Consequences

Consequences 001

Lyle’s POV:

“How many times do I have to explain and tell you that she is just a client?!”

“How many times do I have to explain and tell you that the way she ‘talks’ to you is not what a client does?!”

I winced and rubbed my ear as I get passed them shouting at each other.

“Seriously, can’t the two of you talk in a normal voice? My ear’s ringing.” I said. They both glared at me, so I glared at them too.

“What happened to your face?” Mom asked and faced me. I shrugged my shoulders and sat on the sofa beside me.

“Same reason.” I said as I rubbed my jaw.

“Lyandyle, tell me. Who are they again?” Dad asked and picked up his phone.

“Dad, don’t. I can handle them. Don’t bother.” Pagtanggi ko. Nilapitan ako ni mom at pinatingala ako.

“Look at your face. Are you dreaming of being a punching bag?” Galit na tanong niya. The maid came with a first-aid kit and handed it to her. “If yes, then no you can’t. Hindi ako nagpakahirap na umire para lang makitang magkaganito ang mukha mo.” Dagdag niya at nagsimulang linisin ang mga sugat ko.

I winced everytime the cotton ball will come contact with my bruises.

“And the girl?” Dad asked. Mom and I looked at each other before I answered him.

“What about her?” I asked and looked at him. He’s sipping his whiskey while looking at his phone.

“What do you mean ‘what about her’?” He said and looked at me. “I believe we asked you to find something about her, don’t we?” I sighed and leaned back.

“She’s an ordinary student. Well, not so ordinary. Mahilig siyang makipag basag-ulo.” Sagot ko at tumayo na. “What do you need from her anyway?” Bago pa man ako makaakyat sa kwarto ko ay naglakas-loob na akong tanungin sila.

Ilang buwan na simula noong inilipat nila ako sa pribadong paaralan na talaga namang malayo mula sa mansion. Sa kadahilanang may kailangan akong lakapin na impormasyon mula sa isa sa mga estudyante doon.

At iyon ay si Flint Briella Haven. Ang babaeng pinang-iilagan ng lahat. Tinitingala at niererespeto dahil sa angking katapangan. Almost all of them are scared of her.

“You’ll know it soon.” I shook my head and continued walking towards the stairs. Nagmamadali akong umakyat sa kwarto ko at pumasok doon. SIniguro kong naka-lock iyon bago nagpakawala nang malalim na hininga. Pabagsak akong humiga sa kama. Itinakip ko din ang sarili kong braso sa mata ko at pumikit.

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“Again!” Sigaw ni Coach. Muli akong bumangon at pumosisyon. I gave my opponent a sidekick, which he easily blocked. He caught my feet and swept my other feet, making me land on my butt.

I stood up again, but the timer rang. Indicating my lesson is over.

“Let’s pack. Sanchez, your footwork.” Coach reminded. I nodded and went straight to the restroom. I took a quick bath and got dressed. Paglabas ko ay dumiretso ako sa isa sa mga benches doon at naupo tsaka suamandal at ipinikit ang mga mata ko.

Agad din akong napadilat nang makarinig ako ng pagkiskis ng panulat sa papel.

“Did I disturb you, your majesty?” Flint asked and smirked without looking at me.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, annoyed. Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng lugar na makikita ko siya ay dito pa talaga? “How long have you been sitting there?”

“Maybe I’m making a plan on how I will plant a grenade inside you bag?” She answered in a sarcastic tone. “I’m doing my homework, d**ba*s.”

“That should be done at home, stupid. That’s why it’s called homework.” I answered in an obvious tone. She rolled her eyes and continued writing.

“And what if I don’t have a home? Will you allow me to do my HOMEWORK here in SCHOOL?” She asked and looked at me. I was amazed on how she can continue writing without messing it up while looking at me.

“What?” Naguguluhang tanong ko. Was that supposed to be a serious question?

She chuckled and looked back at her textbook. She continued writing on her notebook and closed it. She stuffed it inside her bag and stood up.

“Where are you going?” I asked her when she was about to open the door. She looked back at me, amusement can be seen in her eyes.

“Home.” She answered, using the same obvious tone I used on her earlier. She went out and shut the door with a slight bang.

“Bye Coach!” Paalam ko kay coach at nagmamadaling lumabas din.

“Who are you looking for?”

“F*****g s**t!” Flint started laughing, holding her stomach. She tried hard to suppress her laugh.

“You should have seen your face! It was beyond hilarious!” She said and continued laughing. I glared at her, but she didn’t stop. “Anyways, sinong hinahanap mo diyan?” Tanong niya. Inirapan ko siya at hindi sinagot. Sinundan niya ako at kung ano-ano ang tinanong.

Akmang lalapitan ako ng isa sa mga guards na nakapaligid sa school pero agad akong umiling. Sinenyasan ko sila na maglalakad lang ako. Tumango siya at ni-radyo iyon sa mga kasamahan niya.

“Taga-saan ka pala?” Biglang tanong niya. Tiningnan ko lang siya at hindi sinagot. Naglakad nanaman siya nang patalikod at sinisilip ang mukha ko.

“Nagsasalita ka pa ba?” Tanong niya at talagang sinilip pa ang mukha ko. Nang dahil doon ay hindi niya napansing may paparating na motor mula sa likuran niya. Mabilis ko siyang hinila at isinandal sa pinakamalapit na pader. Halatang nagulat siya sa ginawa kong iyon dahil nanigas siya at nakatitig lang saakin.

“You…almost…got hit.” I said slowly, catching my breath. I had to use a lot of strength and force just to pull her before she got hit. I stood straight and brushed the dust at the sleeves of my uniform and placed both my hands in my pockets.

“A-ah. Oo nga. Thank you!” Ngumiwi ako nang makitang bumalik na siya sa dati na para bang wala siya sa bingit ng kamatayan kanina.

“Tch. Kung bakit kasi ang hilig maglakad ng patalikod. Ipinanganak ka bang baliktad ang utak?” Tanong ko. Nauna siyang maglakad at sumagot.

“Hmm, hindi ko sure eh. Pero ang alam ko nung niluwal ako ng nanay ko inuna nila yung ulo ko. So baka nga ipinanganak akong baliktad.” Sagot niya at namulsa din.

“Stupid. That’s how a delivery goes. Don’t you listen to your teachers?” I asked. Nagkibit balikat lang siya.

“Hoy grabe ka naman porket ganito ako nakikinig pa din naman ako sa teachers ko. Hindi naman nila tinuturo ‘yan eh.” Baliwalang sagot niya at lumiko sa isang eskinita.

“Absent ka kung ganon.” I replied. Tumigil siya saglit at nag-isip bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

“As far as I can remember, never naman akong um-absent. Baka nga di ako nakikinig.” Aniya at nagkamot ng ulo.

Tsaka ko lang napansing ako na pala ang nakasunod sakaniya. Mukhang napansin din niya iyon dahil napatigil ulit siya sa paglalakad at napalingon saakin.

“Teka nga, bakit nakasunod ka saakin?” Nagtatakang tanong niya. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at pinagmasdan nalang ang paligid dahil wala din akong maisasagot.

Madumi, mabaho, magulo. Iyan ang napagmasdan ko dito. Mukhang sanay nga talaga siya sa gulo. Ngunit ang ganitong kapaligiran ay hindi mahahalata sa itsura niya. Makinis at maputing balat na para bang gatas ang pampaligo niya, para bang nanggaling siya sa isang mayamang pamilya.

“Huy. Ayos ka lang? Natulala ka diyan?” Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang silipin niyang muli ang mukha ko. Napakalapit ng mukha niya saakin kaya naaamoy ko ang flavor ng bubble gum na nginunguya niya.

“Hindi ko din alam. Aalis na ako.” Sabi ko at tinalikuran siya pero mabilis niyang nahila ang braso ko at umakbay saakin.

“Tara dun muna sa bahay. Malapit naman na eh. Malayo-layo din yung nilakad natin. Baka ma-dehydrate ka sa daan.” Sabi ni Flint. At bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay nahatak na niya ako.

Maraming bumabati sakaniyang tambay na nadadaanan. Halatang mga ka-close niya ang mga ito.

“Flint Briella Haven.” Pareho kaming napatigil nang may humarang na babae sa harapan namin. Sa tantsa ko ay mga nasa 25-28 palang ang babaeng ito. Naka black pants, white shirt at black blazer. Naka sunglass din ito at naka suot ng black heels.

“Uy! Sino ka? Ganda naman ng shawti nayan.” Ani Flint at tumawa. Tinanggal nung babae ang shades niya at tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa si Flint. Matalim siya kung tumingin kaya naging alerto ako. May dinukot ito sa bulsa nito kaya mas lalo akong naging alerto.

“Talaga ba? Ang ganda ‘no? Diyan ko lang nabili ‘to sa ukay-ukay.” Bigla siyang ngumiti at naglabas ng…resibo?

“Wow! Ang mura naman neto ma!” Ani Flint at ngumiti. Ma? Nanay niya ito?!

“Oh siya, kamusta ang eskwela?” Tanong ng mama niya at may inayos sa suot na coat.

“Ayos naman ma. Masaya. As usual,” Pagkasabi ni Flint ay kinuha niya ang test papers at quizzes niya tsaka ipinakita sa kaniyang ina. Ngumiti naman ito at inisa-isa ang mga papel.

“Ahh. Eh sila Olivia at Jesper? Kamusta?” Biglang tanong ng nanay niya at dahan-dahang tumingin kay Flint.

“Hmm, okay naman sila. Buhay at humihinga pa naman.” Sagot ni Flint kaya hindi ko napigilang mapa-face palm.

“Briella…” The way her mother said her name has an accent, and with warning.

“M-ma…bakit po?” Biglang kinakabahang tanong ni Flint.

“You think you can fool me?” Her mother asked. She suddenly grabbed Flint’s left ear.

“Aray ko naman ma!” Angil ni Flint pero mas hinila lang iyon ng nanay niya.

“Ay jusmiyo! Your school called me Briella Haven! You kicked someone’s a** again! Now their parents are calling me!” Her mom pulled her by her ear towards I assume their house.

“Ma! Aray! Teka dahan-dahan. May bisita tayo! Aray ma! I almost tripped!” Ako ang nahihiya para sa mag-nanay na ito. Maraming nakatingin dito at lahat iyon ay natatawa. Mukhang sanay na sila sa ganitong session nila.

“Qué pensarán? no estoy criando bien a mi hija? Ay dios mio!” (What will they think? I’m not raising my daughter well? Oh my god!) Her mom started scolding her in spanish, which I understood perfectly well.

“Sí. Esa es una decisión correcta. Hablar en español. Crees que nuestro invitado es estúpido. No nos entenderá?” (Yep. That’s a right decision. Speak in Spanish. You think our guest is stupid. He won’t understand us?) Napanganga ako sa sinabing iyon ni Flint. What? Me? Stupid?!

Her mom started cursing in spanish and let go of her daughter’s ear. And when she faced me, the frown on her face faded. As well as the color of her face, it drained. Para bang nakakita siya ng multo.

“Ma, si Lyle po pala. Classmate ko.” Pagpapakilala ni Flint para saakin. Parang nahimasmasan ang nanay niya at ngumiti.

“Nice to meet you, Lyle. I’m Brienna. Briella’s mother.”