Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 19 part 3

***

It was too quiet inside the rented car. Gaya noong college, halos sumiksik ako sa tagiliran ng kotse para hindi ma-trespass ang personal space ni Maxwell. Nakampante lang ako nang kaunti dahil sumandal siya at pumikit. He must be too drunk. Malalim ang paghinga niya na parang napapagod.

I looked outside the car and saw the slow traffic. It looks like we're going to be on the road for a while. Baka sumama ang pakiramdam niya.

"Uhm . . ." I cleared my throat. "Maxwell? Are you sleeping?" pabulong na tanong ko. I don't want to wake him up if he's really sleeping.

"No . . . Pinapahinga ko lang mata ko . . ." sagot niya.

His voice was thick with drunkenness. It's too low, too.

"Uhm . . . komportable ka ba, ano, sa seat mo?" Hu-hu. Simple lang nang mga gusto kong itanong pero hirap na hirap ako. Saka baka gusto niya palang matulog, 'tapos iniistorbo ko siya?

"Komportable naman . . ."

"O-Okay . . ." I swallowed and looked outside again. I mentally noted to just let him be, but his magnet pulled on me to look at him again. "Uh . . . Just in case you feel bad . . . or if you need anything . . . sabihan mo 'ko? If you want me to just be quiet too . . . sabihin mo lang."

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at me tenderly. "Concern ka sa 'kin?"

I couldn't look away. "S-Siyempre . . ."

"'Wag kang masyadong concern. Kinikilig ako," sabi niya at matipid na ngumiti.

I gaped, before pressing my lips together and hiding them.

"Ikaw?" balik niya. "Are you okay? With me?"

Kung hindi niya ako ia-attack ng mga sinasabi niya, okay naman ako. Hu-hu. I nodded with a pout.

Pumikit siya uli, sumandal, at ngumiti. "Buti naman. I'll regret in the morning if I make you too uncomfortable."

"I-I'm okay . . . Totoo."

He nodded a little. Kinagat ko naman ang labi ko at tumanaw sa labas.

The silence accompanied us awkwardly to his house.

***

Paghinto ng sasakyan at pagkabayad ni Maxwell, bumaba agad siya. Mabilis siyang maglakad kahit na sumusuray. Sumabit pa sa bakal ng gate. I hurried behind him, nag-iisip kung papa'no siyang aalalayan.

"Maxwell . . . wait," nanghihina ang lalamunan na tawag ko.

I don't know if he heard me at all. He just continued walking in fast, unsteady steps. Napabusangot ako. Impossible namang nakalimutan niyang nagpapahatid siya sa 'kin, 'di ba? Ini-expect niya bang uuwi ako agad without seeing him safe inside the house? Or nang hindi siya ipinagluluto ng hangover soup? Baka hindi pa siya nakapag-dinner nang maayos.

Binilisan ko ang paghakbang ko. Nang makaabot ako sa kanya, he's already by the gate, busy forgetting the pass and pressing in the wrong keys.

"Ano . . . ako na lang . . ." sabi ko at tinanggal ang kamay niyang halos tumakip sa buong electronic lock.

"Sorry . . ." He gave me enough safe to press in the keys. Nang umingit ang gate pabukas, tumabi ako sa kanya, waiting to be of some use.

"Uhm . . . I can help you—"

"No, thanks." Mabilis siyang lumampas sa 'kin kahit na papatumba siya maglakad.

"Hey, Maxwell . . ." Inabutan ko siya sa gitna na ng lawn. "You can't walk straight. Let me help . . ."