"Presenting, my perfect score on my latest exam...Tada!" Rain's excited voice can be heard in every corner of the car as he showed Taylor his exam score through video call.
"Are you sure that's real? You did not fake that?" Taylor smilingly teased as he squints his eyes at the Rain's test score.
"Excuse me? I, Rain Marcus Castillo never had to cheat nor fake anything to get a perfect exam score." Rain sulkily said.
"All right all right. I'll treat you to lunch since you got a perfect score." Taylor pretended not to remember his promise to Rain and just offered a different reward for the perfect exam score.
Rain rolled his eyes. "You always treat me to food. You've never let me pay. And I know you know what I mean when I showed you my exam score."
Taylor laughed loudly. "Ok ok. But I'm still treating you to lunch."
Rain smiled widely at Taylor's statement.
"You mentioned last time that you and a few friends are going to Tagaytay? Is that this Saturday?" Taylor inquired
"Oh right. Yes, it is this Saturday so maybe we should do lunch on Friday? I only have one class in the morning." Rain said.
"Don't drive on Friday then. I'll pick you up at school." Taylor instructed.
Rain nodded at this. "All right, I'll see you Friday."
Taylor waved goodbye and ended the call. His eyes met Kuya Fred's on the rearview mirror. "Kuya Fred, please fetch Rain on Friday. Use the suv and bring him to Paraiso. We'll have lunch there."
Kuya Fred laughed. "Sir Taylor, baka hindi magustuhan duon ni Rain?" (maybe Rain won't like it there)
Taylor laughed loudly "Yes, a cemetery is not anyone's choice as a place for a lunch date. But I want a non-busy road for Rain to test drive the car so he can be comfortable with it first." Taylor explained to which Kuya Fred nodded a few times in understanding.
***
Rain's somewhat disappointed when Kuya Fred alone fetched him from uni the following Friday. He was waiting for Taylor's white Maserati when a white Mitsubishi suv stopped in front of him and Kuya Fred get off from said suv.
When they were about 15 mins into traffic, Rain asked Kuya Fred. "Kuya Fred, san po si Taylor?" (where's Taylor?)
"Ah, hindi din ako sigurado pero sabi nya sunduin kita at meet nya tayo for lunch." (I'm not sure where he is now but he asked me to fetch you and told me he will meet us for lunch)
"Ok po."
After more than an hour, they entered Paraiso cemetery which Rain's very familiar with. Their family owns a mausoleum here. They also live on a village about 5 minute drive from the back gate of this cemetery. But he is still puzzled why Kuya Fred brought him here.
"Kuya Fred, hindi mo naman po ako ililibing dito diba?" (Kuya Fred, you won't bury me here, right?)
Kuya Fred laughed out loud and shook his hand at Rain. He failed to utter any words because he can't stop laughing. This boy really is so funny.
The suv stopped near the back gate of the cemetery where a few trees lined the road providing shade on the mid-day sun. Rain saw Taylor leaning on the side of Rain's most favorite car in the world.
When the suv come to a complete stop, Taylor opened the rear door for Rain. He's about to assist Rain on getting off the car but Rain's so excited that he almost jumped out as soon as Taylor opened the door.
"Can I? Can I?" Rain bouncing in excitement, asked Taylor, referring to him having a go at the Maserati.
"Yes, but later. Let's eat first." Taylor motioned at a couple of paper bags with take outs. He handed one of them to Kuya Fred. Taylor then held Rain's wrist and pulled him towards the suv's trunk door which Kuya Fred had opened for them. Taylor and Rain sat on the trunk as they eat their lunch.
As they eat lunch, they engaged on small chit chat.
"Are all your cars white?" Rain said when he noticed that both the Mitsubishi and Maserati have the same color.
"Well, I only have two so, I guess yes." Taylor said. Rain nodded at this, but he's excited to finish eating.
"Eat slowly. I will let you drive it as much as you want." Taylor told Rain as he wipes a small smear on Rain's lips with his thumb.
"Really?" Rain excitedly asked and Taylor nodded.
***
"Relax. Just focus and think of it as driving your car." Taylor squeezed Rain's right leg trying to calm Rain down as he sits nervously on the driver's side.
"Pfft! This car is like five times the worth of mine. I bet it's five times more powerful too." Rain said.
Taylor laughed a little. "I take it, you don't want to drive it anymore?"
"I want, I want!" Rain childishly chanted
"Then relax and focus." Taylor said.
Rain started of slowly. He maintained that snail speed as he drove towards the main cemetery grounds pass the mausoleum area. As he rounded the path back to where they can almost see the suv, he started going faster. After a few more rounds, Rain's driving the car like it's been with him for a long time. He's more confident and he's really enjoying the car's power. After about 30 mins of this, Taylor instructed Rain to park beside the suv.
Taylor got off, closed the door and started to walk towards Kuya Fred. But then he saw Kuya Fred laughing while looking at the direction of the Maserati, so he looked back.
Rain's leaning at the car's hood 'hugging' it while dramatically saying "We were so good together. I never expected it to end so soon."
Taylor shook his head at Rain's antics. "I knew it! You're only with me because you liked my car." Taylor accused.
Rain instantly ended his romance with the car and quickly walk to Taylor. He then hugged Taylor's waist with both his arms. "No, that's not true! I like you the most. I promise!"
"Really?" Taylor asked doubtfully.
Rain nodded smilingly.
"Then, what reward should I give this smart boy who likes me the most?" Taylor teasingly asked.
"Another round?" Rain hopefully asked.
"How about I let you borrow it for this weekend trip?" Taylor waited for Rain's reaction.
Rain's eyes brightened even more, and his smile widened more. But what he did next is unexpected, but it brought immense satisfaction to Taylor's heart. He tip-toed while still hugging Taylor's waist and kissed Taylor's left cheek. He then whispered on Taylor's left ear, "You're the best boyfriend ever."
Taylor did not contradict the boyfriend title. He just smiled and rubbed Rain's head.
YOU ARE READING
If I Let You Go
Romance"So, Rain, baby, just let me do this." He then pulled Rain to stand. "I told you, you do not have to do anything, you do not even have to move." Taylor then stepped closer and caressed Rain's face as he observes every detail of Rain's face. "Just st...
