Into Her Book 1: Clyde Hernandez

10

10

“Look how terrible you look like,”

The door of the restroom opened at the same time as those words came out from the mouth of the person that I probably don’t know if I wanted to see right now or not. She closed the door behind her and approached the three of us with her arms crossed. I just watched her as she didn’t even give a single glance towards my friends.

“Don’t tell me you plan to go out in your p.e. uniform again?” She asked with sarcasm in her voice.

“If you can lend me your uniform then I won’t get out of this restroom looking like this, Gen.” I answered to my sister whom I don’t even know if she really is my sister in front of other people.

The whole time that I was being played by everyone else in this school, being pranked and becoming a laughing stock, she didn’t even do anything. I felt bad for her last time because letting the whole school know that we are sisters might tarnish her popularity which worried me. Little did I know that what I feel doesn't even really matter to her once we got out of our house.

There were many times when she was on the site when I was stock in a prank made by that asshole Clyde and the other students. I actually thought she might feel bad for me and become that worried sister in a while, but I just raised my hopes too high. She just always turned a blind eye and acted like she didn’t see anything!

What makes this whole thing worse is that, whenever we go home, she will act like that innocent and worried younger sister of mine in front of our parents. That makes any suspicion on her bratty attitude nowhere to be seen. It’s not like I can tell her about our parents as well anyway because of two possible scenarios. I might be on the wrong side of our parents or the two of us will really end up as distant sisters.

“Next time, I suggest you stock a spare uniform in your locker,” She smirks as she looks at me from head to toe before she lets out a smug. “But then, it might get ruined again and mom had to buy you a new uniform.”

“Do you know about all of this?” I asked her before she could even turn to her back. She faces me again and the look on her face already gave me the answer that I wished not to see. A shaky sigh escapes my lips in disappointment. “So you knew?”

“Of course, I know! It will be shocking that a popular girl doesn’t even know what is going on in this school.” She answered without any hesitation.

“What do you mean by that?”

“The people who are with Clyde to initiate this whole plan are none other than the popular kids,” Kaori answered on behalf of my sister. “They are one of the ones who usually set out the order while the other students will conduct the plan.”

I look at Kim and Kaori in slight confusion. So does this mean, it’s not really Clyde who is behind this? Even my own sister knows all of their plans?! And she agreed to those?! My eyes went to Gen in disgust and disbelief but she didn’t even bother any looks I was giving her.

“I still don’t get how you two are sisters. There’s a lot of kids in this school and you just had to be sisters with a spoiled brat b***h,” Kim says in a sarcastic tone, making Gen look at her with raised brow.

“What did you just say?!”

“Spoiled brat b***h. Isn’t that who you are?” Kim argued without any hint of fear. “I understand you can be mean with anyone… but I can never understand how you can be mean with your own sister, someone older than you and you haven't met for a long time!”

Without even any hesitation, Gen strives towards Kim. I was lost because of the information I was getting that I didn’t even realize what happened next. The next thing I knew, Kim was already on the floor with Kaori helping her up while my sister was just gazing down at her.

“Do you even think you have the right to say that to me? Do you even know who the person you really call your friend?” Gen argued, raising her voice a little.

“We don’t fully yet, but what we know…” Kaori glances at me before looking at my sister confidently. “She isn’t like you who only knows how to protect her reputation rather than the people she should protect more.”

“You had the guts to tell me that?!” Gen was about to push Kaori once again but I was quick to stop her. I push her, not hardly like she does to my friends, making her stumble away a bit. She looks at me in disbelief as a scoff escapes her lips. “So you finally are showing your true colors now, aren’t you? Are you going to hurt your sister as well?”

“Isn’t that what you are doing to me now, Gen?” I argued back as my hand formed into a fist due to frustration.

“Me? I’m hurting you?” She let out a laugh that only made me pissed even more. “Did I push you myself? Did I slap you myself? Am I the one who hit you?” She questioned but I can't even answer right because… she didn’t do it. “I don't, right? So stop trying to blame me for your misfortune. You brought all the trouble to yourself, sis.”

My breathing was shaky as my chest rose up and down harshly because of the words that came out of her mouth. My hands are tightly turned into a fist that my knuckles are turning white already. I felt a soft hand on top of mine which allowed me to calm down a little as I glanced at Kaori. She shakes her head as I took it as a chance to breathe deeply.

“Isn’t ordering those students to do all those pranks to your own sister the same as hurting her already?” Kim fights back on my behalf.

“How can that be the same? We just initiated the plan. Are we forcing them to do it? We don’t, right?” My sister argued.

“You really are just mean as Clyde,” I whispered, which was enough for her to hear it. She narrowed her eyes on me and remained unbothered. I look at her with quivering eyes. “Are you that inhumane like him too?”

“Inhumane?” She lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting? Calling someone inhumane over a small and harmless prank?”

“I almost rolled down the stairs because of the prank you, your circle and Clyde initiated. Is that what you call a harmless prank?” I argued back which made her silent.

It was just yesterday when it happened. I was just walking with Hayde to the library. We were so confused because no one is using the stairs even though there are students around. We found out why when I tripped into a nylon string that was set right into the stairs above. If it wasn’t for Hayde’s fast reflex, I might already have some broken feet now.

“Why are you doing this Gen? Why are you helping them do this to me?!” I raised my voice unintentionally because of the frustration that is eating me already. “Of all people, how are you so capable to do this to me?!”

“Can’t you even take a hint?” She answered frustratedly. “The first day you arrived in the house. The first time I looked at you? How can you be so clueless?”

“Can you just give me a clear answer?”

“I hate you!” She answered right away which caught me off guard. “The moment dad says they found you, I already hated you. The moment I first saw your picture with mom, I already hated you!”

Hearing from my own sister that I am not close with and I haven’t seen for so many years that she hates me, it hurts more than what JC did to me. It was like being stabbed on my back countless times with an innocent smile plastered on her lips. It was a pain that cannot be compared with anything else.

“W-what… what did I ever do to you?” I questioned, whisperingly, in confusion.

My walls are all lost. I feel weak and miserable. I wanted to run away from here now and never show up. Right now, I don’t even want to go back to the place I call home now. I don’t wanna keep acting like we are both on good terms even though we really aren’t in one. I can’t keep pretending.

“What did you do?” She repeated. The smirk on her lips was nowhere to be found and only seriousness is evident. “You returned.”

Those were the last words she said in a firm tone with a hint of anger in it. She turned to her back and left the restroom without saying anything more, leaving us in silence. I was just standing there as my sister’s words repeated in my mind like a circle train that didn't have any plan to stop. It was unbearable.

I was only back to my senses when I felt a hand on my back, caressing it gently in comfort but I can barely even feel the comfort in it. My eyes went to Kaori as I wasn’t able to control myself anymore. A tear escapes my eyes as my lips shakes due to unexplainable emotion inside me.

Kim held out my other hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.” She told me as if she was the one who is at fault here.

I shook my head and swallowed hard in being able to talk. “I-i should be the one to apologize… the both of you had to w-witness such a scene.” I tried my best to say it properly but still ended up stuttering.

“You don’t need to apologize to us, Bella. We understand everything and it’s okay.” Kaori reached for my other hand and held it here gently. “You can show anything to us, Bella. Your weaknesses and your strengths. If you do that, it will only allow us to know our friend even more.”

A faint smile only forms in my lips with what she says. I think I’m lucky with one thing in this school. I was lucky to belong in a group that is willing to accept my flaws and my strength. Friends who are willing to know me just like how much I want to know them. Bella… you should be happy with just that now.

For the rest of the day, I feel gloomy. I even had to pretend that I already ate outside with my friends just so I wouldn’t be on the same table as Gen where I have to pretend. It kept going for days because I didn't wanna keep acting. The only exception was breakfast because I can’t really escape that one so I ended up remaining silent throughout the whole time.

The more days passed, the more pranks I keep facing. There are some that I can take because it's just light and something I can take. I also try to fight back but they just come back stronger whenever I do. What I only know is that this whole prank is getting more and more childish already.

Despite having too much, with this whole school trying to come against me and the whole thing with my sister that left me so much, I still find myself walking into the walls of RIS. I wanna leave this school but at the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to do so. It will only take one complaint and spill to my parents for them to transfer me out but… I don’t wanna do that.

Leaving this school at this moment means that I lost against Clyde and everyone else. It’s not about proving something that I am not just someone they can treat as a toy then I will end up leaving because it’s already too much. It’s about testing my own limits and not showing them that I am weak enough for them to treat me whatever they want just because they think highly of themselves.

At the end of the day, my family in Ilocos and my friends in this school… they are the only ones that I am holding on to stay here and remain strong. I wanna be weak but I can’t do that. I can tear up but I can’t cry my eyes out to ask for pity from my friends. I can’t do that because I don’t wanna be a burden. I can’t complain to my lola and tito because… I don’t want them to be worried. So… let’s just take it Bella… all of this will pass by.

“Planning something again, aren’t you?” I whispered to myself when I saw Clyde, Bryce, EJ and Jerome just meters away from me. The four of them are just standing next to the stairs, obviously waiting for someone while glancing everywhere. My eyes caught the student who was on the other side, holding a bucket, which made me shake my head. “Stupid.”

Without any worry, I decided to give them a show since it is what they want all this time anyway. I acted like I wasn’t aware of any of their stupid plan and went straight ahead to my destination. I could feel their eyes on me and just like I expected, the student who was holding a bucket appeared in front of me to splash whatever it was inside the bucket. I quickly dodge him and kick the bucket, making it splash on him instead.

A winning smirk forms on my lips when I see him completely drench because of the water inside the bucket. It’s not even just simple water, but milk! Just because they are all rich, they will really go to length and waste their money to buy milk for this stupid pranks. What a brats.

“The next time you do a prank,” I said, turning to Clyde’s direction in confidence. He raised his brow at me with frustration obvious in his face. “At least do something that isn’t lame. I thought you were better than Clyde Hernandez.”

“Are you provoking me?”

I shrugged with a smug smile, glancing at some students who circled around us. “Isn’t that what I did back then that led you to do this? I protected someone you bullied and now, you changed your target. I think I’m already far from just provoking you, Clyde.”

“You really do have so much confidence inside you, aren’t you?” He says with a scoff.

“I do! So if you want to make me leave this school… at least do a prank that actually makes sense,” I glanced at the empty bucket laying on the floor before looking at him again. “Not some stupid lame pranks. That is just so embarrassing.”

If he wants to play with me, then let me play with him too. If I will leave this school, I need to leave with my head up without embarrassing myself. My goal now… is to make sure he goes down. To make sure that he will get a taste of his own medicine.

“Bella, what are you doing?” Kaori questioned as I just remained silent while I sneaked inside the boys locker room. “Bella!”

She still followed me despite the worried calls. Without any hesitation, when I found Clyde’s locker, I immediately opened it and I saw the thing that would definitely pissed him off. A smirk forms my lips as I take out his school jersey that has a number 14 on the back. It’s payback time Hernandez.

“What are you going to do with that?” Kaori asked once again in fear.

“I will let him taste his own medicine, Kao.” I put the jersey into the bench before checking my bag to get something in there. “It’s time someone actually fights back to his childish pranks.”

I took out the scissors and proudly smiled with the childish plan inside my head. He wanted to play in a childish way so I will give it to him! I’m easy to talk with so it wouldn’t be that much of a problem. I made some designs for his jersey, randomly cutting it everywhere including his surname that was written on the back. His jersey is the most important thing for him in every single game and this… this will surely pissed him off.

After successfully ruining-I mean giving his jersey a new style, I sneaked out of the locker room once again with Kaori as if nothing happened. They are still in their practice so I’m pretty sure Clyde will notice it after they are done. It actually didn’t take him hours to notice it because after three hours, the group community was already bombarded with messages about his jersey. This is just the beginning asshole!

“Did you do this?!” That familiar jersey was thrown on the top of our table as the furious Clyde came in front of us while raising his voice. I raised my brow at him and put on a small smirk which made him even mad. “I am asking you! Did you do this?!”

“How does it feel now to be the one to experience the prank?” I questioned him in a teasing yet serious way.

Without any notice, he slammed his hands on the table, creating a loud noise that caught everyone’s attention in the cafeteria. “Is this your way of fighting back? I thought my pranks are lame for you yet you are doing the same thing.” He argued that made me scoff sarcastically.

“Well… you started it this way. Wouldn’t it be more fun if I fight back the way you do it? After all, you like it when your plan is being followed properly by everyone.” I answered innocently but in a tone that will make him furious more.

“Are you trying to get in my head?” He questioned, gazing down at me piercely that made me smirk.

“Is that my effect on you?”

He remained silent for a second as he didn’t back down with my stare on him. During that time, I noticed the brown color of his eyes that is in deep thought. I remained staring at him until it was him who cutted it off. A smirk then appears on my lips, thinking that I obviously win.

“Stop provoking me.” He warned before turning to his back.

“You stop with your lame ass prank first then we can call it even.” I suggested which made him stop. I thought it was already the queue for the end but… I was getting my hopes too high.

“Never.”

I watched his back walk further away with Jerome following him behind. The smirk on my lips disappeared as it was replaced with a heavy sigh. I could feel so many eyes on me, with some even throwing daggers from their eyes. If I really keep this going in front of them, I might end up being in my own grave that was dug by them.

“You should take it easy on our friend.” Bryce suddenly appeared next to our table with his hands inside his pants pocket. EJ followed and stood next to him, glancing on our table secretly but it was definitely obvious for me. “I’m sure you want to end this whole thing as well… I suggest you stop fighting back.”

“You should tell your friend to stop, not me. He started it.” I defended myself.

“But it doesn’t mean you should continue it the same way.” EJ commented that made me silent. He let out a sigh before closing his eyes for a second and looking at me. “I know that Clyde is going too far with some of his pranks… but trust me, he isn’t the kind of person you think he is. Maybe I expected too much that you will be the mature one and lead him on the same path.”

It was the last thing he said before both him and Bryce left us. After they left, I was just silent, thinking about my actions and reflecting. I was never like this back then. I don’t really like violence and even seeing others getting hurt that is why I usually stand up against whoever is bullying one. The thing is, if they try to come after me, I just let them and never care until they grow tired but this time… it’s different.

“Bella,” Kaori called for my name, knocking me back to my senses. I arch my brows in confusion. “I think Bryce is right. You should really take it easy on Clyde.”

A sigh escapes my lips as I shake my head, avoiding her eyes on me. “He started it, Kao. Don’t come on me for this one.”

“I know! But Clyde… he is in much more pain than you thought he is in.” She revealed that it made me curious.

“What do you mean?”

“There is a reason why he is like that,” She let out a sigh. “And I’m sure you will start to have doubts on what you think of him once you hear this.”