"How'd you do that?" I asked Ava and scratched
my head. "I really hate Math. Ugh!"
Algebra is my number one enemy. I'd do all thing just to avoid this subject. Literally anything.
"You'd just transfer this equation," she computed the said problem. "And you'll get the answer. Easy as ABC." Humalakhak ito. Her high pitched voice pierced through my ear. Napailing ako. I can't do this.
"Wala bang course na walang ganito? I think I'll shift."
"Asa ka naman, Dei. Lahat niyan meron dito. At least we chose the one na dalawang subject lang for the whole curriculum. After this, we're done." She nonchalantly said. "Let's just answer this and go home."
We stayed for more than five hours inside the school library. Out of the fifteen equations our professor asked us to answer, we only managed to get three correct answers. Before we headed home, we went to our favourite store and grabbed two hamburgers each to satisfy and ease the stress that we have right now. We bid each other goodbye and headed home.
It's 7:16 PM and the traffic is worst than ever. Nang malaman kong hindi ako masusundo ng driver namin ay nagpasya akong umuwi mag-isa. At dahil Friday night ngayon, the traffic was 10x worse. I groaned. I texted my Mom to tell her I'd be late today.
Me: Mom, around 9PM na po yata ako makakauwi. Sobrang traffic sa C5.
She immediately replied.
Mom: Sure thing, Dei. Your Dad isn't here yet. Ingat ka. Tell me if you need someone to fetch you pag near the vicinity ka na.
I turned my phone off and opened my iPod, listening to the few songs which I genuinely liked. I started shuffling my playlist when I heard my favourite song. I shut my eyes off and started drifting to sleep.
Someone was touching my shoulder. I immediately opened my eyes and saw a person leaning onto me.
"Miss, lalampas na po tayo sa boundary. Saan po ba kayo bababa?"
Agad akong umupo ng maayos at kinusot ang mata. I looked around and realized na lumampas na ako sa bababaan. Shit! Tumayo ako agad at nagpaalam na bababa na.
"Pasensya na, Manong. Nakatulog po ako. Pakibaba na lang po ako dyan sa gilid."
"Sigurado ka ba? Masyado nang gabi. Madilim din ang area na 'yan. Kung gusto mo, next stop ka na lang bumaba."
The idea was nice but then I told my Mom that I'll be home ng 9PM. I looked at my wristwatch and realized that if I followed the driver's instruction, I will be home by 11PM.
"Hindi na po," I retorted. "Magtataxi na lang po ako. Pakibaba na lang po ako dyan sa gilid." Sabi ko.
He reluctantly stopped the car and I immediately went down. Sobrang dilim nga but then I have to go home already or else my parents are going to worry. "Salamat po!" I uttered my thanks and went to the nearest waiting area.
I called the family driver but no one is answering. Baka hinatid si Dad sa hospital. I thought.
I also tried calling my brothers but none of them are answering as well. To my dismay, no taxi is also approaching me. I sighed in defeat and started walking the opposite way. The alley was too dark but then I have to walk kung hindi baka abutan na ako nang maaga doon. Until I heard a loud beep, causing me to look behind.
"Miss," a young man, probably the same age as me, went into my direction. "Tatay ko 'yung driver ng FX na sinakyan mo kanina. Sabi niya ihatid na lang daw kita. Walang masyadong sasakyan dito kaya matatagalan ka." He scratched his head awkwardly.
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at tumalikod sa kanya. "No thanks," I uttered. "I can manage." And started walking again.
"Sigurado ka ba? Medyo madilim dit. At tyaka, may ni-rape lang nung nakaraan dito. Nag-aalala lang yung Tatay ko."
Great! Bakit niya sinabi sa akin yon? Dahil ba gusto niya akong takutin? Well he succeeded!
"Sumama ka na." he urged. "Hindi naman ako masamang tao. We just want to help you."
"How sure am I that you're not a bad person?"
"Just trust me." He smiled and guided me to his car. "Lika na."
"Uhh, thank you." I whispered to him as he guided me to his car. "Kung hindi ko lang kailangan umuwi ng maaga, hindi ako sasama sa'yo." I defended my smile.
"Ayos lang," he smiled. His deep dimple on his left cheek showing shamelessly. "Alam ko naman 'yon."
Inayos ko ang aking upo sa kanyang sasakyan at inayos ang seatbelt. Tumikhim ako at lumingon sa kanya. "Dei. My name is Dei Mendoza. I figured it would be awkward if I didn't tell you my name."
"Den. Den Richards. Yo'n pangalan ko." He said and started the engine. "Saan ka nga pala nakatira?"
"Seriously? Your name is Den?" I asked him again. "Hindi ka ba nagjojoke or something. Ang lapit ng pangalan natin." This time I smiled at him and to my surprise, he smiled back.
"Oo nga." Napakamot naman ito sa ulo. "Sorry, di lang ako sanay na may pumapansin sa pangalan ko. Saan ka nakatira?" he asked again. I told him my address and he drove silently. In fairness to him, he was a good driver. Law abider. Good Citizen. I giggled.
"Bakit ka ba kasi lumampas sa daan mo? Sobra na palang layo ng inyo." He said while driving. Nagkibit balikat ako.
"I overslept. Sobrang pinuyat ako kakaaral." I awkwardly said.
"Dapat next time, uuwi ka ng maaga o papasundo. Iba na panahon ngayon." He randomly said. "Buti na lang nasabihan ako ng Papa na may naiwan siyang babae doon. Ayaw ka naman daw niya pilitin kaninang sumakay kasi baka natakot ka sa kanya. Medyo nakakatakot talaga yung tatay ko. Pasensya na." he kidded.
"Believe me, ayoko din sanang mag-aral ng ganun katagal. It's just that I'm having a hard time understanding my subject."
"Ano bang subject 'yan?" I replied. His eyes still glued on the way.
"Math," I breathed. "Hindi ko talaga major 'yang mga numbers numbers. Nakakaloka."
Tumingin siya sa akin. "Seriously? Madali lang 'yun. Konting understanding lang yun. Kaya mo 'yun."
"Paano mo naman malalaman na kayak o? You don't know me. Halos lahat ng tutor ko, sinusukuan ako."
"Then I'll teach you!" he volunteered.
"Weh? Magaling ka ba sa Math? Kaya mo ba akong ipasa?" I kidded.
"Yup. Confident ako dyan." Humalakhak siya. "Syempre, bayad ako." Anito at kumindat sa akin.
"Asus, trial daw muna." I kidded. We were approaching the house when I told him to stop the car nearby. "Dito na lang, Den. Baka Makita ka ng parentals. Alam mo namang dalagang Pilipina. Cannot be seen with a man."
"Malayo pa ba ang inyo?" he asked again. "Pwede naman kita samahang maglakad pa sa inyo."
"Hindi na." I dismissed him immediately. "Keri ko na to. Malapit na lang."
"Okay. Pahingi na lang ako ng number mo para makamusta kita mamaya kung nakauwi kang buhay."
"Ang OA." I snorted. "Di na. malapit na lang ako. Thank you sa time."
"Kung hindi mo ibibigay, hahatid kita hanggang gate niyo."
"Ito naman, di mabiro. Sige na ito na." I wrote my number on a tissue paper and handed it to him. "Okay naman na ako. Thank you."
I bid him goodbye and went inside the house.
And that was the start of our 7/16.
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