The Midnight Lies (THE PRESTIGE 3)

19

Kiss

"Sorin, you're here!"

A mestizo guy welcomed us soon as we arrived. Kasing tangkad iyon ni Sorin. Nakasuot ng racing suit and bitbit ang helmet.

Nasa isang motorcycle race track kami. Kasalukuyang nag-r-race ang ilan at may mga nanonood din doon sa bench. Everything is so loud. From the screeches of the motorcycles and crowd's cheers.

"You brought someone with you?"

I shifted my gaze to them. The guy is eyeing me intently as if he's digging some treasure.

"Elene, this is Santiago, a friend. She's Elene." Pagpapakilala ni Sorin.

"Just Tiago." The guyz said and offered his hand.

Sorin and I looked down to his hand. I accepted it only to get an eye roll from Sorin.

"You're into race, Elene?" Tanong ni Tiago habang ginagaya na kaming maglakad papalapit sa bench.

"Not yet." I simply answered.

Napatingin sa akin si Sorin. Inosente ko lang siyang tinignan pabalik.

"Oh, boy. I'm telling you, you'll be hook up with—"

"It's dangerous." Sorin interrupted him.

Dangerous? Delikado naman pala pero bakit ito pa ang napili niyang pagkaabalahan?

"It's not a sin to watch a race, Sorin." Sabat ko naman at naupo sa bench.

Nakita kong umiling iling at ngumisi iyong Tiago kay Sorin.

"That's what I'm saying." Tiago said.

Sorin just took a deep sigh and sat beside me. Meanwhile, his friend sat beside him. They're talking about the recent race and from time to time, they're trying to include me in their conversation.

"Sorin will be our ace player next race. Come and watch with us, Elene." Pagyaya sa akin ni Tiago.

Sorin also looked at me as if he's waiting for my answer.

Ang sabi ko kanina ay titigilan ko na. Na sasabihin ko na dapat sa kaniya ang totoo kong intensyon bakit ko siya nilapitan. Pero ito ako, hinayaan ang sarili na sumama kay Sorin. Unti-unti niyang pinapakilala ang sarili sa akin sa pinakasinserong paraan na alam niya. But I warned him. I don't take things seriously. Is he just playing the game?

Inaamin kong noong una, iyon at tanging iyon lang ang gusto ko. Na makuha ang loob niya at kaibiganin ito para makapasok sa loob. Pineke ko ang pakikitungo ko sa kaniya. Tinake advantage ko ang kabaitan ni Sorin. Because I know, he likes me. I am no fool for that.

But as time goes by, I found myself slowly rearranging. May mga pagkakataon na nawawala na sa isipan ko ang tunay kong pakay dahil...naeenjoy ko siyang kasama.

"Tiago is actually my senior." Pagkwento ni Sorin nang makaalis ang kaibigan.

Nanatili ang panonood ko sa race.

"I've been racing since I turned legal."

Nito lang pala siya nahilig sa pagmomotorsiklo. Habang pinapanood ko tuloy ang laban ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maiwasan na hindi isipin ang mga past race niya.

"Nadisgrasya ka na ba dahil sa pagmomotor mo?" Tanong ko.

It took him a while to answer as if he is hesitating to answer.

"Yes." He said hoarsely.

I shifted on my seat and looked at him. "What? How bad your injuries?"

He brushed his hair using his fingers. "It's nothing serious. I just broke my bones—"