FIGHT - 1
After what happened, Dorry didn't spoke to her mom which is part of her pride. While she's eating in front of her parents, she wished that her older brother could reach their dinner.
She felt suffocating because of her mother's silent treatment. And thank God her wishes came true when her brother entered the dining room.
"Hey, people! What's with the silence?" he instantly noticed.
Umupo ito sa katabi ng bakanteng niyang inuupuan at bahagya siyang siniko.
"May ginawa ka na naman, ano?"
Sinamaan nya ito ng tingin at sinipa ang paa sa ilalim ng lamesa.
"Wala ka na don, kuya." saway niya at itinuloy ang pag kain.
Maya-maya'y biglang nagsalita ang ama niya sa seryoso at may babalang tono. Kung mas nakakatakot ang ama niya, mas lalo naman kapag ang ina na nya.
"So when are you gonna stop making fights, huh?" her father placed his spoon and fork beside his plate with force. Causing a loud sound between the silence that surrounds them.
"Ilang beses ka pa ba paulit-ulit na bumalik sa Dean's office sa pakikipag-away mo? Ilang beses ka na rin naming sinabihan, Dorry. Hindi ka pa rin ba natututo?!" he continued. "You're not a guy, Dorry! You're a girl! And a girl must be behave! So stop causing fights--"
"Enough, Dad!" nagulat si Dorry sa biglang pagsigaw ng kuya niya.
Binalingan niya ito at nakita niyang nagtatagis ang bagang nito at masama ang tingin sa ama.
"It's not that Dorry is always at fault! We didn't even know the whole story! You didn't even let her explain her side to you two! She's just a kid! A seven-year-old kid! Don't consider her as the same age as me! She's not yet a teen that already know what's right or wrong. So please don't yell at her. And instead, go yell at me. I'm the older one so I'm responsible for all her mistakes." dire-diretsong sabi ng kuya niya at binuhat siya saka umalis ng hapag-kainan saka nagtungo sa ikalawang palapag ng kanilang bahay.
"You didn't have to do that, kuya. Sanay na ako kay mommy at daddy. They didn't listen to me anyway."
"Shh," hinagod ng kuya nya ang kanyang likuran habang karga-karga pa rin sya nito. "It's okay, beb. I'm here. Kuya's here. Ready to listen to you."
Niyakap nya ng mahigpit ang kanyang kuya. "Salamat, kuya Branden."
"It's nothing, beb." ibinaba sya nito nang makarating sila sa kwarto niya. "O sya, mag toothbrush ka na at matulog na para mas tumakad ka pa at lumakas."
Tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang labi. "So I could beat all those bad guys?"
He chuckled. "Yes, beb." nakipag fist bump sya dito at hinalikan siya sa nuo. "Night, beb. Love you."
"You too, kuya! Love you!"
DORRY woke up early as always everytime when it's weekdays. She's not a princess to have a nanny to wake her up and prepare food for her or have a driver to bring her to school.
And at her age, she's already independent to herself. Maybe because her parents is always busy all and no time for their children so she grew up taking care of herself.
Her brother was also busy with his college life and to his girlfriend. He always left early in the morning because his school was 20 miles up to their house.
"HEY! Tough girl!"
Napalingon si Dorry sa tumawag sa kanya. Yung lalaking niligtas pala nya nung isang araw.
"I thought we're buddies now?" she asked.
"Yeah I know. But you're a one tough girl so I called you that."
Tinalikuran nya ito at naglakad na muli papuntang school. Medyo malapit lang naman ang bahay nila sa school nila at hindi na kailangan ng sasakyan pa.
"Yes I'm tough but don't call me girl. I hate the sound of that."
Bumuntot naman sa kanya si Theo at nagtanong. "Why not? You're a girl, right?"
Dorry made a disgusting look. "It makes me feel sick and it's like I'm being weak if I'm a girl for no reason."
Napatanga ang kausap at hindi alam ang sasabihin kaya nanahimik na lang ito.
She asked him if why he didn't take a cab to go to their school and Theo answered him that he stopped his driver when he sees her just walking to school so he insisted to walk with her. They were buddies after all.
"SO what are you going to do now?" he asked her when they meet again at the gate of their school after class.
Dorry faced him and shrugged. "Probably going home."
Theo tsked. "That's boring." and then he suddenly gazed at the seventh year girls that walking passed them.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Dorry asked him. Parang nawala sa sarili kasi itong si Theo.
"H-Ha? Wala. They're so beautiful kasi."
Napatango-tango sya. "So you know how to speak tagalog? Oh well. Ako din naman marunong. My parents once lived in the Philippines. My mom is full blood filipina and my dad is half so--"
Napatigil siya sa pagsasalita nang mapansing hindi ito nakikinig sa kanya at panay lang ang tingin sa mga kababaihang dumadaan.
She shook her head. Dorry expect that he'll surely be a womaniser or a play boy when he grew up. Well, it's not bad for him though. He has looks, wealth and charm that could make a woman fall for him even just for one second. But for her, head over heels no.
Mukha pa ngang lampa. Anang sa kanyang isipan.
"Bud! Wait up!"
Humabol ito sa biglaang pag-alis nya ng walang pasabi. Mukhang busy kasi ito titigan ang mga babae at malapit nang maglaway kung hindi lang nito napansin ang pag-alis nya.
"Tara sa bahay!" aya nito.
"Ano namang gagawin ko dun?"
"Mag lalaro ano pa ba?"
Napatigil si Dorry sa paglalakad. For some reason, bigla siyang nagkaron ng excitement.
Not that her mother didn't let play but she always buy her some girls toys especially barbies. But she hates barbies. And instead, she prefer some toy guns, katana and boxing gloves. Her mother always invite her girl classmates to come over to their house for some kids party but she always end up staying in her room which is making her mother get pissed and annoyed to her.
But now, excitement filled her system. Knowing Theo is guy, she's sure that there are toys for boys in their house so she agreed to him.
DORRY
"How's your class, bud?"
Umakbay sa akin ang best friend ko simula pagkabata at ang tumulong sa akin upang makapasok sa AU.
It's my fourth week here but I still had a hard time to be friend with other student-athletes. It seems like they didn't want to get close to me sobut it's fine though. I had Theo here so I don't need anyone else.
"It was fine. Actually may transferee sa section namin." the corner of my lips rose up. "She's black-beauty, nice and she's definitely smart. Oh and also she's a swimmer."
"Oh! Sya yata yung tinutukoy ni Hunt? Yung bago nilang member sa swimming team nila." Theo caressed his chin. "Hmm, is she pretty? Beautiful? Or maybe gorgeous?"
Siniko ko ang babaerong ito. "Gago. Ayan ka naman eh. Kailan ka ba kasi titigil sa pagiging babaero mo?"
He chuckled. "If I already found the one."
Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. "Tss. The one, my ass."
"May practice kami mamaya ng basketball. Do you wanna come?"
"No thanks, bud. May training din kami mamaya. Geh, later, womaniser."
Matapos magpaalam sa kanya dumiretso na ako sa studio kung saan kami nag tetraining ng taekwondo. I always thank God for helping me join the taekwondo's team. Because if it wasn't for him, I'll never be back to a black belter again.
"SANTIAGO! You're here!"
Nakipag-apir ako kay coach Alex na syang head coach namin sa taekwondo. And I must say he's way to far from being a black belter when he's young and until now even he's already in the middle age at the stage of adults.
"Hey, coach."
"Oh, nagpagupit ka na naman?" tinuro nya ang buhok ko.
"Yes, coach. Feeling ko kasi mas bagay sa akin ang boy cut." I placed my duffel bag inside my own locker. "So, anong oras ho ang start ng training?"
"Be ready at 3pm sharp."
I nodded and readied myself for training. Now that I heard that Carter's back, I should be double my work hard on training. He's my ultimate opponent when it comes to taekwondo especially the battles of who's going to be the black belter.
I met Carter in Korea when we had a taekwondo competition there and he's a delegate from Canada and I was from the US. We had a tough fight back then and I guess until now. But not actually related to taekwondo.
He just couldn't accept that I beaten him on our competition. That's why he kicked my ass after the battles of black belter. He doesn't move on that easily although it's already five years ago.
Theo said Carter he's one of his gang here in AU. Parehas kasi silang transferee dito sa AU nuong mag senior high sila. But Carter had a one year from Theo. And that makes him a sophomore now.
"ARAY KO! Gago ka ano?!" napahawak ako sa pwitan ko nang sipain niya ang pang-upo ko habang ako'y nakayuko at nag-aayos ng gamit matapos ang training.
Dinuro ko sya. "What the hell is your problem, asshole?! Hindi ka pa rin ba maka move on dahil natalo ng isang Dorry Santiago ang katulad mo?!"
"Damn you!" he cursed at me. "Because of you, our team made fun of me the reason I was just beaten by a girl for fuck sake!" napahilamos sya ng mukha. "And because of you, may taong nasaktan dahil napagkamalan ko syang ikaw!"
Anak ng...
"At bakit mo naman sa akin isinisisi?! It's not like its my fault! Katangahan mo ang pinairal mo! Gago." binangga ko ang balikat nya at muntik naman syang mabuwal sa pagkakatayo.
Mainit ang ulong lumabas ako ng campus para mag trabaho sa inapplyan kong part time job sa isang convinience store na Star Mart.
Theo's also working there even though he's rich as fuck. He's has an own freaking bar! I don't even know why he's still working when he can absolutely afford something he wants.
Parang nawala naman kaagad ang init ng ulo ko nang makita si Hanelle sa labas ng gate ng campus.
"Hey, amiga. Where are you up to?"
"H-Hi, Dorry! Papunta lang ako sa part time job ko."
Tss. She always stammered. Which makes her so cute and innocent.
"Oh, talaga? Same. Gusto mo hatid na kita?" alok ko.
"Ay huwag na. M-Malapit lang naman ang Dadbod dito. S-Salamat!"
"Mmm, okay. Ingat ka ha."
Kumaway sya habang papalayo na. "You too! N-Nice hair by the way!"
Nawala ang mga ngiti ko sa labi at wala sa sariling napahawak sa buhok.
At least someone appreciate my looks with this hairstyle. Especially when it's her.
~amph1trite~