the time we were in love

Kabanata 29

The opposite of loving is not hating.

It's leaving, indifference, and finally, forgetting.

February, 2022

Tinitigan ko si Ren na parang buntot kong nakasunod sa akin sa parking lot ng office building.

Why is he following me?

I know, the team manager suggested to accompany each other. But it's not like we have to really accompany each other. Yes, we can both go.

But on completely separate cars. Ang awkward lang ng ganito.

"I don't think you have to come with me," komento ko habang naglalakad.

"Well, pupunta rin lang ako to check the site. Might as well come with you in your car," kibit-balikat niyang sagot. "Saves the trouble."

"Trouble?"

"Well, I hit my bumper to another car last night," pag-eexplain niya.

"An accident?"

Oh, my God. Did my voice just sound worried? Better be careful. Be really really really extra careful.

"Just a small bump, not a big deal."

Before we knew it, parehas na kaming nasa harapan ng sasakyan ko. Agad kong pinindot ang remote key sa kamay to unlock the car.

Maybe we don't have a choice? Baka pinapa-replace pa niya 'yung bumper ng sasakyan, and that's why he could use the free ride.

"Is it your first time going to the site?" tanong niya nang akmang bubuksan ko ang car door sa tabi ng driver's seat. "You know where it is, right?"

"Of course, I know. I got all the info on me."

"And you know how to get there?"

"I can just punch it in the GPS."

"It's two and a half hours away. Could you drive that long?"

"You know what, you drive instead of me," I sighed in resignation. He looks like he wants to drive, so why not let him?

Ngumiti si Ren at tuluyan ko namang muling isinara ang car door na medyo binuksan ko na kanina. Naglakad ako papuntang kabilang side ng sasakyan, at sa tabi ng driver's seat nalang naupo. Pumwesto rin si Ren sa tabi ko.

Iniayos ko ang seatbelt at ang upo habang pasimpleng tinitignan si Ren sa tabi ko. Pinanood ko siyang iniayos din ang sariling seatbelt, bago pinindot ang start engine at nagsimulang magdrive.

"It's quite the long way so you can sleep. Gisingin na lang kita kapag andoon na tayo," sabi niya.

Although he said that, it's not like I can just go straight to sleep. Not when he's here, not when I know I'm with him.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Ren sa loob ng sasakyan. This sure is awkward. Kaya ayaw ko siyang kasama e!

I reached out the dashboard to turn on the radio, but it turns out he was about to reach for it too. Nagdikit ang mga hintuturo namin at ramdam kong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Nilingon ko siya at medyo napalingon rin siya sa akin.

"Eyes on the road, buddy. Pag tayo naaksidente at namatay. I swear my ghost will haunt your ghost even after death," sabi ko. But it was more like I was trying to hide the fact that my heart is racing like hell right now, all because our fingertips touched. I'm afraid he'll hear it.

Come to think of it, it's the first time that Ren and I have been completely alone like this, since he left six years ago.

Ren chuckled as he drives. What the hell?