Tempted [Tagalog]

Chapter 4: Comrades for Keeps

"LUNES na Lunes pero ang mukha mo, pang-Biyernes santo na," bungad ni Clarkson sa amin ni Belle.

I glared at him.

"Atleast ako, related pa rin sa pagiging religious ang hitsura," I said. "E ikaw? Lunes na Lunes, umaalingasaw na ang kalandian mo."

"Ang sakit mo talaga magsalita ano?" he said in a very sarcastic way.

"Oo, at masasaktan ka na rin sa akin kapag hindi mo tinigil 'yang bunganga mo!" pagbabanta ko. He closed his mouth and even pretended like he's zipping it bago nag-beautiful eyes ang mokong.

"Ano nga pa lang nangyari? Balita ko, nagsimula ka na naman ng away kanina."

Naupo si Clarkson sa tabi ko habang tuluy-tuloy lang sa paglilinis ng sugat ko si Belle. It was our vacant time kaya naman as usual, nandito kami ngayon sa special hideout namin. After what happened earlier, parang ayoko muna makakita ng mga panget na nilalang. Mahirap na. Sira na nga ang mood ko, lalo pang masisira.

"Hoy, excuse me. Ako ang inaway ng babaeng 'yon. Feeling strong ang bruha! Ni hindi nga ako nasak—aray naman, Belle!" reklamo ko at matalim na tinitigan si Belle na parang akala mo'y hindi sinadya ang pagdiin niya ng bulak na may betadine, sa sugat ko.

"Ay, sorry. Sabi mo kasi hindi masakit e," she said nonchalantly at maya-maya pa'y bigla na lamang sila humagalpak ng tawa ni Clarkson na parang mga taong nakawala sa mental.

"Mga baliw!" bulyaw ko sa kanila, ang mukha ko'y hindi na maipinta. Bet na bet talaga nila akong asarin!

Sina Clarkson at Anabelle. I can still remember the day I met them in a very unexpected way...

I met Clarkson in a party hosted by his parents, since business partners ang mga magulang namin.

Sobrang bored na bored ako nang mga panahon na 'yon so, I decided to ditch the party at gumala muna sa mala-maze na garden ng mga Salvador. I was walking around the well-trimmed bushes nang may marinig akong mga kaluskos na may kasama pang ungol, making me cringe for a moment. Minabuti kong tingnan kung anong meron-only to find the young Clarkson, sitting on the ground while making out with some random girl from the party.

I clearly remember how that girl was taken aback when she saw me and immediately ran away, leaving Clarkson behind. Naiwang nakaawang ang bibig ko from what I saw pero ang malanding si Clarkson, grinning like an idiot while brushing off his black tuxedo. Looking at him up-close, he doesn't look like a twelve-year-old kid. Lumapit siya sa akin at bigla na lamang akong hinila, closing the small gap between our faces.

"Why, hello beautiful," he said. "Are you here to keep me compa—"

He couldn’t finish his sentence after I smacked him on his stomach. Halos mamilipit ang gago sa suntok na inabot niya mula sa akin. So, it's my turn to grab the collar of his suit and glare at him.

"I'm not the cheap type of slut if that's what you're looking for," I said. "Pull that stupid stunt again and I will make sure na kulang ang plastic surgery para maipaayos mo ulit ang mukha mo!"

I stood up then turned away from him-and before I even know it... isang araw, naging close na lamang kaming dalawa. He never pulled that kind of prank again against me pero he would ask my help whenever he needs to do a cover-up with his girlfriends. Sabay-sabay ba naman kung mamangka ang mokong sa iba't ibang ilog pero takot naman mahuli sa kalokohan.

Clarkson is a total jerk if you will base on the way he behaves but deep inside him is a young kid who only wants love and attention, just like me.

"So, what happened sa pag uusap niyo ni tito?" Belle asked, pulling me from a deep thought. Tumayo siya at muling itinabi ang first aid kit sa isang cabinet dito sa hideout namin.

I smiled sheepishly at her then shrugged.

"As usual, sa bahay na naman ang continuation ng sermon kasi kailangan unahin ang endless meetings niya."

"Hayaan mo na ang Daddy mo," sagot niya. "Ganyan din sina Mommy sa akin, pero buti ka nga kahit papaano, may time pa si tita for you."

I suddenly felt bad for Anabelle. Sa aming tatlo nina Clarkson, she's the most mature even though she's only a few months older than me and two years younger than Clarkson. This topic somehow reminded me of how I met her, that day inside the visitor's lounge of our school, where she stood for me when everyone else was accusing me for something I didn't do.

"Dad, I really didn't do it!" paliwanag ko kay Daddy matapos akong isumbong ng isang bruha kong kaklase, for cheating in a test.

"You didn't do it? Then how come nakita ang key to correction sa bag mo!" Dad's deep voice echoed inside the visitor's lounge.

Napayuko ako as I looked away, clenching both of my hands as if I'm a ticking bomb ready to explode anytime.

"Never ka naman naniwala sa akin," I said sullenly. "I am your daughter but I never once felt that I was."

"H-how dare you talk to me like that—"

Hindi nagawang tapusin ni Daddy ang kanyang sasabihin nang bigla na lamang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito ang isang estudyante which I think belonged to the section where I am in. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa amin as she made her way towards us.

"I am sorry to disturb you, Mr. Garcia but I just want to tell you that Alison didn't do it. I can testify if you want because I saw the whole thing with my own eyes," paliwanag niya. "I am Anabelle Fernandez, by the way."

Nakakunot ang mga noo namin ni Daddy habang tahimik kaming nakatingin kay Anabelle. She wears a thick-framed eyeglass and her long hair tied into a messy bun. We have the same skin complexion pero syempre lamang ako sa ganda. I don't personally know her but I'm somehow thankful that someone believed that it wasn't really my fault.

And after that day, I was amused by how she proved my innocence. I mean, how can a ten-year-old girl gather a lot of evidence just to prove something? That's when I realized that she's not an ordinary girl. I also learned that she's from the Fernandez clan who are known for their law firms and pharmaceutical companies around Asia. No wonder she's so keen with details, even the smallest ones.

"Let's be friends," I told her one day during our lunch break. I was expecting that she would jump in joy because of my offer but instead, she looked at me using her bored eyes.

"And why should I be your friend?" she answered with a hint of sarcasm. I opened my mouth to say something pero kaagad ko rin iyon naitikom. It was like for the first time, I was caught off guard by a girl. Damn!

I cleared my throat then face her again. "W-wala! Basta sabi ko lang, kaya friends na tayo!"

She chuckled, making my forehead furrowed.

"What's funny?!"

"You're bossy," sabi niya. "But sure. I would be more than willing to be your friend."

Sabay kaming napangiti sa tagpong iyon. And the rest became history.

Our parents never believed that people like us, who belonged in an influential clan, needed friends to rely on. Dahil sa mundo ng mga tulad namin, we only need people who are willing to bow down their heads and obey every word from us-but I tend to disagree. Meeting Anabelle and Clarkson during our childhood days has always been the happiest day of my life. Dahil gaya nila, umaasa rin ako na we all deserve happiness and contentment regardless of our status in life.

"Tara kape?" Belle said.

"Sure! Para mawala amats ni Allie," ani Clarkson at walang anu-ano'y bumanat na naman sila ng nakakalokong tawa ni Belle.

"Mga peste!" bulyaw ko sabay bato ng unan sa direksyon nilang dalawa. "Napakahayop niyong dalawa!"

At this point, I am sure that my pretty face is in a deep shade of red dahil sa sobrang inis.

Binabawi ko na ang mga sinabi ko kanina! Meeting these fools is one of unfortunate days of my life! As in never na yata nagkaro'n ng peace of mind ang diyosang kagaya ko dahil sa kalokohan ng dalawang 'to.

"Aw. That's why we're friends, Allie," natatawang sabi ni Clarkson. "Hayop kami, amazona ka."

"Amazona pala ha?" sabi ko at ambang susugod ng sapak kay Clarkson. "Halika rito nang makita mo ang sinabi mong amazona!"

"Hoy! Tama na 'yan. Tara na sa coffee shop!" ani Belle. "Ang huling makarating do'n, siya manlilibre!"

Nag-unahan na silang dalawa palabas ng hideout naming while I was left there, smiling like something great happened. This is one the things I won't trade for the world.

My comrades for keeps.