The Bad Girl's Gentleman

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The Bad Girl's Gentleman

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THREE WEEKS AGO

IF THERE'S ONE THING I HATE, IT HAS TO BE RULES. Maybe it's really wrong to like someone five years older than you are, but it's not like I will let it dictate my life. I have to get what I want. And I will.

"Lalim ng iniisip mo ha," Via says as she snaps her fingers in front of my face.

I sigh. "What's taking him so long to come here? He's the CEO, he should have been here kanina pa."

We are currently separating goods—cans, instant foods, school supplies, and whatnot— and waiting. Iniintay lang naman namin si Basil—ang CEO ng De Los Nobles Foundation. Nandito kami sa isang marginalized community at nakatambay sa isang maliit na pavilion dito na nagsisilbing evacuation area tuwing may kalamidad.

As you might have guessed already, isa lang naman ang popular na dahilan kung bakit pupunta ang mga college students sa isang malayo at mahirap na lugar kung saan hindi masyadong uso ang sibilisasyon—NSTP or National Service Training Program.

Isang malaking hassle ito hindi lamang sa buhay ko kundi sa iba ding mga estudyante. Required course kasi ito at hindi kami pwedeng grumaduate hangga't hindi namin nakukuha. I'm currently in my second year in college at ayun na nga nandito at naghihintay.

It has been a surprise for me na ginusto ko pa talagang sumama dito sa outreach program. Nagulat ako na nakabangon ako ng alas-tres ng umaga at nasa loob na ng bus by four a.m. Tiniis ko 'yung limang oras na byahe na nakaupo sa hindi komporatbleng upuan ng school bus. At maya-maya lang, magbibilad na ko sa ilalim ng tirik na tirik na araw hanggang sa lumubog ito.

See, hassle 'di ba? NSTP (somehow) stopped being a pain in my ass since last two week—since I met Baz.

Last two weeks, I was celebrating Freaky Friday in The Vibe along with some of the new people I just met there. Alas-singko na ko ng madaling araw nakauwi sa apartment namin ni Via. Hell, I was crawling to get to my bed. Alas-siyete kami kailangan sa school para sa NSTP seminar. My body was killing me. You couldn't imagine.

Pakiramdam ko any minute magc-crack na 'yung ulo ko sa sobrang sakit. Para siyang minamaso at dini-drill nang sabay. Nasa auditorium kami at nakaupo ako sa isang upuan—'yung tulad ng mga upuan sa sine pero mas maliit at mas masikip. Pinilit kong ipagkasya ang sarili ko doon kahit alam kong hindi naman ako kasya. Pero kailangan kong matulog kung hindi, baka mahimatay na ko at mag-shut down ang katawan ko.

"Guys my age don't know how to treat me—don't know how to treat me. Guys my age don't know how to touch me—don't know how to love me good," pagkanta ni Via.

"Shut up!" sigaw ko sa kaniya at sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

Natawa naman siya sa'kin. Sanay naman na kasi si Via na nasusungitan ko siya tuwing may hangover ako. She knew it would be best if she stayed quiet pero mas gusto niya yatang sumali sa sakit ng ulo ko.

"Wag ka munang mahihimatay ah? Let's wait for Baz. I think marunong siya mag-CPR."

Napapikit ako sa inis. Ever since noong in-interview nila si Baz last week, puro 'yun na lang ang laman ng bibig niya tuwing napupunta ang NSTP sa topic namin. Kesyo si Baz—gentleman, matalino, gwapo, mayaman, matangkad—dream guy kind na lalaki at halos lumuwa ang mga mata nila noong makita nila. He was only twenty-two and was managing the foundation branch of their company.

Oo na, ideal nga. But he was twenty-two for Pete's sake! I was only seventeen.

"Oh, come on," sabi ni Via mula sa tabi ko. "I know you can go for him. Bagay kayo. Masusustentuhan niya 'yang expensive living mo."