City Girl

CHANDRIA KATE BENEDICTO’s POV “That sh*t head.” “Gosh! He’s so annoying. How can he leave her like that?” Faye, my friend is literally drowning in tears right now. “He needs to do it. He’s sick!” pagtatanggol naman ni Keisler sa bidang lalaki ng movie. I laughed. Kanina lang ay naiinis din siya sa nangyayari. Faye looked at him with fiery eyes. “So what? He could have just told her!” giit nito na para bang si Keisler ang gumawa at sumulat ng istoryang iyon. “Are you watching? He has no choice!” “He has! Can you look at the girl’s—“ “Shhh,” people inside the cinema hushed them. Pinatigil ko na rin sila dahil medyo nakakahiya na. They’re disturbing people who are busy watching the movie. Yes, we’re inside the cinema. It’s our usual hangout day. Hanggang makalabas kami ay patuloy pa rin ang pagtatalo ng dalawa. “She suffered too! Imagine how painful could it be that the love of her life died in other’s arms. And the only thing she has is a letter,” giit pa rin ni Faye, pinipilit ipaunawa kay Keisler ang side ng bidang babae sa movie. The latter just shrugged. “Stop it, guys. Let’s go to Bvlgari.” Tinuro ko ang boutique ng Bvlgari na ilang metro nalang ang layo sa pwesto naming. Keisler face formed an annoyed one. Tumawa ako dahil tiyak na mayayamot na naman ito kahihintay sa amin ni Faye mag-shopping. “What are you going to buy there? Perfume again? You two just bought perfume a week ago,” reklamo nito habang naglalakad kami patungo roon. Panay ang pagkamot sa noo. “Fine! Let’s just go to Michael Kors, then.”  I heard they’re on sale. For sure Keisler would agree, after all he loves the brand, too. And for the information guys, Keisler is a straight man. Not gay. I grew up with these two here in New York that’s why we’re very very close. Michael Kors shop is full of red tags- full of sales. OMG! Naghugis puso ang mga mata ko habang nagpipiyesta sa mga bagong labas na design at sa mga naka-sale. “Look at this reversible belt! So pretty!”  Sinukat ni Faye sa bewang ang sinturon na hawak. It’s a Michael Kors reversible belt with a monogram print on it. “Love that,” komento ko saka nagtingin din ng akin. Nagkanya-kanyang mundo na kaming tatlo roon and we ended up buying almost hundred thousand pesos worth of products but of course we paid it using a dollar bill- sa aming tatlo na ha. “Chanel?” Faye asked. Umiling ako ganoon din si Keisler. I’m actually banned from Chanel, LV, Dior and other luxury brands right now- by my Mom. I spend almost half a million last week and I can’t shop from those brands for a month. Actually, kaya ko naman siya itago but my Mom reduced my allowance so I have no money to buy from those brands. “U-huh! You’re grounded, Kate?” Sumimangot ako. “Don’t even mention it.” Humalakhak silang dalawa. Next naming pinuntahan ang shop ng Zara at Mango and then after that we ate in an Italian Restaurant inside the Mall. “Let’s take a groufie!” We ended our day normally. Naghiwa-hiwalay na kami sa labas ng Mall dahil may kanya-kanya naman kaming dala na sasakyan. I drove fast and freely to our house. “Saan ka na naman galling?” Sinalubong ako ng nakapamewang at nakataas na kilay ni Mommy. But my eyes landed on the suitcase behind her. And there I saw my Dad. “Daddy!” I excitedly run and hugged him. It’s been three months since I last saw my Dad. He was so busy kasi. My dad is a very busy businessman. Paiba-iba siya ng lugar dahil talagang hawak niya ang mga business na ipinamana sa kanya at kay Mommy. Minsan ay sumasama si Mom sa kanya pero madalas na hindi dahil nasanay na rin si Mommy dito sa bahay. I’m a daddy’s girl if it isn’t obvious yet. “How’s my princess?” Malambing na tanong ni Daddy saka hinalikan ang tuktok ng ulo ko. “Mom reduced my allowance,” pabulong na sumbong ko na sinagot niya ng tawa saka humiwalay sa akin. “Mayroon pala akong pasalubong sa ‘yo. You love mangoes from the Philippines, right?” Binuksan nito ang maletang dala saka naglabas ng isang supot na kulay berdeng manga. Agad akong naglaway ng makita iyon. Lumawak ang ngiti ko saka kinuha iyon mula kay Daddy. And yes, my Dad is staying in the Philippines because he manages our business there, he was there for almost two months na. While Mom is a designer here in New York. She’s actually my inspiration though I’m not into designing because I prefer modeling. And yeah, I’m into fashion, too. “I-she-share ko kila Faye ito bukas.” Bumaling akong muli sa maleta ni Dad, “You’ll stay here for how many days?” Muli kong binalik ang tingin sa kanya na ngayo’y nakaupo na sa couch. Mom sat beside him and I can’t help but to giggle. Bagay na bagay talaga silang dalawa. Sa Pinas din nabuo ang love story nila. “I’ll wait for you,” Aniya na ikinabigla ko. “What?” Nagtatakang tumingin sa akin si Mommy and with the expression of her face, I think I know now. “Nakalimutan mo na yata ang usapan natin?” Mom strict face is now out. My heart broke as I remember our deal two years ago. Hindi ko iyon nakalimutan but lately, nawala siya sa isip ko. All I think right now is how to attend fashion shows, modeling seminars. Kung pwede nga lang na huwag nalang mag-aral, eh. But I need it and for sure my parents wouldn’t let me go straight to the career path that I want. “I’ll stay in Manila?” Bumuntong hininga ako. Kahit na naririnig ko na tulad ng New York ay ganoon din naman ka-busy ang mga syudad sa Pilipinas. Madaming sasakyan at naglalakihang mga building, madaming shopping malls and all pero iba pa rin ang New York. New York will always be my home. “Hindi, anak. Ako lang ang mag-i-stay sa Manila. You’ll stay at our friend’s province. Doon kami dati nakatira ng Mommy mo but we already sell our house there so you’ll stay at our friend’s place.” Nakanganga ko siyang tinignan. Kung ganoon ay hindi ako mag-i-stay kasama siya? Anong silbi ng pag-uwi ko roon kung ganoon? And seriously, he’ll let me stay in other people’s place? And what… A province? Probinsya? What the fvck? “You’ve got to be kidding me, Daddy,” umiiling na sambit ko. Mom answered. “Anong mali roon? Mag-i-stay ka sa probinsya namin. Hindi ba’t iyon ang usapan natin before? You’ll stay there so you can experience a simple life before you pursue the career that you want. Doon maiisip mo kung ano ba talagang gusto mo. You’ll eventually learn about different kinds of living.” “No, Mom. Ayoko roon. You know that I’m not a farm or province lover, right?” Hindi kasi talaga ako mahilig sa ganoon. Kaya maski inaaya ako nila Mommy na magbakasyon doon ay hindi ako sumasama dahil nga ayaw ko. I’d rather stay here, visit different Malls, attend fashion events, concerts, photoshoot, go to France, Japan and all. Pero probinsya? For real? Humalukipkip ako at sumimangot. My berry-jam colored hair is now messy. Hindi kasi ako nag-ponytail at kanina pa naihahangin. I looked at my nails while playing it. I love my nail color right now, it’s in nude shade. So simple and so elegant. OMG! I forgot to go to the spa. “May usapan tayo. Ipu-pursue mo lang ang pagmomodelo kapag naranasan mo ng mamuhay ng simple. Anak, it’s not all the time that you can live a grand life. Kailangan mo rin malaman kung anong klaseng pamumuhay ang mayroon sa mga simpleng tao lang. In order for you to achieve that influencer dream of yours, you have to understand different perspectives of people.” I rolled my eyes on my Mom’s sentiments. Marahan akong hinila ni Daddy paupo sa tabi niya. His eyes looked at me understandingly. “Anak, kami ng Mommy mo lumaki sa probinsyang iyon. And as much as we want you to live a decent and simple life like us before, we cannot because our work is here. Kaya ngayon, bago mo tuluyang pasukin ang industriyang nais mong pasukin, at least live the life that you haven’t tried living.” “What’s the point, Dad?” pagmamaktol ko. Mom glared at me, nauubusan na yata ng pasensya sa akin. Well, as you can see, mas maikli talaga ang pasensya ni Mom kaysa kay Dad. “Tumigil ka na diyan, Kate ha. Ang usapan mag si-senior high ka roon bago mo tahakin ang landas ng pagmomodelo rito. I won’t let you join the influencer and fashion industry if you didn’t study there. Tapos ang usapan.” Mom knows how much I fantasize being a model. An international model to be exact. Designer kasi si Mommy and gusto ko rin isuot yung mga disenyo niya. I adore her too as a woman. Being a model is my biggest dream since then. Iyon lang talaga ang pangarap na nilu-look forward ko. As in! Kaya alam na alam ni Mommy kung saan ako titirahin eh. She knows I can’t say no when it comes to it. But she’s somehow right, deal na kasi namin ito noon. Yung una nga naming deal is doon ako mag-fo-fourth year high school hanggang grade twelve, buti nalang napakiusapan ko pa sila na tapusin ang fourth year high school ko dito. But I admit, I actually thought they’ll change their minds about it. “Mom, I think I can’t live there.” Iniisip ko palang na titira ako sa probinsya hindi ko na maatim. Like duh! Ano namang nakaka-excite gawin doon? “Then choose. Stay here and take up a medicine course abroad or finish your secondary education there and pursue modeling here.”