White Lies

Let Go

"You gotta be kidding me." Aga stares in disbelief as he holds on to the steering wheel of his car.

He mentally cursed and fished for his phone.

Shit ka Aga. You're a mess.

"Hello Bayani- Yani. Oo."

"Oh himala napatawag ka."

"Umm busy ka today? Pwede mo ko puntahan dito sa bahay?"

"Bakit, anong meron?"

"Ano kasi.. gusto ko lang mag stroll sana, naiinip na ko sa loob ng bahay."

"Oh sige kita na lang tayo sa labas ng gate ng subdivision niyo."

"Kaso may problema eh."

"Bakit, ano problema?"

"Nakalimutan ko na rin paano magdrive."

Silence.

"Hello? Anjan ka pa?"

--

"Oh Ariel, bakit naman  inantay mo pa ko sa loob ng sasakyan, sana pumasok ka na muna sa loob."

"Ariel?" Aga asked in confusion.

"Oo Ariel, yun ang tawag ko sayo kasi ang pride mo masyado." Bayani chuckled.

"A-anong konek?"

"Ariel, sabon, kalaban ng Pride. Joke lang yun syempre. Aga Ariel Muhlach pangalan mo. Di nila sinabi sayo? Hehe."

"O, tara bilis na. Ipagdrive mo na ko, dun tayo sa MCX. Turuan mo ko magdrive."

Bayani agaped at him not sure he is hearing it correct.

"Tuturuan ka magdrive. Teka sigurado ka ba sa sinasabi mo?"

"Sige na kailangan ko itry, baka sakaling bumalik yung ala-ala ko kapag magdrive ako. Di ba yun yung huling ginawa ko bago ako maaksidente."

"Alam ba ng mga kamag-anak mo kung ano tong binabalak mo? Brad, I lab you, pero ayokong makulong. Mamaya kung ano mangyari sayo sagutin pa kita."

"Please kailangan kong gawin to, para kay Lea. Sobra ko na siyang nasasaktan."

"Para kay Lea lang? Hindi ba pwedeng para sa sarili mo muna Ariel? Gagawin mo to para mabuo mo ang pagkatao mo."

"Si Lea ang bumuo ng pagkatao ko, its about time na ako naman ang kikilos para buuhin ulit siya."

--

"Dahan-dahan okay, ung clutch huwag masyado mabigat. Sige. Ayan. Akala mo lang nakalimutan mo, pero hindi, hindi, hindi!" Bayani chuckled.

"Siraulo."

Aga drives smoothly along MCX, thank you for his muscle memory, driving again take less effort that regaining his memory.

They were going along the border, when a truck horns were heard and swerved to overtake them.

Aga suddenly spaced-out.

Horns blaring. Lights blinding.

A sudden sucking of teeth, an inhale of air or a gasp. I see it coming milliseconds before it happens but I cannot do anything to stop it.

The crunch comes with grinding, glass breaking, wheels going sideways on the pavement. The front of my Jeep was hit by the truck changing lanes right into me at 100 kph.

Next comes the shock of driving a damaged speeding vehicle that is sort of sideways. Grinding of teeth, cursing, wild steering that causes more tire squealing, a bounce or two off the guard rail that damages the other side of the Jeep and then the real hard STOP!