The Crude Casanova

TCC ~ 25

TCC ~ XXV

***

Chryss

"Charlie, sorry. I have to leave tonight." Apologetic kong saad sa kabilang linya. I'm a little sad.

Wala na akong oras para magpaalam pa ng personal.

"Why? Is there something wrong?" She sounded so worried.

Charlie has always been a worrier. Kahit kay Oliver ay ganoon siya. Kaya nga mas madalas kong kinakausap si Oliver dahil ayaw kong pag-alalahanin si Charlie.

"Nothing, Mom.. It's just that I have something to do. Can you tour Chad though? I don't think I can attend to you tomorrow. Maybe some other day. I still have to settle some things."

I can't let her know everything. Mas mabuti nang wala siyang alam. Baka masaktan ko lang siya sa pinag gagawa ko.

Although I felt bad, wala na akong magagawa. I started this. I better deal with it.

Naghihintay na sa akin si Senechov upang umalis. I have to come with him tonight. Uuwi kami sa mansyon. Hindi rin naman niya ako titigilan kung sakaling tumanggi ako. Now that he confessed.

He allowed me to make some calls. Ang sabi ko'y magpapaalam ako kina Oliver. At kahit naman hindi siya pumayag, gagawin ko pa rin. I won't let him dictate my decisions.

Pero kailangan ko pa ring umalis.

"Oh.. okay. Just be careful." She replied. I guess she's a little bothered for me. "Are you with someone?"

Malakas talaga amg pakiramdam ni Charlie. Napangiti ako.

"Yes, I am. You don't have to worry so much, Mom. I'll be okay. Just call me if you need anything, okay? And I'll surely visit you guys. You're going home in Laguna, right?"

May property sila roon sa Laguna. Doon sila nagkakilala ng tunay kong ina. My mother was their helper.

"Darling, don't think about us. We stayed for a long time here in the Philippines. We still know how to get by." She laughed. "And we'll take care of Chad."

Mabuti naman. Nag-aalala lang naman ako dahil dapat sana'y namamasyal kami pero heto ako at uuwi. Ang ganda pa sana ng plano ko para sa amin. Ito kasing si Senechov.

"Are you done?"

I nodded my head in agreement.

"Okay, let's go then. Are you really sure that you're going with me? We can stay and stroll tomorrow with them."

And have them talk at each other? Naningkit ang mata ko habang nakatitig sa kanya. I dont think so. I hate complications although I signed for this.

"Okay lang. Umuwi na tayo. Nag-enjoy rin naman kami kanina."

At nauna na akong tumalikod sa kanya.

Aasikasuhin rin naman ni Charlie ang sa hotel. Sayang nga at hindi ko naman gaanong nagamit ang room ko.

But this is for the better. Kapag hindi ako umalis ngayon, magsti-stay si Senechov. Siguradong sasama rin siya bukas sa pamamasyal, mas magiging complicated ang sitwasyon. Mas maraming explanations na kailangan.
I'm sure my parents will interrogate him. Mabubuko ako ni Senechov pati ng parents ko.

"Whatever you want." He put my small bag at the back of the car.

Panay ang sulyap niya sa akin. Habang ako nama'y hindi makapaniwala na nakaupo ako sa kotse niya habang malalim na ang gabi. Nakatitig ako sa kawalan, sa kadiliman at tanging street lights lang ang ilaw.