Fierce

Chapter 40

Chapter 40
Endearing

"Bilisan mong magdrive!" halos agawin na sa akin ni Ida ang manibela upang palitan ako sa pagmamaneho.

I rushed to the driver's seat of my car to prevent her from driving fast. Alam kong gusto niyang paliparin ang kaniyang sasakyan patungong bahay nila upang maabutan ang pag-uusap ni Gael at ng kaniyang mga magulang.

Graham told the whole story to Ida while we're on the rush to go.

Ang sabi ni Graham ay bigla nalang daw sinabi ni Gael na hindi na siya susunod sa lakad nilang magkakabarkada dahil pupunta siya sa bahay nila Ida. And when Graham asked him why, he already told him the truth.

Sa tingin ko'y wala nang pakialam si Gael sa kung ano mang pwedeng mangyari. I never thought that he will talk to his Dad, and to Tita Isabella and Isaiah. Hindi ko man siya nakikita ngayon ay alam kong determinadong-determinado siya sa gusto niyang gawin.

I don't know what his planning or what's on his mind. But whatever it is, I will definitely support him and stand with him. Bahala na kung magalit sa akin sina Tito Arman at Tita Isabella. They've done good things to me, but no generosity and hospitality can make my love to Gael back down.

Muling tumunog ang cellphone ni Ida at agad niya naman itong sinagot.

"What? Nacontact mo na ba si Kuya? Alam mo ba kung nasaan na siya?" natatarantang pagtatanong ni Ida ang kaniyang binungad sa tumawag sa kaniya.

"I couldn't reach him out." rinig kong sagot ni Graham dahil ni-loudspeaker ni Ida ang tawag.

"Try to reach him again!" Ida demanded.

"I already did for a few times, Ida." halata sa boses ni Graham na pagod na rin siya kahit sa paulit-ulit lang na pagtawag kay Gael. "His phone was ringing but he's not answering my calls. I called to tell you that you should try calling him on Blair's phone. I'm sure that if Blair's the one who's calling him, he will immediately answer the call."

Sinulyapan ko si Ida dahil agad siyang napatingin sa akin nang banggitin ako ni Graham sa kaniya.

Without a word, she grabbed my phone from the dashboard and typed my passcode easily.

Tinawagan niya si Gael at wala pang tatlong ring ay agad nang sinagot ni Gael ang tawag na akala'y nanggagaling sa akin.

"Hello, Blair? Is there anything wrong?" he calmly asked, thinking that it's me he's talking to.

Sinenyasan naman ako ni Ida na magsalita.

"Nasaan ka ngayon?" tanong ko na pakunwari'y hindi ko alam ang binabalak niyang gawin ngayon.

"I'm... I'm still driving. Papunta palang ako kila Graham. Medyo traffic kasi." he lied, but I already know the truth. "Why? Gusto mo bang bumalik ako diyan?"

I bit my lower lip. I knew that he's going to lie to me because he wants to deal with the Mallari's on his own, but I still hoped that he will tell me the truth.

"Will you come back if I told you so?" tanong ko naman sa kaniya.

Panandalin siyang napatahimik nang dahil sa aking tanong.

After being silent for a moment, he suddenly chuckled. I know that he's only faking it.

"Of course, I will." he said. "Pero pagkatapos na ng gagawin namin nila Graham. We're going to do something very important so... I can't miss it. I'm going home to you once we're finished."

Wala sa sarili naman akong tumango at hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa manibela. He's really determined to talk to Tito Arman, Tita Isabella and Isaiah. No one can stop him now, even me.