1 Boys

One

Boys

She sat at the back of the classroom. Everyone has their own business while she's alone staring at them. It doesn't really bother her. But the dirty looks from other girls do. Why do they have to dislike her? She's just here with the lower years dahil sa subject na binagsak niya.

After the period ended, she went to the lab at nakita ang ibang kaklase niya na nasa labas. The upperclassmen who always seem so confident were leaving the lab. She also walked her way but someone made her stop. Carol smelled the familiar perfume.

"What the— Caroline?" hindi makapaniwalang saad nito. Shocked and revolted, those were painted on his handsome face.

"Huh- di mo na ako naaalala Vico?" she smirked.

Still the same scent. Giorgio Armani. She remembered giving him the same thing 2 years ago in which he throw away. This asshole of a man still makes her feel giddy and she hates it.

"Crazy girls like you are hard to forget," he uttered his lips raising a bit. That damn lips she always wanted to taste.

Vico is a very sexy man. Pero sobrang ilap nito. Ang lalaking ito lang ang hinabol-habol niya. He hurt her pride. She sometimes fantasize of choking him to death or to bed. Any of the two doesn't sound so bad but she actually wants the latter.

She smiled sweetly at him. "Oh? May hang up ka pa rin sa akin, 'no? Well, I'll take that as a compliment," ika niya.

"Vico, tara na." Few meters away from them, a girl in her eyeglasses called.

"Sino 'yan? Jowa mo?" she asked, scrutinizing the girl. She looks average. Ito ba 'yong gusto ni Vico? Plain but smart.

"Don't bother me," aniya saka nilagpasan siya.

"Says the one who did the first talk. Sinasabi ko sa'yo, one day you'll beg to hear my voice, Vico," she grinned. Humarap ulit ang lalaki sa kanya, almost annoyed. The expression she always love to see from the man.

"I don't think so." He almost hissed.

"Keep on denying, luv." She grinned even more. The look on his face is priceless. Damn it, she thought. She still have the hots for the guy.

She remember so well the day she introduced herself to him. Kasagsagan ng summer noon. Wala siyang pasok. She didn't take summer classes because who needs that? Mas gusto niyang magsaya habang maraming oras. Everything can wait. She has all the time in the world.

Sumama siya sa kanyang kakilala sa isang frat party. Doon, nakita niya ang isang tahimik at matangkad na lalaki. He was so out of place. While most guys look rugged and unruly. He was there standing like a statue, a piece of art in a museum holding a bottle of smirnoff. She wonders what the hell is this hot and geeky guy doing in a party.

Lumapit siya dito saka ngumiti. "Hello, I'm Caroline Kate," bati niya. He looked at her with such intensity that her inside almost twisted.

"I'm sorry, what?" he asked oblivious of his own handsomeness. She beamed at him while tucking some hair behind her ears.

"Carol here but you can call me 'mine'," she kidded. He didn't react and it bothered her. She was about to say something when someone pulled her to a dance. It must be one of her 'friends'. Nang makawala siya sa hawak nila, binalingan niya ulit ang pwesto nito ngunit nawala na ang lalaki.

Later, she found out that it was Vico Villavicencio, the eldest son. The most interesting part is he is a very intelligent student and an attractive one that is. She likes that he's also a med-student. Madali lang silang magkakasundo ngunit 'yon ang inaakala niya. She confessed to him a hundred times and he rejected her every move.

"Close kayo ni Vico?" tanong ng katabi niya.

She shrugged. "We know each other," she replied.

"I'm Arny," she extended her arm at inabot niya naman. Arny looks like the good daughter of a rich family. Beautiful, looks smart but isn't really a show off.

"Carol," she replied and smiled a little. At least the students in her year doesn't really throw hates on her.

"Taga-Saint Benedict ka?" she asked talking about the other university. Mukha ba siyang galing sa isang sectarian school? Well, Carol with her hair in a bun looks saintly.

"No, Northern ako," she responded almost too proudly.

"Talaga? Ba't ka nag-transfer?" she asked like she was appalled.

"I flunked Micro Para. Umandar kagagahan ko," she tried to laugh.

"Understandable. So irreg ka ngayon?"

"Yep, unfortunately," she replied, shrugging.

"Hello, miss." One of the guys sat beside her. He looks cute with the dimple on his cheeks but not her type. Carol doesn't do good boys. They asks too much.

"Go away, Luis," singhal ni Arny. Napatingin siya sa expression nito because there's something fishy going on. A possessiveness, perhaps?

"Hindi ikaw ang kausap ko, Arns," sagot ng Luis.

"I'm Luis Pimentel," pakilala nito while flashing his dimples.

"I'm Carol," sagot niya at bahagyang ngumiti.

"See you around, Carol." He grinned and walked back to his friends.

"Huwag kang maniwala sa lalaking 'yon. He just wants to get in your pants," Arny said while rolling her eyes. Napatawa na lang siya habang naiiling.

"They all do, Arny. Don't worry, I don't fuck around on random men," she said giving her a knowing look that Arny didn't really understand.

The professor came and they all headed back to their stations. She actually loves experimenting and Science. Na-eexcite siya tuwing nakaka-ace siya sa quizzes. Even perfect blood smearing makes her exhilarated. Pero masyado lang mabigat sa ulo niya ang kurso. Her first and second year were the best. She can party and study at the same time.

Dumating ang ikatlong taon at malaking adjustment ang kailangan niyang gawin. All of her subjects were major, equally important. She really likes med tech so much because she doesn't really have to interact with patients. Kaso hindi niya kasing talino ang mga kaibigan. She's just pretty and that's it. Kahit ayaw niya mang aminin.

Nakakatawa nga alalahanin na noon ay madalas niya pang gamitin ang sariling physical attributes just to trick people into making her own assignments or to give her answers sa exams. Gano'n siya ka-desperada. Siguro parte 'to ng karma niya. She's a terrible person. But inside her, she believes that this second chance might be her redemption. Even if it's hard, she's going to make sure it'll happen.

Buong linggo na puro acads ang inatupag ni Carol. Halos sumabog ang ulo niya sa lahat ng pagbabago. She can't even recognized herself. After she went back, nagpakulay siya ng buhok. Her hair is now medium length with a little highlights. It's to trick people that she had a bomb vacation. Although all she did was succumb in despair.

She lost a lot of weight. Her cheekbones is protruding a little bit. She can almost feel her ribs. But Carol thinks she actually looks good. The beach did the job. Now, she's heading at the Zone. Doon nagkalat ang mga night clubs and other night life.

Sinalubong siya ng malakas na beat pagkapasok. There were people dancing, prancing and even kissing on the side. She walked passed through the crowd and spotted some familiar faces. Sa di kalayuan she saw Alano, Kurt and other friends na pinakilala na sa kanya noon.

"Carol, my girl!" Alano stood up and snaked his arms around her.

"Hangal! My girl, your ass," singhal niya saka tumawa.

They sit beside each other on the couch. Agad naman siyang pina-inom ng kaibigan. Alano stood a few inches taller than her. He always have a mischievous smile.She really likes Alano. Sobrang unproblematic. Madalas silang magkasama noon dahil sa dating banda nito na nabuwag din naman.

"Kurt, girlfriend mo?" she asked Kurt looking at the lady friend he's with. Kurt is now an engineer and the former front man of of the long dead band. They met way back when things were easier. Together with Alano whose in his 5th year in engineering as well. Kurt turned to the girl who looks too nice for him.

"Ah oo, si Janna nga pala," he answered. The girl only smiled at her. But Carol sense a territorial stare from the girl. She almost had an internal roll eye. Why do fellow girls always dislike her?

"Hi, ingat ka dyan," she smirked.

"Huwag kang makinig sa kanya," Kurt said and laughed.

So far, nakakadalawang shot pa lang siya ng tequila. She really want to get drunk. Pero pinipigilan niya ang sarili. May lab pa sila bukas at baka makabasag na naman siya ng pyrex. Ang dami pa namang may ayaw sa kanya sa Gustavio, issue na naman siya.

"Nag-usap na kayo?" Alano leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"Nino?"

"Carol, huwag ka ngang magtanga-tangahan," anito.

Napailing na lang siya. "Hindi na ako bata, Alano. I'm gonna talk to them soon," she replied.

Alano shrugged. "Okay, sabi mo eh."

She used to be the life of the party. Ngunit ngayon parang ayaw niya na sa ganitong scene. Akala niya ay mababalik ng malakas na music at nakakaliyong ilaw ang dati niyang sarili pero hindi. She still feels like shit and she can't even drunk herself to death.

"Ba't di ka yata umiinom?" Alano asked, amused. Hindi niya parin nagagalaw ang transparent na inumin sa mesa.

"May klase ako bukas," sagot niya na dahilan ng paghagalpak ng tawa ni Alano. She almost smack his face. Napatingin din ang ilan sa kanila. Alano waved his hands as if saying that it was nothing.

"Wow. Hindi na kita kilala," hindi makapaniwalang saad nito.

"Yes, Alano, I'm turning a new leaf. Huwag kang epal," singhal niya. She look at her phone. It's time to go. She didn't even enjoy herself.

"Una na 'ko guys. Enjoy the night," paalam niya.

"Aalis ka na? Ang aga pa oh," Kurt said but she insisted.

"Hey, aalis ka na talaga?" SInundan siya ni Alano.

"It's eleven, gago. Saka kanina pa ako pinapatay sa isip ng jowa ni Kurt. Hindi ko naman aagawin. Baka siya pa ang agawin ko kay Kurt," ika niya.

Alano shrugged and smirked, "Can't blame her. Hatid na kita," he offered.

"Sigurado ka?"

"Tara," he said and led her to his car.

They arrive at her house. May kalakihan ang bahay nila ngunit mag-isa lang siyang nakatira dito. Good thing she already lit the light outside. Pareho silang bumaba ni Alano.

"Gusto mong magkape?" she offered.

"It's quite late. Pwedeng tubig na lang?" he replied.

"Come inside," aniya saka pinapasok ang lalaki. She put down her bag and locked the door.