Race Against Love (on-going)

Chapter 4

ADLER

I still have time. Sabi ni Kuya Jun, I have to be in the location at 1230AM. It's past midnight, so it will just be a 15-minute drive.

I made sure my glock 8mm is loaded and secured in my waist. I don't carry gun on usual nights like these, pero sabi ni Kuya Jun, this is part of the security protocol especially for a VIP client.

I stopped taking this task, but Kuya Jun is a good friend, kaya hindi ko siya matanggihan. He works for a prominent family and one of their drivers called off. He thought I'd be the best to cover.

I grabbed my jacket and headed to the door. Palabas na ako sa pinto nang may naramdaman akong gumalaw sa sala. Pasimple kong isinuot ang jacket para itago ang 8mm sa beywang ko.

"Where are you going?"

Alam kong binabantayan niya ang bawat gabing umaalis ako. And I thanked God for those nights without confrontations. But this one now won't be easy. I locked the door again and stepped back.

"Matulog ka na 'Ma."

Tumayo siya sa at lumapit. I smell alcohol.  And from what I remember, she's wearing the same clothes she's on yesterday.

" Sagutin mo ang tanong ko? Saan ka pupunta?"

I know she's trying to put up a fight to get my attention. I've been trying to ignore her for weeks kahit na gustong-gusto ko na siyang pagsabihan. But I don't want to deal with her right now. This is not a good time.

"Ma, this is work okay?"

Hindi ko kailangang ipaliwanag sa kanya kung ano'ng klaseng trabaho ang gagawin ko. She won't approve of it anyway.

" For God's sake Adler, ano'ng klaseng trabaho 'yan? Dis oras ng gabi? I gave you a decent job, is it not enough?"

Right. And I didn't want it. Since she begged, I had to accept it. But if I have to get another job, it's up to me.

"Ma, pabayaan mo na'ko."

Ayokong pahabain pa ang usapan. I ignored her and searched for the knob again.

"No! I'm your mother. Hangga't dito ka nakatira sa bahay na'to, may pakialam ako sa'yo. Hindi na kita nakikita. Kararating mo lang, ngayon aalis ka na naman. Tapos umaga na ka na uuwi. And then aalis ka ulit? I told you, drop that karate, whatever na 'yan. It's a waste of time. You wanted a job, I gave you a decent one. Ilang trabaho ba ang gusto mo?"

That's what I thought. When I accepted the karate, akala ko matutuwa siya. Of all the odd jobs I had, it's the most decent one I got in months. And that decent job she gave me, bores me to death. Ayoko ng isang trabahong pamatay oras lang.

"You don't have to work. We have everything we need."

I hate her for saying that. Kuntento na siya sa ibinibigay ng iba. Hindi ako ganun. Gusto kong magtrabaho para sa sarili ko. I want to buy things I can call my own, from my own sweat.

"You have everything you need Ma. Not me."

"Anak, sobra sobra ang binibigay ng Papa mo..."

"I don't need them Ma! I don't need anything from him. I don't want to spend a dime from his money. Kung may mapupuntahan lang ako, ayokong tumira sa bahay na'to. Gusto kong magtrabaho para sa sarili ko. Pinagbigyan na kita Ma. I accepted your offer, pero may iba rin akong gustong gawin. Pabayaan mo na ako 'Ma, please."

All my life, just when I thought my freedom was taken away from me, this is the first time in years that I can do whatever I want. Hindi ko alam kung magpapasalamat ba ako.