Luscious Man Series 1: Zaimon Luther Suarez

KABANATA 6

"Miss Balaba, are you listening?" Napapitlag ako nang marinig kong tinawag niya ako kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya at sa paligid.

Shit!

Nakatingin sila sa akin na para bang may mali akong ginawa ngayon sa harapan nila.

"Pardon, sir?" Napakagat ako sa pang-ibabang labi nang makita ko ang pagtaas ng kilay niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

Umiling siya, "I was calling your name for the nth time. It's for your attendance. Seems like you're preoccupied, Miss Balaba." He said in a stern voice.

Pinigilin ko ang sarili kong mapa-irap sa sinabi niya. Ang hangin rin ng isang ito, e 'no? Sarap sampalin e.

"Sorry, sir. I was just… thinking about something." Sa mahinang boses ay sambit ko.

"I hope that something is more important than listening to your class today." Saad niya sa mababang tono at nagsimula na ulit magtawag ng estudyante para sa attendance.

"Bakit ka ba kasi tulala diyan?" Naiintrigang bulong ni Vea na nasa tabi ko.

"Nothing."

Iyon na ang huli naming pagkikita sa school. Hindi na kasi sila kinukuhang substitute teacher kapag walang teacher sa isang subject, lalo na dahil graduating sila.

Nagpatuloy lang kami hanggang sa matapos ang school year. Palaging nagiging abala kapag matatapos na kaya nakakairita minsan.

Time goes by so fast that I didn't expect that now… I am in my 11th grade in senior highschool and now 17 years old. I'm turning grade 12 this coming enrollment, and turning 18, too. At sa bawat taon na lumilipas, hindi ko namamalayang pati pala pag-uugali ko ay nagbabago na rin. Hindi ko namamalayang sa paglipas ng panahon na hindi ko nakakasama araw araw sina mommy at daddy ay mas lalo akong lumala sa paggastos ng pera at napupunta sa kung saan saan.

Napanguso ako habang nakatingin sa cellphone ko at pinagmamasdan na naman ang bagong labas na Louis Vuitton na bag at isang Channel dress. Problemado akong tumingin kay mommy at tinaasan lang ako nito ng kilay.

"Please, mommy!" Pagmamakaawa ko dahil ayaw niya akong payagan na bumili na naman.

Napakagastadora ko daw kasi.

"For the nth time, Dane! Please, give it a break! Don't spend too much money for nonsense things! Those bags, you already have plenty of those bags! You haven't used the other bags you bought. You haven't still not using those. The dresses, damn it, Dane! You have plenty of dresses too that you still haven't used. What are those? Huh? You bought those dresses, those bags, those stilettos, those things for nothing? For display? Don't spend too much, Dane! You will be the death of us! You will bankrupt us! You are still 17 years old, yet you spent million of money for those things. Why don't you be like your sister? She's limiting herself on buying too much things she saw in malls and online shops. She's not spending too much because she knew her limitation, but you? You, Dane! You're still young yet you spent a million! Puwede na 'yong panggawa ng masyon! Oh, gosh! You're too expensive little girl. You are too spoiled! My gosh! Tumataas ang presyon ko sa 'yo na bata ka!" Halos matutop ko ang bibig ko sa sinabi ni mommy.

She looks like she will faint in front of me because too much trouble I caused. But, she's overreacting! Gusto ko lang naman bilhin, I just tried my luck if she will allow me to buy that bag and dress.

"You should be a better person in the future, Dane! Don't waste too much money just for nonsense things you were buying! Don't waste too much money to go everywhere or anywhere you want! Baka mabankrupt tayo!" Muli niyang sigaw at umalis sa harapan ko, kasunod ang isang kasambahay na may dalang pang-blood pressure.