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Chapter 40
Posters
"Mr. Chance Saavedra and Ms. Calixta Gonzalez, pinapatawag kayo for school photoshoot," anang Professor.
Agad na kumunot ang noo ko. What? Photoshoot? Is that the same shoot yesterday where Jax and I got called for, but then they pulled me out because I'm not a part of the Star Sapphire Class anymore? Kung pareho lang, why do they want me now? What's the purpose?
"School photoshoot?" nagtatakang tanong ni Chance.
"I think its for the posters..." I told him.
But I still don't get why Chance and I were being called. Hindi naman kami Class A? Though we are still wearing the white blazers because we haven't received the new uniform yet.
"Photoshoot pa! Susulatan lang din naman ng mga estudyante 'yong mukha natin sa poster!"
Napailing ako habang natatawa kay Chance. He reminds me of Theo... I miss him dearly.
Pagdating namin, nagulat ako nang makitang nandoon din si Claire at si Jax.
"Cali!" Jax eyes twinkled the moment he saw me.
"Sa wakas, makakapagsimula na tayo!" the photographer said and clapped his hands.
Pansin kong iba na iyon sa kahapon pati na rin ang glam team na kasama.
Claire was glaring at me. What happened to being friends? Is she two-faced or she's mad at me too for the cheating issue?
Nag-iwas na lang ako ng tingin habang inaayusan. I really don't know why I'm here. This is a shoot for model students, right?
Inayos kami ng pwesto no'ng staff. Claire and Jax were positioned in the front middle, while Chance and I were positioned in the back.
Jax eyes immediately met mine, but I was surprised when he went to Chance.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya nag-pu-puppy eyes ngayon sa harapan ni Chance?
"Chance, palit tayo pwesto with respect!" Jax said.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko roon. And when did he start talking to Chance casually?
"Ayoko with respect!" mabilis naman na sagot ni Chance.
Jax stomped his foot like a kid. "Mama mo transparent!"
Chance stuck his tongue out. Oh my God. I can't believe these two! Parang mga bata! Iyong photographer napapailing na lang din sa kanila.
"Please, magsimula na tayo!" aniya. "Mr. Jaxith, sa gitna ka!"
The instructions were simple. Post lang kami sa gilid, 'wag titingin sa camera para kunwari candid.
It took quite a while. Ang daming angles ang kinunan. Tapos ay pinapalitan din ang props na hawak namin. I can't even believe that they want me to carry a Hawk bag! No Louis Vuitton? Channel?
Chance and I were a little too far to the camera. I'm not even sure kung kita kami o we're just blending in with the rest of the background!
They want a solo pictures for Jax. Kaya naman pinag-break muna kami.
"Ms. Claire, solo shot ka next," anang photographer.
"Okay po," she said sweetly.
Nilapitan naman agad si Claire ng isang make-up artist for a retouch.
"Hindi na masyadong kailangan ng retouch, Ms. Claire. Angel face ka na kasi," the make-up artist said.
Naririnig ko dahil magkatabi lang naman kami ng upuan ni Claire.
Ibinalin ko ang tingin kay Jax at agad akong napangiti.
My mamon looks really good.
Kung hindi ko siya kilala, iisipin kong model talaga siya. Blaze Jaxith Yrreverre Pereira is the epitome of perfect. Parang lahat ata kaya niyang gawin.
"Grabe, ang gwapo ni Mr. Jaxith! Bagay kayo, Miss!" narinig ko pang sabi no'ng make-up artist habang nilalagyan ng powder si Claire.
Claire laughed sweetly. "Marami nga pong nagsasabi."
Tumawa rin iyong make-up artist. "Siguro nililigawan ka na, 'no? Grabe ang chemistry n'yo sa camera, eh!"
Napayuko na lang ako at uminom ng tubig. I can't believe that I'm hearing this.
"Cali, can you get me a cup of water? 'Yung warm lang... And tissue na rin." Claire demanded.
I looked at her with questionable eyes. "What?" I asked, even though I heard it clearly. Inuutusan niya ba ako?
"Inaayusan kasi ako. At saka wala ka naman nang shoot," aniya.
I was about to react when Chance immediately grabbed my hand.
"Ano naman? May kamay ka, ikaw ang kumuha," he snapped and pulled me away.
Pagpasok kinabukasan ay pinagkakaguluhan iyong bulletin board. I can't help not to be curious kaya naman lumapit din ako. It turns out that the student model campaign posters were already posted.
Umuwang ang bibig ko nang makita iyong posters. Chance and I were barely seen. Kung hindi gilid at likod, blurred naman.
"Oh my gosh, ang ganda ng likod mo Cali, infairness!" boses iyon ni Violet.
Umalingawngaw ang tawanan ng ibang mga girls na nandoon.
"Grabe, bagay na bagay si Claire at Jax! Sila talaga ang dapat na student models!" si Jenny naman iyon.
"They're so perfect for each other!" sabi pa no'ng isa.
Nanatili iyong mga mata ko roon sa poster na nasa harapan.
I sighed. Kinuha lang siguro nila ako para mapapayag sa shoot si Jax. I really don't know kung ano ang purpose namin ni Chance sa shoot na ito, but now alam ko na. Part kami ng background.
I kinda knew it... Somehow.
Napatingin ako roon sa picture. Claire and Jax looks like a nice couple in this picture. I can't help not to be sad about it... That should be me. Not her.
Why does it feels like this? Am I naiinggit?
I just can't believe how fast everything changed. How I lost it all... And how she got everything that I had. My class, my room, my friends... And now the pictorial with Jax.
Siguro nga, I'm jealous.
"I didn't know that it turned out so good," I heard Claire's voice beside me.
"Claire! Grabe ang ganda mo sa posters! Ang perfect n'yo ni Jax tignan! Tara at magkwentuhan tayo sa room," ani Violet at naglakad na papasok.
Sumunod na rin iyong ibang mga girls.
"Sana ngayon alam mo na ang lugar mo..." sabi ni Claire tapos ay binangga ako.
"What's your problem?" I asked, not politely.
She acts very sweet and friendly to others, but she's indifferent towards me. I gave her the benefit of the doubt when she wanted us to be friends, pero ngayon na ganyan siya pag ako ang kaharap, it's telling me otherwise.
Is she also mad at me for the cheating issue like Xuri and Gelo? Ganoon ba? I'm really confused!
She raised an eyebrow. "Now that you're gone, and your reputation is trash, I don't think I have a problem."
I was left there, stunned.
Now, I can't help not to think about it... What are the chances that the reviewer found under my table was not there by accident? What if someone put it there?
Because like what Kuya Kairon always say, the one who benefited the most is the culprit.
"Seryoso? Inayusan lang tayo para gawing background? 'Di na lang nila inedit amputa..." Chance voice echoed to the hallway.
Sa lalim ng iniisip ko, hindi ko napansin na he's there na.
"Grabe! Blurred iyong mukha natin! Ginawa tayong japanese!" reklamo pa ni Chance.
I really don't understand what he is talking about. Kumunot na lang ang noo ko nang bigla niyang binalutan ang kanyang mukha ng sariling libro.
"What are you doing?" I asked in disbelief.
"Aasarin ako ng tropa nito! Badtrip!" aniya at patagong pumasok sa room na akala mo'y hindi talaga siya makikita.
I took a quick glance to the poster when someone suddenly ripped it off. I was surprised when I saw Jax and he seems not in the mood.
"J-Jax? What are you doing?"
Nilukot-lukot niya kasi iyong posters!
"Hindi ko alam na ganito pala ang gagawin nila... I'm so sorry, Cali," Jax said in a soft tone.
He sounded like he was very sorry when it's not even his fault.
"It's okay," I assured him.
Umiling siya. "Hindi. Hindi 'yun okay... Hindi ako papayag dito."
Jax shoot the crumpled posters in the trash bin tapos ay agad na lumapit sa akin. He slowly held my hand and then intertwined our fingers. "Tara, pasok na tayo."
Napatigil naman ako agad at pakiramdam ko ay namumula na ang buong mukha ko ngayon. He's just holding my hand but my heart keeps on beating really fast!
"N-nang naka holding hands?" I hesitated. We never do PDA!
Jax nodded and smiled. "Para malinaw sa kanilang lahat."
"What–"
Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin dahil dahan-dahan na akong hinatak ni Jax papasok sa room.
The class was suddenly filled with whispers and I can feel all of their eyes on us. Pakiramdam ko tuloy, ang liit-liit ng classroom kahit na it's big naman.
Jax even pulled a chair to me. Mas lalo pang lumakas ang mga bulungan.
When it was lunch time, I was a bit late because I have to do a little recap from all of the lessons para sa quiz namin na darating. I need to do well in everything in able to go back. I need to work harder.
30 minutes na lang ang natitira kaya naman hindi ko na naabutan sila Jax pagdating ko. Nagtataka naman ako dahil wala rin si Chance at ang mga friends niya.
Kumuha na ako ng food. I was carrying the tray with food while looking at the tables where I could eat... Saan kaya ako kakain nito?
Nagulat naman ako nang biglang humarang si Claire sa akin. She looks really mad! I never saw her like this before.
"Alam mo ang desperada mo!" she shouted.
My forehead creased immediately. "What are you saying?"
"Jax wants to pull out all of the posters! Siguro inutos mo! Inggitera ka! Bakit ba kasi hindi mo na lang tanggapin na hindi ka na part ng Star Sapphire Class ha? Cheater!"
Agad na nagpintig ang tenga ko roon. She have no rights to tell me that!
Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Am I really a cheater? Or someone purposely put the reviewer under my desk to kick me out?"
Kitang-kita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya.
"W-What are you saying?"
"Did you do it?" I asked her.
I'm not even expecting for an honest answer. I just want to get her reaction, and with that, I'm getting the most honest answer of them all.
"Are you accusing me? Cheater ka! Cheater! 'Wag mong ipasa sa ibang tao ang kasalanan mo!"
Claire's voice were so loud that it draw flocked from the Class B girls who were still there. Agad na nagtakbuhan sina Violet pati na rin ang iba para saklolohan si Claire.
Hindi ako makapaniwala nang bigla na siyang umiyak at nag-hysterical. Oh my God. It's a no for me!
"Claire, bakit? Anong nangyari?" Jenny asked.
"Si Cali! Naiinggit siya sa akin dahil doon sa posters kaya inaaway niya ako..." she cried.
Nagulat ako nang biglang tinabig ni Violet iyong tray na dala ko. Lahat ng pagkain na nandoon ay tumapon sa uniform ko.
"At sino ka para awayin si Claire? Napaka inggitera mo talaga! Hindi kayo bagay ni Jax!" Violet said and pushed me.
Gusto kong lumaban pero agad akong nakaramdam ng paninikip ng dibdib. I started to gasped for some air.
"Mas bagay si Claire kay Jax kumpara sa 'yo! Kapal ng mukha mo! Sobrang perfect ni Jax para sa kagaya mong loser" Jenny shouted and tried to pull my white blazer. "Hindi bagay sa 'yo ang uniform ng Star Sapphire Class!"
"Kaya nga! Bakit suot mo pa 'yan? Hindi 'yan bagay sa 'yo!" another girl said and tried to pull my blazer too.
Pakiramdam ko ay nasisira na iyon dahil nakakarinig ako ng pagkapunit. I was hugging my self the entire time and my tears started to fall down.
"Hindi bagay si Jax sa kagaya mong cheater!" sigaw pa ni Claire tapos ay bigla niyang hinatak iyong necklace ko at binato iyon.
I immediately bent over to get it on the floor.
"Claire!" I heard Xuri's voice.
Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang sinampal si Claire tapos ay mabilis akong hinatak palayo roon kanila Violet.
"Xuri, I-I didn't mean it... Si Cali ang unang nang-away," Claire said like she was really the victim.
"I'm not stupid!" Xuri said. "I'll make sure that the headmistress will heard about this!"
Bigla namang dumating si Chance at iba pang Class B boys.
"Anong nangyayari rito?" Chance asked and he looks so worried when he saw me.
Hinatak na ako ni Xuriella palayo roon. Mas naiyak ako habang tinitignan ang kamay niyang hawak ang braso ko.
Xuri brought me to the greenhouse. Tinulungan niya akong tanggalin ang uniform ko dahil puro tapon iyon ng ulam.
"Ang kapal ng mga mukha nila para gawin sa 'yo ito!" Xuri was raging mad.
I immediately hugged her and cried on her shoulders.
"Akala ko ayaw mo na akong maging kaibigan," I cried.
I was so lonely thinking that I lost her. She is so precious to me that I can't bare it. Pero ngayon na alam kong nandito pa rin siya para sa 'kin, sobrang saya sa puso. I think they are tears of joy.
Xuri started crying too. "I'm so sorry, Cali! Alam ko talaga, sigurado ako na si Claire ang may gawa no'n! I never trusted her! I only backed her up that day to see her reaction. She smirked! I saw it! I saw it! Alam kong pakana niya ang nangyari!"
Mas lalo akong napaiyak sa balikat niya. My Xuri.
"Kaya gumawa kami ng plano ni Angelo. We tried to befriend her and acted like we are mad at you! Gusto namin siyang mapaamin sa ginawa niya! Kaya lang hindi ko naman kayang makitang ginagano'n ka nila, hindi ako papayag! I'm sorry wala akong naitulong sa case," she cried harder too.
"It's okay," I said and patted her back.
"Xuri? Cali?" si Gelo iyon at umuwang ang bibig niya nang makitang nag-iiyakan kami.
Gelo started crying too. "Cali! I'm sorry!" Lumapit din siya sa 'min at yinakap kaming dalawa ni Xuri.
"Did someone die?" Grant's deep voice echoed from behind.
Mukhang naistorbo namin ang pagtulog niya.
"Shut up!" I told him.
He glared at me and then handed me a basahan. Oh my God!
"A-Ano 'yan?" tanong ni Gelo at kitang-kita sa mukha niya na naguguluhan siya.
"Normal 'yan... Intindihin na lang natin," I said, trying to make the two understand that this is typical Grant and his basahans.
When the glass door creaked, sabay-sabay kaming napalingon kung sino. It was Jaxith.
"C-Cali? Bakit ka umiiyak?" mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin.
Inaya naman agad ni Xuri si Gelo at Grant sa labas, kaya naman naiwan kaming dalawa ni Jax sa malaking greenhouse.
"Bakit ka umiyak, Cal?" tanong niya ulit, mas malimbing ang boses ngayon.
"I'm sorry... Nasira 'yung necklace," I sobbed and handed him the broken piece.
The necklace is so special to me because he gave that on my birthday. It means a lot to me since then... Tapos ngayon, wala na. Nasira na.
"Aw my baby..." Jax said and hugged me right away. "It's okay, don't cry. I'll get a new one, I promise."
I cried on his chest. "Sabi nila hindi raw tayo bagay..." pinipigilan ko pa ang sarili na huwag humikbi pero ang hirap.
"Sino nagsabi?" Jax was caressing my back.
"Why do you have to be so perfect? You're gwapo, you get really really good grades, you can do sports... I thought you're sintunado but it turned out that you can sing too!"
My tears were all over my face.
He's really perfect, that's how everyone sees him too... That's why a lot of people like him and wants to date him.
Baka nga talagang hindi kami bagay...
"Talaga? I'm gwapo?"
Hinarap ko siya at sinamaan ng tingin.
"You're kind, you're friendly... The only flaw you have is being korni! You should tell a joke more often so they'd know you're not so perfect!" I cried.
Dahan-dahan niyang pinunasan ang mga mata ko gamit iyong daliri niya. It felt so soft when he brushed his fingers over my skin.
"When you are with me, you make me perfect," he said huskily.
My tears can't stop falling anymore. Bago pa bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko, tinulak ko na si Jax palayo sa akin.
"No! Let's break up..." I said with conviction.