Lesson 6
Future
I saw Manong taking a nap on the front seat when I spotted our car.
"Ma -"
Tatawagin ko na sana si Manong nang tumunog ang phone ko. I checked the caller's I.D.
Daddy
I froze on my spot. Why the hell did he call me?
Did he already find out I wasted my money because of a bet I lost into?
Or did he know that I swiped my credit card to buy a hundred thousand euro-worth of designer items during my last summer trip in Europe?
Or... Could it be he already discovered I met up with a talent agent last, last week?! (Context: I want to join the showbiz industry but he doesn't want me to. Damn. Sayang ganda ko, gosh.)
Hinayaan ko lang magring ang phone ko. Takot akong sagutin eh.
The ringing has stopped. I heaved a sigh. Buti naman.
Then I received a message.
From: Daddy
Better answer the call, Cheskie.
I thought we talked about that Cheskie-thing! Ugh, that was my childhood nickname. He still calls me like that. Kaloka.
OMG. My phone's ringing again.
Fine.
"Hello, Daddy?"
("Where are you?") I can hear the bustling sound in the background. I think everyone's busy in his office.
"I'm in school, dad! First day ko, remember? Duh."
"I know it's your first day of your 3rd year in college, Cheskie. Btw, where exactly are you in Fridgeson?"
I bit my lower lip. Uh-oh.
"Classroom." OMG. Pinagpapawisan na ako.
("Pero I can't hear anything in the background? Bakit ang tahimik naman ng classroom na 'yan?")
"E kasi dad, I'm outside the room. Of course, I need to go out of the room to excuse myself in order to talk to you like this hehe."
("Tsk. Makulit kang bata ka ah. I know you are really outside the room coz you ran away from your class!")
I'm doomed.
"How did you know, Dad?! Did you send someone to spy on me?!"
("No. Get your ass back to that room, Cheskie!")
"No, Dad. I won't go back there. And I will transfer to another prof. If possible, another school!"
("Fine then I'll cut you credit ca-")
"Dad! Hey! Fine! Let's talk about this first, okay?" I paused. "I don't wanna go back there coz yung prof ko, he's so terror. Ugh!"
("Cheskie.") He firmy said on the other line.
"Dad." I matched his tone.
("Cheskie.")
"Dad."
("Cheskie.")
"Dad."
("Aish. You're leaving me no choice, 'nak. I'll be calling your mom and tell her about this behavior.")
"And then, Dad?" I'm confident that they would just scold me about this and after that, lalabas lang sa kabilang tainga ko ang mga sinabi nila. So easy.
("Hay. Balik na, Cheskie.") He sounds tired. Tired of me being a brat? Meh.
"Nope. I'll go to my appointment, Dad."
("Appointment with?")
"With the skincare clinic and salon. I have to do some stuff on my face, hair, and nails. Pamper time!" I excitedly said.
("Pamper time on your first day of classes?! Are you serious, nak?! Haist.")
"Bawi ako tomorrow sa classes ko. 'Wag lang ngayon coz I'm pissed off. My new prof is terrible."
("Hay. Stay put in your position in a few minutes.")
He hang up and the call ended. Why the heck would I stay here?! Ang init!
I texted Dad.
Why would I wait for a few minutes here? Mainit, Dad. MAINIT. 😐
Ugh! Seriously?! I'm just gonna wait here under the sun?! Dad naman eh!
"Hey." May naramdaman akong kiliti sa tainga ko. WTF. It sounded so close. And guess who?
Lumingon ako at nagkasalubong ang mga mukha namin. 3 inches apart. And I can clearly see his features. Perfect thick brows, chinky eyes pointed nose, chiseled jawline, and the pinkish lips that I think they are soft and well-moisturized.
"Are you checking me out?" Tumayo siya ng diretso at ngumisi.
"Kapal ah." Umiwas agad ako ng tingin at tumingin sa phone ko. "Why are you here?"
"Your dad told me so."
"And how's my dad connected to you being here?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay kong bagong thread lang last weekend.
"We talk," maiksi niyang sambit. Sabay taas sa phone niya. "Now, let's go back to the room."
"What if I don't want to?"
"Why can't you just follow orders? Why are you so stubborn?"
"Ako pa ang stubborn, Sir? Excuse me, sino ka ba?"
I know he's biting his cheeks inside. He looks pissed right now.
"Who am I? Well, I am just your future husband."
He raised his chin and hid his hands in his pockets, waiting for my response.
And it took me seconds to digest what he just said. I just stood there like an idiot.
Well, I am just your future husband.
I am just your future husband.
Your future husband
Future husband.
Husband.
"What the f*ck is that joke?!" That is my only response. I can't think of a better one.
"It isn't a joke. It's a fact." He casually replied.
"Pero -"
He cut me off. "Now I answered who am I to you then let's go back to the room." He put his arm around my shoulder and I was shocked. I just let him lead me back.
Wala akong maintindihan sa nangyayari.
What's going on?
Tahimik lang ako habang paakyat kami at tahimik lang siya. His face is a blank space. Eyes as cold as an ice. Expression as still as a stone.
And another thing that distracts me is his arm resting on my shoulders. What if may makakita sa amin?! Good thing the classes are still going on kaya walang estudyante sa labas.
Pag-akyat sa 2nd floor tinanggal niya na ang braso niya sa balikat ko.
"Compose yourself, Cheska. We'll talk about it later."
Napasinghap ako nang tinawag niya akong Cheska. Goodness, it sounds good when he spoke my name. It was the first time he called me that.
Nauna na siya sa room at naiwan ako sa corridor.
What if it's a joke to shut me up? Yeah, ang labo. Paano ko siya magiging asawa? And I am only 19! Ain't I too young for that?
And besides, I do not even like him! Not even a slightest bit! Ugh!
"Cheska! Go inside." He called me out. He's at the front of the room while my classmates are just killing time doing various stuff. I think hinihintay na lang na magring ang bell. Eh kung ganyan pala dapat hindi na ako pinaakyat!
Nakakahiya. Nakita pa naman ng mga kaklase ko na tumakas ako. And then now, I was caught and here am I, entering hell again.
I walked to my seat and slumped myself against the chair. Nakakaimbyerna!
Aba. Si Sharpay hindi ako pinansin. Busy sa phone niya!
My thoughts entertained the idea of being wedded with that guy. That guy.
How can I marry a professor, dad?!
At least, I wanna marry a sports idol or an artist. O kahit politician. Basta kilala at syempre gwapo! At yung may macocontribute naman sa business namin syempre!
Bakit siya pa? Bakit sa professor?! Ugh! And the fact na siya pa ang pakakasalan ko, that's a big NO.
I have standards. If I inherit my dad's company, I would have a profit way higher than his. See? Isn't it kinda degrading that I have more money than him?
And duh, gwapo lang sya, matalino, dashing, hot, cool, sexy af na professor -
Pwe! Am I complimenting him? Scrap these thoughts.
"Cheska, are you listening?" Tinawag na naman ako ng mokong.
Bumalik ako sa realidad. Tahimik at nakatingin lahat ng mga kaklase ko sa akin. Di ba kanina busy sila sa sarili nilang buhay e bakit biglang gan'to ngayon?
"Uhhh... Uh... Yep, I am listening." I sat straight. Letse. Hindi ko alam ang sinabi niya.
He smirked. Delikado na. "So what was I saying earlier?"
Ano nga ba?
Sumimple ako ng tingin kay Sharpay. I mouthed: Ano yung sinabi niya?
She mouthed back pero hindi ko maintindihan.
No choice. Well, I need to redeem myself.
"Na maganda ako?" I smiled widely.
Silence.
Owl cooing sound effect.
All of a sudden, he laughed so hard. It was quick then he regained his composure and looked directly at me with those cold, hazel brown eyes.
"You're so full of yourself, aren't you? Anyway, I said to bring a column sheet next meeting." Tapos tumingin na siya sa class. "Are we clear, class?"
"Yes, Sir."
The bell rang. Yes! Sa wakas tapos na rin ang klase. He has no excuse to stop me from going out of this room.
Future husband mo mukha mo.