Work Text:
Naih let out a sigh of relief after her parents exited the room. Max was genuinely hilarious, but the gravity of the situation—Naih possibly being brought back to Cebu because of the incident—made it hard to laugh. She’s lucky she was able to persuade her parents to let her stay in Laguna, even with the shitty circumstances that seemed to cascade in a domino effect eversince Deib started picking on Pein. Though, the manchild is partly making up for his mistakes, it doesn’t excuse his childish behavior before. His efforts for redemption (even if he admits it or not) are appreciated. It’s just that some things are hard to erase.
Not when his influence led her to be hospitalized.
Not when Max had already been the target of physical assault amongst arrogant high schoolers.
To be honest, this whole freshman run is kinda crazy. For a reputable school, BIS really has a variation of unsettling students. Deib's antics were insufferable, but Choco's malicious attempts at Max was much worse. Not to mention the girls that thinks they're some sort of Filipino rendition of Mean Girls—insulting and bossing around unprovoked—was something Naih was still at utter confusion at how... they weren't concerned about how immature their behavior made them out to be. But the craziest thing right now is that Ysay was so obsessed with Deib it prompted her to attack Naih. The hell does that mean? Stop me!
Maybe a factor is that this is a school full of prissy rich people who are out of touch. Kids who think they're big because their parents earn more than a lot of people. Kids who have yet to develop empathy because they haven't really felt what is it like to be little.
“Ang lalim ng iniisip mo.” Maxpein pointed out.
“Reflection lang.” Naih responded with a shrug, leaning on the headrest.
Max leaned back in her seat, her eyes unfocused as she stared blankly on the monitoring equipment, lost in thought.
Naih sighed, a twinge in her heart she could not ignore.
She heard from Maxwell that Pein had been so distraught and demanding when they haven’t proceeded with an immediate operation. They needed her parents’ consent.
Which Naih also thought was kind of dumb. Her best friend remained hot-headed until they operated on her.
But Maxpein's response was no surprise to her. The stubborn woman was not shy to show how much she cares for her loved ones despite her unorthodox personality.
Nevertheless, Naih needs to apologize to her first and foremost. She took a quick breath and said “Max, sorry sa parents ko ha?“ She prompted a look from the woman. One that didn’t seem to be the usual poker face. “Ano…sinabi ni Mom kanina na napagsalitaan ka daw ni Daddy ng masama.”
“Okay lang ‘yon.” She tried to shot down the topic in a short response, but that didn’t mean Naih wouldn’t press on.
Tigas talaga ng ulo nito!
She sighed, looking for words to describe her thoughts. “I know he means well naman, kaso hindi ‘yon excuse para sabihan ka ng ganoon, lalo na’t hindi mo naman kasalanan na nilalapitan ka ng gulo. Lalong-lalo na, ‘di mo kasalanan ‘tong nangyari sa ‘kin.”
“Tama naman si Tito.“ she said with a shrug. “Kababae kong tao, lagi akong nasa gulo. Lumipat tayo sa BIS, umaasa na makakapag-aral tayo ng matiwasay. Pasensya na Naih, nadadamay ka sa ganito.”
Legit ba ‘to? Si Maxpein sisihin sarili niya?
“Luh? Ba’t ka nagsosorry?” Naih frowned. “Hindi tayo magkaibigan kung ‘di tayo magsishare ng problema, ‘no? Well, siguro sana hindi na sa ganito mahahantong. Katulad lang ng sinabi ko, Max. ‘Di mo kasalanan. Kung meron tayong kailangang pakyuhan, si Ysay at Choco ‘yon! Siguro si Deib din. Kaso mapapatawad mo naman siguro siya ehh.” The last two sentences left an odd taste in Naih.
She didn’t know why, exactly. But she had been feeling this odd since Max made a project with Deib. The two made up for the most part but there’s always this uneasy turmoil in her torso that goes whenever she knows the two have shared moments.
Max mustered a weak smile. It might not really be one, but her expression brightened just a bit.
“Kamusta naman sa BIS, Pein? Kinaya mo ba mag-isa si Sir Chupan?” Smiling, she asked, changing the topic in an instant.
Pein only furrowed her brows. “Suspended ako.”
“What?! Bakit?!” Naih unintentionally raised her voice.
“Ewan ko nga din ehh.”
“Gago ka ba?”
“Sinubukan akong hampasin ni Kim ng wine glass.”
“Gago?!” Naih shouts, eyes wide. Her eyes gazed on the sweater Pein wore,noticing the sleeves then the patched bandages around ber hand. “Bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman ‘to?”
Max smirked, and Naih just knew she was about to crack up another joke. “Hindi ka pa gising kahapon, eh.”
“Max, tigilan mo ‘yan baka kung ano masabi ko.” she half-heartedly threatened, rolling her eyes. “Ay pumunta nga pala sina Mommy sa school, ‘no? Ano nangyari? Hindi pa nila nababanggit sa ‘kin ehh.” Her parents didn’t really want her to be overloaded with information—they were worrywarts, Naih could admit. They both only gave her the relevant parts to her situation—Ysay was facing grave consequences.
“Expelled si Ysay, pare-parehas kaming candidates for expulsion ni Choco, Deib, Lee at Tob. One week suspended si Choco, ako two weeks.” Max summarized.
“Talaga?” She asks for reaffirmation, touching the plastic tube that was connected to her arm. But…
What if…nagvote majority na ma-expell siya?
“Oo.”
Naih sat there, silenced. They came out of SIS in their sophomore years. Two years later, they came to BIS to continue their studies. Things hadn’t gone as planned as the school bully targeted Maxpein. She had been disrespected too many times, not only by the students but by other teachers as well. At the same time she juggled between her job at The Bar and school. Sometimes she wonders if this woman could be overwhelmed with how confronting these obstacles become harder. She wonders how she handled having her bestfriend unconscious in the hospital.
She knew all of that but Naih doesn’t even know how to provide the support Max needed. Maybe Max doesn’t even want to share her burden. But if she asked her to listen, to share her worries, to lean on Naih’s shoulder, she definitely would.
That’s what friends are for, right?
The thought of Maxpein being voted out of the school was off-putting to Naih. Heck, her being hospitalized doesn’t even feel as heavy as what she just heard. If Max were to be out of school, she would probably stop studying entirely and focus on getting a job to support herself—no, maybe she’d find another school to enroll too. Maybe a public high school, or another private one. But those didn’t change the fact that if Max was expelled, she’d spend way less time with her. And quite frankly, she liked her company.
Despite her weird ability to attract troublesome people, who wouldn’t want to be around her, really? She's quiet. Headstrong. Fearless. Her arrogant statements aren’t baseless. If she says she can kill someone, she can. If she says she’s better at something more than you, she’s profoundly so. She could challenge you to a fist fight, she'd effortlessly win.
That version of her was always challenged at the school. Students lack the knowledge about Maxpein Zin Del Valle, of how dangerous she could be. And seeing people unsuccessfully bruise her ego is like scratching and itch that she could never reach. (Max humbling Chupan was Naih's favorite example).
Perhaps, the charm of Maxpein was the mystery that revolves around her character. A woman who doesn’t care about her appearance, a transferee who can go toe to toe with the petty school bully, a woman who can do the things men do, better them at it too. People would likely see her in a bad light because she isn’t what you consider the “norm.“ Feminine women, masculine men.
That’s partly why Naih is quite upset with her dad. Maxpein’s struggles shouldn’t equate to her being a “basagulera” or “babaeng-babae pero nakikipag-away” when she’s just fighting back most of the time.
“’Wag ka mag-alala.” Max said out of the blue, shaking her from her thoughts. “Hindi naman ako mamamatay.” She was referring for her candidacy for expulsion.
“Hindi kasi ‘yun! Ano gagawin ko kapag naexpell ka?”
“Mag-aaral? Tss.” She asked rhetorically. Naih sighed. “Hindi mo naman ako kailangan palagi. Kaya mo pa din naman mag-aral ng wala ako. Ayokong masira ang oportunidad mo na makapagtapos.”
“Max ulol ka ba?” It was a rhetorical question. “As if hahayaan kitang iwan mo ‘ko mag-isa sa BIS. We’re attached to the hip! Kung asan ka, andon ako.”
“Hindi pa naman ako i-eexpell. Masyado kang oa, Naih.” she teased.
“Oo, candidate for expulsion lang.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“It is! For me, oo.” She exclaimed. “You’re the victim! Bakit ikaw ang magiging candidate for expulsion? Dahil ba nailalabas mo ang dumi dito sa BIS? Na tinotolerate nila dati ‘yung bullying ni Deib dahil apo siya ng chairman? Dahil ba hindi nila kinayang i-expell si Choco, knowing na ganoon ang ugali niya kasi anak siya ng politician? Bastos ka lang Max, pero hindi ka nangbully, hindi ka nanghampas ng pintuan ng locker, hindi ka nang-away! Ano ba namang bullshit ‘yang It’s not a big deal? Stop me!” She seethed in anger, her temples pulsating. Naih grits her teeth with a frown before adding, “You always acted in retaliation. I mean, mayabang ka, pero sapat ba ‘yon para maging justified ang ginagawa nila sa ‘yo?” Naih was panting, she uttered those words with one breath. Her frown slowly subsided, uncreasing her brows.
Max was stunned. She wordlessly stared at her friend, observing the features of her face. Her brows were knitted, as if processing the whole paragraph Naih said unprepared.
“Max, I care for you kasi friend kita. One word lang galing sa ‘yo na sawa ka na sa BIS, lilipat na tayo sa ibang school.” Her words were of no jokes. To be really honest, BIS is good. Their friends were nice, Migz, BJ, Michiko and even the troublemakers. “Tagal kong gustong sabihin sa ‘yo, eh. Kaso ang persistent mong pumasok, mag-aral, magtrabaho. May mabubuti tayong friends! And mabait sila sa ‘yo. Kaso kung gusto mo umalis, aalis tayo.”
Max sighed, taking in her statement fully. “Hindi ka dapat nagdedesisyon sa ‘kin.” Naih went silent but then became angered once more.
“Hindi naman ako nagdedesisyon, ah?”
“…sa totoo lang hindi ko gusto na ganito trato sa ‘kin.“ The woman confessed, taking a deep breath. “Noong nilagyan ni Deib ng bubble gum buhok ko, nagalit lang ako. Kaso noong ginawa ni Choco sa ‘kin ‘yon? Yung hampasin nya ko ng pinto ng locker? Hindi ko gusto palampasin. Tapos pinagtawanan ako ni Chupan dahil hindi ko masagot mga tanong niya ng hindi napapagaw ang boses, gusto ko sabihin lahat-lahat kay Maxwell, gusto kong may gawin siya. Kaso ayoko. Alam mo naman kung ano kayang gawin ni Maxwell kapag humingi ako ng tulong. Pero alam ko rin na kaya ko sila. Mag-isa. Walang tulong sa pamilya ko.” She twiddled her thumbs, looking on the floor. Naih attentively listened, word per word, feeling the lurch of sadness in her heart as Max continues. “Naisip ko, dito ka na nag-aaral, may mga kaibigan tayo dito at mabubuting tao sila. Mabait sila sa ‘yo. Baka maging valedictorian ka namin.”
“Gaya-gaya ka ha.” Naih felt a happy twinge in her heart, who thought Max had such faith in her intellectual prowess?
“Pero noong nahulog ka na lang bigla, nataranta ako. Sino ba namang hindi? Tapos malalaman ko na para sa ‘kin pala ‘yung hampas.”
The hit? For her? Ysay is crazy!
Naih wanted to comment on that, but she held herself back. Eyes darting to Max's face, searching.
“Napagtanto ko na iniwan mo family mo sa Cebu, yung maganda mong buhay para tumira sa daga-dagang bahay at para kumain ng tuyo at kamatis. Para ituloy ang pag-aaral kasama ako. Tapos hahambalusin ka lang?” Max sighed. “Siguro kung hindi ako bumalik galing South Korea, baka hindi ka nagkakahead trauma ngayon. Iniisip ko, parang nagsakripisyo ka sa wala.”
You’re not nothing.
The honest truth is that Naih would’ve suffered more if Max didn’t return from South Korea. She waited years for this woman to text her and say she’s going back home. Years of enduring her sister’s annoyingness instead of basking in the silence Maxpein gave, silence that gave her solace. It was years of worry, actually, of constantly wondering in the luxurious hotels in Cebu of Pein’s whereabouts.
And now, she listens to this woman’s bullshit of not grasping the concept of unconditional love—Naih's unconditional love. Disbelief evident on her face, as she wants to voice out that Sacrifices are always worth it, if it’s for the ones you value the most.
“Hayst. Max, kailan mo ba iisipin na may mga taong mahal ka and they’d willingly give up part of their lives to keep your company? Kahit baga makipagpatayan ka, hindi ako mawawala. Ako siguro get-away driver mo. Hahaha!” Naih’s heart swelled unexplainably, the fondness growing from one place to all.
Her friend returned her bright smile, as she laughs along her not-so-funny joke. The whole argument finally de-escalated as they enjoy the stillness of this one moment in time.
“Magtransfer out ba tayo?”
“Tingnan muna natin ‘yung results.” Max hummed at the answer, as Naih played with her palm. She basks in the brightened atmosphere of what once was her dull room.She closes her eyes and leaned her back against the elevated mattress.
Suddenly, two arms wrapped around her loosely, warm and comfortable. Once she opened her eyes, she sees the seat Pein occupied was left empty.
“Ngayon lang ‘to.” Maxpein muttered. If it was possible, Naih would be grinning ear-to-ear right now.
“Talaga ba?” Naih asked, not expecting and answer as she brings her hands to hold Max’s arms adoringly.