The Warrior 1: Primo

Chapter 13

HE'S STORMING OFF TOWARDS HIS CAR'S DIRECTION. I'm gently tapping my foot on the floor of his car in anticipation. Pansin ko ring isa isa nang nagsialisan ang mga sasakyan nina Jaguar at ng iba pa.

Nagulat ako nang buksan niya ang shotgun door nang makarating siya sa sasakyan.

"Should I transfer to the backseat?" I suggested meekly dahil imbes sa driver seat siya dumiretso ay sa tabi ko.

I fucked up big time – I know, so I'm very careful not to say something stupid.

Initsa niya ang susi ng sasakyan at iminwestra ang driver seat.

"Drive," aniya.

I took the keys, slightly shaking.

Hindi 'yon nakalagpas sa paningin ni Primo.

When I said I have a bad anxiety towards driving, I meant it as bad, bad. I have no problem watching people drive and sitting inside the car though but driving the car myself, my anxiety will go batshit crazy.

I don't know how to tell him. I don't want to tell him either at baka mas lalong mawalan 'to ng pasensya.

"Why aren't you picking it up?" he asked, his voice reserved.

"I– Pri—," I closed my mouth again.

"Jesus, Ayah. Talk," his voice now slightly worried, still standing beside me.

I inhaled deeply. "I don't have my license – and I can't drive."

"You could've said it faster," he said then went to the driver seat. He ushered me to open the roof of his convertible. Isinampay niya ang kaliwang kamay sa nakababang bintana ng sasakyan. The corner of his lips is swollen with a little blood on it.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" I asked in an attempt to break the icy silence inside the car.

"Somewhere," he didn't look at me nor look in my direction when he answered.

Napangiwi ako sa sagot niya.

Not fond of specifying, I see.

"Do you want to go home?," tanong niya.

I shook my head as my response.

The ride was uneasy all right. If this was any other day ay mas mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong tatango ako o 'di kaya ay kumaripas ng takbo palayo sa sasakyan ni Primo. I don't want to go home while he's angry and hurt because I didn't listen.

Although he put the temperature to the standard cooling condition, sobrang lamig pa rin ang pakiramdam ko. I can feel his pent-up emotion from my seat.

Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang dinadaanan namin o kung saan kami papunta but it's still a road I'm slightly familiar with kaya paniguradong nakarating na ako sa kung saan niya man gusto pumunta. He drove silently. I was even tempted to turn the stereo because of the deafening silence between us.

I'm not scared of him, my guilt is eating me up and it's shameless to feel anything but guilt right now.

Bakit ba ang tahimik niya? I mean, mas tahimik kesa sa normal.

Should I talk?

Yeah.

Maybe I should talk.

"Galit ka b—?"

"Yes," he cut me off instantly without tearing his eyes on the road.

Wala sa loob na nilingon ko siya. Parang may sumipa sa tiyan ko nang makita ang anyo niya. The guilt I'm feeling earlier tripled. He looked so stressed out. Nakakunot ang noo at mahigpit ang hawak sa manibela.