DRIFTING BACK TO YOU (Exclusive In The VIP Group)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1

Treese

"Are you going to stay for good?" tanong ng pinsan kong si Sienna habang tinutulungan niya akong ilagay sa walk-in closet ang mga bagong biling damit.

Mom and I lived in New York for six years while Dad stayed in the country, trying to build his mining company.

I turned to Sienna. "Yeah. Napalago naman na ni Daddy ang negosyo kaya hindi na kailangang mag-work ni Mommy sa real estate company. After all, Dad promised her before they got married that Mom wouldn't work anymore once he builds his company. Medyo natagalan lang but it's okay. I enjoyed my life in New York."

Sienna smiled. "Akala ko iiyak ka, eh lalo na at nasanay ka na rin sa New York."

I rolled my eyes. "Boys there are mostly walking danger signs." I smirked. "Mas gusto ko pa rin ng . . . maginoo."

We both giggled. Maya-maya ay tinawag kami ni Yaya Enid dahil dumating na ang isa pang regalo ni Daddy sa akin.

"That's probably your own car!" Sienna exclaimed.

"It better not be a backhoe," I joked. Mahina naman siyang tumawa bago kami lumabas ng silid ko.

Sinalubong kami ni Daddy sa baba. Nang makalapit ako ay umakbay siya't nakangiting ipinakita ang susi ng latest model mula sa isang sikat na brand.

"It's a tap-down," he said before he ushered me to see the car in the garage. "And it's white."

"How could you choose a girly model? Mommy drives an SUV while you have a couple of off-road cars."

Piniga ni Daddy ang aking braso. "I had some recommendations." He pointed a guy probably about my age who's busy washing Dad's muddy 4x4. "Sovereign!" tawag niya sa lalake.

Bumaling sa amin ang lalakeng nakapantalon at itim na tee shirt. I saw how his gaze focused on me for a few moments before he managed to come towards us.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong kinabahan nang magsimula siyang humakbang palapit sa akin. I couldn't even keep my gaze on him, at parang . . . ganoon din siya. Even his cheeks were a little reddish. Inisip ko na lamang na dala lang iyon ng init ng panahon dahil sa labas ng garahe niya nililinis ang sasakyan ni Daddy.

"Reign, this is my daughter Treese. The one I bought the car for." Tumingin sa akin si Daddy nang nakangiti. "Did you like it, sweetheart?"

My heart jerked when I realized that the guy was staring at me. Bigla akong tinamaan ng hiya at umiwas ng tingin bago ko sinagot si Daddy. "Y-Yes, Dad."

Lumawak ang kurba sa mga labi ni Daddy. "Mabuti na lang at nakinig ako sa batang ito. Ilang taon ka na nga ulit, hijo?" tanong ni Daddy sa kanya.

Tumikhim ang lalakeng nagngangalang Sovereign. "Seventeen po."

"Magkaedaran pala kayo." Dad turned to me again. "He's one of our employees' son. Scholar din siya ng Loreno Mining Company. You'll be attending the same school, Treese. He's smart, too. Maybe you can ask him whenever you're having difficulties with your subjects."

Ngumuso ako kay Daddy. "Daddy, I'm not dumb."

The guy named Sovereign cleared his throat. "Mukha naman hong . . . matalino, Sir." He took a quick glance at me. "Maganda pa," halos bulong na niyang dugtong.

Sienna poked my side. Halos sipatin ko siya nang makita ko ang makahulugan niyang ngisi sa akin. Nagtaas-baba pa nga ng kilay na parang inaasar ako!

May sasabihin pa sana si Daddy nang tinawag ng isa sa mga tauhan. Iniwanan niya kami roon kaya nang kami na lamang tatlo ay halos hindi ko magawang tumingin kay Sovereign.

"Sige, Ma'am. Babalik na ko sa paglilinis ng kotse." He pointed the other cars inside the garage. "Isusunod ko na ang iba. Iyong inyo, pwedeng . . . idamay na rin natin mamaya."

"But it's new," I said.

He smirked, making my heart pounce a little louder than usual. Lintik na ngisi iyan? Ang lakas naman ng dating!

Akala ko naman mahiyain pero kung makangisi ngayon ay tila gustong magpakita ng motibo!

"Baka naalikabukan na rin. Isang linggo na ho 'yan sa garahe," dahilan niya.

Sienna clings onto my arm. "Ay, oo Reign idamay mo na rin."

I gave Sienna a side eye. Nagtaas naman ako ng kilay nang mapansin kong nagpipigil ng ngisi si Sovereign.

"Is something funny?" I asked, trying to pretend that his boy-next-door face and tall, lanky frame don't trigger butterflies in my belly to go on a rally.

Tumikhim siya. "Wala naman, Ma'am." He smiled with lips pursed while staring into my eyes as if he was bewitched or something. "Marunong ka na bang mag-drive, Ma'am."

I sighed. "Treese. Just call me Treese. Parang ang tanda ko para sa Ma'am."

He clicked his tongue. "Sige . . . Treese." He inhaled a sharp breath then smiled again. "Marunong ka na bang magmaneho?" ulit niya.

"Hindi pa, but I'm gonna enroll in a driving school so I could learn. Bakit?"

"Wala lang. Pwede namang . . . turuan na lang kita," sagot niya. Sakto namang lumapit sa amin ang isa sa mga boy sa bahay na tingin ko ay nasa bente lamang ang edad.

I lifted a brow. "You know how to drive?"

Mabilis siyang tumango. "Oo naman. Magaling akong magmaneho."

I scoffed. "Talaga lang, ah?"

He jerked his head. "Sabado, wala akong schedule ng home service na carwash. Pwede kitang turuan kung . . . gusto mo lang naman."

"Gusto niya 'yan!" sagot ni Sienna kaya halos kurutin ko sa tagiliran. This girl! Kailan ko pa ba ito naging spokesperson?

I sighed. Napansin ko namang bumulong ang tauhan namin kay Sovereign.

"Siraulo ka. Kailan ka pa natutong magmaneho?"

"Sa arcade, nananalo ako ro'n ng karera. Madali lang 'to."

"Mapapahamak ka pa sa ginagawa mo, eh."

"Basta kaya ko 'to."

Their voices were too low that I didn't understand what they were discussing. Nang napansin ni Sovereign na nakatingin ako sa kanilang dalawa ay muli siyang ngumiti.

"Sabado? Mga . . . bandang alas singko, pwede ka ba?" he asked.

Pinipiga na ni Sienna ang braso ko na tila sinasabing pumayag ako. Well, school will start in a month and I'll probably just get bored at home. Might as well accept his offer.

Hindi bale at . . . cute naman. He's tall, too and has a pair of mesmerizing brown eyes. Kung mabihisan ito nang maayos ay baka magkandarapa ang napakaraming babae mapansin lamang niya.

I faked a sigh. "Sige. Saturday, five o'clock. I'm gonna wait for you here."

Hinatak ko na si Sienna pabalik ng mansyon. Narinig ko naman sina Sovereign at ang tauhang nag-usap habang papalayo kami.

"Lagot ka talaga diyan, Reign."

"Akong bahala," I heard Sovereign say.

Nilingon ko sila, at nang makita niya ang pagsulyap ko ay ngumiti siya't biglang kumindat.

I pursed my lips and looked away with burning cheeks.

Nakakainis naman!