The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Code 1 =

The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Code 1 =

THREE WEEKS AGO

IF THERE'S ONE THING I HATE, IT HAS TO BE RULES. Maybe it's really wrong to like someone five years older than you are, but it's not like I will let it dictate my life. I have to get what I want. And I will.

"Lalim ng iniisip mo ha," Via says as she snaps her fingers in front of my face.

I sigh. "What's taking him so long to come here? He's the CEO, he should have been here kanina pa."

We are currently separating goods—cans, instant foods, school supplies, and whatnot— and waiting. Iniintay lang naman namin si Basil—ang CEO ng De Los Nobles Foundation. Nandito kami sa isang marginalized community at nakatambay sa isang maliit na pavilion dito na nagsisilbing evacuation area tuwing may kalamidad.

As you might have guessed already, isa lang naman ang popular na dahilan kung bakit pupunta ang mga college students sa isang malayo at mahirap na lugar kung saan hindi masyadong uso ang sibilisasyon—NSTP or National Service Training Program.

Isang malaking hassle ito hindi lamang sa buhay ko kundi sa iba ding mga estudyante. Required course kasi ito at hindi kami pwedeng grumaduate hangga't hindi namin nakukuha. I'm currently in my second year in college at ayun na nga nandito at naghihintay.

It has been a surprise for me na ginusto ko pa talagang sumama dito sa outreach program. Nagulat ako na nakabangon ako ng alas-tres ng umaga at nasa loob na ng bus by four a.m. Tiniis ko 'yung limang oras na byahe na nakaupo sa hindi komporatbleng upuan ng school bus. At maya-maya lang, magbibilad na ko sa ilalim ng tirik na tirik na araw hanggang sa lumubog ito.

See, hassle 'di ba? NSTP (somehow) stopped being a pain in my a*s since last two week—since I met Baz.

Last two weeks, I was celebrating Freaky Friday in The Vibe along with some of the new people I just met there. Alas-singko na ko ng madaling araw nakauwi sa apartment namin ni Via. Hell, I was crawling to get to my bed. Alas-siyete kami kailangan sa school para sa NSTP seminar. My body was killing me. You couldn't imagine.

Pakiramdam ko any minute magc-c***k na 'yung ulo ko sa sobrang sakit. Para siyang minamaso at dini-drill nang sabay. Nasa auditorium kami at nakaupo ako sa isang upuan—'yung tulad ng mga upuan sa sine pero mas maliit at mas masikip. Pinilit kong ipagkasya ang sarili ko doon kahit alam kong hindi naman ako kasya. Pero kailangan kong matulog kung hindi, baka mahimatay na ko at mag-shut down ang katawan ko.

"Guys my age don't know how to treat me—don't know how to treat me. Guys my age don't know how to touch me—don't know how to love me good," pagkanta ni Via.

"Shut up!" sigaw ko sa kaniya at sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

Natawa naman siya sa'kin. Sanay naman na kasi si Via na nasusungitan ko siya tuwing may hangover ako. She knew it would be best if she stayed quiet pero mas gusto niya yatang sumali sa sakit ng ulo ko.

"Wag ka munang mahihimatay ah? Let's wait for Baz. I think marunong siya mag-CPR."

Napapikit ako sa inis. Ever since noong in-interview nila si Baz last week, puro 'yun na lang ang laman ng bibig niya tuwing napupunta ang NSTP sa topic namin. Kesyo si Baz—gentleman, matalino, gwapo, mayaman, matangkad—dream guy kind na lalaki at halos lumuwa ang mga mata nila noong makita nila. He was only twenty-two and was managing the foundation branch of their company.

Oo na, ideal nga. But he was twenty-two for Pete's sake! I was only seventeen.

"Oh, come on," sabi ni Via mula sa tabi ko. "I know you can go for him. Bagay kayo. Masusustentuhan niya 'yang expensive living mo."

I opened my eyes just to glare at her. "Since he's so much of a great guy why don't you date him?"

"Alam mo namang hindi ako pumapatol sa mas matanda sa'kin. Adjust mo na lang ng one year 'yang range mo."

I smacked her on the arm. "Mukha kang Baz eh! Pasagasaan kaya kita sa bus, ha?!"

Natawa lamang si Via kasama ng iba naming groupmates na kahilera namin sa upuan. Hindi ko alam kung makikisali ba ko sa ingay nila pero masakit nga ang ulo ko at baka kapag tumawa ako, biglang maalog ang tiyan ko at magsilbing Niagara-suka falls ang bibig ko. Eww.

"Am I late?"

Lumipat ang nakakamatay kong tingin sa lalaking nakatayo sa pinakagilid na aisle na nakatingin sa kaniyang mamahaling relo. Naka-light blue polo shirt ito na naka-fold hanggang siko at khaki-colored pants. Lakas dating.

Ito ba si Baz?

Gwapo nga. Hindi naman luluwa ang mga mata ko dahil sanay naman na ko sa gwapo. But his face was enough to send my heart beating fast in my chest. Puro anggulo ang kaniyang mukha. Siguro Spanish siya? Brazilian? Latin? Somewhere along those bloodlines. He had prominent cheekbones, strong jaw, a sharp nose, and lips oh so reddish I could tell they were kissable just by looking at them.

"No, you're not late," pagkapit ni Via sa braso ko. "This is Gwen. She was not present during our interview with you. She's feeling a little under the weather A.K.A. curing a hangover. Pagpasensiyahan mo na."

Then his eyes shifted to me and I felt like I was being set on fire. Ang intense niya tumingin, as if he could see beneath your clothes. "Hi, Gwen," bati niya sa'kin habang kinukuha ang kaniyang upuan. "Did you drink any Advil's already?

Umiling ako sa kaniya. Somehow I lost my tongue.

That's how it feels like whenever I'm around Baz (kahit dalawang beses palang naman talaga kaming nagkakasama), nas-speechless ako na ewan. There's more about that morning at ik-kwento ko 'yon, don't worry. And also that second meeting. But for now dumating na si Baz.

Isang makintab na itim na kotse ang tumigil sa harap ng pavilion. Nanguna na agad ang instructor namin sa pagbaba upang sumalubong. Psh, as if namang hindi ko alam na crush niya din si Baz. Sowzzzz! Halos lahat naman yata ng babae dito crush si Baz. Ayun nga lang, mas naka-score na ko kesa sa kanila.

Nang malaman ni Ma'am Violet na nasungkit ni Trixie (group leader namin) ang isa sa mga malalaking foundation sa bansa, aba, sa'min na lahat iniatas ang trabaho. Kailangan daw namin silang kuhain na maging sponsor dito sa outreach program.

Sabihin na nating dinaan ko sa haras at dahas si Baz para pumayag... hahahahaha! Biro lang.

Then he steps out of the car. For a guy who is over six-feet tall, he is unusually graceful. Para bang mabagal siya laging kumilos at parang laging nagw-waltz. Parating may something soft sa paggalaw niya, like the way a person will approach a pretty bird to touch, like he doesn't want to scare you away.

Pero hindi lang pala siya ang pasahero ng kotse, a woman comes out—an old woman. She's about in her early forties.

"Who is that?" nagtatakang tanong din ni Via.

"Who knows?"

The woman is dressed in all black. Black flare denim pants, black shirt, and black rubber shoes too. Morena siya and you can freely imagine just how beautiful she was in her younger years. Sobrang tangos ng ilong at payat. Mukhang masungit. Wait, is that his mom? Whattt?!

Napunta naman ang tingin ko kay Baz and I immediately smile. As always (I assume), he looks hotter than the sun. His hair looks like peanut butter in color underneath the UV rays. Nakasuot lang siya ng puting t-shirt at maong pants pero grabe para pa din siyang model. The way that shirt clings to his chest though... sana ako na lang 'yung tshirt na 'yun. Luhhhh.

Biglaan namang napaayos ng tayo ang professor ko nang ipakilala ni Baz kung sino ang babae. Akala mo may biglaang nakadikit na ruler sa likod niya sa sobrang diretso habang naglalakad sila papunta sa loob ng pavilion.

Matapos ang maigsi niyang speech, dumating na din siya sa impormasyon na kailangan ko. "This is Sonaya Noblerico, the president of Noble & Rico Enterprise."

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba kaming pumalakpak pero may nagsimula ng isa kaya sumunod na lang din ako. Wha—ho—why is she here?

Umabante naman ang babae. She looks so composed and elegant, and rich, and important. "Alright," she says and wipes her hands on her pants. "I don't want to prolong this anymore," she smiles at us. "Let us help these people!"

Habang nagt-trabaho at nagsasalansan ng mga bag, iniisip ko kung magkakaroon ba ako ng chance para makasama ko si Baz, o di naman kaya ay makasama ko manlang siya kahit five minutes. Halos boys ang inatasan na mag-distribute ng mga bag sa mga bahay-bahay dahil mabibigat ang mga ito.

"Hello, are you almost done here?" tanong ni Mrs. Sonaya. Her voice is deeper than I expect tapos parang ang smooth lang.

"Ah, yes, po," I face and smile at her.

"Good!" she says. "The next activity is planting trees and flowers. Your instructor said the pots were already delivered here last week and that you kids know where it is."

"Yes po."

"Can you get them?"

Mabilis akong tumango sa kaniya. And it earns me a smile.

"Alright," she says. "Come back fast..."

"Opo."

"And bring Basil along with you. They must be plentiful. You might need an extra pair of hands—Basil!!"

Sumunod ang mga mata ko kung nasaan si Basil, inaayos nito ang pagkakatali ng mga sako ng mga puno sa isang sulok. Mabilis itong napalingon sa pagtawag.

"Help this girl out, will you?"

Hindi na naghintay ng sagot si Mrs. Sonaya at lumipat na sa kabilang istasyon.

I have to bite my lips to keep a grin from surfacing as I walk towards Baz who stands up to his full height. Iligaw ko kaya 'to? Mwahahahahahaha.

"Shall we?" he asks, he is smiling.

"We shall."