That High Maintenance Girl

Kabanata 17 - Vulnerability, Betrayal, Hangover

"You're like a sister to me and just like Angela, I care for you."

Nakuha ng mga linyang iyon ang atensiyon ni Clementine. Agad niyang inalis ang mga braso nitong nakayakap sa kaniya at tinulak ito. Naguguluhang tumingin sa kaniya si Quentin.

Tumikhim si Clementine at pinalis ang mga luha sa kaniyang mga mata. She fixed her hair and her dress.

"What's wrong?" Quentin asked, quite confused by her sudden mood swings.

"I will never be your sister, Quentin." she said and stood up. "Always remember that."

Mabilis niyang tinalikuran ang binata.

There's something that bothered her when he said that. The thought of being his sister, she cannot bear it. She's obviously insecure and threatened by him. She's real scared of what the closeness of her father and Quentin can do.

Humiga siya at nilagay ang unan sa kaniyang mukha. It's frustrating to realized that for a brief moment he saw her weakness. Everything that happened from the moment she stayed in San Lucas was too much to take in.

"Pull your sh*t together, Clementine." bulong niya sa sarili at sinampal ito.

She get up and opened her mac-book. She searched Sol on facegram and did not hesitate to video call her. It ringed for a good twenty second before she answered.

"Hello?" she said.

Madilim ang kaniyang background. She can see that she had an eyemask on her eyes. Inalis ni Sol iyon. It's past six in the morning and Clementine interrupted her sleep.

"Sol, it's me." she said.

Sol opened her left eye and groaned. Napabalikwas ito nang mapagtanto na si Clementine ang nasa kabilang linya.

"Holy sh*t!" she cussed. "Clementine?"

Bumangon ito at binuhay ang lampshade niya. Clementine saw the familiar bedroom decorations of her bestfriend.

"Sorry to disturb you this early." she said and smiled widely.

"No, no! It's okay..." she said while she's nervously chuckled, "How are you? When are you coming back?" sunud-sunod na tanong niya kay Clementine.

Nawala ang ngiti ni Clementine.

"I cannot be back for a while. Dad got cancer and it's stage 4." she answered.

She really miss New York but she cannot do anything.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Cle. So, how's Tito?" she asked.

Nagkibit-balikat si Clementine.

"He's attending treatments but the doctor said it won't heal him anymore. He just gave us a year or so, Sol. So, I really need to stay here and be with him." she answered.

Natahimik si Sol doon. Tumahimik ang usapan nila kaya agad pinutol ni Clementine iyon. She wanted to clear her mind and not to add sadness to it kaya binaling niya iyon sa summer trip nila ng mga kaibigan na hindi siya nakasama.

"Hey, how was Maldives?" she asked again.

Natulala si Sol sa kaniya. Tipid itong ngumiti.

"Maganda. Sayang, you weren't there. We really missed you. River, Maggie and I toured around this-"

Naputol ang sasabihin ni Sol nang gulat na tumingin ito sa likuran ng camera. Clementine heard creaking of door si she's sure someone's there with Solanna.

"Babe," the familiar voice said.

Pumikit si Sol dahil doon. Clementine froze.

"What's that? Who are you talking to?" he asked and got the phone from Sol's hands.

Clementine cannot help but show her shock and disgust. River's only wearing his boxer shorts and he's fresh off the bath.

"F*ck, River!" sigaw ni Solanna.

"Sh*t, Clementine! I can ex-"

Pinutol niya ang anumang sasabihin ni River dahil in-end call na niya agad iyon. She cannot believe it. Solanna knew that something's going on between her and River before she flew to San Lucas. She felt betrayed. Kahit na alam niyang hindi na siya nagparamdam ng halos isang buwan, she still cannot grasp the idea that Sol would give in to River. They are bestfriend since middle school.

And she cannot even contacted them because she's going crazy here.

Inalis niya ang internet connection ng kaniyang macbook nang sinubukan siyang tawagan ni Solanna. She went down the stairs. Tahimik ang buong first floor. She head down to the alcohol rack on the dining and got two bottles and a shot glass.

She went back to her room and opened the door to her balcony. She opened her drawer and get the diamond necklace River had given her on her birthday last year. She dimmed the wall lamps and looked outside. She cannot cry anymore. Nagsalin siya ng whiskey sa kaniyang baso at nilagok iyon. The wind brushed her hair. Hinayaan niyang tangayin iyon. She just looked at their lands.

She cannot think of New York the same again. She felt betrayed by her friends.

Tinaas niya ang kuwintas. She liked River but not that much. He's good-looking and kind but she knew she's just infatuated. The only thing that angers her is the thought that Solanna, the only family she had in New York since then, decided to betray her just like that.

'And it's been what?' she asked herself. 'It's been a month!' sagot din niya naman agad.

Umiling siya. It's a good thing that she did not like River a lot. Paano na lang kung talagang mahal niya ito? That would hurt so freaking ton!

She hated this place but one thing's for sure-- she will definitely choose to stay here for the meantime.

Sunod-sunod ang lagok niya ng whiskey. Naramdaman niyang umiinit na ang kaniyang mukha kahit malamig ang simoy ng sariwang hangin. The alcohol's starting to kick in. She wanted to sleep soundly. She decided to open the other bottle. She's sure that she can get up tomorrow and attend class. She did it a lot of times. She's a pro.

She did not know how she managed to go back to her bed. Nagising na lamang siya sa sunud-sunod na katok mula sa pintuan niya. Nilagay niya ang unan sa mukha niya. She groaned dahil hindi ata matatapos iyon dahil palakas nang palakas iyon sa bawat segundo na hindi siya bumabangon.

Binuksan niya ang pintuan. She felt hangover but she managed to recognize Quentin standing on the doorway. Nakasuot ito ng puting polo-shirt at jeans.

Tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Ano ang kailangan mo?" tanong niya.

Halos kumulo ang dugo niya nang maalala ang sinabi nito kagabi.

"What time is your class?" tanong nito.

Clementine groaned. She realized that her class is in an hour.

"Hindi ako papasok. It's just introduction week. I want to sleep." she said and tried to close the door.

Pinigilan naman ni Quentin iyon gamit ang paa niya.

"Ano ba?" pasigaw niyang tanong at inis na binuksan ni Clementine ang pintuan.

Agad niyang pinandilatan ang binata.

She's hangover and still a bit drunk. Hindi niya namalayan kung ano'ng oras na siya nakatulog. Kaya naman kung may balak si Quentin na sagarin siya, hindi siya magpipigil. She would give him what he wants.

"Maligo ka na. Be ready in ten minutes." utos nito.

Umiling si Clementine.

"Wala pa akong tulog. I would want to sleep--"

"If you did not drink last night, you will have enough sleep for today. Hindi ka puwedeng mag-absent ngayon. Today would be the discussion for thesis proposal of seniors," sabi ni Quentin.

"What? Are you kidding me?" tanong niya.

"No." seryosong sabi niya.

Sabay silang napalingon sa pagbukas ng pintuan sa pinakadulong silid. Lumabas doon si Don Wilfredo na tinutulak ng kaniyang nurse. He looked at them and asked the nurse to halt.

Lumunok si Clementine at pinunasan ang kaniyang mga mata at gilid ng bibig. Palihim din niyang inayos ang sarili.

"Magandang umaga, Don Wilfredo." Quentin greeted Don Wilfredo politely.

"Good morning, Daddy." Clementine greeted.

She masked her hangover with a smile. Don Wilfredo cannot know that she's still drunk or he will be furious.

"What is happening here, Quentin? Clementine?" Don Wilfredo asked.

His forehead creased. Seryoso rin ito.

"Pinapagising lang po ni Manang si Senyorita para sa agahan at sa klase niya sa araw na ito." sagot ni Quentin.

Tumango si Don Wilfredo sa kanila.

"Clementine, mag-ayos ka na at bumaba rin agad para sa agahan. Don't make us wait." utos ni Don Wilfredo.

Ngumisi ng hilaw si Clementine sa ama at sinulyapan ang seryosong si Quentin bago binalik sa ama ang tingin.

"Y-Yes, Daddy." she said.

Umalis na si Don Wilfredo at ang nurse nito. Masamang tingin ang binaling niya kay Quentin.

"You are so damn annoying, you know that?" she asked, irritated by what happened.

"Be responsible, Clementine." pangaral ni Quentin at tumalikod na para sumunod kay Don Wilfredo.

Padabog na sinara ni Clementine ang pintuan niya.

Naiinis man ay nag-ayos na siya. She put on make-up to conceal her eyebags. She wore a flat gladiator sandals partnered with denim skirt and a black forever 21 shirt. She casually entered the dining hall.

Nag-umpisa silang kumain. Clementine opted to only drink coffee and eat a little bit of egg.

She did not have a choice, sasabay siya kay Quentin lalo na at nanonood sa kanila si Don Wilfredo mula sa porch. She kissed him and went down the porch stairs. Pumanhik naman saglit si Quentin at may pinag-usapan sila ni Don Wilfredo. Clementine did not care. Parang binibiyak ang ulo niya sa sakit at hilo. She wanted to throw up but her body won't allow.

She will sleep on the way to school.

Buhay na ang makina ng pick-up truck ni Quentin. She saw Angela's seated at the back. May suot itong headset at hindi man lang nag-abalang tumingin sa kaniya.

'Fine by me.' she thought and climbed onto the front seat.

Nagising na lang si Clementine sa malakas na pagkalabog ng pintuan ni Angela. Nilingon niya ito. Diretso ang lakad nito papunta sa klase niya. Quentin turned the engine off and looked at her. She immediately combed her hair and went out. She slammed her door, too. She walked to her class. Pinagtitinginan pa rin siya as usual but today she's really sleepy. Sa pinakadulo siya umupo at sumubsob sa kaniyang desk.

She fell into a nap but was interrupted by sudden movement beside her desk. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa lalaking sumalampak sa tabihan niya. Like her, he looked sleepy. Naka-suot ito ng hoodie at kumindat sa kaniya. Ngumuso siya rito.

"What are you doing here, Vance? I am sure this isn't your class since it is Thesis for Marketing." tamad na sabi niya.

"Your aura says that it's either you're sick or you partied all night." he said.

Clementine rested her head on the desk while facing Vance's side.

"I'm hangover, that's all." she murmured and closed her eyes.

She's really sleepy. She felt something warm on her face. Amoy pabango iyon ng lalaki. Manly pero hindi masiyadong matapang at banayad lang sa ilong. She opened her eyes and did not see anything. She removed the hoodie from her face and looked at Vance. He looked around to see that everyone's looking at them and smirked.

"Ilagay mo sa mukha mo kung ayaw mo kumalat ang pictures mong natutulog sa buong campus. Sikat ka pa naman," aniya at umiling.

She raised her middle finger that made him smile.

Pumikit muli si Clementine at itinakip sa kaniyang mukha ang hoodie. Hindi niya namalayan na nakatulog siya. Nagising na lang siya na wala na si Vance sa tabi niya at nasa unahan ang matandang propesor para sa thesis. She tried to listen. The nap helped her a bit. The class lasted for an hour since it's an introduction to their final thesis.

Gustong magmura ni Clementine. She should've stayed home kung alam niyang ganoon lang ang sasabihin sa klase ng matandang propesor. Quentin lied and told her it was important to be missed. She hung Vance's jacket on her arm. Ibabalik niya ito kapag nagkita sila. She would sneak into library to sleep. Nagsialisan na ang ilang mga estudiyante sa classroom. Hinayaan niya iyon at hindi nakipagsabayan.

She fixed her things. Lumabas na siya ng pintuan at liliko na sa direksyon ng library nang may humablot sa pala-pulsuhan niya. Gulat niyang nilingon iyon. It was Quentin. She creased her forehead. Some of the students were looking at them. Why not? They were creating scene at the hallway.

"What again, Mr. Blanco? I am really sleepy right now." she said with an almost groan.

She's really tired and close to blacking out. Quentin just looked at her with all seriousness.

Tumikhim ito at kinuha ang kanang kamay ni Clementine. Naglapag ito ng bote ng isang local energy drink doon at binitiwan ang kamay niya. Kinuha naman nito ang kaliwang kamay ng dalaga para iabot ang isang brown paperbag na may lamang pagkain.

Clementine cannot tore her eyes from the bottle and the paperbag. Kuryuso siyang bumaling sa binata.

"Drink that. It would sober you up, " aniya at nag-iwas ng tingin, "Kainin mo ang sandwich bago ka uminom ng energy drink. Hindi ka kumain kanina. Malinis 'yan. Huwag kang mag-alala. Pinanood ko nang ginawa 'yan." utos niya.

He cleared his throat and did not even hesitate to tap her on the shoulders before he started walking away. Nilingon ni Clementine ang likuran nito at lumingon sa ilang mga nanonood sa kanila. She swallowed and shook her head.

"Bossy Quentin," bulong niya at naglakad na rin paalis doon.