Even A Thousand Folds of Lifetime

Chapter 8

Two weeks passed by in a flash. I am now currently staring at the contents of my bag, checking if nandon na ba lahat ng ka- kailanganin ko. Clothes? Check. Personal hygiene kit? Check. Camera? Check. Charger ng mga gadget ko? Check. Towel? Check. I think that's just pretty much it since sabi naman ni Mayor Suerte na sila na bahala sa ibang mga importante pang gamit. I zipped my bag close and wore my shoes already. I jumped out of my seat and checked myself in the mirror. I was wearing a simple white shirt and black pants. I checked the time and it was almost 6AM already, so I immediately went down and waited for them outside the building.

All Knower was also aware of this. Nang ikinwento ko ito sa kaniya, he just shrugged and continued to read on his newspaper like he didn't hear anything. Wala nanaman siyang pake as usual. The only thing he said to me was, "Good for you.". I then asked him, "Aren't you going to wish me luck?" And he answered, "I don't believe in luck." He bluntly said.

If there's no such thing as luck, then why am I so unlucky to live for so many years just to meet Cassian in his worst character that I could imagine? I thought.

May biglang bumusina sa harapan ko at bigla akong napatingala sa sasakyan sa harap ko na ngayo'y ay nakababa ang bintana, showing Alexander.

"What are you still standing there for? Come inside now!" Inis niyang sabi.

To tease him, I slowly opened the car door, smiled sweetly at him and said, "Usog ka po mahal na prinsipe kung gusto mo akong papasukin."

He just grumbly scooched to the other side of the seat, kaya naman tuluyan na akong pumasok habang bitbit ang aking bag.

"GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!" Masaya kong bati sa dalawang tao na kasama pa namin sa harapan.

"Magandang araw po, Ms. Aguilar." Pagbati naman sa akin ng matandang driver at tumango lamang sa akin yung lalaki na nakaupo sa may passenger seat.

"Manong Gadong! Bakit mo naman binati yang babaeng yan!" Alexander annoyingly said.

"Ano ka bang bata ka! Matuto kang maging magalang!" Sabi naman ni Manong Gadong. Lumingon siya saglit sa akin para ngitian ako at ibinalik ulit ang atensyon sa daan.

"Hello po Ms. Aguilar. Ako nga pala si Manong Gadong na driver ng pamilyang Suerte. Tas eto naman ang personal bodyguard ni Alexander. For safety purposes, bawal sabihin ang kaniyang pangalan. Alam mo naman kung paano tumakbo ang politika rito sa Pilipinas."

I nodded.

"Mula pagkabata netong si Alexander, ako na ang naging driver nila. Pero pati hanggang ngayong paglaki, hindi pa rin marunong makipag- socialize nang maayos sa mga tao! Ewan ko ba diyan! Pero hwag kang maniniwala sa tigasing imahe na pinapakita niyan Ms. Aguilar, kasi pusong mamon yan sa kaloob- looban kahit ayaw niyang aminin."

"Manong Gadong, Scarlett na lang po itawag niyo sa akin! And I do agree with you, Manong Gadong. There's something with him than meets the eye. Tsaka, wala naman pong kaso sa akin pagsusuplado niya. I can bear with his attitude." I glanced at Alexander who was now facing towards the window and wearing headphones, clearly not paying attention to our conversation.