Chapter 3

Chapter 3




Every day, after class, I pull on my pink tights for my ballet class. I know my parents are investing quiet a lot of money for this prestigious ballet school, so I take each class seriously. And it's hard to be a rebel in this class, for I have a very strict ballet teacher.


"One day, you will be a Prima Ballerina..." palaging sinasabi ni Mama sa akin, pagkatapos niya akong panuoring mag-perform ng Romeo and Juliet. "And everyone in the room will adore you for your radiance and elegance."


Ballet dancing is just a hobby for me. I have some classmates who talk about applying to an international ballet company when they grow older. But for me, I know I will handle the hacienda soon. Much as I want to travel different places and perform ballet, I couldn't just leave our hacienda behind.


Pinaghirapan iyon ni Papa. He worked like a dog to flourish it. Dapat lang na ipagpatuloy ko ito.


Some of my classmates in school know that I am dancing ballet. Aside from the occasional mentions and the impressed reactions of my teacher, no one really talks about it with me. Walang sinumang nakakapanuod sa akin na mag-perform, except my parents, who have been both very supportive of me being a ballerina.


Sa totoo lang, gustong-gusto kong mang-imbita ng kaibagan sa tuwing may performance kami. My ballet classes kept me lean and in shape, but I still think that I'm not as sexy as Denise and Shanna who can wear dresses with plunging necklines while I still look like a kid.


"Are you still seeing that Alex guy?"


Startled, I turned around and saw Blake darkly staring at me. Nandito kaming dalawa ngayon sa birthday party ng chief police ng La Union. He's a good friend of my parents and Blake's father. Even though it's a birthday party for a kid, the whole place is filled with people of my father's generation. I could barely see any teenagers hanging around.


"Blake..." banayad ko siyang nginitian nang makita. He went with his father to Thailand for a business trip and he wasn't able to pick me up for two weeks. Sa loob ng dalawang linggo na iyon ay palaging si Alex ang naghahatid sa akin pauwi, o minsan, sa ballet school kung saan ako pumapasok.


"Welcome back..." I said and briefly hugged him.


"So, are you still seeing him?" he asked impatiently. I could tell he tensed for a bit when our skins touched, but the stoic expression on his face remained.


"Alex? Well, yes." I admitted. Since the invitation to the party was sent in such a short notice, we weren't able to shop for dresses to wear. I just pulled a satin Dior champagne dress and paired it with black cigarette heels, hoping I'd look mature for my age.


Mas lalong dumilim ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Blake. Kapag talaga si Alexandre ang pinag-uusapan ay nawawala siya sa mood.


"Bakit?"


"Anong bakit?" inosente kong tanong sa kaniya. I sweep a gaze over him, admiring how he looked so handsome in his simple white button down shirt and black trousers. "Alex is a good friend of mine. In fact, Mama invited him for dinner. My parents know his parents."


"But they don't know Alex." He insisted.


I sighed. "Blake, he is a good friend. Wala naman siyang ginagawang masama."


"Nanliligaw ba yun sa iyo?"


Natahimik ako sandali. He did ask me last week if he could court me, and I said I'll ask permission from my parents first. Alex laughed and said it's going to be fine. After that, we never talked about it. But I assumed he's really courting me now, what with all the roses and notes and driving me home every day.


"Anna, did you even do a background check on that boy?" I could hear the frustration in Blake's voice.


I was kind of offended and hurt with what he said. "Bakit pa kailangan ng background check, Blake?" tanong ko, pinipilit na itago ang iritasyon at pait sa boses. "Mabuti naman siyang tao. He's doing things that no one has ever did to me before." Pagtatanggol ko pa sa kaniya.


Blake looked taken aback. I saw how the expression on his face softened, as he watched me on the verge of fighting back tears. Mabilis na nawala ang kunot sa kaniyang noo.


"Anna..." malambing niyang wika sa akin.


Masama ang loob kong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kaniya. Kakarating pa nga lang niya galing sa Thailand, mag-aaway pa kami?


"I never meant to offend you..." he ran a hand through his hair and heaved out a sigh. "Look, I'm just worried about you."


"Hindi mo naman kailangang mag-alala dahil mabait nga si Alex!"


Tumahimik si Blake at tinitigan ako nang ilang segundo. Then he sighed and nodded.


"Fine, fine."


"And don't do a background check on him, please." I said in a bitter tone. "You're making it look like he's a criminal. Alex came from a reputable family, Blake. Siguro naman ay tatantanan mo na siya."


Labag sa loob siyang tumango. Ngumuso nalang ako, hindi na alam kung anong dapat sabihin.


"But you need to understand me if I still don't trust the guy. I am keeping an eye on you, Savannah."


I nodded and walked away, wondering why my heart is thumping so hard just hearing those words from him. I know he's just concerned, and I shouldn't be making fake scenarios inside my head, but it made me happy. Knowing that someone is genuinely concerned for me is such a fulfilling feeling.


Pero hindi ko rin maiwakli sa isipan ang iba pang mga bagay. Gaya na lamang na alam kong nakababatang kapatid na babae lang talaga ang turing ni Blake sa akin. I never called him kuya, not once in my life. He doesn't seem like a brother to me, but I like it when he's out there protecting me like one. The rest of his brothers are aloof and uninterested of me, so being showered by the attention of a Sobreval is such a magical feeling for me.


The next morning, I was told by my parents to invite Alex for dinner. I nodded and informed him when he decided to eat lunch with me.


"Uh... dinner?" mukhang alanganin niyang tanong sa akin.


I smiled gently, trying not to get disappointed by his uninterested reaction. "Yes. Mama cooks the best roasted duck. I'm sure you'll love it."


"Ah... hmmm..." nagkamot ng batok si Alex at nagpalinga-linga. He seems bothered by the thought of having dinner with my parents. I waited for his answer patiently. "Pwede bang i-move? May lakad kasi ako mamaya. Hindi mo naman sinabi kaagad sa akin."


"Oh." I said, trying to hide my disappointment again. I'm sure I've mentioned it to him several times, but he's just either nodding his head or not listening to me at all. It made me sad, all of a sudden.


"Tsaka baka hindi rin kita mahatid mamaya. Maaga kasi akong aalis."


"Ayos lang..." mahina ang boses kong sinabi.


He nodded again and quickly finished his food. Alex made me pay for our lunch earlier, complaining that the cafeteria doesn't accept credit cards and he doesn't have cash with him right now. Hindi naman iyon naging problema sa akin, except that some of the students are staring at us and murmuring to themselves.


"Sige, Savannah... una na ako sa klase namin. Late na ako eh." He said, standing up and glancing at his Rolex. "Kita nalang tayo bukas."


I am barely done with my food when he left. Sighing to myself, I ate in silence, ignoring the pitiful looks I got from my schoolmates. I convinced myself, once again, that Alexandre is just busy. Hindi ko dapat siya kinukulit. And he's still just courting me. Wala pa akong karapatan na mag-demand ng oras niya.


"Hey."


I jumped in my seat, startled. Staring at the unfamiliar girl with wide eyes, my cheeks burned in embarrassment.


"H-Hey..." I stammered.


She squinted her eyes at me. She's... very unusual. The curtain of her very dark hair made her look pale, and I wondered for a moment how she managed to enter the gates without getting caught of the multiple diamond earrings lining her ears. She's applied a dark shade of lipstick, too. And her skirt is shorter than the standard skirt we're wearing inside the campus.


Despite the rebel girl look, her eyes are kind and calm. Biglang nawala ang kaba ko, lalo na nang nginisihan niya ako.


"Wala kang kasama kumain?" tanong niya sa akin, sabay kuha ng isang fries na hindi man lang nagpapaalam.


Umiling ako.


"Good." She nodded and grinned again.


"Uhm..." I said, a bit uncomfortable that she's eating my food and I don't even know her name.


"Savannah De La Rua, right?"


Kumunot ang noo ko. "How do you know my name?"


The girl in front of me laughed as if I said something stupid. Or maybe I really did. I just couldn't figure it out.


"Everyone knows you, darling." She winked.


"Everyone?" I asked, shocked.


"Oo. Maganda ka at mayaman. Sinong hindi makakakilala sa iyo?"


Natahimik ako sandali. I may be the richest girl in the school, but I know I am far from being pretty. Sure, I got complimented for my lean and tall body, my hair, my lips, my slender hands, but I was never called pretty. It was only parts of my appearance that people find appealing, not the entire me.


"I'm Jessica, by the way." She said, extending her hands and showing her dark nail polish.


"Jessica..." I smiled and accepted hers. It was surprisingly soft. "Savannah."


"Just call me Jess." She said, shrugging.


"Sure, Jess."


"May gagawin ka mamaya?"


"Uhm..."


"You better make a good excuse because I just saw you got ditched by Alex the asshole."


Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat nang bigla siyang magmura. Though, I am used to it. What with being surrounded by Blake and some of his brothers who curse a lot, I am still not comfortable with girls cursing. Mama said that an elegant woman speaks softly and does not curse. I have never cursed once in my life. And I couldn't imagine any situation that would make me mouth those bad words.


"I don't think he's that bad..." mahina kong depensa sa kaniya.


"Oh, honey. When a boy asks you to pay for his lunch and ditches you halfway through eating, he ain't the one."


Napanguso ako sa sinabi niya. Blake is telling me the same thing, too. Though he's not as obvious and as vulgar as Jessica, I get what he's trying to tell me. Pero gusto kong bigyan ng pagkakataon si Alex. He's the only guy who's shown interest in me and made me feel like I'm special... or so I thought.


Hilaw na ngiti nalang ang isinagot ko kay Jess. She shook her head and then grabbed another fry again.


"Okay. I figured you won't be comfortable hanging out with me after I'd just ambushed you during lunch. How about some time this week?"


"San ba tayo pupunta?"


"Manuod ka ng gig ko. Libre ko na ang ticket. I sing every now and then..." she shrugged. "I'm not that big. But I do it for living."


Suddenly, I felt good upon hearing her words. It's the first time that someone invited me for something like this. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam na may kaibigang nang-iimbita sa iyo na manuod ng kanilang performance.


I nodded happily and promised to go with her. For some reason, mas magaan siyang kasama kaysa kay Alex. Or Denise and Shanna. She doesn't make me feel bad about myself.


Nang lumabas ako ay bahagya akong nagulat nang makita ang kotse ni Blake na nakaparada na sa tabi ng gate. He's leaning against his car, talking to someone in the phone and he looks like he just stepped out of a business magazine. Girls are discreetly taking pictures of him and I spotted Denise in a distance, eyeing him with sweet eyes, hoping he'd spare her even just a glance.


Kinalma ko ang nagwawalang puso at nakangiting naglakad patungo sa kaniya. The last time we met, we argued over Alex. But I know I can't stay mad at him for too long. He's like a big brother to me. Hindi ako basta-bastang pwedeng magalit sa kaniya, lalo pa't alam kung para din naman ito sa akin.


"Hi." I greeted him.


"Yeah... okay, I'll call you later. Bye." He said with a grunt and ended the call. Isiniksik niya ang kaniyang phone sa bulsa at tinitigan ako. Tapos ay iginala niya saglit ang paningin bago ito naglakbay pabalik sa akin.


"So, where's your little boyfriend?"


Napanguso ako sa sinabi niya. Nagtaas ng kilay si Blake nang makita ang reaksyon ko.


"Tita Anastasia told me that she's invited him to dinner tonight. Inimbitahan niya din ako."


I shrugged. "Well, I guess it would just be the two of us."


Kumunot ang noo ni Blake. I watched in silence as a sweat rolled down the side of his face and disappeared in his neck. He has the same perfume from the first night I met him.


"Where's he?"


"Busy daw siya. May lakad."


Sumama na ang timpla ng mukha ni Blake nang marinig ang sinabi kong iyon.


"Busy?"


I nodded. His frown deepened. Wala siyang sinabi at pinagbuksan na lamang ako ng pinto. I climbed inside his car and settle comfortably, watching as the girls stared at me with open envy. Napabuntong-hininga ako. They're probably dying for Blake to even just glance at them while he has no idea that he's being adored by many.


Tahimik ulit kaming dalawa nang buhayin na niya ang makina ng kaniyang civic at nagsimulang magmaneho. He's still deep in his thoughts and I know for a fact that all of it are disapproving thoughts of Alex. In his defense, I opened my mouth again.


"Pero sabi naman niya babawi siya sa akin. I'll just tell Mama that he's busy as of the moment."


"It's his chance to meet your parents, Savannah. If he's a real man, he'll show up."


Gusto kong lumubog sa kinauupuan sa sinabi niya. It was simple, yet a direct attack. Tumakas muli ang isang buntong-hininga mula sa akin.


"He's still just courting me, Blake."


"Kaya nga dapat mas lalo siyang nagpu-pursige, eh. Nanliligaw pa lang siya pero ganyan na ang ugali." Inis niyang anas sa akin.


"He's not as bad as you think he is." I retorted.


"Why the hell are you defending that guy so much?" iritado na niyang tanong sa akin. I saw his knuckles turning white as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.


"Because he's a good man." I said again. I believe in the good of everything and everyone. I'm sure it's a valid reason, why Alex can't come to the dinner tonight. Siguro ay sobrang importante lang ng lakad niya. I don't want to nag him about it. My seatmates the other day were talking about their boyfriends, and I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard one of them said that her boyfriend is complaining because she keeps on nagging him. I don't want to be a nagging girl.


"Sounds like a joke to me." he snorted.


It was my turn to get upset. Inis ko siyang nilingon. "Bakit ba ang init ng dugo mo sa kaniya? All of your impressions about him is bad since the day you met him."


"Because you're blinded."


"Me? Blinded?" I wanted to throw my arms in the air because of the frustration. If this escalates, this would be my first big fight with Blake. "Baka nagkakaganyan ka kasi nagseselos ka sa kaniya." I said without thinking. I wanted to lighten up the mood but it backfired on me.


Nakita kong nagdilim ang mga mata niya at tuluyan nang nagseryoso ang kaniyang mukha. I couldn't see the usual hint of humor in his aristocratic features. Bigla tuloy akong kinabahan.


"Eh ano ngayon kung nagseselos ako?" tanong niya sa baritonong boses.


Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. My heart leapt to my throat. Biglang nablangko ang utak ko kaya't tinitigan ko nalang siya. He turned to me. Seryoso at nanlulusob ang mga mata.


"Kung nagseselos nga ako, Anna, anong gagawin mo?"


I couldn't stop my lips from trembling. Hearing him say these words in his usual half-drunk tone makes me so dizzy. Now I know why the girls are going crazy over him. You just can't turn down a Blake Sobreval.


"Uhm... ano..." I chuckled awkwardly. "I w-was just joking. Hindi ka naman talaga nagseselos, diba?"


I almost shrieked when he pulled on the brakes all of a sudden and stopped the car in the middle of the road. Walang ibang sasakyan ngayon sa kalsada and suddenly, I felt very isolated with him.


In his dark eyes, he stared at me ruthlessly.


"Nagseselos ako, Anna..."


I opened my mouth but no words came out. Kulang nalang ay sumabog ang puso ko sa sobrang kaba nang bigla niyang nilapit ang mukha sa akin. Now I could smell not just his perfume, but even his aftershave cream. Sobrang lapit na ng kaniyang mukha sa akin. And he's staring at my lips, so I have to bite it to keep it from trembling.


Just when I know he's about to do something, I closed my eyes. I could hear the roar of my heart and the blood pumping in my ears. Then, he suddenly buried his face on my neck. Halos hindi na ako makagalaw dahil sa pinaghalong kaba, gulat, at panginginig ng kalamnan.


"Nagseselos ako, Anna..." aniya sa napapaos na boses. He's whispering now as if he's in a great agony. "Anong gagawin mo?'


I shut my eyes close and stared up at the ceiling. Pinakinggan ko ang tambol ng puso ko at hinayaang lusubin ang ilong ko ng panglalaki niyang amoy. Even the heat from his forehead is so disturbing but I couldn't help myself. I'm drowning in him.


I was only sixteen and I have no idea what to do. 

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