CHAPTER 6: The Bestfriend

CHAPTER 6: The Bestfriend

CELAENA EDWARDS, CLASS 12-C

I dribbled the ball with my two hands and arched my back, trying to push away the girl behind me. But she wouldn't fucking budge. Naiinis na lumingon ako sa kanya. Of course, it's Evangelyn, I said to myself. Her auburn hair was tied into a ponytail. The bitch is pretty, I'll give her that.

"Hi, Edwards," aniya na maangas na nakangiti sa 'kin.

I rolled my eyes at her and started to run towards the basketball ring. I was about to jump when someone kicked my feet. Marahas akong bumagsak sa lupa. And just like that, the ball was out of my hands. Parang nabali yata ang siko ko sa lakas ng impact.

"Oops, sorry," sabi ni Evangelyn at nilagpasan ako. "Hindi ko sinasadya."

I glared at her. "I'll fucking kill you!" I shouted, clutching my elbow.

"Edwards, mind your language!" Sir Renzo shouted back. Narinig ko ang papalapit na yabag ng mga paa. When I looked up, it was Brooke and Sir Renzo. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Brooke helped me get up off the floor. "I'm okay, Sir," sabi ko, nakatiim ang bagang. I will fucking strangle that bitch!

"Take your 15-minute break, Edwards," saad ni Sir Renzo.

When he was out of earshot, Brooke looked at my now purplish elbow. "What the hell happened? Akala ko makaka-shoot ka na," aniya at hinawakan ang siko ko. Napakislot ako sa sakit niyon. "Pa'no ka natumba? Nadapa ka?"

Muli kong tiningnan si Evangelyn na ngayon ay kasama na ang mga tropa niya. They were laughing at something. Definitely me.

Sinundan ni Brooke ang tingin ko at napasinghap. "She pushed you?" hindi makapaniwalang-tanong niya.

"That bitch kicked me," sagot ko.

Inabutan niya ako ng bottled water. "Here, drink," alok niya.

Nakatingin pa rin ako kay Evangelyn nang masama habang iniinom ko ang tubig sa bottle na binigay ni Brooke. Umupo ako sa mga nakalatag na monoblock chairs sa gilid. Inismiran ako ni Evangelyn nang magtama ang tingin namin. She still had that smirk on her face.

"Hey, calm down, cheetah," napabaling ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. "You look like a killer."

It was Ryan, the asshole jock of our class. He's holding a ball between his hands.

I scoffed when he smirked at me.

"Oh, fuck off, Gomez," I said to him, waving my hand.

"Ang init naman ng ulo," aniya at umupo sa tabi ko.

My eyes searched for Brooke. I thought she was behind me. Pero hindi ko siya makita.

"How are you, Edwards?" he asked, offering me a clean towel.

Naiiritang bumaling ako sa kanya. "And since when did you care?"

Muli siyang ngumisi. "When did I care? Ouch," sabi niya at hinawakan pa ang dibdib niya at umaktong nasaktan. Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ko. "Can I ask you something?" dagdag pa niya.

Pinatong niya sa balikat ko ang amoy-downy na towel.

"Can I say no?" sabi ko.

Natatawang umiling-iling siya. "Do you want to go on a date with me, Edwards?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa tinanong niya. "What the actual fuck, Ryan? I actually thought for a second that you're here to make a decent conversation. I mean, why did the hell did I even think that? At isa pa, may girlfriend ka, ulol!"

Mayabang siyang ngumiti sa 'kin. "Well, I wasn't informed na ganoon ka pala ka-updated sa buhay ko. Am I that interesting, Edwards?" he asked, moving his face close to mine. I quickly moved away from him.

"Itlog mo interesting! Kalat kaya 'yon sa buong school," I said, not bothering to look at him.

Narinig ko ang muli niyang pag-isod palapit sa 'kin. "Kalma ka muna, babe. Ikaw lang ang babae sa buhay ko, don't worry."

Natutop ko ang noo ko. "Oh, God, help me," sabi ko na lang at tumayo na.

"Hey, where are you going, babe?" narinig kong sabi ni Ryan.

I raised my middle finger at him. Kinindatan lang ako ng herodes.

"Don't you like me, Edwards? Or are you into girls?"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at napabaling sa gawi niya. "W-what are you saying?" I stuttered.

"I saw you last week behind Gerry's," aniya. He was referring to the restaurant near my house. Napalunok ako. "I thought it was Blair or your new friend Brooke at first. But, boy, was I wrong."

I marched toward him. "Listen up, you fuckward. I'm only gonna telling you this once, so you better listen. 'Wag mo pakialaman ang buhay ko. Get yourself a fucking life of your own."

He only scoffed and looked at me from head to toe. "Woah, easy there," aniya at humakbang paatras sa 'kin. "Go on a date with me and I'll keep my mouth shut."

Pumihit na ako patalikod at akmang maglalakad na palayo sa kanya when I stopped once again. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong magalit. I haven't told anyone that part of me yet. Not even Blair who had been there with me through my darkest times. I'm not ready. Not yet.

"Meet me at the laboratory after class," I said through gritted teeth.

Then Sir Renzo whistled again. He called all of us. I was still shaken up by what Ryan told me. That piece of shit.

I walked toward my team. Hinati kami sa dalawang team. Blair was supposed to play in our team but she asked for a quick break. Napatingin ako sa gawi niya. She's currently sitting at the bleachers when I saw John sat next to her.

Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Sir Renzo. "… this will be the last game, girls. Make it count," he was saying, looking at us one by one. "Winner gets to have a plus points on this coming final week."

I couldn't help but smile at the thought. I have not been doing well with my grades. Kinausap na ako ni Sir Denver about it. He stated that if I still want to graduate this year, I better get my shit together. So I have to earn this plus points. Sigurado akong malaki ang tulong nito.

When I turned to Brooke, she nodded at me eagerly.

Muling pumito si Sir Renzo at nagsimula na ang laro. Brooke passed the ball to Shane to which she passed to me. I was quick to catch it. I ran as fast as I could while still dribbling the ball in one hand. Beads of sweat trickled down my cheeks.

Ang mga mata ko ay naka-focus sa basketball ring. Our current standing is 14-14. One perfect shoot, and we'll definitely win, I told myself.

From my peripheral vision, I saw Evangelyn pushing her way to get near me. She was about to snatch the ball out of my hands when I elbowed her in the face. Napangiti ako nang bumagsak siya sa sahig, clutching her right cheek.

"Serves you right, bitch," I whispered to myself.

Mabilis na tinulungan siya nila Eyrene. Akmang tatalon na 'ko para i-shoot ang bola sa ring nang biglang pumasok si Sir Renzo sa court.

"Edwards, come here! That's a foul!" he shouted at me.

Patakbo akong lumapit sa puwesto nila. Evangelyn was moaning in pain. Of course, she's faking it.

"Sir, but she did it first—"

"Your team is disqualified, Edwards," mariin ang tono ng boses na sabi ni Sir Renzo sa 'kin. He turned to the other girls. "Someone take Forbes to the clinic."

Stacey was quick to answer. "Already on it, Sir," sagot niya.

Nang tingnan ko ang mga teammate ko, disappointment was written on their faces. Parang gusto kong lumubog sa lupa. But a part of me was quite glad that I got my revenge on Evangelyn. The bitch deserved it.

At tinawag na ni Sir Renzo si Blair, na mabilis namang tumakbo palapit sa amin. "Hey, what happened?" she asked once she was close to us.

"Evangelyn got what she deserved," I simply replied.

Brooke quickly filled in Blair with the details.

Bumaling ako sa kabilang part ng gymnasium, kung saan nagba-basketball pa rin ang mga lalaki naming kaklase. Napunta ang tingin ko kay Ryan. He was laughing with Samuel, his friend. Naikuyom ko ang mga kamay ko. How the fuck did he see us?