Serena's POV
Nagising ako mula sa ingay na naririnig ko. I groaned as I shift on my position to avoid the light from hitting my eyes.
"Mukhang gising na siya"
"Okay lang kaya siya"
I opened my eyes and I was welcomed by the bright light. Muli akong pumikit. When my eyes adjusted from the light, tumingin ako sa aking paligid. And saw three unfamiliar faces all looking at me with worried questioning eyes.
"Okay ka na ba? Wala bang masakit sayo?" ask the blonde haired girl.
Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko. Walang masakit. I'm fine.
"Okay lang ako." tipid kong sagot kahit na nag-aalangan akong sumagot.
I look at them and was about to question kung sino sila nang magsalita ang isang kasama nila.
"Oo nga pala. My name's Calla." pagpapakilala niya at tinuro niya ang katabi niya, "This one's Aya."
"And I'm Jas." said the blonde girl.
I nodded in response.
"Pauwi na kami nang makita ka naming walang malay sa daan. We don't know your address kaya dinala ka namin dito sa apartment namin." paliwanag ni Aya. Yeah, I think her name is Aya.
After she said that, saka ko lang naalala. I was about to turn to the next alley when... I almost gasped infront of them.
Agad akong napahawak sa ulo ko. I can remember how that someone hit me hard on my head.
"May masakit ba sa ulo mo?" tanong ni Calla ng makita niyang nakahawak ako dito.
"Wala. Wala." I lied. Hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihin sa kanila na 'Eh kasi may pumukpok sa ulo ko pero okay na ako kasi kusang naghihilom ang mga sugat ko'. They might freak out.
Instead ngumiti ako sa kanila. "Thank you kasi tinulungan niyo ako kahit na hindi niyo ako kilala. But I think, I'll go home."
Napatingin ako sa bintana kanina at gabi na pala. Siguro nakatulog lang ako ng mahigit dalawang oras dahil hapon noong umuwi ako galing school.
"Are you sure? Okay ka na ba?"
Tumango ako. Nag-aalangan pa sila kung papayagan nila akong umalis ngunit wala silang nagawa ng magpumilit ako.
"Mag-ingat ka." Sabay-sabay nilang sabi na ikinagulat ko.
"Thank you ulit. Lagi kong tatandaan ang pagtulong niyo sa akin." sabi ko bago ako tuluyang maglakad paalis.
When I was a meters away from them, lumingon ako. Nakatayo pa rin sila sa labas ng pintuan ng apartment nila, probably waiting for me to disappear before they return inside.
"By the way, my name's Serena." sigaw ko at tuluyan na akong naglakad paalis.
Rinig ko pa ang pagtawag at pamamaalam nila pero hindi ko na sila liningon pa.
My mom would always tell me not to talk to strangers. Kaya hindi ko sinabi ang pangalan ko kanina ng magpakilala sila. But looking at them, I had a feeling that they were kind. Actually, mabait talaga sila. Tinulungan nila ako kahit na hindi nila ako kilala so I kind of trust them.
Instead of going home, I planned to visit Nathan sa hospital. Narinig kong nasa hospital pa daw sila and since ako naman ang may kasalanan, it is only fair of me to visit him atleast before I will reject him.
I was still curious kung sino yung umatake sa akin kanina but I'll think of that later.
Pagdating ko sa hospital, Nathan and his friends were on the same room. Great. This would be a great timing.
"Hi. Kumusta ka na?" I ask as I took a sit sa upuan malapit sa kanya.
When I was still outside, rinig ko ang mga tawa nila but when I entered bigla silang natamihik.
"Hindi nga ako okay eh." he said acting like he is hurt.
I almost scoffed in my sit pero buti na lang napigilan ko ang sarili ko. Sa kanilang tatlo, only Nathan had a leg support. I guess mas malakas yata ang magic ball that I use to him. Actually, pwede ng lumabas ang dalawa pa niyang kaibigan once maubos ang dextrose na nakakabit sa kanila.
"Don't worry. Gagaling din yan." sagot ko sa kanya.
I do care but only because I was the reason they were here.
"Ano nga palang ginagawa mo dito?" Nathan ask. "Nandito ka na ba para sagutin ako?" He added.
Yung dalawang kaibigan niya tahimik lang na nakikinig but I can see how they were excited to know what my answer would be. Ofcourse, they have bets. How could I forget about that.
"I was here to visit you ofcourse." I said calmly as I stand.
I gave him a sweet smile. At lumapit ako sa kanya. I lean close to his ears.
And whispered, "I was also here to say that I don't like you."
Yung malawak niyang ngiti kanina ay agad na naglaho.
"What do you mean?" tanong niya and I could see both confusion and a slight anger on his eyes.
Umayos ako ng tayo. And I was still giving him a sweet smile.
"Hindi kita gustong maging boyfriend Nathan."
I said loudly and his friends both gasped in shock while Nathan look at me dumbfounded.
I then gave each of them a thousand peso bills. Takang-taka sila kung para saan iyon pero tinanggap naman nila.
"Here, bibigyan ko kayo ng pera so you could stop betting just to earn money. What comes around, goes around. Stop playing with people's feelings. Isa pa, don't look at yourselves so high, baka kapag bumagsak kayo, hinding-hindi na kayo ulit makakalipad pa." I said as I look at them with their shocked faces.
"I was here to say that. And since nasabi ko na, aalis na ako. I hope makakalabas na kayo dito." dagdag ko.
At tinalikuran ko na sila. Ngunit bago pa ako makarating sa pintuan, I heard Nathan scoffed.
I could actually feel his glares at my back pero hindi ko pinansin. I immediately walk out of the room.
Rinig ko pa ang pagsigaw niya ng,
Akala mo mahal kita?! Hindi ka kawalan hoy! Girls are swooning over me. Blah blah blah. At madami pa siyang sinabi.
I just rolled my eyes as I leave the hospital. Balak ko nga sana silang balikan at paulanan na lang sila ng magic balls pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.
Hindi bale, yung perang binigay ko sa kanila were just made of spells. Nabasa ko iyon sa Book of Spells na nasa library ni Mommy. Maya-maya those money will turn into worms and snakes for real but those are harmful since it was just made of spell.
I laughed as I transported back to my room. Hey, I'm not really as evil as I am, actually mabait ako. It's just that my attitude towards others will always depends on how they treat me.
Isa pa, ano pang silbi na may mahika ako kung hindi ko naman gagamitin diba? Besides those jerks deserve it. Kung mahimatay sila sa gulat, hindi ko na kasalanan iyon.
~