Loving Ria

Chapter Sixteen

Zach

She is my first love. Justine Ria Alcantara.

At first, I didn't like the idea of living in San Nicolas. The place is a Province, miles away from the City where I used to live and where there is really what you call life. What will I do in a place like that? Lola Zenaida is the culprit of bringing me in their hometown. I was against it but what can I do to disobey their decisions?

And for me to agree, she made a deal out of it. She promised me that she will sent me in the US to pursue my college. That's the plan.

When I arrived in our Hacienda, I didnt expect that our property is way far from what I imagined. This is the first time I went here and by telling me that its our's, well, it's f*****g massive. The Mansion is really huge. I have all the time to explore my new paradise and when I discovered everything we owned, I was literally in owe. I can say that I think I'm going to enjoy my stay here.

"We bought everything that you might need in school Zach." Mama said when she barged into my room. "Pakidala nalang sa loob ng room ni Zach un mga school supplies Miguel."

"Wen Maam." The driver answered.

"What is Wen Mama?" I asked her when i heard the driver said that word.

"That means "OO" sa tagalog." Mama answered.

I really don't understand their dialect. Whenever I roam around, people around me are talking in that dialect which I dont understand, I don't even know what they are saying.

"Do I really need to attend HS in here? I can study in Manila."

"If you like to spend time travelling, you can. But still it's my decision you need to follow. So, yes Zach, you will study HS here."

I heaved a deep sigh. If it's Mama's decision, I don't have the heart not to obey.

"Ok. If that's what you want."

"Thank you Zach." She kissed my temple before she stormed out of my room.

I checked the school supplies and I found a new laptop, notebooks, pens and other stuff's. I'm a good student but I doubt if I will have the urge to study hard here not unless I found some motivation.

"Good Morning Class, please meet your new classmate. He came from Manila and starting today he will be part of this class. Introduce yourself."

"At least they knew how to speak in English."

I looked at my classmates. I find their faces weird. By the look of their faces, some are amazed, mostly girls, of course. Some are pissed. Boys will be boys, of course.

"Good Morning. I'm Zach Alexander Villafuerte. Please to meet you."

"Villafuerte daw."

"Taga Hacienda siguro sya."

"Kaano ano kaya nya yung mga Villafuerte?"

There I heard everything. And yes, I'm a Villafuerte.

"Maari ka ng maupo sa bakanteng upuan. Ano nga palang itatawag namin sayo?"

"Zach is fine."

"Ok Zach. Please be seated and class will start."

"Thank you Mam."

I sit silently on the empty chair near the window.

"Apo ka ba ng mga Villafuerte? Yun may may-ari ng malaki at malawak na Hacienda??"

The guy infront of me asked those questions. He is staring at me with his brows furrowed. I simply nod my head to answer.

"Ako nga pala si Red." He offered his hand for a handshake which I accepted.

"I'm Zach."

"Don't English me pre. I'm panic. Magtagalog ka muna. Hindi pa naman English ang subject."

"This guy is crazy." I nodded. "Bawal bang magsalita ng English dito kapag hindi English ang Subject?" I asked him.

"Marunong ka palang magtagalog eh. Pwede naman kaya lang ang sakit sa ulo eh. Nakakadugo ng ilong."

Napakamot pa sya sa ulo nya.

"Ok, but I can speak in English whenever I want to."

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sakit mo sa ulo kausap Zach."

"Hindi pa oras ng daldalan Jared."

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Red sa babaeng nagsalita.

"Sorry Juri. Nakipagkilala lang naman ako sa bago nating classmate."

The girl just rolled her eyes which I find cute. I find her pretty. I looked at her and scanned her face for a moment.

"Class President natin yan Zach. Si Juri."

"So, Juri is her name." Bumalik na sa pagkakaayos ng upo si Red ng magsalita na ang teacher namin. I looked at her again.

Ms. Corpuz talked to me after class.

"Zach, about sa mga past lessons I'll find someone to help you para makahabol ka kaagad."

"Thank you po Mam. I'll need that too."

"Juri!! Come here."

At lumapit sya samin. Nakatayo sya sa tabi ko. Nakatingin kay Ms. Corpuz.

"Juri, ikaw na ang iaassign ko na magturo ng mga past lessons kay Zach."

"Po?" Sagot nya kay Maam. Napatingin ako sa kanya sa sagot nya. Ayaw ba nya?

"Pwede mo naman syang itutor diba? Please find time to tutor him para makahabol sya sa mga lessons natin."

She didn't answer at first.

"Sige po Mam." She answered.

"Very good. Mauna na ako sa inyo. Pagusapan nyo nalang dalawa." At umalis na si Mam.

"You don't really need to do that." I talked to her.

"Hah?"

"I mean, being my tutor. You don't really need to do that. I can just borrow some notes and books. I'll start from that." I explained.

"I'll give you 2 hours of my time after class. Ok na ba sa yo yun?"

"Huh?"

"Hotdog."

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. Ano daw?

"Ang sabi ko 2 hours kitang itututor after class para makahabol ka sa mga lessons. Ok na ba yun?"

"Magiging tutor na kita?"

"Hindi mo ba ko narinig?" She looked pissed and I find her adorable. I bit my inside cheek not to smile.

"I heard you the first time you said it. I thought you're gonna refused."

"Tss. Ako nga pala si Juri."

"I'm Zach." She looked at me. "Is that really your name?"

"Justine Ria Alcantara ang full name ko. Magstart na tayo bukas after class, hindi ako pwede ngayon eh. Ok lang ba?"

"Yeah, it's ok."

"Ok, uwi na ako. Bye Zach." Kumaway pa sya bago lumabas ng pinto.

"Hindi ka pa uuwi Zach?" Napalingon ako kay Red.

"Pauwi nadin, kinausap lang ako ni Mam about sa tutor."

"Si Juri ba magtututor sayo?" I nodded. "Magaling yun. Top 1 natin kasi yun."

"Ikaw anong top mo?"

"Ako? Tss. Mas mataas ako sa kanya."

"May mas mataas pa ba sa top 1?"

"Meron. Ako nga. Ako ang Ali-toptop. Mas mataas akong lumipad eh."

"Corny mo." Nginisian lang nya ako.

"Tara na pre. Sabay na tayo lumabas."

Sabay din kaming nagpunta sa may parking lot kung san naghihintay ang driver namin na si Kuya Miguel.

"May sundo ka?" Tanong sakin ni Red.

"Meron. Ikaw?" Tinuro nya ang katabing sasakyan. Isang Ford Everest na kulay White.

"Haist. Hindi talaga makagala." Tinapik nya ako sa balikat. "See you tomorrow Zach."

I looked at our school building before getting in the car. Looks like I will enjoy my stay in here too. I have my reason to come to my class everyday.

When I arrived at home I went straight to my room to fix myself. Naligo nadin ako at nagpalit ng damit. Nagpapatuyo pa ako ng buhok ng may kumatok sa pinto ko at pumasok si Lola.

"Apo ko. How's your school?"

"It's fine La."

"Did you found new friends?"

"I met some but too early to call them friends."

"Mas maganda kung madami kang magiging kaibigan Apo. Mabubuti ang mga tao dito."

"I will La. I'll meet new friends."

"Bumaba ka na din, magmerienda ka muna."

I simply nodded.

Pagpasok ko kinabukasan si Red agad ang sumalubong sakin. Mukha naman syang mabait pero minsan nagdodoubt ako sa takbo ng utak nya. Weirdo eh. Pero halatang galing din sya may kayang pamilya.

"What is your surname Red?" I asked him. He stared at me for a second.

"Clemente."

Sounds familiar. I stared at him too. And then realization hits me.

"Clemente Law Firm."

He heaved a deep sigh. Kinamot nya ulo nya.

"Yeah. The famous Clemente Law Firm. Family of Lawyers."

"And you told me that you don't speak in English unless it's English subject." He just smirked.

"Thought you wouldn't know."

"Your family is my family lawyer."

"I know."

"And you pretended that you didnt know me."

"I didn't. I just need to confirm. There's a difference."

"You're an asshole."

"I know."

And then she came. My sight shifted on her. And when she looked at me, my mind went chaos, my body froze and my heart beats like crazy. That's her impact on me. I didn't know that I have these kind of emotions hidden inside my body. It was just for her.

I saw how Red flashed his smirk on me. I just rolled my eyes. Naupo sya sa tabi ni Red, magkatabi kasi silang dalawa at nasa harapan ko naman si Red.

After the class, she approached me making my mind crumbled.

"Zach, san mo gusto mag-aral? Gusto mo ba dito sa room or sa library?" Tanong nya sakin.

"Wherever you prefer?" I answered. She just stared at me like she is thinking hard.

"Sa library nalang. Unti nalang tao dun ngayon. Tara!" Yaya nya sakin. I just nodded and simply followed her.

Pagdating namin sa library, tama nga sya. Unti nalang ang tao sa lib. Uwian na kasi ng mga estudyante kaya kunti nalang nandito. Sinundan ko lang sya hanggang tumigil sya at umupo sa may vacant space.

"Maupo ka na Zach. Dito ka na sa tabi ko."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Ang hirap kaya kapag magkatapat tayo."

"Ok."

And then I seated beside her. Para akong sinampal sa mukha ng kanyang mabangong amoy. This girl is making me insane. I heaved a deep sigh which it made her to look at me.

"Bakit ang lalim ng buntong hininga mo?" Seryoso nyang tanong sakin.

"Nothing." She raised her eyebrow. "Can I call you Ria?"

"Why? Everyone calls me Juri."

"I like Ria more."

Natahimik sya sa sinabi ko. And I think I saw her blushed. Namumula kasi un pisngi nya. Hindi ko nalang sinabi sa kanya baka bigla nya akong takbuhan.

"Let's start with your lesson Zach."

"I'm ready."

And she smiled at me. I think I just found  my motivation.

Days passed and my tutoring days with Ria will be over soon. I started to know more about her. And it came to my knowledge that she is the daughter of one of our trusted farmer in our Hacienda.

"San ka pupunta?" Tanong ko kay Ria ng palabas sya ng classroom.

"Cafeteria. Nagugutom ako eh."

"Sama ako."

"Sige, tara."

Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa Cafeteria, hindi mawawala ang mga tingin ng mga ibang estudyante samen. Syempre bagay kaming dalawa eh. Sa isip ko lang yan.

"Dami mo talagang fans Zach. Mababali na mga leeg nila kakatingin sayo."

"Yung mga lalake sayo nakatingin." If looks could only kill, I already became a murderer.

"Dedma." Tiningnan nya ako. "Ang gwapo mo kasi."

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad at napatitig sa kanya. Napahinto din sya dahil huminto ako.

"Did you just say I'm handsome?"

"Hah?"

"Hotdog." I heaved a deep sigh. "Let's go. Baka gutom ka lang."

"Pero sabi ko nga ang gwapo mo kasi. Kaya madaming may gusto sayo."

"I'm not interested."

"Pero sila interesado sayo. Buti wala pang umaaway saken kasi lagi kitang kasama."

"Sabihin mo agad sakin kapag may umaway sayo."

"Bakit aawayin mo din sila?"

"No one will ever lay their hands on you. Not on my watch."

Sya naman ang napahinto sa paglalakad. Napatingin din ako sa kanya. I suppressed a smile while looking at her red face. Looks like I made her blushed.

***

"It's Lola Zenaida's birthday on Saturday. I'm inviting you to come over." 

"Hah?"

"Favorite expression mo talaga yan. Tss. Susunduin kita sa inyo sa Sabado."

"Wait. Wait. Bakit mo ako susunduin? Saka nakakahiya! Hindi naman ako invited ah. Hindi naman ikaw ang may birthday!" She exclaimed.

"Apo ako ng may birthday kaya I'm inviting you."

"Pero Zach. Nakakahiya. Nahihiya ako."

"Don't be. I'm with you."

Napatingin sya sakin. Tinitigan ko din sya. Ang ganda nya talaga.

"Ok. Sige, pupunta na ako."

Sinabihan ko din si Red pero alam kong may invites nadin ang family nila. And I'm pretty sure that he will attend the party.

When I came to her house to fetch her. I was stunned when I saw her. I can't find any words to describe her. I'm out of words. She is beautiful.

"Kinakabahan talaga ako Zach. Nahihiya ako. Bakit kasi isasama mo pa ako."

"Because I want you to be with me. There's nothing to worry about Ria." Tiningnan ko ang kanyang mga magulang. "Wala po kayong dapat ipagalala. Ihahatid ko din po sya pauwi."

"May tiwala kami sayo Sir Zach." Sagot ng Tatay ni Ria.

"Wag nyo po akong tawaging Sir. Zach nalang po." Ngiti lang ang iginanti nila saken. Tiningnan ko si Ria. "Let's go."

Inilhahad ko ang aking kamay kay Ria at walang alinlangan na tinanggap nya. Her hand is cold. Kinakabahan talaga sya.

We headed straight to our Hacienda. On our way here she keeps on telling me how nervous she is. She keeps on holding my hand and I secretly rejoice for that. I knew her for weeks and she is very transparent when it comes to her emotions.

Pinagbuksan ko sya ng pinto and she stared at me before holding my hand. She heaved a deep sigh and smiled at me.

"I'm with you Zach."