Del Rico Progeny #2: Crashing Into You

Chapter 11

Plano

“Mabuti naman at uuwi ka na. Baka mamaya pinapagod mong mabuti ang sarili mo riyan, anak,” may pag-aalala sa boses ni Mommy.

I bit my lower lip, keep looking in the front while talking to my mother. I can feel Asael’s glances at me but I didn’t give him any of my attention. One reason, I’m nervous. Ayaw kong kausapin si Asael dahil posibleng kausapin siya ni Mommy kapag narinig.

Halos pigil at kontrolado ang aking paghinga.

“Yes, Mom. Magpapahinga po ako dahil baka bukas po ay may tawag na dumating. Sa Huwebes po, diyan na ako uuwi,” sambit ko, mahinahon pa rin upang hindi mahalata ni Mommy ang kaba ko.

Kuntento na ako na hindi nagsasalita si Asael, hindi mabubuking na may kasama ako. But then I saw a dog! A dog rushing towards the other road.

“The dog, El!” may gigil na sinambit ko ang mga salitang iyon.

I glared at him when he didn’t even slow down. Nanlaki na ang mga mata ko.

“Slow down!” I hissed.

He pointed at the front. I saw the dog, safe on the other road now, not knowing that someone here is nervous of his possible death.

“Ang mga aso rito, mabibilis. Sanay sila sa mga sasakyan kaya hindi tatawid iyan ng alam nila na masasagasaan sila,” mahinahon niyang sinabi.

Sunod-sunod akong lumunok, hinuhugot ang hininga ko. Ang mga aso sa aming village hindi ganoon! They will die if they’re the dog we’re about to crash in.

“What happened, Hope? May nangyaring masama ba? Nabangga ka?” si Mommy, dinig ko ang pagkalito nito sa kung anong gustong sabihin.

Horror crashed through me. Did I just…speak to Asael while Mom is calling?

Asael looked at me, I looked at him, almost about to cry. My eyes are becoming hot as tears want to pool out. I swallowed hard.

“Hope? Anak?” tawag ulit ni Mommy.

Umawang ang labi ko.

“Mommy…” kinakabahang tawag ko. “Bakit po?”

“I was asking if you’re okay. What happened? Did the dog die? Are you fine? Who’s with you?”

“Mommy…uh… k-kaibigan ko lang p-po…” nanginginig ang boses ko.

“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.

“Y-yes po…” Kinagat ko ang loob ng aking pisngi.

“Sino ang kasama mo riyan? Ayos lang ba siya?” ani Mommy.

Tinignan ko si Asael, diretso ang tingin nito sa harap, seryoso ulit ang mukha at ang mga mata.

“Ayos lang siya…Mommy,” sagot ko.

“That’s good. That’s good…” medyo nakahinga ito nang maluwag.

Natahimik kami pareho ng ilang minuto bago ko siya narinig ulit sa kabilang linya.

“Who is he, anak? A friend?” she asked, sweetly.

“Mom…”

“Hmm? Is he? Or you found a boyfriend there?”

Nanlaki ang mata ko at nilingon si Asael. He did looked at me but it’s just for a second.

“No, Mom!” I exaggeratedly answered. “He’s just a friend.”

I heard my mother’s chuckles on the other line.

“Really? Is he the one driving?”

“Yes, Mom. Why?”