WHILE I was typing an update for my ongoing novel when I remembered something my professor told me after my morning session. I wasn't planned on having an alone talk with him because I'm not sure what's up with his looks at me during class.
My intuition told me he was aware of my father's situation. And I'm well aware that he's only a ruse for my father to persuade me once more. He demanded my return, and this isn't the first time he's done so. He wants me to return home, but he also wants me to change. What on heck is that? Who wants to return home if his or her parents desire to modify their only child?
I'm no longer a youngster who does whatever he wants me to do. Now that I'm an adult, I can make my own decisions.
"I went through your files. And I'm not going to deny that you have a gift. Your grades from high school are quite impressive. So, the reason I summoned you here is because. . ."
My blood was racing through my veins and all of my nerves were tingling.
"I'd like to have you tutor my son."
"Oh," was the only word that came out of my mouth. It occurred to me that it had something to do with my father. I guess I was completely wrong about him.
"Is there something wrong with that?" He seemed concerned.
"Nothing, sir," I say. It's just that I'm . . ." I'm not sure how I'm going to say this. "How did you know about me? You appear to be familiar with me."
"About that . . . Do you recall having a classmate in high school who was very quiet and seemed uninterested in studying?"
Is there anyone? I don't recall having anyone like it in our class before.
"Maybe you forgot about him since he was a quiet person. He doesn't like to interact with other students. But that was before. That's why I'm hoping if you can tutor him, I'm sure you two will get along."
"I don't know, sir. May I have some time to think about it first?" I don't want to be acquainted by a person who's from my past.
"I'll pay you double of the negligeable tutoring fee."
That rings a bell.
Kung tatanggihan ko ang alok niya sa akin, tila sinayang ko lang din ang isang magandang opportunity para hindi na mamoblema pa sa gastusin ko sa apartment at pagkain. At saka papunta na rin ako sa paghihirap kung hindi ko tatanggapin ang alok niya.
Kahit ayaw ko ay kailangan kong tanggapin ito. Hindi na ako mayaman na nakadepende lang sa kung ano ang ibinibigay sa akin ng aking mga magulang noon. It's time for me to wake up and realize that they'll never be a part of my life again. I am only responsible for myself.
Shit, anong oras na ba? It's 9:04 p. m. I should get this done now. May pasok pa ako bukas. Kung hindi ko ito matapos ngayon, baka hindi ako makapag-update ng novel ko bukas at maging rason pa iyon para magkaroon ako ng absent sa monthly calendar bonus ko. I have only two maximum absent and if I won't made it tonight, all my efforts will be gone in vain.
11:46 p. m. ko na natapos ang pagsusulat ng bagong kabanata. I quickly published it to the site and closed my laptop right after. Kailangan ko na matulog dahil maaga pa ang pasok bukas. It hurts my brain to think of what may happen tomorrow. Kung iisipin ko pa ang mangyayari bukas, I'm sure I won't be able to get some rest tonight. Magmumukha na naman akong zombie nito.
Bukas ko na iisipin kung ano ang mangyayari bukas. Bakit ko ba kasi iniisip ang bagay na 'yon, eh, sino ba naman ang kikitain ko?
*****
THE sky has turned gloomy once more. What is going on with him right now? Tsk. Kasalukuyan akong naghihintay ngayon sa labas ng main building, sa banda kung saan naka-park ang mga sasakyan ng mga professors namin.
I've been waiting for him couple of minutes. Saan na ba kasi si sir? Ang sbai niya kasi sa akin ay mauna na raw ako rito dahil may gagawin lang daw siya sandali sa office of the president, eh, hindi niya naman sinabi na halos isang oras pala akong maghihintay sa kaniya rito. Siguro nakagawa pa ako ng assignment ko ngayon para sa susunod na araw.
"Sorry for keeping you wait," a nonfamiliar voice suddenly came out from nowhere.
Sino siya? No, I mean, yes. Hindi ko siya kilala. Sorry for keeping you wait? Eh, hindi ko naman siya hinihintay, huh. Hindi siya ang hinihintay ko.
"Uhm, excuse me?" I awkwardly said while holding my books tightly.
He took out his keys and looked at me with a plain face. What's with the look? He seems surprised but by not showing his emotion, or it's just his face can't shape a kind of emotion. What a unique art.
"Oh, you must forget about me. Well, you don't have to know about me naman. Tuturuan mo lang ako sa mga subjects and of course, sa grades ko. So, there's no need to know each other. As long as kilala ko ang tutor ko. And I guess that's more enough, right?" He opened the car's door on the passenger seat in front. "Babayaran ka rin naman ni daddy."
What a brat! Siya ba ang anak na tinutukoy ni sir? Kung sa tingin niya ay nababayaran ang respeto, puwes, hindi kasali ang respeto ko sa pag-uugali niya.
"Excuse me, sir."
"What?" Isinandal niya ang kaniyang right shoulder sa ibabaw na bahagi ng pinto habang nakaharap sa akin.
"Kung sa tingin mo ay kaya mo akong tratuhin na parang kung sino lang na alalay mo, let me remind you that you need my assistance in order to pass and improve your grades. So, treat me nicely." Sorry but I'm not sorry, sir.
"Tsk, don't act as if you're strong, Damon. I know everything about you since the day, night rather, you left your home." There was his scary grinning face.
I wasn't able to react. What he said has something to do with my father's connection. Sino ba kasi ang mga taong ito? Ano ang connection nila kay daddy?
Lumapit pa siya sa akin at walang pag-alinlangan na hinablot ang aking baywang, at saka sinandal ako sa kotse. What on earth is he doing? Baka may makakita rito sa amin at kung ano pang isipin nila.
"Don't think about what people around us could say, Damon," he says, his breath hitting my skin differently. It's different in a manner that I like. What's the matter with me? "Just focus on me."
Any second now, I'm going to dissolve. He's moving a little closer to me. I can feel his body getting hotter as it rubs up against mine. I want him to stop, yet I'm powerless to do so. My entire body is ice cold.
"Damon? Is everything all right?" A familiar voice broke my dark daydreaming.
"Oh, sir, nandiyan na po pala kayo. Hindi ko po kayo napansin agad," taranta kong sagot sabay ayos sa aking sarili.
"I am so sorry for keeping you wait. Medyo napahaba kasi ang pag-uusap namin ni Madam President."
"It's okay, sir. You don't have to worry po." I smiled as if it was fine.
Agad niyang binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan. Inuna niya akong makapasok bago siya. What a gentleman kind of father he is. I wonder kung pareho ba sila ng pag-uugali ng anak niya. Sinubukan kong isipin kung ano ang mukha ng anak niya, at kung mayro'n ba talaga akong kaklase noon ayon sa paglalarawan ni sir sa akin noong nakaraang araw.
Pero hindi ko kayang takasan ang nangyari kanina. Bakit gano'n ang mga naiisip ko? Gusto kong i-blame ang pagiging writer ko sa nangyari, pero . . . It's also advantageous for me to create a new storyline for one of my ongoing stories. That's something I should write down.
Habang papunta kami sa bahay ni sir, I used this to jot down my ideas and what happened while I was daydreaming earlier. Hindi puwedeng palagpasin ko ang nangyari kanina ng para lang sa wala. It deserves to be recognized even though it sucks.
"Nandito na tayo," sabi ni sir habang pinaparada ang sasakyan sa loob ng kanilang luxurious showroom garage. I knew he was a wealthy professor, but I had no idea to what extent he was rich. My suspicions were aroused. He's not merely a professor, I'm sure. Not only is he a professor, but there's more to him.
Pagpasok namin sa loob ng bahay, dumiretso agad kami ni sir sa sofa nila at sinabihan akong maghintay lang sandali upang tawagin ang kaniyang anak. I just nodded to say yes.
It's weird. Walang katao-tao ang loob ng bahay. Maybe they're not just here for the meantime. Sa laki ng bahay nila, I'm sure they'll be needing manpower to run the house. Well, gosh. Ginawa ko naming basehan ang bahay namin. But it's the truth. Sino maglilinis ng bahay kung wala silang katulong. At saka hindi naman kaya ng isang housewife ang maglinis ng ganitong kalaking bahay.
"Damon," naunang dumating si sir bago ang kaniyang ana—Iyan ba ang anak ni sir? "this is my son, Hugo."
I can't ignore the fact that he can steal a spotlight. Is it possible that I'm seeing an angel? Well, I'm not a big believer in God, but I suppose people do change. His flawless features will not be described as attractive. Full lips, a narrow jaw, high cheekbones, clear and flawless skin, and wide-set eyes were among his features. I may also state that he has a terrific physique. He is beyond perfection.
"H-Hello, Sir Hugo." While attempting to grin, I offered my hand to shake his. However, he didn't shake my hand, which surprised me. Kaya kinuha ko na lang ang kamay ko pabalik at pinagtuunan ng pansin si sir.
"Saan mo balak magturo, Damon?" sir asked.
"Kung saan po comfortable ang anak n'yo," I answered respectfully.
Tiningnan ni sir ang anak niya, tingin na tila nagtatanong.
"Sa kuwarto ko na lang, Dad. Mas comfortable ako roon kaysa rito sa labas. I don't like being observe by you or mommy. It's choking me.
Before confronting me, his father let out a long sigh. "Is that all right, Damon?"
"Yes, sir. There's no problem with that po. So, he can concentrate on the tasks at hand rather than becoming agitated and distracted by the stressful furnishings in the house."
"Damon, you've always impressed me. Thank you for taking up my offer. I should leave you two alone now."
"Walang anuman po, sir. Maraming salamat din po sa pagtitiwala."
He then just smiled, at agad na iniwan kami ni . . . What was his name again?
"Are you coming or not?" suplado nitong sabi nang lumingon siya sa akin.
Nauna na pala siyang umalis. Ang suplado naman nito. Kasing attitude niya 'yong character na na-imagine ko kanina. Wait, was that a kind of warning for me to be vigilant with this person?
Pagdating namin sa tapat ng kuwarto niya, agad niya itong binuksan at pagkapasok ko—Wow! I was too stunned to speak when I noticed several nude paintings, canvas stretched virtually on the walls of his room. Sa laki ng kaniyang kuwarto ay napuno niya ito ng iba't ibang anggulo ng mga babaeng nakahubad at litaw na litaw ang mga masisilang bahagi ng kanilang pagkababae.
Is he an artist just like me? Kaya ba kailangan niya ng tutor dahil mas nakatuon ang kaniyang atensiyon sa paggawa ng mga paintings na ito? Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ang kaba na nararamdaman ko ngayon, bakit parang naging kakaiba ang aura ng kuwarto niya?
"You can just sit down right there," he directed his finger to a chair perched on the edge of a blank canvas, "While you're waiting for me to get dressed."
Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa at tinungo ang upuan. I must also prepare myself. Imagining his naked body while walking around in this extensive room, seeing all of these artworks should make him hard. Oh my, I'm envisioning such disgusting once more.