1st Thorn: End Of Conversation (TTGN Book 3)

Chapter 28

Chase was driving and looking straight in the road.

The radio was playing and it played... ironically, Mirrors by Justin Timberlake.

Bigla bumalik ang memorya ng road trip nila noong papunta sa resort ng mga Perez.

Chase chuckled a bit.

"Ironic," anito.

Parang bumabalik ang lahat... sa dati.

While driving Chase's phone rang.

He used his other hand to fish his phone out from his pocket and handed it to Ara.

"Please answer it and put in on loud speaker mode," ani Chase ay ginawa naman iyon ni Ara.

"Yo bro!!" sigaw ni Ten sa kabilang linya.

"Ten, what do you want?", bigla hindi nagsalita ang kabilang linya pero ilang segundo ay may nagsalita ulit.

"Si Five na to, inutusan pa kasi si Ten,"

"Bat kayo napatawag?", tanong naman ni Chase still looking at the road focusing on his driving.

"We want to invite you to a somehow impromptu dinner later at our hotel's garden here in Manila, birthday ni Ate Belle and she's also announcing the gender of her third child," ani Five.

"I see," ani Chase, he paused for a second before talking again.

"Pwede ba akong magdala ng date?", tanong ni Chase.

Ara looked at Chase, nakangiti ang binata.

"That's interesting, who?", tanong naman ni Five sa kabilang linya.

Napailing iling si Ara.

"Ara, she's actually here," anito.

Chase mouthed "talk" to her, and she didn't have any choice but to do so.

"Hi, Five! Kamusta?", ani Ara na hawak-hawak parin ang telepono ni Chase.

"Uy Ara! Invited ka rin ha! Madami kayong dapat sabihin samin! Iimbitahan ko rin sila Raquel," ani Five.

"Sige magandang ideya yan," sagot naman ni Ara.

"Alright then bro, see you tonight," si Chase na ang nagsalita.

"Alright, ingat kayo," ani Five bago patayin ang tawag.

"Dinamay mo pa ako," ani Ara.

"Sige na, besides, we won't be working together anymore starting tomorrow, diba?", tanong ni Chase sakanya.

"Sige na nga," Ara gives up.

"Alright doc, we're here," ani Chase pagkatapos iparada ang sasakyan.

Bumababa na silang dalawa at pumasok sa isang shop.

"Ara, hija," bati sakanya agad ng isang matandang babae na mukhang masiglang masigla parin.

"Tita Eth," bati ni Ara pabalik bago kumalas sa yakap.

"Your tito isn't here right now, may pinuntahan eh, pero nasabihan niya na ako, kukunin mo na ba ang dadamitin ng papa mo?", tanong sakanya.

"Opo,"

"Sige.. sandali, sino ang guwapong binata na ito?", tanong ni Tita Eth kay Ara.

Inabot naman ni Chase ang kanyang kamay at nagpakilala.

"Chase Natividad po—"

"Kaibigan ko," putol ni Ara dahil mukhang may sasabihin pa si Chase.

Tinikom na lamang ni Chase ang kanyang bibig bago tapusin ang pagkakamay sa matanda.

"Bagay kayo hijo, nako, kung ako sayo, ligawan mo na itong si Ara, ang kakambal niya may pamilya na, pero siya wala pang jowa," anang matanda.

Natawa naman si Chase sa sinabi nito.

"Nililigawan ko na nga po eh," ani Chase.

Bahagyang siniko ni Ara si Chase.

Then chase mouthed "what?" while laughing.

"Really? That's good! Sana naman hija ikasal ka na anytime soon," anang matanda kay Ara.

Ara just answered with an awkward laugh.

"Here it is hija," anang ginang sabay about sakanya ang suit ng kanyang ama

"Thank you po, we'll go ahead na," pagpapaalam ni Ara.

"No problem dear, tell your father I said hi," sagot sakanya.

"Of course, thank you again," huling sinabi ni Ara bago lumabas sila ni Chase.

Si Chase ang kumarga ng suit at inilagay ito sa likod ng kanyang sasakyan.

"So where to next?", tanong ni Chase.

"It's still 3pm, where do you want to go?", tanong sakanya ni Ara.

"What do you mean? Do you want me to take you on a... date?", tanong sakanya ni Chase pabalik.

"Ikaw bahala," sagot ni Ara habang pinipigilan ang pag ngiti.