Hey, It's Me, Karma (Manileño Series #1)

Chapter 41

Hey, It's Me, Karma

Taken

These past few days, I noticed the changes between Magentta and her mother.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari. Ang alam ko lang ay nitong nakaraang araw, nakilala ni Magentta ang ama niya. She was even excited when she told me about it. Gusto raw makipagkita sa kaniya ang papa niya. Pansin ko ang disgusto ni Tita Ruby roon ngunit nang makita ang saya sa anak ay pinagbigyan na. Magentta was looking forward to it so I thought she'd come back home telling me stories about how the meeting with her Father goes.

Iyon nga lang ay wala siyang kinuwento sa akin. Whenever I brought it up, she'd always change subject.

"Kamusta na kayo ng manliligaw mo?" Itinaas-baba niya ang kilay na may panunudyo, para bang hindi niya suot ang blankong mukha kanina lang.

Pinagbibigyan ko na lang siya sa pag-iwas ng paksa. If she doesn't want to talk about it, I won't force it out to her. I was just hoping I'd have an idea what's going on, even a glimpse. Mukhang natutuhan na ni Magentta na itago ang nararamdaman at hindi ko na siya mabasa nang ganoon kadali.

Pinanood ko ang pagdaan ng abalang tanawin sa labas. There were vehicles outside and the fading vision of establishments and trees. Hinayaan kong maboryo ang sarili sa panonood sa labas habang tinatapik-tapik ang iPod.

"Are you hungry?" rinig kong tanong ng kasama ko.

Lumingon ako at tinanggal ang nag-iisang nakakabit na earplug sa tenga ko. I only plugged in one of them so I'd still be aware of my surroundings. Naglaho ang musika na bumubulong kanina sa tenga ko at mas dinig ko na ang makina ng mga sasakyan.

"Hindi naman..." I said hesitantly. Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili kung tama ba ang naisagot ko. "Ikaw?" Ipinasa ko na lang sa kaniya ang mahirap na tanong.

Ivan shrugged while looking at the road. Inikot niya ang manibela para sa pagliko. Pinanood kong umukit ang ugat sa braso niya nang gawin iyon.

He was wearing our school uniform. May ID pa siya na nakasulat ang kurso namin at ang kakaibang kulay ng ID mula sa ibang mga kurso rin. Three of his buttons were opened that revealed a little of his collar bone in every movement.

"Not really but I was planning on getting you something to eat..." he said carefully.

Napataas ang kilay ko sa kaniya. He licked his lower lip and languidly brushed his now messy quiff. Nakita ko pa ang pamumula ng tenga niya marahil sa kahihiyan sa sinabi niya kanina o dahil sa nanghahamon kong titig. Nanatili pa rin namang nakapokus ang paningin niya sa daan.

Ivan has been sending me from school to home. Alam ko naman na marunong siya magmaneho dahil minsan ay ginagamit niya ang sasakyan niya sa paaralan kapag hindi nagco-commute. The first time he sent me home with his car, I got the opportunity to ask about it and delve in deeper when I was given the chance.

"Pansin ko minsan mo lang dala ang sasakyan mo," sabi ko sa kalagitnaan ng byahe namin noong araw na iyon.

"Dala ko kapag hindi ako tinatamad magmaneho. My Tito from Italy taught me how to drive car when I was sixteen. Nakakuha lang ako ng lisensya noong fourth year high school. Sabay kami ni Ford," mahabang kuwento niya kahit hindi ko naman itinanong ang ibang bagay.

Napatango ako. Alam kong lumipad siya sa Italya noong nasa High School siya ngunit hindi niya pa iyon nakukuwento sa akin. I wanted to hear more about his days there.

My body tilted to his direction, now interested about the stories he can tell me.

I've also learned that from time to time he has to visit their headquarters to learn from their people. His Father wanted him to immediately take over as the Chief Executive Officer once he's ready for it. May two years training naman siya sa pasikot-sikot sa Hotel Management at Kitchen noong ipinadala siya sa Italy.