Phoenix vs Janna

Chapter 19

"Oh my God! Phoenix, may tama ka!"

"Okay lang ako! Let's get out of here."

They made it to the car when Rex unceremoniously parked his car beside them.

"Shit!" Phoenix swore softly. He grabbed his jacket from the back seat and put it on, hiding the blood that stained his shoulder. He winced in pain.

"Phoenix, kailangan nating pumunta sa hospital para macheck yan!" Janna said in fear.

"Shh! Huwag kang magpahalata kay Rex." Rex was walking towards them.

"Bakit? Matutulungan ka niya!"

"Ayokong malaman ng parents ko."

"Phoenix... may sugat ka!"

Rex was almost beside Phoenix's side of the car. The pain was getting worse, he was finding it difficult to concentrate between Janna and his approaching body guard.

"Rex may be fired if my parents knew he failed in guarding me." He whispered through clenched teeth, ignoring the pain.

He rolled down the window.

"Okay lang kayo?" Rex asked, his eyes checking them both.

"Yeah." Phoenix said as casually as he could.

Janna nodded silently at Rex.

"Bakit ka pumunta dito?" She asked later as he was driving.

"Tatay Juan called me."

"Si Tatay talaga!"

"Your Tatay was worried. He found out nasa demolition ka."

"Hindi ka na dapat pumunta!"

"Dahil lang sa Tatay mo, Hellcat! Hindi ko siya matanggihan when he sounded so desperate! Kailan ka ba magiging concerned sa feelings ng magulang mo, ha, Hellcat?"

"Nakita mo naman ang sitwasyon doon. Walang-wala na nga, tinapakan pa nila lalo ang mga tao!"

Phoenix looked sideways at Janna. She looked so tired and sad. There were tears in her eyes.

He sighed.

After a few minutes, they pulled into an office building. They were ushered inside. As they waited, Janna wanted to check his shoulder.

"Later, Hellcat."

"Ano ba kasi ang ginagawa natin dito!"

An elderly man came out. Janna recognized him immediately as the Archbishop of Manila.

"Phoenix, Iho! What brings you here?"

Phoenix bowed to receive the Cardinal's blessing on his forehead. Janna followed suit.

"Tito, there's been a demolition in Tondo."

"One of our Barangays?"

"No, the next one north of it."

"What happened?"

"There were shots fired."

"Ah."

"The residents, Tito. There were kids. They have nowhere to go."

"I'll send a team to take care of them."

"Thanks, Tito."

"I should thank you. Our projects are thriving with your family's help."

When they left, Janna asked about his Cardinal Tito.

"Ninong ko siya."

"Bakit tayo pumunta sa kaniya?"

"He will be able to help the residents. They will be treated for injuries, housed, eventually relocated."