Since Childhood

14: Midnight Dream

While Tim was driving, umiiyak lang ako sa passenger’s seat. He weren’t wearing any jacket or have extra clothes kaya naman my dress which were ruined remained uncover, some of my skin were shown. I couldn’t believe what just happened to me. I was accused of being a mistress in front of all those people. Something that I will never ever do.

“Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo don kasama yung lalaki na yon?!” Tim asked out of the blue. That was the first time he spoke while we’re on the car.

“Shut up.” I cried.

“You can’t just tell me to shut up!” He screamed. “What the hell?! Were you dating that guy? A married guy? Seriously, Rhein?!”

“Wala kang pakialam, Timothy! Wala kang pakialam sa kung sino man ang gusto kong i-date!” I barked back at him as we look at each other through the mirror in front of him. “Ihinto mo yung sasakyan. Bababa ako.”

“In that dress? No.” His jaw were clenching.

“Ihinto mo. Stop the car!”

“No, I can’t! Paano kung mapahamak ka lang lalo sa lagay mong yan?”

“Why do you care?! Stop pretending na nagaaala ka. You never really care!”

“Of course, I care about you! You are like my younger sister!”

“Stop the car.” I ordered. I lowered my voice, yung tipo na mahina pero puno ng authority. “Stop the fucking car!”

Tim looked at me first through the mirror. Magkasalubong ang kilay nya at halatang galit na sya. Unexpectedly, he twisted the steering wheel and then harshly step on his break kaya naman gumawa sya ng screeching sound.

Nang nakahinto na ang sasakyan sa gilid, he said, “ayan, nakahinto na! Bumaba ka na. Do whatever the hell that you want! I won’t care any longer!”

Tuloy tuloy lang yung luha ko habang galit na galit akong nakatingin sa kanya. After one hell of a minute, binuksan ko ang pinto ng sasakyan nya at bumaba. Hugging myself, feeling cold and hurt, lumakad ako sa kahabaan ng skyway. There weren’t too many people dahil it’s a skyway. There’s only cars, and few of those cars are slowing down every time they pass me by. Inilalabas pa nga ng iba ang ulo nila to check me out. There are maniacs who are screaming and calling me, tapos ay magtatawanan.

I picked my phone again and called Fatima. When she answered, hindi ko mapigilan na gumaralgal ang boses.

“Fatima,” I cried her name.

“W-what’s going on, Daniela? Okay ka lang ba? How was the date? Why do you sound like crying?”

“Sunduin mo ako, please. I need–” naputol ang sasabihin ko ng may umagaw sa cellphone ko. I look up at the culprit. It was, still, Tim.

“Enough with your stubbornness.” He says then he speak with Fatima. “Hi, this is Timothy. Don’t worry about Rhein. She’s with me.” Tapos ay pinutol nya ang tawag. My phone rang after that but he shut it down.

“What the actual hell is wrong with you?!” I yelled at Tim. I’m so angry at him. So fucking mad.

“Gusto mo ba yan, Rhein? Those car drivers looking at you? Disrespecting you? Because if you do like it, well I don’t. And I’m so fucking confident na hindi magugustuhan ng mga kuya mo yan, specially tita Divina and your dad. Now bago ko pa ipaalam kung ano ang nangyari sayo, get back to the car.” Timothy warned me.

I look at him with hatred and tears in the eyes.

“I hate you. So much.”

Hindi na sumagot si Tim. I join him back to the car. We never spoke to each other since then. Tahimik na lang akong umiyak sa passenger’s seat.