CHAPTER 14
Antok na antok si Ramcel pero nagawa pa rin nyang makapasok sa school nang maaga. Late na syang natulog kagabi dahil gumawa pa sya ng project na ipapasa nya ngayon. Hindi nya kasi nagawa nung mga nakaraang araw dahil panay ang practice nila para sa play. Excused sila sa klase pero hindi sa mga projects. Nasaan ang hustisya?
6:15AM pa lang pero ang totoo, late na talaga sya. Hindi sa klase dahil mamayang 7AM pa yun, kundi sa meeting ng pinagsamang Theater club at dance troupe. Dumiretso sya sa in-house theater nila. Pagbukas nya ng double door, napatingin ang karamihan sa kanya.
Halos lahat ng member ng theater club at dance troupe ay naroon na. Nakaupo na ang mga ito. Nakaharap naman sa mga ito sina Ms. Rivera at Ms. Biason, ang adviser ng dance club. Mukhang nag-umpisa na ang mga ito.
Kinawayan sya ni Helena, na noo’y nasa harapan katabi ni Samantha. They saved a seat for her. Umupo sya sa gitna nang dalawa. “Anong meron?” Bulong nyang tanong nang makaupo.
“May outing tayo sa weekend!” Excited na sabi ni Helena. “Magbi-beach tayo. Treat ng school satin.”
“Victory party,” Samantha explained when Ramcel gave them a questioning look. “Kasama natin ang Dance club since nanalo sila.” Natahimik sya. Samantha gave her a teasing smile. “Chance nyo nang magreconcile ni Victoria.”
Parang wala naman syang balak kausapin ni Victoria. Hindi naman dahil sa pride, pero ayaw ni Ramcel na sya ang unang mag-a-approach dito. Si Victoria ang unang nang-iwan sa ere kaya dapat sya ang suyuin nito. Isa pa, baka ipagtabuyan lang sya nito.
“Bakit nandito pa tayo? Hindi pa ba tapos?” Pag-iiba nya ng usapan.
“Kailangan daw natin hintayin si Madam Principal.” Mukhang inip na rin si Samantha.
Muling bumukas ang pintuan ng theater. Ramcel heard surprised gasps from Samantha and Helena. There were also excited whispers. Hindi nya pinansin yun dahil abala syang binabasa ang text message ni Reese. Kumakain daw ito ng breakfast with Lola Eleanor. Magre-reply na sana sya nang narinig nya ang boses ni Mrs. Aquino.
“Ms. Villarances,” tawag sa kanya ng Principal. “Come here, anak. I want to introduce you to someone.”
Agad na binalik ni Ramcel ang cellphone sa bag nya at nag-angat ng tingin. Imbes na ang Principal ang makita nya, her eyes landed on a very beautiful woman who appeared to be in her early to mid thirties. She looked so regal. So queenlike. She was wearing a simple yet elegant white dress. Ramcel knew her of course. She just couldn’t believe that this woman was standing before her.
Sinikap ni Ramcel na huwag umawang ang labi nya na parang tanga. Bagamat nabigla sa nakita, tumayo sya sa kinauupuan na tila kaswal lang sa kanya ang lahat, Kahit ang totoo, kumakabog ang puso nya sa kaba at excitement. She stopped infront of the elegant woman, who smiled at her.
“Ramcel, I want you to meet an important guest who attented our play last time,” sabi ni Mrs. Aquino, who was trying not to giggle with excitement herself. “I want you to meet, Elizabeth Vera- San Victores.”
“Hi, Ramcel.” Elizabeth San Victores got a soft voice. Inilahad nito ang kamay.
“N-Nice meeting you, Ma’am,” medyo nautal na sabi ni Ramcel habang nakikipagkamay rito. Everything seemed so surreal. Hindi sya makapaniwalang makakarahap ang sikat na pianist at theater actress. Matagal na nyang pinapangarap na mapanood ang mga performances nito. Hindi nya inaasahan na makikilala nya ito ng personal.
“I was impressed with your performance. I really wanted to meet you that night but I was in a hurry so I asked Mrs. Aquino to see you some other time instead. It’s very rare to see someone at a young age who could perform Christine’s role as wonderful as you did. You are a natural.” Napatitig si Ramcel sa mukha nito para masigurong galing nga sa bibig mismo ng magandang babaing ito ang mga salitang naririnig nya. “St. James is known for its excellent theater performances. I was invited to watch your Phantom of the Opera and I didn’t regret coming. Everyone was very impressive.” Elizabeth smiled at everyone then turned her attention back to Ramcel. “I heard you are also a writer. My daughter is a fan of your work.”
Doon napansin ni Ramcel ang miniature version ng pianist. The girl was beautiful like her mother. She was looking at Ramcel with curiousity. Mahaba ang alon-alon nitong buhok. Her eyes were brown and she got nice cleft chin. “This is my daughter. Olivia,” pakilala ni Mrs. San Victores sa anak nito.
“Hi Olivia,” nakangiting sabi ni Ramcel. Napansin nyang almost the same height sila nito. Mas matangkad lang sya ng konti. “I’m Ramcel.” Sya naman ang naglahad ng kamay nya sa batang babae.
Like her mother, Olivia looked elegant in her yellow dress. Ngumiti ito sa kanya saka sila nagkamay. “Hello. Nice meeting you. I loved your story. Ilang beses ko ng binasa ang Hiwaga sa Dako Pa Roon.”
“T-Thanks,” medyo nahiya nyang sabi.
Pagkatapos i-commend ni Elizabeth San Victores ang buong Theater club, nagpaalam na ito. Laking pagtataka nga lang ni Ramcel nang tinawag sya ng Principal at isinamang lumabas ng mga ito sa theater house.
“Ramcel, are you familiar with Philippine Academy of Arts and Music?” Tanong sa kanya ni Mrs. Aquino nang makalabas sila.
Of course! That’s like the Julliard of Asia. Ramcel wanted to answer with matching eye rolling but she instead said, “Yes, Ma’am.”
Elizabeth smiled and gave a let-me-tell-her-look at the principal. “I was appointed as the new Director of the academy. I was very impressed with your performance and your achievements, I’d like to offer you a full scholarship at the academy. That’s if you are interested after graduating high school.”
Hindi na napagilan this time ni Ramcel ang mapanganga. Tama ba ang narinig nya? Full scholarship? Sa Philippine Academy of Arts and Music? Kung saan halos ialay ng mga tao ang mga sarili sa mga anito para lang makapag-aral dun?
Ramcel heard Olivia giggled. Malamang natawa ito sa hitsura nya. Mukha siguro syang tangang kulang na lang ay pasukan ng lamok ang bibig nya. Napantingin sya rito. Nakangiti na sa kanya si Olivia. For some reason, magaan ang loob nya rito kaya nginitian nya rin ito bago bumaling kay Mrs. San Victores.
“Of course, I’m very much interested. Is this for real?” Na-excite nyang tugon sa Ginang, na natawang tumango sa kanya. Pinigilan ni Ramcel ang sariling magtatalon sa tuwa. “Thank you.”
“I’ll see you at the academy in few years, Ramcel.” Muli syang kinamayan ni Mrs. San Victores saka na ito naglakad kasabay ng Principal. They started talking about school stuff. Hindi na sya nakinig sa mga ito because she fell into a conversation with Olivia, who preferred calling her Rayanne and she didn’t mind.
“Seryoso ang Mommy mo right? Hindi na nya babawiin yung scholarship?” Bulong ni Ramcel.
Natawa si Olivia. “My Mom really loves to have someone with your talent at the academy. Unless, ibagsak mo lahat ng subjects mo in the next few years, wala syang dahilan para bawiin yun. I’m sure, hindi mo gagawin yun.”
Ramcel smiled and nodded. She was delighted to know that Olivia loved reading books too but was surprised to learn she was only in sixth grade. She was suddenly silent when Olivia asked for her cellphone number so they could get in touch. “Are you sure?” Ramcel asked when Olivia said she wanted them to be friends.
Olivia nodded confused. “Well, I understand we just met but I really enjoyed talking to you. Okay lang naman kung ayaw mo.” Medyo nalungkot na sabi nito.
“Hindi naman sa ayaw. I’m just afraid you might not like who I am,” paliwanag nya. Nagtatanong ang mga matang tumitig sa kanya si Olivia. “I’m a lesbian.” Mas mabuti nang diretsahin nya ito. Ayaw nyang maulit pa ang nangyari sa kanila ni Victoria.
Tumawa si Olivia. Na-amused ito sa kanya. “Ganyan ka ba sa mga nakikipagkaibigan sayo?” Ramcel smiled shyly. “I don’t care what you are, Ramcel. I still want you as my friend. You are talking to the future CEO of Studio 11 Network. Malakas ang kutob kong we’ll be working together.”
Bukod nga pala sa Philippine Academy of Arts and Music, the San Victores family owned the largest TV network in the country. Napailing na lamang si Ramcel. Grade 6 ba talaga si Olivia? She wondered. Napaka-mature na nitong magsalita. And she liked it. Magkakasundo sila nito.
They shook hands to seal their friendship. Pakiramdam ni Ramcel para silang mga businesswomen na nagsara ng importanteng agreement at contract. Nag-exchange din sila ng cellphone number.
Hinatid nila ni Mrs. Aquno ang dalawang bisita sa parking lot. Bago pa man sumakay si Mrs. San Victores sa magarang itim na kotse nito, bumaling itong muli kay Ramcel. “I’m just wondering. Are you, by any chance, related to Leonardo and Eleanor Villarances?”
“They are my grandparents,” sagot ni Ramcel.
Mrs. San Victores smiled. “Your grandfather designed the academy’s in house theater and one of the newly built dormitories. Your grandmother has a vast art collection that I love. Your father’s reputation as an excellent architect is also known. I heard he’s going to take over your family’s firm.”
Wow, ganun ba ang mga mayayaman? Kilala nila at alam ang nangyayari sa isa’t-isa? Medyo nagulat din sya na kilala ng isang sikat na theater actress ang pamilya nya. Ibig sabihin, prominente ang lastname na Villarances.
“Bye, Rayanne. We’ll keep in touch okay?” Medyo natigilan si Ramcel nang marahan syang yakapin ni Olivia bago ito pumasok sa kotse kasunod ng Mommy nito.
Naging busy sa paggawa ng assignments and projects si Ramcel dahil malapit na ring matapos ang school year. Pinilit nyang masanay nang wala sa tabi si Victoria. Hindi pa rin sila nito nagpapansinan o nag-uusap. Lalong dumami ang mga Seniors na lumapit kay Ramcel para basahin at i-edit ang mga essays ng mga ito. Natanggap kasi si Harrison sa University na gusto nitong pasukan sa college.
“Nagpapasalamat ka ba talaga o gusto mo ba akong mag-LBM?!” Pinandilatan ni Ramcel si Harrison nang iabot nito sa kanya ang sampung Eden cheese at sampung pack ng Yakult. Pinuntahan sya nito sa classroom during recess. Pasasalamat daw ito ng binatilyo sa kanya.
Natatawa lang sa kanya si Harrison. “Hindi ko naman sinabing kainin mo lahat yan in one seating,” depensa nito. Kanina pa natatakam si Ramcel at iniisip nga nya kung paano kakainin lahat nang sabay-sabay. “Basta, salamat!” Aalis na sana ito nang bumuwelta ito paharap sa kanya. “Yung tungkol sa sinabi ko about Milan, nakausap mo na ba si Vi?”
“H-Hindi pa.”
“Kung kaibigan pa ang turing mo kay Victoria, sabihan mo sya,” seryosong sabi ni Harrison saka ito umalis.
“Wow! Pahingi naman ako.” Hindi na hinintay ni Helena na umoo sya. Agad itong dumukot ng Yakult sa malaking plastic bag na hawak nya. Wala na syang nagawa nang binuksan nito ang isa at agad na ininom.
Gusto sana nyang sabunutan si Helena kaso nagtama ang mga mata nila ni Victoria nang pumasok ito sa classroom. Napahinto ito saglit sa pinto. Hindi rin malaman ni Vi kung ngingiti ba ito sa kanya o hindi. Ramcel was disappointed when Victoria broke their stare. Naglakad na ito pabalik sa upuan nito.
Kahit masama ang loob nya rito, kaibigan pa rin ang turing nya kay Victoria. She made a mental note to talk to Vi this weekend.