The Opposite of Hate (Upper Crust #1)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14
"Alucard"

Stupidity. Clearly. When you know firsthand it's wrong and you still have a second thought. No justification will ever make it right but you're actually trying to figure out one.

I just have to check the time every now and then. Wala na nga akong nagagawa. Kanina ko pa hawak 'tong libro at nasa parehong pahina pa rin mula nang buksan ko. I sighed and glanced at my open window. Nakahawi ang puting kurtina kaya kita ang pang gabing kalangitan. It's indeed filled with tiny dots of light.

It's quarter to 10:00. Binaba ko ang libro at tumayo na. I am alone here, well, not really dahil may tatlong kasambahay at guard. My parents went out of town, of course bitbit ang mga kapatid ko. Papa has business matters to attend to sa La Union. I have the option to go with them, pero dahil dalawang araw lang naman nagpaiwan na ako. Madali lang ang oras, mas mahaba pa 'ata ang byahe kesa pamamasyal at kung ano pa.

Sinuot ko ang pulang cardigan bago lumabas ng kwarto ko. Hawak-hawak ko ang cellphone sa kanang kamay. Pababa na ako. The househelps na pinapadala rito tuwing naiiwan akong mag-isa are probably in their quarter. Kung hindi nanunuod ng palabas, tulog na.

Nasa pintuan na ako nang huminto para mag-isip. Not telling could also mean lying, right? May tinatago pa rin. May tinatakpan.

Tuluyan akong lumabas at naglakad na sa pathway papuntang pool area.

I saw a silhouette. His shadow. Nakaupo sa isa sa mga sun lounger.

Damn it!

"Where are we going?" sabi ko nang makalapit.

He stood up kaya dibdib niya na ang kaharap ko. I tilted my head to see him.

He smirked. Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay.

"Let's go," aniya.

"How about the guard? The cameras?"

"Ako'ng bahala."

Nagsukatan kami ng tingin hanggang sa ako na ang naunang mag-iwas when I realized he won't back down.

Nakalabas kami ng gate ng walang problema. Wala ang guard. I didn't dare look up where the CCTVs were installed.

Parked on the other side of the way was a metallic blue sports car. I was silently amazed. Sa kanya 'to?

Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. Sinilip ko ang loob at sa kanya ulit tumingin.

"Wala kang dalang driver?"

"I'm the driver."

"You can just go and get a damn driver's license, Aris." Hindi iyong nagmamaneho ng walang lisensya. Masyadong mataas ang kumpyansa sa sarili. What is so hard about it?

Kahit na may reklamo, pumasok pa rin ako at umupo. He closed the door on my side. Pumasok siya sa kabila. I watched him insert the key. I immediately recognised the cheap keychain hanging on his car key.

He kept it? Nasa kanya pa rin? Bigay ko 'to sa kanya noong grade 1. Regalo ko sa kanya noong birthday niya. If I remember it correctly it's just a freebie from a product we bought at a supermarket. Halos wala na nga ang kulay nito dahil matagal na. Wala na nga 'ata ang produktong 'yon. Nagsara na ang kompanya. Probably went bankrupt.

Pinaandar niya ang kotse. Tahimik ko namang tinitingnan ang interior nito. It's sleek and definitely high-end. Ito ba ang bigay ni Papa? I didn't know what model he gave him. Hindi na rin ako nag-abalang alamin pa. Hindi ako gano'n ka pathetic.

Nag-drive siya, tahimik lang din. Nasa bintana naman ako nakatingin, observing the way we were passing. It took almost three hours bago kami huminto. Nasa port na kami. I saw several yachts parked.