Say My Name

Chapter 8-"I'll drive you"

"Ayon naman pala eh. Just leave it in the refrigerator. Mukhang babalik kapa kina Kate." Sagot ni Joseph. 

Parang sasakit ang ulo ni Jade sa narinig. Napatulala nalang siya at hindi nakagalaw ng makitang nawalan ng emosyon ang mukha ni Rina. 

Oh no, please don't think of other things.

"Babalik ka pa kina ate Kate?" Tanong ni Rina pagkatapos makabawi sa pagkabigla. Bumalik na rin yung ngiti niya pero hindi na yun tulad ng kanina. Malamlam na ang mga mata niya. It's like it's voided of any emotions.

"Ahm, yeah. Kailangan kasi naming matapos yung ginagawa namin. Dinala ko lang talaga tong mga to para may mainom kang fresh milk."

"How did you know I wanted milk?" Rina asked him afterwards.

"I just know."

"Okay, that's creepy. Thanks, Jade. Kung babalik kapa kina ate Kate, may sasakyan ka pa ba? Gabi na oh. Hatid ka na namin. I'll drive you. I'll borrow kuya Joseph's car. Naka park lang naman diyan sa labas." Rina offered.

Tumingin silang lahat sa dalaga.

"You know how to drive bunso?" Kuya Chad curiously asked.

"Yes po. I can drive as long as di ma-traffic." Rina answered.

"I can't let you drive. Minor ka pa." Joseph said. "Sasama nalang ako. If you want to drive, at least naka-assist ako. Isa pa, ayaw ko namang hayaan kang mag-isang uuwi mamaya."

All of them agreed. Mabilis na sumakay ang tatlo. Joseph and Jade let Rina drive as promised. Jade positioned himself in the front passenger's seat and Joseph stayed at the back seat. The two men observed how smooth driver their bunso is. Makikita mo ang pagkamangha sa kanilang dalawa. Obviously, hindi nga talaga nagsisinungaling si Rina na marunong siya. Hindi lang marunong, she's skilled. Hindi siya mukhang baguhan. Hindi siya kaskasero pero sakto lang ang pagkahinahon niya sa pagmamaneho. Hindi na nila ito ginulo para makapagfocus ang dalaga.  Tinuturo kasi ni Jade ang daan. Mataman namang nakikinig si Rina sa mga instructions. 

After minutes of driving, nakarating na rin sila sa harap ng apartment nila Kate. It's just a three-storey building. Maluwang tignan ang rooms. Maraming students na nagkalat sa labas ng mga kuwarto. It looks simple but liveable.

"Thank you, Rina for driving me here. Kuya Seph, alis na ako. Ikaw na bahala kay bunso pabalik ha." Nakipag fist bump pa si Jade bago lumabas ng sasakyan. Nag wave pa ito bago pumasok ng apartment.

Nang makapasok si Jade ay saka lamang lumipat si Joseph sa front passenger's seat. 

"Wow, Rina. I didn't know you drive. I mean, you're a good driver. Akala ko kanina nagbibiro ka lang. Sorry kung nagduda ako." May bahid pa rin ng pagkamangha ang boses ni Joseph.

"Kuya naman e. Stop flattering me. Thanks for letting me drive this baby of yours. Paano ako makakabawi? Wait, magpapa gas tayo." Rina said. It's not a question, it's a statement.

Hindi na tumanggi pa si Joseph. He needs the gas for tomorrow. Tatanggi pa ba siya? "Fine, let's fill this baby's tank. Pero bago yun pwede ba tayong sumaglit sa drive thru?"

"We just ate dinner kuya Seph. You sure?"

"Yes. I'm craving for some coke float and fries. Bili na tayo para sa iba. Mabilis lang yun." Joseph added.

"Okay, it's my treat then. I bet, you don't have your wallet with you right now. Mine's here with my card and a little it of cash so I will be the one to pay." Rina argued.

"Whatever you want, bunso. Babawi nalang si kuya sayo next time." Nakangiting tugon ng binata. Hindi naman siguro masamang magkaroon sila ng ganitong bonding. It's already Friday tomorrow. Isang araw nalang weekend na naman. Isa pa, may program ang school nila bukas kaya walang pasok maliban sa kailangan nilang pumunta for the sake of attendance. 

Mabilis na minaobra ni Rina ang sasakyan papunta sa pinakamalapit na fastfood. Nag order sila agad ng sapat para sa lahat at nagbayad. Nang makuha ang mga inorder ay nagtungo na sila sa gas station. She asked the staff to fill the tank in full then paid it using her card.

It's past 11 pm when they arrived in front of their boarding house. Nandun pa rin mga boardmates nila. Inaantay silang dumating.

Pumasok silang dalawa na bitbit ang mga floats at fries at maingat itong inilapag sa mini table sa sala. Rina offered it to her ate's and kuya's in which they gladly accept it. 

Everyone thanked her especially when Joseph said that she's the one who paid for it.

Nang matapos ang midnight snack nila ay kanya-kanya na ang mga boarders. Paakyat na sana sila ng tawagin ulit ni Joseph si Rina. Naiwan silang dalawa sa sala. Naupo silang dalawa sa three-seater sofa na nakaharap sa mini table.

"Bunso, you surprised us. Don't explain tho. Your driving skills are excellent plus the way you treat us, it's not something an average student does. You didn't even hesitate paying that huge amount of money just for the midnight snacks. Hindi ako magtatanong sa personal life mo. I know you're not an ordinary girl. You look like someone who is from a well-off family. Hindi ko alam ang reasons mo for staying here. But like I said, I won't ask. Now, since you are here, ibig lang sabihin nun ay gusto mong i-trato ka namin ng gaya lang din sa iba. Alam kong ginagawa mo ang best mo para makisalamuha samin. Know that I am just here. Hindi siguro tayo magka level but at least I know a thing or two sa pakikisama. Average lang ang pamumuhay ng family ko pero nauunawaan ko ang struggles ng mga may kaya kapag napupunta sa ganitong lugar. Hindi naman masamang mag explore bunso. Pero dapat ay alam mo lang kung kung saan ang limit mo. Huwag na huwag mong isasagad ang sarili mo. Kaya kapag hindi mo na alam kung paano o ano ang gagawin, ask me okay?" Seryosong pagbibigay payo ng binata kay Rina.

Rina stared at Kuya Joseph for she did not expect that he would figure her out this early. Masyado na ba siyang obvious? Is driving at the age of sixteen not normal? Shoot! 

She smiled at him and said, "Thanks, kuya Seph. I'm so sorry for keeping it from all of you. I hope you won't expose me. Natatakot ako sa magiging reaksyon nila. I want this kind of life. Masaya akong may mga ate at kuya ako. I feel safe and loved here."

"No problem bunso. Just guard your heart and your body. That's the most important thing. Baka kung ano pa magawa ng parents mo samin kapag may mangyari sa iyo dito." Kuya Joseph advised. He stood up and messed her hair. "Akyat na tayo. It's already midnight."

"Sige po. Marami pong salamat sa lahat, kuya." Sagot ni Rina at umakyat na.

The next morning, Rina found a box in front of their room with a card on top of it. She picked it up, went back to their room, put the card aside and opened the box.

She saw a turtle inside, a cute brownish turtle with big black eyes. She find it adorable but creepy at the same time. Lalo yung mga mata nito na kung tumingin parang nangigilatis. She looked for the card again and read the message.

Bunso, thank you for driving me last night. Here's my little gift for you. Sana magustuhan mo. Name the turtle. I didn't give it a name. -Jade 

A smile crept on her lips. "This turtle might be adorable but...it looks like 'MUMU'. Shall I call it Mumu Turtle?" She thought. Masyado atang mahaba. 

Then her phone rang.

Diane calling...

She picked up her phone and answered the call. Nagkamustahan ang magbestfriend. Rina even told Diane about the turtle and the name she gave to it. She explained the name and the sound of their laughters resonated through their phone's speaker.

Diane suggested to cut the name short. "How about MuTur?" 

"MuTur? Why not. Di naman siguro magagalit yung nagbigay." Rina said then picked the turtle. The turtle stick out its head as if agreeing to its name.

Rina was elated. "MuTur, it is. Thanks, best. I'll call you back later." She ended the call.

LawyeRen [ R E N ]