AGS 4: The Best Man's Wedding

Chapter 21: Mishaps

I was sobbing for the whole ten minutes ng biyahe. Mum was trapping me para wala na akong matakbuhan.

She held my credit cards, she canceled all my projects, she even had the guts to terminate my contract with my agency as a brand ambassador, and now, kahit sa sarili kong tinitirhan, blocked ako?

"She's supposed to take care of me! Not to be her puppet!" I yelled and pointed somewhere. I sobbed once more and wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I didn't do anything wrong! I just want to live my life!"

We were heading to Kuya's place sa Ivory Meadows. That was my last resort para uwian kasi ayokong umuwi sa Dasma if ang reason lang ay dahil gusto ni Mum na doon ako kontrolin.

I'm already twenty-six! I was supposed to decide on my own! Hindi na 'ko bata!

Clark didn't say anything sa gitna ng mga rant ko. Since hindi ganoon kalayo ang Ivory Meadows sa bahay ko, nakarating kami agad kahit wala pang half an hour. But when his car stopped in front of the gate, hindi agad kami pinagbuksan ng guard. Nakababa pa rin ang boom barrier kaya hindi kami makadaan.

I covered half of my face with my hanky just to cover my reddish face. I even let some strands of my hair down to cover my swollen eyes because of crying.

"Magandang hapon ho, ser." The guard in uniform approached us. "Saan ho kayo?"

"Sa residence ni Ronerico Dardenne, boss," Clark answered.

"Ay, kay Ser Ronie. Sige ho. May ID kayo, ser?"

"Ah, yeah. Saglit." Clark gave his driver's license to Manong Guard.

"Ikaw ho, ma'am, may ID ho?"

I shook my head and Clark answered for me. "Wala siyang dalang ID. Naiwan sa bahay."

"A, sige ho, saglit. Hmm . . . Mendoza . . ." Then the guard turned around to ask the other guard on the guard post. "P're, pa-double-check nitong Clark Mendoza kung nasa record." Binalikan si Clark ng guard saka nagpasabi. "Ser, saglit lang, ha? Itatawag muna sa amo namin."

"Boss naman," pagtawag ni Clark at isinampay ang kanang braso niya sa nakabukas na bintana. "Bakit itatawag pa, e barkada ko ang nakatira doon?"

"Pasensiya na ho, ser, protocol ho kasi, e."

"Wala namang ganitong protocol dati, a."

"Ser, kalalapag lang ng order sa amin kahapon para sa mga Dardenne."

"Anong order?" Clark's voice started to get annoyed by the delay.

"Si Madame Tessa ho kasi ang nag-request. Kapag ho dumaan dito ang bunso niya, itawag agad sa kanya."

I immediately turned to the window side para makaiwas na makita ng mga guard. I peeked at the windshield and looked for the security cameras saka tinakpan ang buong mukha ko gamit ang panyo.

I'm doomed!

Pati sa Ivory! Fuck! Last resort ko na 'to na sure akong may mapapala ako, pero pati rito, guwardiyado na rin?

"Boss, nasa kasal pala barkada ko," biglang sabi ni Clark at ipinakita ang screen ng phone niya. "Doon ko na lang pala siya pupuntahan. Mukhang wala siya diyan sa bahay niya, e."

"A, oo nga, ser! Sabi nga ni Madame kahapon. May kasal daw silang pupuntahan." Ibinalik na ng guard ang ID ni Clark.

"Itatawag n'yo pa ba?" tanong ni Clark.

"Busy ang line, ser. Baka ho nasa simbahan," sagot ng guard.

"Ayun, good!"

I thought we were gonna go ahead, but Clark gave the guard a hand signal to go near the car window. Clark took his wallet and took some money—a thick pile of cash—and handed it to the guard.