Chapter Two

Friends

At hindi lang pala si Max ang manggagamit. Pati na rin ang mga nakilala kong kaibigan...

I was still broken hearted about what happened to me and Max. So one time I went out to party with some of my friends. Dati pa nila akong iniimbita sa mga ganitong lakad pero hindi rin talaga ako makapunta dahil hindi naman ako pinapayagan nina Daddy. But for some reason he's allowed me this time pero may kasama akong bodyguard.

And maybe iniisip rin nila ni Daddy na nasaktan din ako sa nangyari sa akin and I need some time...

It's actually my first time to be in a loud party. The music was wild and everyone was dancing to it. And they were also drinking kaya napainom na rin ako ng konti.

But maybe because it was just my first time kaya naman nahilo na agad ako sa ininom. I wasn't worried, tho. Kasi nand'yan naman ang bodyguard na pinasama sa akin ni Daddy. Even when I pass out someone would bring me safely back home to my parents.

"Ali, did you and Max really broke up?" asked my one friend.

"Why did you two end your relationship?"

"Yes, Max was so hot!"

"Are you sure you wouldn't regret it?"

They all said their opinion about me and Max.

Until I told them that I needed a break and went to the ladies' room.

Parang hindi na nga rin nila ako masyado pang pinakinggan and they all just went on having fun in the party.

Medyo matagal ko rin na nakita ang washrooms. And I got in one cubicle.

But while I was inside I heard girls coming in and talking in their familiar voices...

Maybe they have forgotten that I went to the ladies' room, too.

At nanigas ako when I heard them clearly talking about me.

"What is Ali's problem for breaking up with Max?"

"Exactly! Like who does she think she is for breaking up with such a fine man?"

"Yeah. Who does she think she is? She's only Aletheia Rozovsky because she carries her family's name."

"Well, yes! Without the Rozovsky in her name she just seems boring."

"Yeah... Boring!"

"Boring Ali..."

And then all four of them started laughing as they were talking about me behind my back...

I shed tears pitifully inside the cubicle. I thought they were my friends... Until they're all gone and I got out of the ladies' room.

Hindi na rin ako bumalik pa sa mga kaibigan ko...

I just went and grabbed some alcoholic drinks na nakita at nadaanan ko lang. And I drank it straight. Naramdaman ko agad ang init ng alak sa lalamunan ko. Hindi pa ako sanay sa ganito.

And then the party went more wild than it already was. I also tried to join the crowd, but in the end I just felt like crying with all the betrayal that I felt...

Umalis ako sa party at umiyak sa labas.

I sat on the gutter and I feel like I was already drunk. In front of me was my looking problematic bodyguard.

Until someone just came and handed me a handkerchief because I was crying...

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

I saw his face that night.

But maybe I was really drunk already. I just want to go home...

And I didn't anymore remember further after that. Basta alam ko na inuwi na ako ng bodyguard ko sa bahay.

I entered my new university. I just transferred here. This wasn't better than the university I came from since it was already the best. Pero hiningi ko rin kay Daddy na ilipat na ako ng eskwelahan.

Which was the best decision because hindi lang si Max ang iniwan ko sa dati kong pinapasukan na university kundi pati na rin ang mga fake friends ko...

And how could Max's family really think that they can just intrude to the Rozovsky that easily?

They can't underestimate my family...

Tsk.

I shook my head.

And I sighed.

Nagsimula na nga akong pumasok sa bago kong university. And since I entered the classes I almost wasn't talking to anyone. Kung may need lang na makipag-usap about school work.

Nadala na ako sa nangyari sa mga dati kong kaibigan at mga taong pinagkatiwalaan ko. And I can't just let my guard down again. This time I should be more wise. So that people can't fool me again.

And that's when the talks about me being a bitchy Rozovsky princess started circulating in my new university. Just because I didn't let myself get close to anyone...

"Hey, Yelena, are you sure?"

"She's not talking to anyone. She doesn't want to befriend us. She must think so little of us..."

I can hear their crazy and obvious whispering. Malapit lang naman sila sa akin. Tsk.

What happened to me was like an eye opener. To the truth that not everyone would try to befriend me and get close to me just because they want to or because it's just me, Ali. I learned that some people would only want to know me and be friends with Aletheia Rozovsky...

"It's okay. She's always alone... So I want to befriend her. Maybe she's not as bad as what you guys think of her..."

Naramdaman ko nang lumapit sa akin ang isang kaklaseng babae.

I realize that I have become hesitant of making friends again now. Because I don't know if I could trust a friend again.

Back when I was in high school I was very much surrounded with a lot of people that I called friends.

By it's different now. I'm not sure anymore...

"Uh, hi! I'm Yelena." She introduced herself to me.

Nag-angat naman ako ng tingin sa kaniya habang nakaupo ako roon sa loob ng klase namin at naghihintay sa professor.

"You're the new transferred student, right?" She smiled at me.

But I couldn't bring myself to return her smile. Nanatili lang halos walang reaction ang mukha ko, that they might think I really look bitchy and snob...

When in fact, I used to smile a lot to people back then. I was very friendly.

"Yeah." I simply answered.

While she smiled more at me. "You are Aletheia Rozovsky? Can we be friends?"

By the mention of my name, I felt like there's already something behind that...

I didn't want to overthink. I was never an overthinker before. But what happened to me with the people I trusted made me think twice and mistrust a lot now.

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. "No, sorry." I just said and our professor already arrived. Kaya tinuon ko na rin sa harapan ang atensyon ko.

Ilang sandali ko pa siyang naramdaman sa tabi ko hanggang sa tuluyan na rin siyang bumalik sa upuan niya at halos hinila pa siya pabalik ng mga kaibigan niya.

Later after the class I heard that Yelena cried and our classmates said that it was because of me.

"What are you doing?"

Bumaling ako sa taong kumausap sa akin. Pauwi na ako after our whole day of classes at the university. When someone went to me and confronted me.

"What..."

Nag-alisan na rin ang mga classmates namin and we were the only ones left in the lecture room.

At pagkatapos ay pinagsabihan niya ako because I was being the bad bitch who made our classmate cry...

Why would she cry, anyway? Are we still in high school?

But maybe she was embarrassed, too...

"I didn't come here to make friends. I come to school to study." I said.

He was looking at me. "Then you can tell her properly... You don't have to be rude to people..." He said.

Siya lang talaga ang naglakas-loob na kausapin ako ngayon. And if I'm not mistaken, was he the guy in our class who most of our classmates relied on to? Mukha rin siyang matalino. At narinig ko na rin siyang magsalita sa klase. He was excellent!

Our course is related to the study of business. Pero dahil first year pa lang kami kaya we also have other minor subjects. And he's good in both our minor and major subjects. That the professors were always pleased with him...

Nagtagal ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Hanggang sa biglang pakiramdam ko ay namumukhaan ko siya. Parang nagkita na kami dati...

And when was that?

Saan ko nga ba nakita ang lalaking ito...