That High Maintenance Girl

Kabanata 14 – TBA

Kumalat agad ang bali-balita na sinungitan ni Clementine ang sikat na basketball player ng SLCC. Umiirap siya sa tuwing pinagbubulungan siya ng mga estudyante doon.

“Anak mayaman nga pero saksakan daw ng pangit ang ugali niyan sabi nina Gelo. Nakita daw nila talaga kanina sa cafeteria,” rinig niyang bulungan ng mga babae sa toilet.

Nasa isang cubicle siya at lantarang pinag-uusapan siya ng mga estudyante.

“Naku, idol ko pa naman ‘yan! Kasi nababasa ko sa mga diyaryo at tabloid na napakarami ng kaibigan niya sa US at saka sikat siya doon. Pero ganyan pala ang ugali?” sabi noong isa.

“Ang feeling niya! Akala niya maganda siya? Eh, mayaman lang naman siya. Buti nga at pinag-interesan siya ni Korics kanina.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni Clementine.

‘Is that so?’ she thought and slightly opened the cubicle.

“Dapat sabihan natin si President Angela na mag-ingat siya doon kay Senyorita Clementine kasi ‘di ba kasama niya iyon sa bahay?” pag-aalala pa ng isa.

‘Ano'ng tingin ng mga bakyang ito sa akin? Nangangain ng tao? Saka, President Angela?’ kumento niya sa kaniyang isip.

Buong puwersa niyang binuksan ang cubicle.

Nagulat nang mapalingon ang tatlong babae na nag-uusap usap sa harap ng salamin. Halos manigas sila sa kinatatayuan nila at nanatiling nakatingin sa kaniya pero unti-unti ring umatras nang nilingon niya isa-isa ang mga ito.

“Yes, it’s true, I have so many friends in New York.” aniya sa malumanay na boses.

She watched their expressions at the mirror and smirked. Parang mga takot na daga ang mga ito na nag-iwas ng tingin.

“You know why?” she asked again at inisa-isang titigan ang mukha ng mga ito.

She turned off the faucet and faced them.

“Kasi doon sa dating school ko, walang mga toxic na taong gaya niyo. There’s no backstabbing chismosas who talk about someone without knowing the story like all of you.” she said.

Namutla ang mga ito sa sinabi niya.

“So, get out of my face while I am still trying to be a good person today,” banta niya at nagkukumahog na kinuha ng nga ito ang gamit nila at lumabas.

Hindi niya kailanman kailangang magpaliwanag tungkol doon dahil siya ang tunay na nakakaalam ng nangyari sa kanila noong lalaki.

Wala siyang pinansin noong araw na iyon. She wanted the time to pass so she can go home. The people in SLCC were already starting to get on her nerves. Pero sa kaniyang kamalasan, her last subject was 3:00 PM to 5:00PM and that’s three hours from now.

She’s tired of everyone’s eyes so she chose to stay in the place where the students avoid—the library. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at pumasok doon. She chose the seat near the window. She opened her macbook and opened her photography folder when she’s in New York.

Saglit na nawala ang ang pangamba sa kaniya. The memories of her life in New York were comforting.

“You had a great life in New York. Why bother to come here?” tanong ng isang misteryosong boses sa likuran niya.

Nagulat siya at nilingon ang sulok na pinanggagalingan noon.

A curly-haired man was crouching on the floor at the corner with his Hawaiian printed polo unbuttoned. Kita ang puting sando nito at ang gold chain necklace niya. Then it dawned on Clementine— the man has branded things! Sure siya na legit latest Jordan Air shoes ang suot nito, at Yves Saint Laurent ang backpack niya.

“You are?” she asked.

This was the first time that someone from this school caught her attention.

“Vance,” he simply answered.

Yumuko si Clementine para mas makita ang binata. He’s good looking and tall kahit pa nakaupo siya. Charismatic and stylish.

‘God, ganito ang mga bet ko!’ she thought.

“Well, Vance… how do you know me?” she asked again, this time smiling widely.

“Your father rented our lands. I saw you with my brother and Quentin.” he said and smirked.

Tumayo na ito at pinagpagan ang mga kamay niya.

“Decerna ka?” she exclaimed.

‘So, that explains the branded things he has!’ she thought again.

“Sa kasamaang palad, yes I am.” he smirked.

Umupo na ito sa tabihan ni Clementine. She let him sit and looked at her MacBook.

She watched his face for a bit. She wanted to confirm it with his two eyes.

And yes, she’s satisfied— Vance’s definitely his type.

“Household name ka na agad, ah?” he asked when a pair of students glanced at their direction.

“I am just a new face, that’s why…” aniya at nagkibit balikat.

Tinagilid ni Vance ang ulo niya para pagmasdan naman siya ngayon. Clementine felt conscious from the way he’s staring.

Hindi iyan ang narinig ko. Sinungitan mo raw si Korics.” he commented.

“Who?” pag-uulit pa niya.

“The guy who approached you at the cafeteria. He’s the basketball star here, you know.” he said and shrugged.

Umirap si Clementine.

Well, that guy was rude and feeling close so she needs to put him in his place. Wala siyang pakialam kung gaano pa siya kasikat.

“Masyado siyang over confident. That serves him right,” she said and raised a brow at him, “Can we stop talking about that mayabang na Korics?” she asked.

Ngumiti siya kay Vance.

“Kapatid ka ni Vilhelm? What’s your degree program?” she asked curiously.

Hindi sila magkamukha ni Vilhelm. Vilhelm looked friendly and light, very in contrast with Vance apperance. He looked merciless and serious.

“ My course, you mean.” pagtatama ni Vance.

“It’s the same naman,” she tried to defend.

Tumawa si Vance.

“Alam ko. Pero nasa bukid ka na, Senyorita.” he said. “I’m a BA student. Fourth year. The same as you.”

May kakaibang tuwa sa loob ni Clementine. He’s around her age and their both from the same world. He’s the perfect candidate to be her friend or even more than that.

“Woah! Business Ad huh? You looked different with your brother. I have met him before.” she said.

Sumipol si Vance at sumandal sa upuan.

“Vilhelm is my half-brother. Illegitimate child ako, that’s why.” he answered.

Lumunok si Clementine. She did not mean to ask something like that. She cleared her throat.

“I’m sorry.” she said.

Umiling si Vance at tinukod ang mga siko sa mesa at nangliit ang nga mata na tumingin sa kaniya.

“Ikaw? Why are you here in San Lucas?” he asked.

Kinagat ni Clementine ang kaniyang labi. Hindi niya alam kung aware na ba ang buong San Lucas tungkol sa sakit ni Don Wilfredo. Ayaw niya na siya ang magpapakalat ng balitang iyon kaya kailangan niyang mamili sa mga sasabihin niya.

She should’ve asked Quentin that but they always ended up fighting kaya nawawaglit iyon sa isipan niya.

“My Dad wants me to study our business,” sagot niya at tiningnan ang mga larawan nila ng mga kaibigan sa Times Square.

Hindi nagkumento roon si Vance. Nakatingin lamang din siya sa mga larawan.

“This place is really different from where you came from but trust me, this place will grow into you.” he simply said.

Kumunot ang noo ni Clementine at pinanood ang binata.

“Why are you alone? Wala kang friends?” she asked.

Umiling si Vance.

“I don’t do friends,” he said, “I like to be alone.”

Nagtaas ng kilay si Clementine.

“But you talked to me first?” she clarified.

Tumango si Vance at nilagay ang kaniyang palad sa kaniyang baba.

“Yes. Because I’m curious, that’s all.” he smirked.

Ngumisi na rin si Clementine.

Alam niya ang mga ganitong style kunwari misteryoso para makuha ang atensyon niya. It happened a lot of times in US.

“Do you find me pretty?” she asked, no shame at all.

Nilagay ni Vance ang dila niya sa loob ng kaniyang bibig.

“Sorry. You are not my type,” he admitted.

Clementine laughed at him.

“Oh really?” she asked.

Umirap si Vance at nilapit ang mukha sa kaniya.

Clementine did not move. Hindi siya ang tipo ng babae na mag-ba-backdown sa ganitong sitwasyon.

She’s liberated. Naramdaman niya ang mainit na hininga ni Vance sa kaniyang tenga. She smirked widely.

“You’re really pretty,” bulong ni Vance sa kaniya. “But I like guys.” he casually said.

Matapos niyang ibulong iyon ay lumayo agad siya sa dalaga.

He grabbed his backpack.

Saglit na nagulat si Clementine pero naka-recover din. She has a lot of gay friends in New York so it’s not a big of a deal.

“Saan ka pupunta?” she asked.

Vance smirked and looked at his watch.

“Hindi lang ikaw ang pumasok sa SLCC para mag-aral ng business, Miss Diogracia. Ako rin. I have class in five minutes and I have to go.” aniya.

Dahan-dahan tumango si Clementine at ngumiti.

“Good luck!” she told him.

Tumango si Vance sa kaniya.

“Ikaw din. I think you’re the one who need that. See you around,” pamamaalam nito at naglakad na papalabas.

Matapos iyong usapan nila ni Vance ay parang himala na bumilis ang oras. She used all her vacant time in the library.

She was scribbling on the table using her finger.

She did not expect a guy that hot to be gay.

‘Was that a secret or the whole school knew about it?’ she asked.

She sighed as she realized she lost a prospect boyfriend.

Ngumuso siya at inisip.

‘Speaking of boyfriend...How’s River?’

Iniisip kaya siya nito ngayon?

‘Or did he jump to another woman na?’

She shrugged the thought away. Na-mi-miss niya ang New York lalo!

She missed the times she went bar hopping with Solanna and the dirty dancing she did all her college life.

She walked to her last class for today. She was starting to feel tired.

Kapag Lunes pala ay laging ganito kaya kailangan niyang maghanap ng pagkaka-abalahan dahil mayroon siyang tatlong oras na vacant.

Siya ang kahuli-hulihang dumating. Nakaupo na halos lahat ang mga estudyante roon. Sabay-sabay na lingon sa kaniya na nasa pintuan. Nakita niya sa klaseng iyon si Angela. She was laughing with some friends pero gaya kanina ay napawi nang makita ang pagpasok ni Clementine sa pintuan.

Taas noo siyang naglakad papunta sa likuran at umupo doon. She opened her macbook to type the summary of this class kung magbibigay man ng topic ngayon ang professor niya.

She looked again at her schedule to see kung sino ba ang professor niya sa subject na ito but no name was indicated. Instead, it was labeled as ‘TBA.’

She looked outside. Ang liwanag ng hapon ay tumatama ngayon sa burol na natatanaw sa bintana, it was a picture-perfect moment. Napakaganda at animo’y painting.

There was a distinct knock on the door that made the classroom silent. Agad ding naputol ang pagtingin niya sa bintana at lumingon sa professor na dumating na yata.

“What the f*ck?” medyo malakas niyang tanong na hindi na niya napigilan.

Nilingon siya ng mga kaklase. She stayed looking at the professor who entered their classroom.

Naka-tupi ang itim na longsleeves. Bakat na bakat ang mga braso nito sa manggas. Naka-terno iyon sa kulay khaki na pants at brown na leather shoes. Malayong malayo iyon sa ayos niya kapag nasa bukid na topless o ‘di kaya ay muscle shirt.

Si Quentin Blanco lamang naman ang professor niya.

Nakatingin ito sa kaniya ng mariin habang nilalakad ang direksyon ng mesa sa unahan. Nilapag nito ang librong dala dala at huminga nang malalim.

“Good afternoon, class.” pagbati niya sa seryosong boses.

Sinuyod nito ang buong silid ng tingin at tumigil kay Clementine na ngayon ay laglag ang panga sa kaniya.

“I am Professor Quentin Blanco and I will be teaching this class this semester.” he introduced.

Parang nabasag ang pandinig ni Clementine.

She cannot believe it! Si Quentin ang nagtuturo sa kaniya sa hacienda, pati ba naman dito sa SLCC ay hindi siya makakawala sa binata?

“Oh, sh*t.” she whispered under her breath.

Lumunok siya nang magsimulang buksan ni Quentin ang libro.

Quentin looked again at her.

“And I want every one of you in your best behavior in this class. Understand?” tanong niya pero sigurado si Clementine na para iyon sa kaniya.