Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 24

"Ryder! Carolina! Nandito na pala kayo!"
 
Mom welcomed us home and brought us to the dining table. We just got home from school. Sabay rin kaming pumasok ni Ryder sa bahay. I thought at first that my parents weren't home yet. Minsan kasi ay ginagabi sila ng uwi. Ngayon yata ay napaaga sila?
 
"Naghanda ako! Ako ang nagluto ng lahat ng 'to," si mommy habang inaayos ang mga pagkain sa hapag. She gazed at me. "Ikaw, anak, kapag mag-asawa ka.. dapat marunong ka sa mga gawaing-bahay."
 
"Bakit naman kailangan pa iyan, mommy, kung puwede naman kumuha ng katulong?" I asked. "At isa pa, mommy, hindi ba puwedeng ang lalaki naman ang gumawa ng mga gawaing-bahay? Bakit ang babae na lang palagi?"
 
Napalingon si mommy kay Ryder saka binalik ang tingin niya sa akin. "Anak, kung magiging ina ka balang araw ay maiintindihan mo rin. Everyone should learn to cook, not just to serve their partners but also for themselves. Tuturuan kitang magluto, Carolina, para kapag maging mag-asawa na kayo ni Ryder ay maipagluluto mo na siya."
 
Parang nasusuka ako sa sinabi ni mommy, pero hindi na lang ako umangal. As if namang pakasalan ko ang lalaking ito, ano namang mapapala ko? Wala! He's not rich, and he doesn't even have a family! Sino ang mapa-proud kapag siya ang magiging asawa, right?
 
"No need, mommy, I am not into cooking," I refused. "If ever na mag-asawa kami ni Ryder in the future, kukuha na lang ako ng katulong," I added. Pang nasusuka tuloy ako sa lumalabas sa bibig ko. Gosh!
 
Umiling si, mommy. "Kahit na, hija, Ryder—"
 
"Ayos lang naman po, tita," Ryder cut her off. "Kung ano'ng gusto ni Scarlet, ayos na po iyon sa akin."
 
So.. he really assumed that I'd marry a guy like him, huh?
 
Nang kumain na kami ng aming hapunan ay sa tabi ko umupo si Ryder, hinayaan ko naman siya. Nag-isip na naman kung ano ang gagawin para naman makuha ang atensyon niya. I should stick to my plan, which is to make him fall in love with me. Sumulyap lamang siya sa akin at umambang kukuha ng ulam, pero inunahan ko siya.
 
"Is this what you want to eat?" I asked the obvious.
 
Sina mommy at daddy na kumakain na ay bahagyang natigilan at napatingin sa akin. I ignored their reactions and smiled at Ryder. Sumandok ako ng adobo at nilagyan ang plato niya. I even heard dad clearing his throat, but I just pay attention to what I am doing. Tahimik lamang si Ryder na pinapanood ang ginagawa ko.
 
"May gusto ka pa ba?" I asked huskily.
 
He gulped. "W-Wala na, okay na 'to. Thank you, Scarlet."
 
I did not say anything and just shrugged. Ano ka ngayon, Mr. President? You looked so anxious now. Tiklop ka rin pala, eh! I smirked in triumph. I knew it! He has feelings for me. I can feel it, he's affected by my actions. Imposible naman kasing wala, sa ganda kong 'to? And it was really obvious because of his actions and the way he looked at me.
 
"Hija," mom broke the silence atmosphere later on. "Carolina, I don't want to ruin your night, and I am sorry if I ask you about this..."
 
I weirdly gaze at her. "What is it, mommy?"
 
"About your engagement..." she said, almost a whisper.
 
Nang marinig iyon ay tila kumulo ang dugo ko. I just continued eating and acting like it was normal for me. Kailangan kong itatak sa isipan ko na kailangan kong pagbigyan sa ngayon ang mga kagustuhan nila hanggang sa makuha ko ang gusto ko. Nginuya ko ang kinakain ko at binalik ang tingin kay mommy.
 
"Yeah? What about it?" I casually asked. "Is there a problem with it?"
 
Mom cleared her throat. "Ibig kong sabihin, hija.. iyong pagiging engage mo kay Ryder.. is it okay with you?"
 
Yuna, relax. Don't roll your eyes. Don't do that. It will ruin your plan.
 
I smiled. "Of course, mommy. Why won't it be okay with me?"
 
"Kasi naman, hija," she started. "You said last time that you didn't want to marry Ryder. You were so mad at us."
 
"Oh?" I shifted on my seat and simply gave her another glance. "It was a day ago, mom, at nabigla lang ako no'n kaya ganoon."
 
"But you said you don't like Ryder, hija," she continued.
 
I sighed. "Mom, I know from the very start that you had a plan of engaging me with him because you are pushing me to him and shipping me with him. And of course, you liked him for me. You are always comparing those guys I dated to him, so I really expected this. I apologized then for my behavior last time, I was just shocked."
 
Nakatinginan sina mommy at daddy, I can see sparks in their eyes. Now.. I have another point from them. Malapit na talaga 'to at makukuha ko na ang loob nila. I'm pretty sure that they'll return my cards to me and give me freedom! Puwede na pala akong maging artista kung ganoon dahil kahit sina mommy at daddy ay napaniwala ko na sa mga pinagsasabi ko at sa mga akto ko!
 
"That's good, hija," si dad.
 
"I don't actually like Ryder. I told you guys days ago, but..." I paused and glimpsed at Ryder who's already staring at me but avoided my gaze immediately when our eyes met. "My feelings for him will be developed. I will like him eventually." No fucking way! In his dreams!
 
"Everything is settled then," mom said in a soft voice. "This is what we've been waiting for, Carolina. Mabuti, anak, dahil hindi mo kami binigo sa pagkakataong ito."
 
I smiled bitterly. Hindi binigo sa pagkakataong ito. Ibig sabihin ay araw-araw ko pala silang binigo? Ibig sabihin lahat na lang ng mga ginawa ko ay nabigo sila sa akin? They always thought the worst of me! Though I am trying to be happy with what I am doing right now. A little more push, and my parents will be satisfied. In the end, they'll give my cards back to me and give me freedom. They will be proud of me, and Ryder will be out of our lives. I will make sure of that.
 
"Here, Scarlet..."
 
Monday, when he handed me five thousand pesos. I immediately accepted it from him and counted the money to check if it was really five thousand pesos before I put it in my pocket. I silently glanced at the rear view mirror, and I caught manong watching us but immediately looked away. He just acted like he was checking something on the stereo. I playfully rolled my eyes and returned my eyes to Ryder.
 
"Can you please tell manong not to tell daddy about this?" I whispered to him.
 
He nodded. "Ako ang bahala kay manong. So.. what about the money? Ayos na ba iyan sa 'yo? Puwede kong dagdagan kung gusto mo."
 
He didn't know how I wanted that so much, but something came up to my mind. He needs more money than I do. He's in Grade twelve, and this is his last year at this school. Probably he'll be in college next year, pero malayo pa naman 'yon. Sa ngayon, sa pagkakaalam ko ay maraming gastusin ang Grade twelve students, kahit na kasisimula lang ng pasukan last week.
 
"No, ayos na ang five thousand," I said. "You should save money for yourself, too," I added.
 
Ngumiti siya. "Mayroon pa naman ako ng para sa akin, inaalala ko lang sa 'yo. Alam kong hirap ka sa pagba-budget ng limang libo sa isang linggo."
 
"Gosh, you sounded like a sugar daddy," I teased and laughed. "Of course, I am trying hard to save money for now. I will try to budget the money you gave me."
 
Napakamot-batok siya. "Ah, kulang pa pala 'yan.. hindi ko pa pala naibigay sa 'yo ang five hundred na pinapabaon ng daddy mo."
 
"You should keep that. Higit pa kaya ang naibigay mo sa akin," I said. "You just added zero to the amount that was given by my father to me. Sa 'yo na 'yan ang five hundred, kasi binigyan mo naman ako ng five thousand."
 
"Ang five hundred pabaon ng daddy mo sa 'yo," he explained. "At ang five thousand ay pandagdag ko sa 'yo. Magkaiba iyon, Scarlet."
 
I rolled my eyes at him. "Are we going to fight over this? Just tell me 'cause I am going to argue with you, I won't let you win this fight."
 
Napailing siya. "Hindi naman sa ganoon..."
 
"I told you to keep it, just keep it," giit ko. "Five thousand is okay with me, Ryder."
 
Sa huli ay wala siyang magawa dahil masyado akong mapilit. Alam ko, pineperahan ko lamang siya, pero ayaw ko naman paabutin sa sobra-sobra na. Konsensya ko pa naman iyon.

Marami pa naman silang gastusin, dagdag mo pang siya ang president ng school at kapag kinukulang ang budget ng school minsan ay siya na lang ang nagpro-provide. That was what he told me last time. I also heard from our schoolmates na siya raw ang gumastos sa pagbili ng ibang supplies doon sa council. Ang dami niya talaga pa lang pinaggagastusan kung ganoon?

Akala ko nga kapag private school ay provided na lahat pero minsan talaga ay kinukulang pa rin talaga ang budget ng school namin dahil sa dami ng mga ginagastusan.
 
"Is it really affective?" si Marilyn isang araw.
 
I smirked. "He's falling for my trap, guys, I am telling you. And you are all right, he really has feelings for me. Nararamdaman ko 'yon, natitiklop ba naman sa akin 'yon."
 
Tuwang-tuwa ang mga kaibigan ko habang kinukuwento ko sa kanila ang mga nangyari noong Sabado at Linggo. Palagi ko kasing kinukuwento sa kanila ang nangyayari sa pagitan namin ni Ryder. Last Saturday and Sunday, mom and dad weren't home. They went to my grandparents and stayed there for two days, kaya naman ay kami lang naroon ni Ryder maliban sa mga katulong at mga guwardiya.

It was a good thing that the helpers shut their mouths when mom and dad arrived. Hindi naman sila nagsumbong sa ginawa ko kay Ryder. I bossed him around, and he followed everything I said.
 
Pinahinga ko ang mga katulong noong Sabado at Linggo kasi si Ryder ang pinagawa ko lahat ng mga gawaing bahay. I ordered him to wash the dishes, wash my clothes, clean the kitchen, and fix the things inside the kitchen. I even demanded that he have to clean the whole house too.

Pinalinis ko rin sa kanya ang aking silid. Sa kanya ko pinagawa ang gawain ng mga katulong. Siya rin ang pinagsilbi ko sa akin. Nilubos-lubos ko na lang kasi wala pa naman noon sina mommy at daddy. Hindi naman nagreklamo si Ryder, kaya ayos na 'yon. Parang wala lang din naman iyon sa kanya.
 
"Gosh, the president is really whipped," si Kairi. "Ikaw lang pala ang makakapag-utos sa kanya ng ganyan, eh. Dumaan kasi ako noong nakaraan sa SSG office at nakita ko siya roon, siya pa mismo ang nag-uutos sa ibang officers. He's really under your control, Yuna. Ang galing mo talaga! Sino ba kasi ang lalaking hindi matitiklop sa katulad mo?"
 
I flipped my hair. "Sa ganda ko ba namang ito?"
 
"Of course, Yuna, boys like you because they know that you are good in bed." Humalakhak si Miley. "Come on, Yuna, I know that you are not a virgin anymore. Iyan ang habol kasi ng mga lalaki sa ngayon, eh, mga babaeng wild. Ilang lalaki na ba ang nakapasok diyan sa pintuan mo?"
 
Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. "Why are we in this conversation, Miley? What is it about my virginity?"
 
"Kasi naman, Yuna, alam namin na hindi ka na virgin at magaling ka sa kama kaya maraming lalaking humahabol sa 'yo," she said and laughed. "Hindi ba ganoon naman iyon? Believe me or not. Nowadays, boys want to get into your pants, not because they find you attractive or they like you, but because they want to fuck you."
 
"Miley," I uttered her name warningly. "I know at my young age that I have experience in that, but that wouldn't change the fact that every man found me hot, sexy, and attractive. They wanted to get into my pants because they wanted to be inside with an attractive woman."
 
"Really? Pinagmamalaki mo iyang kalandian mo, Yuna?" Marilyn joked. I don't know if it was really a joke. "Bakit parang tuwang-tuwa ka pa na marami ang lalaking gusto kang ikama? Aren't you ashamed of it? Aren't you ashamed of not being a virgin anymore?"
 
"Bakit naman ako mahihiya roon?" I fired back. "Well, at least I admit that I am not a virgin anymore, rather than lie to all of you and act like one even though I know that I am not."