His Mysterious Pursuit of Bethany

Soundtrack: Kakaibabe by Donnalyn Bartolome

"Wren, sana magustuhan mo tong ginawa kong mango float. Pasensya ka na at wala akong pasalubong sayo galing California. Wala kasi akong pera e."

Nilagyan ko ng hiniwa kong mango float ang platito ni Wren. Kauuwi ko lang galing sa California kasama si Tita Colleen na kasalukuyang nakatira sa bahay namin kasama si nanay na umuwi narin galing Spain.

"It's fine, Coco." Nginitian ko naman ang sinserong wika niya.

"Ang daya mo Buko ha! Nasan na yong parte ko? Hindi mo man lang ba ako pasasalamatan para sa ginawa ko dito sa clubroom natin?" Reklamo ng timawang kanina pa naglalaway sa mango float na ginawa ko.

Pinasadahan ko naman ng tingin ang buong paligid ng clubroom. The sofas and mini living room near my table, the paintings, the flower vases, the mini dining table where we are in, the mini refrigerator, bookshelves and other fixtures around us greatly compliment each other. Well, I have no say on Tobbie's skills in organizing and interior designing.

Bago ako umalis papuntang California ay nagwithdraw ako ng ilan sa savings ko sa bangko para sa pag-aayos ng clubroom namin. Ganun din ang ginawa ni Tobbie at maging si Wren ay nag-ambag din. Nagmukha tuloy na isang eleganteng faculty ang clubroom namin. It looks simple yet elegant compared to the other clubs. All thanks to them. I'm very grateful that they love this club also the way I do.

Kinuha ko ang tupperware na pinaglalagyan ko ng mango float at inilapag iyon sa harapan ni Tobbie bago ko tinungo ang lalagyan ng mga plato at basong nasa itaas ng mini fridge namin para kumuha ng tinidor at platito niya.

"Oh hayan na po."

Tuwang-tuwa naman ang timawa ng alisin niya ang takip ng tupperware at nagslice ng malaking parte na agad naman niyang nilantakan.

"Mahaba na palang buhok mo?" Puna ko naman nang mapansin ang naka-high ponytail niyang medyo mahaba ngang buhok.

Hinawakan niya iyon at maya-maya pa ay nagkibit-balikat ng tuluyan. "Trip ko lang. Maglalagay nga ako ng headband bukas. Alam mo na, idol kita pagdating sa hairstyle."

Tinuro niya ang buhok kong naka-braided pigtails. Tobbie and I wouldn't be called bestfriends for nothing. Pareho kasi kami ng taste sa mga bagay-bagay at sobrang nagki-click ang personalities namin. I've also noticed that Wren and him are on their short sleeves type of uniform with neckties. Hindi nila suot ang mga blazers nila and I bet it's because of the weather. Kahit na may aircon naman sa club at classroom namin ay hindi parin namin maiwasang makaramdaman ng init at pagpawisan.

Maya-maya pa ay nagligpit na kami ng mga gamit namin para pumasok. Sinara muna namin ang clubroom at naglakad na papunta sa aming klase.

"Good morning everyone."

A sweet voice echoed from the speakers installed in the hallway. She would always welcomed the students with her greetings. Bethany Vasquez is the resident DJ and a member of the broadcasting team of the university. She's very popular among men within and outside our school because of her nonpareil charms. Madalas ko na nga siyang nakikita sa tv nitong mga nakaraang araw. Advertisements, hosting, interviews, guestings and cameo roles on both tv and movies.

"Buko, halika na. Male-late na tayo."

Tinakbo ko ang distansya sa pagitan namin ng dalawang mga lalaki na nag-aantay sa akin. And I guess, my not so normal day begins.

---

"Coco, totoo palang nakakaganda lalo ang abroad? Saan ka nga ulit galing?"

Interesadong tanong ng singkit kong kaklaseng babae na si Taki. Maging ang ilang mga kaklase namin ay nakiusyoso narin sa amin.

"Malibu, California."

Nanlaki naman ang mga máta nila sa tuwa at pagkamangha. I had even sensed envy on one of them but I'm not that so sure. Inaatake na naman ako ng kabaliwan.

"Malibu? Yong beach town?! Maraming celebrities na nakatira doon di ba? Have you seen one?!"

"Yes. Isang sikat na modelo." A cunning smile escaped from my lips as I recall an instance.

"Really? Sino?! Sino?!" They chanted excitedly.

My smile vanished when a sexy beast whom she with that time and the person who stole my first kiss suddenly appeared on my river of thoughts. I settled my lips on a grim line impeding myself from saying anything to them. Nakakabadtrip yun ah.

"Wag na. Masyadong confidential kung paano ko siya nakita sa personal. It's too R-18." I retorted and their mouths fell open. Bahala na kayo kung anong gusto niyong isipin.

Pinilit nila akong ibulgar kung sino iyon at kung anong nangyari but I remained silent. Mabuti na lang at napagod din naman sila kakakulit sa akin at nagsibalikan na lamang sa mga upuan nila.

My mood lit up during our Creative Writing in which our teacher had a wonderful discussion about the critical analysis on poetic works. I'm not into writing poems but I love reading them. Nakangiti ako ng magpaalam ang guro namin. Then our professor for the next subject which is Philosophy came in and started his period with some logic riddles to spice us all up.

Gaya ng mga kaklase ko ay natuwa naman ako sa pakikinig sa aming guro at sa mga logic niya.

"Some may hear me and moved their lips. Others may tap their feet. In some cases, I make people weep. What am I?"

May ilang agad na nagtaas ng mga kamay nila para sumagot sa katanungan niya samantalang nanatili namang nag-iisip ang ilan sa kani-kanilang mga upuan.

"Yes Mr. Araneta."

Napatingin naman ako sa tumayong si Tobbie sa likurang upuan ko. "It's music sir."

"Correct Mr. Araneta." Nakangiting usal ng aming guro.

"Ang dali naman nun." Bulong ni Tobbie saka ako kinindatan bago naupo sa kanyang upuan. Napangiwi naman ako sa kahinginang dala niya.

"Yabang nito."

"Ah-ah. Nagkakamali ka Buko. Hindi ako mayabang. Pogi ako. Pogi. Gets mo?"

"Dream on Araneta." I mocked before returning my attention on the man in front.

"Here's another one. Two men walk into a bar. One man orders H2O. The other man says "I'll have H2O, too.". Then the second man dies, why?"

The class grew silent and Wren who's beside me stood up from his seat.

"The second man dies because the waiter or the man who served him his drink got his order wrong. The H2O too there is pertaining to H2O2 which he drunk that causes his death. H2O2 is the chemical formula of the strong oxidizing and bleaching agent which is the hydrogen peroxide. This chemical is used in bleaching agents and disinfectants."

Namangha ang mga kaklase namin sa sagot niya at napapalakpak na lamang sila ng maupo si Wren.

"You got it right, Mr. Avila."

"We'll have logic riddles next time class. So, now let's begin our discussion." He added.

A series of disappointed chain reactions were heard from my classmates who were in protest for such announcement and our professor just chuckled before he started the real discussion. Our lesson for today was about the Phenomenology which is an approach developed by Edmund Husserl that is used to study the consciousness and the objects in the first person point of view. It explains how our experiences constitute to our development in the natural world. Ang dami ko talagang natututunan sa subject na to.

Pagkatapos ng klase namin ay nagtungo kaming tatlo sa cafeteria para bumili ng lunch namin. Dinala namin iyon sa clubroom at doon na kami kumain.

The boys keep on talking about the cases they have solved when I was away and that made me feel somehow insecure. Sana naman may pumunta sa club at kumunsulta sa amin. And just when I'm crossing my fingers, the clubroom door swung open and the beautiful face of Bethany Vasquez materialized from there.

"Do you need me? I mean do you need anything?" Pasimpleng tanong ni Tobbie sa magandang babae habang nakatayo sa upuan niya.

Bahagya kong sinulyapan si Wren sa harapan ko at naabutan ko siyang pinagmamasdan ng maigi ang dalaga. Sana pala hindi na lang siya dumating. Binabawi ko na yong wish ko! But there was something on his stare that I couldn't fathom. It's like he's scrutinizing her.

"You're having your lunch still? Maybe I should go back later." Aniya nang mapansin ang mga plato sa ibabaw ng mini dining table namin.

Akmang lalabas na sana siya kaso ay biglang nagsalita si Wren.

"You may stay. Seems like you're having an unusual trouble."

Tuluyan na akong napatingin kay Wren. He's another mystery for me. I don't know why but I feel like he really is. Kahit noon pang mga panahon na ini-stalk ko siya.

"Maupo ka dito, binibini." Ani Tobbie at iginiya si Bethany sa may sofa. Humuhokage din tong isang to e.

Sumunod naman si Wren sa dalawa sa pag-upo sa sofa samantalang nanatili naman ako sa kinauupuan ko sa dining table at tinapos na lamang ang tanghalian ko. Our clubroom isn't that big so I could hear them talk about the problem.

"I'm Tobbias Gilby Araneta, Ms. Bethany Vasquez while this is Wren Isaiah Avila and that girl over there is Coco Quizon, our maid."

I threw a deadly glare on Tobbie as I chewed the stuffed food on my mouth and I heard Wren chuckled softly.

"Oh, my bad. I forgot, she's actually our club president. Anyways, what is it that you came here for?"

"I don't believe on supernatural or paranormal things but I think I have been experiencing it these past few weeks." She started using her usual sweet voice and the boys both went serious.

"Tell us more about it." Wren stated.

"Ganito kasi iyon. It all happened when I transferred on the condo unit my parents had bought for me. My first week of staying there was fine but later on I felt something weird. That kind of feeling when someone you don't know is staring at you. Binalewala ko lang iyon. But sa tuwing naliligo ako ay hindi ko maiwasang mangilabot dahil pakiramdam ko talaga ay may nakatingin sa akin and to think that I am the only one living there. Kung minsan pa ay may nararamdaman akong humahaplos sa likod ko at sa iba't ibang bahagi ng katawan ko habang naliligo ako. I thought it was just nothing but one night when I was about to sleep, the hem of my dress suddenly lifted on their own and it's bizarre to say that it's because of the air were in fact I always close my windows and doors at night and I'm using an air conditioner. I know you're into this, can you please help me?"

Is it a perverted ghost that bothers her? Sinulyapan ko si Bethany. She has this long curly hair that suits her porcelain skin, long lashes and luscious lips. Definitely a beauty. No doubt about that. Hindi maipagkakailang sa ganda niya ay marami siyang nabibighaning kalalakihan. But ghosts? That sounds creepy.

"Can we come over your place to have some inspections?" I wasn't surprised when Tobbie initiated that offer. Isa kang dakilang talinpadas gaya ng nakilala ko sa California who's into bitches and fuck buddies.
Bakit ko ba naiisip iyon? Yong magnanakaw na iyon! I reserved my lips for Wren for a long time! Tapos... tapos sa kanya lang mapupunta! Nakakainis! That sexy beast!

"Okay. Here's my number and just contact me on when are you available to pay a visit on my place." Aniya at iniabot ang calling card kay Wren na nakaupo.

I wanna stuck my tongue out on Tobbie but his eyes didn't landed on my direction. Napahiya ka tuloy!

"Sure. Expect us there as soon as possible. Thank you for coming here." Tugon naman ni Wren bago tumayo at kinamayan ang bisita naming nakatayo narin habang nakasabit sa kanyang kaliwang braso ang mamahaling Hermes handbag.

"Thank you." Nakangiting wika ni Bethany.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga kamay nilang magkahawak. Bilang na bilang ko ang bawat segundo habang ginagawa nila iyon kaya alam kong lumampas na sila ng isang minuto sa pagkakamayan. Tobbie on his side made a sad face to teased me on what's happening between the two.

Unang bumitaw si Wren kaya iginiya na ni Tobbie si Bethany palabas ng clubroom. Ganyan nga para mapakinabangan ka naman. Mas bagay kayong dalawa at kaming dalawa naman ni Wren!

Bumalik si Wren sa pwesto niya sa dining table sa harapan ko at kumain na ulit. Nang matapos na ako ay nag-angat naman siya ng tingin sa akin.

"You done?"

"Yes." I smilingly retorted.

"Coco."

"Hmm?"

"Don't you sensed anything weird about her?" He asked as he looked intently at me and I was silently surprised by that.

Does he know anything about the peculiarities I'm feeling lately? Baka nag-iimagine lang ulit ako. Pero masakit yong feeling na nakaalis na yong tao ay yon parin ang topic niyong dalawa. Ang daya. I was planning on not answering him but it's so rude of me if I do that to him, of course not in front of him.

"Wala naman. Bakit?"

"I just thought you do."

"Bakit anong meron sa kanya?" A cunning smile went out from him.

"It's for you to find out."

➖➖➖

Ano kayang kakaibang napapansin ni Wren kay Bethany? And what's happening to Coco?

Find out more about Bethany's case on the next update.
Do vote and share. Comment as well. 😃