GEAR GODS SERIES: DRIFTING BACK TO YOU

Kabanata 24

Treese

BUONG gabi kong inisip ang tungkol sa sinabi ni Yaya Jill. I know Sovereign had his reasons why he chose to make our kids believe that I am dead. Siguro para protektahan ang mga bata o para hindi na masaktan oras na maghanap sa akin. Wala namang kasiguraduhan noon kung babalik pa ba ako. I literally made him believe that I didn't want to build a family with him anyway.

I sighed. Masarap na ang hilik ng roommate ko sa aming quarters pero hindi ang ingay niya ang dahilan kaya ako napabangon. I feel like I need some air. Kinuha ko ang roba at lumabas. I let my feet take me where it feels like going. Hanggang sa namalayan ko na lang na nasa training tracks na ako.

A red sports car swiftly conquered the track as I stood by the pit stop. Mukhang isa iyon sa pinakabagong kotse ng Cavalier Cars. I've never seen that sleek design before. Looks like it was specially crafted to win world cups and bring glory to Cavalier Cars.

Hinayaan ko ang sariling panoorin ang mabilis na sasakyan. Whoever it is that's behind the wheels, knows what he's doing. Swabe ang bawat liko. Tila kahit nakapikit ay kayang angkinin ang kalsada.

It did a couple more lapses before it finally stopped in front of me. Nagulat ako nang makitang ang Coach mismo ng CRA ang taong lumabas ng kotse. He's not even wearing proper racing gears. No helmets, no safety gloves, no nothing. He's just wearing a simple white v-neck shirt and gray jogging pants. Sa kanang tainga ay kuminang ang maliit na hikaw habang ang mga mata'y bahagya nang inaabot ng dulo ng buhok.

How old is he? Parang ilang taon lang ang tanda sa akin ngunit tingnan mo kung ano na ang narating? They call him a beast in the racing world. The man who never had any championship belt under his name and popped out of nowhere but brought the Cavalier Cars to the top.

"What are you doing here at this time of the night?" malamig ang boses na tanong ni Coach Race sa akin nang makita ako.

He's always been the talk of the town in the quarters. Sabi ay bihirang makausap. Madalas ay tumatango lamang sa mga bumabati at hindi rin nakikitang ngumingiti kaya medyo nagulat akong kinakausap niya ako ngayon.

Napalunok ako. "Sorry po. Nagpapahangin lang tapos . . . napadpad na ako rito." I cleared my throat. "Ang galing n'yo po."

He sighed. "Nah, that's not enough." He licked his lower lip then looked at me. "Why did you come here? After all these years, why come here? Now? When Reign has a huge competition coming up?"

Napakurap ako. Does he think I came here to distract his racer?

"Hindi po ako nagpunta rito dahil sa iniisip ninyo." I sounded defensive.

His inky brow shot up. "Why? What did you think I was thinking?"

I swallowed the pool of saliva in my mouth. "Na pumunta ako parar i-distract si Sovereign."

Umismid siya. "You've been distracting my ace for five years. Having you here doesn't make any difference anymore."

My eyes blinked. "P-Po?"

He folded his arms in front of his chest. "He was so hungry and desperate when I first met him. It was like he's already losing his mind but he kept pulling himself back together because of something other than his kids." He sighed. "You've been a huge part of Sovereign's past. The biggest reason why he wanted to make a name in the racing world. He might not be vocal about it, but I've seen him turn into a man because he wanted to prove something. I assume you know exactly why he's so eager to reach his goals."

Guilt began to claw my heart. Bahagyang nanikip ang dibdib ko at tinamaan ako ng hiya. I looked away and swallowed the lump that's beginning to form in my throat before I spoke.

"He wanted to prove to me that I underestimated him."

"I beg to disagree."

Muli akong napatitig kay Coach Race. "Ano po ang . . . ibig n'yong sabihin?"

Imbes na sagutin ako ay lumakad siya't tinapik ang aking balikat. "Good night, Treese."

Napatitig na lamang ako sa papalayong si Coach. Alam kong hindi ko na kailangan pang magulat na kilala niya ako. He's the reason why Sovereign is the man he is now. Siguradong nakwento na ako ni Sovereign sa kanya ngunit ang hindi ko inasahan ay kung paano siya nakitungo habang kausap ako. It's like he's not mad at all but it's also hard to read him.

Napabuntonghininga ako. I decided to go back to the quarters and get some sleep. Kinabukasan ay nagtungo ako nang maaga sa villa ni Sovereign gaya ng request niya.

"Hello, Tita Twreese!" masiglang bati ni Sovie nang mapagbuksan niya ako ng pinto.

I smiled and caressed his cheek. "Hi, baby. Ang cute-cute mo sa uniform mo," puri ko.

He grinned at me before he held my hand and pulled me to get inside. Naabutan ko naman sa loob si Sovereign na nakasabunot sa kanyang buhok habang may kausap sa phone. His eyes were shut, too and the wrinkles on his forehead was telling me that he's in so much stress right now.

"I understand. Thank you. Don't worry, I'll cover all of her medical expenses. Take good care of her. I'll visit later after I drop the kids at school."

Pinanood ko siyang patayin ang tawag. Maya-maya ay nabaling sa aking direksyon ang kanyang tingin. He looked helpless at the moment as if he's having an internal battle against his ego.

I swallowed before I forced a smile. "Good morning, Sir."

He sighed then looked away. "Yaya Jill suffered from stroke and HR told me it'll take at least two weeks to get a new nanny for my kids." Napansin ko ang pagtaas-baba ng adam's apple niya. "You're the only one with a floating schedule among all of the employees. They . . . advised that . . . I discuss the matter with you."

Napakurap ako. "Kukunin mo kong yaya?" medyo na-excite kong tanong.

Sovereign clenched his jaw. "Temporarily and . . . only because I don't have other choice. I've got a big event coming up. I need someone who can look after my kids so I can focus on my trainings." Malamig niya akong tiningnan. "But as soon as the new nanny arrives, you'll go back to your job as a housekeeper."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "Okay." I smiled. "Ano pala ang . . . kailangan kong gawin ngayon? Nag-breakfast na ba kayo?" nagbabaka-sakali kong tanong.

He sighed. "You can make them pancakes. Don't mind me."

Iyon na lamang ang sinabi niya bago umakyat sa itaas para siguro maligo at makapagbihis. Tuwang-tuwa ko namang tiningnan ang mga bata at nginitian.

"Let's make pancakes?" I offered.

Excited silang tumango. Para naman akong maiiyak nang pareho silang humawak sa mga kamay ko't nakangiting sumama sa akin sa kusina. I lifted them up and let them sit on the stools before I prepared everything I need for their breakfast.

Kahit sinabi ni Sovereign na huwag ko na siyang intindihin ay nagpasya akong igawa na rin siya ng almusal. I made him coffee and prepared two pieces of pancakes for him, too. Sakto namang tapos na siyang maligo at magbihis nang mailapag ko ang mga plato sa island counter.

"Yey! Engku, Teecha Wees!" masayang sabi ni Sofie bago nilantakan ang pancake niya.

I smiled and caressed their heads. Tumikhim naman si Sovereign bago nilapitan ang mga bata upang sabihang ako ang magbabantay sa school.

I took the opportunity to push his breakfast near him. Napahinto siya sa pagsasalita at tinitigan ang ihinanda ko para sa kanya. Maya-maya ay tumingin siya sa akin at masungit akong tinaasan ng kilay.

I flashed a smile. "Mas masarap ang kain kung may kasabay, Sir kaya . . . sabayan mo na ang mga bata. Masarap 'yan." May halong pagmamahal.

He looked hesitant at first. Maya-maya ay bumuntonghininga bago tuluyang sumimsim sa kape. Napahinto pa siya matapos humigop ng kaunti. His eyes shut, too as if he remembered something. Maya-maya ay nag-ring ang kanyang phone. Tila natauhan naman siya kaya ibinaba niyang muli ang tasa saka siya tumayo upang umalis ng kusina.

Napatanaw na lamang ako sa kanya habang may basag na ngiti sa aking mga labi, ngunit nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya sa kausap sa phone ay ganoon na lamang ang naging pagkirot ng aking dibdib.

"We miss you, too Allison."

My eyes blinked. Did he just say Allison? The Allison that ruined everything?

Kumuyom ang aking mga kamao. Looks like that b***h really did everything to win my man . . .