The Perfect Boyfriend List

Chapter 8

[Chapter 8] Andrei's Little Dirty Secret

Today's the same. Ang nakakainis lang ay hindi ko pa rin alam kung sino yung taong nag-iiwan ng roses sa locker ko. He/she leveled up though. They put some chocolate on my locker this time.

We were all eating lunch (syempre kasama na si Clay at si Wren) in the cafeteria when Liesl suggested a brilliant idea.

"Bakit hindi mo abangan sa umaga?" she said.

Will coughed.

I patted his shoulder since ako yung katabi niya. "You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. Great."

"Mag-ingat ka kasi. Mamaya simpleng samid lang yung ikamatay mo. Wala pa naman akong damit pangluksa." sabi ko.

I face Liesl. "I already thought about that one."

"Then try it," she said. "Maganda siguro kung malaman mo kung niloloko ko n'yang Mystery Admirer mo o hindi."

"Sige. Susubukan ko sa Monday nang umaga."

Nakita kong lumunok si Will. Mukhang kinakabahan.

Posible kayang siya yun? Hindi naman sa nag-assume ako. But there is a possibility that he could be that troller.

Or someone else...

---

After class, I was about to fish a taxi when I felt a hand on my arm. I turned expecting a snatcher, holdaper or a freaking kidnapper.

I was surprised and flattered to see Wren. Relief floods all over me. Pero anong ginagawa niya dito?

"Let's go." he says as he drag me toward the parking lot.

"Where to?" tanong ko as he open the passenger door for me. Dun ko narealize na sasakyan pala namin itong pinasok ko. "What the hell?"

"Don't worry. I asked Tita for permission." he said as he enter the key on ignition.

"Sira ulo ka ba?! May driving license ka?!" nagpapanic na'ko. Ayaw ko pang mamatay nang maaga no! I'm destined to be a mother of a dozen children. Kawawa naman sila kung sakaling sa ibang ina sila ibigay ng Diyos.

He smirked. "I have."

Pinalo ko yung braso niya. "Gago! Yung driver's license mo sa States pa ata yan e! Tanggalin mo yung susi sa saksakan. Papahatid tayo kila Liesl sa bahay."

He hissed. "Just sit right there and relax. I'm a champion on racing competitions in the States."

"That's why I'm scared, dumb! Champion ka nga ng racing competition and God knows if you were also a champion of bumping cars!"

"Hindi nga. Just trust me, will you?"

"Pa'no ako makakapag tiwala sa isang barumbadong driver?" I fished my phone on my pocket. "I'm going to call Liesl now."

"I won't do that if I were you." he says without looking at me. I saw his hands gripped tightly around the key.

"And why is that so?" I asked, arching a bow, mimicking our teacher in Chemistry, Mrs. Riva.

He chuckled. "Kaya nga hindi ko na ginambala si Clay kasi may date silang dalawa," he turned to gape at me. "You know that we can't always lean on them, right? Dapat gumalaw tayo para makauwi."

I fold my arms. "Fine."

"Saka, gusto mo bang isama pa natin yung dalawa papunta sa balak kong puntahan?" he asked.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

He smiled as he drove out of the parking lot.

"Secret."

---

Bumalikwas ako. Paggalaw ko, I felt the sting coming from my neck. It felt so stiff. I fell asleep on the car. My head was against the window.

I looked out and I saw na umaandar pa rin kami. Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay kung bakit parang nasa highway kami?

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

Without turning back, he answered.

"Somewhere that is still important to me all these years." he said.

"Out of the town?" I asked. "Parang wala na kasi tayo sa Manila. Where are we na ba?" I asked, yawning.

"Pangasinan."

My eyes widen in shock. Kaya pala madilim na sa labas. He's probably driving for hours!

"Hindi ka ba inaantok? Mukhang ilang oras ka nang nagmamaneho." I said.

"I am. Pero kapag tumigil tayo, there's a chance na sobrang gabi na tayo makarating dun. Saka malapit na tayo e. Ngayon pa ba ako susuko?" he remarked with a smirk. "Dun na lang ako magpapahinga."

"Ok. Isa lang naman tanong ko sa'yo. Ang haba haba ng sagot mo."

He chuckled.

"Pwede ba tayong mag stop over I mag drive thru?" I asked.

"I don't think so." he said.

"Nagmamadali ka ba?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." Ayokong sumagot ng kung ano ano pa. Baka mamaya kung saan mapunta itong usapan namin. And when irritation sparks in him, there's a probability that he might drop me off in this highway--alone.

"Wait. Gabi na. Tapos wala pa akong damit." I said.

"There are clothes there."

"Gagamit ako ng damit na sinuot ng iba?" I asked unbelievably.

"Yeah. Got any problem with that?" Why is he suddenly masungit?

"No. It's just that... ngayon lang ako susuot ng gamit ng iba." I explained.

"Don't worry. Wala namang masang-sang na amoy yung mga damit dun. If ever, iba papa gamit ko sa'yo." he answered.

Mukhang masungit dahil pagod... "Are you tired? Pull over there then rest."

"Syempre noh. Ikaw kayang dilat buong mag-araw. Nagbabasa sa umaga tapos nagdidrive sa hapon..." Napatingin siya sa bintana. "Well, technically, gabi."

"I know. Kaya ka nga masungit e." I said.

"Naninibago ka?" he asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Sanay lang ako na ako yung mataray at hindi ikaw. Nakakabawas pala sa ego."

"Now you know the feeling."

"Sorry ka. I'm not planning on repeating this same scenario someday," I said almost a promise. "Matulog ka kaya muna. Kusa nang pumipikit na yung mata mo oh! Ako yung natatakot e!"

He blinked several times then shook his head. "I'm awake. I'm alive. Just keep talking and entertaining me para di ako makatulog."

"Uhm... okay." I hesitated. I'm not really the type of person who has a lot of stories to talk to.

But I have a lot of questions to ask. Especially to Wren. But I can't ask all of them together.

"Bakit Andrei ang tawag sa'yo ni mama?" I asked.

He smiled. A bitter one.

"Talagang wala ka nang maalala noh? O baka sadyang kinalimutan mo na ako." he said.

"Huh?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"Wala."

That made me thinking.

Nagkakilala na ba kami dati?