That High Maintenance Girl

Kabanata 31 — Want

Clementine woke up at that weekend na wala na si Quentin. Sabi ni Manang, he drove for Manila classes kaninang madaling araw.

Sa linggo pa siya ng gabi makakabalik sa San Lucas at doon siya sa kaniyang apartment matutulog dahil simula na ng kaniyang preliminary exams.

Hindi na nag-abala pa si Clementine na tumawag sa kaniya sa landline. She doesn’t use her old phone at wala namang wifi si Quentin to video chat her.

Saka isa pa, she doesn’t want to look like she’s a clingy girl. She just helped at the farm noong sabado gaya ng bilin ni Quentin. He organized her activities dahil mawawala nga siya para sa kaniyang exams.

“Manong, ilang truck nga ito at ilang tonelada? Kailangan ko sa inventory.” sabi niya at inihanda na ang chart na may listahan.

“Dalawang tonelada ma’am ng tubo po.” sabi ni Manong.

Nilista iyon ni Clementine. She just focused on the inventories for that harvest. Nanood din siya sa pagdala noon sa pabrika para magawang suka at asukal.

Kaya naman kinagabihan ng linggo, mabilis siyang nakatulog at hindi na naabutan pa ang pagdating ni Quentin.

Nagising siya na wala na si Quentin at Angela para sa meeting ng faculty at student council. Ayon kay Manang, hindi na pinagising ni Quentin ang dalaga para makabawi ito ng tulog. Pinahatid na lamang siya ni Manang sa driver ni Don Wilfredo.

“Ingat, Ma’am!” paalam ng matandang driver.

Tumango na lamang si Clementine at bumaba.

Clementine did not greet anyone at school. Ang bawat lampasan niya na nakangiti, tinaasan lamang niya ng kilay.

She went to her first class for Monday. Nauna roon si Angela na nakikipagtawanan na kina Meddie. Clementine wanted to roll eyes.

If it’s true that everyone’s talking on her back, she will show them na walang magagawa iyon. She may be bothered by she will not show it to satisfy them.

“Clementine! Kamusta na ang mga sugat mo?” tanong ni Meddie na nakangiti.

Clementine scanned Meddie’s face. Friendly iyon gaya ng dati niyang pakikisama but she won’t be fooled again.

She just maintained a straight face and passed by her. Nawala ang ngiti ni Meddie na halatang napahiya dahil maraming nanonood doon.

Thankfully, maaga pumasok ang professor sa subject na iyon ay mabilis silang umupo. Clementine didn’t make eye contact at anyone.

Natapos ang klase nang bandang lunch na. Lumabas agad siya bago pa maabutan ng ilan, she bumped to Korics in the hallway. His hands held her arms to stop her from losing her balance.

“Hey, okay ka lang ba?” tanong ni Korics.

Clementine nodded and removed his hands. Inayos niya ang kaniyang buhok.

“Thanks.” simpleng sagot niya.

She saw students stopped on their tracks to watch. Nandoon din sina Angela na seryosong nanonood.

“What’s happening here?” tanong ng isang lalaking professor kasama si Quentin.

Binaybay ni Clementine ang kamay ni Quentin. He was holding a book and a board eraser, siguro ay galing sa isang klase.

Kunot noo siyang nakatingin kay Korics bago umigting ang mga panga.

“I just helped Clementine, Sir.” sabi ni Korics.

“Hindi ba, bawal mo siyang lapitan as per disciplinarian or else you won’t be able to play in Intercollegiate?” tanong ni Quentin.

Kinagat ni Clementine ang kaniyang labi at umiling. Korics looked conscious about the surrounding.

“No. It’s accidental naman…” she said and looked at Korics, “He just helped me because I slipped.”

Tinitigan ni Clementine si Quentin. He looked displease about what she said.

“Yes, I already said sorry to her and she accepted it. I think there’s nothing wrong with it, Sir.” sagot ni Korics.

Tumango si Clementine at tapped Korics’ shoulder. She swallowed and bit her lower lip.

“I will just go to the cafeteria, excuse me.” she said and passed by them.

Hindi siya tumingin sa kung sinuman. Dalidali ang lakad niya papasok doon. She found Vance wearing headset and typing something on his phone.

She immediately removed his headset. He just looked at her curiously.

“I gotta ask you something.” she said. “I want you to answer me truthfully.”

“Fire away,” he said.

“Do you know something about what the Diogracias did especially my father?” tanong niya.

Kumunot ang noo ni Vance at huminga nang malalim.

“As much as I want to answer you, I don’t really know about it.” aniya at nagkibit balikat.

“Alam mo ba na pina-plastic ako ng mga tao rito?” tanong pa niya.

Vance looked at her and shook his head. Clementine would know if he was lying but he was not. Nilingon pa ni Vance ang paligid nila.

“I don’t know, Clementine. Where did you get that?” tanong ni Vance.

Napansin ni Clementine na tumunog ang cellphone nito mula sa isang text pero hindi na ito pinansin ni Vance. Nilagay nito ang kaniyang cellphone sa bag para ituon ang atensiyon kay Clementine.

“Angela told me last night.” sagot ni Clementine.

“If Angela told you then maybe it’s true… She knows everything in this school. She’s not the president if she’s not.”

Lumunok si Clementine.

“She said it’s because of what my family did. What Daddy did to the people.” she explained.

“I don’t grew up here in San Lucas. I just heard the rumors when I moved here from Malabrigo but it has so many versions.” sabi ni Vance.

Huminga nang malalim si Clementine. She wanted to know kung ano ba talaga ang ginawa ni Don Wilfredo. She lived her almost whole life in New York and she’s very clueless because no one even dared to tell her.

Not even Manang!

Natapos ang lunch. Sabay silang umakyat ni Vance para sa klase nila. It’s Quentin’s subject.

Lumunok si Clementine nang magtagpo ang mga mata nila ni Quentin. Seryoso at mapanuri ang mga titig nito sa kaniya. She sat beside Vance.

“Good afternoon class.” bati ni Quentin at tumayo na sa unahan dala ang libro. “I will give you the pointers for your preliminary examination next week.”

Clementine wrote what he said. Quentin walked around the classroom while giving the topics he will include. Tumigil ito sa tapat ni Clementine but she did not even bother to look.

“I hope you will study about these topics. I want you to be prepared as you are now seniors.” sabi pa niya at tumingin sa kanila isa-isa bago muling nagsalita, “Let’s refresh your memories with this pop recitations.”

“Decerna,” he called and looked at Vance.

Nilingon ni Clementine ang kaibigang nakatayo na at naghihintay sa tanong ni Quentin.

“The five tiers of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?” he asked.

Lumunok si Vance at seryoso pa rin na binalingan ito.

“Self actualization, esteem need, belonginess and love needs, safety needs, pyschological needs.” he said.

Quentin nodded and marked his card. Nagtanong pa ito ng kung anu-ano. Clementine listened.

“Diogracia,” tawag ni Quentin.

Gusto na lang ni Clementine na lamunin siya ng lupa. Madami pa silang hindi natatawag kaya ang tanong niya bakit siya pa?

Hindi naman sa wala siyang alam. Ayaw lang niya na kausapin siya nito kahit na imposible iyon dahil professor siya nito.

“What is consistency theory?” tanong ni Quentin.

Clementine stood up.

She swallowed and looked away. Gusto man niyang sagutin iyon, parang biglang naglaho ang mga salita sa isipan niya.

“Miss Diogracia?” tanong ni Quentin dahil hindi siya sumasagot.

Clementine sighed and looked at him.

“I do not know.” she answered.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Quentin. Tinagilid nito ang ulo niya at tinitigan siya.

“Remain standing,” aniya sa seryosong tinig at bumunot pa ng pangalan.

“Blanco,” he called Angela.

Clementine remained standing. May ilang estudiyante ang napapatingin sa kaniya. Angela confidently answered her brother’s question.

Nanlamig si Clementine. She felt humiliated dahil siya lang ang natirang nakatayo roon.

“Class dismissed,” sabi ni Quentin.

Nagsialisan na sila roon. Clementine gathered her things. Vance left because he received a call from Vilhelm.

“Miss Diogracia, stay…” sabi ni Quentin.

Napatingin si Angela at ang ilang kaibigan nito. Clementine did not react. She did not say anything but she did not leave.

“Angela, mauna ka na sa sasakyan,” sabi niya sa kapatid at nilingon muli si Clementine.

“Ikaw , Miss Diogracia. Follow me,” he said.

Clementine followed him. Akala niya mag-uusap sila sa faculty pero lumiko si Quentin papaakyat sa rooftop. He opened the door and let her go in first.

“Bakit tayo nandito?” tanong ni Clementine.

Malamig at malakas ang hangin kaya naman hinawakan niya ang kaniyang buhok.

“Is there something wrong, Clementine?” tanong ni Quentin.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa tanong na iyon.

“Wala, bakit?” tanong niya pabalik sa binata.

“You did not glance at me the whole day. May nagawa ba akong masama?” he asked seriously

Lumunok si Clementine at tiningnan siya.

“Wala. Hindi ba puwedeng wala lang ako sa mood? O ‘di kaya’y nag-iingat kasi nasa eskuwelahan tayo?” she asked with slight irritation.

“Wala ka sa mood? Bakit?” tanong ni Quentin na hindi nagustuhan iyon.

“I am just being careful. Mahahalata tayo niyan —“

“Oh, try harder… Clementine.” may diin na sabi ni Quentin.

Umirap si Clementine. All her feelings that was bottled up that weekend was about to burst.

"What do you want me to feel? Maging masaya kasi pinahiya mo ako sa klase? You even made a scene at the hallway with Korics. You did not even say goodbye to me when you left for Manila and even greeted me when you went home!" she exclaimed.

Clementine watched his face. Kahit na galit, labis pa rin ang kaguwapuhan ni Quentin Blanco.

“Oh, Senyorita...You don’t know how I cannot think straight when I was in Manila. You did not even try to contact me.” he said.

“I don’t have a cellphone, remember?” she said. “Plus, I don’t want to look like I am clingy!”

Quentin rolled his eyes and smirked.

“You acted strange for nonsense, Clementine. I want you to be clingy with me,” he said like it’s normal.