Seductive Return

10. My Hot Tour Guide

AFTER running away from SCR-C, she found herself standing in front of its door. She stared at the doorknob. She heard voices from the inside.

“President, why did you let that freak come inside the SCR-C?”

“Hey, relax Charmien-dude!” Lance said.

“She had no right to be in here. She's a freak. We don’t know what her motive is. She’s not a member of the student council. She's an idiot, poor and a gold digger.”

“Shut-up, Charmien! You have no right to judge a person who you does not know.” Luis’s voice was calm.

There was silence.

“Luis, are you in love with her?”

The door opened without her opening it.

“Suzie.”

Ah there. Luis was the one who opened the door this time.

She faced Charmien with dignity. “You are Charmien, right? You have no right to say those things to me. I have no intention of getting something and I’m not an idiot. Yes, I’m poor but I’m not a gold digger. I’m here to learn, not to ruin one’s life. Not all poor are gold diggers and not all rich are angels.”

She turned away but faced her again upon forgetting something.

“And by the way, there’s no rule saying that only the student council officers are allowed to enter this room. It's the student council office, Charmien. It is for every student. Remember that.” Vow.

Malalaki ang mga hakbang niya habang naglalakad palayo sa lugar na iyon. Ang sakit magsalita ng babaeng iyon. Hindi por que siya ang student council president sa high school ay may karapatan na siyang laitin ang mga katulad niyang mahihirap lang.

*****

“SUZIE.”

She almost froze when she heard his voice. She chose not to listen and continued walking at a great pace. She doesn’t want anything to do with trouble because it will affect her dream. And trouble is Luis himself. Marami pa siyang mga bagay na dapat mas pagtuunan ng pansin. Hindi na dapat niya tinanggap ang alok nitong maging tour guide niya.

He blocked her way. She didn’t know how he did it but he did. Lalagpasan na lang sana niya ito but before she could step, he grabbed her arm. Napilitan tuloy siyang harapin ito. “Maybe I should look for another tour guide.”

“I’ve promised you.” he said in a low voice.

“Yes, I know that. But I don’t want to start a war. She is obviously jealous so I better stay away from you. This is just my first day of school, I don’t want to mingle with someone else’s affair because I’m already full of my own problems.”

He said nothing but she could see a glint of amusement playing in his eyes.

“It’s obvious that she likes you so—” he cut her in mid-sentence by dragging her and imprisoning her between him and the wall. His arms are on both sides of her head.

“I have one word so come on. Don’t mind Charmien.”

“But—” he cut her off again. But this time, he stopped her by placing his index finger on her lips. She felt an electricity travel from his finger to her lips and it seemed to stay in her stomach. She guessed he felt it too because he immediately withdrew his fingers.

Nanigas siya dahil sa kuryenteng naramdaman niya mula rito.

He lowered his head. “Shh…one more word and I will kiss you.”

Her body heated and trembled. Dumistansya na si Luis sa kanya nang hindi siya gumalaw. Napabuga siya ng hangin. Pinipigilan pala niya ang kanyang paghinga kanina nang hindi niya namamalayan.

Napilitan na lang siyang sumunod dito nang maglakad ito palayo. “Magpahalik na lang kaya ako?” she thought and smiled devilishly.

Muntik na siyang mapatalon nang biglang lumitaw ang guwapong mukha nito malapit sa mukha niya. Sobrang lapit ng mukha nila, their nose even touched. And her heart seemed to leap out of her chest.

Napalunok siya at nagsimulang pagpawisan. Nabibingi na nga siya dahil sa lakas ng t***k ng kanyang puso.

“Gusto mong halikan kita?” he asked, blinking at her innocently.

She could breathe his breath. Goodness! Bibigyan pa yata siya ng nervous breakdown ng lalaking ito.

He stared at her eyes and soon her lips. Napapikit siya ng wala sa oras, her heart thumping like crazy. She felt cold wind brushed her face. When she opened her eyes, she saw him walking away with both hands on his pocket. Naramdaman niya ang pag-iinit ng kanyang mga pisngi. Napahiya siya.

Una siya nitong ipinasiyal sa swimming pool na nasa rooftop ng Quartz building. Ang building na iyon ay para lamang sa mga club rooms. May academic clubs at mayroon ding mga extra-curricular clubs.

“Here’s the swimming pool. Nabubuksan at nasasarado ang bubong nito.” Luis informed her and pointed to the ceiling. "We held competitions against the swimming club members and those who might get the chance to fight for another school. If they're lucky enough, they can compete internationally."

Gustung-gusto niyang magwala dahil sa excitement at sa ganda ng swimming area pero pinigil niya ang sarili dahil baka kung ano na naman ang pumasok sa utak nito.

Malaki ang pool at halatang regular na pinapalitan ng tubig dahil napakalinaw niyon. She looked at the pool with longing because she always love swimming.

He turned to her with worried eyes. “Is anything wrong? Why aren’t you talking? Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo?”

Umiling-iling lang siya.

“Magsalita ka nga. Bakit bigla kang napipi? Ayokong may kasamang hindi nagsasalita.”

Napikon siya sa sinabi nito. “Hindi raw. Eh kanina ako lang iyong nagsasalita at para akong baliw dahil iyong kausap ko hindi man lang nagkukomento.” she burst out.

Ngumisi ito. “Kaya gumaganti ka?”

“Hindi ah." mariing tanggi niya na sinabayan ng pag-iling. “Kasi sabi mo kanina hahalikan mo ako kapag may lumabas na namang salita sa bibig ko.”

He silently looked at her like memorizing each line of her face. Her heart raced and her world spins as he slowly lowered his head to her. “So you want me to kiss you?”

Itinikom niya ang bibig. He kept their distance and laughed. It was like music in her ear. Nakakatunaw ng puso.

Pinangibabaw niya ang pagkapikon para hindi mapahiya. “May pagkakolokoy ka pala eh. Akala ko seryoso kang tao.”

“Natutuwa lang ako sa iyo.” He said between his laughter.

“Ah, so clown ang tingin mo sa akin?”

“Wala akong sinasabing ganyan.” He said like he is an innocent boy.

“Pambihira. Luis naman eh, next time, matuto kang saluhin ang nahuhulog kong puso.” Pagdadrama niya sa isip.

Ipinasyal siya nito sa astonomy club na may sariling planetarium, volleyball club, basketball club na may apat pa talagang basketball court. Mayroon ding mga tennis club pero nasa labas na iyong tennis court. Halos lahat yata ng sports ay nandito na. Pati nga horseback riding ay may club din. Halos nalibot na nila ang buong eskuwelahan at sa bawat lugar na pinagdadalhan nito sa kanya ay hindi niya maiwasang huwag purihin ang magagandang lugar doon.

Pagdating nila sa garden na nasa likod ng high school building ay napahanga na naman siya dahil sa ganda nito. Napakaraming bulaklak ang nakatanim doon. Iba't ibang klase.

“Wow! Ang ganda. Mabuti at naaalagaan ng mabuti ang mga bulaklak na iyan dito.” komento niya.

“Mga projects ang mga `yan mula sa isang subject at kailangang alagaan ang mga `yan dahil mababawasan ang grades mo kapag namatay ang halaman mo. SJU is strict with academics as well as keeping nature clean.”

Manghang napatango-tango siya. Masuwerte siya at nakapasok siya sa ganitong klase ng paaralan.

Napukol ang pansin niya ng isang mataas na dingding na may mga halamang kumakapit. Laurel clock vine o blue trumpet vine ang nakapalibot sa dingding na iyon.

Itinuro niya iyon. "Ano ang pader na iyan?"

“It’s a labyrinth.”