C1
2109 Words
Clark high fived fellow photographers when the pageant ended. I follow him to convince him but he doesn't want to listen to me.
"Clark, I can't go to college if I don't go home there." I said.
He has his back and is putting away his equipment. He puts the lens inside the bag, and the camera in another bag. He also carried the two tripods he was carrying. I just followed him.
"Go ahead, dude!" He grinned and fist bumped another photographer at the same time.
That photographer turned to me and grinned. I smiled at him too.
"Alright, Ches, are you going to the after party later?" He asked me.
I snorted.
I would like to talk to Clark so we can discuss my problem properly. Before I could decline the offer, Clark nodded at the photographer.
"Yes." He said.
The photographer left so I turned to my boyfriend who was putting the cameras away again. He didn't even look at me. I know, he's angry. He doesn't want us to be apart for long. He wants me right here by his side. Sweet. I just want to be practical. I need this opportunity so I won't waste it.
"What?" He turned to me and was obviously irritated.
"I want us to talk about this, Clark. We can't go to that party and just let it go. I'm leaving tomorrow for Alegria."
"I said no, Chesca. I don't want it." He turned.
Our eyes met. I saw how serious he was looking at me.
"I don't want you to leave." He then took the bags that were next to him. "You can handle a whole summer just doing gigs, huh? You can be a photographer or a model. You can live without going home there."
"I can! What about my family? And, Clark, I want to go to college. If you can because you're rich and you're making money, I can't. I only went to community college in Alegria. I can't afford the big universities especially in our current state."
"Then, I'll pay for you, what's wrong with that, Chesca?" He held my waist.
I immediately felt weak from his touch. I snorted. We are here inside the venue of this prestigious pageant held in a posh hotel. Clark is one of their official photographers. And of course, because I'm a supportive girlfriend, I'm here and surrounded by her.
He pressed me with a kiss. Fortunately, there weren't many people. Everyone has left. My cheeks got hot from what he did.
Clark and I have only been together for a year but I feel like I was born with him. Maybe it's like that when you become too dependent on someone. Even though I'm not the type to depend on others, I still can't deny that in the past two months I've been depending on him.
My parents are in Alegria. The business that mom and dad take care of is there. It's just that it's falling. I do not know why. Instead of going to co-college in a big university, I chose to follow there and just help them in the farm work. And mom also promised me that she would send me to study in a community college that we are new to in Alegria.
"Come on! Let's go straight to Eclipse." He invited.
I carefully watched his messy hair and the dimple that appeared every time he smiled. I just shook my head and stood above him.
We arrived at the bar in Clark's car. The other pageant companions were already there. Even one of the winners of the title, my friend Janine, I saw dancing on stage and showing off her long legs.
"FRANCESCA ALDE!" His scream echoed even though it was noisy inside.
I turned around in shame. I saw the people there looking at me. I bit my lip and put a few strands of hair in my ear before approaching him.
"Janine!" I whispered even though he kept his eyes open because he couldn't hear me.
I just shook my head at her dancing next to the pole. Just addicted. My eyes caught my two other friends, Desiree and Tara.
"Excuse me, your friend opened a bottle of Jose Cuervo." Desiree blinked and parted her hair.
I sat next to his highchair. Desiree eats peanuts while Tara is busy on her cellphone. I turned back to the dancing Janine who was now being held by Clark's hand. Clark turned to me and motioned for me to call them a top photographer. I nodded and followed them with my gaze as they left.
"Maybe there is an offer." I ordered Desiree. "Speaking of offers, I heard that you rejected the offer of a tee company?" Desiree's question grabbed Tara's attention. Now, both of them are looking at me.
I shrugged, "I have to go back to the province-"
While I was speaking, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I immediately turned to see who it was and saw my brother frowning.
I took a deep breath and blurted out his name, "CRAIIIIIIG!" I screamed.
He is my younger brother Craig. And I don't know why he's here!
"What are you doing here?"
I heard my two friends gasp at the table but Craig pushed me away before they calmed down.
"Obviously, I got out. Mom is already picking you up. Why are you taking so long here? They say the school you're going to needs a transcript of records and... you have to take an entrance exam. The entrance is on Monday!"
I squeezed my hand while looking at Clark who was now seriously listening to a top photographer.
"Is it Clark again, bro?"
I frowned when he called me. He smirked. Annoying!
"You really have no respect-"
"Come with me. We're leaving tonight!"
"What are you? You just got out of here and you're going to come back right away? Ssss."
He tormented me, "That's what mom told me. I'll be kicked out of there when I come home and you're not there."
I shook my head. I can't leave. I can't leave Clark. We haven't talked properly yet.
"I'll talk to Clark first-"
"Isn't he not agreeing? What if he doesn't agree again?" He raised his eyebrows. "Are you not coming home again? Don't you want to go to college? Teddy did come home to help Aunt Lucy. And you, are you here?" The tone of Craig's voice was mixed with help.
I know. He is the one who hates Alegria. He doesn't want there. He loves the city very much. Even I, I did not imagine that my brother who is all branded and a party animal will be sent to high school at Alegria National High School. Alegria has no case for me, it's just that I'm not used to it. It's not the first time I step foot there but I feel like it. Because we don't often go to Alegria. Apart from the fact that it was far away and expensive and a waste of time, mom and dad also felt that we didn't need to go back to Alegria. When Lola Siling was about to be taken out to Manila, she got sick so mom and dad went home, only then did they return. Suddenly there was a problem with the business so we were needed even more in Alegria.
"Is the business problem really that big?" This is the question I've always wanted to ask Craig.
He snorted and stared at me blankly.
It was as if he couldn't believe my question.
"Chesca," That's what he calls when he gets serious. "Just so you know, when the business is gone, the only thing that will keep us alive are the chickens in Teddy's yard. So think about it!"
I swallowed. I really don't get what the problem is with the Alps and why this is how my brother can react.
"Why? What? Has the spring dried up?" I almost laughed at my own question.
"You'd better go home there and then when you find out." He looked up and folded his arms. "Come on, Ate. Just tell your good boyfriend that you'll be back too."
I snorted and looked closely at Clark's gentle face as he nodded to the person he was talking to. I closed my eyes and made a decision. All right. I'm going. But first of all... Clark.
I approached my boyfriend. I touched him and gave him a troubled expression. He raised his eyebrows.
"What?"
The important photographer was still talking. Everyone listens to him. Even the models.
"Clark, Craig is picking me up." I bit my lip.
My heart was pounding. I can tell from his expression that he didn't like what I said.
"Why is he here? I thought he was in the province?"
"He's following me because." I bit my lower lip for a long time before connecting. "I'm going to Alegria first."
His mouth immediately opened to speak but I didn't let him.
"I'll be back here too!" I added.
He shook his head and held my waist.
My cheeks warmed up. I'm not used to him showing affection in front of many people. Often it's just the two of us. That's why he grabbed the attention of other photographers. My cheeks got even hotter when we looked at each other even though the famous photographer was talking.
"Okay... Just make sure you'll come back to me." He kissed my cheek.
My ears almost burned when he kissed in front of other people. I just nodded and stared at him.
"Thank you." I ordered and turned back to my brother who now folded his arms.
"So, what, did you break up?" Craig was initially annoyed when we were on the bus to Alegria.
It's late but we're still having fun. It's only right to get there in the morning. We will board another bus three more times. There is no direct flight to Alegria, so it is even more boring to go back there.
"What exactly is your problem with Clark?"
He shrugged and didn't answer me.
Craig packed my things. I don't want to do that because I'm afraid to leave. But he volunteered to do it so I let him.
"Me here!" I shouted when I saw him getting into the bus and going to the seat next to the window.
We still fought over that. He said that the only view I can see is the scare crow and the darkness of the night. I insisted that I should be there because he often travels to Alegria. He allowed me to talk on the second bus, he was the one near the window.
I slept the whole flight, I was wide awake because I woke up early just to accompany Clark to his gig.
"On the third bus, I was the one in the mirror, huh?" I ordered and slept again on the second bus.
And because Craig is a gentleman, he agreed to be the one next to the mirror on the third bus. I was even happy then because I could see the view. It's morning and the sun is rising. It's only an hour before Alegria but I can already see the deep valleys and plains. After a while we passed the cliffs and mountain ranges.
A while ago it rained very hard. It rains so often. I kept wiping the glass just to get rid of the moisture from the rain and the air conditioner of the bus.
"Oh? Don't tell me there's El Nino so there's no spring water in the Alps?" I laughed.
I really don't know how the Alps spring that belonged to my dead grandfather would be in trouble.
"Uh... looks like..."
The bus stopped because a passenger got off. I was also stunned because among the wide pine trees of Alegria there was a man riding a horse topless in the middle of the rain.
"Looks like what, Ches?" Craig asked me.
"M-Looks like there's plenty of water here." I said while looking at the man who was sorting his hair and getting off the horse.
He caressed the horse so I only saw the back of the man. I frowned.
crazy It's cold, but there's more to know about topless topless. Just drooling. The arrogance!
His hair was cut short, like a normal man's haircut. But there are a few strands of hair on the back of his neck that are long and reach to the back.
"What's with the hairstyle?" I raised my eyebrows and just frowned until the bus started again.
- Writer
