Nights Like This

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Favor

I don't want to go inside. I have a lot of reasons why. Una, hindi ko naman talaga kilala si Devin. Second, this is Rex Niccolo's home and it doesn't feel right to go inside knowing he's not around. Third, I need to leave. Wala nang panahon para linisan pa ang sugat ko rito. Fourth, I'm sure that if I see the interior of the place, I'll geek out. Architect si Rex Niccolo kaya sigurado ako na hindi basta basta ang tinitirhan niya.

"Sa bahay ko na lang lilinisan. I'll just wait here," sabi ko kay Devin nang nilingon niya ako kasi hindi ako sumunod.

He stared at me for a few seconds.

"Alright. I'll just get the key," aniya at tumuloy na.

I figured he's really close with Rex Niccolo 'cause he has access to this place. Maximum ang security sa mga ganitong penthouse kaya nakakamangha na nakakapasok ang kaibigan niya lang naman at hindi kapamilya.

"Here. You know how to drive, right?" si Devin sabay abot sa akin ng key fob.

"Of course. Hindi ko hihiramin kung hindi ako marunong."

He laughed.

"Hatid na kita sa basement," offer niya. Hindi na ako tatanggi dahil medyo kinakabahan ako. What if I get cornered again? Ayoko talaga ng ganoon.

"Matagal na si Rex Niccolo dito?" tanong ko nang nasa elevator na kami at tahimik lang.

Biglang naubo si Devin kaya nilingon ko siya.

"I'm sorry. What?" he asked.

"How long has he been living here?"

Kitang kita ko ang pagsilay ng ngiti sa labi niya. What's amusing? Ayokong direktang itanong kaya iisipin ko na lang na masaya siya.

"Since last year? I'm not sure."

Oh? Rex Niccolo and I lived in the same building? Tumira ako ng ilang buwan dito. I have a unit on one of the upper floors. We were basically neighbors before, huh? I don't remember crossing paths with him even once.

Hindi tumitigil ang notifications ng cellphone ko. A lot of messages keep pouring in. May mga tawag din na hindi ko sinasagot. Be it from Mama, Papa or my brothers, I always ignore it. Alam ko naman kasi bakit sila tumatawag. If I answer everyone, I'll just repeat myself over and over. Hintayin na lang nila akong makauwi para isahan na lang ang pagpapaliwanag ko.

"Yeah, I'm still with her."

Napaangat ang tingin ko kay Devin na may kausap pala sa cellphone. Umiwas ako at bahagyang lumayo kahit pa rinig na rinig ko naman ang sinasabi niya. Though I know it's useless, I still did it to show him that I care about his privacy.

"Relax, man. Ihahatid ko lang sa baba," si Devin kasabay ang pigil na tawa.

I feel like he's talking about me. Sino kaya ang kausap niya?

"Yeah, I reported it. Security downstairs is whack, I don't know why."

Napatango ako bilang pagsang ayon sa sinabi niya. Mukhang palpak nga ang security sa lobby ng tower. If it's efficient as it should be, I wouldn't have been allowed to go inside more so into the basement parking. Pati na ang reporters. I would understand though if they let me in because I'm a familiar face here. Pero ang reporters? Ang bilis nila akong nasundan.

Sunod sunod ang pagtango ni Devin na para bang sumasang ayon sa anumang utos ng kausap.

"Yeah, okay. No problem," aniya na mukhang natatawa na naman. "Get your ass back here if you're so jealous. Ihahatid ko lang nga!"