Chapter 4: Partners

Bella’s POV

AMONG all people. ‘Di ko alam kung pinaglalaruan ba ako ng tadhana o sadyang malas lang talaga ako. But then, this could be my chance to know some things about him. This might be a blessing in disguise.

‘’Gino Valler.’’ Di ko nalamayan na binabasa  pala ni Nahlia ang pangalan sa papel na hawak ko. I quickly rolled it back. ‘’Ang swerte mo naman. Ang gwapo na yan!’’

‘’You know him?’’

‘’Oo, kilala ko yan! We came from the same school pero di nga lang kami close. Gusto mo tulungan kita na hanapin siya, bukas? Although, I doubt it na mahirap siyang hanapin. With looks like his, malabong ‘di siya kilala ng ilang mga estudyante rito. ’’ I gently smiled at her. I already know what he looks like, but Nahlia does not have to know that.

‘’Sure,’’ tipid kong sagot.

The day ended early and we were finally free to go home.

 ---*---

‘’Thank you,’’ pagpapasalamat ni Nahlia sa babaeng naka-CAT uniform. It's Wednesday. Kakatapos lamang ng first morning period namin at may isang oras pa kami bago magsimula ang susunod na klase.

‘’Anong sabi?’’

‘’Tingnan daw natin sa quadrangle. Doon daw madalas nagtatambay si Tracy Hanssen kasama mga kaibigan niya.’’ Nahlia and I agreed on looking for her partner, Tracy Hanssen for the activity sir Benedict had given us. Pinapipilitan niya na una naming hanapin si Gino ngunit mariin akong tumanggi. Hindi ko alam kung handa ba akong kausapin siya matapos ang pag-uusap namin kahapon.

As usual, the hallway was crowded with students. Some students prefer to spend their break outside the classroom so it was expected that more students crowded this area. Some of them---mostly boys---were following us with their stares as we walk passed them. Hindi na kataka-taka. Nahlia is a glowing beacon of beauty.

‘’Ang laki ng quadrangle. Paano natin siya mahahanap?’’ I turned my gaze to Nahlia when we arrived at the large open space in the center of the campus.

‘’Relax. Ang sabi ng CAT officer kanina, madali lang daw sila mapansin. Just look for a group of girls who—‘’ She stopped talking and pointed her finger to a group of students near the campus’ statue of Jose Rizal. 

May tatlong babaeng naka-upo sa isang mahabang bench. Kahit malayo, mahahalata mo ang mukha nilang putok ng make-up. They seemed to be flirting with a muscular jock, whom I know very well---David Mondejar, Katrina’s ex-boyfriend and my  so called ‘’suitor’’.

‘’I think that’s them,’’ Nahlia remarked. ‘’Sabi ng CAT officer kanina, madalas daw silang nakikita malapit sa statue na ‘yan at kung may makikita raw tayo na mga babaeng putok sa make-up ang mukha, malamang isa doon si Tracy Hanssen.’’

‘’Sigurado ka ba? Nakakahiya naman kung lalapit na lang tayo bigla-bigla.’’

‘’Ano ka ba? Magtatanong lang naman tayo. Kung nahihiya ka, ‘di mo kailangan magsalita. I’ll do all the talking.’’ Ang totoo na ‘yan hindi naman talaga ako nahihiya. Ayaw ko lang lumapit sa kanila dahil nandoon din si David. As much as possible, I don’t want to see, smell, hear and most importantly get near him.

Pero huli na ang lahat. Nahlia dragged me closer to them. All my protests were completely ignored.

‘’Hi, excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. My name is Nahlia Mendoza.’’ The girls only stared at us. David on the other hand was smiling ear to ear when he noticed me. ‘’Is one of you named Tracy Hanssen? It is about a school activity our teacher tasked us to do.’’

‘’Uhm, wala dito si Tracy. She left just awhile ago with her boyfriend.’’ Bumaba ang balikat ni Nahlia nang marinig ang mga salitang iyon. Well, I think this is great. The longer we can find Tracy, the longer I can meet with Gino.

‘’Ah gano’n ba. Salamat.’’

‘’Yah, you can go now.’’ The girl with the blond hair rolled her eyes on us while waving her hands as a form of dismissal.  Ang sungit naman.

Tatalikod na sana kami ni Nahlia nang biglang may humablot sa kamay ko. I turned around and my eyes met with David. I quickly shrugged his hands. Who knows? Baka saan pa iyon nanggaling.

‘’Bella, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?’’ Tumingin ako sa paligid. It was a good thing everyone were minding their business. Even though Katrina is still nowhere to be found, I still don’t want anyone to see David and me together.

Nahlia looked at me with a questionning stare while the three other girls looked annoyed.

‘’I’m sorry but Nahlia and I should go.’’ Hinablot ko si Nahlia at dali-daling naglakad palayo. However, David followed us.

‘’Bella, wait.’’ He grabbed me again. This time it was tighter. Namumula ang kamay ko sa higpit ng pagkakahawak niya. ‘’Bella...pagbigyan mo na ako.’’

I felt uncomfortable when he leaned closer to my face.

‘’Pasensya ka na ha, kung sino ka man pero may gagawin pa kasi kami ni Bella. Mas mabuti siguro kung mauuna na kami. Bye." Namagitin si Nahlia sa aming dalawa at sinubukan akong hilain paalis. She might have felt my uneasiness in the presence of David. 

Ngunit hindi ako binitawan ni David. The longer his hands are on my arm, the more painful his grip gets.

‘’Hindi  ko kayo hahayaang umalis hanggat ‘di ako kakausapin ni Bel---‘’

‘’Attention, everyone! Attention!’’ Napalingon kami sa paligid nang may isang malakas na boses ang umalingawngaw sa buong quadrangle. Rinig din ito ng ilang mga estudyante kaya nabaling ang attention ng lahat sa pinanggalinagn ng boses.

‘’May I please request the presence of Bella Redriguez!’’A boy wearing an ABM uniform was holding a megaphone on his hands while shouting for my name. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita at ‘di ko alam kung paano niya ako nakilala.

 Fortunately, because the students’ attentions were now on the boy and few of them were on me, David finally let go of my hand. He mumbled an indistinct curse and turned his back on us. He walked back to where he was when I first saw him. 

The boy from earlier approached us with his megaphone still in his hand. His jet black hair was neatly styled into a quiff. He was slightly shorter than Nahlia but taller than me. His brows were a bit uneven but it did not diminish his good appeal.

‘’Hi.’’ His voice was now hushed. I don’t know why. Kanina lang nagsisigaw pa siya.

‘’Hello. Anong kailangan mo kay Bella?’’ Si Nahlia na ang nagtanong.

The boy straightened himself.

‘’Sorry, ang totoo na ‘yan wala talaga akong kailangan sayo. It was my friend who asked me to do that embarrassing scene.’’

Napataas-kilay ako sa sinabi niya. ‘’Friend?’’

‘’Oo. In fact,’’ he turned around, ‘’he is approaching here right now.’’

Tumingin ako sa tinitignan niya at doon ko nakita ang taong tinutukoy niyang ‘’friend’’.

Gino with his smirking face walked towards our direction. I did not notice him earlier. I became uneasy. May duda pa rin ako sa kanya kaya kinakabahan ako.

‘’If I am not mistaken, Bella owes us a simple thank you,’’ he said when he arrived in front of us.

‘’Thank you? Thank you for what?’’

‘’If it weren’t for the ‘little distraction’’ my friend here made, hanggang ngayon hawak pa rin ng manliligaw  mo ‘yang braso mo na ‘yan," Gino spoke with great pride. Pati ang tungkol sa manliligaw ko alam niya rin?

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Every inch of him is mysterious. I don’t know anything about him except for his name and that his parents are dead but he seemed to know everything about me. He is surrounded with darkness. Who really are you Gino Valler?

‘’Saglit lang. Medyo nalilito ako. So ang lalaking iyon kanina ay manliligaw mo? At saglit isa pa, magkakilala rin kayo?’’ Nagpalipat-lipat ng tingin si Nahlia sa aming dalawa ni Gino. ‘’Bakit ‘di mo sinabi sa akin, Bella?’’

‘’We’ve met once,’’ I answered, slightly annoyed at Gino.

‘’Well anyhow, since Gino is already here, hindi na natin kailangan pang hanapin siya,’’ Nahlia said in a matter of fact tone. I was glad she did not ask further questions.

‘’You were looking for me?’’ Napakunot-noo si Gino. I don’t know if it was just me, but I saw him smile for a few seconds and immediately returned to his straight face.

‘’Oo, meron kasi kaming school activity and my friend here has to ask you some few simple questions about yourself, if that’s okay with you.’’ Nahlia's voice was sweet and polite. 

‘’I don’t do interviews. You can ask Caius instead. He loves to talk about himself.’’ He took a glance at his friend.

‘’That, I cannot disagree. I can do the interview in behalf of Gino. Believe me, wala kayong matinong sagot na makukuha sa kanya kung siya ang ii-interview-hin niyo.’’

‘’Uhm, sorry but it has to be Gino,’’ Nahlia explained.

Ngunit hindi pa nga natapos ang aming pag-uusap nang may narinig na naman kaming sigaw ng isang lalaki sa quadrangle. This time it was a desperate shout.

‘’Tulong!’’ Hinihingal na tumatakbo at sumisigaw ang isang lalaki papasok ng campus gate. The campus guard immediately assisted him. Magulo ang kanyang buhok at may galos din siya sa mukha.

Pina-upo siya ng guard sa isang bench upang pakalmahin. The students in the quadrangle looked at him with confusion painted in their faces. The boy was crying and heaving. May iilang estudyante rin ang lumapit at naki-usyoso.

The three girls that Nahlia and I talked earlier approached the boy. They were asking him something but we were too far to hear their conversation. Bakas sa mukha nila ang pag-aalala.

Suddenly, the girl with the blond hair slapped the boy. The guard tried to stop her, while the other two began to sub in the corner.

We walked closer out of curiosity.

‘’Tracy Hanssen? Oo, kilala ko ‘yon. Kaklase ‘yon ng kapatid ko,’’ bulong ng babaeng malapit sa amin sa katabi niya. Lumingon ako kay Nahlia nang mabanggit niya ang pangalan ni Tracy.

‘’Kawawa naman. Ano ba ang sabi ng lalaki?’’

‘’He said Tracy Hanssen was abducted.’’