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I got out of my car right away because I'm running late for my Trigonometry class. Siguradong masesermonan na naman ako ni Mr. Alba kapag na-late ako. Wala na nga akong natututunan sa klase niya, madalas pa akong late. I secured the alarm and then I turned around just to be welcomed by a slap. Napahawak ako sa pisngi ko sa sobrang hapdi niyon at dahil sa gulat. Nanlilisik ang mga mata ni Laura sa 'kin pero hindi ako masisindak sa gano'n lang. Who does she think she is!?
I opened the cup's lid of the ice coffee I'm holding. Binuhos ko sa kanya ang lahat ng laman niyon. She gasped. "That's for laying your filthy hand on me." I said through gritted teeth. Pagkatapos ay binato ko sa kanya ang cup. "That's because you're a trash."
"I'm a trash!?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya na para bang bago sa pandinig niya ang salitang 'yon. Come on! I've been treating her like a garbage that she was for the longest time. "At anong tawag mo sa sarili mo!? You think you're better than everyone else!? Pretending you're clean while other people were rolling on the dirt you're throwing at them? You're the dirtiest girl in this city, Harriet. Mas marumi ka pa sa daga."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Sarkastikong turan ko kahit pa ang totoo'y may tinamaan siyang spot sa 'kin. I won't let her see that. I won't let anyone see I'm hurt.
"Stop fucking around with Earl. You're already fucking every guy in this school. Spare my boyfriend, you nasty bitch."
"Go home, crybaby."
"One of these days, you're gonna roll on the dirt, too. A dirt you created yourself." She threw me a look of disgust before she walked away.
Suminghap ako nang mawala na siya sa paningin ko. Tila ako sinu-suffocate kanina dahil sa pagpipigil. I don't wanna make a mess in the school premises. Nanghihina ako pero pinilit kong tumayo ng maayos sa kabila ng nanginginig na mga tuhod.
When I regained my composure, I started walking to the parking lot's exit. Ngunit nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako ay natigil na ako nang makita ang lalaking nakatayo sa tabi ng itim na Chevrolet malapit sa spot ng kotse ko. Bumayo ang dibdib ko sa hindi malamang dahilan. Sinubukan pa niyang tumalikod para sana magtago kahit na nagkatinginan na kami. This stupid freak!
"How long have you been standing there?" I almost yelled at Archer who looked scared and shy and worried all at the same time.
"Just now." He answered nervously. Liar. He cleared his throat then looked down again. "About 10 minutes actually."
I don't know, but the fact that he had been standing there long enough and witnessed what just happened between me and Laura made my feelings ten times worst. I feel horrible. It's like I'm so disappointed with myself.
"You didn't hear anything." I said to him with a blank expression on my face.
Hindi siya sumagot.
Muli akong humakbang palayo pero binalikan ko siya. "You didn't hear anything. Do you understand?"
"I know what I heard, but sure."
I took a deep breath before letting out a sigh. I walked away again.
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I FLEW to New York to settle everything before I move back to the Philippines. I withdrew from my agency and sold my flat. No one really asked me to do that but I have a task to fulfill. Archer surely wouldn't agree on a long distance relationship anyway—if what we have is even a relationship. I guess it's safe to say that we're business associates since we have a contract. Yes, definitely. That's what we are. We're business associates.
With malice.
I'm maybe not that big in New York, but when you came from an international premiere agency, you're most definitely going to be big in the Metro Manila fashion scene. My portfolio that was a compilation of photos shot by well-known foreign photographers was enough for local modeling agencies to pit against each other and win me over.
