Chapter 40
Cassandra’s POV
“Gosh Ali! Mukha bang shopping mall ang closet ko at kanina ka pa tapon ng tapon ng mga damit ko sa sahig? Cut it out bitch!”
Kung hindi lang ako iika-ika, kanina ko pa siya nalapitan at nasampal sa kagagahan niya.
Bigla kasing pumunta si Alisha dito sa bahay at nagstart magtititingin ng mga damit ko.
“I have to find the perfect dress!” She shouted.
“Well duh! News flash! These aren’t your clothes! They are mine!”
She stopped and glared at me. “I’m looking for a dress, not for me but for you!”
“Why would I need a dress?”
“Because we’re going to the mall” She sounded as if it was a very obvious thing.
“Uhmm…I don’t remember having plans with you today” I crossed my arms and she pouted.
“Come on bitch. I feel so bad for not being around you when you needed me the most. I should have been there with you. Ako rin ang pinakahuling tao na nakadalaw sayo sa hospital and now…” She walked towards me and hugged me. “I feel really guilty”
Tumawa ako at tinignan siya. “Gugustuhin mo ba talagang makidnap din at mabugbog ng isang psychotic witch?”
“No idiot. I’m saying na dapat hindi kita iniwan dun sa bar. You know, hindi ka naman makikidnap kung binantayan kita”
“What am I? Your dog?” Biro ko sabay lakad papunta sa kama ko.
Inalalayan ako ni Alisha saglit dahil ang bagal ko talagang maglakad.
My wounds are healing and magiging okay na rin daw itong braso ko sabi ng doctor.
Babalik nga kami mamaya para ipatanggal na yung cast ko.
She took a deep breath and held my hands. “I am so glad you’re okay. I couldn’t imagine my life without you bitch!”
“Sweet! But hey, masamang damo ako. Matagal pa talaga akong mabubuhay”
She smiled but it wasn’t a happy smile. “I heard the news. Was it real?”
“Ano dun? Di pa ko nakakapanuod ng balita”
“Muntikan ka na daw ma-rape?”
I flinched when I remembered every moment of what happened on that night.
“Yes”
“Oh bitch!” Niyakap niya ulit ako dahil alam kong naaawa siya.
“Hey, Lance saved me and I'm okay now. Don’t worry” I chuckled.
She laughed at the same time. “Kaya mas lalo ko siyang nagugustuhan eh. Lance is such a perfect man. He’s handsome, he’s athletic with good abs---not that I’ve seen them but I could see his hot biceps…and he’s confident…and he’s a hero”
“Yeah. He’s a hero”
My hero…
Alisha excitedly looked at me. “Should we call him? Ask him to drop by?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea----”
“No. Come on, give me your phone! Kunwari ikaw ang nagpapunta sa kanya pero ang totoo, paglalapitin mo kaming dalawa. Please bitch!”
“Ali, my mom doesn’t like Lance”
“Oh. Yeah…Sorry, I forgot. Sayang, nasa mood pa naman ako para makipagkilala na talaga kay Lance”
Ngumiti na lang ako at binuksan na yung TV ko.
I don’t like it when Ali started talking about Lance and how she really likes him.
Kung alam niya lang kung gaano na kalalim ang relationship namin ni Lance, I’m pretty sure she’ll hate me.
Kita ko sa mga mata niyang hindi lang basta-basta crush ang pagtingin niya kay Lance.
Hindi lang niya pinupush feelings niya dahil sumusunod siya sa rules ng The Royalties.
Clearly, I don’t.
“Kamusta na nga pala yung deal niyo?”
Napatingin ako sa kanya. “Di ko ba nasabi sayo? We ended that deal already. Crap! Hindi ko pa nadidiscuss sa sorority! Shit, I forgot!”
I was supposed to tell her but then there was my Dad’s funeral and I got kidnapped and now….
Ohmygosh!
“Wait, you ended the deal?!” Sigaw niya.
“Yeah. Para sa ikabubuti nang lahat----”
“NO WAY! You’re winning already! Tsaka ilang araw na lang yon! Bakit ka nagdesisyon without telling The Royalties?”
“We were so mad at each other and I wanted him to stay away from me because my mom wants to. And you know, continuing this damn deal will only make things worst”
“Fuck bitch. You’re being too selfish. Magagalit ang mga sisters natin sa’yo!”
“What do you want me to do? Ipagpatuloy ang pagpapanggap na boyfriend ko siya? What do you want, ang walang manalo sa deal o yung itutuloy ko pero matatanggal ang sorority natin? My mom warned me already”
Tumahimik siya tapos ang tagal niyang nagisip. “I have a plan”
“What is it?”
“You’ll finish this deal”
“Narinig mo ba lahat ng sinabi ko a while ago? I can’t----”
“Let me finish. Tatapusin mo ang deal pero patago kayo. Just like a couple na hindi pa legal sa parents nila”
I stared at Alisha in disbelief.
She’s really a pain in the ass.
All she thinks about is herself and our sorority.
May hindi man lang niya naisip na pwedeng ikamatay ni Lance ang paglapit sa akin?
Duh! My mom is a living devil!
***
After dinner, I went straight to my bedroom.
Wala si mama ngayon sa Philippines.
She’s in India for some business deal.
Si Britney naman, hindi pa umuuwi.
May lakad yata sila ng brother ni Brian.
I heard they were dating…
I took a long bath before I called Lance.
It only took him two rings before he answered my call.
Lance: Hey…
He sounded like he’s so happy to hear my voice.
Napangiti tuloy ako.
Umupo ako sa kama ko at kinumutan ko yung legs ko.
Me: Hi.
Lance: What’s up? Bakit ka napatawag? Okay ka lang ba?
Me: I…I have to tell you something…
Lance: Wait. Paano ka nakatawag?
Me: Wala naman si Mama. Hindi niya ko machecheck ngayon dito sa kwarto.
Lance: Good. So…ano nga ulit yung sasabihin mo?
Humiga ako at niyakap ko yung unan ko.
I don’t know if this is a good idea…
Me: Alisha stopped by this morning…
Lance: And?
Me: And we talked…
Lance: And?
Me: And I told her about our deal…
Lance: Kanina mo lang nasabi?
Me: I was supposed to tell my sorority but you broke my heart when you said you’ll transfer kaya dumiretso kami sa bar instead of calling for a meeting.
Tumahimik si Lance saglit.
Lance: Anong sabi ni bestfriend mo?
Me: She wants me to continue our deal…
Lance: You and I both know we can’t do that. Your mom will kill me.
Tumawa pa siya pero tumigil din nung napansin niyang hindi ko nagustuhan yung biro niya.
Me: Lance, she’s right. Hinihintay ng The Royalties ang result ng deal natin. I have to prove them that the most important rule in our club really exists.
Lance: Are we back on that again? Hindi mo ba pwedeng i-explain sa kanila na delikado kapag nalaman pa ng mama mo na nagkikita pa tayo? Even if this is just for some stupid deal. Tsaka alam naman nating dalawa na mahal mo na ko. You’ll lose this game if we continue this.
Me: I can’t say no to Alisha. She’s so demanding. She’ll be angry at me kung hindi ko gagawin ang gusto niya. Tsaka sabi niya, we could hide naman daw. They’ll help us make sure na hindi makakarating ito kay Mama. Hindi ko naman magawang masabi sa kanyang mahal na kita kasi masasaktan siya ng sobra.
Lance: This is so fucked up.
Me: I know and I’m sorry…
Lance: I was expecting you to call because you missed me but here you are. Telling me you wanted to have a complicated relationship again…Nice job, Cassy.
I laughed at that.
Me: Gosh, remind me again why I love you?
Lance: And me to you?
Me: Why do we love each other?
I whispered.
Lance: I don’t really have an answer for that. All I know is that I need you. Ghad, I want to see you.
Me: Then say yes. Let’s continue this deal. Pretend as if I didn’t told you I love you. Bahala na kung anong mangyari…
Lance: Are you sure?
Me: Not 100% sure. But I have given it a thought.
Lance: And?
Me: It’s the only way I could be with you at school.
Lance: Fine. Then you’re mine again, my queen.
I giggled quietly at that.
Me: I am always yours, my king.
Lance: Your king? Ayos ah. Bago yan.
Me: Di ka man lang ba kikiligin?!
Lance: Chill hahaha. I love it.
Me: You should. I gotta go to sleep, goodnight.
Lance: Love you.
Me: Okay.
I ended the call and screamed at my pillow.
I know it’s stupid to go against my mother but I really wanted to be with Lance again.
Right now, nafifeel kong natawa din siya dahil hindi ako nagiloveyouback sa kanya.
Well I can’t anymore since pinagpatuloy na namin ang deal.
“Gosh lance, what will happen to us now?”
Lance’s POV
“Good afternoon!” Biglang sigaw ng isang babaeng sexy na pumasok sa locker room naming lahat.
Nakacorporate attire siya at mukhang desente.
Napasuot tuloy kami ng mga tshirts at shorts dahil kakaligo lang naming lahat.
Kakatapos lang kasi ng basketball practice at nagpapalit pa lang kami.
Sino ba kasi ito at biglang lumitaw?
“Mr. Grimshaw?” Tanong niya.
Napatingin ako at itinaas ko ang kamay ko. “That's me”
“Go with me. The principal wants to talk to you”
She smiled and went outside.
Si Shaun and Greg naman lumapit kaagad sakin.
Shaun: “Damn dude, anong ginawa mo?”
Greg: “May nakaaway ka noh? HAHA”
“Shut up”
Kinuha ko na yung bag ko at hinabol ko na yung babae kaagad.
Nakakapagtaka kasi wala naman akong maisip na reason kung bakit ako ipapatawag ng principal.
Paglabas ng gym, dire-diretso yung babae papunta sa taas.
Nagstart na kong kabahan.
Wala naman sa fourth floor ang principal’s office.
“Uhmmm miss, where are we going?”
“Right this way, Mr. Grimshaw”
She opened a door and I immediately laughed.
Club room lang pala ng The Royalties.
Akala ko kung ano na.
Pagpasok ko sa room, napatingin lahat ng babae sakin.
Yung iba halatang kinilig pero yung ibang mga old members, composed ang face.
Ali waved at me and I smirked at her.
Namula naman siya at tumalikod bigla.
Lol, may crush nga sakin to.
I went straight to Cassy and kissed her.
I didn’t even care kung more than 20 ang mga babaeng nakatingin sa amin ngayon.
I miss her.
I’ve been longing for her.
“Anong pakulo yun? Tinakot niyo pa ko. Sana tinawagan mo na lang ako at sinabing pumunta dito” I asked against her lips.
She pushed me away then she straightened her clothes.
“Hello to you too, Lance” She said in a formal voice.
Whoah.
Ah shit. Oo nga pala.
Back to the old Cassy siya para maipalabas naming hindi niya pa rin ako mahal.
I smiled and said hello to everyone.
“Lance is here to update us about the status of the deal” Seryosong sabi ni Cassandra.
Napangiti ako don. “Yup…uhmmm, nothing changed much. Well, maybe there is. Physically…”
I looked at Cassy and she blushed.
Don’t worry baby, I’m not gonna tell everyone about our secret.
“As you can see, I could kiss her now. Tingin ko maiinlove na siya sakin onti na lang” I continued.
“Not really. I’m not affected at all. It’s just a kiss” Pagsasalita agad ni Cassy.
“Okay, sabi mo eh haha”
I saw Alisha staring at us and I gave her a tight smile.
I hope she won’t get mad at Cassandra for that.
Habang nagsasalita si Cassy ay lumapit ako kay Ali.
“Hey”
“H-hi”
“You know, yang bestfriend mo, sobrang hot pero di ko siya type” Pagsisinungaling ko.
Nagulat yata siya sa binulong ko kaya napatitig siya. “Why not?”
“Because she’s a bitch”
Now, Ali wouldn’t suspect that there is something going on between me and Cassy.
Bumalik na ulit ako kay Cassandra at inakbayan ko siya but she pushed me away.
A fake act for the deal.
“If I’m right, sa Friday na ang end ng deal di'ba?” Tanong nung isang babae.
What?
Sa Friday agad?
Naka-one month na kami?
“Yes Mae. Sa Friday na natin malalaman kung sino ang panalo at kung sino ang talo” Sagot ni Cassandra.
Bigla akong nawala sa mood.
One week.
One week lang and then I’m going to leave this school.
Malamang hindi ko hahayaang matalo si Cassy sa deal.
I’ll sacrifice for her.
Palalabasin naming hindi niya pa rin ako mahal.
Cassandra’s POV
“I’ve lost track of time” I murmured while I snuggled closer to Lance.
Andito kami sa bedroom niya ngayon.
Nakatakas kasi ako sa guards ko.
Nagpanggap ang isa sa mga members ng TR bilang ako.
Inayos namin ang pananamit niya pati na rin ang buhok niya.
And then we instructed her na yumuko lang at tumitig sa phone all the time para hindi mahalata ng guards.
Sabi ko sa kanya dumiretso siya sa kwarto ko.
Kasama naman niya si Ali kaya for sure, magiging okay lahat.
“I can’t believe judgement day na sa friday”
“Me too…I don’t wanna lose you again. Pag umalis ka sa school, mas mahihirapan na tayong magkita”
“We’ll find way. Kamusta na nga pala itong braso mo?” He asked then he kissed my hair.
“Papatanggal ko sana ngayon but I chose to be with you instead. Bukas na lang after school”
“I wish I could go with you”
“So am I” I whispered.
Tahimik lang kaming dalawa at halik lang siya ng halik sa noo ko at sa buhok ko.
I smiled at that.
He’s really sweet.
“Nasabi mo na ba kay Chelsea na tinuloy natin yung deal?” I asked him.
“Not yet. I have a feeling na mababadtrip siya sakin”
“Well, I don’t blame her. Mahirap kasi magtransfer…”
He pulled me upwards para kapantay na nung mukha ko yung mukha niya.
He stared at me for a while before he started talking again.
“I have a bad feeling na malalaman agad ng mama mo na nagkikita tayo”
Nanuyot yung labi ko doon.
I don’t know what to say.
“Cassandra Blaire, promise me one thing”
“What is it?”
“Promise me you won’t give up on us”
“I promise” I said, without hesitation.
Naggive up na ko sa kanya once.
I am not going to make the same mistake all over again.
“We’ll finish what we started” I told him.
I love my sorority.
I will do whatever I can to please the members of our club.
And I’m always going to choose The Royalties no matter what.
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Deal’s back and so are their problems.
Anyway, I hope to see you guys sa SM FAIRVIEW on APRIL 11, 2015!!! Gold rising 4 – I’m His Tutor book release – Booksigning – Meet and Greet – Hugs!!!