Tempted [Tagalog]

Chapter 14: Ways to Seduce the Commoner

“OKAY, so tapos na tayo sa basic information about Justice,” ani Belle. “Before we move on to the next stage of this bet, let’s first have a review. Shall we?”

I nod my head at saka kami bumaling ng tingin kay Clarkson as he is now holding a bunch of index cards na naglalaman ng mga information about Justice. Kumbaga sa isang classroom, this is like the recitation part.

“His full name is?” he asked.

“Justice Santiago but his friends call him, Ice.”

“What’s his daily schedule?”

I let out a deep sigh out of boredom. Tamad nga ako during recitations tapos pagdating sa ganitong kalokohan, kailangan kong maging smart? My goodness!

“On weekdays after class, he works at a coffee shop as a server,” I said. “During weekends naman, he volunteers as a caregiver in a health facility for old people.”

The questions about Justice went on and on. Natapos lamang iyon nang masagot ko nang tama ang mga katanungan nila. They even clapped their hands because of it. I rolled my eyes heavenwards then flipped my hair. Of course I can answer those questions! I've been memorizing them for the last five freaking hours!

Tumayo si Belle at muling nag-flash ng kung ano sa screen ng flat screen TV niya. And the title says, “Seducing the Commoner 101”. Kaagad na kumunot ang noo ko sa aking nabasa.

“Seriously, Belle?” I said. “Do I really need to learn about that thing? I’m pretty sure, I can do that without any difficul—”

“Of course! You’re the great Alison Garcia, right?” aniya. “But let me remind you, my dear friend. Justice isn’t like the other guys you've flirted with. He's a commoner and guys like him are not easy.”

Natawa ako sa sinabi ni Belle. It was so funny that I even stood up and touched my stomach.

“Really, huh?” I said. “All guys are the same, Belle. Want me to show you?”

Belle didn’t answer. Instead, she gave me a challenging look as if she’s telling me to prove my conclusion. I smiled at her at binalingan ng tingin si Clarkson. Tahimik lang na nakikiramdam si gago while he’s busy playing some games on his phone. Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya and immediately snatched his phone again.

“H-hey! Give that ba—” He wasn’t able to finish his sentence nang bigla kong hilahin ang kwelyo ng polo shirt niya, making only an inch gap between us.

“Give you what, Clarkson?” I said in a very seductive manner. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya as I feel that he’s becoming uncomfortable with my sudden action.

“Eww! Guys, get a room!” iritang reklamo ni Belle. “Alright! You got me, Allie! Can you stop that disgusting scene? My goodness!”

Mabilis kong binitawan ang kwelyo ni Clarkson at itinulak siya paupo ng sofa. I looked at him and he looked like s**t. Tulala at parang gulat na gulat. Natawa ako sa reaction nilang dalawa. That kind of stunt works every time.

“f**k!” dinig kong reklamo ni Clarkson which made me burst into laughter more.

“What’s wrong, Clarkson?” I asked. “Caught you off guard?”

Hindi niya ako pinansin at sa halip ay tumalikod siya na parang bata at itinuloy ang kanyang nilalaro. I shifted my eyes at Belle and she’s giving me an amusing look. Once again, I flipped my hair then smiled at her.

“You sure got the talent in that department, Allie,” ani Belle. “But to make sure, I have prepared three plans for this entire mission.”

She once again flashed something on the screen at halos masamid ako sa nabasa ko.

“Pabebe Strategy?” I asked. “What’s that?”

“Well, according to my research… pabebe is a term used by kids nowadays to describe a certain action of an individual in the most demure way,” aniya. “In short, pa-sweet. Gano'n.”

Kumunot ang noo ko sa naging paliwanag ni Belle. “Sweet? I’m not that kind of girl! Plus, there’s no freaking way I am doing that strategy!”

Belle shrugged at me.

“Well, based kasi sa survey ko sa mga commoners sa school. This kind of stuff is quite effective, you know? Cooking something special for the guys they like, exerting efforts na hindi normal sa mga gaya natin,” she said in the most mocking way. “But! We can always use the second strategy. Clarkson! Care to explain?”

Napatingin ako kay Clarkson na ngayon ay tumayo na para lumapit kay Belle. Ang kaninang inis at gulat niyang expression ay muling napalitan ng nakalolokong ngisi. Belle flashed something again on the screen at halos manliit ang mga mata ko sa naka-post.

“Are you damn serious?” I said sarcastically. “This is even worse! Pabebe tapos biglang wild? Wow. Just wow.”

“Well, sabi nga nila,” sabat ni Clarkson. “Kung hindi mo makuha sa santong dasalan, daanin mo sa santong paspasan.”

“Huh—What the heck?!”

I almost lost my balance nang bigla na lamang naglakad palapit sa akin ni Clarkson then immediately grabbed my waist, closing the small gap between us just like what I did earlier. Before I could even react, he gave me a quick peck on my cheek at mabilis na kumaripas ng takbo sa likod ni Belle.

“That’s for waking up my animalistic desire a while ago!” Clarkson said, making my mouth slightly open.

“Oh my gosh! You freaking son of a— halika ka rito at nang makita mo kung sinong hayop sa ating dalawa!”

Hinubad ko ang suot kong sapatos at walang anu-ano’y ibinato ang mga iyon kay Clarkson habang para kaming mga bata na naghahabulan sa buong living room. He would even grab Belle and use her a shield to stop me from throwing a fit at him.

“Galit na galit ka? Para halik lang sa pisngi, walang malisya 'yon!” nang-aasar na sigaw ni Clarkson habang patuloy pa rin kami sa paghahabulan.

“I don’t freaking care how you call it!” sigaw ko. “You clearly harassed me, you jerk!”

“Guys! Stop it!” Belle’s voice echoed all over the room which stopped me and Clarkson from arguing. This is actually the first time she yelled like that and honestly, it was quite disturbing.

“Do you still want to continue this bet or not?!” she said, so we nod our heads. “Then sit in one f*****g place before I throw you both outside! Nakaka-stress!”

Like the usual scenario, sabay kaming nag-martsa ni Clarkson pabalik sa sofa at pabagsak na naupo roon. Si Belle naman ay abala sa pagsapo ng kanyang noo na parang teacher na kanina pa pinipigil ang inis sa mga estudyante niyang pasaway. After a while, she flashed something on the screen again.

“This is the final strategy, Allie,” aniya. “Just in case the two first plans failed, we have no choice but to jump to Plan C. The final stage is the most dangerous one but at the same time, pinaka effective. Sorry to inform you, Allie... but you will need to stoop down his level and live the kind of life he has para sigurado na ang bull's eye!"

“What?!”

“Isn’t that a bit too much, Belle?” sabat ni Clarkson. “I mean, why does Allie had to stoop down that level just to make that dumbass, fall for her?”

Belle closed her laptop at marahang naglakad palapit sa amin. She sat down on the coffee table at mariin kaming tiningnan ni Clarkson. Hindi pa rin maalis ang kunot sa aking noo.

“I told you guys, seducing a commoner is not easy as it may seem,” she said. “Just like Aome, right Clarkson? It took you a lot of guts to finally talk to her back in the old days.”

Napatingin ako kay Clarkson and saw how he trailed off. He really did love that girl huh? Sus. Pathetic human being. Animalistic desire my ass.

“Fine! I'll do whatever it takes to seduce, Justice,” sabi ko. “Just promise me that when something terrible is about to happen, you will take charge then, Clarkson.”

Nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Clarkson then smiled. Tumayo ako at mabilis na inilagay ang palad ko sa ere.

“Are we all in this together?”

Belle and Clarkson both stood up too and placed their hands on top of mine.

“Yes, we are!”

We’re about to do the most dreadful bet of our lives but knowing that I have these two psychos with me all the way? I am confident that I can do this in one swift.

Besides, this is just the beginning.