Unromantic Romance

Chapter 9

"Ikaw ang magdidilig ng mga halaman sa hardin, Miss Montemayor. Absent ng isang linggo ang hardinero natin dahil may lakad. Mabuti na lamang at nahuli ka nitong si Mr. Cuevas na tumatakas at may tagadilig na sa hardin," ani Mr. Bordino habang tumatango-tango, kumbinsido sa parusang ilalapat sa akin.

Somehow, I felt relieved. Mabuti naman at ganito lamang ang parusa ko at hindi na kailangang ipaalam pa sa mga magulang ko. Lalo na kapag umabot kay Lolo ito ay mayayari talaga akong tunay!

"Mabuti at nahuli mong tumatakas itong si Miss Montemayor, Regis. Pero hindi ba't busy ang Council ngayon? Iyon ang narinig ko," dagdag ni Mr. Bordino bago binalingan si Regis na matikas na nakatayo habang ang dalawang kamay ay nasa kanyang likod.

He scratched the back of his head bago sumagot. "Tapos na po ang meeting kaya naglakad-lakad ako sa... labas," sagot niya bago tumikhim. Hesitation is evident in his tone.

"Hindi ko sasabihing ayaw ko ng tumatakas ka sa klase ko Miss Montemayor kasi alam ko namang tatakas at tatakas ka pa rin. Sa tingin ko rin naman ay hindi ka lang sa klase ko tumatakas at pati rin naman yata sa iba," sabi ni Mr. Bordino at tumayo sa kanyang upuan. Inabot niya ang water spray sa gilid at inspray-han ang halaman niya sa paso. 

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Tama naman siya sa sinabi niya. 

"Sisiguraduhin ko po na hindi na ito uulitin ni Miss Montemayor, Sir." Regis assured and took one step forward towards Mr. Bordino's table. 

Mr. Bordino waved his hands and let out a hearty laugh. "No, it's okay Mr. Cuevas. I don't make such a big deal with Miss Montemayor wanting to escape my class."

 I don't know if what Mr. Bordino said is sincere or not. But he laughed, so maybe he is? Kilala siya bilang passive na guro ng paaralan namin. Wala siyang pakialam sa ibang bagay maliban sa mga halaman niya. 

"Actually, I am thankful for Miss Montemayor. May tagadilig na ako sa hardin. I don't need to hire one," dagdag ni Mr. Bordino at nagkibit-balikat. Kumuha siya ng pamunas sa drawer niya at pinunasan ang dahon ng halaman niya. 

"I am the Class President, Sir so it is my responsibility to straighten our class' curves if there is any," Regis said with conviction. 

Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya. Okay lang si Mr. Bordino ah, why is he making a fuss? Ang OA naman!

Bumaling sa kanya si Mr. Bordino habang nakataas ang isang kilay, finding Regis amusing. 

"And you're saying that Miss Montemayor here is your class' curve?" Natatawang tanong ni Mr. Bordino. 

"I cannot deny a fact, Sir." Sagot ni Regis at nagkibit-balikat, like it wasn't a big deal! 

My mouth gaped while facing him. 

Tumawa ng malakas si Mr. Bordino at binaba ang hawak niyang pamunas sa kanyang lamesa. 

"Problemado na yata si Mr. Cuevas sa'yo Miss Montemayor," biro ni Mr. Bordino. 

For me, that was not a joke! Kasi totoong problema lang yata ang dala ko kay Regis! Nainis ako doon kahit wala naman talaga akong pakialam!

"I will take measures about what Miss Montemayor did. Sa tingin ko po ay hindi sapat ang pagdidilig ng halaman lamang." 

Kung kanina, nakaawang ang labi ko, ngayon laglag na yata pati ang panga ko!

"What?! Anong hindi eh isang linggo ko namang gagawin iyon?!" I blurted out of frustration habang nakaharap na sa kanya. Naiisip ko pa lamang ang pagdidilig ng mga halaman sa hardin ay hassle na! Paano na lang kaya kung madadagdagan pa?

"That's fine, Mr. Cuevas pero dahil iginigiit mo na hindi nga sapat iyon bilang parusa, I grant you to give her some more." 

My head then turned to Mr. Bordino who's now smiling. 

"S-sir naman! Huwag na po," pagmamakaawa ko. 

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate it." Ani Regis and bowed a bit. 

"If you excuse me po, babalik na po ako sa Council," pamamaalam ni Regis na kaagad namang pinakawalan ni Mr. Bordino. I was looking at Regis' back nang palabas na siya sa teacher's office. I am throwing him daggers at the back. Kung nakakamatay ang tingin, siguro inilibing na si Regis ngayon. 

"Don't worry too much, Miss Montemayor. Kilala ko si Mr. Cuevas. Hindi ka naman bibigyan ng parusa na hindi karapat-dapat sa'yo," Mr. Bordino said and chuckled. 

I sighed and nodded, wala ng magagawa pa.

 I then excused myself. Dali-dali akong lumabas sa teacher's office at hinanap si Regis. 

Nang nakita siyang naglalakad palabas ng building ay kaagad ko siyang hinabol. Nang naabutan ay hinawakan ko siya sa braso at nagpunta sa kanyang harap na ikinagulat niya pa. 

His mouth gaped but he suddenly pursed his lips after a second. 

Nang nahabol ko ang hininga ko ay hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko para pakiramdaman ang mabilis na t***k ng puso ko dahil sa pagtakbo. 

I then meet his gaze. 

"How dare you suggest that to Mr. Bordino?!" 

He wasn't even taken aback by my sudden rise of voice, he remained calm and composed before putting both of his hands behind him. 

"Bakit hindi? I am the Class President and the head of the Student Council at that," he replied. I can sense a hint of proud tone in his voice. 

"Stop flaunting your titles! Para sa akin, you're a tyrant of this school.  You manipulative bastard!" I said, pouring all of my frustrations. 

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya at mabigat na tingin ang ipinukol sa akin. "What did you just say? I am a bastard?" He asked with gritted teeth na parang iyon lamang ang narinig.

"Ah, hindi mo alam?" Sarkastikong tanong ko. He shot his brows upward and looked at me again. He now regained his cool. I was amused by how he managed to regain his cool after almost losing it a second. 

"I am responsible for your actions, Le' Pauline," he calmly said. Natikom ko ang bibig ko nang narinig na naman ang pangalan ko galing sa kanyang bibig. Tinawag na naman niya ako sa pangalan ko! After that conversation two months ago, he called me by my name again. For the fourth time. It is the fourth time yet it still feel like it's the first time!

"Your actions are affecting our class' image," he added. 

I immediately rolled my eyes. 

"When did I care about our class' image? Can't I do what I want?!" Inis na sabi ko at umiwas ng tingin. My heart is still pounding like crazy. Kanina lang naman ako tumakbo ah!

He searched for my eyes and when he met mine, he said, "I don't care if you don't. It's just that..." 

Natigilan siya sa sasabihin dahilan sa pagtaas ng isang kilay ko, wanting him to continue. He stopped midway, probably realized something that is unnecessary to say.

"What? It's just that... ano?" I asked, urging him to continue. I don't want people to come telling me stuffs and cut it off midway, leaving me curious. 

He sighed and looked away. "It's just that... you're giving me a headache," pagpapatuloy niya sa mahinang boses. 

I immediately scoffed upon hearing.

 I advanced one step forward and looked bravely. "So kasalanan ko pa kung bakit masakit ang ulo mo, gano'n?!" I asked, almost shouting. 

I didn't really get what he said but what I think what he meant by that is I am giving him headaches. In literal!

His face crumpled. "What are you saying!? Of course not!" Naguguluhang sabi niya. 

Hinilot ko ang sentido ko at lumayo sa kanya ng kaunti. Ang lapit pala namin sa isa't-isa!

"Ah basta! Don't you dare give me improper punishments," I warned him while pointing at his face.

 I crossed my arms. "Like it's not improper at all!" Naiinis na bulong ko. 

I looked at him with an annoyed face. "At tsaka huwag mo nga akong sinisisi sa sakit ng ulo mo!" 

He sighed and shook his head. As if I didn't get the right meaning by what he was implying. 

I looked at his side and stared at the building behind him. 

"At kung masakit, pa check-up ka!"

 I don't know why I have to say that nor if what I said is needed. Of course, that's a common-sense for people with headaches! 

I didn't think much about what I said in order not to make myself awkward. I saw him staring at me with wide eyes. Bakit? Hindi ba kapaniwala-paniwala na sinabi ko iyon? 

Hindi ako concern, oy!

"Rej!" Narinig kong sigaw sa hindi kalayuan. Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa kaharap ko at nakita si Lily-anne na papunta sa direksyon namin habang may hawak na folder. 

Hindi man lang bumaling si Regis sa gawi ni Lily-anne at nanatili ang tingin sa akin. 

What are you looking at!?

"Rej!" Untag ni Lily-anne kay Regis at kumapit sa braso nito. 

Rej? Ano iyon? Nickname ni Regis?

Galing sa mukha ni Regis ay bumaba ang mata ko sa braso niya na kinakapitan ni Lily-anne. Bumaling si Regis sa kanya na wala man lang pinagbago sa mukha. 

"I called you pero 'di ka lumingon. Okay ka lang?" Lily asked in a worried voice. Kumunot ang noo ni Regis pero sandali lamang naman and got back his usually stoic face. 

"Yeah... I am," Regis answered in a slow voice like something has been bothering him. "Anong kailangan mo, Lil?" Tanong ni Regis sa babaeng nakakapit sa braso niya. 

Lil? Ha! They give each other nicknames, huh?

I looked at the girl's hand on Regis' arm again. I looked at Regis na parang wala namang pakialam. Hindi ba niya tatanggalin ang kamay ng babae sa braso niya? She is obviously touchy towards the guy! And this guy's just letting her! 

It's not like I care, though. It's his body, it's obviously his rules. 

"Hindi ka na kasi bumalik simula noong nag-break. May continuation pa sa meeting," sabi ni Lily-anne. 

I know her. Pinsan siya ni Millie. I remember that Valez is Millie's surname so maybe Lily-anne's too. She is a few inches behind my current height, as what I can see. She has light features on her face and a bit fair. She's wearing bangles on both of her wrists and hoop earrings which you will definitely notice first when you look at her. She paired our uniform with yellow and black knee socks. I find her sense of fashion weird. She is pretty indeed but I find her fashion tacky. I don't know much about her but she sometimes joins beauty pageants here in Ayazo and she currently holds the secretarial position in the Student Council. 

"Walang magaganap na meeting kung wala ang President, kaya tara na!" Lily-anne said before pulling Regis' arm. 

"Mauna ka na muna. Susunod ako," sabi ni Regis na medyo natatawa pa. Lily-anne withdraw her hands on Regis' arm. 

"Sumunod ka kaagad. I'll be waiting!" Ani Lily-anne and winked at him. I lowkey rolled my eyes at her gesture.

Bakit ba hindi na lamang sila magsabay? Waiting waiting, ano iyan! Hentai lang alam ko!

Baduy, amp!

Bago umalis ay sumulyap pa muna si Lily-annesa akin at sinuyod ang kabuuan ko. Sinuyod niya ako mula paa hanggang mukha. Nang nagsalubong ang mga mata namin ay kaagad kong itinaas ang isang kilay ko. She tore her gaze off me and gave Regis a small smile before walking away. 

I bit the insides of my cheek, trying hard not to laugh. When I looked at Regis, he is now seriously looking at me. 

"Ano? May sasabihin ka pa?" Supladang tanong ko. 

He shooked his head. "That's Lily-anne," he said while surveying my face. 

"I know her. She's Millie's cousin," sagot ko.

"She's just a colleague and a... friend."

 Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Hindi alam kung bakit niya pa pinapaalam sa akin. So what, right?

"Talaga lang ah? With all her advances? And... Rej? Lil? Nagbibigayan pala kayo ng nickname?" I sarcastically asked while laughing. I didn't know why I have to bring that up. It wasn't necessary. I didn't intend to voice that out, but I already did before I knew it.

I saw him stifle a smile. "Normal na gawain ng magkaibigan naman iyon," he defended. 

So Lily-anne's advances were normal? The girl was obviously touchy! At ginagawa niya lang iyon kasi magkaibigan sila? Who is he kidding? Of course, he let her! Gusto niya naman yata!

"Wow," hindi ako makapaniwala. He caught my eyes which wandered. 

Tumikhim siya bago nagsalita. "Nagseselos... ka ba?" 

It caught me off guard. Me? The Le' Pauline Montemayor is jealous? I've never been jealous. There was never a situation that got me jealous. I have tons of ex-boyfriends but no one made me feel jealous. Just thinking that Regis will make me feel jealous, let alone ask me if I am is beyond me! Way beyond me. 

I am fond of challenges. That is why I get  boyfriends and jump to another right after the fun dissipates. It was thrilling and fun at first but as days passed by, I cannot feel any fun at all. It disappears quickly. Like a taraxacum erythrospermum, a kind of dandelion, the moment I blow it, itss delicate petals gets carried away by the wind... to nothingness. 

But it's different with Regis. He is a challenge, alright. But I am not brave enough to take over him. 

It is incredulous of me to think that I will have the chance to take him as a challenge. Really Le' Pauline? Taking someone as serious like Regis as a challenge because of your playful whims? He is not appropriate to be referred to as a challenge alone. He is a challenge and a crown combined. He is The King! I don't know if he is great and very responsible that made everyone addressed him of that title but it's different for me. He is manipulative and dangerous... that's how he is for me. 

I am afraid I'll be submissive and commit only to him. I am not like that. Jealousy, huh? I am just a lowly lady and to feel jealous of The King is a f*******n feeling for me.

"No... I am not jealous," sagot ko. I didn't think of this answer once. I did more than thrice. No, more than that. I cannot let myself submit to you.

 I stared back at him, putting my serious yet a bit playful facade. The Le' Pauline that everyone knows. A mixture of serious and playful Montemayor.

"Why would I be? Wala naman akong nararamdaman sa'yo," I added and immediately flashed a sweet smile. 

His eyes widened a fraction and lost his stance a bit.  "Y-yeah. Bakit ko nga ba natanong iyon... sa'yo," he said in a small voice and covered it with a laugh.

"Nevermind," he said and walked passed me, taking the same path as to where Lily-anne was headed. 

I stared at his wide and manly back. The back of Regis, The King. The back of someone which the likes of me should bow of. 

Nah. You're way out of my league.

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