D'Beasts Series #4: Ceasing the Rivalry

IKA-LABING TATLO

Maaga akong nagising at nakapagbihis dahil plano kong sa school na lang i-review ang mga kailangan kong gawin during the upcoming event. I need to focus and make sure I’m not missing any ingredients for the dishes we’re planning to make. Even though I tried cooking some at home, I’m still not satisfied enough with all the outcomes. Kahit pa masarap naman daw sabi ng mga kasambahay. Maybe they just said that to make me happy, even though I kind of sucked.

“Breakfast?”

“Sa school na po. Busy pa rin kasi kami para sa darating na event.”

Hindi na ako pinilit pa ni Nanay Rosita na maupo sa hapag at kumain. Alam naman niyang sobrang busy namin mula pa nitong nakaraan. And besides, my parents are still asleep, so I can leave the house peacefully without having to state the reasons why I have to come to school this early.

I was about to open my car when our driver walked towards me habang sinisipat-sipat ang labas ng bahay na parang may hinahanap.

“Sir, may tao po sa labas. Hinihintay kayo kanina pa. Pasensya na sir, hindi ko sinabi kaagad. Ang bilin kasi sa akin, huwag ka na raw munang abalahin dahil baka nag-aagahan ka pa.”

Nagtataka akong tumango na lang sa kaniya at iniwan ang kotse. Naglakad ako palabas ng gate hanggang sa makarating ako sa nakaparadang sasakyan sa tapat ng bahay namin. The car is a black Audi with a familiar plate number.  Siguradong kay Chase ito.

Lumapit ako at tinapik ang hood ng kotse hanggang sa unti-unting bumaba ang salamin nito at nagtagpo ang mga tingin namin. He’s in his school uniform already, and his hair is a bit messy. He smiled at me, quickly peeping his dimples before they hid again.

“Good morning. I’ll give you a ride,” he said.

“I have a car.”

“I know. But I want to give you a ride.”

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako at hindi na nakipagtalo pa. I don’t want to cause a scene now that we’re here just outside our house. Mom and Dad have known Chase since we were little. They just stopped asking about him later, after they found out that their business was failing.

“Bilisan mo, kailangan kong pumasok ng maaga. Marami kaming dapat patupusin para sa event.”

Sumang-ayon naman siya pero pinili pa rin niyang huminto sandali sa isang convenient store para bumili ng kape para sa akin. Hindi na rin ako tumanggi dahil hindi pa naman ako nag-aalmusal. At least a coffee will make me feel awake in this early morning.

“Seven, gusto sana kitang makausap kahit sandali lang,” he started talking right after he parked his car outside our campus. “Tungkol sa nangyari sa Caza Bistro noong isang gabi.”

“What about it? Bati na ulit kayo ni Wesley?” pang-aasar ko, thinking it was hilarious and impossible to happen.

He sighed. “He apologized.”

“And you forgave him? Wow! Ang bait mo naman pala,” I laughed with a hint of sarcasm and took a sip of my coffee. “You just can’t get mad at him, don’t you?”

Suddenly, I felt my heart skip a beat. It feels heavy for an unknown reason.

“I was mad, but we talked about it already,” he paused and glanced at me for a moment, trying to see what emotions I’m showing. “Actually, I already told him my plan—our supposed plan. I told him everything. Kung paano tayo unang nagkita, kung anong sinabi ko sa iyo para lang mapalapit ka ulit sa akin. Sinabi kong pinlano ko lahat pati ang sana’y pagpapanggap mo para kuhanin ang loob niya, para lumayo na siya sa akin.”

My eyes widened at his confession. I almost spilled my coffee because of how my grip tightened. What the fuck is wrong with him? Bakit niya sinabi? Siya rin mismo ang sumira sa sarili niyang plano!