Forrest of Oaks
Chapter 1: Forrest Bellaflor
Forbes Park was well known for housing the wealthiest families and most prominent expatriates in the Philippines. A gated community, Forbes Park was home to the prestigious Manila Polo Club, Xavier Artistic High School, and The Pallazo, the only eight-star hotel in the country. Forbes Park was where most of seventeen-year-old Forrest Bellaflor's world revolved around if she wasn't in Paris shopping for labels.
Indeed, Forrest Bellaflor had everything any girl could ever wanted in life. And yet today, she was stressing out over organizing Xavier's 22nd Senior's Ball. That brought us to the beginning of Ms. Bellaflor's story, the afternoon of February 20, 2007.
Xavier's Student Lounge, book-free and teacher-free, it was her favorite hangout. She sat on the white leather couch, glancing at her Cartier watch now and then. It was 5:10pm and her driver was already late.
“What's wrong with the world today, Forrest?”
Her name was Maddie, Forrest's best friend since kindergarten. She frowned as she stared at Forrest's problematic face. Maddie knew that Forrest wasn't the type of girl who greets her friends with big hugs. A small smile could had been enough.
But Ms. Bellaflor had enough reasons to be problematic! The AC at Shanghai Palace, the venue for this year's senior's ball, was down all afternoon when Forrest and her team of unproductive assistants began decorating. Mr. Ovah, the manager of Shanghai Palace, was on leave a week away from the big night. The Palazzo was fully booked since 2006, a disruptive thought that kept crossing Forrest's mind. And, Ms. Lhuillier declined her invitation to be guest of honor because of an A-list wedding and the only celebrity of Filipino descent available was young actress Ms. Hudgens.
Xavier was the Philippines' most prestigious school and Mrs. Barrameda, Xavier's principal, had been taking good care of the school's, and hers, dignified reputation, that she wasn't ready to sacrifice it for not contracting an event planner this year. Yes, she knew it was a big risk to let a student like Forrest Bellaflor take command. For four long years, she had known Ms. Bellaflor as a girl with class but without patience, the kind of student who got easily bored with activities, the somewhat activist who had caused three PE teachers to resign. Ms. Bellaflor couldn't even finish her periodic exams to the end. But how can she ever refuse the daughter of the most generous benefactor of the school who was Mr. Rodorico Bellaflor, Forrest's father?
“Turtle girl Rebecca was late, as always. Dino got the idea like... very wrong. We've been working on this for many weeks now. I mean, he's such a dumb...” Forrest held on to the word because she was learning to speak as ladylike as possible, her father had advised.
“Don't know what's wrong with kids today. They can't seem to understand simple instructions. How can Xavier admit students like that? Will you tell me?”
This was a normal scenario. If Forrest wasn't fuming about something, that was a miracle.
“Crap! I can smell myself. Like, I've been soaked in vinaigrette for hours!”
“You're probably hungry,” Maddie said. “By the way, are you allowed to say, crap?”
“Crap! What will Vanessa speak of? How steamy her recent nights with Zac were?” Forrest sighed. “Crap! The last time I ate was five hours ago. I couldn't even get a decent meal anymore. This is like... the worst day of my life! I'm starting to think this is all just a big fat mistake. By the way, your lipstick's all over your face.”
“How about Rob Schneider?”
Maddie wiped the lipstick off around her lips with a tissue she took from her bag's side pocket. Room 21B was where Jericho, her latest fling, practiced all noon with his electric guitar. His band called Molecules was among what the seniors were expecting the most for the senior's ball. Maddie sat on the couch across Forrest, then threw her legs up on the glass center table.
“Did you tell the hag about your problem?” Sometimes they call Mrs. Barrameda a “sophisticated witch.”
“I can't.”
“How about contacting a real event planner?”
Forrest threw her a what-the-hell look.
“Then quit!”
How can Forrest hadn't thought of that? She had thought of quitting the day she first met her team in the auditorium. Except for Rebecca, all of them were doing it because of detention. Rebecca thought being near Forrest all the time was sweet. Rebecca knew Forrest since first year because Forrest was this popular rich girl who wasn’t only known for her designer clothes but for her exceptional beauty. A Filipina of Spanish descent. But because of the whole senior's ball thing, Rebecca had got to know the real Forrest. From then on, she cursed the day she volunteered. She couldn't stop telling everyone she knew that Forrest is a conceited brat who’s never going to be popular if not for her father’s millions. Dino on the other hand, had a crush on Forrest ever since he laid eyes on her a year ago. He was a transferee from Don Bosco Male School and thought Forrest was the best thing that had ever happened to him at Xavier—best thing that ever happened in his life, in fact. Forrest passed a complaint about him stalking her.
“Nooo. I won't. Even if I can and even if I want to, I won't.”
The only thing that excited her going to school day after day nowadays was the fact that this year's senior's ball meant more than stress, more than headache. Forrest had a special deal with Mrs. Barrameda— a special award on graduation day. If Forrest can pull this year's senior's ball off with a great show, the award is hers. Forrest wished that it would all be worthwhile in the end or else, her spirit going on to college, will be dilapidated.
Forrest put out her newest Balenciaga, touching its soft lamb skin gently then smiled in a doubtful way that Maddie almost read her mind.
“You stole from your mother again.”
“I didn't!” Forrest snapped. “Came with tens of it. She wouldn't even notice one's missing. In fact, my dad's paying, not her.”
Ms. Bellaflor was perfectly attractive, rich, popular, but like any other girls, she had her own shortcomings. It seemed so that even in her next lifetime, Mrs. Bellaflor and Ms. Bellaflor won't ever reconcile.
“So, what are you doing tonight?”
“That. That's another thing ruining my mood. Migs arranged this... midnight date at the beach. It's far, far, far! You know how I hate barrios. I hate the sand, the dust, the air that smells like fish. I hate sitting in the car for hours. I hate the birds' tweeting. I hate huts. I hate it when the toilets are not tiled.”
“I don't think Migs's gonna bring you to a hut.”
“I hope not. But if he did... Crap, if he did? What should I do?”
“Cancel it while you still can. You're irritatingly making things complicated.”
“Can't! Don't wanna disappoint him. He had been talking about this all January.” She paused to glare at Maddie. “Will you stop that? Who's more important than me at this very hour?”
“Jericho. I call him Cocho. Isn't that super cute?”
Forrest didn't smile. Maddie quickly erased the happiness on her face.
“Jericho or Cocho. Last week, it's Ruel. The other week. What was his name again?”
Maddie said nothing.
“Hear me out, Mads. This has got to stop soon. Because, this? Not very healthy anymore. The next headline on the school paper, High School's Over, Half of Xavier's Boys Call Themselves Maddison's Exes.
“I mean. We're friends. But we're on completely different paths. I don't know what the girls around us like... talk about at our backs. But one thing's for sure, Mads. I don't wanna be associated with that kind of behavior. You've got to change immediately or I'm not gonna be here for you anymore. I mean it.”
There was silence in the room for a while because a braided girl about 4'8 inches tall came in. Forrest looked at her and instantly she knew what she had to do. She rushed to leave as though it was forbidden for other students like her to come inside the lounge when Forrest was there. The only girl who wasn't intimidated by Forrest and her father's wealth was Jean Marie.
“Going back to Migs.. He had an argument with Gabriel because they can't agree when to go to Vienna next. He was so upset. You know Migs. He's very sensitive when it comes to his brother.”
“Ah-huh...”
“It's difficult when you're apart from your family. Apart but wants to be together—that's what's difficult.”
Maddie sighed, clearly understanding what Forrest meant. She had gotten over Forrest's earlier nagging and was ready for a conversation again.
“Gabriel's busy with patients?”
“Always been.”
“Once a month's kind of a... pressure. And their parents don't come here anymore at all?”
“Migs just wants to spend more time with me. I think that kind of made Gabriel think differently. Like, Migs was losing the eagerness to be with their parents because of me. Gabriel's kind of a mama's boy.”
Maddie smiled flirtingly.
“I hope he's not thinking I'm poisoning Miguel's mind or something like that. I mean, I like Gabriel. He's Miguel's brother slash best friend. And you know the saying...”
“You're lover's best friend is your worst enemy.”
“Right!”
“Speaking of Gabriel. Do you think you can finally get him to date me?” Maddie flaunted her false long and thick lashes.
“That way, I won't need to date a bunch of losers anymore.”
“I just like... told you his deficiency. Gabriel, if I must reiterate to you, is like, a very serious type of guy.”
“Doesn't he like me?”
Forrest had a hard time figuring out how to answer that question. Of course, not that Maddie wasn't attractive. She was one of Forrest's greatest competitions for the past two years for prom queen. Maddie was slender with just the right curves, perfect height at 5'5, of American descent, and long hair that always polished her sexy look. But Maddie had a different personality. She was fond of peculiar things and believed in liberation whatever the word really means. Being very Western was fine with her as long as she was having fun and being noticed. Probably, that was why she had always stuck with Forrest no matter how mean Forrest had been toward her. Maddie understood her own. They were both needy of attention. Forrest knew in her heart that, somehow Maddie was searching for the perfect guy. Maddie was secretly hoping for a real love. That was why, Forrest couldn't say outrightly how Gabriel found Maddie, not his type.
Forrest was saved by her ringing cell phone. She left Maddie alone, promising her a new purse when they meet again. Maddie was happy about the thought so she immediately forgave Forrest for all what happened today. They were again, two girls with shallow problems often tamed by shallow things.[/size][/color][/color]
