That High Maintenance Girl

Kabanata 36 — Truth

Clementine did not listen to Angela’s comments. She’s a classy woman who would not go down to her level. Noong lunch time, Frances was already waiting for her.

“Lunch?” tanong nito sa kaniya.

Clementine shook her head.

“Uh… I can’t today, Frances.” sagot niya sa kaibigan.

“I will need to talk to Quentin. Hindi ba mag-me-meet kayo sa rooftop mamaya?” tanong niya at bahaw na ngumiti.

Namula ang pisngi ni Frances at tumango. She nodded at Clementine.

“Okay. Let’s talk later.” sabi ni Frances at ngumiti. "It's D-Day!"

Mabilis na pumunta si Clementine sa direksiyon ng faculty. Nakita niyang kakalabas lang ni Quentin doon dala ang isang tumbler. Umalis ang kausap niyang teacher kaya mas malakas ang loob niyang pumunta sa harapan ng faculty.

Quentin saw her. Hindi na ito naghintay pa at lumapit sa kaniya si Quentin.

“We need to talk,” sabi ni Clementine at tumingin sa paligid.

“Sure. Sa rooftop tayo.” tipid na sagot ni Quentin.

“Okay. You go first, I will follow.” sabi niya.

Quentin nodded. Nilampasan niya si Clementine. She bit her lips and went the other way. Ginamit niya ang hagdanan sa kabilang wing ng building.

No one should know that she will meet Quentin. Student-Teacher relationships were considered taboo.

She reached the rooftop. Mabilis niyang sinara ang pintuan noon. Quentin was leaning on a column while sipping on his tumbler.

She walked to him.

“Frances will confess to you later.” she said.

Kumunot ang noo ni Quentin.

"Let's tell her the truth so she can get over me." sabi ni Quentin.

Sumiklab ang galit sa dibdib ni Clementine.

"No! Hindi pa puwede!" giit niya.

Quentin's jaw clenched.

“Ano ang gusto mong gawin ko? Do you want me to lie to her or what?” tanong ni Quentin.

Clementine looked away. As much as she wants to tell Frances the truth, she needs to buy more time. She experience the same with Solanna and River at alam niyang it will hurt or will make a big blow. Having your friend to secretly date someone you like… it’s a slap to your confidence and face.

“Just keep quiet. I still need more time, Quentin.” she answered.

Quentin did not answer nanatili itong nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Quentin, please..." pagmamakaawa ni Clementine, "I want to do it in my own pace."

Huminga nang malalim si Quentin at dinilaan ang labi. He looked away and scratched the tip of his noes before he looked at her again.

"Fine. Just don't keep her in the dark for too long, Clementine. She's your friend. You owe her the truth even if it's the ugly truth." he said.

Clementine looked away. Alam niya iyon.

Tumango si Quentin at nilagay ang kaniyang kamay sa pisngi ni Clementine. Gaya ng sinabi niya noon, kaya niyang maghintay hanggang sa maging handa si Clementine.

Nanatili silang dalawa sa rooftop. They sat together. Iyon ang nagsisilbing safe place nilang dalawa.

“The nurse called me, maayos na ang pakiramdam ni Don Wilfredo. Tomorrow or the day after, he will be discharged.” balita ni Quentin.

“That’s good to know.” she said with a sigh.

“Don Wilfredo asked me to call his attorney. He will update his will.”

Lumunok si Clementine. Hindi niya alam ang mararamdaman niya. Normal lang ang magkaroon ng will sa mayamang taong gaya ni Don Wilfredo. Alam niyang siya ang magmamana ng lahat na iyon pero hindi siya natutuwang isipin iyon.

Having his father’s will be revised means one thing… he’s getting ready.

She needed diversion from the topic so he asked him,

“How’s Angela? Nakapag-usap na ba kayo?” she asked.

Huminga nang malalim si Quentin at umiling.

“Ipinaliwanag ko sa kaniya kung ano ang mayroon sa ating dalawa. Makitid ang isipan niya tungkol sa ating dalawa pero nangako siya na hindi siya gagawa ng kahit na ano para malaman ni Frances.” he said.

Tumango si Clementine.

“Please be kind to Frances. I know you don’t lie, Quentin. But please… be careful on breaking her heart.” aniya bilang paghingi ng pabor.

Hindi nagsalita si Quentin. Instead, he looked at her with so much softness. Pinasadahan nito ng haplos ang mukha ni Clementine.

Clementine let his fingers rubbed her cheeks. The bell rang indicating that the lunch time was over and everybody needs to go back to their exam schedule. Huminga nang malalim si Clementine. She will have one more exams before she can go home.

“Ilan pa ang exam mo ngayong araw?” tanong ni Quentin.

Clementine looked at him.

“Isa na lang. Bakit?” tanong niya sa binata.

Malakas ang hangin sa rooftop kaya naman sinuklay niya ang buhok gamit ang kaniyang daliri.

“I will teach you how to ride a horse for our next date.” he said.

Naguguluhan na bumaling si Clementine sa binata.

“What’s with that?” tanong niya.

Quentin shrugged and stood up. Nauna itong maglakad papunta sa pintuan ng rooftop at ngumiti.

“Mainam iyon. Anak ka ng haciendero, you need to learn that.” he said and smiled.

Ngumuso si Clementine. What he said caught her attention. Tumaas ang kilay nito sa binata.

“Kailan pa ako pumayag sa next date? As far as I remember we are just doing one date for the steak?” she asked, but cannot help but to smirk.

Nanliit ang nga mata ni Quentin but the humor’s evident.

“Kung hindi mo alam, courting requires many dates so two people can really get to know each other, Clementine.” he said and left.

Ngumiti si Clementine at umiling.

Quentin Blanco’s very unpredictable. When she felt ready, umalis na rin siya para sa exam niya. Mabilis ang lakad niya. She did not have the time to review dahil sa usapan nila ni Quentin but that’s okay. She’s confident that she can ace the exams.

The test started. Ito na ang kahuli-hulihang exam niya para sa preliminary. She looked at Angela’s back. She’s the top student here. Hindi kaya naapektuhan ang dalaga sa nakita niya kaninang umaga? Why was she caring about her anyway?

Sinagutan niya ang exam. Halos may ginhawa sa dibdib niya. She just need to find the right time to break the news about her and Quentin.

Pinasa niya ang papel. Angela was the second to the last to pass the paper. Kita niya ang disgusto sa mga mata nito nang magtama ang kanilang mga tingin.

She headed out. Nakasandal sa hallway at nakatingin sa kaniyang cellphone ay si Korics. Kausap siya ni Meddie at Angela.

Napatigil si Clementine sa paglalakad dahil nagkatinginan sila ni Korics. Ngumiti ito sa kaniya at tumango. She did the same. Nilingon sila ni Angela. Meddie curiously watched them also but she did not talk.

“Hi,” simpleng bati ni Korics.

“Hello,” she just greeted and was about to walk away when he grabbed her wrist.

Nilingon siya ng Clementine. She cleared her throat and just watched the annoyed expression from Angela.

“I want to invite you to my birthday celebration, Clementine.” sabi ni Korics at kinuha sa bulda niya ang isang invitation.

“Iimbitahan mo siya, Korics? After what she’s done to you? Na-suspend ka ng ilang araw.” sabi ni Angela.

Hindi iyon pinansin ni Korics. His smile just grew wider.

“Okay lang, pres. We’ve already forgiven each other.” nakangiting sinagot ni Korics si Angela pero nanatiling nakatingin sa kaniya.

Clementine sighed and got the invitation from his hands. Binasa iyon ni Clementine. It’s on Saturday.

“Sana makapunta ka.” sabi ni Korics.

She nodded and put it in her bag.

“I will try. Happy birthday in advance, Korics.” she just said and started to walk away.

Nilingon niya ang paligid. There’s no sign of Vance in the area. Siguro ay tapos na ang exam sa tatlong subject na ti-ne-take niya.

She just walked to where she and Frances will meet. Umupo siya roon. Ilang saglit pa ay natanaw na niya ang tumatakbong si Frances.

Hinihingal pa ito nang dumating sa harapan niya. Dala-dala nito ang isang pink na paperbag.

“N-Nakausap mo ba si Quentin?” tanong nito.

Clementine but her lower lip.

“Are you sure about this, Frances? Taboo ang magkaroon ng relasiyon ang student at teacher. You know that. Puwede kang ma-expelled.” paalala niya sa kaibigan.

Natanaw ni Clementine sa second floor si Quentin. Kalalabas lang nito sa isa sa nga classroom doon bitbit ang text papers.

He saw them on the ground floor. Seryoso ang tingin nito sa kanilang dalawa. Frances cannot see him because she’s facing Clementine.

Tumango lang si Quentin sa kaniya at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad.

“Alam ko, Clementine. If ma-expelled man ako, I can try schools in the next town. Or kung gusto niya ako, I can ask him to give up teaching for me so we can be together.” sagot ni Frances.

Pinagmasdan ni Clementine ang mukha ng kaibigan. Walang bahid ng ka-plastikan ang sinabi niya. She really looked sincere. She’s really willing to give her up.

It sucks to think that Quentin will not probably accept her. Na masasayang lang ang efforts niya para kay Quentin. Dahil kahit kailan, alam niyang hinding hindi iyon mangyayari.

“Okay,” aniya at ngumiti sa kaibigan. “I asked him to meet you sa rooftop. You should be careful, Frances.”

Ngumiti si Frances at niyakap siya. Nagulat siya sa ginawang iyon ni Frances. She awkwardly rubbed her back.

“Thank you! Ikaw talaga ang best friend ko, Clementine.” papuri ni Frances at umalis na.

Pinanood ni Clementine ang pag-akyat nito sa hagdanan. She bit her nails. Anumang oras ay magkikita na sila sa rooftop.

Ipinagdadasal niya na sana maging maayos ang pakikipag-usap ni Quentin sa kaniya. Wala sa isip na pumunta si Clementine sa gym para maupo roon.

Nakita niya si Korics na naroon at nag-pa-practice. She smiled when he waved at her. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin muli. She was looking at her watch every now and then.

“Okay ka lang?”

Halos mapatalon si Clementine nang magsalita si Korics na ngayon ay nasa tabihan na niya. Hindi niya napansin ang binata.

Ngumiti siya at tumango.

“Uh, yes… I am just waiting for my ride home.” she answered.

Tumingin si Korics sa parking lot.

“I can give you a ride. I will just get my car and—“

“Ah! Hindi na! Quentin will freak out.” she said to cut him off.

Tumango si Korics at tumingin sa laro na saglit na natigil dahil sa paglapit niya kay Clementine. Lumunok si Clementine at pinagmasdan ang mga ito na nanonood sa kanila.

“You can go back to the game. I’m really okay. He’s just fixing something and we’re going in five minutes.” she said.

Tumango si Korics. There’s a slight hint of disappointment in his face but that was the least of her concerns right now. Bumalik na ito sa laro.

Another thirty minutes had passed when she saw Frances entering the gym. Her palms were in her eyes. Agd siyang tumayo.

“Sh*t, ano ang nangyari?” bulong niya at sinalubong ang umiiyak na kaibigan.

She’s still holding the paperbag of cookies so she can say na hindi maganda ang usapan.

“Hey, are you okay? What happened?” tanong ni Clementine sa kaibigan.

Frances sobbed and looked at her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

Natigilan si Clementine sa reaksiyon ni Frances. Gumapang ang kaba sa dibdib niya.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Clementine? I thought you’re my friend!” she shouted.

May ilang napatingin sa banda nila. Clementine swallowed and dragged her away from the crowds.

“Ano ba ang ibig mong sabihin, Frances?” tanong niya, mas kinakabahan na ngayon.

Tiningnan siya ni Frances ng diretso sa mata. Puno ng galit ang hitsura nito.

“Ahas ka! Alam mo na gusto ko si Quentin! Bakit siya pa, Clementine? Napakasama mo!” sigaw ni Frances.

Nanigas sa kinatatayuan niya si Clementine.

'She knew. Frances knew!'

“Hey, it’s not—“

Naputol ang anumang sasabihin niya nang lumagapak sa kaniyang pisngi ang sampal mula kay Frances. May ilang napasinghap sa ginawang iyon ni Frances.

Pakiramdam ni Clementine, hinubaran siya sa publiko. Maraming nakarinig sa sinabi ni Frances. She’s shamed but she knew it will eventually happened.

“Huwag ka nang magsinungaling pa! Alam ko na! You and Quetin are dating! Inagaw mo siya! Napakalandi mo! I trusted you!” sigaw ni Frances at tinulak siya.

Frances walked out. Naiwan si Clementine na nakahawak sa pisngi niya. Nagbulungan ang ilanh estudiyante roon.

She saw Quentin who’s now descending from the stairs. Parang wala lang dito ang nangyari. He’s not even affected at all.

Nagkatinginan sila.

Clementine balled her fists and ready to hurt someone. May mga luhang namumuo sa kaniyang mga mata.

‘How dare you tell her, Quentin? F*ck you…’

That’s all running on her mind as she walked fast to where he was standing.