They Don't Know About Us

Part 16: Racers

Kathryn is going to Japan in four days to receive an International Award, but the Faulkersons are having its annual charity event in Zambales she couldn't miss. She arranged her schedule so that she gets to fly from Clark instead. Alden, on the other hand, received another good news and that his team is co-producing Miss Universe Philippines the following year. Thus, the mini cooper gift from his wife. 

"Why are we doing this?" with an arched brow, he asked her. "I couldn't believe na nauto mo na naman ako."

Her waggish smiled showed at this point. "Andami mong sinasabi eh. Just wear that helmet and race with me."

"Niregaluhan mo lang ba ako ng mini cooper for this? para may ka-karerahan ka?"

"Uy ang drama mo naman, Faulkerson. Niregaluhan kita nyan para dagdag pogi points sa mga chicks mo. Tara na, race na tayo. Atat na atat na akong pakainin ka ng alikabok."

Walang nagawa si Alden kundi sundin si Kathryn. Tinotopak na naman ang fake misis nya... or not? Because perhaps this is the playful version of her.

"Teka lang, Bernardo. Baka nakakalimutan mong may kasalanan ka pa sa akin?"

"Aish! Mamaya na ako magsosorry."

The two went racing. Coming from two big motor companies who literally love cars all their lives, Alden and Kathryn enjoyed this heart-pounding sport. Alden was safe driving though. It was really Kathryn's competitive ass that's showing with the drifting and all.

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Kathryn's POV

Ibang klase talaga ang saya pag nandito ako sa race track. This is my second favorite sport. My mom is a racer and naaalala ko pa nung bata pa ako na madalas ako manood pag nagcocompete sya. She's really the coolest.

"Grabe nga yun!" Alden took off his helmet and we high-fived.

"Ano, okay ka na ba?"

"Okay nako. Nailabas ko na lahat ng angst."

Nasulot kasi yung isang project nila kaya aburido itong si Faulkerson Jr. I told him naman na parang okay lang yun kasi napalitan ng mas malaki yung nawala sa kanila. Imagine a mainstream TV network partnering with Myriad? 

"Sorry," I uttered.

He sighed and faintly smiled. "Okay na yun."

Nung magresign si Alden sa kumpanya, mas nakilala ko ang tunay nyang ugali. He used to be stiff, a man of few words, a person of layers. 

"Sana lang next time, alam ko kung mag-a-out of the country ka."

"I get that." 

May usapan naman talaga kami na sasabihin ang whereabouts ng bawat isa kahit scheduled and pagsasama namin sa iisang bubong. Reason? Our families love to ask about one to the other instead of contacting the person they are looking for. It was this one instance lang talaga na umakyat kami ng Mt. Everest ni Ashley. Kinidnap lang naman ako ng bestfriend ko, noh? Mabuti nalang talaga naka-break ako last week. 

Ayun nga, when Alden had lunch with my parents and Oli, natanong sya kung nasaan ako and yung sinagot nya was nasa photoshoot. Dad was about to call me when he saw Ashley's IG post of us in the summit. Dad was like, "Ah sa Nepal pala yung photoshoot, son?"  

The rest is history. 

"By the way, is it okay if Ashley helps? They will be sending food packs for the community."

"Okay lang ba sa kanya na hindi to publicized?"

"Of course naman."

Oli is in-charge of the transportation. Ash can work with him kasi malayo ang community na pupuntahan natin."

"Sure. Send ko contacts ni Oli kay Ash."

"May number ka ni Oliver?"

"Wala. Syempre makikigamit ako ng phone mo. Naiwan ko kasi yung akin eh." 

"Palibhasa sanay kang may P.A."

"Wow judgmental ka na naman manong. Hindi ba pwedeng hindi lang ako ma-cellphone na tao?"

"Edi sige. Kwento mo yan eh," sagot nitong tukmol na to. Nagmamaktol pa eh ibibigay din naman nya sa akin ang cellphone nya.