after [3]

[3]

As soon as I woke up, I feel overwhelmed. I went to Kirsten's house after ko mag-ayos para sa class ko mamaya. Sobrang aga ng gising ko ngayon. It's so weird. 

"Hey dude." I saw Kirsten who just went out of her room. Kakagising niya lang. 

"Fuck! Why are you here?" She said. 

"Good morning to you too, Kirsten Eloise Van Zandt." I said while taunting her more. I'm really playful today.

Don't worry, I'm asking myself why din. "You shut up and wait for me. No need for saying my whole girly name, Clary." She said and followed her to her room. 

Her room is really awesome, I must say. She has a walk-in closet, her own mini living room, a king-size bed and a flat screen. The Van Zandt's are really rich. 

"Dude. C'mon. Stop that expression. You guys are rich too. How's the hotel in New York, by the way?" She asked while picking clothes for today's class.

We De La Fuente's are also rich. But I don't consider myself as a rich girl. Don't ask me why. I just really don't. Even mom, Lola and Rina. We don't consider ourselves rich. 

"Not as rich as your family, Kirsten. It's doing great, by the way. Thank you for asking." I answered. 

In the span of 2 months, like I said since Kirsten is really friendly, funny and also easy to get along with, I told her my last name. From there, she knew that I'm from the De La Fuente clan. Our hotel business is well-known in around the globe. 

The Van Zandt's are the famous architects and engineers that are also well-known especially in the Philippines. Halos lahat ng buildings na makikita mo kahit saan ka pumunta, alam mong sila ang may gawa. The Van Zandt's have an architecture and engineering firms.

At kami, hotel business lang and before I went here, Papa has been planning an expansion somewhere sa south pero I don't exactly know where.

Myeh.

I just really plan on being a famous painter in the future. "Yo. Tara na!" Kirsten said. What the hell? Ang bilis nya naman maligo. 

-x-

"Seems like we're the first ones to be here." Kirsten said as we went in our room. We fixed our own easels then I heard her put her cleaning materials down. 

"Hey. It's really early pa. Want to grab something first and take a break muna?" Kirsten asked, really bored from cleaning her easel and materials. 

"Yeah. Sure. Starbucks?" I asked. 

"You brought your card with you?" She asked back then I nodded. 

"Starbucks it is." She said then we went out and killed time.

"Hey, if you really miss your dad, why don't you call him?" Kirsten asked. 

Why didn't I thought of that? I automatically fished out my phone and put my drink down and pressed number 2 on speed dial. Si mama yung number 1. 

"Dude it's ringing." I beamed at her happily and she just nodded. Giving me time to talk to papa. Sana sagutin niya.

"Clary! Baby! How are you? Why the sudden call?" Papa asked. 

"I just miss you so much, that's all. I'm fine, everyone here are fine. I'm glad you asked. What about you? How are the things there?" I immediately asked him para hindi masayang yung tawag ko. Ang mahal kaya ng international call. 

"Things are going great here but it's really different here without you. Hindi maingay sa loob ng bahay hahaha! The meeting about the expansion there in the Philippines went well. We all agreed. Saka yung investors natin nagustuhan yung proposal. So I'll stay there for a while. Nakapag enroll ka na ba? Are you still pursuing fine arts, sweetheart?" He asked. 

Mukhang masaya talaga sya sa nangyare sa meeting. Sana nandun ako para ako yung tumayong secretary kunyare ni papa. That would've been fun.

"Uh. Yeah. I'm still going for fine arts, papa. Ayoko ng business. But if I really have to do it, then I'm going to take special classes na lang." I said while taking a bite of my honey glazed donut. I looked at Kirsten and she's on her phone again. Hah... Typical Kirsten.

"Oh papa! You know the Van Zandts, right? I'm friends with their daughter, Kirsten. She happens to be my classmate in the art class that I'm taking this summer. She's really nice." I beamed and she looked at me. 

"What?" I mouthed. 

"That's great, sweetheart! I was planning on meeting the Van Zandts pag nandyan na ako to talk about the expansion. I want them to work with us on this one." Dad said and then I heard him yawn. 

"Papa, I'm going to end this call na. You need to take a rest." 

"Okay. Magpakabait ka dyan. 'Wag mong dagdagan yung sakit ng ulo ni mama and si Lola Minerva mo, sabihin 'wag masyadong magpagod sa pananahi." Bilin niya. 

"Yes, papa. I won't be a burden. Sige na, good night papa! Sweet dreams! Love you!" Then I ended the call.

"Well that was something... Hindi mo ba tinawagan si tito nung pagkadating mo dito?" Kirsten asked. 

"No." I simply answered. 

"And what the heck was that? Bakit mo ko sinabi sa kanya? Bigla tuloy akong nahiya." She said and took the last bite of her pasta. 

"May hiya ka pala." I sarcastically said and laughed. I took my drink and took the last bite of my donut 

"I'll head first." I added then took my wallet and went out the shop.

While I was on my way upstairs in our art room, I was absentmindedly walking towards the elevator. My energy's running out. Good thing I brought my coffee with me. I blame myself for waking up so early. I fished out my phone again dahil may nagtext.

From: Kirsten Van Zandt

To: Kirsten Van Zandt

From: Kirsten Van Zandt

"Ouch." I said. Damn it I bumped in to someone. This day is getting worse. 

"Sorry," He knelt down to get my phone. Shit! My phone!! I looked at him and I can feel that I my eyelids opened wider as I saw Lucas handing my phone back. 

"Here's your phone. Next time, don't text while you're walking." He said then kinuha ko na sa kanya yung phone ko. 

"Uhm. Thanks." I said when his back is already facing me.

Man, I'm really stunned.

"Uy. I told you to wait for me." Damn it. Kirsten's here. She looked at Lucas and back to me. 

"Were you talking to him? Ooooh!! I knew you have the hots for him!" She gushed. 

"Oh come on, Kirsten! I'm not!" I defended and she was just looking at me. Yung tingin na 'di sya naniniwala sa'yo. 

"Hindi nga kasi," I insisted. 

"Whatever." She said then she rolled her eyes then left me standing there. Nasa floor na pala namin! Shoot! Buti na lang nasa ulirat pa ako. Tae talaga tong si Kirsten bigla na lang akong iniwan.

I went inside and kaunti pa lang kami dito out of 25 students. Malaki naman kasi yung pinagk-klasehan namin so no biggie. I went to my place besides Kirsten and sighed. 

"5 minutes ago you were a blazing ball of happiness then ganyan ka na. May problema ba?" Kirsten said while fixing her pencils in order. Ibang klase. 

"Wala lang. Gusto ko lang huminga ng malalim. Porket huminga lang ng malalim may problema agad?" I annoyingly said.

"Hindi naman. Malay ko naman kasi diba?" She said then looked at Lucas. She nudged me and said 

"Uy. That hunk is staring at you. Should I call him? Should I? Should I?" 

Ang kulit naman ng babaeng 'to. Yung totoo? High ba 'to? 

"What? No. Don't!" I said and covered her mouth while she's trying to call Lucas. She got his attention and he's walking towards us.

Composure, Clary. Calm yourself. Calm the fuck down!!!

"Hi."