Campus Girls Series #3: The Slum Princess

Part 4

HINDI makapaniwala si Ronan nang marinig mula sa presidente ng business administration student council at senior marketing major na si Hana ang pangalan ng gustong ipalit ng council sa nag-back out na kandidato ng department nila sa gaganaping taunang school pageant.

"Are you kidding?" tanong pa niya para kumpirmahin ang narinig.

"I wish she was," ang secretary na si Jessa ang sumagot. Bakas ang distaste sa mukha nito.

Siya man ay ganoon ang nararamdaman sa mga oras na iyon. Sa dinami-rami ng babae sa business administration department, si Princess Batumbakal pa talaga ang ipanlalaban nila sa Campus Queen pageant!

That girl from the slums. Last week lang ay nahuli niya itong nagbabasa ng naglilibang at ngumunguya ng chewing gum sa gitna ng klase. She was a mess. She definitely did not qualify to represent their department in the annual school pageant.

"It's decided by the dean himself," sabi ni Hana. "Besides, tatlo lang talaga ang interesadong sumali. Everybody's threatened by Charlotte Agoncillo. Feeling nila, wala talagang makakatalo kay Charlotte. We asked the other two to take over the place Marianne had left, pero parehong maeere. Ayaw maging second choice. Then, nagkataong dumating sa faculty room si Princess bitbit 'yong supplies nila. The dean asked her to replace Marianne and she said 'yes' without hesitation."

Pinigilan ni Ronan ang mapasapo sa noo. Mukhang alam na niya kung bakit nagdesisyon nang ganoon ang dean. He knew she had a soft spot for Princess. Lumaki din kasi sa squatter's area si Mrs. Cabral.

"I believe the dean is not making any sense," complain ni Ronan. "Just because she has a soft spot for Princess Batumbakal, she's jeopardizing our department's image. I don't think someone like Princess should represent us."

"She got the looks and she's popular," sabi ni Hana. "And she's also fresh and unique. A break from the usual type of candidate in a pageant. 'Yon ang sabi ng dean. Ang pinakamahalaga raw talaga ay maganda at sikat. 'Yong intelligence is not a big factor since maliit lang daw na part ng criteria 'yong question and answer portion. It still comes down to the ticket sales."

"She's popular and unique,"komento ng treasurer na si Alfred, "but not in a good way."

Tumango si Ronan. Totoong sikat si Princess sa bawat sulok ng DLRU pero iyon ay dahil sa katotohang nakatira ito sa slums. It was unusual for a prestigious school to have a student like her. Pero mabuti sana kung iyon lang. Marami ang hindi nagustuhan ang pagdadala ni Princess ng sinasabi nilang "ugaling squatter" sa DLRU.

Noong freshmen pa lang si Princess ay nakipag-catfight daw ito sa gitna ng turf field. Muntik na nga itong mademanda ng sinaktan nito for physical assault pero hindi alam ni Ronan kung ano ang nangyari at biglang iniurong ang kaso. May nagsabi na nahuli raw itong nagba-vandalize sa loob ng ladies' restroom. Nakipag-agawan din daw ito sa isa pang estudyante para sa nag-iisang natitirang baked macaroni sa school cafeteria. She spat on the food to win it over. Minsan raw ay pumapasok ito nang nakasuot lang ng tsinelas at may nagpapahiram na lang ng sapatos kaya nakaka-pass sa guard.

Princess was unique because nobody was like her in DLRU. She was a disgrace in that school and their department. On top of that, she was not even studying well. Hindi pa rin niya maintindihan kung anong klaseng charitable foundation ang nag-aaksaya ng pondo para sa scholarship ng isang estudyanteng hindi deserving.

"But, at least, she's beautiful," sabad ni Rick na nasa dulo ng mesa. "She's even tall and has nice body proportions. Puwede talagang pang-beauty pageant. In fact, for me, siya ang pinakamaganda sa buong department. The first time I saw her, I was mesmerized. But that was until she started to speak."

Napatingin si Ronan sa nakangising sergeant at arms.

"And doesn't look poor at all," dagdag pa nito.

Ironically, Princess did not look like she really grew up in the slums. In fact noong unang beses niyang nakita ang babae, hindi niya naisip na ganoon ito kahirap. Her skin was clear and fair. She did not look grubby at all. Nobody would think she was poor until she spoke and moved.

And yes, she had good looks. Ang usap-usapan nga ay may talent scout na kinukuha ito para magmodelo at mag-artista pero tumanggi ito. Normally, sinusunggaban ng mga tulad nito ang ganoong klaseng oportunidad para umasenso pero mukhang wala itong interes na makaahon sa hirap. It was like she was comfortable being poor. She even flaunted it as if being poverty-stricken was a good thing.

"But that's all she has," halatang naiiritang sagot ni Jessa sa sinabi ni Rick. "She's obviously stupid, and her personality stinks. We can't let someone with an image like her represent us."

"But," sabi ni Hana, "we don't have any willing candidates in our department right now. Plus, we can't possibly contradict the dean. I say, we just agree. Sa palagay ko rin naman kasi, walang makakatalo kay Charlotte Agoncillo. So kahit hindi si Princess ang ilaban natin, matatalo pa rin."

"The teachers like her because she has no pride," frustrated na sabi ni Jessa matapos magpakawala ng marahas na buntong-hininga. "She's servile and would be willing to be their lapdog in return of a passing grade. I can't believe na pati pagiging candidate sa Campus Queen gusto niyang makuha by kissing the dean's ass."

Napaisip si Ronan. Minanipula nga ba ni Princess ang desisyon ng dean na ito ang ipalit kay Marianne? Sa tingin kasi niya ay mukhang wala itong ambisyon o paghahangad sa karangalan o prestige. In fact, someone told him that she was the best player in the volleyball varsity team, but she refused to be the captain when asked to take the soon-to-be emptied position.

Why would anyone refuse such a great opportunity? Malaking karangalan ang maging captain ng varsity team ng DLRU. It would perk up her resume, especially if she was aiming to play professionally or be a part of the national team. Hindi makapaniwala si Ronan may isang tulad nito na parang walang pangarap sa buhay. Kaya parang hindi siya naniniwalang sinadya ni Princess na manipulahin ang desisyon ng dean na ito ang ilaban sa Campus Queen.

Bumuntong-hininga si Alfred. "Hindi rin naman sure na makakapasok siya as a finalist, kaya we have to chill down na lang."

"Well," Hana concluded, "if nobody steps in to take the candidacy left by Marianne, wala tayong magagawa kundi ang i-take in si Princess and let her represent our department."

Hindi na humirit pa si Ronan dahil may naisip siyang gawin. He could not let someone like Princess represent their department.