Chasing Alice

Chapter 2

The Exhibit and The Quest

"What the hell!"

Napahinto si Kurt sa ginagawa nila ni Jessica sa female restroom nang may biglang nagsalita. Both of them stopped and turn their heads at the woman who was standing, hands on her hips and was giving them a murderous look, the famous Jean Alice Santillan, aka, the male rejecter of the university.

Kurt kissed Jessica for one last time, "Baby, go out first. I'll just text you later." He said at kaagad namang umalis si Jessica at nang dumaan ito sa gilid ni Alice, inirapan niya ito.

Nang makaalis na si Jessica, Kurt just smiled at her. Silang dalawa lang ni Alice ang nasa CR ngayon. Sayang nga kasi makakapoints na sana siya kay Jessica, they were kissing heavily at the rest room when Alice Santillan suddenly barged in.

Of course, he knew her. Sikat ito sa campus kasi lahat yata ng lalakeng manliligaw nito ay basted. Mapacampus heartthrob man o mapasuma c*m laude kung grumaduate, wala pa itong sinasagot o nagiging syota. And he won't deny it, Alice is very beautiful..and sexy.

Kurt's eyes suddenly stopped at Alice' revealing cleavage. Nakapink tank top lang kasi ito tapos skinny jeans. Kahit aaminin niyang nabitin siya sa ginagawa nila ni Jessica kanina, but having Alice Santillan at the front with all damn sexiness, okay na.

"Oh my god, you jerk!" doon lang ulit siya nakabalik sa sarili niya nang magsalita na naman ito. "Bastos ka!" anito saka sinuot ang jacket na dala-dala nito. He frowned. Wala na yung cleavage nito.

"Bastos ka talaga! At dito pa kayo sa CR gumagawa ng milagro? Talaga bang mga estudyante kayo? This is a public place!" sermon nito sa kanya, still giving him a murderous glare.

Nagkibit balikat lang siya. "Walang tao e. So, we took the chance saka wala namang nakalagay sa CR na 'no kissing or petting'." He smirked while still staring at her breasts. Kahit natatabunan na ito sa suot nitong jacket, he can still remember the cleavage he saw at it. "By the way, you know, you're very sexy."

But just after a second, naramdaman na lang niyang may dumampi na kamay sa pisngi niya ng kalakas-lakas.

---

"Pre, s**t, naguidance ka na naman ba?" sabi ng kaibigan ni Kurt na si Warren nang dumating na siya sa cafeteria. Parehas kasi silang magkakabarkada ngayon na may break. Pero siya, natagalan lang ng dating kasi pumunta pa siya sa guidance office ng university.

"Oo, tangina. Buti na lang na napakiusapan ng erpats ko na hindi ako isususpend. Magcocommunity service na lang daw ako every Sat." umupo na siya kasama ang iba pa sa table nila. Lagi na kasi siyang naususpend dahil sa mga violations niya na kadalasan mga PDA's. Tapos ngayon, anim na ang violations niya at kung hindi lang dahil sa Papa niya na isang college professor ng university, kickout na siya.

"Sino na naman ba ang nagsumbong sayo?" tanong ni Felix sa kanya.

"Si Alice. Alice Santillan." He answered dryly. Matapos kasi niya itong sinabihan na sexy, sinampal agad siya. Hindi niya tuloy maiwasan magmura, he complimented her pero negative yata ang reaction nito.

Napansin naman nila si Nick na kabarkada rin niya na nabilaukan sa iniinom nitong softdrink. Alam kasi nilang lahat na pinsan into si Alice, "f**k pre, paano naging si Alice ang nagsumbong sayo?" Nick finally said after having recovered from choking.

"Nakita niya ako sa CR na kasama si Jessica na gumagawa raw ng milagro, then pinaalis ko si Jessica. Sinabihan ko lang siya na sexy, sinampal kaagad ako ng pinsan mo, tangina." Sagot naman niya rito. Hindi naman sa nagagalit siya kay Alice, naaasar lang siya. Sinabihan na nga niya ito ng sexy tapos sinampal kaagad siya. Maswerte nga ito kasi he will never compliment a woman sexy if not in bed.

Tapos kanina sa guidance, malapit pa siyang manganib na makickout kasi ang pamilya nito, ang mga Santillan, nagbibigay ng malaking donations sa university tapos si Alice pa ang nakakita.

"Whoa. Hahaha! The famous male rejecter? Balita ko halos lahat ng lalake rito sa uni, binasted niya. Pati nga itong si Rey, basted din." Pagkatapos ng sinabi ni Felix sa kanila, nagkatawanan silang lahat. Si Rey kasi, niligawan din si Alice pero wala rin, basted. All of them in the group were good-looking pero sadyang mataas lang talaga ang standards ni Alice.

"Nga e. Lesbo siguro yun." Sabat naman sa kanila ni Rey. "Babae rin siguro ang type." He added at nagkatawanan na naman sila.

"But hey, don't forget, may pambato tayo, nasa atin ang university's womanizer, the lady's man, Kurt de Vera. Lahat yata ng magaganda rito sa campus, naikama na niya." Biglang sabi ni Warren saka inakbayan siya.

"Gago, anong pambatong sinasabi mo?" tinabig niya ang braso nito sa balikat niya.

Warren grinned, "Pustahan tayo. Let's bet. If you can make Alice Santillan be your girlfriend for three months, magiging alipin mo kami... for a year."

"f**k you, Warren, labas na ako diyan. Ayokong mag-away kami ni Alice." Biglang sumabat si Nick na halata sa itsura nito naayaw nitong masali sa kalokohan na gagawin nila sa pinsan nito.

Kurt smirked at what his friend just said. Well, hindi pa naman niya nasusubukan na ligawan ito. He may have a chance, he was famous at their uni for being a lady's man. "Sure."

---

"Ah, f**k!" napaupo agad si Kurt mula sa pagkakatulog niya sa kama at napasapo sa noo niya. Bigla kasi niyang naalala na may exhibit pa pala siyang pupuntahan sa araw na iyon, when he glanced at the digital clock at the table, on the right side of his bed, it was already past 9. 10am pa naman magsisimula ang exhibit, it was a painting contest kung saan isa siya sa mga contestants.

"Ooohhh..you're awake.." napalingon naman si Kurt sa gilid niya at nakita si Olive na nakilala niya kagabi sa bar at inuwi niya rito sa pad niya for his female anatomy cravings. The woman was still naked.

Wala siya sa mood para makipaground two pa rito. He was already late for the exhibit and he's expecting someone there. "Uhm, Olive, I'm sorry, p-please pick up your clothes right now.. U-umalis ka na sa pad ko. I'm not in the mood for round two right now."

"W-what? P-pero—"

"J-just..don't question me, umalis ka na. Don't worry, I enjoyed our night." He frustratingly said kaya naman napilitan itong tumayo at kinuha ang nagkalat nitong damit sa sahig. Pagkatapos nitong sinuot iyon, umalis na ito sa pad niya.

Damn. Bakit nga ba niya nakalimutan na ngayon pala ang painting contest exhibit?

---

"Buti dumating ka na, Mr. de Vera." Sinalubong kaagad si Kurt ni Mr. Villegas nang dumating na siya sa hall kung saan nagaganap ang painting contest exhibit na sinalihan niya. And as he expected, nakadisplay na rin ang lahat ng naggagandahang mga paintings ng mga iba't-ibang painters sa bansa.

"I'm really very sorry sir for coming late. Umaga na kasi nang magising ako." He apologized. Si Mr. Dennis Villegas kasi ang organizer ng contest. The 45-year-old man was also the main sponsor for the exhibit. Tapos late pa siyang dumating and the way he looks right now is not really that good. Ni hindi pa nga siya nakpgsuklay ng buhok niya dahil sa pagmamadali tapos hindi rin siya sigurado kung nabutones niya ng tama ang polo niya. And he knew he was already an hour late.

Mr. Villegas laughed lightly. "Haha, don't worry Mr. de Vera. Ang totoo nga niyan, we're very overwhelmed for having you here in our exhibit. Knowing that you're one of the top painters here in the country or maybe in Asia." The old man remarked. Kurt just smiled sheepishly. He knew that he was already famous in the country because of painting. Noon pa kasi siyang sumasali sa mga painting contest, here in the country or abroad. At aminado siyang lagi niyang nakukuha ang first place o minsan nakaksecond place din siya. Siguro nga, ang pinakamababang ranking na nakuha niya sa mga contests ay second place lang. And also, painting iang ang pinakamatinong ginagawa niya sa buhay, ever since he was a child.

"Ah, sir, may mga judges na ba?" tanong niya rito.

Mr. Villegas shook his head, "Wala pa naman. Ah, may isa na pala, isang anonymous judge. I think she's already looking at the paintings being displayed. But alam naman nating your painting will always capture our judges."

Kurt laughed. "Hahaha, sige sir, I'll go inside." Pagkatapos ay pumasok na nga siya sa hall kung saan nakadisplay ang mga paintings ng mga contestants. Marami-rami na ring tao ang nandoon sa exhibit.

And what catches his attention is the very beautiful lady staring at his painting. He smiled. Kahit late na ako dumating, binigyan pa rin ako ng vitamins. He mentally laughed at what he just had thought.

He approached the woman who was currently watching his painting intently, nakangiti pa ito habang nakatingin sa painting niya.

"The Lovely Lady..." he heard her murmured.

"I see, you love my painting." He suddenly said at her, smiling.

Jean Alice Santillan then turned her head at him, eyes widened. "What the hell are you doing here?!" she hissed in horror. He mentally shook his head. Bad mood na naman yata ito sa kanya. It was already more than seven years pero galit pa rin ito sa kanya. Well, he gonna admit, medyo nasaktan siya dahil doon.

And also, she was the reason why he entered this amateur contest. Alam niya kasing isa ito sa mga judge. Kahit anonymous pa ang identity nito sa contest, he had sources.

But he smiled. Alam niyang nagandahan ito sa painting niya, of course, the lady whom he just painted for the contest is no other than her. Saka, lagi namang si Alice ang subject ng mga paintings niya. Kadalasan sa mga paintings niya o sa mga painting contest na sinasalihan niya, his- ex-girlfriend was always the subject of the picture. But she didn't know it.

Nagkibit-balikat lang siya, "Well, kasali ako sa exhibit, one of the contestants. I bet, you're one of the judges. So, anong  tingin mo sa gawa ko? Can I now bring home the beacon?" he teased. He really enjoys teasing her. Just like before.

"No way! Hindi ka mananalo, in your dreams!" inirapan lang siya nito at tinalikuran. Naglakad na ito papalayo sa kanya.

Kurt grinned as he watched her walking out from his place. Alam niyang malaki talaga ang kasalanan niya rito noon. And now she's back, he'll definitely do everything to win her back and to tell her all the truth.

And this is where the challenge starts.

---

"I really think contestant number 21 will be the winner."

"Yeah, I agree. It was really superb, the way he combined the colors was fantastic. Walang binatbat ang iba."

Alice frowned while listening to her co-judges for the painting contest exhibit na inorganize ni Mr. Dennis Villegas. Nasa conference room silang lahat ng mga judges ngayon, finalizing the winners and the runner-ups for the contest. Maya-maya kasi, i-aannounce na ang results ng contest. Yes, she was one of the judges and at the same time, sponsor. Last week kasi, Mr. Villegas called him to judge a contest. Isa kasi ito sa mga kliyente niya sa Santillan Group. And of course, she quickly agreed. First time pa kasi niyang magjudge sa ganitong mga contest kaya naman nagsponsor din siya ng prize para sa mananalo, one million pesos to be exact.

"You just can't let him win!" she interrupted kaya naman napatingin sa kanya ang tatlong judge na dalawang matatandang lalake at isang babae na nakikila niyang si Mrs. Paez. When Alice noticed she garnered their full attention, she began, "De Vera is a pro-painter, saka kung siya ang mananalo, he's already rich. Siguro naman, naririnig ninyo na he is the CEO of Star International Inc, a call-center business, ano namang gagawin niya sa one million?" she added. Tama naman talaga. Mayaman na ito kaya wala ng saysay ang perang mapapanalunan nito. And besides, I hate him.

"Pero, Ms. Santillan, alam naman nating lahat na si Mr. de Vera ang may pinakamagandang painting and wala rin sa rules ng contest na bawal sumali ang mga professional painters. It's just said that anyone can join." Sabi naman sa kanya ni Mr. Sanchez.

"Okay, you have a point." She surrendered. Alam na niyang talo siya sa tatlong matatanda na nasa harapan niya. "Pero mayaman na siya, anong gagawin niya sa pera?" hindi nga siya pwedeng manalo.

Biglang namang may tumawa sa likod at parehas silang lahat na napatingin dito. Then they saw Mr. Villegas, the contest organizer, "Don't worry, Ms. Santillan. Don't you know? Laging ibinibigay ni Mr. de Vera ang mga perang napapanalunan niya sa mga painting contests sa mga iba't-ibang charity organizations in our country. Saka he also told me na kung siya ang mananalo sa contest na ito, he'll give the prized money on the home for the aged organizations. Sa katunayan nga, may limang home for the aged orgs na siyang napili para bigyan ng donations." The old man remarked proudly at Kurt de Vera's generosity.

"But—"

Hindi na natapos ni Alice sa pagsasalita niyang magsalita ulit si Mr. Sanchez, "Ms. Santillan, the three of us already decided that Mr. de Vera's painting will be the winner. At kahit gusto mo ring magbotohan tayo, it will be three is to one."

---

"And the first placer for the painting contest, no other than Mr. Kurt de Vera!" Mr. Villegas announced as Kurt immediately went up at the stage to claim the certificate and the prized money worth one million pesos na sponsor naman ng Santillan Luxury Group. Ngayong araw din kasi i-aannounce ang winners ng nasabing contest. And as Kurt anticipated, siya na naman ang nanalo.

Nang malapit na siya sa kinaroroonan ng mga judges, isa-isa itong nagcongratulate sa kanya and his smile grew wide nang makita si Alice na isa rin sa mga judges and who was also holding the prized money.

"Hey." He greeted and when he was about to shake her hand, Alice frowned as she handed the cheque to Kurt, "I can't take it anymore." pagkatapos ay bigla na lang itong nagwalkout sa harapan nila kaya naman lahat ng mga taong nandoon sa  exhibit ay nagulat din sa biglang pagwalkout nito. 

"Hey, Alice, wait!" Kaagad din naman sinundan ito ni Kurt papunta sa labas. "Alice, wait up!" sinundan niya ito hanggang mapansin niyang nasa parking lot na sila ng hall.

"Alice, teka nga!" hinawakan niya ang braso nito kaya naman tumigil na rin ito at nilingon siya. She was glaring at him. "Let go of me, you jerk!" she hissed.

Kurt quickly let go her arm and raised his both hands into the air. "Okay! Geez, ano bang problema mo? It's just a contest, can't we just be civil with each other? Seven years ng lumipas Alice, ganyan ka pa rin sa kin. " he said, to lighten the things up. Minsan hindi rin niya maiwasang maasar, how can he explain the truth about the things he did to her before kung palagi siya nitong iniiwasan, stubborn ito o kaya'y galit pa rin ito sa kanya? At least, maging civil na lang sila sa isa't-isa.

"Oh, really?" Alice then smiled at him bitterly. "Then f**k you! Akala mo ganun kadali lang ang lahat ng ginawa mo sa kin, de Vera? At talagang ang kapal din ng mukha mong pagsabihan ako ng ganyan, as if ikaw talaga ang niloko rito!" natahimik lang si Kurt sa sinabi nito sa kanya. Nakikita niya pa rin ang sakit sa mga mata nito.. Just like the pain I saw from her eyes seven years ago.

"You know, wala ka pa ring pinagbago, you're still an asshole. So, please, I don't still want to see the f*****g face of yours, moron." She added and turned her back at him. Kaagad itong sumakay sa kotse nito saka pinaharurot. Iniwan lang siyang nakatayo doon mag-isa.

---

Kurt smiled bitterly as he gulped another glass of beer. The sensation that the alcohol brought on his body made him feel better. Kapag may mga frustrations siya sa buhay, pagod siya sa trabaho o may mga problema siya, dinadaan niya ang lahat sa pag-inom ng alak at sa mga babae.

But right now, gusto niyang mapag-isa kaya naman nasa opisina niya mismo sa Star siya naglalasing. Besides, gaya nga ng sinasabi ng ilan, patapon na ang buhay niya dahil sa kakainom niya at pambababae. Wala na raw saysay ang buhay niya.

Tss. He gulped the beer again. Naaasar siya, kung makapagsalita ang iba ng ganun sa kanya, as if they really know the whole story behind it. Saka, ano bang problema sa paglalasing? He already worked hard and look at him now, he's a millionaire. May napatunayan na siya sa buhay, nagsikap siya para lang makarating sa tuktok kaya natural lang na mag-enjoy siya.

"You know, wala ka pa ring pinagbago, you're still an asshole. So, please, I don't still want to see the f*****g face of yours, moron."

"Fuck." He cursed at binato sa pader ang beer na hawak niya kaya nagkabasag-basag iyon.

Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya at bumungad kaagad sa paningin niya si Ezekiel delos Reyes.

Nang makita siya nitong magulong-magulo, mas naging seryoso ang mukha nito. Kurt frowned. Lagi na lang kasi itong seryoso sa opisina. Puro negosyo na lang ang laging iniisip nito.

"De Vera, ganyan ka na naman. Kailan ka ba magbabago?" Ezekiel commented. Ewan ba niya kung masasabi niyang magkaibigan sila. Maybe we're just colleagues or acquaintances. Si Ezekiel delos Reyes kasi ay may 30 percent shares sa Star habang nasa kanya ang 70 percent pero kahit ganun, siya pa rin ang sole owner at siya rin kasi mismo ang nagsimula sa Star International Inc. At masasabi rin niyang silent business partner niya si delos Reyes kasi once a month lang itong bumibisita sa company. Of course, may ibang corporations din kasi itong hinahandle bukod lang sa Star so the guy can't really focus on them.

At  malaki rin kasi ang naitulong nito sa kanya sa Star. Mr. delos Reyes was also the reason kung bakit naging sikat ang Star sa lahat ng call center businesses ng bansa. Delos Reyes had many contacts with different elite people in the country.

"Why are you here? Wala namang problema sa Star." Sabi niya rito. He knew he sound rude pero sanay na ito, besides, magkasing-edad lang din kasi sila. And of course, I'm still the sole owner of Star.

"I hope you didn't forget about this." Nilapag nito sa mesa ang hawak-hawak nitong folder. "Bukas na magsisimula ang board meeting mo sa Santillan Luxury Group. If you can still remember, binili natin ang shares ni Mr. Garcia so isa na tayo board members ng Santillan Group."

"And..?" Kurt raised an eyebrow at him. Aaminin niyang medyo nalimutan na niya iyon.

Delos Reyes scowled at he just said, "I know Alice Santiillan, CEO of the Santillan Group is your ex-girlfriend. And may unresolved issues pa kayong dalawa, so use this as an opportunity to persuade her to sell her shares to us so that time will come, we will be the sole owner of the Santillan Group as well as one of the most powerful businessmen in the country." He told him firmly and with all seriousness.

Napaisip naman si Kurt sa sinabi nito. He grinned. It was a good idea para malapitan niya na rin si Alice without any personal issues kasi mapipilitan itong maging civil sa kanya dahil sa trabaho. Then he'll have a chance.

Nice quest.

 //