MY TWO FACED GIRLFRIEND

Chapter 6 -Warm Side Of Her

One straight week na parang yelo ang treatment sa akin ni Rose. Para nga na mas malamig pa sa yelo kung tratuhin niya ako. It does bothers me dahil hindi naman siya ganito sa akin last week and the time we went at the mall. Everytime na lapitan ko siya, may it be at the cafeteria or at the room kapag classmate ko siya, it’s either hindi niya ako papansinin even sulyapan man lang or nagmamadali siya na iwan ako and walk away from me. Sabi nga ng mga kaibigan ko ay baka daw she really has a dual personality. Na kung minsan ay mabait then suplada the next, yun one time she is warm and kind-hearted then the next is cold and fierce. Pero dahil sa ganitong papalit-palit na attitude and character ni Rose ay mas na-intrigue ako sa kanya. She has captured a huge part of my curiosity na mas nag-glued sa akin to her. I often think of her now kahit pa wala na ako sa university, even if nasa bar ako and working ay sumagi na siya sa isip ko. Hanggang sa isang araw na nagising ako ay siya na ang laman ng isip ko and I can’t wait to see her again.

I am starting to like Rose even if hindi ko siya maintindihan most of the time. Nawala na nga permanently ang pagkagusto ko kay Selena who start to befriend me just recently na dati naman ay hindi. Siya na ngayon ang pumapansin sa akin na dati naman is the other way around. Nawala na ang excitement ko bigla para kay Selena ng hindi ko napapansin, hindi na ako as excited as before na every morning ay makita ko lang siya or mapansin niya ako. Suddenly what I felt for Selena had died down and all my attention was now diverted at Rose.

I like that warm side of Rose, the timid but friendly side of her. I like the way she shyly smile and how soft-spoken she is. Her simplicity and just being herself minus the light makeup are the things that continue to relive in my mind about her. Although the cold aspect of her is somewhat more energetic and bolder, yet if I have to choose which side of her do I like the most, I will say that it’s the warm side of her. Mas approachable siya kahit pa mahiyain siya and her innocence suits her well. Parang I can talk to her of any topic under the sun. Ang gaan-gaan niyang kasama na hindi ko kailangan magpa-impress or magpasikat para mapangiti ko siya. Ang bilis niya pati na i-please at napaka-babaw lang ng kaligayahan niya. Parang isang bata na ang dali-daling pasayahin with just simple and small things. I always anticipate the day after weekend dahil it kept my mind preoccupied on guessing kung alin side niya ang makakaharap ko sa university ground for the whole week. The thought is exciting at the same time ay hindi mawala sa akin na sana ay ang warm side of her ang kaharap ko.

Today is the first day of the week. And just like the previous weeks ay maaga akong nagising with high hopes na sana ang mabait at friendly na Rose ang makita ko today sa class namin. I arrived early sa first class namin, wala pa ang ibang mga classmates ko and even my friends. I am sketching an image sa likod ng notebook ko when she came in. She is not wearing any makeups today at nakalugay ang mahaba at itim niyang buhok. She is carrying a book as she walks towards her seat that happens to be beside me.

“Good morning, Rose. Ang aga mo today.”

“Good morning, Ivan.” malapad akong napangiti when I see her smile meekly at me, revealing her dimples on both cheek.

“How was your weekend?”

“Sa bahay lang ako, I didn’t went out. Ikaw? How was your weekend?’ I feel light spirited dahil ang ganda ng pasok sa akin ng week na ito. Being beside Rose right now in her warm self is refreshing enough to sustain me for the whole week.

“Pumasok ako sa bar. Kaya pala hindi na kita masyadong nakikita dun lately.” nginitian lang niya ako. “Hanggang anong oras ang class mo today?”

“Half day lang ako today but I need to go to the library, may kailangan akong i-research after class.”

“Samahan na kita mamaya sa library. Sabay ka na rin mag-lunch sa amin nila Silver, that is if you just want to.”

“Alright, sige.”

We are seated together at the cafeteria with my friends. I treated her to lunch even though she has declined me several times, ako pa rin ang nasunod. Masaya siyang kasama, kahit ang mga kaibigan ko ay magaan narin ang loob sa kanya. She is so easy to be with kahit mukha siyang rich kid. After eating lunch ay diretso na kaming dalawa sa library, hindi na sumama ang mga friends ko dahil never naman silang nagpupunta sa library. While she research on something ay nagbasa naman ako ng magazine. Pero she usually caught me staring at her kaya sineryoso ko na lang ang pagbabasa because she is starting to get conscious. Halos three hours rin kami sa loob ng library when she decides to leave, dapat ay naiinip na ako dahil honestly ay hindi ko rin hilig ang pagpunta rito. But the mere sight of her is enough reward for me already para magtiis ng ilang oras. Paglabas namin ng hallway ay niyaya ko siya for a snack but she declined my offer dahil kanina pa raw naghihintay ang driver niya. So I just walk her to the gate and watch her hop inside the car. Nakangiti ako when she opens the window and wave goodbye sa akin. Ilan minuto na ang nakalipas mula nang makaalis siya ay nakatayo pa rin ako sa labas at nakangiti.

“I like you already, Rose. Sana palagi ka na lang ganyan sa akin. Sana hindi ka na maging moody and cold na parang hindi mo ako palaging kilala.” I walk back inside the university and head towards the varsity lockers.

—

“Bakit ngayon ka lang! Have you forgotten that I need to be at the mall this afternoon?” I heard my twin’s screeching voice the minute I entered my room.

“I went to the library pa kasi, Rose, para dun sa assignment mo for tomorrow.” She quickly walked towards the door.

“Nakakainis ka talaga, Hyacinth! I’ve told you not to bother about my assignment for tomorrow since I won’t be going to class rin naman! Now because of you, I am late sa usapan namin ng mga friends ko! Argh!” She marched out with a heavy foot then slammed the door behind her. I just shook my head and went to my walk-in closet.

Tinamad na naman pumasok ang twin ko the following day kaya ako ulit ang pumasok for her. Although I will be at the university for just a few hours ay masaya ako dahil nakakalabas ako ng mansion. Maaga pa for my first class so I decided to sit at one of the wooden benches in the corridor. I opened my notebook and looked at the paper that I slipped in between the pages where I wrote my research yesterday. Ngayon ang submission nito kaya I will just check kung wala ba akong nakalimutan. I was about to close the notebook when someone grabbed it from me and held it in mid air.

“Look who’s here! If it isn’t Miss Wanna-Be-Popular-By-Pretending-To-Be-Sweet!” I gaze up only to find Trina waving my notebook carelessly kaya nalaglag yung sheet of paper at the ground. Bago ko pa ito nadampot ay mabilis na niya itong kinuha and look at it.

“Please give it back to me, Trina.”

“Wow! Ang bait mo yata ngayon! Trina na ang tawag mo sa akin unlike before na bitch.” She smirks at me then glances at her peers.

“Kindly hand me back my assignment please.”

“Give it back to her, Trina. It’s almost time for our first class.” the most demure girl from them spoke. I remember her, she is Selena.

“What if ayoko?” Then she wiggles the paper while I am making an effort to get it from her.

“I need that, Trina. That’s important. So please kindly hand it back to me.” Mas tinaas pa niya ang arm niya so I won’t be able to reach it, mas matangkad kasi siya sa akin. Then she slightly moved back and grinned widely at me.

“If you really need this, then you have to beg me para ibalik ko sayo ito.” My eyes popped open with disbelief.

“Why do I have to beg when that paper belongs to me naman talaga?”

“Is that so? Ayaw mong mag-beg?” I shake my head in response.

“Alright, if you say so.” Akala ko ay ibabalik na niya sa akin ang paper but I was shocked when she suddenly ripped the paper into pieces then let it fall on the ground. That made me shed tears dahil kailangan ko na i-submit yun today. “O ayan na ang assignment mo, ibinalik ko na. Now we are even sa pagtawag mo sa akin ng b***h, loser.” before wickedly laughing out loud. “Let go girls, baka ma-late tayo sa first class natin.”

“You’re such a b***h, Trina.” I heard someone said habang pinupulot ko ang mga pieces ng paper. It is impossible to retrieve this anymore dahil punit-punit na talaga. I cry in silence as I still try to patch the pieces one by one pag-upo ko sa bench.

“Hey, Rose.” Mabilis na pinunasan ko ang mga tears ko, but before I can hide the shattered paper ay nakita na ito ni Ivan. “What happened?” I didn’t say a word nor look at him. “Are you alright, Rose?” He looked at the shattered paper before sitting beside me. “Anong nangyari? Bakit punit-punit yan?” He saw a drop of tear escaping my eye. “Hey.” inangat niya ang mukha ko. “Who did this to you?”

“Wala. I am fine.” I managed to utter with a shaking voice.

“Anong wala? You are crying tapos punit-punit itong paper? Who did this to you, Rose?”

“Never mind it na lang, Ivan. Dadaan nalang ulit ako later at the library before my English class to recopy my assignment.” He held my hand and gently grip it.

“Ayoko sa lahat ay mga bullies at may nagpapa-bully! Especially if you are the one who is involved! Tell me please, Rose. Who did this to you? Please, tell me.” hindi ako sumagot dahil ayaw ko ng pahabain pa ang issue. I also don’t want those girls, especially Trina na balikan ako if ever.

“Nakita ko kung sino ang may gawa, Ivan!” napapikit ako when I heard someone utters. Tumingin si Ivan sa isang babaeng student.

“Who?”

“Those cheerleaders. Trina did that to her on purpose. She grabbed the paper and she wanted Rose to beg her para ibalik niya. Nang hindi ginawa ni Rose ay pinunit niya ito sa harapan niya mismo sabay alis.” I saw how his jaws were clenching and his hand flexing.

“Let it be, Ivan. It’s not worth it. Hayaan mo na, I’ll just recopy everything later at the library.” pinigilan ko ang kamay niya when he stood up.

“Kaya namimihasa ang mga yan dahil pinapabayaan lang. That can’t be, Rose. Their bitchiness has to end. Hindi pwedeng ganyan dahil masasanay sila kapag walang lumaban sa kanila.”

“What are you going to do?” Mabilis niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko then lead me inside the building. Sumunod lang ako sa kanya until we stop in front of a classroom where the class is already ongoing.

“Excuse me, Miss Gatchalian?” hinihila ko ang kamay niya but he wouldn’t let go of my hand.

“Yes, Mr. Ynarez, how may I help you?”

“A student of yours bullied my friend. She ripped her assignment into pieces which was to be submitted hours from now.”

“That’s a rude thing to do. Who among my students here did that?” yumuko ako dahil nakatitig sa amin ang lahat. But Ivan scans the room.

“She did!” pagtingin ko ay nakaturo ang finger ni Ivan kay Trina.

“Ms. Lopez? Is that true?”

“I did not, Ms. Gatchalian! That woman is just making things up! I didn't do it, Ivan, believe me.”

“Gusto mo ng proof, huh Trina?” Ivan asks which makes Trina suddenly red. I saw Selena shaking her head with regret for her friend. “Now! You will apologize to Rose and go to the library to do her assignment that you have ripped apart? Or, I will tell this immediately to your College Dean whom you knew is my Aunt? Choose.” Trina looked at me first, naiiyak na siya at pahiyang-pahiya. I feel sorry for her too. Hindi na sana ito ginawa pa ni Ivan dahil pwede ko naman i-recopy yung assignment ko sa library.

“I’m sorry, Rose.”

“And?” Ivan continued.

“I promise to go to the library to do your assignment.”

“Much better. Kindly excuse her, Ms. Gatchalian, I will accompany her to the library just to be sure that she will do what she says.” The professor nodded as Trina collected her things and scurried outside. While we are walking towards the library, Ivan speaks again. “Subukan mong balikan si Rose, Trina, I will assure you na magsisisi ka. I will keep a close eye on you at sa peers mo. One wrong move from you or any of your friends and you are history here at the university. You knew my connections, Trina. And you knew what I am capable of. I am clear?”

“Yes, Ivan.”

“I need that assignment in an hour and a half, Trina. Bring it to me. Nasa gymnasium ako and I will wait for it.” I handed Trina the book nang makarating kami sa library then iniwan na namin siya ni Ivan after giving her the questionnaires. “They will not bother you again, Rose. I assure you na hindi ka na nila guguluhin pa ulit.”

“Thank you.” I said timidly.

“Saan pala ang first class mo? Hatid na kita.” I glance at my wrist watch and I am half an hour late already for my first class.

“Sa Math building kaso late na ako ng half an hour.” He exhaled several times. “Ikaw ba?”

“Mamaya pa ang first class ko, sa gymnasium.”

“Let’s grab something to eat na lang at the cafeteria. My treat.” tumingin siya sa akin with disapproval. “Let me treat you this time, Ivan, my way of saying thank you for helping me kanina.” He smiled boyishly before holding my hand.

“Alright, pero ngayon mo lang ako i-treat. Next time ay ako na ang manlilibre sayo palagi.” I gaze at his hand first na nakahawak sa kamay ko before searching answers at his eyes. When he didn’t say anything ay ngumiti na lang ako.

“Alright.” I start walking then he follows behind.

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