TO FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL (ATHLETE SERIES #3)
"Hey! What are you all think you were doing huh?"
The seven-year-old Dorry Santiago can't help but to punch those bullies' faces. She saw a her poor classmate got beaten by those seventh graders so she better teach them a lesson.
"Yeah! Run away, bastards!"
She glanced at the boy who got beaten. There are so many bruises around his handsome face but she stilled and noticed that she already saw this familiar boy in front of her.
"Are you the one who visited our house last-last year? And you called yourself Nemo because I'm Dorry?" she asked. Crossing her arms around her chest.
The boy stood up and faced her. "Yeah. That's me."
"Oh. We meet again. And we go to the same school? Hmm, that's cool. Can we be buddies?" she looked away. "You see ahm, there are no other kids who wants to be friend with me because they say I'm a trouble maker."
Even though the bruises on, the boy's face still in pain, he managed to smile. "It's fine with me. I'm Theo, by the way."
Dorry grab Theo's hand and shake it with so much gratitude. "I'm Dorry and I'm awesome!"
He laughed. "Yeah I saw earlier. Thanks for saving me, bud."
Umiling siya. "Oh that's nothing! --"
They both stunned in their places when the guards were walking towards them with the seventh graders who beat up Theo.
"She punch us in our faces! Seize her!" the boy pointed at her.
But it seems Dorry didn't alarmed at that. She's getting used to troubles by turning what happened.
"You again, Santiago?" napailing ang guard. "Go to the Dean's office. Now!"
She was about to take a step when someone stopped her. It's Theo.
"But she didn't do anything wrong." lumingon ito sa kanya. "Hey, tell them the truth. That you didn't do anything wrong."
Ngunit parang ayos lang kay Dorry ang nangyari at pilit na binitawan ang kamay ni Theo na pumigil sa kanya at nginitian siya saka naglakad papuntang Dean's office.
"THAT'S it! I'm calling your parents!" the Dean shouted in annoyance.
Dorry must've been go back and forth in Dean's office because of so much trouble that she'd been to ever since she was in second grade.
For her, it was right to be stood up for people who couldn't fight for themselves. She was just protecting all the bullies target but it turns out that she always got herself into trouble.
Napakamot ng batok si Dorry "I'm doomed." she whispered.
"Yes, Mrs. Santiago. You have to come here right now." the Dean ordered to her mother on the phone. Then she looked at her. "How many time do I have to warn you about this, Dorry? This school, University of Washington, had been peaceful but when you arrived, it all became messed up. The students have lost their focus on their studies because you caused so much trouble."
She snorted. "Peaceful my butt."
"What did you say?"
"Uhm, I mean--"
"Where is she?!" it was her mom who just entered the Dean's office.
"Oh, you came early, Mrs. Santiago. Please have seat." inimuwestra ng Dean ang upuang katapat niya.
Napaiwas na lang sya ng tingin ng pandilatan siya ng ina. Alam niyang mayayari na naman sya mamaya kaya hindi na lang sya umimik.
She didn't even spoke a word and to explain herself that she was just saving someone who got beaten up. Pero mukhang sya pa ang may kasalanan. Hindi man lang nila hinayaang pagpaliwanagin siya sa nangyari hanggang sa makalabas sila ng ina sa Dean's office.
"OH MY God, Dorry! Kailan ka ba titino, ha?! I already told you to stop this nonsense! Stop causing trouble, for goodness sake!" galit na sigaw sa kanya ng ina nang makauwi.
They are pure Filipino blood that's why they all know who to speak and understand tagalog words but it turns out that they lived here in US for some reason.
"Mom, let me explain--"
"There's nothing to explain, Dorry! You've caused trouble again! Hindi ka ba nasasawang ipahiya kami ng daddy mo?!"
Bagsak ang balikat niyang tumungo na lamang.
"Mom, stop being so hard on her." her older brother, Branden came up to the scene. "She's just a seven-year-old. She didn't know what her doing because she's just a kid. Pagpasensyahan mo na muna, mom."
Buti pa ang kuya niya, kahit papaano ay naiintindihan sya. And he's on her side of course. She was close to her older brother unlike to her parents.
Pilit syang ngumiti at nagpaalam na aakyat na muna sa taas para magpahinga. She had homeworks and projects to do.
But before she could even start, a thought came to her mind.
I was just trying to explain myself. But why they couldn't seem understand me? They didn't even give me a chance to explain myself to them because of the reason that I'm still a kid and I didn't know what I was doing in my life.
A lifeless chuckled came out to her lips. "They didn't know me. Ever."
DORRY
"Why are you sweating bullets, bud?"
Theo immediately grab a towel and gave it to me so I could wipe my sweats. I was too livid earlier to the point I used my strength to fight those bastards. I found out that they're just using me.
Mga hayop.
"Wala ito. Sya nga pala okay na. Wala na ako sa grupo nila."
Ngumiti sya. "Good. Now, change your clothes. You like like a snatcher or something."
I laughed. "I was once, remember?"
"Yeah, right. If I didn't asked you you leave their group, you still just a criminal now."
Umupo ako sa counter ng convinience store na pinata trabahuhan niya. Wala naman customer kaya nakiupo lang muna ako dito.
"Mabuti na lang talaga at nahanap kita." Saad ko.
Inayos nya ang mga pack ng biscuits sa lalagyanan. "Pasalamat ka na lang. Anyway, go get change your clothes, bud. You smell awful!"
"Aba! Iniinsulto mo ba ako? Gusto mong sakalin kita, ha?!"
Nilapitan ko sya at inakbayan sa leeg at saka pabirong sinakal. Hindi siya nakapalag kaya tawang-tawa kong syang pinakawalan.
"Ouch! But seriously, bud, magbihis ka na at may pupuntahan pa tayong importante."
Napataas ang kilay ko. "FYI ha, sinabi ko naman sayo na nanakawan ako kaya wala akong mga damit o ibang gamit na natira."
"Oh right. Sorry. Punta ka sa storage room." itinuro niya ang pinto sa pinakadulo nitong convinience store. "May damit duon na pambabae. Galing ang mga 'yon sa mga dating nagpapart time dito na hindi na binalikan ang mga gamit nila."
"Sige. Pero, saan naman itong importanteng pupuntahan natin?"
Tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang labi. "To your dreams."
"Ano?"
"Sa school na gusto mong pasukan. I'll take care of your papers for you to be part of the scholar student-athletes."
Biglang nagliwanag ang itsura ko sa narinig. Parang unti-unti ko na ring maabot ang mga pangarap ko sa oras na makapasok ako duon.
I punch and kick the air and say... "Athlete University, here I come!"
~amph1trite~
Hi! I hope y'all like it! ❤️