Fool Me Twice

Chapter 2

UNO 

(Present)

"Are you okay?"

I was spacing out for a bit until I felt a light tap at the back of my head.

"Huy kuya, kung ano man 'yang iniinom mo... baka pwedeng pahingi ako?" pabirong sabi ni Gio bago ko ibinato ang dala-dala kong empty cup ng kape sa kanya.

"'Loko ka. Hurry up! May pupuntahan pa ako."

I entered the driver's side of my car and waited for my brother to get in. It was a little past 7 AM nang bigla siyang nag-message kung pwede ko raw ba siya daanan galing school. 

It's a good thing that Ateneo's Law School is just in Makati and near my office in BGC. Pinagbigyan ko na rin kahit traffic. Bihira ko na kasing makita ang kapatid ko, maliban sa paminsan-minsan kong pagdalaw sa bahay at special occasions. 

We were both busy. He's so preoccupied with his 2nd year in law school, and me with working.

"So, how are you holding up, Attorney?" bati ko sa kanya habang sinusuot niya ang seatbelt.

"'Wag mo kasing batiin! If I don't pass the boards in the future, much less my exams and recits, sisisihin kita." he answered stressfully. Halatang pagod na talaga siya. He's always been like this even when I know that he's smart. Kahit naaawa na rin ako tuwing nakikita ko siyang nahihirapan, he always tells me and mom na ginusto niya 'to kaya papanindigan niya. Wow. I admired him for that.

"Bakit ka nga ba pala nasa school when it's so early?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Doon ka ba natulog??? Hoy Gio, I know that law school is rea-"

"No, I just passed by to share some of my digests with my study group. Nagpalitan lang kami ng notes. Wala naman akong class today. Thank you Lord!" sambit niya at tuwang-tuwa na makakahinga na siya sa ngayon. 

Dumiretso muna ako sa village namin sa may pagitan ng Makati business district at BGC. Nakita ng guard ang sticker sa sasakyan ko kaya't hindi na ko pinigilang pumasok sa loob ng exclusive subdivision. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay nakarating na rin kami sa bahay. 

Pababa na si Gio ng kotse nang biglang lumingon muna sa akin.

"But kuya, seriously though. You okay?" may pagaalalang tanong niya sakin.

Napaisip tuloy ako if I really do look like a mess or alam lang niya ang ibig sabihin ng date ngayon. 

"Mama mo, okay. Dali na, get out! I'm going to be late! Just say hi to mom for me!" I joked and shrugged off his concern bago siya tinulak palabas ng pinto.

"Bobo mo kuya! E mama mo rin 'yung mama ko!" sigaw niya bago tuluyang umalis at pumasok sa loob ng gate. 

Tumingin muna ako sa rear-view mirror at inaral ang sarili. I really do look tired. I mean it was a long night though, with the party and the drinking, and... Claire, but that wasn't anything new. Ganun naman talaga ako. That's just how I live. Umiling ako at napagdesisyunang nag-ooverthink lang, bago pinaandar ang kotse palabas ng village at papuntang BGC.

The traffic was moderate. Nothing out of the usual sa araw-araw kong drive papasok ng office. No matter how long I've been staying and working in this area, hindi ko pa rin mapigilang mamangha sa pagka-systematic ng lugar na ito. It reminds me of my daily grind and reflects me as a person. Someone who works hard, but plays even harder.

I parked my car in the building's underground parking. Swerte ata ako ngayon at may bakanteng area pa. Naglakad ako papuntang elevator at may mga nakasabay na babae from a different company on another floor. Napansin ko ang pasimpleng tingin at tawanan nila sa direksyon ko.