Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 27

"Look, mommy and daddy, we bought something for you!"
 
Nilagay ko sa lamesa ang mga pinambili namin ni Ryder. Until now, I couldn't believe that we could buy a lot of food for just a small amount of money. It did not even reach a thousand! Kahit na ilang libo na ang ginastos ko sa mga restaurant na pinuntahan ko ay hindi pa rin ako nabubusog pero sa pinuntahan namin kanina ni Ryder na halos hindi umabot isang libo ang ginastos ni Ryder pero busog na busog na 'ko. It was my first time eating those kinds of foods. Wala kasi ganoon sa mga restaurant na pinupuntahan ko at wala rin ganoon sa school.
 
"What is this?" Mom opened the plastic, and a smile plastered on her lips. "You bought these?" she asked, gazing at me.
 
I proudly nodded my head. "Yeah, mommy. May pinuntahan kami ni Ryder na nagbebenta ng street foods. It was near BGC, mom. Masarap ang mga pagkain doon, I swear!"
 
Tumawa si mommy at nilingon si Ryder. "Pa'no mo napakain ng mga 'to si Carolina, hijo? This is impossible." She even shook her head.
 
"What's impossible, mom?" I asked her astonishingly.
 
She shook her head. "Nothing, hija. Your father will be happy that you bought us these. Gusto pa naman niya ang mga 'to. We didn't have enough time to buy some street foods. Mabuti nga at naisipan n'yo kaming dalhan."
 
"Si Scarlet po ang nakaisip niyon, tita," si Ryder.
 
Ngumisi si mommy. "Kaya pala ginabi kayo ng uwi kasi nag-date pa kayo? Hay, si manong hindi man lang nagsabi sa 'min."
 
All the heat went up to my face. I think I'm getting red like roses because of what my mother said. Tumalikod na lang ako sa gawi nina mommy para itago ang pamumula sa aking mukha.

Since I am already full, I decided not to eat dinner. I just went inside my room and took some rest there. Because of exhaustion, I fall asleep that fast.
 
The next day, I woke up early and did my usual routine. While I was doing my makeup and just staring at my reflection on my vanity mirror, there were a lot of questions in my mind that couldn't be answered by my mouth. First, why do I feel like everything has changed? And if Ryder is around, it feels like I don't care about what people say about him. What do I really feel towards him? I hated him, but.. right now.. I don't know. Why have I always wanted to be with him? God, there are lots of whys and more questions inside my head.
 
As usual, hinatid kami ni manong sa school at sabay pa rin kami ni Ryder. Buong biyahe ay puro siya tanong sa gusto kong kainin at marami pa siyang tinanong if mayroon daw akong schoolwork na hindi ko pa magawa dahil siya na raw ang gagawa. I was thankful that he insisted, so I told him about my project, and the deadline for it is this coming Friday. Siya raw ang gagawa niyon sabi niya.
 
"Ha! I can feel something fishy between Jasharee and Ryder." I heard Miley in between my thoughts one day.
 
That caught my attention. We're currently in the cafeteria and in our usual spot. Kanina pa sila may kinukuwento hanggang sa napadpad na kay Ryder ang usapan at umabot na sa ganito. Sa sinabi niyang iyon ay nakuha kaagad ang atensyon ko dahil pareho kong narinig ang pangalan nina Ryder at Jasharee. I really hated that girl, but I did anything to her after what happened at the hospital. Minsan ay nagkikita kami sa loob ng campus, pero hindi ko na siya ganoon ka pinagtuunan ng pansin o binibigyan ng atensyon.
 
"I think so," si Marilyn at tiningnan ako. "What do you think, Yuna?"
 
"H-Huh?" Napakurap-kurap ako.
 
Marilyn rolled her eyes playfully. "About Jasharee and Ryder. Bagay sila, hindi ba? I can smell something fishy about them. Hindi kaya sila na? Pinapakita lang ni Ryder sa 'yo na ikaw ang gusto niya kaso ayaw niyang biguin ang daddy mo pero ang totoo niyan pala ay may namamagitan sa kanila ni Jasharee?"
 
Mas lalo akong naguluhan dahil sa sinabi ng kaibigan ko. What if she's right? Ryder and Jasharee really had a thing? Sumikip ang dibdib ko sa naisip. Gusto kong sabihin na bagay sila, pero naisip ko iyong mga sinabi ko noon. Parang nawalan ako ng ganang kumain ng pagkain ko dahil sa mga sinabi ng mga kaibigan ko. They were talking about Ryder and Jasharee when I excused myself to go to the bathroom. Hindi naman ako naiihi, pero gusto ko munang lumayo sa kanila kahit saglit lang.
 
Nang makapasok ako sa loob ng powder room, natigilan ako nang makitang naroon din si Jasharee. She's putting some makeup on her face. Her glasses are on the side of the faucet. Nakatinginan kaming dalawa, bahagya rin siyang natigilan nang makita ako. I gritted my teeth and glared at her. Nakakainis talaga ang babaeng ito. Ayaw ko sa kanya o mayroon pa bang ibang dahilan kung bakit naiinis ako sa kanya ngayon? And why is she wearing makeup now? Nagpapaganda siya para kay Ryder?
 
I went beside her and opened the other faucet. She moved a bit, giving space between us, and continued what she was doing. I washed my hands with water and stared at my reflection in the mirror. In my peripheral vision and even in her reflection in the mirror, she's looking at me. I smirked and gave her a smug look.
 
"What? Are you insecure with me?" I asked sarcastically.
 
She looked away. "I don't want to have a fight with you, Yuna. Sapat na iyong sa ospital, huwag mo 'kong guluhin."
 
"Sinugod mo 'ko, inunahan mo 'ko no'n," I said, holding my patience. "And now.. you have the audacity to tell me not to bother you? Gosh, I don't know why you're friends with Ryder."
 
"Alam ko ang tungkol sa inyo," biglang sabi niya.
 
"W-What?"
 
Matigas niyang nilabanan ang titig ko. "I know that your parents engaged you with him, and I know that you're just using him."
 
"H-How dare you!" Dinuro ko siya.
 
"And now you have the guts to tell me that?" she mocked. "Yuna, I know why you're being nice to him now. You're just using him to get your cards and your freedom from your parents. Admit it or not, that's the truth. Ginagamit mo lang naman si Ryder para makuha mo ang ca—" She stopped mid-sentence when she saw what I intentionally dropped on the floor.
 
Bumaba ang tingin niya sa sahig, at kinuha niya ang mga card ko na sinadya kong ilaglag sa sahig. Yumuko siya at kinuha ang mga 'yon. Isa-isa niyang tiningnan iyon at umawang ang kanyang bibig nang mapag-alaman na cards ko nga iyon.
 
"I have my freedom and cards from my parents now," I said, going closer to her. "And why I'm still not leaving Ryder?" I whispered to my ears.
 
She cut her tongue, she just looked at me with disbelief in her eyes. Tiklop ka rin naman pala sa akin, eh! Masyado ka naman kasing nagmamagaling!
 
"Ang yabang mo," is the only thing she can say.
 
"At least ako kahit mayabang may ambag sa mundo, matalino at maganda. Eh, ikaw? Ano ang nagiging ambag ng pagiging pangit mo sa mundo?"
 
"You bitch—"
 
"Hush!" I hushed her up. "I already knew that I am a bitch, Jasharee. Bakit hindi mo matanggap ngayon na talunan ka? You want Ryder. You like him, right? That's why you're acting this way. You are saying bad things about me and thinking the worst of me. Why can't you just accept the fact that Ryder can't like you back? I am the only one he likes, in case you didn't know. Kaya ka nagmamaganda ngayon kasi umaasa kang magustuhan ka rin niya. Oh.. poor you."
 
"Tumigil ka na," she said and glared at me.
 
I winked at her. "Kahit anong pagpapaganda ang gawin mo, walang-wala ka pa rin sa ganda ng talampakan ko. Kahit na punuin mo man ng makeup ang mukha mo, mas maganda pa rin ako sa 'yo. At kahit ano man ang gawin mo, ako pa rin ang gusto ni Ryder.. hindi ikaw."
 
I went out of the bathroom with a smirk on my face. Nakasalubong ko pa si Ryder sa may hallway. He smiled at me and just kept on going. He was about to walk pass by me, but I immediately stopped him through holding him in his arm. Saan siya pupunta? Pupuntahan niya ba si Jasharee roon sa bathroom? Is he going to wait for her outside there?
 
"Scarlet," he said, uttering my name as he looked around anxiously. "I thought.. you don't want anyone to see us together?"
 
I heard some gossips about Ryder liking me, people really assumed that he really liked me. But what if Jasharee is the one he likes? Paano kapag pinalabas niya lang pala na ako, pero ang totoo niyan ay si Jasharee pala?

When we started to get along together, we were not allowing other people to see us together on this campus. Minsan ay umaakto kaming wala lang, naglalagpasan lang, pero ngayon ay hindi ko na matiis. I don't know why I don't want to let go of his arm. Paano kaya kapag puntahan niya si Jasharee sa bathroom? What about me?
 
"Where are you going?" I tried to maintain my voice as a normal voice.
 
"Uh..." He looked at me in the eyes. "Sa registrar, Scarlet, may inutos kasi sa akin ang prof namin."
 
I was convinced by his answer, and I immediately let go of his arm. What am I thinking anyway? Eh ano naman ngayon kung pupuntahan niya si Jasharee sa bathroom? Why am I affected this way anyway? I shouldn't feel this way!

Bumuga ako ng maluwag na hininga habang pinoproseso sa isipan ko ang sinabi niya. He's going to the registrar, not to Jasharee! Gosh, Yuna! Kung ano-ano na ang iniisip mo! Hindi na talaga maganda ito. Everything is getting worse each day.
 
"Why? You want to come with me?" he asked. "Baka.. baka ano ang sabihin sa 'yo ng schoolmates natin. You don't want them to see us together, right?"
 
Tiningnan ko lamang siya. He's smiling, but I can hear the bitterness in his voice. Marahan kong hinawakan ang braso niya at hinaplos ko siya roon. This is the first time I have done this to him. Bumaba ang kanyang tingin doon at napalunok siya. I saw Adam's apple move. Tumingkayad ako upang maabot ko siya. He swallowed hard again. Inayos ko lang naman ang kanyang salamin at ang kanyang buhok dahil medyo gumulo iyon.. siguro dahil sa hangin.
 
"Hayan na," I said as I finally finished fixing his hair and glasses.
 
"Do you want me to take off my glasses?" he asked.
 
I shook my head. "Hindi na, okay na 'yan. Puwede ka nang magpatuloy at baka mapagalitan ka pa."
 
Lumayo kaagad ako sa kanya nang may grupo ng mga babae ang dumaan. All of them stopped when they saw me and Ryder. Ang kanilang tingin na mula sa akin ay sumalin kay Ryder.

The shortest girl among them whispered something to the blonde girl beside her, and they both giggled. Nakatingin sila kay Ryder. Kumunot naman ang noo ko at binalik ang tingin kay Ryder. He smiled a little, but I couldn't equal his smile. I'm sure these girls will talk about us later.
 
"Mauna na ako," Ryder mouthed and continued heading to the registrar's office.
 
Ang grupo ng mga kababaihan ay nakasunod ang tingin sa kanya, at lahat sila ay nagbubulong-bulungan. May dalawa pang nagtutulakan sa kanila. I noticed. Hindi nila pinagtatawanan o pinagtritripan si Ryder kundi parang gusto pa nila iyon. Napalunok ako. I almost forgot that some of the girls in this school like him. Napakurap-kurap ako at umiling.
 
Gosh, Euxine Carolina Scarlet! Ano naman ngayon kung may mga babaeng nagkakagusto sa kanya?!
 
"He's really so attractive, 'no? Nakita mo ba siya kung paano siya maglakad? At siya lang talaga iyong lalaki na sobrang hot kahit naka-eyeglasses!" the girl exclaimed.
 
"Yuna hates him, 'no? Kapag ako makasama si president sa iisang bubong, Dios Mio! Araw-araw ko talagang gagapangin siya!" the other one said, and I don't like those terms she used.
 
"If I were in her shoes, I would let him court me. Everyone knows that the president likes her, right? Hindi naman natin maipagkakaila iyon dahil kalat na kalat na iyon dito.. kaso hindi sila bagay, mabait si pres tapos si Yuna.. I don't know with her. Pakiramdam ko ay maa-under lang si Ryder sa kanya, eh."
 
"Yup, mas prefer ko pa si Jasharee para kay Ryder kaysa sa kanya. Mabait si Jasharee at humble.. hindi katulad ni Yuna, maldita at mayabang."
 
Doon na ako nairita. I hate hearing that girl's name! And now they even compared me to her? Gosh! No fucking way! I marched our distance. Natigilan sila sa paglapit ko sa kanila. Aren't they aware that I can hear their conversation? Mga estupida talaga!
 
"Are you fucking comparing me to that fucking girl?" sita ko sa kanila.
 
The three of them got pale and just lowered their heads. Ang dalawa naman ay taas-noong tiningnan ako. Of course, hindi puwedeng magpatalo sa kanila, kaya nagtaas ako ng kilay. They immediately looked away and acted like they didn't say anything behind my back. Ganyan talaga ang mga chismosa, kahit ano'ng gawin mo, may masasabi pa rin talaga sila.
 
"Don't you ever compare me to that fucking nerd." I pointed them one by one as I put some emphasis on every word that came out of my mouth. "Do you all understand? Well, at least Ryder likes me even though I am maldita and mayabang."