The Primadonna Princess

CHAPTER SEVEN

I PRETENDED that I didn’t hear Charizza calling me. I am walking alone to the next subject I will be attending today. We haven’t talked about Simon Chu being married. Pagkatapos kasing sagutin ni King Josef ang tawag niya ay agad naman itong pinatay ng babae. And after the call King left. I don’t know what was happening to them but I am feeling awkward with the situation. I am just thankful that I am able to refrain myself from doing the things I should have never thought to do in the first place. I realize that you don’t need to pressure yourself when life gets difficult for you. Every problem has a solution. You just have to think of it a thousand of times.

“Ysia girl, wait for me…let’s talk about last night, I need to explain my side...” Humahangos itong lumapit sa akin. Wala akong balak na tumigil sa paglalakad kung hindi lamang nakatingin sa amin ang iilang estudyante at kaklase na nasa hallway din. Usually, they will see us walking proud on the hallway together intimidating other students who crossed our way. Kapag kasi dumaraan kami ay nahahawi ang kumpol ng mga tao para bigyang daan kami.

“Magkagalit sila…” Narinig kong bulong ng isang kaklase ko sa katabi niya. Nakatingin silang pareho sa amin at mukhang nagtataka.  

“Baka nalaman na ni Ysia na ginagamit lang siya ni Charizza…buti naman.” Parang sinadyang ipinarinig pa talaga ng isa kong kaklase sa akin ang sinabi nito sa katabi.

“This is not the right place to talk, Cha. Later after our last class, meet me on our favorite spot.” Walang emosyon kong sabi kay Charizza. Sa totoo lang kasi hindi ko alam kong ano ang mararamdaman ko para sa kanya. But since, she is my friend. I will give her the benefit of doubt. I just need to hear a valid reason from her. Of all my friends, she is my closest. And I will be very sad if what King said to me is true.

 Hindi dumating ang professor namin for the last subject. Nagteks lamang ito sa aming class president para ipaalam na hindi siya darating. So I immediately headed into the cafeteria, hindi ko na inantay pa si Charizza. I saw her talking to the phone when I went out of our room.

“Sorry, I am late. I got an important call...” She just kept me waiting for almost thirty minutes.

“It’s okay…You can order if it’s already cold.” Tukoy ko sa inorder kong kape para sa kanya.

Tumiksim siya mula sa cup. Matamis na ngumiti sa akin pagkatapos. “Okay pa naman…this will do.”

“What are we going to talk about?” Pagsisimula ko sa usapan. Charizza looks constipated in front of me. She keeps on biting her lips.

“Totoo ba ang sinabi ni King? Simon is married already?” I directly asked her.

Yumuko ito. “Yes…”

“What??? I asked you last night if it’s true and you said no.” Halos pigil ang boses na tanong ko rito. I am trying to minimize my voice. Kahit pa nasa dulong bahagi kami ng cafeteria ay marami-rami ring tao. Minsan pa nga ay may napapatingin sa aming dalawa.

“Na-corner mo ko. What shall I do? At nangako akong walang makakaalam sa sekreto ni Simon. Ysia, please forgive me. I don’t have a bad intention of not telling you the truth…”

“Tapos nag-initiate ka ba na pikutin ko si Simon…that he will be the answer to my problem…are you really my friend Charizza? You want me burned in hell!”

Agad nitong hinuli ang mga kamay ko sa taas ng mesa. “I am sorry, Ysia! Please forgive me…The truth is, on process na ang annulment ni Simon at Carla… need to worry! Ikaw ang mahal ni Simon at hindi si Carla. Kaya nga hindi sila nagsasama dahil maghihiwalay na sila. Please Ysia, let’s continue the plan…believe me mahal ka ni Simon…” Halos magmakaawan na ito sa akin. Hindi siya nagmamakaawa dahil may nagsinungaling siya. Nagmamakaawa siya para ituloy ang plano.

“But still. They are still married! What are you thinking, Charizza? You want me to be a mistress? Are you really my friend? Are you still sane to let me do what we’ve planned after hearing the truth from you? Hindi ako tanga para ituloy pa ang planong sa una palang ay ikaw na ang may gusto!” Tinabig ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin. I wanted to slap her hard right now but I am stopping myself. I don’t want to make a commotion lalo pa’t nagsimula na itong lumuha. And now, I look like I am the villain in this story.

“Ysia, please…I just wanted you free from King. Di ba yun naman ang gusto mo? Ayaw mo sa kanya kaya nga ginagawan ko ng paraan. Bakit ba ang hirap hirap mong umintindi? I am your friend and I want you happy. You don’t deserve to be caged in a loveless marriage. Atleast si Simon, mahal na mahal ka!” She looks horrible while talking nonsense.

“What are you getting from all of this, Charizza? As far as I can remember, I’ve been a good friend to you…But why did you do this to me?” Lalo lamang itong umiyak sa tanong ko.

“You want the truth? I am going to tell you the truth. Galit ako sayo! Galit ako kay Carla! Galit ako sa lahat ng babaeng nauugnay kay King Josef Ramos. I was once a shy and timid girl – a typical Betty La Fea. An ugly duckling. The first time I saw King, I think I fell for him. So, I asked my very bestfriend Carla to ask his name because I like him a lot. Naalala ko pa dati when Carla introduced me to him, tiningnan niya lamang ako saglit. Hanggang sa nalaman ko na sila na palang dalawa. I changed myself to be beautiful. Nagalit ako kay Carla dahil nagiging seryoso na ang relasyon nila ni King kung kaya sinet-up ko sila ni Simon kaya sila nagka-hiwalay. I told Simon’s parents that Carla was pregnant kaya sila pinakasal. And the rest is history.”

“Pero bakit ako? Anong kasalanan ko sayo?” I wanted to know more.

“Remember the day of your scandal. I am behind your back that day, following you…I’m gonna surprise you that day but I saw you making out with King. I got furious at you because I thought you betrayed me too. So, I took the video and uploaded it.”

“What?! You are the one uploaded the video! How could you? You ruined my life!” Hindi na ako nakapag-pigil pa kaya naman nasampal ko siya ng tuluyan. Nanginginig ako sa sobrang galit.

“I’m sorry, Ysia! I am not sorry! Atleast nasira ko ang imahe mo dito sa university! A princess turned into a s*x scandal slut. Bad thing because the video was turned down easily. I’ve got a good slap from King though. But you know what, I am happy he didn’t tell you I am the one behind the video scandal. Siguro kasi wala naman siyang pakialam sayo. He doesn’t like you. You don’t like him. It makes me feel relieved. Thank you, Ysia for being a good friend. Nakaka-bwisit lang talaga ang family niyo for arranging you two for marriage.” Sumimangot ito at inayos ang suot na damit.

Pumormal ito at muling nagsalita. Ipinagsalikop ang dalawang kamay at humarap sa akin.  “So, tingin ko naman willing ka pa ring ituloy ang naunang plano natin?”

Napamulagat ako sa sinabi nito. After all the things she confessed and said to me. She really is crazy.

“The answer is no, Charizza Siy!” Matapang kong sagot rito.

“I am helping you, Ysia. Why do you have to decline?” Tumayo ito.

“Because I say so.” Tumayo rin ako para pantayan siya. Hindi ako papatinag sa sira-ulong babae na ito.

Pero nabigla pa rin ako ng sampalin niya ako ng sobrang lakas. Napapilig ang ulo ko sa sobrang lakas ng impact. “Hindi mo kilala ang binabangga mo! I’ll ruin you!”

Ayokong magpatalo kaya sinampal ko rin siya. “You did already!”

Akmang aabutin niya sana ang buhok ko ng may dalawang lalaking nakauniporme ang pumigil sa mga braso nito. Simon Chu is trying to make Charizza calm but she’s hysterical. Charizza Siy has mental issues. Bata palang daw ay may complex personality na ito. She was not cured because her parents died when Charizza was still five. Hindi pa nagmamanifest ang symptoms niya at that time.

May isang nurse na dumating at may dalang syringe kasunod nito ang lalaking kanina niya pa inaantay.

“Antagal mo! My face is swollen already. I think I’m gonna die!” Padabog kong kinuha ang bag ko na nakapatong sa itaas ng upuan.

“Oh, I thought you have a fluffy face. Bagay sayo. Pero malayo yan sa bituka, Ysia.” Natatawang sagot nito.

“It stings…and it’s ouchy.” Sinipat naman niya ito.

“Let’s go to the hospital, Ysia…” Concerned na sabi nito sa akin.

“Let’s go home. I’ll just put some ice on it.” Mawawala naman siguro ang pamamaga ng mukha ko sa cold compress.

“No way, I will let you home with swollen face. Your father will surely kill me. Let me take you to the hospital first.”

“O di maganda, hindi na matutuloy ang kasal nating dalawa kasi pabaya kang fiancé. Magagalit si Dad kasi hinayaan mo akong masaktan.” At talaga namang hindi malayong mangyari. Magagalit talaga ang ama ko kapag nalaman na sinaktan ako ng kung sino lamang.

King just laughed to what I said. “But I didn’t let you become a mistress. I saved you from a false friend and bigger problem.” Tama naman talaga siya. He saved me. Noong unang beses niyang sinabi sa akin ang bagay na iyon patungkol kay Charizza at sa pinsan nitong si Simon ay hindi ako naniwala. Paano ako maniniwala kong hindi iisang beses siyang nagsinungaling sa akin? But he called Carla Saison, and the woman confirmed it!

“That would be so gross being a mistress to a man who is inlove with his cousin!” Nakangiwi kong sabi. Kaya naman pala sunod-sunuran si Simon sa pinsan ay dahil inlove ito dito. Actually, they are having an affair. You know what I mean.

“Grosser than having a stalker?” Sabat naman nito na ikinatawa ko lalo.

“Yecks! King Josef Ramos, you are so handsome because you have a stalker. Anlakas ng arrive sa mga girls lalo na sa may saltik. Famous ka koya!” I joked him. Tawang-tawa ako sa reakyon ng mukha nito. Mukhang distorted na lata ng Mountain Dew.

Hinila na ako nito palabas ng cafeteria. “So, feel privileged to be my fiancé?” Itinaas-baba pa nito ang kanyang kilay. 

“Asa! Still, I won’t be marrying you!” Tinampal ko siya sa nuo. Nagpapa-cute pa ang loko!

"Sus! Same to you, ses!" He acted like a gay in front of me. Ang kwela lang ni King habang nakapilantik ang mga daliri. I know he'll make a beautiful gay pero bagay sa kanya.

"Hurry up, mars...I am feeling sick already." 

"Oki dokie, boss." At pinaandar na nito ang sasakyan habang ako naman ay prenteng nakaupo sa tabi nito. Napangiti ako ng maisip na hindi naman pala ganun kasama ang loko. Sira-ulo lang talaga pero may puso.