The Delinquent and The Silent

Chapter 22

Century's POV

"Do you want to talk to that guy?"

I glanced at Luke. Nasa Loft kami ngayon at hinihintay namin si Ada. She probably knows something about Nicoli and his mom since sila ang buyer ng bahay. I want to talk to Nicoli, badly, but something's telling me not to.

"Baka magwala 'yong kadugo mo 'pag nakita ka dito, eh?" tanong ni Danny. He's talking about Ada?

'Why's that?'

He shrugged. "She doesn't know a thing about you in this school... my poor assistant"

Binatukan siya ni Gabby. "Drama mo, insan"

"Tado!"

"Guys" we all looked at Don. He's got access into the school's files and he's bugging information about Nicoli. "He's got clean records except for this drop out thing"

'Why'd he drop, anyway?' tanong ko habang tinitingnan ang screen ng laptop ni Don. All basic information about Nicoli was written in there--- personal information, past schools, awards, even his hobbies and interests. I held my breath, his interests got my attention.

"Rumors say he got someone pregnant" sagot ni Gabby.

"So? Ba't siya magda-drop? Hindi naman siya ang magbubuntis?" kontra ni Danny.

Gabby fixed his posture and sat properly. "Nagtago siya! Umalis siya ng Pinas para maka-iwas sa babaeng nabuntis niya!"

Danny choked on his spit. "Ang bakla naman niya. Abroad talaga? Sino ba 'yong babae? Anak ng commander in chief? Anak ng politician? Churva?"

Gabby shrugged. "Malay ko! Hindi naman ako chismoso!"

Sasagot pa sana si Gabby pero may kumatok sa pintuan. Ada.

About damn time.

Don gets the door for her. "Hello"

"Hi. Pinatawag mo daw ako, sir Danny?" she asked then looked around. She stopped when her eyes reached me. "Century"

I smiled at her.

Danny asked her to sit down and Luke explained everything from the time I moved to their place to the moment we saw Nicoli outside my house. Ada impressed me by taking all the information calmly.

"Wow... schoolmate kita" she's looking at me.

I nod.

"Schoolmate ko din ang bibili ng bahay"

I nod again.

"Classmate ninyo siya..."

"Uh yeaah! Sinabi nga namin right?" Gabby answered with sass.

'Sinabi ba ng bangko sau kung sinong bibili ng bahay? Any name?'

She paused. "Victoria...?"

'Victoria?'

That's not my mama's name. But I'm certain Nicoli showed me the same picture as my mom's. What's going on?

"Mrs. Victoria something. 'Yon ang nakasulat na pangalan ng buyer sa letter na binigay sa'kin ng bangko"

"Tell me you still have the letter" Luke said.

Ada nods her head. "Nasa bahay"

"That's not even your mom's name, mute"

I made a face. 'I know. That's bugging me. You sure you have no idea what happened to my mom?'

Big Shaq ruffled my hair. "Your dad's my best friend. Not your mom, so if your dad didn't know about her whereabouts... what more of me to hers, aye?"

I shrugged. 'That Nicoli guy's getting under my skin too'

"Nic? What's with him?" tanong ni Big Shaq.

Sa pinakita ni Don kanina about sa files ni Nicoli, one of his interests is racing.

'He does races'

Big Shaq stopped waxing some customer's car. "Really? How'd you know?"

'I'm not yet sure that's why I'm hoping you can do something to confirm it'

He crossed his arms. "I can check my track's record... see if he's joined any of my races."

I grinned. 'Thanks Big Shaq'

He started calling his team.

If ever Nicoli did street racing, I would know. Balwarte ko 'yon at malalaman ko pero hindi pamilyar ang pangalan niya sa'kin. Meaning, it's either sadyang talunan siya sa racing para makilala ko or he joins those legal races.

My phone buzzed. It's from an unknown number.

Congratulations. You are in.

4:6

110K. Winner takes all.

PRIMO

Confirmation from Primo. This is what I'm waiting before starting my actual practices. I've got no doubt I won't make it to his race but... just to be sure. Whatever.

The 4 in 4:6 will be my place in line and the 6 is the number of all the racers.

My phone buzzed again. Luke's calling.

"Century?"

I rolled my eyes. Hindi naman siguro niya inaasahang sasagutin ko siya, eh?

"Oh right. You're mute. Anyway, I just got the letter from your house. The buyer is Victoria Harde."

Harde.

"She's Nicoli's mom"

Of course, I know that!

I hung up.

Shaq's POV

"Yes sir, the young man joined about two races. The latest was a year ago."

So, Nicoli's into clean races huh?

I thanked my team then I called the number I didn't think I ever will. He answered on the first ring.

"Your girl's starting to know of her mother's tree"

From the other line, I can hear him taking a deep breath. "Guess, it's about time then"

"I might help her find you too. You've been gone for too long, you cow!"

He chuckled. "I'll see her soon" his voice then shift to serious tone "my way, Shaq"

I paused. "The soonest, Drake. The soonest"