The Other Girl

Dukian Monarchiv I glance through the side mirror of my tinted car as a woman emerged from the school gate. Chloe Pantallion. For Pete's sake I am undeniably acting like a stalker. I've been doing this for more than a month already. As soon as I'm done with client meetings I would always drop by at the school where she's studying. The Monarchiv University which is owned by my family. I would park my car a little distance from the school entrance while waiting for her to come out. And as usual, she is with her best friend Champie Wazername is, lagi na lang magkasama ang mga ito. Were they gays instead? Nah! I shook my head. But I need to find a way to get closer to Chloe. I like her a lot. Champie Marinas I know who's inside that car. Dukian Monarchiv. I always see that black car parking on its usual direction few meters away from the school gate. Stalker. I thought with amusement. Dukian is the son of Lucas Monarchiv, kasosyo sa negosyo ng mga magulang ni Chloe, at ang may ari ng Monarchiv University kung saan kami nag aaral. Hindi miminsang beses na painsulto ako kung tingnan ng tatay nito pati na ang  mga magulang ni Chloe sa tuwing naaabutan ako sa loob ng mansion ng mga Pantallion. Pero marahil ay hindi na niya ako natatandaan dahil pakialam ba Duke sa mga kagaya ko na mahirap? Si Chloe lang naman ang kilala ko na ubod ng yaman pero kayang makipagkaibigan sa mga katulad ko. That's why she's my best friend. "Urgh! He's here again!" Taas kilay na sabi ni Chloe. Alam din ba nitong si Duke ang nasa loob ng itim na sasakyan? "Sino?" Kunwari ay hindi ko alam. Nang tingnan ko ang kaibigan ay di na maipinta ang magandang mukha nito. "Si Duke. Iyong anak ng kasosyo sa negosyo nina mom and dad!" "Ahh. Mukhang type ka yata Chloe." Umirap ito. Sanay na ito sa mga admirers pero hindi ko inaasahan na hindi nito magugustuhan si Duke Monarchiv. Why? Every woman in town wants to be with him! They have been talking about him since he arrived in town! "Yeah he's handsome pero naging boyfriend yan ni Stella. Sobrang womanizer kaya nyan!" Like I didn't know. Sino ba ang hindi nakakakilala kay Duke? He graduated from the same school. He is already a successful businessman when Chloe and I entered College. He is a mysterious man pero kilala ito ng lahat dahil nag iisang anak ito nina Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Monarchiv, the President of Monarchiv University. Madaming nauugnay dito na magaganda at mayayamang babae. There were even rumors that he had s****l relationship with one of his lady professor during his college days! That news spread all over the campus that made the girls even more curious about him specially his rumored mastery in bed. But here he was, acting like poor stalker by watching my best friend from a distance. Nakahalata yata ang lalake na ito ang topic naming magkaibigan kaya pinaandar na nito ang sasakyan at nilisan na ang lugar na iyon. "So you don't like him?" Hinuhuli ko lang si Chloe. "No." I raised my brows. "C'mon Chloe admit it!" "No I don't like him! Lalo na ngayon may plano ang mga magulang namin na ipagkasundo kaming dalawa!" "Huh?" "Yeah, you know like those they did on medieval ages? That's what they want to happen...and they didn't even bother to ask me if I like him or he likes me, gosh!" My friend is rolling her eyes like she's really disgusted by the idea. I know Duke likes Chloe, but why he's not taking it into action? Parang tinitimpla pa nito si Chloe. Maingat ang mga galaw nito. Alam yata nitong hindi ganoon kadaling kausap ang kaibigan ko. Hindi basta basta nadadala sa bola. "Anyway Champ, you don't have to worry about the exams, binayaran ko na iyong buong semester mo." Chloe handed me the receipt amounting to thousands. Obviously avoiding the topic. Kamuntik na akong maubo sa nakita ko sa resibo. "Chloe naman! ilang overtime na naman sa trabaho gagawin ko niyan para mabayaran ka, sabi ko naman sayo pwede naman akong mag stop muna sa school at pag ipunan ko uli iyong para sa susunod na sem e, baka ano na naman masabi sakin ng mommy at daddy mo." "Hindi na tayo magkaklase kapag di ka nakapag enroll sa susunod na semester! Ayoko nga no! Kanino ako kokopya? papagawa ng assignments? at papaturo sa mahihirap na subjects? Don't mind mom and dad okay? Ayoko ko ngang mag stop ka, sino na lang ang makakasama ko sa pagpasok kung mapag iiwan ka?" I roll my eyes. Chloe had always this separation anxiety towards me. Sino ang mag aakala na ang babaeng ito, looking so confidently beautiful with a heart, oozing with s*x appeal have so much insecurities in her bones? Ako lang ang totoong nakakakilala dito. Even her own parents refused to know the real Chloe. She grew up full of pretentions, akala ng lahat ay na kay Chloe na ang katangian ng isang mayamang babae, maganda, well mannered, matalino, confident, smart and independent. But I knew everything where Chloe came from. She has a lot of fears. She always rely to me, in fact, she's so dependent to me and very demanding too. I'm her best friend and I should always be available everytime she needs me. That's her rule. Kundi ay magkakagulo ang mundo. Pero ako lang naman ang nakakaintindi sa ugali ni Chloe, walang kaibigan ang tumatagal dito dahil sa kakaibang mood swings nito. Kaya naman kahit parang alalay lang niya ako alam kong sobrang mahal ako ni Chloe. Gusto nito na lahat ng mayroon ito ay mayroon din ako. Sa kabila ng madiin kong pagtanggi sa mga binibigay nitong mamahaling damit, sapatos, gadgets at pagsagot nito sa mga tuition fees ko ay ipinipilit parin nitong ibigay ang mga iyon. Kaya ganoon na lang ang galit ng mga magulang ni Chloe sa'kin dahil isa daw akong mapagsamantala. Ang hindi nila alam ay itinago ko lang ang mga ibinibigay ni Chloe at binabayaran ko ang mga nagastos nito sa'kin paunti unti. Kulang na lang ay maging 24/7 katulong at alila ako ng kaibigan para lang makaganti man lang sa lahat ng naitulong nito sa'kin. "Ikaw naman, ang dami daming gustong makipagkaibigan sayo e, mga kagaya mo pa na mayayaman, nabubully ka tuloy dahil sakin." "Champ! You know why I don't like them, they're just after my parents money and fame! Ikaw Champ kilalang kilala na kita. You will never be like them. Maprinsipyo kang tao, may paninindigan at totoo ka!" "Kahit ano pa ang sabihin mo dyan, utang ko to ha? Idagdag mo sa listahan." "Oh my gosh here we go again Ms. Pridey! Okay samahan mo na lang ako pauwi sa bahay, yan ang paunang bayad mo! Dali!" Chloe used to call me "Ms. Pridey" everytime I refused her help. Pero kailangan ko uling pagbigyan ang kaibigan ko para sa samahan ito pauwi. I would be seeing Mr. and Mrs. Pantallion again at makakatikim na naman ako ng maaanghang na mga salita sa mga ito. She knew why Chloe always do this kahit alam nitong mapapagalitan kami. Ayaw nitong humaharap mag isa sa mga magulang. Ilang minuto pa'y tumapat na sa amin na ang isang Montero na sasakyan. Ang sundo ni Chloe at pinagbuksan kami ng driver na si Mang Tarding. "Parang may gusto pa akong daanan." Wika ni Chloe pagkapasok nila sa sasakyan. "I want to watch a movie!" Pinitik ang daliri sa hangin. "Pero senorita ang bilin ng mommy ninyo diretso daw po kayo sa bahay. Binilinan nga po ako na wag daw isasakay si Champ e kaso malapit naman ang loob sakin ng batang iyan kaya secret na lang natin to pero baka masisante naman po ako niyan kung matatagalan tayong umuwi." Katwiran ni Mang Tards at nag umpisa na itong magmaneho. "Ano ba Mang Tards ako bahala sa inyo. Gusto ko manood ng fifty shades darker kaya sa Rockwell tayo!" "Naku po R18 po yun senorita, lalo ako malalagot sa mommy at daddy nyo nyan!" Napapakamot ulong sabi ng driver "Mang Tards 19 na po kami ni Champ!" "Chloe hindi din ako pwedeng gabihin ngayon kasi papasok pako sa trabaho mamayang 12am." I told her. "Ang KJ ninyong dalawa! okay sige pero sa weekend manunuod tayo Champ ha?" "Chloe nalimutan mo na naman, Loaded kaya ako pag weekend kasi buong araw ako sa trabaho." Nagtatrabaho ako sa isang coffee shop sa Makati, 4-5 hours lang ang pasok ko kapag weekdays at 12:00am-5:00am ang schedule ko, pero pag weekends ay halos 12 hours ang ginugugol ko sa trabaho kaya halos wala na akong tulog. "My gosh Champ! pinapatay mo na naman ang sarili mo, wala ka ng pahinga ah! tingnan mo nga katawan mo ang payat payat mo na!" Naroon na ang pag aalala sa tinig ng kaibigan ko. Parang hindi din ito payat kung makapagsalita e magkasingpayat lang kami, ang kaibahan lang ay sadyang controlled ang pagkain nito dahil napaka health conscious. Ako naman ang tipong kumakain na parang KAPWA. Malakas akong kumain dahil nga sa dami ng ginagawa ko kaya siguro ako hindi tumataba. "Eh kung hindi mo ba naman ako binubusog sa utang malamang may pahinga hinga din ako pag may time no!" "Ang problema kasi sayo masyado kang ma pride. Kahit naman bayaran mo ako ng buong buhay mo hindi parin yun maa appreciate nina mommy at daddy because they're so damn hard to please!" I rolled my eyes again. They quarrel about this all the time. "This is not for your parents, this is for me Chloe. Wag na nating pagtalunan to." "Hays whatever. Sige na Mang Tards diretso na sa bahay!" Nakarating kami sa Mansion ng mga Pantallion. The familiar black car is in the parking area. So Dukian went straight here? Or his whole family is here too dahil may isa pang naka park na magarang sasakyan. "Urgh! See? That's the reason why I don't want to go home. The Monarchivs are here at nagpaplano na naman sila tungkol sa amin ni Duke." Naiinis na sabi ni Chloe na parang sinisisi ako na umuwi agad kami. Sabay kaming bumaba ng sasakyan. "I've to go Chloe bago pa bumaba ang mommy at daddy mo---oh! speaking of them" Nakababa na pala ang mommy Eden ni Chloe. And as usual she is not very happy at the sight of me. Pababa na rin ang Daddy Fraud nito kasama si Mr. and Mrs. Monarchiv, kasunod ng mga ito si Duke. All were pictures of aristocrats. Very intimidating. They were all looking at me like I'm some kind of a tiniest object on earth, the poorest of the poor. "Chloe kanina pa kami naghihintay ng daddy mo! Kasama mo na naman ang babaeng iyan!" Galit agad na salubong nito sa anak. Humugot ng paghinga si Chloe. She reached for my hand and presses it hard, pleading for assurance. I pressed her hand back to encourage her. Hindi nakaligtas sa mapanuring mga mata ni Duke ang palitan ng pagpipisil namin ng kamay, nagsalubong ang kilay nito. Nanunuri ang mga mata nang tingnan niya ako. What was he thinking now? Urgh! "I replied to your text message mom, may tinatapos pa kaming project ni Champ." Chloe reasoned out "Oh really?" Binalingan ako ni Eden "Ikaw na babae ka, makapal talaga ang mukha mo no? Ilang insulto pa ba ang kelangan mo para lang huwag ka umapak dito sa pamamahay namin?!" Immune na po ang feelings ko sa mga pang FAMAS AWARD na pang iinsulto galing sa inyo. I thought with laughter. "I'm sorry po uuwi na po ako Mrs. Pantallion" Actually mas affected ako mapanuring mga mata ni Duke.He could be judging me as gay. I could read minds too! Specially that his eyes speaks louder than his sensual mouth! "Yeah you better get lost and never come back!" Singhal muli ni Eden na na akala mo'y isa akong kutong lupa. "I'll see you again tomorrow po, bye!" I responded. Sharing secret giggle with my friend Chloe. Alam kong lalo nanggagalaiti sa galit ang mommy nito at inasar ko pa. Halos takbuhin ko ang gate palabas para lang makatakas sa muling pagngangawa nito. Chloe can manage now. Basta naihatid ko siya pauwi, malakas na loob nitong harapin ang mga magulang. Maglalakad na lang ako pauwi para makatipid sa pamasahe. DUKE I couldn't resist chuckling a bit eventhough I'm really irritated. Everytime I see that girl with Chloe I would feel like wringing her neck. The feeling was so intense just like how I felt towards Tristan, my cousin, my long lived rival. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko nakasundo ang pinsan at hanggang ngayon ay mortal kaming magkaaway.Iyon din ang tingin ko sa matalik na kaibigan ni Chloe. "Chloe we need to talk to you about your marriage with Duke." Narinig niyang maowtoridad na sabi ni Fraud Pantallion sa anak. "Come with us in the library." Alanganing sumunod naman ito sa kanila. Sinulyapan siya sandali pero nagbawi din ng tingin. She's really beautiful. I just couldn't wait to be her husband. For Pete's sake I'm acting like a melodramatic i***t! Was someone cursing me this way? Sabay sabay na kaming naupo pagkarating sa library. I sat in front of Chloe and it is just so good to study her face while our parents begun talking to plan our wedding. "Hija, bata ka pa lang ay pinaliwanag na namin ito sayo." Umpisa ni Fraud "When you turn 21 you need to get married with Dukian--" "To merge the family business" Putol nito sa sasabihin ng ama "What is so new about this arrangement dad?" "Chloe! Listen to your dad first! At baka nakakalimutan mo nasa harap tayo ng mga Monarchiv!" Saway ni Eden. "Hija, we understand how you feel about this but it was already planned a long time ago..." My mother added.  "You can't marry anyone but my son." "Wala naman po yata akong choice di ba? You will both disinherit us if we disobey what you wanted to happen so bakit pa po tayo nag uusap dito?" "Chloe!" Saway ni Eden sa sarkastikong pahayag ng anak nito. Somehow I wanted to feel insulted. Someone's not attracted at me and she happened to be the girl I really like. I cleared my throat to catch everyone's attention.  "Actually Chloe, I talk to my parents before we got here." I glanced at my parents. Giving them the look of reassurance. "I told them that I wanted to know you better before we engage into this arranged marriage. Just to figure out if some things will work out between you and me. Is that fair enough?" Nagkibit ito ng balikat. "Okay fair enough! But I just want to set your expectation, you're not my type!" Now. That is really insulting. He heard his father chuckled in amusement as if he is daring him. "Save that word for later Chloe. I will make you like me." Nagtawanan naman ang mga magulang ni Chloe na tila mga teenagers na kinikilig. Chloe couldn't do anything but to agree with my offer. My proposal turned out with great result. After that night Chloe is nicer to me. We constantly go out for date until she finally became my girlfriend. I discovered Chloe's interest and hobbies. She's fond of animals and nature. She liked photography that's why whenever we go out she would always bring her camera and take photos of everything under the sun. I never thought I would love a woman like Chloe. In my previous standards, I prefer women a lot older than me. Chloe is just 19 years old while I'm already 27. It's the first time I got interested with younger woman and the first time I take a woman seriously. Maybe I'm really getting older. I'm done enjoying bachelor days and thinking of settling down is more than appealing. I'm too glad that my parents choose Chloe to be my wife. Who says arrange marriage isn't cool? It is awesome!