before Selina ruined everything." May galit at poot sa kanyang mga mata. "Dahil sa kagagawan niya, nagkandaleche-leche ang lahat. Maraming buhay ang nawala. Kabilang na ang mag-asawang Vivaldi."

Natakpan ko ang aking bibig dahil sa narinig mula kay Demi. Madame Selina killed the couple?

"S-S-She killed them?" Nauutal kong tanong.

Napasinghap si Demi. She's stopping her emotions. "She damn did! She was the most trusted staff in this school. P-Pinagkakatiwalaan siya ng mag-asawa... pero ito yung ginawa niya! She betrayed them! Pinasira niya... p-pinasira niya..."

"A-Ano, Demi? Ang alin ang pinasira niya?"

Hindi na napigilan ni Demi na umiyak. "S-She... s-she hired someone to destroy the steering wheel of the couple's car."

I haven't seen Demi cry like this! Tears also rushed from my eyes. Naiisip ko yung mga magulang ko. I don't want them to be involved in a car accident either!

Madame Selina is so cruel! How could she kill innocent people?!

Mas lumakas pa ang paghikbi ni Demi. "I-I heard her c-conversation with a man. Sabi niya, d-dapat masira ang manibela ng s-sasakyan ng mag-asawa. I-I am too late! I was too late to save the couple! They died! This is all my fault. Kasalan ko lahat ng 'to! I wasn't able to save them!"

Mas napalakas rin ang iyak ko at agad-agad akong tumayo mula sa kinauupuan kong bench at agad-agad kong niyakap si Demi. Nagitla siya sa ginawa ko pero nagpaubaya siya.

"Huwag mong s-sisihin ang sarili mo... Tahan na."

"P-Please let go of me. I don't want a hug." Umiiyak niya paring sabi. Agad-Agad naman akong kumawala sa kanya.

She wiped her tears away and she sat straight. "She turned me to this... She made me the woman I was not before. She made me this cold... Because she turned this university which was Maria Eleah College before, to Death University, a lot of people were killed. Including my friends' lives!"

Her tears rushed again. So that's why she is like this... So cold, dark, and mysterious. I hated this woman and I didn't know what she's going through.

"Huwag mo akong kaawaan. I don't need it." Sabi niya ng pahirin niya ulit ang mga luha na kumawala mula sa mga mata niya.

"May anak ba ang mag-asawa?" Tanong ko.

"Oo. M-Meron silang mga anak. They have three children but I think they are already living their lives accepting their parents' death. It's been three years since the death of the couple."

Nalinawan na ako. Nangangahulugang tatlong taon na pala ang pamamahala ni Madame Selina dito.

"...And it means that Madame Selina has already managed this school for about three years now." Sabi niya pa.

Magsasalita pa sana ako ng tumunog na ang bell.

"Umalis ka na. Ayaw mo naman dibang maparusahan dahil sa pags-skip?"

"S-Sige... Thank you for telling me about the history of this school, Demi. This means a lot to me. Marami akong katanungan sa isipan ko tungkol sa paaralang ito at kahit papaano ay nasagot ang mga katanungan ko... And I'm sorry for your loss."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya dahil alam kong wala siyang planong sumagot.

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