Regresa A Mi (Tagalog On-Going)

3- “Penniless.”

"RIGHT! You're out of your mind, Francine!" sunod pa ni Almira.

"Hay naku, guys! Tayo na nga lang at male-late na tayo sa first subject natin!" si Haesel namang nauna nang nagmartsa papunta sa aming classroom.

Haesel's right.

Tiningnan ko sa huling sandali si Ice na nagwawalis at napangiti ulit ako. It feels so magical that suddenly an Ice could turn my morning so bright!

"Let's go, Francine!" hinila na 'ko ni Almira.

Tulad ng lagi, kapag napapa-canteen kami ng mga kaibigan ko pagkatapos ng klase, lunch or vacant time ay may hinahanap na ang aking mga mata. Iisang taong lagi nang hinahanap ng aking mga mata...

It was lunch time one day and we were in the middle of our meal when suddenly pumasok sina Ice at mga babaeng kagaya niya ay naka-uniform ng pang-working student, mga kasamahan niya for sure.

Nagkukuwentuhan sila, and everybody of them seemed happy and having fun. 'Ni hindi nga kaagad niya ako napansin dito sa table kasama ng mga kaibigan ko.

"See? A penniless boy suits penniless girls!" si Tamia habang pinanunuod din sila.

"Grabe ka na, Tamia! Tao pa rin 'yan kahit hindi mayaman!" depensa naman ng mabait na si Haesel.

I'm on the latter's side.

"Wala naman akong sinabing hindi siya tao dahil mahirap siya. Ang sa akin lang ay lumugar siya sa kung saan siya nababagay because our Francine doesn't suit him for she suits on a man like her, like a Prince for a Princess! Simple!"

Napailing na lang si Haesel at hindi na nagsalita pa. Ako rin ay walang balak na patulan ang matapobre kong kaibigan. At the end of the day, ang opinyon nila'y mananatiling opinyon nila, and it will not define the decision I'll make for myself nor my heart’s desire.

"But don't worry, Franny, 'cause we will make further research about this guy since he has your attention and your eyes set for him right now," ani Almira naman sabay kindat sa akin.

I rolled my eyes in the air. Like whatever. They judge him just because he cannot compete with my other suitors when it comes to wealth but for me, above all, he's the greatest one!

Hindi ko naman akalaing tototohanin pala ni Almira ang kanyang sinabi, they made some background research about Ice and they were successful in doing such.

Naglalakad kami sa corridor one day papuntang classroom namin sa second floor when Almira called me.

"Come here, Francine. Take a look at this. You must see this," aniya sabay hila sa akin papunta sa balustrade.

Lumapit nga ako roon at itinuro naman ni Almira sa baba si Ice na nasa isang bench at may mga kasamang mga babae. Hindi mga babaeng kasamahan nito bilang working student kundi normal na mga estudyante mula sa iba't-ibang departamento na mukhang may mga sinabi rin sa buhay. He seems enjoying their company and they love to flirt with him!

"According to what I have found, that penniless boy who's named Ice is a notorious playboy. Yes, he doesn't have money but yeah, he obviously has the charm to lure the girls into getting their attention and hearts to fall for him," panimula ni Almira.

"Can you see that girl in a red mini skirt? That was one of his exes! At alam mo ba kung hanggang kailan lang sila nagtagal? They had been together for just two weeks!" sunod pa ni Tamia.

Tiningnan ko nga ang babaeng tinuro ni Tamia. Mestisahin ang mukha nito at kulay gatas ang balat sa kaputian lalo pa’t kapag nasisilawan ng araw dahil sa suot na mini skirt at tube crop-top.

Maputi rin naman ako pero hindi kasing puti nito, hindi ako nakaramdam ng inggit sa kulay bagkus ay nakaramdam ako ng pagkadismaya sa hindi ko mapangalanang kadahilanan.

"How about that girl in a light blue dress?" patuloy ni Tamia at tinuro naman ang ibang babae.

Nakita ko nga, kasalukuyang nakaakbay kay Ice at nagtatawanan sila ng kanilang mga kasamahang iba pang mga babae.

Oh wait. I remember this girl! Isa ito sa mga nakalaban ko sa Miss HU pageant just few months ago!

"Yeah. Right. She's familiar," ani Tamia na tila ba nabasa ang iniisip ko kahit wala pa man akong sinasabi. "Second year, Med-tech student. Naging ka-fling ni Ice right before the pageant and there are even speculations that they remain friends until now because of the benefits they can get from each other."

"Benefits?" naguguluhang tanong ko. What benefits?

"I mean s*x! Parang katulad ng set-up sa Friends with Benefits na movie ni Justin Timberlake!"

I shut my mouth. I am not familiar with the said movie but now, I got Tamia's point.

After all, those were just speculations they have against Ice.

"And look at the other girls," tinuro na rin ni Almira ang iba pang mga babaeng kasama ni Ice. "They are all his flings. Every girl who gets in his way becomes his fling."

Tiningnan ko nga'ng mabuti ang mga babae, mukha nga'ng hindi nalalayo ang mga ito sa sinasabi ng aking mga kaibigan.

Natilihan pa ako nang makulit na kinuha ni Ice ang kamay ng isa sa mga babae at dinala iyon sa labi para halikan. Naghiyawan at nagtawanan pang lalo ang grupo nila.

"See that?" Tamia tilted her head. "There are even rumours that he is using his charm to get his needs from these girls. I mean, if he needs money he can just fling around, use whatever he has and then in a snap of a hand, he gets what he needs!"

"And rumours that he collects his girls. Even in freshmen, there were speculations that lots of first years got devirginized very early because of him!" added Almira.

Nanayo naman ang balahibo ko sa sinabi ng huli. Damn.

"Now, tell us honestly, would you also want to become one of those girls na first years pa lang ay devirginized na dahil sa penniless na playboy na 'yan?"

Tiningnan kong maigi si Ice mula sa ibaba. Nahagip naman nito ang mga mata ko at napatingala nang wala sa oras dito sa kinatatayuan ko kasama ng dalawang mga kaibigan ko. He smiled dearly to me and even waved his hand.

I did the same. Suddenly, all of my doubts and judgments about him disappeared with just one smile!

"Oh? Guess, we know the answer now!" frustrated na nasabi ni Tamia kay Almira.

My perspective about Ice wouldn't change that sudden just because of what my friends told me about him. After all, those were just speculations and rumours. Ano bang malay ko kung gawa-gawa lang ang mga iyon para siraan si Ice!

No way. I will believe Ice on how I met him and not how other people see and judge him!