Tamed: The 8th Hiñago (HS#01)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Soon

After some time, she broke free of my hug and just went inside the car.

I understand. She's acting cool para hindi siya matanggalan ng angas. What about me? I undressed my coolness the moment she hugged me.

I inserted myself in the driver's seat and chuckled secretly. "So what do you think?"

"Ayokong sabihin," iniwas niya ang tingin sa akin.

That's fine. I know the answer. At hindi ko ibubulong kahit kanino, it might become jinx.

"Kamusta nga pala yung project na itinawag mo kay Deo kahapon?" tanong ko. "Is everything fine?"

"I don't know. Tinawagan lang naman ako ng foreman noong oras na iyon dahil wala daw siyang number ni Engr. Hiñago. Then I just relayed the message to Deo. Hindi naman kami magkasama mismo sa site," sagot niya.

I sighed in relief. Nag-overthink pa ako kahapon hindi naman pala sila magkasama.

Nang nahatid ko siya sa Palao, hindi siya agad bumaba. Bababa na sana ako para pagbuksan siya ng pinto pero mabilis niyang hinuli ang pulsuhan ko.

"You need to go with me inside..." sambit niya.

Agad akong tumango at ngumiti. "Of course,"

"Hindi ako pwedeng magsinungaling na si Deo ang naghatid sa akin, because clearly you are not Deo."

The mere mention of my cousin's name sent my energy drained.

"Magagalit ba si Tito sa'yo kapag ako ang naghatid sa'yo?" I asked her.

"Hindi naman sa ganon..." umiling siya. "Ayaw kong magsinungaling kasi baka matago nanaman kita. Ayaw kong itago ka. Although Tito Elijah doesn't know anything about this yet."

Really?

"At kasi birthday ni Mama..." she contemplated. "We are going to surprise her now at midnight."

Wait what?

"Are you saying that you badly needed to go home and yet earlier ayaw mong umuwi dahil ako ang maghahatid sa'yo?" tanong ko.

She sighed. "Hindi nga..."

Napabuntong hininga na lang rin ako. "I don't have a gift for your mother... You should've told me earlier. Nakakahiyang pumasok nang walang dala."

She sighed.

I opened my wallet and sighed. Thankfully there were ten thousand in there and a red envelope. Matagal na ata tong red envelope parang galing pa to kay Osmeña or kay Jang. Lalagyan ng Ang Pao.

I inserted the money in there and ransacked the compartment to find any marker. Write the receiver's name on the red envelope.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" Denise asked.

"I'm improvising a gift at the last minute, mahal," I answered.

"Do you randomly have a ten thousand lying in your wallet anytime of the day?" gulat na tanong niya. "That's too much. Last time, noong pinadalhan mo ko ng mga regalo, may ni-regalo ka ring bag kay Mama."

"So? Iba yon. Birthday niya ngayon. Iba dapat."

"Do you give gifts to your mother too?" tanong niya.

Napa-isip ako at tumango. "I also gifted my Mom with the brand of the bag just a different color, yesterday. For Thanksgiving."

"Damian, you gave the same bag to my mother. Alam mo bang pwede na yong ipangsangla at ibayad sa tuition ni Josue?"