7. Student Council Officers
1425 Words
MATALIM na tinitigan si Suzie ng lalaki which made her knees soften like jelly. “Do you want to get out of this school forever?”
“You can’t threaten me, Mr. President. You are just a member of the student council.”
“How about I tell you I’m the owner’s child? That's everything I want, I get?”
Napamaang siya. The color left her face. This man, surely not! No! Gusto pa niyang mag-aral. First day of school pa lang niya. No way!
Suzie heard someone laugh; a familiar voice. She looked around and saw Dave laughing. She frowned.
“He will not bite you, Suzie.” Dave said.
“Do you think this is funny Dave?” she asked and did everything to make her voice sound different.
“Oh no, no, no. I’m just telling.” Dave said, still holding his laughter. “`Can’t close my mouth.”
The president turned to Dave. “You are acquainted with her.”
Not a question but a statement. Ano ang mayroon sa mga taong ito? Ganito ba talaga ang mga mayayaman?
Dave didn’t say a word but Keith did. “Not just acquainted, Luis. She’s his girl.”
Muntik ng maiikot ni Suzie ang kanyang mga mata dahil sa sinabing iyon ni Keith. Ang akala ba niya ay hindi ito naniwala nang ipakilala siyang nobya ni Dave?
“You know I won’t believe you, Keith.” sabi ni Mr. President kay Keith without even turning to him, the president was just looking at her straight in the eye. “Suzie. So you must be Ms. Cruz. The scholar.”
Napalunok siya. He looks serious and insulted.
“`Know what? Your intelligence isn’t enough. Judging people you don’t know.”
“What can I do? You look exactly like him. What are you? Doppelganger perhaps?” Naku, naaapektuhan na ang pag-iisip niya dahil sa panunuod ng Vampire Diaries buong maghapon kahapon.
“Such a brave child.”
“It runs through her veins.” Keith said.
“You’re becoming a busybody Keith.” Dave said. “Let Mr. President handle his little girl.” With that, he grabbed Keith away from them.
Now, her knees became jelly and her body trembled. She’s alone...with the president who can kick her out of the school.
“Now, you are a scholar. Why didn’t you think, do I really look like him?”
She looked at him. Oh god. He’s not him. From his hairdo itself. She looked at the way where she came from and slowly turned to him again.
“Oh, you realize, didn’t you?” Luis arched his brow. “You came from the museum where he should be in while...I am going to that damn museum.”
“I-I...I’m sorry.”
“Too late, darling. He’s angry.”
It wasn’t Luis who spoke. Luis seemed to see someone from behind her. She turned and saw his duplicate, the crazy one. Luis walked towards his twin.
“You lucky she didn’t slap me.”
“Lucky me.”
Luis left.
“Hi there. I’m Vergel Alvarez, college’s student council peace officer.”
“You’re creating disaster, not peace.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He was about to turn his back to her when he stopped. “`Know what? I think my brother likes you. Adios.”
* * * * *
IT WAS lunch time and Suzie was wondering where the canteen is but couldn’t find it. Instead, her feet lead her to the garden. She found a nice spot in the garden, she squatted and opened her lunch box.
There are few students who eat their lunch there too.
“Hey, can I eat with you?”
Nagtaas siya ng tingin and saw a man. He squatted in front of her.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“Lance. Lance Villanueva. I can be your friend.”
“I assume you’re a member of the student council college?”
Kumunot ang noo nito. “Are you a psycho or something?”
“Actually, all I’ve been meeting since I set foot here are all members of the student council.”
He started eating. “I see.”
She began eating too. They chatted while eating and now they’re walking silently.
“Ah, you’re with her.” Luis said, suddenly appearing in front of her with Keith, Dave, one other boy and two women.
“Shut-up, Luis!” Lance hissed.
“You’ve got a good catch, child.” Luis said to her.
“Will you stop calling me child?” she said, brows rose. Wala siyang pakialam kung anak man ng principal ang lalaking ito. She’s pissed off.
“How dare you talk to him like that?!” a woman in Luis’s company shouted.
“Geez…isn’t your LQ over yet, Luis?” Dave asked.
“What do you mean by that?” the girl who shouted at her asked Dave.
Dave just looked at her.
Keith answered instead. “You know. She’s Dave’s girlfriend. So poor of you, you don’t know.”
“Whoa! I think I missed something here.”
“Yes, you did Cris.” sabi ni Keith.
“Then what’s with Suzie and Mr. President?” Lance asked.
Keith rolled his eyes. “`Ye know. Love square. Dave had this little Suzie his girl and Luis wanted her but Charmien will definitely not allow such creepy things.”
“Stop sewing stories, Keith!” she and Dave said in chorus.
“I will definitely not allow that!” Charmien stormed. “Dave, I can’t believe you’re having a relationship with that freak.”
“Hey, there elegant woman,” she said. Wala sa dugo niya ang nagpapaapi. “How dare you call me such name?”
“Shut-up, b***h!”
“Dave, Charmien’s putting into fight again.” Lance said. “Aren’t you going to stop your little monster?”
Dave glared at him with sharp eyes.
“Scary,” Cris said.
“In case you forgot, we’re student council officers here.” Finally the other woman spoke.
“She’s Carla. The good one in the student council but the bitch.” sabi ni Keith.
Before anyone knows, Carla slapped Keith’s face.
Napahawak sa pisngi si Keith. “Ouch...”
“That’s what you get,” Carla said coolly before heading off.
Dave laughed. “That’s what a vice-president can do.”
“And what do you think a President can do?” Charmien asked Dave.
Dave stopped laughing. His face was all serious. “I don’t care what you do, Charmien. Mind your own business like I am minding mine.”
Dave took his leave.
“I think he needs company.” Keith said before following Dave.
Cris shrugged and sat on the bench with his arms hanging over the backrest of the bench. “I want to watch your LQ. Go, you can proceed.”
“Luis, whatever Suzie did for you to become angry, I’m sorry but I can’t let you talk to her like that.”
“Lance.”
“Let’s go, Suzie.” Lance grabbed her hand.
They went to the rooftop. There’s a café there. Lance ordered for the two of them.
“Hey, you know I’m just a scholar. A poor. I don’t have money to pay for this.”
“Do you really think I let a girl pay for her food when we’re dating?”
“Dating?”
Lance laughed. “I’m just joking.”
“Lance, why did you help me?”
He shrugged. “Like what I said, we’re friends. And friends help each other.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.
“Can you tell me what’s up with the student council? I mean, you are all weird.”
“You think so?”
She nodded.
“Hmm…let me begin with their positions. Luis Alvarez as you know is the student council president. Carla Alvarez, the vice. Dave Valdez, the secretary. Keith Myers, the treasurer. Vergel Alvarez, the peace officer. I, the auditor. And Cris Luarez, the public relations officer.”
“Dynasty.”
Lance chuckled. “Yeah, right. But you can’t blame us. We didn't run for our positions. The students nominate and elect us.”
“They’re siblings.”
“Luis and Vergel, yes.”
“Obviously. They’re twins.”
Lance smiled. He took a sip of his coffee. “Carla is their cousin. Her mother is in Los Angeles. She lives here in the Philippines alone.”
- Writer
