Chapter 8

LORRAINE

“Anong meron sa kanila?” Takang tanong ko sa kanya matapos maproseso ang kanyang sinabi.

“Listen carefully dahil isang beses ko lang sasabihin ‘to.” Napatango-tangu naman ako sa sinabi niya.

Ang seryoso niya talaga tsk. Di ko tuloy maiwasang kabahan.

“Meet the 5 A’s, also known as Five Bitches Gorgeous Girls.” Simula niya at napatango-tangu naman ako habang nakikinig lang sa susunod na sasabihin niya.

“Details number 1. Meet the bully, famous, hot, sexy, and so maarte Astrid Monteverde. She is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Alejandro and Melissa Monteverde, the Business Tycoons, who own the Brixton High University school that we usually attend. They also own a lot of chain hotels here in Manila or abroad, either here in the Philippines.”
Napanganga naman ako sa sinabi niyang mga salita at hindi maiwasang mamangha.

Wow! Ang yaman pala talaga nila nu? Akalain mo yun at maraming hotel ang pagmamay-ari nila tapos yung mga eskwelahan pa na pagmamay-ari rin nila.

Teka—ibig sabihin sila din ang nagsu-suporta sa scholarship ko?!

“Wait Jamie, diba sabi mo na they own the BHU? So ibig sabihin nito ay any pamilya nila Astrid ang nagsu-suporta sa scholarship ko?!” Mala oa kong tanong sa kanya.Tumango-tangu naman ito sa sinabi ko dahilan para manlumo ako at hindi maiwasang kabahan.

“Exactly, kaya mahirap din kalabanin ang anak nilang kinulang sa gabay. Mag-ingat ka nalang next time at sana hindi mo mabanggit sa kanya na kaya ka nakapasok dito dahil sa scholarship mo pero mukhang wala pa naman siyang alam until now.” Napahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil don at sinabi sa kanya na magpatuloy na sa kung ano man ang sasabihin niya.

Hays, hindi ko muna iisipin yun. Ang importante ay wala siyang alam. Yun ang mahalaga.

“Details number 2. Meet Allyson Dela Fuente. She is Astrid’s best friend who has the same attitude as her and is also a bully. Her parents and Astrid are also friends and business partners in the field of business industry. Her parents are also business tycoons.” She stopped for a moment to drink water. She cleared her throat first before she proceed.

“Her mom is a medic, and her dad is a businessman, and they also own resorts here around Luzon and also in various orphanages since they always donate to sick people, especially those with disabilities.” Mahabang sabi niya.

Nakakabilib naman ang ganun. Grabe lang sana all mayaman. How about us naman diba na isang kahig isang tuka lang? Grabe na talaga ang mundo ngayon. Tumigil naman si Jamie saglit at tinanong kung may tanong ako tungkol kay Allyson at sinabi ko naman na wala kaya nagpatuloy na siya sa pagsasalita.

“Details number 3. Meet Athena Mondragon. She is what they call a playgirl, jolly, bubbly, but not a bully unlike the previous two. They are best friends since birth, since their parents were in the same class when they were young.” She stopped and turned outside before speaking again. She face me again and continued.

“They also own the Mondragon Empire near here and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mondragon are successful businessmen since when they were young, it was their dream to build a business.” She stopped again and looked at me seriously.

“And one more thing about Athena, because she’s a chick magnet. I mean, whether it’s a girl, a straight or gay, she’ll flirt with you, but despite of that, she’s also kind—that’s what others say.” I noticed that her face grimaced at the last words that made me laugh in silence.

Hmm, I smell something malansa.

Pero grabe ang bongga naman nila. Mapapa wow ka nalang talaga sa mga naririnig mo about them, pero bakit naging ganun si Athena? May dahilan ba? O baka trip niya lang? Kung ganun ay grabeng trip naman yan at kailangan manakit ng damdamin. I look at Jamie seriously kung itatanong ko ba sa kanya na may alam siya pero nag decide ako na huwag nalang pala at mukhang hindi niya gusto maging topic ang babaeng yun.

I wonder why? Hmm malalaman ko rin yan.

“Details number 4: Aphrodite Montemayor, also known as cold as an ice, an eye catcher, and a part-time theatre actress. She is the fourth friend of the three and being the oldest among them.” She breathed a loud na tila ba problemado.

“Honestly speaking, I know very little about her since she is just a new friend of Astrid’s but their parents only knew each other in high school. I don’t know if they are friends. Montemayor also owns condominiums in luzvimin or in other countries since they are also famous businessmen around Asia.” Pagtatapos ni Jamie.

It’s just a little details nga. I still want to know pa naman what kind of person that Aphrodite is. Because I haven’t heard any other details about her other than that she is the daughter of a successful businessman. A part time theatre actress and a friend of Astrid.

Hindi ko pa naman ito nakikita pero nasisiguro kong tahimik ang taong ito, aloof at hindi mahilig makihalubilo. Yan kasi ang description ni Jamie sa kanya.

“And last but not least, Artemis Montero. She’s cold like Aphrodite, but the only difference is that she’s a spoild brat, bitch, and rude. She’s the only child of a famous married couple lawyer that Mrs. Candice Montero and Liam Montero. Actually, I don’t know much about her either since she seems to be a new member of their group like Aphrodite. It’s just a coincidence that their parents were friends and were in the same class during high school days.” Artemis parents are famous lawyers. That’s why her last name is familiar, especially since I heard that one time in the news.

Iba talaga pag mayaman nagiging spoiled brat. Buti nalang pobre lang ako, pero kung sakaling yayaman man ako ay hindi ako magiging katulad nila ng ugali.

“Oh and before I forgot. All five of them are bullies, but Athena is the one who is often the maawain despite of her playful demeanor and they are nicknamed the Five Bitches Gorgeous Girls, or 5A’s, because of their name that starts with the five letter “A” which is not the only one here at Brixton High University but in another famous school.” Ngumiti naman siya sa akin ng tipid bago nagpatuloy sa pagsalita.

Sila talagang lima? Hindi ba pwedeng apat lang? De joke, hehe. I wonder kung anong itsura nila.

“And one more thing about them. Don’t try to cross your paths with them because your life will really be in hell.” I was a little scared by what she said, and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the word hell.

Grabe naman yun, kalahi ni satanas lang?

“Grabe nakakatakot naman pala sila.” Speechless kong pahayag matapos kong makakain.

Naihatid na kasi ‘to kanina pa ni Ate Cheska since busy kakasalita tong si Jamie about sa lima na bully na magagandang babae. Maganda sana bully lang pero teka—medyo nagtataka talaga ako kung saan nalaman ni Jamie ang mga yan since sabi niya nga diba transferee din siya gaya ko?

“Teka pala Jamie, paano mo nalaman ang tungkol sa kanila? Sabi mo nga diba na transferee ka rin?” Naka cross arms naman niya akong tinignan at mababakas sa mukha niya ang walang emosyon. Napalunok tuloy ako ng wala sa oras.

May mga oras talaga na bigla nalang mag-iiba ang mood nito, ang scary din ng babaeng ‘to eh.

“Of course I know them since my parents and their parents have been in the same class since grade school and Dad’s parents are also their business partners at isa pa, i-search mo lang pangalan nila sa internet ay lalabas na ang mga details about them.” I nodded at what she said. I thought she did research about that. Her effort would have been better if that’s the case.

Pero bilib ako dito kay Jamie, kasi biro mo memorise na memorise niya. Hehe ang galing niya naman.

“So any questions?” Tanong niya. Pero ang ipinagtaka ko ay ilang taon na ba sila? I mean, magka-edad lang ba kami?

“Hmm, ano ilang taon na pala ang mga yun Jamie? Sabi mo nga diba na yung Aphrodite lang ang mas matanda sa kanila.” Napatango naman siya sa sinabi ko.

“Astrid is 18 years old same to Allyson and Artemis, while Athena is 19 and Aphrodite is 20 and turning 21 next month. Late kasi silang nag-aral that’s why na mas malaki ang age gap nila compared to us.” Napatango-tangu naman ako sa sinabi niya.

Hmm. ano kaya ang hitsura ng mga yun? Magaganda kaya? Sabi nga ni Jamie maganda pero hindi kasi ako mapapanatag since hindi ko pa nakikita. May pagka observant pa naman akong tao.

Palibhasa ang hilig kong mangilatis eh, hays.

“Yun ba? Tara na at salamat naman sa detalye about sa kanila Jamie, hehe.” Napatango naman siya sa sinabi ko at agad na kaming lumabas ng karinderya pagkatapos magpaalam kay Ate Cheska na busy mag serve.

“Wait—I forgot to mention who has been bullying you pala this fast few days.” Napalingon naman ako sa kanya at kunot noong napahinto sa paglalakad. Mas nauna kasi ako sa kanya.

“Sino?” Kahit na kinakabahan sa malalaman ay nagtanong pa rin ako. Para naman aware ako diba?

“It’s Astrid Monteverde.”

Oh? Yung number one bully na sinabi niya kanina. Hmm, ano kaya ang itsura ng babaeng yun? Anyway, saka ko nalang siguro sila iisipin. Ang importante lang sa ngayon ay may nalaman na ako about sa kanila para naman aware ako sa paligid ko.

“Ah siya pala yun? Okay, simula ngayon mag-iingat na siguro ako lalo na pag nandiyan siya kahit hindi ko pa nasisilayan ang kanyang itsura.” Medyo makata kong sabi na ikinatawa namin ni Jamie.

Minsan talaga lumalabas itong pagka-weirdo ko.

“Well, kaya di ko pinakita sayo ang itsura nila ay sure naman akong nakita mo na sila nung first day pa. You know yung sa canteen, remember?” Napaisip naman ako bigla sa sinabi niya.

Hmm, yun bang nung nakaraan yata yung may nagtilian sa canteen? Yung limang babae?

“Ah yung pinagtitilian ba yun?” Tumango-tango naman siya habang ako naman ay napanganga lang sa nalaman. Nanlaki naman ang mata ko at hindi maiwasang alalahanin ang itsura ng mga yun.

Actually, magaganda naman talaga sila pero hindi ko kasi alam kung sino ang Astrid dun na nambully sa akin.

“Actually, naalala ko na sila Jamie pero ang mukha nung Astrid ba yun ay hindi ko pa nakikita.” Natawa naman siya sa sinabi ko at tinapik ako ng mahina sa balikat.

“It’s for you to find out, Raine.” Sabay pasok sa loob ng classroom. Hindi ko man lang namalayan na nakarating na pala kami dito.

Nagkibit balikat nalang ako at pumasok na rin. Hindi ko nalang pinansin ang mga kaklase kong maiingay sa paligid at ang iba ay pinagti-tinginan ako bago mag bulongan.

Napaisip naman ako sa mga sinabi ni Jamie kanina at di maiwasang kabahan lalo pa’t yung Astrid pala ang number one bully sa kanila. So dapat pala magmula ngayon ay kailangan mag-iingat na ako sa kinikilos ko? Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at bago pumikit.

Sana talaga hindi ko sila makikita dito pero sino ba ang niloko ko? Nasa iisang school lang kami kaya imposible yun.

Masyadong maliit ang mundo.