The Damned Chase

-6-

Chapter Six

Calm down, Jet. Calm down. 

That has been my mantra since I sat on the passenger seat beside him.

Pano ba naman kasi, for the past 3 minutes, that annoying smirk never left his face. I'm starting to think it's part of his constant expression.

O baka naman iniisip niyang ang tanga tanga ko kasi nakalimutan kong magpa-refuel? Nakakainis!

I already told him the directions to the school and Thank God there's no traffic. But at this rate, I don't think we would be there on time.

"Can't you drive faster?" Damn. I meant to ask in a nice way but I think I sounded bossy. Gosh, nakakahiya. Ako na nga lang tong naki-hitch eh.

He seemed taken aback because he threw me sudden glance.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that. I was just having a bad day and I can't be late.. Sorry." I kept my eyes on the road because I'm too embarrassed to look at him.

 "It's okay, I understand." He said calmly. "But I don't think I can drive faster. As you can see, we're not on a highway. But don't worry, you won't be late. We still have a few minutes." He said while looking straight at the road. I'm surprised to hear him calm. He even sounded nice. Parang wala lang sa kanya na ganun ko siya kinausap. I was actually expecting him to be pissed off, at least.

Bakit nga ba kasi ako sobrang inis na inis sa kanya?

We both sat in silence for a while.

"Give me your car keys." He said out of nowhere.

Why would I give him my car keys? "Bakit? Anong gagawin mo?" 

"You still have classes, right? Give me your car keys so I could take care of your car. I'm gonna have it refueled and then leave it at you school's parking lot so you can use it. I'm sure you wouldn't want it to be towed away because in case you forgot, it wasn't parked properly."

Right. Oo nga pala. My classes are until 5 pm and I left my car on the side road.

But still, ayoko. "Pwede naman tumawag na lang ako ng iba eh." Why would I entrust my car to a total stranger?

"It's monday, Jetaime. I'm pretty sure whoever it is that you're planning to call would be busy doing their own thing. You sure you wanna interrupt?" He said coolly.

"Kesa naman ikaw pa yung abalahin ko. You already had the trouble of having to drive me all the way to school. Saka isa pa, aren't you supposed to be running a company?" Why is he insisting to do me favors? We're not even friends.

Was he actually a good guy?

"Yes. And to tell you honestly, I'm running late. But I'm the boss. I can be late for the right reasons."

Right reasons? Is taking care of a car for a person you barely know; a right reason?

"Thanks but really, you don't have to. Nakakahiya. And I don't want to bother you."

He breathed a sigh. "Jetaime, I insist. Besides, I'm already late and you already gave me trouble. Why not make the most out of it?"

I stared at him, bewildered. Just when I'm starting to think he's actually a nice guy and not some arrogant jerk like what my instinct tells me. Tama naman pala talaga ako. Huh.

I took my seat belt off and faced him. "Look mister, you don't have to do anything for me. Thank you for the lift and I promise to pay you back. I hate being indebt to anyone so you can count on my words." We were already at the school grounds. "And please, stop calling me Jetaime. It sounds.. off."

He parked the car and stared at me with intensity. "I'm not asking you to pay me back. I don't need anything. I'm just being nice because you're my cousin's friend as well as my prospect employee. Isn't this a great chance to develop a good relationship?" Relationship? "And why don't you like being called 'Jetaime'? It sounds nice. Suits you very well." His eyes were so beautiful

"It sounds.... naive." I said, my words were barely audible but I think he heard it all right. With those eyes staring at me, I can't bring myself to speak straight. I can feel myself blushing.

"Jetaime..." He paused and leaned back "I love you."

"H-ha?" I asked. Ano daw?

I love you...

Tama ba yung narinig ko?

Did he just say that?

 He frowned. "Jet'aime, french term for 'I love you'. Don't you know that?" Hearing that made me snap out of my reverie... Oo nga naman, Jetaime.. Jet'aime, French term for 'I love you'.

God, what was I thinking?

"Now, give me your car keys."

___

My day at school passed by in a blur.

Hindi ako masyadong nakapag-concentrate sa mga lecture kasi masakit pa rin yung ulo ko.

Jetaime... I love you

Jetaime... I love you

Jetaime... I love you

Isa pa yan. Damn it. Bakit ba paulit-ulit na pumapasok sa utak ko yung sinabi nya kahit wala naman yung meaning?! Am I out of my mind?

Why do I care, anyway?

I am heading to the parking lot since my classes are over and Third texted me earlier that my car's already parked at the parking lot and he left the keys at the guard station.

Oo. Pumayag ako because he insisted and I don't want to argue with him any further.

As soon as I got inside the car, I noticed something on the passenger seat.

There's a white paper bag with a note stuck on the side.

I opened the bag and inside were bars of chocolate.

I started to read what the note says.

You don't have to pay for any of these.

Thank you for signing the contract.

Hope your day gets better.

Third... what kind of guy are you, really?

___

Wala si Reign pagdating ko sa unit so I headed straight to my room for a quick nap.

Pag gising ko, 9 pm na. So much for a quick nap.

I headed downstairs and there Reign is, sitting at the couch watching TV.

"Oh, were you at your room all this time? Akala ko wala ka pa." She said the moment she saw me.

"Yeah, I took a nap. What's for dinner?" I asked, nagugutom na ko.

"I ordered Chinese food. Andun sa ref, i-microwave mo nalang."

I finished dinner and took a half-bath. Since it's almost 10 pm, matutulog na lang ulit ako.

I was about to go back to my room when I heard Reign say "Jet, sa'yo yung chocolates sa fridge? Mind if I have some?"

Oo nga pala. I almost forgot. "Sure, but save some for me."

Before I sleep, I typed a message for Third saying 'Thank you'. That goes for everything he did for me today.

I placed his note on my side table.

You don't have to pay for any of these.

Thank you for signing the contract.

Hope your day gets better.

I drifted off to sleep thinking my day isn't so bad after all.