Definitely Out of his League | published under Ukiyoto Publishing

8th League: Guilty

8th League: Guilty

EARLY MORNING, the Jangs were sharing one peaceful breakfast when their telephone suddenly rang. A housemaid was told by Mr. Jang to answer the phone.

"Hello, Jang Residence po. Sino po sila?" tanong ng kasambahay.

Nakatingin sa kasambahay ang mag-asawa habang si Iris naman ay tahimik lang na kumakain.

"Sir Warren, may gusto raw pong kumausap kay Ma'am Iris sa labas," anang kasambahay. Napalingon naman sa kaniya si Iris.

"Who is it?" Mr. Jang asked.

"Travis Falcon daw po."

Halos maibuga ni Iris ang laman ng bibig niya. What was he doing there? Ang aga-aga pa.

"Travis Falcon? Geu jeoleun jeongwonsa?" Mr. Jang asked his wife.

(The young gardener?)

"Yeah, if I remember it right. Travis nga ang pangalan ng guwapong bata na 'yon," ani Mrs. Jang.

"Schoolmate ko siya, Mom, Dad. He's a nice person, don't worry. Scholar siya ng AU." Iris tried explaining the easiest way.

"I'm not worried, not at all. I know that kid, I know he's a good man. Nan geunyang geuga dangsingwa hamkke nonuihago sipeun geoseul gunggeumhae," wika ni Mr. Jang

(I just wonder what he would like to discuss with you.)

"Eojjeomyeon Elerie daehae mwonga? Geunyeoneun uriui sangho chinguimnida," Iris told her father. Hindi siya sigurado kung naintindihan ba ng tatay niya ang palusot niya but that was all she could think of.

(Maybe something about Elerie? She's our mutual friend.)

Sinenyasan niya ang kasambahay nila na papasukin si Travis. Hindi na niya hinintay na dumating ang binata at lumabas na agad siya ng gate. Honestly, she had an idea why Travis wanted to talk to her. Tungkol siguro ito sa pinadala niyang goods last night.

Naglalakad pa lang si Travis, it was evident on his face how mad he was. Iris didn't budge though. Hinintay niya lang na makalapit sa kaniya si Travis.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo, Iris?" Iyon agad ang bungad ni Travis sa dalaga.

"I just wanted to help," she said.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong mo, Iris. Ano ba 'ko? Charity? Bakit mo ba 'to ginagawa sa 'kin? Gusto mo ba 'ko talagang napapahiya?" iritadong tanong ni Travis.

"Travis, I was just trying to help. Ano bang masama doon?"

"Ayoko! Ayokong tinutulungan mo ako ng kahit na sino. Kunin mo lahat ng mga binigay mong 'yon. Pati utang ko, binayaran mo pa. Wala ka bang sariling buhay? Ganito na lang ba lagi ang gagawin mo sa 'kin? Ang ipahiya ako?" galit na utas ng binata.

Hindi makapaniwala si Iris sa mga narinig niya. Bakit ganito makitungo sa kaniya si Travis? Bakit hindi ito natutuwa sa tulong na binigay niya?

"Hindi naman kita kaanu-ano, ha? Hindi rin naman tayo magkaibigan. Ano bang motibo mo? Ipinagmamayabang mo sa 'kin na mayaman ka? Hindi pa ba malinaw na ayokong ma-associate sa 'yo sa kahit anong paraan?" ani Travis.

Isang malakas na sampal ang iginawad ni Iris sa binata. For a second, Travis thought she would cry but she didn't. In fact, her eyes barely showed any emotion but hate.

"Mayabang? Ako? Tumingin ka na ba sa salamin, Travis? Dahil kung meron mang mayabang dito, ikaw 'yon. I was trying to be nice to you. I was trying to prove that you were wrong about me," mariing sabi ni Iris.