MANNEQUIN I
“Bakit ba natin siya sinusundan? I still have badminton practice,” I started. They’re talking seriously right now. I don’t know what plan in their minds but it’s boring here inside.
“Look guys, I need to go. He’s not handsome, okay? He’s just a normal professor in our section,” I added.
“Shhh,” Demin and Priq shushed me. Parehas silang lalaki at parehas ko silang kakilala. They said, I’m their dearest friend. It’s sounds sweet and cheesey.
“Don’t move,” Demin said as he put something on my neck, arms and knees. It’s kind of plastic line. What is this thing?
“Para saan ’to? I’m not a mannequin you idiot!” I loudly complaint at his face. He covered my mouth as he plastered a wide smirk.
“Wala kang crush at boyfriend. Tinutulungan ka na namin,” he said as Priq agreed. Ano raw? Tinutulungan nila akong magkaroon?
Bago pa man ako makareklamo ay inilabas nila ako kuwarto. Nasa loob lang naman kami ng fitting room.
Fitting room ng mga lalaki.
They’re disgusting and idiot for pushing me inside. We are like crazy inside the fitting room. Priq brought his laptop and I don't know if he’s hacking the system of our new professor or they’re helping me to become his lover.
Pero alin man sa dalawang iyon, hindi maganda ang kanilang plano. Hindi nila sinasabi sa akin kung ano ang plano nilang dalawa at interesado silang dalawa sa bago naming professor na HANDSOME and HOT daw. Well, I don’t care about his looks. I care about his lessons because it’s math subject and I can’t understand his formulas or solutions. Kapag nagpasagot na siya ay doon na ako nagkakaroon ng malaking question mark sa ulo.
Funny isn’t it? I actually want to kick his face in the crowd. He’s math alien freak. Kahit ano’ng paliwanag niya ay hindi ko maintindihan.
O hindi talaga ako matalino sa mathematics?
“Stand straight, chin up and blank face. Don’t laugh or I’ll kick you out.”
I rolled my eyes at him, “what do you want from him? You’re crazy. Both of you are crazy. You can ask him, okay? You’re using me in this shit.”
“We can’t, Nil. Tulungan ka namin sa math pagkatapos.” Priq winked at me. At dahil wala akong magawa, ginawa ko ang sinabi niya.
Ilang minuto ang lumipas at ganito ang itsura at tindig ko. Nakakangalay at gusto ko nang umupo ngayon. Agad naman akong nabigla nang pumunta rito ang professor namin at tinignan maigi ang mukha ko.
Oh hell, he won’t recognize me unless he remove this makeup on my face. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakla ba ang dalawang iyon at expert mag-make up. Kung titignan kasi kamukha ko na ’yong mannequin sa tabi ko.
“How much is this?” Muntikan na malaglag ang panga ko nang tanungin niya iyon. Ako ang tinuturo niya!
“Black gown, Sir? It’s five thousand, Sir,” Demin answered.
Son of a bitch! They’ll sell me?! Tao ako para ibenta at 5000 pa?! Am I that cheap?
“No. I’ll buy this whole.” Tumingin ito kay Demin at Priq. Nang tumingin siya sa kanilang dalawa ay parehas ko silang sinamaan ng tingin at ipinahiwatig na,
"tapusin n'yo na, puwede?"
Mukhang naintindihan nilang dalawa. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga plano nila pero hinihintay ko silang gumawa ng hakbang at nangangalay na ako.
“Okay, sir. You can wait outside, Sir.”
What the — bitch. Seryoso ba talaga silang dalawa? Walang sa usapan ito, hindi ba?
Nang umalis na ang professor namin ay agad ko silang binatukan.
“Ano ba sinasabi n’yong dalawa?” inis na tanong ko.
“It’s successful,” Priq said. He showed his laptop to us as I saw his system. Pero hindi ko ito maintindihan.
“Succesful?” naguguluhan kong tanong.
“He’s not the suspect. We followed a wrong person and professor. His name is Zaffer not Saiffer. Si Saiffer ang kumuha ng pentagon stone. Pero kahit hindi siya ang nagnakaw, kailangan mo siyang bantayan,” Demin explained.
What? Ano ako, babysitter? Yaya?
“He’s waiting outside. We need to carry you.” Parehas naman nila akong binuhat at para akong malamig na bangkay na inilabas. Pagkarating namin sa labas, sinakay agad nila ako sa passenger seat. Sakto naman pumasok sa kotse si Professor Zaffer. Kung titignan ay kaedad lang namin siya o matanda siya ng isang taon.
“I’m not a taxi driver so if you won’t move I’ll drop you in my subject.”
Hindi ko alam pero kinabahan ako. Ako ba kinakausap nito? Hindi naman yata. Huwag sana ako. Sana hindi ako.
“One.”
“Two.”
At bakit siya nagbibilang?
“Three. Okay, 65 grade, Nilla Semento.”
“Kingina mo Sir, Sivyento ’yon!” I shouted. Napaupo na ako dahil doon pero ako mismo ang nagulat. Nagsalita ako...gumalaw ako!
He looked at me, “would you mind to seat beside me, Miss Semento?”
What the...HELL!
Agad naman akong umupo sa tabi niya dahil sa takot kong bumagsak.
“Alam mo?” gulat kong tanong.
“Yea. I payed them five million not five thousand.”
He started the engine of his car. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Kailangan bang takasan ko siya para makaalis na ako rito?
“Don’t worry I’m not planning to do something stupid. I need you to spy Saiffer.”
Ano raw? Kilala niya si Saiffer? Hindi pa nga maproseso ng utak ko tungkol kay Demin at Priq na agent pala tapos ito na naman? And the worst, he’s an agent also.
“Agree or 60 grade in mathematics? I can also drop you out in the school.”
Puwede naman. Hahanap akong ibang eskuwelahan. At hindi ko na makikita pagmumukha nilang tatlo.
“I can contact other school and teachers to stay away from you. No studies, no future,” dagdag niya. Bakit nag-blackmail pa siya kung wala akong choice?
“Kingina mo po. Wala po akong pagpipilian,” sarkastiko kong sagot.
“Stop cursing, Miss Semento.”
I rolled my eyes. It’s Sivyento not Simento. Dang Demin and Priq! I’m now in Zaffer’s trap and only I could do is to agree with his deal and help him.
@derinovem
