Mistaken Identity

Chapter 2 (Despise Her)

Makalipas ang isang taon...

Hindi akalain ni Grizedale na mag-aaral siya ulit pag-uwi niya sa Pilipinas.

"Eda!" tawag sa kanya ni Zoey.

"Makatawag ka naman. People are staring."

"Ayos lang 'yan. Kumusta ka na? Matagal na tayong hindi nagkita mula nang pumunta ka sa London."

"I enjoy my stay in London. Kung hindi ko lang mahal ang Pinas eh hindi ko na balak umuwi pa rito."

"Mabuti naman. Let's go."

Unang taon niya iyon sa college. She study on London for so long. Actually, second degree niya na iyon. Nagtapos na siya sa London ng kursong Business Management.

"Grizedale ang ganda mo" komento ni Klay.

"Thanks, you too. Matagal na tayong hindi nagkita was it two years already?"

"Ikaw naman kasi napili mo pang mag-aral sa London."

"Eh kasi alam niyo naman na doon nadestino si daddy so I have no choice."

Nagsimula na ang unang klase.

A man entered. He is well built. He is very fit on his polo shirt, he obviously always at the gym. He also wears glasses. She thinks he's still in his late thirties.

"I'm Mr. Kade Ardiente and I will going to be your art teacher."

Nagtama ang tingin nila ng teacher. Matalim ang ipinukol nitong tingin sa kanya.

What is his problem?

Since first day they were ask to introduced themselves. And it was her turn. Naconscious siya bigla nang matiim siyang titigan ng art teacher nila.

"Hi everyone. I'm Grizedale Soler. Just call me Eda for short. I studied in London for Business Management for two years."

"Why did you took another course kung nakapag-aral ka na pala sa London Ms. Soler?" tanong ng lalake.

"Well sir, education is a continueing process. I love arts that's why I decided to study again and took Architecture."

"Okay. Pero sinabi mo nag-aral ka sa London for two years? Are you inventing story?"

"Pardon? I'm telling the truth. Kung gusto niyo po sir eh ipapakita ko sa inyo ang certificate ko."

"Are you sure it's not forge?"

"I don't know what you're talking about sir but it's real. Kung gusto niyo ipapakita ko pa sa inyo ang copy ng certificate ko bukas."

"Just keep it."

Nakaramdam siya ng inis the way he ask her. Para bang pinagdududahan siya nito.

At the end of the class nilapitan niya ang lalake.

"Sir, may problema po ba kayo sa akin?"

"Why would you think that way?"

"Hindi ko alam kung bad mood ka lang but the way you approach me earlier parang may kasalanan ako sayo."

"Guilty?" he raised his one eyebrow.

"For what?"

"Just go to your next class."

Nilingon niya si Zoey.

"Did you know him?"

"Hindi, bagong teacher yata rito sa school."

"Exactly but he's looking at me like I owe him an apology."

"Baka bad mood lang si sir, huwag mo na lang pansinin."

"He's an instructor, he should have leave his bad mood thingy at home tapos pagdidiskitahan niya ako."

"Hey relax."

"Eh kasi naman...he make me look like I was a liar earlier. At sinabi pa niya talaga na forge daw ang certificate ko? Like hell I went to a prestigious school in London."

She sighed.

"Let's eat, I don't want to be stress."

"Buti pa nga."

Akala niya unang beses lang iyong mangyayari sa kanya pero the following day ay ganoon parin ang approach sa kanya ng teacher nila. He is so indifferent pagdating sa kanya. Minsan may sinasabi ito tapos titingin sa kanya. Parang lagi na lang siyang pinapatamaan.

"Damn...I hate him."

"Kumalma ka nga Eda."

"Paano ako kakalma kung feeling ko may galit talaga 'yang si Sir Ardiente sa akin."

"Hindi naman siguro."

"Bakit kasi hindi niya na lang ako diretsuhin hindi iyon magpaparinig siya sa akin 'di ba? Duwag ba siya?"

May sinesenyas si Zoey sa likod niya.

"What? Bakit hindi ka makapagsalita dyan?" aniya.

"Eh kasi ano..."

"Why are you stuttering?"

"Ms. Soler come to my office now" saad ng isang boses.

Paglingon niya nakita niya si Mr. Ardiente. Umalis ito pagkatapos siyang sabihan na sumunod.

"Hala ka girl, ikaw naman kasi dapat nagdahan-dahan ka sa mga sinasabi mo ayan tuloy narinig ka ni sir" ani Zoey.

"It's okay, at least alam niya na."

"Hihintayin kita rito. Fighting."

"Sira. You sound like I'm going to a tigers den."

"Ganoon na nga."

Sumunod siya sa opisina ng lalake. Naupo siya sa couch malapit sa pinto.

"Bakit?" saad ng lalake habang matiim siyang tinitigan.

"Okay, I admit I called you coward earlier that's because tinitira mo ako ng pailalim I mean lagi mo na lang ako pinaparinggan sa klase like hell do you hate me that much?"

"Yes I hate you no I despise you."

"Despise me? Just for calling you a coward?"

"Alam mo hindi iyon ang tinutukoy ko."

"Hello, anong tingin mo sa akin sir manghuhula?"

"I'm not joking Grizedale" hinawakan nito ng mahigpit ang braso niya.

"Don't touch me!"

She was saved when someone knock on the door. He sighed.

"Mag-uusap tayo ulit."

Nagulat siya sa mga nangyari. She thought he was just having a bad mood but now he's saying he despise her. What did she do?

"Oh kumusta ang naging pag-uusap ninyo ni Mr. Ardiente?" tanong ni Zoey na nakalapit na pala sa kanya.

"He hates me."

"May ginawa ka ba para kamuhian ka ni sir ng ganyan?"

"I don't know eh ngayon lang naman kami nagkakilala. And the way he say my name earlier it's like he knows me, Zoey."

"Baka nga nagkakilala na kayo."

"No, I haven't met him or kahit nakasalubong man lang siya. Weird right?"

"Maybe he mistook you for someone?"

Hindi na lamang niya pinansin ang sinabi ng kaibigan.