Queen Bee 4 Chapter Four

"It's now 8:30 PM. You still have one to two hours to review your notes so you can be prepared for a quiz tomorrow." paalala ni Gabby na naabutan nina Mike at Rachel sa lobby na nagiintay. At hindi din inaasahan na nanduon din si Marvin Rodriguez na dala rin ang kanyang mga books. Marvin is also joining their small study group.

"Ay! Oo nga pala." sabi naman ni Mike.

"I know Mrs. Cupang. She is really tough and likes to give surprise quiz. Kung ako sa iyo Rach, you have to study hard kung ayaw mong bumaba ang mga grades mo." palala ni Gabby.

"And, Marvin is here to join us?" taka naman ni Rach.

"He is an Alpha neohpyte now. So, it's ok for me if he would join us in this review." sabi ni Gabby.

Dagdag pa ni Marvin, "Just like the old times, Rach. Nuong ako rin ang kstudy buddy mo dati nuong high school pa tayo."

"Okay. But, I have to go back to my room to change my clothes." sabi ni Rach.

Dagdag pa na paalala ni Gabs, "Rach, if I were you, you better talk to your dorm admin to have your roommate. If not, you can choose to stay with Romero cousins. They'd just mentioned to me that they have spare bed. Sayang din yon. Para hindi ka parati nagiisa."

"Okay, I will talk to them tomorrow." tugon naman ni Rach. At nagtungo na siya ng kanyang kuwarto.

At ito naman si Gabby ay gustong kausapin ng masinsinan si Mike.

"Mike, can I talk to you privately." tanong ni Gabs.

"Sige po. Ano po yun?"

"Mike, tatapatan na kita. I have respect to your older sister, but that doesn't mean that I like you for my younger cousin. As you can see, she is under my protection and she has to mind her studies first." sabi ni Gabriel.

"Kuya, malinis naman ang hangarin ko sa kapatid niyo. Mahal ko po siya." paliwanag ni Mike.

"I know. But, both of you are still young. Kung hindi aatupagin ni Rachel ang pagaaral niya at puro ikaw ang iintindihin niya, mabuti pang idala na lang namin siya sa states para doon niya ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral niya, while what I am doing in states is to pursue my MBA." sabi ni Gabby.

"Kuya, pasensya na po. Ginabi lang po kami ngayon. Hindi na po mauulit. Promise ko pong maaga na po siya uuwi ng bahay pagkatapos ng basketball practice niya." sabi ni Mike.

"Nope. I think it is better this way kung ako na lang ang magsusundo kay Rachel pagkatapos ng basketball practice niya. At least, maalalayan ko pa siya sa pag-aaral niya." sabi ni Gabby.

"Paano po si Rach?" tanong ni Mike.

"I can explain it to her in a nice way. You can go now." sabi ni Gabby.

At umalis na nga si Mike.

Pagbaba ni Rachel na dala ang mga books niya, pinaalalahanan ulit siya ni Gabby, "Pinasasabi ni Uncle Julian if you didn't get the average higher than 85%, ikcut niya ang allowance mo at babawiin din niya ang kotse mo na kabibigay lang sa iyo from your last birthday."

"Darn! Fine. I would be serious in my studies."

Kinabukasan, gaya ng napagusapan, si Gabby na ngayon ang magsusundo kay Rachel galing ng basketball practice.

Pagsakay ng kotse ni Rach, inabot sa kanya ni Gabby ang mga roses, "To the most beautiful girl I've met aside from your older sister, Regina, and may she rest in peace."

Natawa naman si Rach, "Ikaw, kuya ah! Wala bang kasamang chocolates?"

"Tomorrow, bibigyan ko kayo ng tig-iisang choknut ni Marvin." sabi ni Gabby na nakangiti.

On the other hand, at the cheerleading try-out, nandoon sina Lara Crisostomo, Candy Romano, Maggie Chelsea at Karen Romero. At the least expected, Karen didn't make it to the team.

Kinausap ulit ni Karen si Roselle, "Roselle, please give me another chance. Alam kong nabastos kita nuong isang beses sa pep rally ninyo ni Maggie. But, I am really sorry for that."

Sabi naman ni Roselle, "Karen, I would tell you frankly. You really can make it to the try-out. I also see your potential to be a head cheerleader since you already told me that you were a head cheerleader in your school. But, if you could lose 30 lbs in one month, I could give you another chance."

"But, that's impossible." sabi ni Karen.

"Try it. I would give you another chance."

At sa dinner, minabuti niyang green salad oriental na lang ang kakainin niya. Napansin siya nina Liza at Rach.

Tanong ni Liza, "Cuz, mabubusog ka ba niyan? Kanina ngang lunch, sandwich lang ang kinain mo."

Sabi ni Karen, "I will be fine. Thanks for your concern."

Kaya every morning, minomonitor na ni Karen ang kanyang weight. Gusto niyang tiyakin kung mababawasan siya ng 30 lbs in one month to join the cheerleading squad.

Good luck for Karen!

Chapter Four:

"So, why did you call? I am very busy studying." sabi ni Karen Romero habang kausap niya si Candy Romano sa kanyang cellphone.

"I am here with Randy and his team mates sa Club JC, and I found out that Roselle and her snooty friends are here too. I'd just overheard from their conversation na dadayain ni Roselle ang pageant para ipalabas na ang baduy na si Maggie Chelsea ang mananalo. Life is so cruel talaga! I really wanted to quit this pageant." sabi ni Candy.

"Okay, but don't quit. I have a better solution to your problem." sabi Karen Romero.

"Okay, what's the solution?" tanong ni Candy.

"I don't have it now but I will find ways to make a solution for that. As of now, you just stay cool and don't mention anything to Lara Crisostomo." sabi ni Karen.

"Okay."

And then, Candy really didn't tell anyone about what they talked on phone.

Kinabukasan, Karen approached Rachel at the locker hall as she would like to persuade her to join the pageant. And then, she had just found out a greeting card drop from her locker, as she read, "To the most beautiful girl I've met,.. Oh, is this from Kuya Gabby?"

"Oh,, he is just being nice to me. He is helping me in my difficult subject like what my dad told him." sabi ni Rach.

"But, I agree of what he told you that you are beautiful. Do you like to join the pageant?"

"Huh?" taka naman ni Rach.

Nakita ni Karen na dumaan sa tabi nila si JayDee kaya agad niya itong hinila at sinabihan si Rachel, "If you want to join the pageant, JayDee is always here to help you."

"Whaat?" lalo pang nagtataka itong si Rach sa kinikilos ni Karen.

Sabi naman ni JayDee, "Oh, you will be joining the pageant. That would be great. I will give you the application form later. You know, if you are joining the pageant, it is like you are following the footstep of your big sis."

"So, what do you think of that idea?" tanong naman ni Karen kay Rach.

"Alright! I will join the pageant."

At kinagabihan, kinausap niya ang mga kasama niya sa group study na sina Marvin at Gabby.

"Guys, I did a very stupid thing this morning." sabi niya.

"Did you just failed the quiz this morning?" taka naman ni Gabby.

"Nope. I'd just signed the form for the beauty pageant that I will be joining in."

Natawa naman bigla itong si Marvin sa narinig niya kay Rach. Tiningnan naman siya ng seryoso ng magpinsan.

"Okay, now it's two heads against me." sabi ni Marvin sa kanila.

"What Rachel wants, Rachel will get. She will have her ballot tickets sold with the support from my fraternity, and we would prepare something special for her talent portion this coming Saturday." sabi ng mariin ni Gabs.

"Okay, kuya, you're the best!" pasalamat naman ni Rachel sa kanya.

***************

Samantala ito naman si Lara ay naririnig niyang kumakanta ng Korean Pop itong si Lisa.

"You really can sing talaga. Sana maging kaboses kita sa pagkanta." sabi ni Lara.

"Kung nagvoice lesson ka, maiimprove din naman ang boses mo." sabi ni Lisa.

"Pero, wala na akong time para mag-voice lesson. Kung okay lang sa iyo, ikaw na lang ang magiging ghost singer ko para sa darating na talent portion this Saturday?" pakiusap ni Lisa.

"Huh? Eh, di madidisqualified ka sa contest pag nahuli ka nila na nandadaya. At madidisqualified ka rin sa sorority kung nagkataon." sabi ni Lisa.

"Ako ang bahala. Basta ba pumayag ka na. Sama ka sa akin bukas."

Kinabukasan, pagkatapos ng eskwela, nagtungo sila sa recording studio kung saan nagtratrabaho din si Lisa bilang Christian singer.

"Ano ang ginagawa natin dito?" taka ni Lisa.

"Irerecord natin yung kinanta mo kagabi sa isang CD. Yun ang gagamitin ko para sa performance ko sa Saturday. Okay lang kay manong recorder kasi ililibre ko naman siya ng pangmeryenda niya. Kinausap ko na rin ang boss mo. Sabi ko, school project ito na gagawin nating dalawa." sabi ni Lara.

"At nagawa mo pang magsinungaling sa boss ko?" sabi ni Lisa.

"Sige na. Pumayag ka na." sabi ni Lara.

"Okay. Pero, ito ang huling pakiusap mo tungkol sa pageant na sinasalihan mo na gagawin ko ha. Ayaw ko ng may kasunod pa." sabi ni Lisa.

At pumayag nga si Lisa sa pakiusap ni Lara.

...

Chapter end