The Lucky One

Chapter VI

Ha? Ano daw yung sinabi ni Chace? He likes me daw and he wants me to be his girlfriend? Parang mali yata yung narinig ko ah. O baka naman may sira na ‘tong ulo n’ya?

          I was surprise when I burst out laughing. Grabe, nakakatawa pala ‘tong si Chace. I wipe the tears on my eyes. “You’re joking, right? I mean hello, why will a Chace Hummingbird like a girl like me? I’m not the kind of girl you do like, such as Candice?” sarkastikong sabi ko sa kanya.

          “Do you think I am joking right now? Do you think I will tell my family that we are dating if I don’t like you? Do you think I will ask you to be my girlfriend if I. Don’t. Like. You?” he asked through his gritted teeth. Oops, lagot ako nito! Mukhang nagalit yata sa reaction ko. Tuloy ‘di na ako nakapag-salita sa kanya, natameme na ang lola mo.

          “You know, you should feel honored because I’m asking you to be my girlfriend.” Dagdag pa ni Chace.

          Tumaas yung kilay ko. “Hoy, Chace Hummingbird, ang kapal mo naman! You’re not even courting me and then you are asking me to be your girlfriend? In your dreams! Manligaw ka muna!” sabi ko saka umalis papuntang sasakyan. Ha, akala ba n’ya easy-to-get ako? No way, manliligaw ka muna ng ilang taon bago kita sagutin no, Chace Hummingbird! I thought.

Hindi ako pumasok nang Mini Cooper S ni Chace at bagkus ay naghintay ako ng jeep papuntang city. May pera naman ako at marunung naman ako mag-commute ng mag-isa eh, kaya walang problema. Tinignan ko yung relo ko, halos one-fifteen na! Kaya pala parang nagugutom ako hindi pa pala kami kumakain ng pananghalian ni Chace.

Nung may dumaang sasakyan, pumara ako pero ‘di ako pinasin nung jeepney driver. Grabe, mukha ba akong bato para hindi mapansin?

I jumped in surprise when Chace took my hand. “Hey, what do you think you are doing?” he asked.

“Can’t you see? I’m waiting for a jeepney? I want to go home.” Sarkastikong sagot ko sa kanya.

“Then get in the car. There’s no point waiting for a jeep, it’s just one in the afternoon. Jeepneys from provinces usually go to the city at two in the afternoon on weekdays and weekends.” Chace replied. Wow, amazing! How come Chace knew about the schedules of afternoon jeepneys from provinces? I didn’t expect this information coming from him.

          “Are you coming or I’ll leave you alone just waiting for jeepneys?” he said.

          I sighed. May magagawa ba ako? Eh ayaw ko naman na mag-isang maghintay ng jeep dito sa tabi ng kalsada. Sumakay ako ng sasakyan n’ya then he started the engine. Tapos ayun bumalik na kami ng city.

          I jumped slightly when I heard my stomach growled for food. Ah, I’m hungry na pero wala namang food! Humihingi na yung tiyan ko ng pagkain.

          Huminto sandali si Chace tapos may kinuha s’ya sa likod ng sasakyan n’ya. Isang brown paper bag iyon, and then may kinuha s’ya sa luob. Bigyan n’ya ako ng food na parang sandwiched. Wow, parmesan chicken ciabatta pala! Pero nag-dalawang isip ako na kunin yung pagkain.

          “Come on, take it! Don’t worry I don’t put poison on the food my mom made for us.” Sabi ni Chace na naka-ngiti.

          “Thanks,” I replied awkwardly.

          Chace drove off again.  Two hours passed when we arrived to the city. Traffic was everywhere. Today’s weekend so it’s expected that there are so many cars and people on the road.

          “Where do you live?” he asked.

          “Uh… at La Plaza Subdivision,”