The Campus Queen Bee

Chapter 19: The Game

Juliane unpacked her things. Kadadating lang nya ng nagdaang araw galing sa Colorado. Doon sya nag celebrate ng Christmas at New Year's eve. Habang si Nicky naman ay umuwi sa mommy nito sa California, ayon na din sa utos ng ina nito. She put back her things to its places at pagkatapos ay ininit nya sa microwave ang natirang pasta ng nagdaang gabi pa nya binili. Pagkayari nya kumain ay nagmamadaling pumasok sya sa banyo to clean up herself at gumayak sa pagpasok sa skwelahan. Wala naman na sya dapat pang asikasuhin sa skwelahan kaya ayos lang kahit na ma-late sya. Nai-release na din nya ang mga grades nya at hinihintay lang nya si Nicky para sabay silang magpa-enroll. Nakalabas na sya ng banyo at kasalukuyang namimili ng damit na isusuot ng bigla syang magulat sa pagtunog ng celphone nya.

"Juliane! Meet me up at school today. 10am, same bench." Sabi ni Nicky sa kabilang linya at nagpaalam na din agad kahit di pa sya nagsasalita. She shook her head for what Nicky did. Bossy talaga ito pero gusto nya ito. Sadyang sharp lang ito sa pag gawa ng plano pero in the end of the day, you will realize its worth.

She grabbed her tight fit black jeans and pair it with her blue sleeveless and put on a white half blazer on it and grabbed her white high-heeled shoes from Prada and see her reflection on the mirror. She apply a light make up and her lip gloss.

Paglabas nya ng kwarto nya ay nakita nya si Martina. Nginitian sya nito at binati. "You look great today, Juliane." Martina said with a wide smile on her face. "Really, Nay?" She asks. "Of course, even your neighbor will easily fall for you if he could just seen you." Martina replied. "Hmm. Binibilig mo naman nay ang ulo ko eh. How could you say that? We don't even know if who's living next door on us. We haven't know if he or she." She said with a laugh. Naputol ang sasabihin ni Martina ng biglang tumunog ang telepono sa sala. She reached for it while Juliane packed her hand carry. "Good day Ms. Ayala. Your personal assistant is here. Would you like me to send him in?" Sabi ng receptionist sa ibaba ng condo ni Juliane. Alam na ni Juliane kung sino ang tumawag kaya isinenyas nya kay Nay Martina na ipaalam kila Edward na bababa na sya. "No need. Just tell them that Ms. Ayala will now go down." Martina said and she hang up the phone. "Nay, I'd better be going. You know Nicky very well, and surely she will be mad if I meet her late." She said. "Nay, your present is on the couch. I bought it in Colorado." She added and wink to her. Binilan nya ito ng perfume na galing sa isang mall doon at bumili din sya ng ibang damit para dito at kila edward and of course, to nicky. Her grandma make a vegetable pie for Nicky so she bring it for her.

Nang bumukas ang elevator ay nakita nya agad sila Edward. She handed all her presents to him and the three men was so grateful. Sumakay na sya sa sasakyan at pinagbuksan sya ng pinto ni Edward at hinatid na sya sa skwelahan.

Nang makapasok sa entrada ng skwelahan ang sasakyan ay pinagbuksan sya ni Edward ng pinto para bumaba. She really hate it when she knew she has a hand to use but can't used it to open the car door dahil na din sa pakiusap ni Edward na hayaan nalang sila na pagsilbihan sila para na din sa pamilya nila. Nagpaalam sya sa mga ito at naglakad sa hallway. There's nothing new on that day. Students are staring at her as if she's a specimen. She got used to it. Napahinto sya ng makita si Allysa at Martin sa ilalim ng puno malapit sa bench na pagkikitaan nila ni Nicole. Nakayakap si Allysa kay Martin habang ang huli naman ay hinahaplos ang buhok nito at hinalikan ito sa noo. She caught her breath. Nasa ganoong posisyon sya ng biglang humarang si Nicole sa harapan nya.

"So you are just going to stand here all day?" Sabi nito sa kanya na sobrang kinagulat nya. "I-I w-won't." She replied shortly. "Then what the hell are you staring at?" Nicole said sharply. She didn't know how to start. "Oh, dear. Don't talk. Let's just sit at the bench and enrolled our subjects before the day ends. I knew it now. You see Ms. Santibanez and Mr. Forbes." Nicole added attentively. She smile on the thought. "You already knew it but kept asking me what is it?" She said as she shook her head. "Yeah. I just don't intend to startle you dear friend! Anyway, is that for me?" Sabi nito at tinuturo ang dala nya na hand bag kung saan nakalagay ang vegetable pie na ginawa ng lola nya. "Yes. Grandma told me to hand it to you." She said. "Oh..My..G..! Vegetable pie? It's perfect! I think I gain weight because of holidays, and it will really help me to lose some. Tell Aunt about it. She's really an angel from above." Nicole said. Kitang kita dito ang kasiyahan. "I will tell her don't worry." She reply. Umupo sila sa bench. Inaayos nya ang pagkakasunod sunod ng papel nya para sa pag eenroll nila ng biglang lumapit si Nicky at bumulong.

"I thought you already get rid of that beetle?" Nicole whisper to her ear. She couldn't help it but to laugh. "You mean! Why beetle? I thought too but what happen to them is out of my business.." sagot nya dito. "You mean, you will never take revenge? Why not beetle? She looks like a parasite that keep sipping blood from that man. Ewww!" Nicole said with matching make face. She really couldn't help it but to laugh. "The game wasn't over yet!" She replied with a devilishly smile on her face. Nagkasundo sila ni Nicky na kinabukasan na magenroll at pupunta sila sa football field where she could find Martin's friend.

They left the park and goes to the field. She saw Rence - Martin's best buddies on the football field. Hindi minsan lang na nagpakita ito ng gusto sa kanya. They are hiding at the back of the tunnel hole. "Hey, are you sure about this? You're going to seduce that man just to throttle his neck and get the truth out of him?" Nicole asks her. Nicole has a very short temper like her, no doubt that they clicked together. "Just watch over there, Nicky. Be patient!" She said and warned her. "Okay. Go! Don't take too long! I don't want to rotten here! There's lots of spider web here, dammit!" Pagmamaktol ni Nicole. She laugh and make her way.

Hindi naman nagtagal ay nakita sya agad ni Rence. Naupo sya sa malapit na bench kung saan matatanaw pa din ang mga naglalaro ng football. Rence is the team captain of football. Tumawag ito ng break time at nagpahid ng pawis. Nilapitan sya agad nito at nginitian naman nya ito ng matamis. Gwapo naman si Rence at galing din sa may pangalang pamilya. Pero sadyang wala syang gusti dito kaya hindi nya iti pinagtuunan ng pansin man lang. "What are you doing here?" Rence asks her smiling. "Was it bad to see you after all?" She blurt out and make face to let him know that she's mad. Why so flirt, Juliane Ayala? "I don't mean it. Cheer, okay? I just don't see any reason for you to be here." Sabi pa nito at hinaplos ang pisngi nya. She smile devilishly. "Mhmm. I just came just to see you and if you're doing fine. We're friends." Sabi nya dito. Biglang nawala ang ngiti na nasa mukha nito na kinabahala nya. "I don't want us to be just friends, Juliane. If you could just gave me a chance to prove it, I will grabbed the opportunity to be with you." Rence said as he intertwined his hand to hers which made her feel irritated. She hold on her temper. "I will think about it, Rence. I don't want to hurt you. You must know that. But I really try, okay? Go back to your play and let us talk later. I have something to finish. I just came to see if you're doing fine.." She said. Naniwala naman si Rence at nagpaalam na. Tumalikod na din sya at sinenyasan si Nicky sa likod ng tunnel.

"What happen?" Nicole asks. "I will going to meet him later again. I was so irritated when he hold my hand and intertwined to his. I thank God for taking good care of my temper.." She replied. "What? Meeting him again? Juliane Ayala! You're nuts!" She just shook her head at kumain sila sa pinaka malapit na restaurant sa labas ng campus.

**********

Kapaparada lang ng sasakyan ni Brandon sa campus ng makita nya si Martin sa bench na nasa ilalim ng malaking puno sa loob ng campus. He bring out his football gears. Nagkayayaan kasi sila ni Brandon na maglaro ng football at magpustahan kaya sinang-ayunan nya ito. "Hey, what you up to? Why you are alone? Where's the team and Rence?" Tanong nya kay Martin. "They will come out now." Sabi nito sa kanya. "Don't smile like that cousin. It's irritating me!" Sabi nya kay Martin na ngingisi-ngisi. Mayamaya pa ay dumating na si Rence at tinatawagan palang daw nito ang barkada. Sinaluduhan sya ni Rence bilang pagsasabi na nakarating ito. "I smell something fishy!" Rence said grinning. "There's nothing new today! Anyway, I make the move first. I left my gears on my car." Martin replied at umalis na ito. Napailing nalang sya sa ginawi ng pinsan. "What's up to that man?" Rence ask him. Matagal na din nila itong kakilala at kabarkada. Kaya nitong magtago ng sekreto. "He's doing weird things and seems in love... I think I must know his magic spell." Rence added grinning. He shook his head and tap Rence shoulder. "You want to know it? It's started in this wicked plan.." sabi ni Brandon sa ginawa ng pinsan na nagpatawa ng todo kay Rence. Mayamaya pa ay dumating na ang buong team at nagpunta na sila sa football field.