The Boy I Love to Hate

Chapter 17 Iphone Fixed!

Caden

I don't know what has gotten into me last night. How could I bring her into the only place in the world where I can find solitude? That was my retreat everytime I'm angry and feed up with the world. Kapag nag-aaway ang parents ko or kapag napapatrouble ako, that place was my hide out. Kontento na ako na ako lang mag-isa nakatunganga sa langit. Out of instinct bigla ko nalang naisipan na hindi sapat na ako lang, na kailangang kasama ko si Thea para ako kumalma. Ilang beses akong napahilamos sa sariling mukha, I'm trying to figure out how to react to all of this. I have known that girl since forever, we share the same playground, the same church and the same neighborhood growing up. I never found her attractive, there were even times na napapakunot ang noo ko sa itsura niya sa tuwing nakikita kong nakabukas ang bintana niya sa kabilang bahay. I never had the slightest interest on her.

Not until recently...

Just one random conversation with her led to another and another, until I realized I was talking to her not just because I needed a ride to school but because I wanted to. Magaan kasama si Thea, she has an spontaneous set of thoughts that always leave me in awe. Probably because I used to dating dumb girls before and she's not like any of them.

I must admit that sneaking inside her room has become a hobby of mine. Noon akala ko, gusto ko lang ng aircon sa pagtulog. Ngayon, gusto ko nang maramdaman ang katawan niya, sa bawat pagkibot ko sa kama at hinahanap na din ng ilong ko ang amoy niya. When did I become to fucking attach to the girl? I don't know. I never will know.

"Caden, table number four please." nakangiting tawag sa akin ni Maam Rika kasabay ng pag-abot ng order one slice of cake at caramel coffee sa matandang kanina pa nakatulala sa harap ng bintana ng store na tila may hinihintay.

"One slice of mango cake and caramel coffee, Sir." I showed him my usual work-smile.

"Thank you young man."

"Let me know if you need anything, Sir."

Tumango siya, tapos ay kinuha ang tinidor na nakalapag sa mesa. Wala sa loob siyang kumuha ng maliit na piraso mula sa cake, nakatingin pa rin sa labas ng bintana. Hindi ko napigilan ang magtanong.

"May hinihintay po ba kayong dumating?"

Binaling niya ang tingin sa ako. "Hinihintay ko si Ruth, ang asawa ko. Sabi niya galing sa flower shop ay didiretso siya dito pero hanggang ngayon wala pa."

"Ah, medyo siksikan po kasi ang daan ngayon dahil sa ulan kanina. Baka natraffic lang, Im sure she's on her way."

Ngumiti na siya. "Talaga ba hijo? Well, sana nga.."

"Sige po, kung may kailangan kayo, tawagin niyo lang ako."

Dala ko ang tray ay nakangiting nagpaalam sa matanda. Come to think of it, I'm never a very patient man sa lahat ng ayoko ay ang pinaghihintay ako. Kahit sino pa ang kadate ko if I have to wait, I'll walk out and leave. They're just not worth my time, but somehow waiting for Thea has never been an issue for me. In fact, I'm happy and at the same time excited to see her face after long hours of torture in school and in football field.

"Caden! Look what I've got for you, man. You're right about replacing that chip though, it works!" tinapon ni Migs sa ere ang cellphone, sinalo ko iyon gamit ang isang kamay. He's also a part-timer here in this cafe and a gadget expert both software and hardware. Napangiti ako ng abot tainga ng makita kong gumagana na ang cellphone ko. It's still broken, basag ang LCD but perfectly working just fine. I tested some features and checked the restored data, they were there, intact. "This is awesome, dude."

"No you're awesome. How did you know it's the chip?"

"Just a wild guess."

Now I'm thinking of Thea again. Sasabihin ko ba sa kanya na hindi na kailangang palitan ang cellphone ko? I'll probably lose the chance of getting to sleep in her room if I did. So .... come hell or high waters I won't tell her.

"Caden, anong sinabi mo sa matanda?" lapit sa amin ni Maam Rika.

Tinutukoy niya ang customer na kausap ko kanina. "He's waiting for his wife, I guess."

"And you told him, what?"

"She's on her way. Why?"

"That poor old soul will wait again until the store's closing. His wife Ruth is never gonna come here, she met an accident on her way meeting him.... two years ago. Hanggang ngayon he's still having some delusions na magkikita pa silang muli."

Napaawang ang labi ko. I didn't know. Nakita ko lang na desperado siya at gusto kong gumaan ang loob niya. Alam naman siguro ng matanda na hindi na darating ang asawa niya, gusto niya pa ring maghintay.

"He must've missed her a lot."

"Yeah. He did."

Matapos makapagpalit ng uniform ni Migs at makabisita sa baba, may ibinulong ito kay Maam Rika.

Tumango ang Boss ko at nilipat ang tingin sa akin.

"Nasa basement daw si Ms. Diana Arguelles. She's talking to Manuel Chen of Chen Industries. A bit unusual, you think? Kalabang kompanya ng Lolo mo 'yun. Gusto mong marinig ang pinag-uusapan nila?"

Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga. Mukhang may katotohanan ang sinasabi ni Teisha tungkol sa mga anak-anakan ng Lolo ko. Na tina-traydor nila ang matandang Arguelles.

"Gusto kong marinig ang pinag-uusapan nila."

"I've got it covered, man." ani Migs. Nilabas niya ang isang blutooth earphone at ibinigay sa akin. Nanginginig ang kamay ko nang abutin ko iyon.

Main reason why I choose this cafe over a lot of others is because, this cafe is just the front door. Beneath this place is special place where classified meetings and gatherings are being held by wealthy people in the elite circle. Teisha's father is one of my Lolo's most trusted people, at nabanggit nga nito ang nangyayaring katiwalian sa loob ng management ng Arguelles conglomerate, they were slowly moving in the past pero matapos akong ipatawag ng Lolo ko sa mansyon, things suddenly accelerated.

I never wanted to become involved. They can eat their money for all I care, but I must be the biggest threat for them, if I don't pay attention they might be able to stage something like... I don't know... my death perhaps. After all, I'm the only legitimate grandson of Segundo Arguelles.