Help Me Survive

XIX: Drive

Chapter 19

Ilang sandali pa akong nakayuko hanggang sa 'di ko na maramdaman ang patak ng ulan.

Tumingala ako only to see Peace Juckser Lacosta holding an umbrella with his signature smile. A bright and very warm smile.

"It's such a coincidence and misfortune to see you in that state miss Rivera."

I rolled my eyes on him at siniguro kong makikita niya 'yon. I slightly pushed his umbrella away from me creating mere distance, enough for me to feel the raindrops again.

"I don't believe in such coincidences mr. Lacosta. It's either you live here or you have someone dear to you who lives here."

He chuckled upon my statement.

"You're funny miss Rivera. Wala akong girlfriend o nagugustuhan na nakatira rito. Wala sa mga nakatira rito kasi nasa harap ko."

Hindi ko lubos na narinig at naintindihan ang huling sinabi niya. Para bang sinadya niya iyong ibulong.

"Pardon? Can you repeat your last statement? 'Di ko kasi narinig."

"Wala miss Rivera. Ang sabi ko napadaan ako rito dahil malapit lang ang bahay namin. 2 subdivisions and after it, subdivision na namin. Natural lang na talagang dito ako dumaan."

Marahan pa siyang lumapit upang muli akong payungan. Aalma na sana ako nang hawakan niya ang dalawa kong palapulsuhan.

"Huwag kang makulit miss Rivera. Why don't we have some hot coffee? Mukhang kanina ka pa nababasa base sa pagkaputla mo. And oh!  Namamaga rin ang right foot mo. You want to go to a hospital?"

Umiling agad ako sa sinabi nito. Knowing Peace, he is so makulit kaya alam kong 'di niya ako titigilan hanggang 'di ko tinatanggap ang alok niya. Kaya naman dahan-dahan akong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo at inalis ang mga putik sa nga braso ko.

"A coffee will do mr. Lacosta. No need for hospital, this simple sprain woyld not provide further complications in my system," I meant to sound cold and stern but it turned out to be marahan at parang pagod na pagod na boses.

"Drop the mr. Lacost, ms. Rivera. You're too formal and stiff. Peace is fine with me," he said winking as he helped me walk away from the swing.

Talagang ang sakit sa ulo nitong si Peace. Kaunting kakulitan at iilang salita pa lang ang lumalabas sa bibig niya pero alam kong sasakit na ang ulo ko sa kaniya.

"Then also drop the formalities, mr. Lacosta. You started it first. Myst is fine. Once you called me Myst then that's the time I'll call you Peace." Without glancing at him binuksan ko ang pintuan ng sasakyan niya at inalalayan niya akong makaupo roon.

Umikot siya sa harap at hindi ko man dinig ay alam kong sumisipol siya. Nang bumukas ang driver's seat ay tumigil siya sa pagsipol.

"Alright Myst, let's skip formalities and be good friends. What do you think?" He said raising both of his brows upside down while grinning widely.

"I don't make friends Peace. I though you knew? After all, you and your twin acts like a creepy stalker knowing every bit of information about my whole being. Mukhang mas marami pa kayong impormasyon sa akin kumpara sa sarili ko."

This time, instead of a chuckle, tumawa siya ng napakalakas na para bang mauubusan na siya ng tawa sa dami ng pinakawalan niya.

Ilang minuto pa siyang tumawa hanggang tumikhim na siya at nagseryoso.

"Seriously though, we're going to be friends for a change. And by the way, kaunting impormasyon lang ang nakalap namin. We're also not stalkers geez, no Lacosta ever did stalking. By the way, mind telling me the whole detail of why you got sprained? I can also see that swollen eyes of yours. Kahit mahalo pa 'yan sa ulan alam kong galing ka sa pag-iyak," mahabang saad niya.

Napatitig ako sa kawalan at muli na namang maalala ang pangyayaring kasusuklaman ko sa buong buhay ko.

Should I tell him? He seems trustworthy enough but with his talkative mouth, I bet not.

Nagpakawala na lamang ako ng malalim na hininga. "Just drive Peace, I'll tell you all the details during coffee. Just drive away from here."