The Choice (Machiavelli #1)

Kabanata 1

"Zen, are you done? Zen? Zen!"

"Wha-what? Eto na. Goodness Ray, you'll give me a heart attack. Can you lower your voice? Nasa classroom pa tayo." I told him as I started to pack my belongings na naka-kalat sa desk ko. Today's class is dismissed so we're now preparing to go home after a long day of lectures.

Kumunot ang noo niya, "Lower my voice? Eh ikaw tong tinatawag ko ng paulit-ulit. Where in the world your mind goes this time? Sino ba tinitingnan mo?" He said as he tried to look where I was looking earlier.

I immediately stopped him from doing so, "Nothing! I was just spacing out. May ina-alala lang ako, okay? Let's go baka nandito na ang sundo ko." Ayokong malaman niya kung sino ang tinititigan ko. He would tease me nonstop if he would know and at the same time he will scold the shit out of me.

We were near the exit of the campus when he suddenly clings onto me.

"So, how about we go to a mall and have shopping? There's this newly opened shop that I want to see. Maganda daw doon because it's 2 in 1--clothing store and coffee shop." He said while grinning ear to ear. Kahit kailan talaga puro shopping at pagkain lang iniisip nito.

Napasimangot ako, "Ray, you know I have curfew right?"

Nakanguso siyang napabitaw sakin, "We're in college already. Hanggang ngayon may curfew ka pa rin? Tita and Tito is really protective when it comes to you. Sa tatlo kayong magkakapatid ikaw lang hanggang ngayon ang may curfew." Tila nagtatampo niyang sabi.

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya, "Kuya Azel is working at the company that dad's handling so he can take over and Kuya Ozin's just waiting for the result from his civil exam. Why do they need a curfew? Eh they can have a family whenever they want na. You already know it right? Haha." Nakikita ko na ang sasakyan namin sa malayo.

He rolled his eyes at sabay na humalukipkip.

"Whatever, ang sabihin mo they still treat you like a baby. They can do whatever they want with their life pero samahan mo na ako, please? Just this once. I'll take you home before your curfew. I promise."

I sighed. Ano pa bang magagawa ko eh magtatampo ito sakin if I rejected him.

"Alright. And don't start me with your "Take me home before my curfew" line. You've said that a couple of times and ni isa wala ka pang natutupad." Tiningnan ko siya ng masama and he just gave me his peace sign with natatae face.

"I'm sorry, okay? Nakakalusot naman tayo kina Tito at Tita kapag hinahatid kita tsaka gusto lang kitang makasama ng matagal. Hehe."

"Palusot ka pa. Teka, I'll tell Mang Kanor first na sayo ako sasama." Pinuntahan ko na ang sasakyan namin at sinabihan si Mang Kanor na mauna na muna siya dahil may pupuntahan pa ako.

"Pasensiya na po." Hingi ko ng paumanhin dahil pinapunta ko pa ito dito sa campus.

"Sige po, Sir Zen. Sasabihan ko nalang si Tiya Soleng mo na wag ka na paghandaan ng meryenda." Sabi nito habang pinapaandar na ulit ang sasakyan.

"Salamat po, Mang Kanor!" Paalam ko dito.

I immediately go to the school's field. Nandoon kasi naka-parking ang mga sasakyan ng mga estudiyante dito sa campus. I saw his car kaya sumakay na ako. Nasa driver's seat siya.

"Nasaan ang driver mo?"

"I don't need one, okay? Nasa legal age na tayo and I have my drivers license so ano'ng kinakatakot mo?" He looked at me na natatawa. I wouldn't be so nervous kung alam ko na maayos ito mag drive.

"Just drive at a normal speed. Ayoko pang mamatay ng dahil lang sa kabalastugan mo." There's this one time that he insisted on driving our car and man, it wasn't a good experience. Na-trauma ata ako after noon. Nag commute talaga ako for two weeks even my kuya's are worried dahil ayaw nila akong nagco-commute and insisted na sila maghahatid sakin pero ayoko talaga noon. Nagalit pa sila kay Ray kesyo kaya daw dahil sakanya eh nagco-commute nalang ako. It wasn't a big deal for me sila lang naman ang over protective sa akin.

"Yeah, sure."