"Yes, ate girl! Ang graceful niya talaga!" Sabi ng kaklase kong senior sa akin habang naglalaro kami ng calamansi relay. Ako ang nagpanalo sa grupo namin dahil mas mabilis ko pang binalik ang calamansi sa amin habang ang handle ng kutsara ay nasa bibig ko. It was too easy. I don't get why others struggle with this. Just find your balance and walk with elegance. That's it!
Sunod naman ang habulan. Nahalata ko na ako agad ang target ng taya dahil mabilis akong tumakbo dahil payat ako.
"Shit! Sayang!" dinig ko nang nakatakas ako sa taya. 1 inch nalang at out na dapat ako. Nagpatuloy ang laro hanggang sa ako nalang ang natitira dahil ang mga kasama ko ay out na. "Adora, sumuko ka na! wala ka nang kasama! Panalo na kami." Tsk. I rolled my eyes and waved my hand in defeat. "Competitive talaga nito." Sabi ng prof. ko sa akin at nginitian ko lang siya dahil alam ko sa sarili kong tama naman iyon.
I'm a freshman studying at the best university in my country. Maraming gustong makapasok sa paaralang ito ngunit kaunti lang ang tinatanggap taon-taon. Indeed, you have to be competitive and show your best all the time to create your name and establish your power. Chill lang ako sa studies and I took Philippine Games as my PE subject because I've never played such games before and I found it interesting.
I lived in France when I was a child because of my mother, a beautiful French woman who owned one of the best clothing brands there! I ended up here in the Philippines because of my dad's wish to explore my Filipino roots and so far, I'm enjoying it. I'm winning without much effort!
Habang dinidiscuss na ng reporter ang rules ng sunod na lalaruin namin, I caught someone staring at me from the bleachers of the court. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at kinindatan niya lang ako. Inirapan ko lang siya because I have no time for a playboy like him.
Gosh, Fleur Adora! You're too beautiful and you attract too much attention.
Natapos na ang subject at dumaan ako sa bleachers para maka-uwi na dapat dahil iyon lang naman ang subject ko noong araw na iyon. "Fleur Adora Lefebvre Montecarlos, right?" tawag ng playboy nang naabutan niya ako sa bleachers. "Oh, Donovan Ainsworth? Sorry. I don't know your middle name." Harap ko sa kanya at nginitian ko siya. He's one of the hottest seniors in our university because of his well-sculpted face and figure that puts other models to shame! Kamukha niya si Sean O'Pry, one of my model crushes na nagmodel na din para sa clothing brand ni mommy!
He chuckled at sinabayan niya na ako sa pag-alis sa court. I know why he's here. He's wants me to become a member of their organization! Noon niya pa ako kinukulit tungkol dito and I'm getting sick of it.
"Donovan, I said I have no time for a fraternity or a sorority! I'm focusing on my studies and I hate the extra work!" I complained as I closed my locker and glared at him while he was looking at me with amusement evident in his eyes.
"It's fun, Adora. It's not just any organization or frat or sorority like what you have in mind." I rolled my eyes at him at patuloy na naglakad sa lobby ng Court building.
"I don't believe you. You're the leader of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a powerful fraternity na nagpabagsak sa ibang frat ng kilalang universities and you want me to join you? Payatot ako, Donovan. I'm only a spoiled daughter of a famous French designer and a famous Architect. I can't do anything for your org. The best organization I would consider is one that is focused on modeling and the likes." I pouted.
"No, Adora. Kahit na payat ka, you have fast reflexes, accurate intuition, great balance and focus. Heck, you even run like the wind! You'll surely suit the org I'm talking about, not the modeling one. Sayang ka kung doon ka lang." Pambobola niya sa akin but I'm already stern with my decision to be a lone wolf until I graduate. I don't want a past that will hunt me as I sip my favorite expensive wine in my Jacuzzi while enjoying the view of the city lights from my extravagant penthouse in France by the time I have established my name in the fashion industry! That's gonna be a problem.
"So you've been watching me this whole time. You're a creep!" I joked and stopped at the parking lot at pinatunog ang sasakyan ko. "What good will your org bring me, huh? Bad memories? Scars?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at humalukipkip. His ocean blue eyes sparked at my last question, like what I said was a trap I set on my own. Oh no.
"So you ARE interested? Who knew just a little push would catch the sassy Fleur Adora Lefebvre Montecarlos?" Donovan smiled darkly as he handed me a paper with details printed on it. "Attend the orientation on Friday. Actually, marami nang members ang interested sa'yo when they saw how you perform. I believe after the orientation, Final Rites ka na agad because you've impressed them more than enough."
"H-hey! I never said I would—"
"See you there, Adora!" Tinalikuran niya na ako na tila walang narinig kahit na ilang beses kong tinawag ang pangalan niya. Wala na akong nagawa kaya sumakay na ako at umuwi para gawin ang project ko.
No. I won't attend the orientation! Over my dead gorgeous supermodel body! I read the details on the paper he gave me pero walang information about the org… time at venue lang! Oh Donovan, when you're selling something, labels are important because I, as the consumer, become more suspicious of you! Pagkatapos maging stressed over trivial matters, nilagay ko ang papel sa designer bag ko at naligo.
"Dad, you won't believe this! I was invited to this suspicious org by Donovan! He was spouting nonsense saying it would be fun, Blah blah blah—and I don't believe it! Not even one bit of what he was saying. Akala ko pa naman liligawan niya na ako!" Tinawagan ko si dad after finishing my projects to tell him about my day. He's in Saudi right now for a huge project. The Montecarlos clan is famous for having engineers and architects that produced some of the best buildings all over the world. I'm great with sketching but I want to follow the footsteps of my mom, create my own brand with my own touch of elegance-- Fleur Adora's signature style.
"that's great, Adora. You should try out some orgs while you're there. Meet new people… establish your connections while you're still young. It will be helpful in the long run."
"Dad, I know you were also the leader of Alpha Epsilon Pi during your college days, but I'm not interested in those things! Even a sorority does not suit me at all! I'd rather do modeling as a past time." I pouted as I scanned my pretty pink acrylic nails. I should get them done soon.
"Mana ka talaga sa nanay mo…" I heard him chuckle as I rolled my eyes. "You're one to speak, dad! Mom told me I was just as stubborn as you were when she met you…"
"Hahaha… speaking of which, can you drop by Baguio next week? Your grandma misses you dearly, Adora."
"Of course, dad. I don't get why she wants to stay there. There's not much to do in Baguio! She should've retired abroad or in our ancestral—"
"Adora…"
"I'm just saying!"
Saturday na at nasa mall ako imbis na puntahan yung orientation. Like I said, over my dead gorgeous supermodel body! What I say, I do and if I say no, then NO! N-O! Sure, I'm stubborn. That's typical of a Montecarlos.
Katatapos ko lang ipagawa ang nails ko sa paborito kong nail salon. It's now holographic. I decided to try something new and I'm liking it so far. Lumabas na ako ng mall at dumaan sa Montessori Street para kumain ng pesto sa paborito kong café na may magandang ambience.
"Ms. Montecarlos, the usual?" Bungad sa akin ng waiter as I took my seat near the window.
"Yes, please. Thank you, Arthur." I smiled sweetly at him and he blushed bago tuluyang umalis ngunit bago iyon ay nabunggo siya ng batang tumatakbo galing sa kabilang table kaya nasagi niya ang wine glass sa table ko kaya nahulog ito at nabasag.
As if on cue, biglang lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko na parang may masamang mangyayari. My intuitions are always accurate. Sometimes, it brings luck. Other times, I brace myself for tragedy.
"Ms. Montecarlos? Are you okay?" Napatingin ang ibang customers sa table ko dahil sa nangyari. But I didn't pay attention to it.
"Adora? Anong ginagawa mo dito? Bakit wala ka sa orientation?!" Narinig kong sabi ni Donovan sa tabi ko gamit ang tono na may halong takot. Kung bakit siya nandito ay hindi ko alam pero ang inaalala ko ngayon ay ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. Habang inaayos ni Arthur ang kalat, tumawag si mommy sa akin. Hindi ko pinansin ang panginginig ng kamay ko habang pinipindot ang "Answer" sa phone.
"mom—"
"Oh my god, Adora! Ma fille tant aimee! Y-your dad! Your dad! H-he's gone! He-- he's dead! Oh my god!..." I froze in my place. This is… this is absurd! This is not true! No!
"P-please, Mom! Tell me this is a p-prank!"
My mom was already speaking French hysterically because of the shock! Humahagulgol na siya at hindi ko na rin siya maintindihan. My body felt like it was left by my soul because I could not believe this reality. I refuse to believe it until I see my dad with my own eyes!