That High Maintenance Girl

Kabanata 28 — Confusion

Natulala si Clementine sa inasal na iyon ni Quentin. Humiwalay ang binata sa kaniya dahil pumasok si Manang kasunod si Melba na may dalang table.

“Kumain ka na, Clementine.” sabi ni Manang.

Lumayo si Quentin para bigyan ng daan si Melba. Tiningnan ni Clementine ang mga pagkain. Umatake ang kagutuman niya.

“Ubusin mo ‘yan.” sabi ni Manang at tiningnan si Melba, “Halika, Melba. Kumuha ka ng gamot sa baba.”

Naiwan silang muli roon. Kinuha ni Clementine ang kutsara. Halos manginig ang kamay niya nang kumuha siya ng sabaw.

She wanted to curse. This was the effect of Quentin Blanco. Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na nahalikan siya pero hindi ganito iyon sa pagkakaakala niya. She can kiss and make out then look at their eyes without feeling conscious and shy.

She’s always confident. But not now.

Kaya hindi niya alam bakit ganito ngayon? In fact, it’s only a peck on her lips. It didn’t even move at all.

“Eat, Senyorita…” sabi ni Quentin at pinagsalin siya ng tubig sa baso.

Saglit niyang nilingon ang lalaki at nag-iwas din ng tingin. Pulang pula na ang kaniyang pisngi. Umupo si Quentin sa paanan ng kaniyang kama.

Naubos niya ang pagkain. Hindi niya mawari kung dahil ba iyon sa gutom siya at walang kinain sa magdamag o dahil sa nanonood si Quentin sa kaniya.

She drank water. Niligpit ni Quentin ang pinagkainan niya.

“Matulog ka na kapag bumaba na ang kinain mo. Aakyat si Melba para dalahin ang nga gamot mo.” sabi ni Quentin at bumaba dala ang tray.

Clementine was left sitting at her bed. Gusto man niyang pigilan ang lalaki para linawin kung ano ang ginawa niya pero wala siyang lakas ng loob.

Gaya ng sinabi ni Quentin, umakyat si Melba dala ang isang platito na may gamot at isang baso ng tubig.

“Senyorita, uminom po muna kayo ng gamot.” sabi nito.

Tumango si Clementine at iyon ang ginawa niya. She really wanted to know kung babalik ba roon si Quentin sa kaniyang kuwarto o hindi.

She ended up watching a movie on her laptop. Natapos iyon pero walang Quentin na bumalik o kumatok man doon.

Clementine sighed. Napagpasiyahan niyang mahiga na. Ilang beses niyang pinaulit-ulit sa kaniyang isipan ang mga halik na iyon.

“Damn, Clementine!” mura niya sa sarili. “Hindi mo first time mahalikam. You practically did a lot last year.”

Monday came. Clementine had to not attend on her classes because of her condition. Prelims pa lang naman kaya makakabaw pa siya sa mga lessons.

She was dying by boredom. Halos ata mga artista sa local station, nakabisado na niya ang pangalan. Umiling siya at pinatay na ang tv.

She misses her phone. Binuksan niya ang kaniyang laptop at nag-log in sa kaniyang mga social media accounts na halos amagin na dahil huling check niya roon ay nasa New York pa siya.

She was bombarded with chats from her classmates and friends in New York asking her of she’s gonna come back for their final year.

Sakto naman na napansin niyang online si Maggie roon. Isa sa mga kaibigan nila ni Solanna sa NYU. She clicked on her story and saw that it’s a throwback picture last year. She was in their. They’re on their favorite pub drinking with some of her classmates. It was captioned, ‘Living while we are young. Missing Cle.’

She instantly messaged on her story. Hindi naman siya galit dito.

Clementine: I miss you, too. You should do your own homework xoxo

Maggie Croix wants to call you…

Her Mac-book rang. Tinanggap niya ang video call mula kay Maggie.

“Cle? Is this really you?” bungad na tanong ni Maggie.

“Yes, girl. The one and only!” Clementine smirked.

“I miss you so much! Our classmates and friends were looking for you. Sol told me that you went home because of your Dad. How are you?” tanong ni Maggie.

Her green eyes looked at her curiously. Clementine nodded.

“I am doing good, Mags. My Dad is sick and he wants me to handle and study the business. It’s time to apply what NYU taught me.” she said.

It’s night time in New York. Nakaupo si Maggie sa isang gaming chair at nakasuot ng airpods.

“Are you studying? That's new! What happened to letting the nerds do the work for you? How’s the subjects?” tanong niya sa kaibigan.

Umirap si Maggie.

“Oh my god! I am so close to dying. Senior year is very hard and tricky. Even the nerds were busy so I am stuck doing papers. How about you? Are you studying there? Don’t you have class?” tanong nito.

Umiling si Clementine at hindi na nagpaliwanag pa.

“I don’t have as of the moment.” she said.

Bumukas ang pintuan. Clementine saw Quentin entered her room. Maggie sensed that and fell silent.

Nakasuot pa si Quentin ng itim na longsleeves at slacks. Halatang galing sa school. Tapos na ba siya sa klase?

“Ano ang kailangan mo?” tanong ni Clementine.

She did not bother to mute the microphone because Maggie cannot understand for sure.

“I asked Angela for notes. That’s from all of the classes you missed today.” sabi ni Quentin.

Tumango siya at mabilis na kinuha iyon. She cleared her throat and glance at Maggie.

“Who are you talking to?” tanong ni Quentin.

“A friend,” tipid na sagot niya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

Hindi nakuntento si Quentin. Pumunta siya sa tabihan ni Clementine para tingnan iyon. Maggie’s eyes widened. She smile d widely at him.

“Hello, handsome!” Maggie greeted with a smirk, “I am Maggie.”

Quentin nodded and smiled a bit,

“Hi, Maggie. I am Quentin. Nice to meet you.” aniya.

Clementine felt the warmness of his arm on hers. Hindi siya makangiti. All the memories from the kiss last night emerged from the back of her head.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.” sabi ni Maggie, "Are you her new boyfriend?"

Pinandilatan ni Clementine ang kaibigan.

"Maggie, stop!" she said.

Hindi ito ang tamang oras para lokohin sila, given what happened last night...

"No, she's not my girlfriend." Quentin answered.

Napawi ang ngiti ni Clementine.

“I will go for now so you can both enjoy talking. Nice to meet you again.” ani Quentin at tumayo na.

Clementine sighed and looked up to him. Seryoso ang mukha ni Quentin na tumango sa kaniya at lumabas na. When the door closed, tumili na si Maggie. Clementine closed her eyes tightly.

“Sh*t! I have to admit! He’s so freaking hot! If he's not your boyfriend, can I have him?” malisosyong tanong ni Maggie.

Kinagat ni Clementine ang labi.

“No!” maagap niyang tanggi.

“You’re clearly smitten! You like him?” tanong ni Maggie.

Umiling si Clementine.

“No. He’s my father’s employee. He trains me in handling the business, that’s all.” aniya.

It’s Maggie’s turn to looked at someone. She smiled and nodded.

“Oh, babe! I am so sorry but I have to end this call,” sabi niya kay Clementine, “My boyfriend is here.”

Tumango si Clementine at ngumiti.

“Sure! No problem. Talk to you soon, Maggie” she said and ended the call.

Sinara ni Clementine ang kaniyang laptop at tiningnan ang notebook ni Angela. Nandoon ang mga notes niya mula sa mga klase kanina. Tiningan niya ang malinis at organized na sulat ni Angela.

She copied it. If she wants to have a high grade, kailangan niyang humabol doon. She browsed and read some topics. Matapos iyon ay kinuha niya ang muli ang macbook para mag search sa internet.

She typed some lessons in there ad jot down additional informations she can use. Napatingin siya sa social media accounts niya.

She saw her friend requests. Nasa 100 plus iyon at puro taga San Lucas she accepted some of the people she knew like Frances and the girls from the pageant committee. Napansin niya na kasali rin siya sa mga groupchat ng mga ka-blockmates niya.

She clicked and saw some announcements regarding Preliminary examinations. She clicked on Frances’ account.

Her profile picture’s the night she won the pageant. Nakasuot siya ng corona at nakangiti sa camera. She scrolled to her feed and she posted some of the pictures from school.

Nag-scroll pa siya at nakita na may isang larawan na naka-tag kay Frances. It was a picture of Quentin and Frances on the night of the pageant.

Nakaakbay si Quentin kay Frances at seryosong nakatingin sa camera. They looked like a sweet couple. Umasim ang pakiramdam ni Clementine dahil maraming reactions and comments doon.

Some were saying na bagay sila ni Quentin. Some were praising how beautiful she is. May ilang bumabati ng congratulations on winning.

May isan kumento roon na nakakuha ng atensiyon niya. It was from Angela and she commented,

‘Ang ganda ng future sis-in-law ko!’ It was probably a joke or teasing her pero other replied to Angela’s comment.

They were supporting her comment and linking both Quentin and Frances to each other. Nagpasalamat lang si Frances sa bulgarang iyon.

Kumulo ang dugo ni Clementine at sinara ang kaniyang macbook. Hindi niya alam pero naasiwa siya sa tuwing maiisip na magkakaroon ng relasyon si Frances at Quentin sa isa’t-isa. She hated herself from giving Frances the chance to have confidence.

A knock on the door came and the door opened. Bumungad doon si Quentin. Hindi gaya kanina, nakapambahay na ito ngayon. May dala itong tray na may baso ng tubig at pritong saging. Seryoso pa rin ito kaya sinuklian iyon ni Clementine ng mga galit na tingin.

“What’s the problem?” tanong ni Quentin at nilapag ang pagkain sa kama, “It’s time to drink your medicine.”

Clementine raised her eyebrows.

“Why are you here? Wala kang klase? Si Manang nasaan?” tanong niya.

Kumunot ang noo ni Quentin.

“May ginagawa si Manang sa baba—“

“Si Melba? Si Isay?” tanong niya sa binata, pinuputol ang eksplanasyon nito.

“May ginagawa sila sa baba. Ano ba ang problema mo?” tanong ni Quentin.

Umirap si Clementine.

“Bakit ikaw ang nagdadala ng pagkain ko?” tanong niya, nagtataray.

Umiling si Quentin at binuksan ang gamot.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit ba big deal sa’yo. Lahat sila may ginagawa sa baba. Ako ang nagprisinta na magdala rito para makainom ka ng gamot mo sa tamang oras.” sabi ni Quentin.

Pumikit si Clementine.

She doesn’t understand. She’s confused by him.

“Fine, then go out. I don’t want you here. Iwanan mo na ako.” sabi niya.

Quentin sighed.

“Not until you finish—“

“Ano ba, Quentin? Stop making me confused!” sigaw niya.

Nagulat si Clementine sa kaniyang pagsigaw. Quentin stood there. Umigting ang mga panga niya.

“What?” tanong niya sa dalaga.

Kinagat ni Clementine ang kaniyang ibabang labi at huminga nang malalim.

“You are making me confused. Bakit mo ako hinalikan kagabi? And why are you acting like you are not affected at all?” tanong niya at hindi napigilang tumaas ang kaniyang boses.

Quentin sighed. Walang imik itong umupo sa harapan ng dalaga. Pinagmasdan naman ni Clementine ang bawat kilos niya. If looks can kill, kanina pa pinaglalamayan si Quentin.

He smiled playfully. Ang takas na buhok ni Clementine ay nilagay niya sa likuran ng tainga ng dalaga.

“You are making me confused too but I didn’t get upset at you like that, Senyorita.” banayad na sinabi nito.

Clementine looked at his sincere eyes. Nag-uunahan ang tambol ng kaniyang puso. It’s like his eyes were sending electricy throughout her body.

“What do you mean?” tanong niya sa binata.

"We are both confused, Clementine. Hindi lang ikaw ang nagkakaganiyan ako rin. It’s like we were thrown by fate to each other unexpectedly.”

“But… why did you kiss me?” tanong niya.

Quentin chuckled sexily and put his hands on her head.

“I don’t know. The moment you kissed Vance, I lost control of myself. Especially that night and last night. But one thing is for sure, Senyorita… I don’t kiss for fun.” he whispered.

Lumunok si Clementine. Parang nabingi siya sa sinabing iyon ni Quentin.

‘He doesn’t kiss for fun? Ibig sabihin…’ aniya sa isipan niya at hindi na napigilang sabihin ang kasunod noon.

“Do you like me, Quentin?” tanong niya sa binata.

Nanatiling nakatingin sa kaniya si Quentin.

He did not admit or deny it.

He only sighed and looked at her.

“We’ll take it slow, Senyorita. Let’s see where this confusion will take us.” he said.