2 Invitation

THEA

All my life, i taught myself how to be independent. Because i believe that having no companion is better than having one who can betray you when you're already useless.

I really hate those people who are using other people just to get what they want. They don't deserve to live. They should die in shame.

We live, because of our purpose in life. Life is sacred and worth fighting for. The natural law of the world says that the strong shall live and the weak ones shall be eliminated. Therefore, I must live and treat life like a precious gem.

.....

I was having my lunch in the Cafeteria, when someone called me. Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin and after checking her from head to foot ay nagfocus nalang ulit ako sa aking pagkain.

Snobber na kung snobber pero yun ako eh. I'm not socially active. Hindi ko rin hilig ang makipag kaibigan. Para sakin friendship is just a burden and a piece of trash.

"Alam mo, minsan nakakahurt kana ng feelings. Akala ko ba bestfriends na tayo."

I threw her a cold stare bago ko siya sinagot using my bone-chilling signature voice.

"I despised people who offers me to be their friend. You know why? It's because i really hate the word friendship."

Alam kong nasaktan siya sa sinabi ko but i still left her dumbfounded. Siguro nahimasmasan na siya na kahit kailan ay hindi kami magiging magkaibigan.

I was about to open the cafeteria's main door, when she found her words.

"Why are you pushing those people who wanted to be part of your life?"

She yelled on the top of her lungs.

Sandali ko siyang tinignan using my blank expression at tuluyang nagpakawala ng mga salitang nagpatulo ng kanyang luha.

"You don't deserve to be part of my life. Because for me, you're just a piece of garbage that gives me irritation all the time. Para kang aso na habol ng habol sa taong hindi ka gusto. Siguro naman sapat na ang mga sinabi ko para tumigil ka. Kasi mukha ka nang desperada."

With that ay tinalikuran ko na siya at marahas na binuksan ang pinto. Maraming mata ang nakatingin sakin but i still ignored their stares.

Siguro para sa kanila ay napakasama ko na. Hindi ko sila masisisi kung yun ang tingin nila. But they cannot also judge me dahil wala silang alam kung ano ang mga pinagdaanan ko sa buhay.

Hindi ko gustong saktan si Abby pero kailangan ko yung gawin para tumigil na siya. Dahil siya lang din ang masasaktan sa huli. Mas pinaaga ko lang para hindi na siya masaktan ng todo.

Both of us benifitted on what i did. Kaya wala akong regrets. Mabilis na kumalat ang ginawa kong rejection kay Abby kaya pansin ko ang ilang bulungan coming from my schoolmates.

"Diba siya yun? Napaka heartless naman niya. Hindi na siya naawa kay Abby!"-G1

"Kawawa naman si Abby! Diba may sakit siya sa puso?"-G2

"Bukod sa hindi siya palasalita. Napakacold niya pa. Wala siyang pinagkaiba sa bloke ng yelo."-G3

"Alam niyo guys, sayang siya. Maganda pa naman sana, kaso mukha siyang outcast. I pity her."-G4

Hindi ko nalang sila pinansin at mas binilisan pa ang paglalakad. As i reached the parking lot, i immediately  open my car and start the engine.

Mabilis ko itong pinatakbo na parang nasa car race. Because of my speed ay narating ko ang bahay namin in just a span of 10 minutes. Pinark ko ito sa garahe bago pumasok.

Pagpasok ng bahay ay nakasalubong ko si Yaya Celia. Yaya Celia is my personal maid kaya malapit ang loob ko sa kanya. She's working for us for almost 25 years. Kaya na-gain na niya ang loyalty ng family namin.

Tipid na ngiti ang ibinigay ko sa kanya bago umakyat sa aking kwarto. After kong magpalit ng damit ay binuksan ko ang laptop na nasa study table ko at nag open ng aking facebook account.

While scrolling down my newsfeeds, a mysterious email suddenly appeared. Curiosity devoured me so i opened it right away.

Althea,

Crimson Academy is looking for students who excels both in academic and co-curricular. If you're interested to study in our school, just click the agree button at the bottom of this email. All expenses(miscellaneous fees and dormitory) and necessary things such as uniforms, ID, field trips, laboratory experiments and others are free as long as you enroll nor transfer in CA.

I am looking forward for your positive response to this invitation.

                              Sincerely yours,

                              Headmaster Griffin

I was about to click the green button which corresponds that you are agreeing, when the door opened. Iniluwa nito ang maamong mukha ni Mom na kasalukuyang nakangiti sakin.

Mom was indeed beautiful in her age. Nakuha ko sa kanya ang hugis ng aking mukha ganun din ang labi kong malarosas at kulay tintang buhok. Nakuha ko naman ang kulay asul na mga mata ni Dad. Their genes were really awesome dahil ako ang naging product nito.

"Hi, Sweetie! How's school?"

Tanong nito using her natural soothing voice that was comparable to the softness of the feather.

"It's ok, Mom. Don't worry i did great today."sagot ko sabay ngiti ng tipid.

"That's good to hear! Anyways, naghihintay na ang Dad mo sa dining room. Kakain na tayo ng dinner."

"Susunod nalang po ako."

Paglabas ni Mom ay ni log-out ko na ang aking FB account. After that, i click the agree button of the email and shut down my laptop. Pagdating ko ng dining room ay nadatnan ko sina Mom at Dad na may pinag uusapan.

Mukhang seryoso ang kanilang pinag uusapan dahil pareho silang nakakunot ang noo. This was the first time na makita ko sila sa ganyang sitwasyon kaya hindi ko napigilang magtanong which made the atmosphere heavier.

"Ano pong pinag uusapan niyo?",magalang kong tanong sa kanila habang umuupo sa silyang nakasanayan ko nang upuan.

"It's nothing, iha. Sige, kumain kana.",sagot ni Dad habang seryosong nakatingin kay Mom.

"Mas makakabuti sigurong sabihin na natin kay Thea ang nangyayari. Ayokong malaman niya pa sa iba. Please, Arthur!",Mom blurted in a pleasing way.

"Ano bang dapat kong malaman?",kalmado kong tanong kahit na medyo naiinis na.

"Our company is facing a major problem right now..and because of that almost of our investors pulled out their shares.."

I had an idea of what my Dad is trying to say but i keep myself calm and wait for him to continue what he's about to say.

"Our company was on the verge of bankruptcy..and i can't do anything to save it. I'm sorry, iha! But you need to transfer to a public school. Hindi na namin kayang tustusan ng Mommy mo ang tuition fee mo. I'm sorry!"

Bakas sa boses ni Dad ang kalungkutan but he managed to hide it. Katangian na namana ko sa kanya.

"It's okay, Dad! I understand."

"Don't worry, Sweetie! Things will be alright. I know that it will be hard for you to adjust but you need to sacrifice. Aasikasuhin ko na ang tranfer slip mo bukas."

"No need to, Mom. I already decided to accept the an anonymous letter coming from Mr. Griffin of Crimson Academy. I think studying there is a good idea after all."

"No!"

Dad's reaction started me for a minute. Why did he reacted like that? Kilala niya ba si Mr. Griffin?

"No. Don't accept his offer. It's dangerous."

Naguguluhan ako sa inaakto ni Dad kaya hindi ko napigilang ibuka ang aking bibig.

"Dad!"

"Did you agree on the invitation? Why did you not tell us?"

Tumaas ang boses ni Dad kaya bigla akong natakot. Ngayon lang niya ako tinaasan ng boses. Plus the fact that his aura right now is far different from his usual aura. Did that invitation trigger him? What would i do?

"Answer me, Thea!"

Galit na ang boses ni Dad kaya hindi ko na napigilang magtapat sa kanya.

"I'm sorry, Dad! I already agreed on the invitation. Noon ko pa kasi napapansin ang pagiging weird ng mga bagay bagay. So i grabbed that opportunity. Akala ko kasi matutuwa kayo, but it looks like that instead of making you happy i dissapointed you. I'm sorry, Dad!"

Napasabunot nalang si Dad sa kanyang buhok. I know that he is silently cussing right now.

"Kailan ka lilipat dun?"

Napatingin ako kay Dad kaya nagtama ang aming mga mata. I can see through his eyes ang sobrang pag aalala at the same time ay takot. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang natakot.

"Sunday."

"Ako na ang maghahatid sayo."

"Alam niyo po kung saan ang Crimson University?",may pagtataka kong tanong.

"Why would i forget my Alma Mater which brings misery and unbearable pain in my life."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Dad kaya sandali akong natulala. I didn't expect that Crimson Academy is his Alma Mater. Kaya pala ganun nalang ang reaksyon niya.

Pero bakit parang may hindi pa sinasabi si Dad. Ano ba talagang klase ng paaralan ang Crimson Academy? What makes it special and mysterious from other school?

#Invitation