Chapter 9

AS Gemini stepped inside the Campus, all of the students looked at her, shocked. Aside from the

vehicle's sound, all she can hear are the murmurs and whispers of the students.

Tsk, mga chismosa. Their whispers are like the buzzing of bees in my ears. Nakakairita.

Napairap na lamang ang dalaga at rumampa na akala mo ay isang reyna. Medyo hindi sanay si

Gemini sa paghakbang ng kanyang paa na napuruhan dahil mahigit limang linggo din siyang

hindi nakapaglakad-lakad, tanging paghiga lamang ang kanyang ginawa at kapag pupunta

naman siya sa banyo, madalas niyang gamitin ang kanyang wheelchair.

Mabuti na lamang sinanay niya ang kanyang paa na ilakad noong nakaraang linggo kaya hindi

siya gaano nahihirapan ngayon. With the help of her friends, of course.

"Gemini!" Napalingon ang dalaga sa kanan nang marinig niya ang boses ni Weather. Tinaasan

niya ito ng kilay at inirapan bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"Hoy, teka lang! Hintayin mo ako," sigaw pa nito.

Umasta siya na parang hindi niya naririnig ang binata at binilisan ang paglalakad ngunit sadyang

mas mahaba ang biyas ni Weather kaya mabilis siya nitong naabutan.

"What do you want?" She asked him, impatiently.

Oh God, gusto ko nang makarating sa classroom.

Weather grinned as he put his arm on her shoulder. "Wala, sasabay lang ako. Halika na," wala

nang nagawa ang dalaga nang hilahin na siya ni Weather.

Dahan-dahan lamang ang kanilang paglalakad dahil nag-aalala rin si Weather na baka

nahihirapang maglakad si Gemini. Samantalang gusto naman ng dalaga na bilisan ang

paglalakad dahil naiirita siyang kasama si Weather.

"You look beat up," Weather commented.

Gemini rolled her eyes as she remember what happened last week after being discharged.

"Who wouldn't? Especially now that Gemanie the whore is feeling... what do you call this? Hmm,

pabida," she paused for a bit, thinking that if it's the right term, "Yeah, pabida it is. She's so

pabida to our Old Jackass father and Old Hag mother. Gosh, I feel like I want to vomit while

saying the words father and mother. It doesn't suit them," she said bitterly.

Napansin ni Weather ang bahagyang paglungkot ng mukha ni Gemini ngunit kaagad ding

bumalik sa dati nitong masungit na itsura.

Napailing na lamang ang binata at wala sabi-sabing ginulo ang buhok ni Gemini na ikinainis ng

dalaga.

"What the fuck is your problem?! Didn't you know spent two fucking hours drying, combing,

and fixing my silky, smooth, and shiny curly brown hair?! Gosh, Saguiyod!" She exaggeratedly

said making Weather burst out laughing.

Gemini frowned while glaring at Weather. She gritted her teeth of out frustration while

watching her friend almost die in laughter.

How dare he laugh at me like that?!

Gemini almost turn red. She's refraining herself not to choke Weather but this guys is really

testing her patience. Weather keeps on 'making faces' of her while doing her hair making

Gemini irritated more.

"Oh my, my hair is messy na ulit so I need to ayos na naman," Weather said using a female

voice, trying to mock and tease Gemini more. He even brush his imaginary long hair using his

fingers.

"Damn you!" She said, almost shouting. Weather, once again, laughed at her.

Huminto sa paglalakad si Gemini kaya nauuna nang naglalakad si Weather na kasalukuyan pa

ring tumatawa.

Gemini was throwing dagger looks at Weather's back when she suddenly thought of something

making her smirk.

Oh boy, I bet after what I'm going to do will cause chaos. Now, I'm excited.

Mabilis siyang naglakad upang maabutan ang kaibigan saka walang sabi-sabi na sinipa ang

alak-alakan ng binata dahilan kaya nawalan ito ng balanse at napaluhod. Dali-dali namang

pumwesto si Gemini sa harap ni Weather saka inumpisahang umarte.

"Oh my God, what are you doing, Sagui... uh, I mean Weather? You know naman that I don't do

relationshits so, yeah, I can't say yes to you." She, then, offer her hand. Weather glared at her

making Gemini giggle.

"What the heck are you doing?" Bulong ng binata sa kanya.

Inilapit naman ni Gemini ang kanyang bibig sa tenga ni Weather saka ito sinagot, "Pay back

time," she grinned before pulling Weather up. Nang malapit nang maglapat ang kanilang kamay

nang bigla itong bawiin ni Gemini kaya tumama sa hangin ang kamay ng binata.

"Oh wait, I'm getting late," she fake a gasp then face the crowd, "Uh, would you mind entertain

Weather for awhile? He needs some company," she said then winked.

She face her friend again, "See yah, Weather!" She bid goodbye before running away from

Weather who's now cursing because of the girls who approached him, shrieking and chanting

Weather's name like he's an idol.

Good luck getting out of that situation, fucker.

***

BEFORE the arrival of Gemini at their classroom, it was all chaos. Crumpled papers are flying

everywhere, plastic bottles are scattered around the floor, the chairs are disarrange, and lastly...

"What the fuck is that smell?! Ang baho! Sino ang amoy putok sa inyo?!" Malakas na sigaw nito

dahilan mapatigil ang lahat sa kanilang ginagawa.

Naglakad siya sa harap ng tatlong estudyante na malapit sa pintuan, isang metro ang distansya.

Suminghot siya ng dalawang beses at mabilis na tinakpan ang ilong nang maamoy niya ang

hinahanap niya.

"Holy shit!" She instantly covered her nose.

"What the heck?! Ilang araw ka ba hindi naligo ha?!" She commented.

Nagkatinginan ang tatlong estudyante bago muling tumingin sa kanya. Napairap na lamang ang

dalaga bago itinuro ang babaeng katapat niya, ang nasa gitna.

"You," maarteng wika niya, "Get the fuck out of my sight! You're so... argh! Whatever, ang baho

mo! I don't want to see your face here again!" Pinaypay niya pa ang sarili gamit ang kamay. Tahimik lamang ang mga estudyanteng nasa loob ng silid. Sa sobrang hiya na nararamdamam ng

dalaga, mangiyak-ngiyak itong tumakbo palabas ng silid.

Of course, no one will dare to talk back because they know that I'm capable of doing bad things.

"Excuse me? Isn't that too much?" Someone spoked.

Maarteng lumingon si Gemini sa kanyang gilid. Sumalubong sa kanyang paningin ang isang

babaeng sa tingin niya ay katangkaran lamang niya. Hindi katulad ni Gemini na may kulay kayumanggi ang mata, ang sa bagong dating naman ay berde. Diretso din ang kulay itim nitong

buhok, maputi ang balat, matangos ang ilong, at manipis ang hugis puso nitong natural na labi.

Oh, a newbie. A new victim.

Tinaasan niya ng kilay ang bagong dating bago nagsalita. "What that?" She asked, making an eye contact with the newbie.

The new girl didn't break the eye contact making Gemini smirked.

She has the guts, hmm. I don't like her.

"That! Sobra naman 'ata 'yung ginawa mong pamamahiya sa babae kanina. You could have just talked to her nicely!"

Gemini, once again, rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah." She said while signalling her

hand. "You know, Miss, you're just new here. I don't give a fuck about people's feelings. Don't

call me rude for saying what I feel, I'm just blunt. And, I break rules. No one can stop me... even

you. Newbie."

"FYI, I have a name! And it's Lore!" The girl shouted, feeling frustrated.

"Oh yeah? I didn't asked, though. Just keep your name, newbie. Hindi maganda pakinggan ang

pangalan mo. Ang bantot, parang kasing amoy ng kili-kili ni Cleff anglit." She said, harshly.

Her outfit looks boring. Her attitude, boring. Face? Boring, she's too plain. Even her name

sounds boring. I don't like her.

Ngiting tagumpay naman ang ginawa ni Gemini nang makita nito ang pagdadabog ni Lore

papunta sa kanyang upuan.

Gemini flipped her hair before walking like a model towards her seat. Pagkaupo pa lamang niya ay kaagad siyang binigyan ni Shanaz ng isang hampas sa braso.

"Ouch! What the heck, Shanaz? What's your problem?" Iritadong saad nito.

"Gaga ka! Hindi mo ba alam na Mayor ang Daddy niyan?" Mahinang panenermon ni Shanaz.

Gemini gave her friend a 'do you think I care?' Look. Napasampal na lamang si Shanaz sa

kanyang sarili.

"Oh God, kelan ka ba titino, Gemini?" Shanaz asked.

"Kapag naging mag-jowa ang kapatid mo at si Cawie, kapag nabuhay ka na purong ilusyon lang

ang lahat, at kapag may naglakas-loob nang sirain ang puri ni Weather," she paused, "At baka kapag nangyari 'yon titino na ako dahil patay na ako sa mga oras na 'yon dahil asa namang

mangyayari 'yon." She laughed at her own joke.

"Hoy, Gemini! Don't say that nga!" Pagsusuway ni Shanaz sa kaibigan.

"Aba, kahit may forever nga kami ni Leather mah labs hindi ko namang kaya na wala ka 'no.

Maid of honor ko kaya kayo," pakikisali naman ni Cawie sa usapan.

"Cawie, knock on woods ka dali!" Hinawakan ni Shanaz ang balikat ni Cawie saka 'yon inalog.

"Gaga, 'wag mo akong alugin!" Pinalo ni Cawie ang kamay ng kaibigan bago inayos ang suot na

salamin.

"Walang woods dito sa classroom, puro bakal ang mga gamit dito. Bobo mo naman."

Natatawang ani Gemini.

Shanaz faked a shock. "Wow, hiyang-hiya naman ako sa'yo. Kung bobo ako, bobo ka din. Goals

tayo 'di ba?"

"Tanga. Kung bobo ako, mas bobo ka. Ultimo types of speech hindi mo alam." Gemini replied

making Cawie laughed.

"Hoy, 'd-di ah! A-Ano... nasa unconscious part of my mind kasi," Pagrarason ni Shanaz,

"Makatawa ka ah, parang alam mo kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng Marxism."

"Of course alam ko," pagmamalaki ni Gemini.

Sabay na nagtanong ang dalawa at sinagot ito ni Gemini ng, "Nasa unconscious part ng mind ko.

Credits kay Shanaz, baka mamaya makasuhan ako ng plagiarism." Sabay-sabay na napatawa ang

tatlo, not minding the students around them.

"Mosang ka na nga, gaya-gaya ka pa!" Cawie laughed while covering her mouth.

"Ang pangit mo ka-bonding, Gemini. Wala kang originality. Ki-nopy paste mo lang ang gawa ko,"

Hawak na ngayon ni Shanaz ang kanyang t'yan habang humahalakhak.

"Atleast may credits akong nilagay. Iwas plagiarism," depensa ni Gemini.

Hindi ikakaila ni Gemini na sa tatlong kaibigan lamang niya lumalabas ang totoo nitong ugali.

And, she doesn't feel uncomfortable at all.

While laughing, suddenly, a image of Tarius crossed in Gemini's mind making her stop. It was

him, laughing while making fun of her and she can't stop smiling while looking at Tarius.

What the fuck was that?

IT'S been a week since Gemimi came back to school. At isang linggo na rin siyang pabalik-balik

sa Guidance Office dahil sa mga kagagawan niya na naman.

It's a good thing that, this school is owned by Shanaz' family or else she'll be finding new school.

Gemini is on her the way to the Guidance Office. Again. Pinapatawag na naman siya dahil sa

kanyang ginawa sa kanilang guro sa matimatika.

Gosh, hindi naman gano'n kalala ang ginawa ko.

Gemini can't help but to make faces while walking. She remembered their teacher so she

mocked her.

"Gemini, blah, blah, blah. How dare you nyah, nyah, nyah."

Ang arte. I just did her a favor!

Her hair is so ugly kaya. Ang haba, nagmumukha siyang white lady kaya I made her like Dora na

lang. It's so creepy to have a teacher that looks like white lady.

Gemini can't help not to laugh, remembering her Teacher's angry face. Sinunog lamang ng

dalaga ang buhok ng kanyang guro. Mabuti na lamang at malapit lang ang banyo sa kanilang

silid kaya madaling nakatakbo doon ang guro. Pagbalik ng guro, maikli na ang buhok nito at kapansin-pansin ang sunog nito.

While walking on her way to the Guidance Office, Gemini is humming a song that she

composed. Wala siyang balak na ipaalam ito sa iba dahil hindi naman gano'n kaganda ang

kantang kanyang nagawa at male version pa ito, kailangan niya pang ayusin ito kapag nagkataon.

Ayaw niya 'yon dahil masyadong hassle.

"Hmm, the moment you let me enter your life, you made me the happiest man alive. Oh, oh, I

know, it is you."

A picture of Tarius keeps on flashing in her mind but she didn't just ignored it. These past few weeks, pansin ng dalaga na madalas niyang naaalala ang binata and she wouldn't deny that she

missed him.

Where could that Galto be? What is he doing right now?

Napatigil si Gemini nang makita niya si Lore... with Weather? Malapit sila sa hagdan kung saan

siya nahulog noon.

What on Earth is this two doing?

Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papalapit sa dalawa.

Call me mosang but I want to know what are they talking about. They seem... serious.

Hindi pa man nakakalapit si Gemini nang biglang umalis si Weather. Napatingin si Gemini sa

hawak ni Lore.

Necklace?

Out of curiosity, Gemini revealed herself.

"I didn't know na type mo pala si Weather," she said, shocking Lore.

Nanlalaki ang mata ni Lore na tumingin sa kanya. "W-What? No! M-Mali ka ng iniisip." Lore

denied.

"Hmm? Really? I'm not conviced though. I have a video of you, confessing and being rejected.

That must've hurt. Maybe I'll post this on the internet, that would be fun." Lie. It was a lie.

Kakadating nga lang niya tapos hindi pa niya alam kung ano ang pinag-usapan ng dalawa.

Namutla si Lore at mas lalong kinabahan. "Hindi! Mali ka talaga!"

"I still don't believe you," Gemini said while looking and checking her nails.

"Don't you dare! You got it wrong! I-I didn't kiss him! It was an accident!"

Nagulat ang sistema ni Gemini sa nalaman ngunit hindi niya pinahalata bagkus ay napangiti na

lang.

You jerk, may first kiss ka na.

"Fine," I'm satisfied at her answer. May pang-blackmail na ako kay Weather.

Then, an idea popped in her mind. "But... if you obey me, I'll delete the video."

Nagdadalawang-isip man ay sumagot si Lore. "A-Anything!"

Tumalikod siya sa hagdan bago nagsalita. "Then... push me. Itulak mo ako"

"Are you crazy?! No! Ako ang sasabit!"

Napabuntong-hininga ang dalaga bago inilabas ang cellphone niya at binuksan ang camera.

Itinutok niya ang camera sa pwesto nila bago bumalik sa kinatatayuan niya kanina. Sinigurado

niya na hindi makukuha si Lore sa video para hindi ito mapahamak sa kalokohan niya.

"Ayan, kung ayaw mo, ako na lang. May pruweba naman na ako ang gagawa at hindi ikaw kaya wala ka nang sabit."

Lore was about to stop her but Gemini let herself fall to the stairs. Tarius. Tarius. Tarius. She

keeps on thinking Tarius as she fall down the stairs.

Sa sobrang pagka-miss niya sa binata, gumawa pa siya ng kalokohan.