Kabanata 34 — Ex
2156 Words
“How was it?” tanong ni Quentin.
Nginuya ni Clementine ang hinati niyang steak. Quentin watched her seriously.
Uminom si Clementine ng wine at binaba ang mga kubyertos.
“Okay lang,” she said.
Quentin raised his eyebrow at her remark. Ngumisi si Clementine nang mapansin na hinati nito ang steak na niluto at tinikman din ito.
“Okay lang? Talaga ba?” he said sarcastically and smirked.
Umirap si Clementine at inikot ikot ang wine sa kaniyang wine glass.
“Why, Quentin Blanco? Cannot accept criticism?” she said with a smirk.
Nilagay ni Quentin ang kaniyang braso sa breakfast bar at nilapit ang mukha niya kay Clementine.
“I am also amazed by how I can swallow your criticism, Senyorita…” he said a matter of fact.
Quentin Blanco is the type of person who take criticisms the hard way. Hindi siya basta bastang naniniwala sa mga kumento na binibigay sa kaniya ng walang ba-tayan. Isa sa mga ugali na nagustuhan ni Don Wilfredo sa kaniya.
Tumawa si Clementine. Hinawakan niya ang braso ni Quentin at niliitan ang kani-yang mga mata bilang panunuring nakakaasar. Pumatak ang mga mata ni Quentin sa kaniyang kamay.
“The steak’s excellent for a first time,” she admitted without tearing her eyes away from him, “You still earned a date with me.”
Ngumisi si Quentin at umiling. Tumayo siya ng maayos at hinati ang mga karne. He even poured wine on his glass.
“Let’s just eat, Senyorita.” he said.
All her thoughts faded after that. She had a fun dinner thanks to Quentin and his little talks about the hacienda’s next business moves. She listened to his ideals when it comes to the organic chicken farm an was so impressed.
He really thought outside of the box that made him thought of the future. What if they did not end up? Paano kung after all of this, hindi pala niya gusto si Quentin? Will she ask him to stay just for the sake of this farm? Or will she be an idiot and let him go?
Lumunok si Clementine at inalis ang mga iyon sa isipan niya. Ang mahalaga ay ang ngayon nila. Si Quentin na rin mismo ang nagsabi na they are still getting to know each other.
Kaya naman noong Lunes ay puno siya ng energy. Ang lahat ng iniisip niya noong weekend nawala dahil sa paliwanag ni Quentin.
She thanked him because she really need to focus for this week. Preliminary exams ngayon. Her goal is to be the top student for this year. Hindi masiyadong kilala ang San Lucas Community College gaya ng NYU or ng kahit na anong paaralan sa Maynila kaya kailangan niyang bawiin iyon sa latin honors.
Angela Blanco’s the top student on her batch. And with that, she really needed to beat her.
She entered the classroom. Nandoon na sina Meddie at mga kaibigan nito. Na-katingin ang mga ito sa kaniya. She just displayed a straight face. Hindi bumati o anuman ang mga ito.
She didn’t care. Confident siyang umupo sa likuran. She knew she would definitely ace this exam. Some of her classmates that were in the hallways entered the room.
She looked at the incoming proctor and saw that it was Quentin. Hawak nito sa isang kamay niya mga test papers.
Saglit silang nagkatinginan. Quentin’s side of lips rose like a little smirk. Clementine looked away with a smirk.
Nag-distribute si Quentin ng test papers. He looked serious and superior.
“Pass the test papers to your backs,” sabi ni Quentin.
Clementine focused herself on her exam. She was so confident in answering it but she needed to review everything. If she wants to perfect it, she should be careful as it was an erasure means wrong type of exam.
Quentin roamed around checking everyone. Tumigil ito sa tapat niya. He looked like he’s having so much fun watching Clementine.
“Looking good,” he commented.
Tumikhim si Clementine.
“Go away,” she said with her forehead creased, “I want to perfect this.” bulong niya.
Ngumuso si Quentin.
“No need. You’re perfect to me,” he whispered.
Hindi na nag-angat ng tingin si Clementine. She pretended that she did not hear what he said. Simple siyang lumingon sa paligid to see if everyone heard it.
‘Really? Lantarang pick-up line.’ she thought.
“Go away, Quentin.” bulong niya ulit, "I need to focus, please..." she whispered.
Ilang saglit pa ay umalis din ito sa tapat niya dahil may isang estudiyanteng nagtatanong sa kaniya. Another hour passed, isa-isang nagpasa ng papel ang mga kaklase niya.
She looked around. Only Angela, and three other classmates remained on the room. Confident ang mukha ni Angela nang tumayo ito. She was reading her test paper before she passed it to her brother.
Ngumiti si Quentin.
“Good job.” sabi nito sa kapatid at tinapik ang balikat nito.
Angela went to Meddie and her friends. Sabay-sabay silang umalis doon. Clementine cleared her throat and grabbed her bag.
Tamad niyang pinasa kay Quentin ang kaniyang papel. Kinuha iyon ni Quentin.
“Remember our date?” he said, casually.
Nag-angat ng tingin si Clementine.
“See you later after school.” he said.
She was about to speak when Frances knocked on the door.
“Hello!” bati niya at nawala ang ngiti sa labi.
"Nakakaabala ba ako?" she asked Quentin and blushed.
Nagkatinginan si Quentin at Clementine bago umiling si Quentin. Binagsak niya ang tingin sa mga test paper.
She was all smiles. Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Clementine ang strap ng kaniyang bag. Pumasok si Frances at iniangkla ang kaniyang mga braso kay Clementine.
If there’s anything she can observe, araw-araw ata nag-i-improve ang pisikal na anyo ni Frances. Her face was pretty made up with light make up. Kulot na din ang buhok nito.
And her clothes? Bagay na bagay lang naman ang mga binigay niyang damit dito. She looked really expensive.
“Lunch? Hirap ng exam ko,” she complained.
Bumaling siya kay Quentin na seryosong nakatingin sa kanila habang pinagsasama sama ang mga test papers.
“H-Hi, Sir Quentin.” she greeted and blushed.
Quentin cleared his throat and nodded at her.
“Hello, Frances.” he greeted back.
Naramdaman pa ni Clementine ang bahagyang pagkurot ni Frances sa braso niya. Bahaw ang mga ngiti ni Clementine na nilingon ang kaibigan.
“Let’s go!” sabi niya kay Frances at agad na hinila ito papaalis.
Nakahinga lang siya nang mawala na sila sa loob ng classroom. Hindi niya kayang manatili sa loob. Not with the secret between him and Quentin.
Nandoon na at naghihintay sa lagi nilang table si Vance. Nagbabasa ito ng notes niya habang umiinom ng softdrinks.
Kinalas ni Clementine ang braso niya kay Frances at sumalampak sa tabihan ni Vance. Binaba nito ang reviewer niya.
“O-order na ako sa counter. Sasabay ka na ba sa akin, Clementine?” tanong ni Frances.
Mabilis siyang umiling sa kaibigan.
“Mauna ka na. Busog pa ako. I’m on a diet.” sabi niya sa kaibigan.
Nagtataka si Frances sa sagot niya pero ngumiti lang siya. Nang umalis ito, mabilisan niyang binalingan si Vance.
“Is it considered cheating if you decide to date your friend’s crush?” tanong niya.
She really needed an advice. This thing with Quentin was killing her for weeks. Kunot ang noo ni Vance.
“What?” tanong niya, sinisigurado na tama ang pagkakarinig niya.
Umirap si Clementine at pinanood si Frances na susunod na o-order sa counter.
“I said, If I decide to date my friends crush is it—“
“You are dating, Quentin?” tanong ni Vance na pumutol sa sasabihin niya.
Nilagay niya ang daliri niya sa kaniyang bibig. Tumaas ang kilay ni Vance at tiniklop ang mga braso niya.
“Don’t tell anyone, Vance. Or I will kill you.” she said with a warning.
Ngumisi si Vance at umiling.
“Nah, I already knew that you have feelings for each other. Kayo na? Kailan pa?” he asked again.
Umiling si Clementine.
“He’s courting me. We’re not official. I still have to decide if sasagutin ko ba siya or hindi.” paliwanag niya kay Vance.
Sumandal si Vance at pinanood si Frances na nasa malayo.
“Hindi ba ikaw ang nagsabi sa kaniya na magpapansin siya at magtapat kay Quentin? You’re so wicked, Clementine.” aniya at ngumisi.
Umirap si Clementine. She already knew that!
“Alam ko, Vance! But that was before I felt interested with him. Now, I feel like I am cheating.” she admitted.
Umiling si Vance.
“You are. If you wish to continue this,” kumpirmasiyon ni Vance at umiling, “Tell Frances.”
“I am trying but I cannot find the right time,” she said.
Kinagat ni Clementine ang kaniyang lower lip. Frances was walking to them. She put a smile on her face.
Kaya naman matapos ang kaniyang pangalawang exam sa araw na iyon ay mabilis siyang naglakad pababa. She did not look at anyone’s eyes.
She already planned it. Quentin and her will pretend to go home together like usual but they will go somewhere for their date.
Tumikhim siya nang sumakay siya sa truck ni Quentin. He’s already there. May ngisi sa mga labi niya.
“I did not expect that I will date someone this way. God, para akong thief!” she exclaimed.
Humalakhak si Quentin. Kunot ang noo ni Clementine.
“Did you find this amusing? Talaga, Quentin?” she asked.
“You should tell,Frances. Maiintindihan naman niya.” sabi ni Quentin.
Umiling si Clementine.
“I swear, kung ganoon lang kadali, matagal ko na sinabi. She’s so fragile, naive and weak. I just cannot go to her and tell her that we’ve been going out on dates!” she exclaimed.
Tumango si Quentin.
“Okay. You should do it on your pace.” he said with a soft smile, “I can wait.”
Quentin understood what’s she was worries about. Frances was the first friend she made in San Lucas. Dinala siya ni Quentin sa isang burol kung saan matatanaw ang dagat.
Manghang mangha siya nang bumaba siya roon. Malakas at sariwa ang hangin. It was a cliff that has overlooking sceneries of the ocean. She went near the edge and spread her arms.
“Ang ganda!” she said with amusement, "How did you know this place?" tanong niya.
"I go here everytime I want to think." he said.
Ngumisi si Quentin. Dala niya ang isang tela na panglatag at isang basket na may mga pagkain.
Nilagay ni Quentin ang tela sa damuhan. Nakalatag iyon sa malilim na parte at binuksan ang basket. Punung-puno iyon ng mga pagkain na niluto niya. Kumalam ang sikmura ni Clementine.
The sun was already setting. She sat on the blanket. Umupo na rin si Quentin. Ang kaniyang kamay ay nakatukod sa kaniyang likuran.
“Hindi halata na hindi ka nag-abala ha?” tanong niya at binuksan ang mga tupperware.
“You look skinny. I should feed you often.” he answered.
Kumain silang dalawa. It was all peaceful. She’s never been this calm whenever she’s dating. Palaging may limit. May wall between her and who she’s dating.
Pero kapag si Quentin.
She’s mysteriously at peace.
He can say everything. No holds barred and it’s fine.
Nilingon niya ang binata na nakatingin na rin sa dagat. Hindi niya maiwasan how could this man was left by his ex girlfriend? Or siya ba ang nang-iwan.
“Can I ask you something?” tanong niya kay Quentin.
Hindi nagsalita si Quentin pero nilingon siya.
“Cressida… why did you two broke up?” tanong niya.
Quentin sighed. Umupo siya ng maayos. He looked worriedly at her.
“Let’s not talk about her. She should only stay in the past. What’s important is now.” sabi nito sa kaniya.
Clementine swallowed. Pinaglaruan niya ang bunganga ng kaniyang baso.
“If you want this to work, you should tell me something about yourself.” she said with a smirk.
Vilhelm said that Cressida Decerna is the woman he cannot forget. She must know who’s her before she entertain him more.
“If I answer, will this make you feel better?” tanong ni Quentin.
Tumango si Clementine at ngumisi.
“Of course,” she said confidently.
“Okay. I am only telling you this because you asked me to.” he said and looked at her with so much softness.
Nanatili namang nakatitig si Clementine sa kaniya.
“We broke up because, she did not chose us.” he said.
May gumuhit na panandaliang sakit sa kaniyang mga mata.
“She chose her life instead,” he said.
Clementine sighed.
“Us?” tanong niya puno ng kuryusidad.
“Our baby,” he answered, sadly.
“The baby that she decided to abort without me knowing.”
- Writer
