Villafranca #2

5:32 AM

Reika:

If u can read this, I guess this means I didn't smash your phone that well. Sayang

Don't feel bad if the screen cracked though, be thankful that isn't your face

If u want a replacement phone, ask my dad for a new one tutal close kayo

you twins better not talk to me again

btw, please go to hell :)

I turned off my phone the moment I hit send. I wiped my tears and tried to smile. I've been through worse. To hell be with them. I can live a good life without them. 

Narinig kong may kumatok sa pinto at nang buksan ko, si Ms. Anita pala. Isa si Ms. Anita sa mga loyal na helper sa bahay ni Lolo. Bata pa lang ata ako nagta-trabaho na siya para sa pamilya namin. Pati ang mga anak niya, nagta-trabaho rin para kay Lolo.

"Rei, nasa telepono ang lolo mo." Aniya kaya tumango ako at mabilis na nagpasalamat. Sinara ko ang pinto at kinausap si Lolo sa kabilang linya.

"Hey Gramps!" I faked a happy voice. Good thing he can't see my red swollen eyes.

"Hey, I saw from the CCTV that you're at the house. Anong nangyari? Nag-away ba kayo ni Silver?" tanong niya kaya natawa agad ako pero kasabay nito ang papatak ng mga luha ko.

"Hindi naman po." I let out a really fake laugh hoping Gramps would buy it, hoping the sound of my voice won't give it away. "I just thought Silver needs a room of her own, to focus on her studies. Alam mo naman po ako, medyo maingay. I might distract her."

"Reika, you know you can always talk to Gramps." He said in a knowing town. I had to hold and swallow my breath just so he won't hear my sob. 

"I know." Still, I tried my best to fake it. "I will always tell you Gramps. By the way, I kinda cracked my phone from last night's party. I'm telling you Gramps, super smashed." I even went over-dramatic just to sound like nothing's bothering me.

"Say no more child. I'll just ask Ms. Anita to buy you a new phone. What kind of phone does my best Grandchild want? Don't tell your cousins." Aniya pa kaya natawa na ako nang totohanan.

Seems like I wasn't able to hide my pain after all. 

"I just need a new sim card." I heaved a deep sigh. There's no point of acting all cheerful and sht when Grandpa can see through my bullsht.

"No. Get a new phone. My Granddaughter deserves nothing but the best. How about Vacation? Would you like to watch a rock concert abroad?" He insisted. Trying to heal my pain by materialistic pleasures.

"How about a brand new car?" Biro ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko.

He was silent for a few seconds until he spoke again. "O-of course. But you will also need your own driver, at all times."

Natawa akong muli. This old man's conviction is amazing.

"I love you Gramps." I smiled as I welled up in tears again. Thankful that despite of all the shitty people around me, I still have my Grandpa to lean on. 

"And I love you so much, Reika. If you're ready to talk about what's making your heart heavy, I am always here. Your Kuya Weewee too." Aniya pa kaya natawa akong muli. Damn that nickname of Magno's. 

***

1:34 PM

Reika:

Sawyerrrrr guess who has a new phone?

Bro #2:

I guess its you

Reika:

Ya know who am I?

Bro #2:

Tao ba to?

Reika:

No

Bro #2:

Demonyo ba 'to?

Reika:

Heavens No

Bro #2:

Reika 

Reika:

Am I that predictable?

Bro #2:

Mental telepathy 

Birds of a feather fuck up together

Reika:

I got something better 

Fucked up minds think alike

Bro #2:

Do you want matching friendship bracelets with that?

Reika:

btw naalala mo ba yung utang mong 100?

Bro#2:

Naniningil ka na? Sakit naman nun

Reika:

Kalimutan mo na ang utang na yon :)

Bro#2:

Ok what do u want me to do?

Reika:

Get my things from Silver's house

I'm moving to Gramp's 

Bro #2:

Kaya pala hinahanap ka sakin si Silver

What did the twins do to you?

Reika:

Hindi ba pwedeng ako yung may ginawang mali? hahahaha

Bro #2:

You may look harmful but you're harmless to the people you like

I can beat up Slade but not Silver. I don't want to go to jail

Reika:

Don't beat anyone up

Just get my things and keep your mouth shut

And please, not a word to Magno

Bro #2:

What did the twins do?

Reika:

None of your business

Bro #2:

On a scale of 1-10 gaano kalala?

Reika:

100

Bro #2:

Magdasal ka talagang wag malaman ni Magno

Siguradong lagot ang kambal

Reika:

Thats why you need to shut your mouth

And if Magno asks, just tell him I missed Grandpa and I'm just too shy to admit it

Bro #2:

why protect them

Reika:

I'm not protecting them

I just don't want to be involved with those people anymore

Bro #2:

Ok. Consider it done.

Btw don't sulk

Reika:

I'm not sulking

Bro #2:

Don't cry

Reika:

I didn't hahaha

Bro #2:

Not even a single tear?

Reika:

Gago Miracle at Cell No. 7 nga di ko iniyakan, sila pa kaya???

Bro #2:

You didn't even watch that movie

You backed out remember?

Reika:

That was Magno

Bro #2:

Okay fine

I'll drop your stuff later

Nag absent ka ba?

Reika:

Yeah

Bro #2:

Wag ka mag-absent bukas

Baka akalain apektado ka

Reika:

Hindi naman talaga hahaha

Bro #2:

Si Reika De Juan? Magpapapekto sa kahit na sino? Hahahaha

Reika:

Never hahahaha

I wiped my tears as I sent another message, holding every sob dying to come out. I laid on my bed and bit my lips, trying to stop it from trembling. My eyes hurt so much from crying and my head felt so heavy.

Sawyer's right. I can't let those people affect me, especially my Father.

He's already gave me enough pain. I'm not letting him and his lackey's hurt me ever again. 

****

The Next day, I attended all of my classes and paid attention to my Professor diligently not because Silver told me to but because Braylee was my partner and I couldn't dare to mess up. Even if my heart felt so heavy, Braylee's crazy antics were enough to make me feel like nothing's wrong. Braylee alone was enough to lift my mood. Maya't-mayang ba naman magpakita ng kung ano-anong memes. Parang si Magno lang.

Niyaya niya akong sumabay sa kanilang mag lunch pero mabilis akong tumanggi. Malaki kasi ang chansang naroon si Silver kaya umiwas na ako. 

Matapos kumain nang mag-isa sa rooftop ng isa sa mga building, nagtungo ako sa locker ko upang kunin ang P.E uniform ko para sa susunod na klase ngunit nahigit ko ang hininga nang makita si Silver na naghihintay sa akin. Nakaupo sa isang tabi at mukha na namang multo.

Huminga na lamang ako nang malalim at pilit na nanatiling taas-noo kahit pa kumikislot na ang talukap sa mga mata ko. 

I  should've known their treatment towards me were too good to be true. My own parents even had trouble putting up with me, sila pa kayang mga estranghero? I should've known from the very beginning. No wonder Slade was always yapping about forgiveness and shit. No wonder Silver even invited me to live with her. In hindsight, I really should've noticed it. 

"Why are we friends again?"

"I'm a charitable person"

Tangina ba't di ko 'yon napansin. Jokes are half-meant nga naman talaga eh. Charity work lang pala ako sa kanila kasi ang totoo, ang tatay ko ang kaibigan nila.

Nang binuksan ko ang locker ko, lumapit agad si Silver sa akin. Pilit kong pinipigilan ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko, pati na nang mabilis at malalim kong paghinga. 

"I know you're mad and I'm really really really sorry," she said, trying to sound all innocent and shit. Nakakatawa. 

"Okay." I smiled and nodded as I grabbed my books, not even giving her a single glance. 

"S-so we're okay?" She asked but I just continued smiling while putting books on my bag. 

"Reika I know you're mad at me. Please naman kausapin mo ako oh." Sabi niya pa kaya natawa na lang ako at sinara ang bag ko pati na ang locker ko.

"Reika!" Silver followed me as I began to walk away. "Reika magsalita ka naman oh!" 

Bigla niyang hinawakan ang braso ko at sa puntong iyon ay parang naputol ang natitirang hibla ng pagtitimpi ko. Mabilis kong winakli ang kamay niya at mariin siyang tinitigan. I gritted my teeth as my jaw tensed up. "I was taught to keep my mouth shut when I don't have anything good to say so don't try me, Villafranca because I am just holding the devil back."

She looked at me with watery eyes, acting like she's so damn heartbroken and shit but I know better. I can see through her lies now. She'll never fool me again. "R-reika I know I should've told you--"

"Alam mo naman pala eh..." I spat out bitterly as my lips formed into a sarcastic pout, mimicking her dramatic voice.

"Reika, it was Slade's idea!" She cried kaya mas lalo tuloy akong natawa. Pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga dumadaan pero wala na akong pakialam pa. Oo na si Silver ang kawawa, ako na ang masama.

Naghugas kamay pa ang lintik.

"Last time I checked, it was you who offered me to live with you. You knew who I was, Silver. It couldn't be fate. No sane person would invite a stranger as a roommate. You always knew who I was and I was a fool to believe your lies."  I said without breaking eye contact, with my head held high and a smile on my face. My voice was shaking but I remained calm as I spoke. "Don't worry, you're not entirely accountable. Kasalanan ko rin naman kasi nagpauto ako sa inyo. Now do me a favor and stay the hell away from me, you and Slade. God knows how much I want to punch the daylights out of you so don't try me bitch."

I turned but before I could take another step, I faced her again. "And oh, tell Dad he's got nothing to worry about. Even if I was from a broken family, My Grandparents gave me all the love I ever needed. I don't fucking need him. I don't even need your charity of a friendship either."

I walked away, trembling from sheer anger.

Abandonment is one thing but betrayal is another.

I felt like I was on fire, ignited by the lies of all the people I trusted.

Surprisingly, there were no tears streaming down my face. Maybe I ran out. Maybe I just turned numb. 

As I took a step on the bermuda lawn, I was surprised when a familiar voice suddenly called out my name. I turned around and to my surprise, it was Riley walking fast towards me.

"What?" My voice came out icy and motionless.

And for the first time, I felt nothing while looking at Riley.

He stopped right in front of me with a creased forehead. "Rei, what the hell was that? Ba't kayo nag-away? Anong ginawa mo kay Silver? Ba't---"

"Isa ka pang putangina ka!" The words just flew out of my mouth from all my pent-up frustrations. "Wala ka ring pinagkaiba sa kanilang lahat! You abandoned me like the rest of them! Discarded me like a piece of trash when all I ever did was care for you! You know what, fuck you! Fuck all of you! Pare-pareho lang kayo! " 

Riley froze. 

I stormed off.

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