Lacuna • Book 2 of Change [Ricci Rivero]

twenty

"Ang init sa Pilipinas." sabi ko pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko ng eroplano at tumambad nanaman sakin ang lahat ng nakasanayan ko dito noon. Naghintay kami ng sundo sa bay sa terminal arrivals. "I want to go back to New York. I regret this." Donny muttered beneath his breath, trying to fan himself sa sobrang init. "Sino ba kasing may sabi sayo na makigaya ka ng turtle neck sakin?" I chuckled and fixed his collar for him para di na siya mainitan masyado.

Minutes later, stepping down from the sports car, Ricci and Elliana walked towards us and gave us a smile. I rolled my eyes; Donny looked around like he was waiting for someone else to come.

"Ang layo ng tingin niyo." Elliana spoke and stood i front of us beside Ricci. She took her shades off and slid it inside her handbag. She was wearing a leather jacket in this weather in the Philippines. Imagine how difficult it must be for her. "Wala nang ibang susundo?" imik ni Donny ng iritable, "I thought you called Que?" he muttered and walked away, far from us. Kalalapag palang namin sa Pilipinas, ganito na kaagad ang salubong samin ni Donny.

"She did," Ricci interrupts Donny, trying to let him hear his explanation but Donny was too pissed to listen. "She sent us to fetch you instead. Diretso tayo sa firm." seryosong sambit ni Ricci as he puts his phone inside the inner pocket of his jacket. He was wearing a bomber, street style he's always had.

"Uh, I'm tired.." sabi ko and walked away as I contact Que again to pick us up. Ricci then grabs me by my wrist like one of those in the movies. It was a tight grip at first but when I stared deep in his eyes after he pulled me back and made me face him, his grip loosened and his facial expressions softened. "Rivero, I'm tired. I've had a long flight. Can't we deal with this tomorrow?" mariin kong sabi at inirapan ito. I resisted the grip he had on my wrist until natanggal ko ito at ibinalik sa hawak sa mga maletang dala ko.

Elliana then interrupted the both of us from our awkwardness and snapped us out of the heat of the conversation maaari pang dumating. "Que's not coming to pick you both up. I'm sorry if she had to call us to do this but we just can't say no." paliwanag nito at nagcross arms. "So what? Are you both coming or not?" sabi ni Ricci and reached out for his car keys again. "Kung hindi, aalis na kami?"

Nagtinginan kami ni Donny at sabay rin na ibinaling ang tingin kay Elliana at Donny na naghihintay. I sighed deeply and finally gave in. "Fine. What the hell, I can't believe I'm doing this." I sighed deeply and groaned in frustration. Iniwan ko ang maleta ko at nagdirediretso na sa kotse ni Ricci na binuksan na  niya ahead of time habang naglalakad ako. I was then about to open the door of his car when he held the car handle first and insisted to open it for me. "Kaya kong buksan." pagpupumilit ko ngunit he forced to remove my hand from the handle gently and opened the door by himself. "Welcome back, Alex. Welcome to the Philippines." he smiled like a puppy dog who was given treats by his master as a price. It was an intimidating smile that I ignored at pumasok na sa loob. Donny hopped in the car as well kasabay ni Elliana habang nilalagay ni Ricci ang maleta naming pareho.

Elliana was trying to spot us through the rear view mirror, making eye contact with the both of us. Ricci entered the driver's seat and looked at the rear view mirror too. Hindi namin ito pinansin at nagtinginan kami ni Donny, finally speaking up and breaking the silence. "I can't wait to get back to New York. Ang peaceful ng buhay natin dun. Walang nananakit." sabi ko and sighed deeply. Donny chuckled and can't help but disagree. Elliana and Ricci uncomfortably looked around and fidgeted on their seats at hindi na nagawa pang umimik. We both placed our eye masks and tried to ignore the fact that we're inside the same car as our exes. Donny let out a irritated groan again as I sighed deeply, kasing lalim ng Marianas Trench. This would probably be the longest ride that we'd both have— me and Donny— in our entire lives.