Davidson Academy: School of Chambers

EPISODE 9

Chapter 9- When the Truth Slaps You

Natasha's POV*

"Baby, are you okay?" tanong ni Tita Gianna kay Sama but she is just staring blankly at the wall. I sighed. She is spacing out na naman.

"Samantha," Tito Brent said firmly. That made Sam come back to her senses.

"W-What is it?" takang tanong niya. I prevented myself from rolling my eyes. She looks so stupid and I hate it because I am so worried at her.

"How's school?" Tita Gianna asked. Samantha smiled but I know it's a forced one.

"I-It's fine, no bullies," she answered. That made me roll my eyes.

"No bullies? So you're telling me you accidentally fell on the stairs?" mataray na sabi ko. Siniko ako ni Joules that's why I glared at him. This girl needs to come back to her senses!

We are having our dinner here in Samantha's house dahil nag-request si Tita Gianna hoping Samantha would smile and laugh or talk but she did not. My family, Joule's family, and Math's family are here. Except Samantha's bitchy sister, siguro nakakulong na naman 'yon sa kwarto. Good for her, I don't want a b***h joining me in a dinner.

"It's really an accident, okay? No need to make a fuss," she answered.

"I just want you to tell us what happened," mahinahong sabi ko. I am controlling my temper. She must have known kung gaano ko siya gustong sigawan ngayon.

"I can't," she said firmly. That's what I hate about her. When she says NO, it's a NO.

"What's wrong with that? We can help you," I answered. I am gritting my teeth furiously.

"N-No one can help me," she answered. I closed my eyes dahil sa sobrang inis.

That's it. I can't handle her anymore.

"That's why you should remove that seal in your mouth so that we can help you! Ano na naman bang problema mo? You are back with your old self and I hate it!"

That harsh words made the atmosphere more uncomfortable. I am glad na naipalabas ko ang gusto kong sabihin. She needs to wake up.

She stared at me with wide eyes open. She's nearly into tears at hindi makapaniwalang I said it. I know I was too harsh on her but who cares? The important thing is she would wake up.

"Are you sure you can help me?" she asked.

"Tell us," I answered eagerly. I saw Joules shook his head in disapproval. Math is just eating silently na parang walang naririnig na gulo.

"Natasha," dad said. He calls me princess but now that he called me by my name, I can tell he's serious.

"Dad, let me handle this," I said. Wala siyang nagawa but to sigh heavily.

"My birthday is October 6, right?" she asked. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"What about your birthday?" I asked. She smiled at me bitterly.

"I'll be 18 when my birthday comes, and when that day comes, send me to jail."

"W-What do you mean?" I asked nervously. Is she insane? That's what I also hate about her, I can't tell what she's going to do next. She's full of surprises.

"T-They are right. I-I killed Rebecca."

_________

Samantha's POV*

They stared at me unbelievably. Mom's woeful face is stained with tears. I badly want to wipe that tears but I'm the reason why she's crying.

This dinner was supposedly happy. I ruined everything. I tried to be happy but I ended up staring at the wall of nothingness. I ended up ruining everyone's smiles. Maybe I'm meant to ruin everything, even destroy a young life.

"D-Did you remember everything, baby?" Mom asked. Napayuko ako.

"N-Not everything, but I clearly remember that I-I killed he--"

"Sshhh, everything will be alright, baby. You don't need to be in jail," dad said and smiled in assurance.

"No, dad. It's my fault. I'm a murderer! Criminals should be placed behind the bars!" I shouted. Nagulat ako nang bigla akong sampalin ni Natasha.

"Stop ranting nonsense! Wala kang pinatay!" galit na sigaw ni Natasha.

Nakarinig kami ng mga yapak ng taong pababa sa hagdan. It was Stephanie wearing her victorious smile.

"So I'm right, you are a murderer," she said. I looked away.

"You are a shame in this family don't you know that? I hate a criminal here in this house! Gosh, ang kapal ng mukha mong bahiran ng dumi ang apelyido natin!" she shouted. I glared at her.

"Don't you dare say that dahil una sa lahat you don't own that last name! Ampon ka lang!" I shouted. I can't take her anymore. I hate her already to the maximum level.

I realized na hindi lang kami ang mga tao sa dining room. Math's family, Natasha's family, and Joule's family are here. Nahiya ako sa inasal ko.

"I-I'm sorry," I said and ran away. Pumunta ako sa kwarto ko. Narinig ko pang tinawag ako ni mom and dad but I chose to be deaf.

I immediately locked the door and cried. I remembered how she died in front of my eyes.

*flashback

"Sam," Stephanie called me. I smiled at her strangely because I find it weird that she called me.

"Hi Steph, what do you want?" I asked. She chuckled that made my eyebrows raised. She's acting strangely. Where's the mean Stephanie?

"Today is my birthday," she said. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"I know, your party will begin soon," I said as I look at her. She is wearing a light makeup and a robe. I was wondering kung bakit hindi niya pa suot ang dress niya.

"I want a truce," she said.

"Truce?"

"Yeah, no quarrel today, okay?" she said. That made me smile. I was longing for this.

"Sure, I'll call you Ate," I said smiling. She looked at me disgustingly.

"Ew, just call me Steph," she said. I chuckled heartily.

"Here," she said and handed me a box. When I opened it, I frowned when I saw a red string.

"Red string?"

"Yup. I believe you'll meet someone destined for you soon," she said. I cringed with her words at literal na nanindig ang mga balahibo ko. Goosebumps!

"I'm not into romance so cut the crap."

"But still accept it, that red string will be the symbol of this day," she said. I don't want this day to end wherein we are talking peacefully. Is this really true? 

It is a simple strand of a red yarn. It has a pendant na may nakalagay na SS and I guess that it means Stephanie and Samantha or maybe Super Samantha?

"I'll keep this, Steph. Thank you."

The next day I was walking towards our room with a wide smile plastered on my face. Kahit na hindi ako pinansin ni Steph kanina, I was still happy that the truce happened.

I was wearing thick glasses and braces. Inayos ko pa ang suot kong wig at inayos na rin ang bangs na nagtatakip sa mga mata ko. Without the mirror, I can tell my appearance is good, or maybe not.

Habang paakyat ako ng hagdan a bunch of bitches welcomed me. Hindi ko sana sila papansinin but REBECCA grabbed one of the books I'm holding causing me to drop the other books. 

"Oh, the loser is here," sabi niya. Pinulot ko kaagad ang mga librong nakakalat sa sahig. Kahit gusto ko na silang patulan, I have to maintain my composure. They are not worthy of my time.

"Give me that book," sabi ko kay Rebecca. She raised her eyebrow to me.

"No, we'll play first," sabi niya. Hindi na ako nagtaka when she said that. She loves playing with me after all.

Hinila ako ng mga alipores niya. I didn't protest dahil sakit sa lalamunan. They won't let go of me kahit magsisigaw pa ako so shouting for help would be useless.

Dinala nila ako sa rooftop. Bumagsak ako but I still did not react. Hinayaan ko na lang silang apihin ako. Time will come and they will fall in the pits of hell.

Kinalikot nila ang bag ko. I did not mind but then nakita kong hawak-hawak na ni Rebecca ang binigay ni Steph sa akin kagabi.

"Don't touch that," I said. I saw Rebecca flashed her mischievous grin.

"What if I do?" mapang-asar na tanong niya. I gritted my teeth.

"Don't wait for me to tear you flesh by flesh," banta ko. Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa saya ko, trying to control my anger.

"A-As if matatakot ako sa isang tulad mo?" she said and tried to look fearless.

"Don't try me," I answered.

"My gosh, nagtatapang-tapangan ka na ngayon? Pwes, you can't fool me," sabi niya.

Inabutan siya ng lighter ng isa sa mga alipores niya. Pinilit kong kumawala pero talagang napakahigpit ng hawak ng babae sa akin. How can she be so strong?

"N-No..no! That is valuable to me so please leave that alone!"

"Considering is not in my vocabulary. Say bye-bye to this little box Samantha!"

Sinindihan ni Rebecca ang lighter at unti-unting inilapit sa red string na bigay ni Stephanie. Ilang beses akong umiling at sumigaw but it's useless.

I glared at her with hatred. Hindi ko alintana ang p*******t na ginawa niya sa akin noon but today's different. She messed with the only remembrance I had when the truce happened. That string is important to me dahil alam kong imposible nang maulit ang araw na iyon.

"I told you not to mess with me," I said and gritted my teeth. Naiyukom ko ang aking mga kamao.

"Too bad I just did," she answered. Tumawa naman ang mga alipores niya. Nakitawa na rin ako. What's funny? Well, her face is funny. She's like a clown trying hard to cover her ugly face with a scary mascot.

"And I'll make you regret it," sabi ko.

"Oh, really? Show it to me then," sabi niya.

"Get rid of your ugly bitches first," I said referring to her alipores. Ang mga babae naman ay tinignan ako ng masama but I just shrugged my shoulders off.

"W-Why?" she asked. I grinned mischievously.

"Are you nervous there? You must have been very weak since you depend on these bitches," I said. I saw her clench her fist but later smiled.

"Girls, leave us muna. I'll handle this mag-isa," she said. It seemed like a holy order because in just a snap kaming dalawa nalang ang naiwan sa rooftop. She looked at me but did not utter a word.

"Show me what you got," I said. Halata namang kinakabahan siya but she hid it very well. Maybe she's not good at masking since I noticed fear in her eyes.

"D-Don't tell me you want to mess with the queen? Like duh, you're so cheap. What's with that red string with a jeje pendant? Like eww, my family can buy the most expensive jewelry," she answered.

I clenched my fist. That red string is cheap but memorable. Wala siyang karapatang mag-judge because she doesn't know the meaning behind it.

Her answer made me furious even more. Hindi ko na namalayan ang biglang paghila ko sa buhok niya. Bumawi siya and also grabbed my hair. Nagsabunutan kami.

"Aah!" she shrieked. Kahit nasasaktan ako, patuloy pa rin ako sa paghila at mas diniinan pa.

"S-Stop it you btch!" she shouted. Pero mas lalo kong diniinan ang paghila sa buhok niya. I love this!

"No wonder you inherited this from your mom! You daughter of a btch!"

Tumigil sa pag-gana ang utak ko. Mas lalong namuo ang galit ko para sa kanya.

The next thing I knew, she shouted from the top of her lungs as my hands went to her back.

I pushed her. She fell.

*end of flashback*

(end of chapter)