Blackrose Agenda

Agenda 33

Agenda 33

Do You Remember

This is not a fucking date.

Nag-echo iyong tanong ni Jane sa kanya kanina. At kanina pa nagpipintig yung tenga nya sa kakaulit ng tanong na iyon sa utak nya. And frankly, if she could inject herself something that will make her forget, she would.

Clio was riding Jae's car at nakaupo silang dalawa sa backseat. They had a driver to take them to the restaurant. Sumiksik si Clio sa dulo at pinatong ang siko sa may bintana, not looking at the guy beside her.

I want to go home and pester Sav.

Pagkapark nila sa harap ng restaurant ay si Jae pa ang nagbukas ng pinto ng kotse para sa kanya.

Sa isang 5-star French restaurant sila magdidinner ngayon. Now she gets it. Nang tingnan nya ang schedule nya for the next two days ay palagi syang may lunch at dinner appointment. I see what you did there Mom and Dad. Gusto kasi nila makuha ang loob ng media, and Montgomery Media Inc. would be the best platform for that. For publicity, they say. And for strings to pull...

"You're quiet."

Tango lang ang sagot nya at kumain ng salmon. Tatlong kutsara lang yung serving, pero ang presyo ay parang nagtapon ka ng pera sa ilalim ng dagat. Gosh, gusto ko ng kanin. Kakain na lang ako uli sa bahay.

Hindi na nagulat si Jae sa inasal ni Clio. He's used to it kahit nung mga bata pa sila. Guarded. Some things never change.

It was a quiet dinner. They would only talk about the upcoming launch of a new condominium building and that's it. Pagkatapos non, dead air ulit.

She didn't bother to order some dessert kahit inaya sya ni Jae. My god, how in hell did Yvo survive this shit? She wants to go home... but Jae has other plans.

Nang nakalabas na sila ng restaurant ay inabot ng valet ang susi ng Mercedes Benz kay Jae, na syang pinagtaka ni Clio.

"Uhm... the driver?" tinaasan ng kilay ni Clio si Jae, pero pinagbuksan lang sya nito ng pinto ng shotgun seat. Kahit nagtataka, ay sumakay ng lang sya. She needs to be nice - or at least pretend to be- to close the deal.

Remind me again why I volunteered?

Sumakay na si Jae sa driver's seat at nagsimula nang magdrive. Sya naman ay itinukod lang ang siko sa may salamin ng kotse.

Makakatulog na sana sya ngunit biglang nawala ang antok nya nang nilampasan ng kotse ang dapat na likuan papuntang Castille Manor.

"This is not-"

"You're not going home yet." sabi ni Jae habang nakatingin pa rin sa daan.

"Where are you taking me?" she glared.

"If I tell you, it would ruin the surprise."

"I hate surprises."

Whether good or bad. She remembered the last time she was surprised. It wasn't pretty.

"I know." he replied nonchalantly.

He knows? Bullshit. Ngayong taon nga lang sila nagka-usap eh. She doesn't even know him aside from being the Student Council President who she somehow forgets to exist. She knows he's there but she just didn't care enough to give him her attention. She doesn't plan to pero ito na mismo ang pumasok sa buhay nya. And excuse me, he's not welcome.

"Pull over." sabi ni Clio since hindi naman kasama sa schedule nya ang pagsama dito. Hanggang dinner lang then hallelujah na.

"I will, once we get there."