Chapter 3
***
"What was that interview for? Tsaka ka lang nagpa-interview when you didn't even make it to Top 5?"
Muntik na akong matawa nang makitang nakaabang sa parking space ng eskuwelahan ang babae. Almost everyone left since it's almost an hour after dismissal. Mangilan-ngilan na lang ang naka-park at halos kaming dalawa na lang ang naroon. I spotted group of students from a far but they all left after a few minutes.
The woman in front stayed where my motorcycle was parked. Alam na alam kung saan ang target ng mga pang-uuyam niya ngayon. Look at how she even waited for the interview to be done just to point out something as ridiculous as this on my face. Wala na ba siyang magawa? What about her busy schedule? Her cheerleading?
Gustong-gusto talaga ata ng babaeng to na magsimula ng gulo.
"You cannot even maintain your standing. Dun ka na nga lang magaling, pinakawalan mo pa. Now, you're nothing but a complete loser." She eyed me with irritation and mockery.
The sunset streaks tried to capture that stare she's throwing at me. "You played your rank as if you're playing games."
I continued walking until past her. Kaunting pag-iling na lang ang naibigay ko sa hangin at hindi na lang pinansin ang nasa likod nang kunin ko ang susi sa bulsa. Inabot ko ang helmet na nakasabit sa manibela. I don't want to waste my time tolerating her antics.
"Alexis!"
I stopped midway. Clenching my jaw from that sudden loud voice I heard nearby. When everybody's probably in their siestas right now but this woman chose to nag me with ridiculous remarks right at this moment. Napapikit ako habang unti-unting binitawan ang hawak at ibinalik sa dating kinaroroonan. Breathing slowly to calm my system from the spoiled brat infront before finally looking at her eyes, eating all my words to never tolerate this antic of her.
"Now, what do you want?" Staring straight para malaman ng kaharap na gusto ko nang matapos lahat ng 'to.
"You know what? I waited for almost an hour here and you chose to turn your back on me?" She mutterd full of frustration while glaring at me as if it's my fault that I have to do my responsibilities interrupting her precious run down. Now that no one's here. Kayang-kaya niyang maging dragon at magmaldita diyan.
"What do you want?" I spat back. "Yun ang tanong ko."
Her brows wrinkled even more. She stepped nearer then spat words to even made my day worse.
"You really had guts! After you kissed me, you act like nothing even happened!"
Ngumisi ako. I sticked my tongue to my cheek for a moment as if everything is becoming impossible. "Then what do you want me to do? Beg for your mercy?"
Para siyang natauhan sa sinabi ko. I don't know why this woman had so much time to care about these things when i know she's someone who should be much busier than me. Ano bang gusto niyang ipangalandakan ko?
" 'I'm sorry'. Yun ba ang gusto mong marinig?"
She pursed her lips, becoming silent for a while like a hibernating dragon ready to spat fire on me again. I never wanted to talk about these things especially when we're on school grounds. Wala akong pakialam kung may makarinig o makakita man, but this woman in front cares about her reputation more than anyone kaya nakakapagtaka na narito ito ngayon sa harapan ko. Talking to someone she's not close nor friends. Though I could see no one but us here, still, she should stay away so we both have some peace of mind.
"I already made it clear. Ikaw ang may suhestiyon na gagawin mo ang lahat so it will be even from my side and your side." I pointed out what she seems to be forgetting.
Denisse rolled her eyes. Her lips quiver with irritation and now she looked like those spoiled brat villain in some High School drama. "Kahit na! You still took advantage of me just to shoo your woman away. I think it is never fair that you get away from your problem using me while I am here being unsure if you will still be keeping your words!"
Pinakatitigan kong mabuti ang kaharap. Gusto kong isipin na nakatulog lang ako at isang malaking bangungot lang ang lahat ng ito. But looking at her waiting outside like this is enough to make me realize this is practically the reality. Ang mga gawaing ganito ay kayang gawin ng nasa harap.
"Okay," I sighed. Trying to connect things her way so that her issues ends here. "Say I took advantage of you. What do you want me to do? Sabihin mo para tapos ang usapan." I crossed my hands at my chest to allow her words resonate everything about this shenanigan.
"This." Mabilis nitong ipinakita ang hawak na papel. She presented the folded paper at my face, determined that I will do what she says. "I need you to sign this contract and be my PA as a compensation of that--nevermind, just sign it, okay?"
Nagsibanggaan ang kilay ko sa sinabi ng kaharap. Contract what? Inilipat ko sa mukha niya ang titig ko. Looking at her puzzled. Seriously?
Who the f*ck wants to ber her Personal Assistant?
"Ridiculous." I hissed bago nagdesisyong putulin na ang walang katuturang pakikipag-usap sa babaeng to at inabot na ang helmet atsaka ito isinuot. The clack were heard after I shut the front of the head gear and straddled my vehicle.
Just because of that kiss, I'd be her assistant for her career and extravaganza? F*cking No!
"Really, Alexis Monterey? Iiwan mo lang ako dito!? I am being nice to you here pagkatapos ganito lang?!"
I started the engine never minding the crazy woman bursting her anger.
"Alexis!" She stomped near my side frustrated.
I thought she's in her way to leave. I thought she'll be marching her way to sanity. Pero nabaliw na ang babae nang maramdaman ko ang pagsampa nito sa likod ng motor.
What the f*ck.
"What do you think you're doing?" Itinigil ko ang kung ano man ang ginagawa. The low sound of the engine matched how i am holding myself back from this.
She's not making any sense.
"You know I won't stop unless you agree to the contract. You should be grateful enough I even made it." She talked from behind.
"If you always wanted to be the center of attention, huwag mo akong idamay."
"Sorry pero gusto kitang idamay. Then let the other people feast on you even for almost eternity."
I counted numbers to calm myself. Crazy Spoiled Brat. F*ck.
Tell me, God. Should I just push this woman?
"What about people feasting on the fact that Denisse Leighanne Stranner was caught talking to a loner and someone like Alexis Monterey? Why don't you think about your precious reputation?"
I side eyed her just to make her realize what she's doing.
"Why don't you just drive?" She rebutted.
Pumikit ako saglit and counted 1-10 in my mind.
"Baba." I warned.
"No."
"Baba o ihuhulog kita?"
"Then, would you pay for my hospitalization? You don't even have enough money."
I gripped the handle. Fine.
The engine roared. Kinambyo ko na lang ang manibela palabas ng campus with the speed faster than usual. Mabilis na napakapit sa suot ko ang nakaangkas to the point na parang mapupunit na.
I smirked and went even faster. She shrieked.
Now, regret you even had a ride with me.
She immediately snaked her hands on my stomach at mahigpit na yumakap. "You scum!"
That's when I realized I should slow down. Vehicles passing by us after I deduced the speed because of the woman behind.
"Get your hands off of me." Mabilis kong saad. It was a command, not even a suggestion.
Dali naman nitong binawi ang mga kamay.
"So you really want me to fell off this cheap motorbike of yours!? You're poor now and you had the guts?"
"Pinili mong sumakay. Panindigan mo." I only said before regaining my speed.
I only hoped this day ends well even with this woman behind me being a pain in the neck.
"OOPS, sorry." Denisse's fake tone, the other day, almost made me want to smirk in sarcasm after she intentionally bumped me at the hallway with her group of friends looking ignorant following her.
Hindi ko na lang iyon pinansin. I don't want to indulge myself to this nonsense she's creating as well as starting my day thinking about her stunts.
"Aww, Hindi ko sinasadya. Sorry, Alex." The volleyball hit me in the shoulders while in our P.E class. It's nothing too painful but I scrunched my brows looking at her being the the actress she is. That serve looks so much intentional. Hindi lang halata ng mga kaklase ko at ng ibang nasa loob ng gymanasium dahil wala sa character ng babae ang manakit ng ibang tao.
I realized that the woman is really picking up on me day after day just because I never agreed to her contract.
"Kasama ba si Alex? I don't know." Denisse started to mention every student in the class who's not remitting miscellaneous fee for this sem. She never included me in the list for the sports festival that will happen in the latter part of the finals for the first semester. That news can be good pero kailangan kong pumasok para sa kapakanan ng scholarship na nakuha ko. That's how assertive the school is when it comes to curricular activities.
"Nakapagbayad na siya ng fees?" That look again almost sent me mockingly smirking kung hindi lang tumingin sa akin ang katabi.
"Already, Deigh. I've sent the message in our GC." The treasurer at the front reassured.
"My bad. I'll edit it later, then. Hindi kasi ako nagbackread." She made an excuse to the whole class.
This time. She really wanted to get on my nerves more.
Someone even doodled at the board the next day. Even when Philie had erased the beginning letter, I can still understand what it says.
Top Student to Loser Alexis Monterey with a printed disgusted emoji pasted at the end.
Philippa looked at me with emphaty written in her face but I chose not to make it a big deal. Kinuha ko ang eraser sa kanya at binura iyon taking that printed paper off, throwing it to the trash can. Even my classmates looked a bit guilty but I faced them with a straight face and went to my own seat quietly.
I felt nothing towards that doodle. I was only a bit surprised that woman would go through this length this time.
Alam ko naman kung sino ang may pakana nito.
That woman in her wavy dark brown hair who's acting innocent in front of everybody like she herself doesn't even know who did the deed, when she is the real mastermind.
This is why I hate her from the moment I laid my eyes on her. I can't believe she's the same immature Denisse I've known since middle school.
Alalang-alala ko kung paanong ganito siya noon. Her bratty attitude doesn't even dissipate with time that's why I never believed her admirable front.
That time when I caught her sneak and lock the unaware Philippa in the restroom just because she didn't became the candidate for Little Miss Intramurals for their section following her sick excuse, is enough to make me question her own identity. That's when I knew she's not the way everybody sees her.
Sabay kaming lumabas ni Philippa sa Student Volunteer room kung saan nagkaroon ng pangalawang pagpupulong ang organisasyong sinalihan ngayong pasukan.
The members at the front looked back at us then shift their glances back as if they're still in disbelief. Maybe because they're still expecting me to join the other major clubs but I still came at the door of the Student Volunteer Room instead. Wala naman akong nakikitang masama doon, I have chosen what I wanted and registered since I needed one organization to join for being a scholar and I think this is the best way to give back to the school. While Philie's an old member and the head of the org.
"Pero kanina, who do you think is the person behind? Mukhang may galit sayo." She glanced at me with both curious and worried eyes. "Do you remember anyone, by far?"
"Nah. Baka mga walang magawa sa buhay lang." Mabilis kong sagot only to reassure the person beside me.
"Really? But still, they shouldn't have been that rude."
I glanced at the person beside me. Sa lahat ng naging kakilala ko, Philippa Ocsenia is the most sincere. Makikita mo sa lahat ng kilos niya na totoong tao siya. If she's really concerned with you, that's the truth. Walang pagpapanggap o kung ano man. She even tagged me as her best friend since middle school even when I barely met her since I have been following my Dad's intsructions.
Ngayon lang.
"It's fine. It's only a doodle. Wala namang nasaktan sa nangyari."
"Yeah. I just know you won't take it to heart."
We walked the same path dahil parehas din kami ng klaseng papasukan. Marami ang naka-istambay sa daan dahil wala naman talagang pasok dahil may conference ang faculty. Philie decided to conduct a meeting as well as the other orgs present in the school to make up for the time.
Nasa loob na kami ng advisory class nang mahalata ko ang gulat sa mga mata ng katabi nang iangat ang cellphone na tumunog.
"Oh My God." She clasped her hand to cover her mouth from her raging emotion before running towards her seat atsaka mabilis na nagtipa sa kanyang cellphone. Naiwan ako doon na nagtataka.
Some of my classmates inside, who's either clubs aren't conducting meeting or does not join any clubs, are also left in their own seat confused by the sudden frantic action of Philippa.
Ang tanging nagawa ko na lang ay ang lumapit at hugutin ang upuan sa kaliwa niya. She stopped after some time, maybe realizing I was still there.
"Alex!" She faced me. Nagulat pa ako dahil sa hindi maitagong kasiyahan sa boses niya.
She stared straight at me, her eyes almost twinkling with unhidden tears forming. "Remember when I told you I auditioned cheering for so many times?"
Yes. I know how she never failed to tell me she wanted to join the squad almost everytime we are together. Sa dalang naming magkasama, halos lahat ng iyon ay binabanggit niya ang Cheering kung hindi man ay ang member ng Team o si Denisse.
"Tanggap na ako, Alex!" She announced. Her face with anticipation of my response.
"Uy congrats" someone from the class were the first to even say the word. Nilingon iyon ng kaharap at nagpasalamat.
"Totoo, Philie? Congratulations!"
At that time, I did not know why I suddenly glanced at Denisse's empty seat. My forehead slowly creased.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo o minuto ba akong nakatitig sa upuang iyon. The only thing I know is when someone occupied the seat and the voice of Philippa resounded my ears.
"Hi, Denisse!"
"Hi, Philie!" The woman turned to our direction and beamed her precious smile bago lumapit sa gawi ng kausap. My eyes almost squint for a second before I decided to stare straight at the board ahead. I even caught my classmates watched my side with glee.
"Welcome to the team, by the way." I heard the voice near.
"Thank you so much!" Philie exclaimed.
My peripheral vision saw how Denisse hugged my seatmate for seconds.
I clenched my teeth. Why do I have a bad feeling about this?