A Crossroad ✔

Chapter 24: Shiny He

[Quin]

Halos tatlong minuto rin kaming nagtatalo kung sino ang masusunod. Siya o ako. May dala akong kotse kaya gusto kong mag-convoy na lang kami pero nagpupumilit siyang sumabay na ako sa kan'ya.

Mabuti na lang at walang katao-tao sa parking lot kaya hindi ako masyadong namroblema. If ever someone see us acting like some stupid... anything... I don't even know if I would get to see tomorrow! Raven and his damn confidence in strolling around like his life is all normal!

"Like what I said, why don't you just ride in my car?" Nakakunot-noo pa siya.

"May dala akong kotse, Raven." I almost rolled my eyes at him. God. Why am I calling him that? Are we even close to be this... to use this first name basis?

"But didn't you know there's an oil price hike in most part of the country now? This is another way of saving expenses and our mother earth. Come on." Napipilitan akong pumasok sa kotse niya pagkatapos ng isang mahaba, malalim at halos marahas ng hininga.

Kailan pa ako naging sunod-sunuran sa lalaking 'to?

"Good choice, honey. You can help improve our economy more." Kumindat pa kaya halos pandilatan ko na siya ng mga mata sa inis ko. Biruin niyo, umagang-umaga palang ay pinaiikot na niya ang mata ko sa pangungulit niya! Mas nauna pa siya sa opisina ko kaysa sakin mismo!

I hated the fact that I let him stay... And I even invited him to my mom's simple birthday celebration na tanging ako, sina manang, manong, at si mom lang din ang magdidiriwang. Since what happened within our family, we never celebrated grand celebrations, ever again.

Why did I invite him all of a sudden? I thought I want him out?

Urgh. Nagi-guilty lang ako. Alas dose na rin kasi ng tanghali pero hindi ko man lang siya nakitang may kinain. He stayed in my office for hours. Ni wala man lang siyang ibang ginawa kun'di maupo at magtanong-tanong minsan.

He wasted time in my office and I didn't even treat him with hospitality! As a concerned citizen... I know I must do something, right?

"I don't know if you're just plain careless or what..." Napalunok ako nang lumapit siya nang lumapit. He inched closer I almost held my breath just not to inhale his damn smell and intoxicated in no time! He is so close! Sobrang lapit sa nararapat.

"Make sure you put on your seatbelts. Better safe than sorry, I tell you," paalala niya saka ko narinig ang pag-lock niya sa seatbelt. "Let's go... So, where is your place?" nakangising tanong niya saka binuhay ang makina ng sasakyan. Wala na rin akong nagawa kun'di ituro ang daan papunta sa sa bahay namin.

"Gusto mo kantahan kita?" he asked out of nowhere. Kinabahan ako. I know he's a great singer with a great voice... Pero mukhang hindi ko kakayanin ang suhestiyon niya. He'll kill me!

And why is he suggesting such... Urgh. He must be very confident, huh?

"No. Don't bother," tanggi ko. Hindi na siya umimik pa kaya kumalma ako.

"When the days are cold and the cards all fold and the saints we see are all made of gold..." I bit my lips as he started songing in a low voice, being able to hit the right tone by that song I heard once... or twice. His voice was so good I can't help but close my eyes, I don't know why too. Was I refraining myself or was I surrendering, perhaps?

"When your dreams all fail and ones we hail are the worst of all, and the blood run stale..." Napakapit ako sa shoulder bag ko nang mahigpit. Why is he torturing me like this?

His voice reminded me of someone I could never forget no matter what happened. That person used to sing me songs too, especially at nights I cannot sleep because I'm troubled about the future! He was one of the few people who can make my heat ache just by opening his darn mouth and sing!