Campus Girls Series #4: Ms. Ganda Problems

BUSY sa panonood si Ayla sa Youtube tungkol sa latest fashion trends habang nakaupo siya sa gitna ng dalawang kaibigan sa paborito nilang school bench sa campus. Engrossed din ang mga ito sa ginagawa sa kanya-kaniyang cellphone.  Biglang suminghap si Lizzy.

“Girls, Aris is on the first spot!” balita nito na ang tinutukoy ay ang school popularity rank sa school online board forum.

Suminghap din si Caroline. “Oh my god, crush ko na talaga siya! He’s joining the list of my official crushes na.”

“Aris? Who is he?” kunot ang noong tanong ni Ayla na pinindot ang pause sa pinanonood.

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa bago ibinalik sa kanya ang tingin.

“I can’t believe you don’t know who he is,” sagot ni Lizzy na umupo sa kabilang side ni Ayla. “He instantly became popular in school upon transferring here this sem.”

“Really? How come I didn’t hear you talk about him even once?”

“There were times when we talked about him,” sagot ni Caroline.

“Bakit hindi ko alam? What was I doing then?”

“Maybe you were busy looking at yourself in the mirror.”

“You don’t hear anything when you’re too immersed in your beauty.” Humagikgik si Lizzy.

“Look!” Ipinakita ni Caroline kay Ayla ang pictures ni Aris sa phone nito. Mula whole-body hanggang close-up photos. “He’s gorgeous, right?”

Tinitigan niya ang lalaki sa larawan. In fairness, guwapo nga at very fit. Tipong tall, dark, and handsome type. Very manly ang facial features. Fierce eyes, thick brows, buzzed haircut. He looked good, but not her type. She liked men who had fair skin and a baby face.

“Tell me about him.”

“He’s Aris Salvador,” pagsunod ni Caroline. “He’s a professional MMA fighter.”

Nalukot ang mukha ni Ayla. “MMA fighter? So, he always shows up to school with bruises and bloody cuts on his face? No wonder I didn’t notice him. I like guys with clean faces.”

“But he’s the most popular guy in school right now,” sabi ni Lizzy. “Ang hirap mag-top one sa school popularity rank, but he did it without even trying. Because you know, I heard he’s not very social. He’s a quiet guy and has that ‘I-don’t-give-a-damn’ attitude. You know, he minds his own business. He’s no nonsense. Obviously, he’s not gentle, either. He breaks bones, so there’s no way he’s soft-hearted, as well.”

“But he’s hot as hell,” sabad ni Caroline.

“Precisely,” agree ni Lizzy. “Kaya siya nag-top one. Plus, you know, he’s different from all the popular guys in school. He’s an MMA fighter. So astig!”

Dinukot ni Ayla ang hand mirror mula sa bag at pinagmasdan ang mukha sa salamin. “I’m not happy that some transferee is getting attention. While, I… I’m still at the bottom of the school popularity rank. I’m not used to this. I don’t want to wake up one morning and find out that my name isn’t on the list anymore.”

Dalawang linggo na ang nakalilipas pero hindi pa rin siya nakaka-recover sa pagbagsak ng pangalan niya sa school popularity rank. Two weeks na lang at may bagong ranking na namang lalabas. She was scared. Ever since she entered that school, she has consistently been one of the ten most popular students in DLRU. That’s why she knew she wouldn’t be able to take it if her name was removed from the list.

Napatingin siya kay Lizzy nang suminghap ito. Sa hitsura ng kaibigan, para bang may bright idea itong naisip habang nakatingin sa kanya.

“Oh my god, Ayla! You must regain your popularity!”

Ayla sighed sadly. “I know, right? I’m not sure why nobody is talking about me these days. I’m even thinking of changing my hair color, so they’ll talk about me again. Or should I get a tan?” Pinaglipat-lipat niya ang tingin sa mga kaibigan bago kinuha ang compact mirror para bistahan ang mukha sa salamin. “What do you think?”

“Aris,” sambit ni Lizzy habang nakatingin kay Ayla.

“What about him?” tanong ni Caroline.

“Use him, Ayla.”

“What?” Mas nauna pang mag-react si Caroline pero hindi ito pinansin ni Lizzy na kay Ayla pa rin nakatingin.

“What are you talking about?” tanong ni Ayla habang naka-pout sa salamin.

“Use his current popularity so you can regain yours. Try to charm him. Kapag niligawan ka niya, siguradong pag-uusapan ka uli sa DLRU, and your popularity rank will go up again.”

“What?” si Caroline uli ang nag-react. “That’s insane! Do you think he’d like to date someone like Ayla? I mean, she’s too girly and high maintenance. He doesn’t seem to be the type to get attracted to girls like us. He is way out of our league.”

“Okay,” pagpayag ni Ayla sa suggestion ni Lizzy. “I will make that guy crazy over me, and I will be the talk of town again.”

Hindi naman ganoon kahirap ang sinabi ni Lizzy. Regardless of Charlotte Agoncillo’s existence, every guy in school had fallen for Ayla once in their lives. An MMA fighter is not an exception. Hindi siya makapapayag na malaglag siya sa school popularity rank sa school board forum. It was about time she rose to the top again.

“But, Ayla,” pag-apela ni Caroline.

“Don’t worry, Caroline. I won’t date him for real. He’s not my type.” Ayla smiled and blinked her eyes beautifully.

“SO, HOW does it feel to be the most popular guy in school?”

Napangiti si Aris sa tanong ni Jun nang umagapay ito sa kanya sa paglalakad sa pathway papasok sa school lobby. Ito ang sparring partner niya sa Ring King Training Center na pag-aari ng mismong coach niya sa MMA. Si June ang dahilan kung bakit nagkainteres siyang mag-transfer sa De La Real University. June claimed that the school was violence-free and bullying-free. There was only one catch: marami nga lang daw drama.

Sa apat na buwan niya sa DLRU, napatunayan niyang wala ngang serious bullying na nagaganap doon. Kung may konting bullying man, walang violence involved. Some students were only being playful and immature. Pero totoo talagang puro drama ang university na iyon.

Sa loob ng apat na buwan, kabi-kabila ang mga ganap doon. This school was indeed full of drama. It appeared that most of the students there were obsessed with popularity. Apparently, they had this stupid popularity rank list that they updated monthly on the school’s website forum. The most popular students were treated like celebrities there. They were looked up to, and they were always the talk of town.

Kapag naging top one ang isang estudyante sa rank na iyon, sobrang big deal iyon sa kanila. Para bang nanalo sila sa lotto. The students would start treating the most popular person in school as the most valuable person on the planet. As if you have just saved humanity. And everybody would pool in on you and try to get your attention.

Hindi sinadya ni Aris pero simula nang pumasok siya sa eskuwalahang iyon ay nakasama agad siya sa popularity rank list dahil isa siyang professional MMA fighter. Wala naman talaga siyang balak itago iyon dahil sa ayaw man o gusto ay may makakakilala sa kanya. Pero hindi lahat ng tao ay mahilig sa martial arts, kaya wala siyang balak ipangalandakan iyon sa bagong school. Unlike most of the people there, he did not enjoy too much attention.

And recently, he just topped that silly ranking after he won his recent fight. Now, suddenly, he is the talk of town. Everybody wants to rub their elbows with him, and some girls attempt to flirt with him. He was not pleased with it. He was too busy juggling his career and studies, so he did not have time to get involved with girls.

“I feel burdened,” sagot ni Aris.

“Wow!” Mukhang hindi makapaniwala si June. “Do you know how most students here in DLRU would kill to be in your shoes right now?”

“Seriously?” Napailing-iling siya. “Gusto nila `yong lahat ng mata, nakatingin sa kanila? Pati private life mo, inaalam without your permission?”

Bukod sa social climbers, clout chasers, attention seekers, at fame whores ay marami ring tsismosa sa DLRU. Nagulat na lang si Aris nang malamang alam na ng mga tao roon ang tungkol sa gulong kinasangkutan niya bago lumipat doon.

“Umalis ako sa previous school ko.” Aris continued, “because I got tired of all the violence and bullying there. Pero parang gusto kong bumalik doon dahil ang corny ng school na `to.”

Bagamat talamak ang bullying at school violence sa dating unibersidad na pinapasukan ay sinubukan ni Aris ang tahimik na buhay doon at huwag makialam sa nangyayari sa paligid. Ganunpaman, may isang pagkakataong hindi niya napigilang mapasok sa gulo. Nasaksihan kasi niya mismo ang isang kapwa estudyanteng sinasaktan ng bullies kaya hindi niya napigilan ang ipagtanggol ito.

Napabagsak ni Aris ang bullies pero dahil miyembro pala ang mga ito ng isang youth gang sa labas ng school ay inabangan siya ng mga ito isang gabi. He was almost killed that night because one of them was carrying a knife. Mabuti na lang at trained fighter siya kaya likas na mas magaling siyang makipagbakbakan sa mga ito.

Umalis siya sa eskuwelahang iyon hindi dahil natatakot siya sa mga ito. Ayaw niya ng gulo at ayaw na rin niyang makakita ng mga binu-bully. Gusto niyang makipaglaban pero sa loob lang ng ring o cage. Hiniling din ng mga magulang niya na lumipat siya ng paaralan.

Tumawa si June. “You will get used to it.”

Nang makarating sa lobby ay umani kaagad si Aris ng atensiyon. Lahat halos ng maraanan niya ay nakatingin sa kanya. May ilang kababaihang bumati sa kanya. Some even called him “crush” openly. It felt like high school all over again.

“Watch out,” bulong ni June sa kanya. “Mararaanan natin `yong grupo ng mga tsismosa, led by Marie Tessa.”

Lumipad ang tingin ni Aris sa grupo ng mga kababaihang bagaman malayo pa ay nasa kanya na ang paningin ng lahat. Marie Tessa. She was infamous. Hindi raw ito nasasama sa top ten popularity rank list pero lahat ng estudyante roon ay kilala ito. Ito raw kasi ang mata at bibig ng DLRU. Hindi na siya magtataka kung kay Marie Tessa nanggaling ang impormasyon tungkol sa gulong kinasangkutan niya bago lumipat sa DLRU.

Wala siyang balak pansinin ang grupo pero nang malapit na sila ni June sa kinatatayuan ng mga ito ay tinawag ng ilan sa mga ito ang atensiyon niya.

“Hi, Aris!”

“Hi, crushie!”

Dammit, si Marie Tessa ang tumawag sa kanya ng “crushie.” Kung interesado ito sa kanya sa ganoong paraan, malamang na kalkalin pa nito nang husto ang pribadong buhay niya. Walang balak na maging approachable si Aris sa mga tsismosa kaya dinaanan lang niya ng tingin ang mga ito.

“Ang suplado niya, pero lalo ko siyang naging crush kasi gusto ko talaga `yong mga pa-hard to get na guys. Mas yummy sila.”

Kahit nakalagpas na ay nakarating sa pandinig ni Aris ang sinabi ni Marie Tessa. Hindi niya sigurado kung sinadya iyong iparinig o hindi lang aware ang babae na malakas ang boses nito. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya. Yes, he was forewarned that this school was full of drama. But he was not aware that gossipmongering was also a thing there.

Napuna ni Aris ang pagtawa ni June nang walang sound.

“You must be enjoying this,” sabi niya.

“The whole female population in school is now in love with you, man! Pati si Marie Tessa na parang mas interesado sa tsismis kaysa sa lalaki, nabihag mo ang puso! Iba ka!” Pinagtatapik nito ang balikat niya.

Napapikit si Aris sa frustration. “Stop it.”

Tumunog ang cellphone ni June kaya dinukot nito iyon mula sa bulsa at nagsimulang maglakad habang sa cellphone nakatuon ang tingin.

Sa corridor ay namataan ni Aris ang tatlong babaeng makakasalubong nila. Napako agad ang tingin niya sa babaeng nasa gitna. Bukod sa takaw-pansin nitong wavy blonde hair, kapansin-pansin naman kasi ang angking ganda nito.

Ayla Tiffany Lopez. One of the most popular and beautiful girls in school. People call her a living Barbie doll. Her looks were indeed as perfect as the famous doll.

The first time he saw her walking through the corridor, he was instantly captivated by her beauty. Curious, he asked June about her. And after learning things about Ayla, his interest went from nine to one. Her physical beauty was impeccable, but her character did not impress Aris.

“Ayla Tiffany Lopez? She’s a total bombshell. But she’s only good to look at. Unfortunately, she’s a shallow person, a fame whore. Kapag nagta-top one siya sa school popularity rank, nagpapa-party siya. Ganoon siya kababaw. She’s narcissistic. She has ‘princess syndrome,’ or ‘main character syndrome,’ whatever. She loves attention. Gagawin niya ang lahat para mapansin at mapag-usapan sa school. Ang laki ng inggit niya kay Charlotte Agoncillo kasi madalas nang mag-top one, natalo pa siya sa school pageant. And now I heard she’s going to try to join the pageant again. Parang umiikot lang ang buhay niya sa pagiging popular in school and nothing else. Isa pa, sa sobrang taas ng tingin niya sa sarili niya, lahat ng lalaking nanliligaw sa kanya, binabasted niya. Apparently, she’s in love with herself. Ang sarap lang niyang pagpantasyahan, but she’s not a girlfriend-material.”

But, yes. She was really good to look at. Especially today. She was exceptionally beautiful today. But that was just it. She was beautiful and nothing else—an eye candy. Aalisin na sana ni Aris ang tingin sa babae pero nagtama ang paningin nila. At sa gulat niya, ngumiti ito sa kanya. Napalingon tuloy siya para i-tsek sa likuran kung may ibang tinitingnan ito pero wala namang tao sa likod. Hindi rin naman si June dahil nasa cellphone ang tingin nito habang naglalakad.

Ayla never looked at him even once. Now she even smiled at him. It was not a friendly smile at all. It was a smile women give when they are interested in a guy.

Interested? Sa akin? tanong ni Aris sa isip. No way. Why would she suddenly…? He paused in the middle of his thoughts when he realized the reason why she suddenly took notice of him. He topped the school popularity rankings recently!

Hindi humiwalay ng tingin si Ayla sa kanya at hindi naalis ang matamis na ngiti sa mga labi nito hanggang sa makalagpas na ito sa kanya. 

Wow. So, he needed to top the school popularity rankings for Ayla Tiffany Lopez to be aware of his existence. Damn.

Saka lang tumingin kay Aris si June pagkatapos muling isuksok ang cellphone sa bulsa. “Are you thinking about something funny?” puna nito nang makita ang hitsura niya.

Saka lang naging aware si Aris na nakangiti siya, iyong ngiting tipong gustong matawa. “It was indeed funny.”