In Love With Narcissus : Chapter 1

One and Only Year of Happiness

(Eunice Sparks POV)

Padabog akong naglalakad, “Grabe! He’s the most conceited guy I’ve ever met!”  Isinigaw ko yun kahit na maraming tao sa paligid. Nagmadali na lang ako para makaalis na agad dito sa school museum, pero nakasalubong naman ako ng crowd of high school students and tourists.

“Nymphs are popular for their beauty, and no man, even gods, can ignore such magnificence.” Narinig kong sinabi nung facilitator, tapos yung sumunod niyang sinabi ay interesting para matigil ako sa pagmamadali ko. “Well except for a man called Narcissus, who refused to love a nymph named Echo.”

“Ah! Baka bakla!” Side-comment ng isang estudyante at nagtawanan na ang klase. 

“Hindi siya bakla. But he was cursed by Echo to be somewhat like that.” Na-curious ang lahat kaya itinuloy niya ang pagsasalita. “It was because Narcissus was made to fall in love with his own reflection.”

And that’s my cue to get out from that crowd. “Narcissus…” Great! What a twist of fate! Parang mas nagalit tuloy ako knowing the fact na nakakilala ako ng real-life Narcissus sa pagsisimula ko ng college life.

*     *     *

Ibinigay saakin ng daddy ko ang best birthday gift ko noong pumayag siyang pumasok ako dito sa East Verlake Academy.

First time niya lang akong payagan na gumawa ng sariling kong desisyon. All my life kasi, I’m under his strict control. Mula sa susuotin kong damit, sa kakainin kong pagkain, sa mga taong dapat kong pakisamahan at sa lahat ng bagay na may kinalaman saakin.

I don’t even know if he loves me, but I’m sure that he hates me. Bakit? Pinatay ko lang naman ang pinakamamahal niyang asawa, ang mommy ko. She died giving birth to me and after that, pinararamdam na niya saakin that it was my entire fault why she died.

Nakakasakal na nga siya, lalo pa nung malaman kong involve ako sa isang fixed marriage. At ikakasal ako kapag nasa legal age of eighteen na daw ako. Ang masama doon, wala na akong natitirang oras. I just turned seventeen, at isang taon na lang ang magagamit ko para magkaroon ng normal and happy life!

Kaya nga naglakas-loob na akong magsabi ng gusto ko. Papayag akong ikasal sa lalaking yun, without any objections! At kapalit noon, dapat payagan niya rin akong makapag-enroll ng culinary subjects sa most prestigious academy na nabanggit ko kanina.

“Why would you want East Verlake?” Tinanong niya saakin ang isang tanong na alam naman na niya ang sagot.

“Kasi doon nag-aral at nakakuha ng culinary degree si mommy. At tsaka…” Hindi na niya pinatapos pa ang sasabihin ko. Balak ko sanang idagdag na dahil mahilig akong magluto at gusto ko siyang ipagluto.

“Sige… but let’s make it clear that you’re enrolling for this school year only. Next year, pupunta tayo ng England and you’ll stay there for good with your husband-to-be.”

“Okay.” I was glad that he allowed me to enroll at East Verlake.  So glad na hindi ko na lang pinansin yung sinabi niya about England and my husband-to-be.

*     *     *

First day ko dito sa East Verlake Academy, and I found myself in kitchen full of EVA students. Noong binilang ko, there were five boys and sixteen girls including me inside this room. May mga sariling work station ang mga estudyante, at nakapwesto lang ako sa likuran. Walang nakakapansin saakin, which was a good thing. Hindi kasi ako sociable na tao. 

And besides, halos lahat sila ay magkakakilala na. Late enrollee kasi ako, and almost one month na ang nakakalipas nung magsimula ang first day of class.

“Good morning!” Pumasok yung culinary instructor. “It seems like you’re all excited!” Everyone said yes, but they’re excited about what? “I’m certain you all know what to do now, so may all start cooking.” After saying that, nagpunta agad yung mga kaklase ko sa pantry para kumuha ng mga ingredients at nagsimula na silang magluto. 

“Um… excuse me.” Itinaas ko ang kamay ko. “I’m a new student.” Nagulat yung instructor namin at napatingin siya sa hawak niyang papel. Siguro yun yung notice paper na may bago siyang estudyante, nakalimutan niya lang.

“Oh! I’m sorry! Okay class! Heads up for a second! That girl at the back is your new classmate. She’s…” 

“I’m Eunice Sparks.” After speaking, naramdaman ko tuloy na nakatingin na silang lahat saakin. Hindi ako sanay na ganito.

“It’s really nice to have you here Ms. Sparks! Now class, go back to your businesses!” And just a snap, bumalik na ulit sa mga gawain nila ang mga kaklase ko. Nilapitan naman ako ng instructor. “I’m really sorry about that. I’m your culinary instructor, Ms. Randall.”

“Nice meeting you, ma’am.” Tumango lang ako. “Um… well… I’m just curious, ano pong pinagagawa niyo sa klase ngayon?”

“Oh yeah! Actually, the culinary class always have this cooking test every Monday. Yung dish na niluluto nila is to be evaluated by the judges that I picked. Well, since you’re just new, I’m giving you an exemption. Magparticipate ka na lang sa next cooking test, okay?” 

“Tungkol saan po ba yung cooking test ngayon?”

“Korean dishes.”

“Korean dishes?” Then I looked around the room. Kumpleto naman lahat ng kailangan ko. May mga ingredients sa pantry at lahat ng gamit na kailangan ko, nandito din. “If it’s about Korean cuisine, it won’t be my problem. I can participate now.”

“Sigurado ka?”

“Yes.” I smiled at her.  Ayokong nang sayangin pa ang oras ko, dahil alam kong magagawa ko ito. Tapos wala naman siyang nagawa, kaya pumayag na siya.

Pumunta ako agad sa pantry para sa ingredients na kailangan ko, at saka ako bumalik sa station ko. I felt na nakatingin saakin yung iba kong classmates, at parang pinagbubulungan nila ako. But rather than being bothered, I ignored them and start cooking. “I’ll show them what I've got! Fighting!”

*     *     *

After an hour and a half, lumipat na ang klase sa mini hotel ng building namin. Dito magaganap yung taste evaluation. I was pushing my own cart and when I entered the room, ongoing na yung tasting and grading. Humanap ako agad ng upuan ko para hintayin ang turn ko. I observed that everyone in the class are all nervous, and yet they’re acting funny… and weird.

Funny dahil yung iba sa kanila, nagtitilian as if nakakita ng celebrity. Pero mas weird dahil may ibang estudyanteng hindi part ng klaseng ito, na nagwe-wave ng banners at kumukuha ng pictures. May kaklase ba kaming artista? Who are they cheering for?

Nung tumingin ako sa harap, nakakita ako ng tatlong male students, and it seems like they are the judges. The first student looks like a model na nakikita ko sa mga magazine at commercials; let’s call him Mr. Model.  The one sitting at the middle is as handsome as the first guy and he’s wearing eyeglasses. Parang siyang isang taong may hawak na position in the way he act and dress. Let’s call him Mr. Eyeglasses. 

Pero yung pangatlong student is different from the first two guys. Hindi siya gwapo, but rather beautiful.  Beautiful for a guy! Teka, tama bang tawagin ang isang lalaki na maganda? Okay, tawagin natin siyang Mr. Pretty. 

So I stared at the three of them for a moment, pero mas nakatitig ako kay Mr. Pretty. Lalaki ba talaga siya o babae? Hindi na ako sure. He is handsome, yet I can’t stop admiring his feminine features. Katulad ng mga mata niya, yung pink lips niya at medyo mahabang niyang buhok.

“Madeoptta.” Mahinang sinabi ni Mr. Pretty pagkatapos niyang kainin yung isang pagkain. Nagtawanan naman yung dalawa niyang kasama. So Korean pala sila. At ang ibig sabihin ng sinabi niya ay “NOT TASTY” Ouch! 

Nginitian at kinikilig naman yung classmate ko. Siguro iniisip niyang nagustuhan nung tatlo yung niluto niya. “This is good. Thank you for the food. Next please.” Nakangiting sinabi ni Mr. Pretty at nagtilian nanam yung mga babae. I thought hindi niya nagustuhan yung pagkain? Bakit sinabi niyang that was good? Liar? 

Ah! Siguro sinabi lang nila yun para hindi makasakit ng damdamin. Kaya pinagbigyan ko sila. But then, yung mga sumunod nilang comments ay…

“Ahh… sida (sour)!” Comment ni Mr. Model, pero ang sabi niya sa lahat ay “It was a nice flavor!”

“I-geoseun silta! (This is disgusting!)” Mr. Eyeglasses commented, but how come he said that he’s very impressed?

“Eol-mana jinjjaro chua-kada… (She’s really ugly…)” Mr. Pretty commented. Teka? Ano namang kinalaman nun sa lasa ng pagkain?

“You made a pretty presentation, just like you.” LIAR!!! Mr. Pretty continued and he showed a fake smile. Para namang mga baliw yung babae kapag nginingitian sila ng tatlong ‘to.

Ang sama! Sobrang sama nila! Ang galing nilang magsinungaling na masarap daw at nagustuhan nila yung pagkain when in fact, nandidiri na sila. Nakakaasar! Secretly, kinukutya nila ‘tong mga taong ito. 

Ngayon, paano ko naiintindihan ang secret conversation nila? Simply because half-Korean ang mommy ko. Naturuan ako ng grandparents ko kaya nakakaintindi din ako ng Hangul. Nakaka-dissapoint talaga kung paano itago ng tatlong ito ang totoo nilang identity. Naku po! Pasalamat sila hindi ako mahilig makisawsaw, palalampasin ko ang mga ‘to. 

End of Chapter 1

>>>CHAPTER 2 HERE