21 Minutes

Seventh

--- Continuation of Flashback ---

"Grabe yung game niyo kanina ah. Ganun ba talaga kayo mag-laro?", Mika asked Jeron whose eyes were focused on the road.

Jeron took a quick glance at his passenger before giving her an answer.

"You know that's not our character. Ayaw namin ng gulo. But the heat earlier just couldn't be avoided."

"Bakit? Ano ba kasing nangyari?", Mika asked again.

"Wala. We both wanted to win. That's all.", the guy answered briefly. He was just thankful that it didn't get any worse.

"O tapos? Punching each other's face will make you win? Akala niyo ba boxing yung laro?", the lady replied in a scolding voice.

Jeron smirked and looked sideways, amused at the woman beside him. After all, what she did earlier wasn't easy to forget.

"Concerned ka talaga sa handsome face ko 'no?", he teased.

"Kapal mo naman! Concerned ako sa singkit eyes mo! Paano na lang kung magka-black eye ka edi wala ka nang nakita. Matatalo pa school natin.", Mika retorted.

"Bakit kasi di na lang aminin eh.", he said in a low voice.

"May sinasabi ka?", she challenged.

"Wala po, Ma'am.", Jeron responded immediately, but not without a smile.

"O anong ngini-ngiti mo diyan? Ikaw lang yata kilala kong muntik nang masapak pero masaya pa.", Mika blurted out when she noticed the jolly look on his face.

"Ako din lang yung muntik nang masapak pero may cheerleader pa."

"Excuse me, I wasn't cheering for you!", Mika blurted out in an instant.

"O, did I say it was you?"

"Ugh! Bakit ba ako pumayag na sumabay sayo eh!"

"Well, because it's free and you're much safer with me.", the guy said confidently.

"Ay yung free, agree ako. Pero much safer?! Sure ka?", Mika clawed back, eyebrows raised.

"If I get you home safe tonight, anong prize ko?"

"Hoy prize na naman?! Di pa nga ako nakahanap ng babaeng pambayad-utang sayo eh. Wait, that didn't sound right, right?"

Jeron laughed at Mika being her natural self.

"Hindi naman kasi yung babae ang ibabayad mo sakin. It's the date with her.", he explained.

"Ok, got that."

Almost an hour has passed and the two were still on the road due to heavy traffic. Jeron's phone suddenly started ringing.

"Ye, pasagot naman oh."

"Ha? Ako?", Mika gave a confused look, wondering how and why in the world would he trust her that much.

"Oo. Naka-go tayo eh. And hindi mo naman kelangang mag-hello. Just press the answer button.", Jeron replied without a glance.

"Ahhh. Ok."

"Feeling mo naman kasi, Mika! Tiwala agad? Mamaya ma-misunderstood pa nung caller pag ikaw yung sasagot diba? Isipin pa nun eh jowa ka--- What? Where did that come from? Who would even think---"