Nights Like This

Chapter 04

Chapter 04

Decline

Rex Niccolo Uvero:

Who's this?

I rolled my eyes at his reply. Ilang oras na ang nakalipas simula nang mag-text ako sa kanya. I was direct when I asked him if Papa somehow told him to look after me the other night. Gusto ko lang namang kumpirmahin iyon pero ang sungit naman niya kausap.

Ako:

I know you know who. Just answer the damn question, please.

Mabilis ang reply ko kaya inaasahan ko na mabilis din ang kanya. Nga lang, ilang oras ulit ang inabot bago ang sunod niyang reply.

He's a working man, I get it. Pero kasi oo o hindi lang naman ang sagot!

Rex Niccolo Uvero:

I already told you why I was there that night.

Ako:

Hindi ko nga maalala.

Rex Niccolo Uvero:

Then, that's not my problem.

Really!

Hindi ko na napigilan at pinindot ko na ang call button. Gabi na kaya siguro naman tapos na siya sa trabaho niya.

I cleared my throat when he picked up.

"You went to the same bar out of Papa's orders, right? I can't think of any other reason why," I said.

Walang nagsalita.

"Hey! Oo o hindi lang naman!"

"Hindi," he answered in a lazy tone.

Finally! Sumagot din!

Pero ano raw?

"What do you-"

"Do I seriously have to explain again? It's not my fault that you forget things when you're drunk."

Napasinghap ako. The guts to say that to me!

"Again, I went there to look after you. Walang nag-utos. Ako lang dahil alam ko kung gaano ka ka-iresponsable. Did you know that you were about to drive home while your eyes were basically half closed?"

"Huh? Me? Irresponsible?"

"Yes. You. Irresponsible," he mocked.

Napaawang ang labi ko at parang umatras lahat ng sasabihin ko. He's so judgemental! Hindi niya naman ako kilalang kilala!

"Just... do what your family is telling you to do. Your actions are affecting them so much. More than you know."

"Wow! Nice of you to say that! E narinig ko naman kayo ni Kuya Nikko noong isang araw at sinabi mo kay Papa na i-freeze ang cards ko!"

Narinig ko ang pag buntong hininga niya.

"I didn't exactly say that."

"But you gave them the idea!"

Ugh. Kapag ginawa iyon ni Papa, mumurahin ko talaga si Rex Niccolo. Makikita niya. If I don't have money, paano na ako?

"You now realize how serious it is? Your family is bringing up their problems about you at work. Hindi ka ba nahihiya?" walang preno niyang tanong.

I scoffed. Ang lakas talaga ng loob nito. I ended the call because I'm so close to cursing him. Though that would be a delight, I know it's also wrong.