CHAPTER 26
Because Victoria was bothered, iniwasan nya si Hector na mga sumunod na araw. After a sleepless night, she finally admitted to herself that she liked the Governor’s son. Aside from his oozing sex appeal, he’s very kind and sweet. She found herself enjoying his company. They could talk about anything and everything under the sun.
He often talked about his wanting to have good education for the children. He was very successful in business and he made sure to give back to the community. He donated money to schools around Batangas para makapagpatayo ng classrooms at makabili ng school supplies para sa mga estudyante. Kaya naman, mahal na mahal ito ng mga tao. He’s very inspiring.
Bukod sa mga proyekto ng Gobernador, maraming tulong ang nakukuha ang mga tao mula rin kay Hector. Matagal na itong kinikumbinsing tumakbo bilang kapalit ng ama nito pero hindi gusto ni Hector ang pulitika. Mas gusto nitong tumulong na lang on his own kaya magiliw ang mga tao rito dahil walang bahid ng pulitika ang pagtulong nito.
Nakikipaglaro din ito ng basketball sa mga kabataang volunteers kapag hapon na at tapos na sa mga gagawin for the day. Kaya imbes na umuwi na ang ilang kababaihan, pinanonood ng mga ito si Hector. Napapaismid sya kapag may mga malalanding babaing tumitili. Hindi rin naman kasi nya masisi ang mga ito. Hector was admirable.
But that was it right? Whatever she was feeling for him, it was just a simple crush. Then why was she suddenly afraid when he was around? His nearness made her nervous. Her heart pounded whenever she talked to him.
“Iniiwasan mo ba ako?” Diretsahang tanong sa kanya ni Hector habang nagpipintura sya sa dingding ng isang classroom sa 2nd floor. Tumuntong sya sa upuan para maabot ang mataas na parte. Hininto nya ang ginagawa saka tumingin rito. Ayan na naman ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso nya nang mapatitig sya sa mga mata nito. He looked cute on his white shirt and khaki shorts. May mga pintura na ang damit nito at nalagyan rin ng konti ang ilang strands ng buhok nito. “Akala mo siguro hindi ko napapansin.”
Wala na syang chance para maiwasan pa ito. Kanina pa lumabas ang mga kasama nya para kumain ng Lunch. Nauna na ang mga ito kasama ni Maristela nang sinabi nyang susunod na lang sya. Silang dalawa lamang dun ni Hector. Medyo naconcious din sya dahil exposed ang legs nya rito. She was wearing a short denim jeans and a black t-shirt.
“Hindi kita iniiwasan,” she denied.
“I don’t believe you. May nagawa ba akong hindi ko alam? Whatever it is, I’m sorry.” Nagsusumamo ang mga mata nito. He looked gloomy and Victoria had the urge to caress his face and assure him everything was alright.
“B-Bakit ka nagso-sorry? Wala ka namang ginawa. At hindi rin kita iniiwasan. Busy lang talaga ako sa task na naka-assign sa akin. Gusto ko rin kasing matapos tayo on time,” she reasoned. She gave him a reassuring smile.
“Kung okay pala tayo, you wont mind me doing this?” Hector grinned mischievously. Bigla nitong kinuha ang isang paint brush, sinawsaw sa kulay kremang pintura saka ipininahid sa binti nya.
Nakiliti si Victoria at dahil iniwas nya ang binti rito, na-out of balance sya kaya gumewang ang upuang kinatutuntungan nya. She was about to fall but Hector caught him. Napayakap sya rito. Lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso nya nang maamoy ang mabango nitong perfume. She was immediately lost in his dark eyes. He was also looking at her intently and his eyes dropped on her lips.
She wondered how those lips felt on hers but she mentally stopped herself from thinking such ridiculous thing. Agad nyang tinulak ang nabiglang si Hector. Para hindi masyadong awkward, ginantihan na lang nya ito. Pinahiran rin nya ng pintura sa pisngi ang lalaki.
Para silang mga batang nilagyan ng pintura ang isa’t-isa sa damit at kung saang parte ng katawan nila tumama ang paintbrush. They were laughing so hard that she didn’t notice someone watching them.
For someone like Hector, hindi nya aakalaing he had a childish side in him. Patuloy sya nitong hinahabol ng pintura. His arms were around her when she saw Ramcel standing by the door looking at them. Victoria saw different emotions flashed in her eyes so fast- shock, jealousy, hurt, fear, great sadness then it became expressionless.
Victoria detached herself from Hector. “Ram…” Lalapitan na sana nya ito when Ramcel gave them a disarming smile.
“It’s lunch time. Kanina pa kayo hinahanap dun. Tara na bago pa nila ubusin lahat.” Her tone was friendly but Victoria knew that Ramcel was furious inside. That’s one of the reasons why Ramcel was a good theater actress. Her eyes could be soulful and she could change her demeanor quickly whenever she wanted to.
“Okay. Susunod na kami,” nakangiting tugon ni Hector.
Tumango si Ramcel saka na sila nito tinalikuran.
“Ram, wait!” Nagmadali syang hinabol si Ramcel pero paglabas nya ng room, wala na ito sa hallway. Bumaba sya nang hagdan. Wala na ito. Pagdating nya sa ground floor, biglang may humila sa kanya papasok sa isang classroom at ni-lock ang pinto.
Nang makarecover sa pagkabigla saka nya nakita si Ramcel, who was staring at her with disappointment all over her gorgeous face. Hindi ito nagsasalita. She was just looking at her with her arms crossed.
“Ram…it’s not what you…”
“Sinabi ko na sayo, ayokong makipaglapit ka sa lalaking yun.” Her voice was crisp. “You seem to be enjoying his company. Diretsahin mo nga ako, Vi. May gusto ka ba sa kanya?”
“Wala! I already told you…”
“Okay, I believe you.” Natigilan si Vi. “Lahat nang sasabihin mo, paniniwalaan ko, Vi, because I trust you. Nagtitiwala akong totoo ang mga sinasabi mo.” Nag-iba na ang tono nito. Ramcel almost choked from keeping herself from crying. “Please don’t break my heart,” she was almost pleading.
May naramdamang kurot si Victoria sa puso nya. Ramcel didn’t deserve this. Ano bang ginagawa nya? Bakit sinasaktan nya ang taong nagmamahal sa kanya mula pa noon?
Mabilis syang humakbang patungo rito saka ito siniil ng halik sa labi. Kung anuman ang nararamdaman nya para kay Hector dapat nyang iwaksi. Kahit harmless crush lang yan, hindi pwedeng maging dahilan para magkaproblema sila ni Ramcel.
“I love you, Baby,” bulong nya rito habang nakayakap sya rito nang mahigpit. She closed her eyes and took in her Lightblue scent and felt her warmth.
Kumalas ito sa kanya saka hinagkan sya sa noo nang marahan. “I brought lunch for you. Ipinagluto ka ni Mommy ng kare-kare.”
“Really?”
Nakangiting tumango si Ramcel.
Lumabas sila ng classroom saka nagtungo sa gym nang magkahawak kamay. Bibitaw sana sa kanya si Ramcel pero hinigpitan nya ang hawak rito. Tuwang-tuwa sya nang makita ang mga kasamang dumating ng asawa. Bukod kay Olivia, nandoon din sina Lauren, Jenny, Helena, Samantha at Liezle, na sumimangot nang makita silang magkaholding hands ni Ramcel.
Sa iisang table sila umupo at masayang pinagsaluhan ang mga pagkain na provided ng The 11 Foundation sa lahat. Sinolo nga lang ng grupo nila ang kare-kare. Naparami na naman tuloy ng kain si Vi. Ipinakilala rin nya ang mga ito kay Maristela, who joined their table. Sinikap nyang huwag lingunin si Hector na kanina pa hinuhuli ang tingin nya. Nasa ibang table ito kasama ng mga teachers.
Lumapit ito sa kanila sa kalagitnaan ng kain. Ipinakilala naman nya sa mga kaibigan. Nakita nyang may paghanga sa mga mata nina Liezle at Samantha, na inis na siniko ni Helena nang mapatitig sa mukha ng lalaki ang girlfriend.
All throughout Lunch, hindi umalis si Victoria sa tabi ni Ramcel. Kahit magpunta ito sa restroom, sumasama sya. She kept staring at Ramcel, who looked relaxed. What did she expect? Makitaan ito nang galit?
“Vi, pwede mo ba akong tulungan sa isang room sa dulo ng hallway sa may 1st floor? Yun na lang kasi ang kailangang tapusin,” asked Hector. Lumapit ito ulit sa kanila nang magdisperse sila pagkatapos kumain.
Nag-aalangan syang sumagot. Tinapunan muna nya nang tingin si Ramcel. “Sure. I can have my friends help us.”
Victoria wasn’t sure if she saw Hector’s face darkened with anger because it disappeared immediately. Baka imagination lang nya iyon dahil ngumiti ito. “That’s better. Mas matatapos tayo kaagad.”
Sumunod sila rito kasama ang mga kaibigan maging si Olivia, who’d been studying Hector since Victoria introduced him. She saw something in Olivia’s eyes. It wasn’t admiration. It was more of suspicion. Hindi na lang nya pinansin. Baka nagkakamali lang sya.
Hector tried to start a conversation with her but Victoria made sure to include Ramcel or any of her friends. Hindi sya kumportableng nasa malapit lang ito because she didn’t want to trigger her wife, who was quiet most of the time. Nagpapasalamat na lang sya kay Lauren dahil nakipagkwentuhan ito kay Hector at tinanong ito about the Governor’s advocacy.
Natapos nila nang mabilis ang pagpipintura ng classroom kaya naman naibalik rin nila nang maayos ang mga upuan. The school looked new with its newly painted walls and the surrounding was cleaned.
Nagpasalamat ang Principal at ang mga teachers sa lahat nang nagvolunteer. Pumunta rin ang Dad ni Victoria at inimbita na rin nitong sumalo sa dinner ang ibang mga kaibigan nila ni Ramcel. Instead of magcheck in ang mga ito sa hotel dahil gusto pang magswimming ng mga ito bukas since its weekend, the Mayor offered his house to accommodate them.
“You can swim at my place if you want,” Hector offered. “May swimming pool and you can also swim on the beach.”
Gusto sanang tumanggi ni Victoria pero naunahan na sya ni Liezle, na nagsabing, “Sure!”