Chapter 3
Exactly one week na rin. Since nakatrabaho ko 'yong Frost, guy na 'yon. So far okay naman.
"Urgh!"
What the hell. Tumirik bigla 'yong kotse ko. Buti na lang nasa gilid ako ng kalsada. Damn! What a lucky day for me.
Lumabas ako nang kotse ko and I took out my phone to call Manager.
"Where the hell is you, Zendrea?"
Okay. No hi and hello. 'Di uso kay Manager ‘yon.
"Well, actually. I'm in the middle of the road? And nasira 'yong kotse ko. Biglang tumir---…"
"What? Paano na 'yong TV guesting mo today? Gosh! Zendrea, magsisimula na 'yong show. In 20 minutes na lang. Mag-cab ka na lang."
"No in the hell I will ride in a cab! Ipapaayos ko muna 'to. Just tell the staff that errs? Male-late ako!"
"H'wag ka ng maarte Zendrea! Just freaking ride in a cab! Hindi ‘yong ipapayos mo muna 'yan. Nakakahiya! Lagi kang late!"
"What? Ayoko! Besides, hindi ko kagustuhang malate. Nagkakataon lang talaga."
"Zendre---."
"Bye." and I the line went off.
Sa inis ko? Sinipa ko 'yong gulong nag kotse ko. Pero useless, dahil katangahan lang 'yong ginawa ko. Sarili ko lang ang sinasaktan ko. Urgh.
"Oh ,my! My damn shoe!" Damn! Nagka damage pa yata 'yong expensive shoe ko. I will remind myself next time.
Bumalik ako sa loob ng kotse ko to check if my car has a gas. But I get annoyed, to what I saw. Empty tank. The hell!
Maybe I need some help? Biglang tumaas ang kilay ko. My idea was useless. Ang bilis ng mga sasakyan rito. May titigil ba? Siguro naman? Makikilala naman nila ako dahil artista ako! Right!
But in the end? Walang kwenta. Napagod lang ako. I was about to enter my car. Pero may bumusina sa likod ko.
I frown. Naghahanap ba siya ng away? Kitang tumirik na 'yong kotse ko?
Inis na naglakad ako papunta sa kotseng na sa likod ng kotse ko.
I knocked his windshield. I don’t know. Swear! I will kill this, whoever is inside this car.
Gumilid ako at hinintay siyang lumabas.
"Seems you have trouble in your car?"
"You, again?"
"What do you mean by you again?"
"Nevermind. Ah? Saan ba ang punta mo ngayon?" Wala akong choice. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa lahat ng titigil na kotse? Siya pa. Talking about, Frost. Yes, Frost.
“Our station. Well. I'm one hour late to my guesting for today. How about you?" Frost said while scratching his nape. Pareho pala kaming late na sa mga lakad.
"Same. But see what happen to my car. I'm dead. Manager will surely get mad at me for being late again and again." Aniya sabay rolyo ko ng mata.
So it means? Pareho kaming may TV guesting ngayon? Wow. What a coincidence.
"Sabay ka na."
Wala naman akong magagawa.
"Sure."
Nangunot ng konti 'yong noo ko. Hindi niya ako pinagbuksan ng pinto. Nice, so he's a gentleman? Hah! Bwisit!
Pumasok kaagad ako ng kotse niya saka nagsuot nang seatbelt. Nakakahiya sa kaniya. Sobra!
"So you're Troy's girlfriend, right?" Napalingon ako sa kaniya ng 'di oras.
"Yeah. I am. Why?" Tanong ko
"Hm. Nothing." Okay. Hindi ko nagustuhan 'yung ngisi niya. There's something. I mean? May masamang balak? Like that. 'Yon lang ang na feel ko. Pero sabi nga nila. Don't judge a book by its cover. I'm not a judge mental person. Well, shrugged my shoulders.
When we reached the station? Medyo masama naman ang panahon. Super late na nga. Masama naman ang panahon.
"Hey? Do you have an umbrella? Umuulan na kasi."
Talaga naman! Pati panahon nakisabay pa.
"Yeah. Wait me here" I nodded my head. He gets out of his car, siguro kinuha 'yong payong doon sa trunk?
"Let's go.” biglang bumukas 'yong pinto. And beside me? Frost is standing, holding an umbrella.
Tinanggal ko 'yung seatbelt ko saka lumabas ng kotse. Pero kamuntik akong madulas. Pero nahawakan niya kaagad ako.
"Thank you." Hindi naman siya sumagot. Nasa gilid ko lang siya at hawak 'yung payong.
Bigla akong 'di mapakali. Urgh! Sinilip ko 'yong mukha niya. And, woah. Saktong nakatingin siya sa akin. So I decided to look away.
Nasisiraan na yata ako ng bait.
"Zendrea...” Tumingala ako. Since matangkad siya.
"What?"
Bigla siyang yumuko ng konti saka bumulong, "Do you know that you're beautiful?" And damn! Lahat ata ng balahibo ko sa katawan. Nagsitayuan!
"Of course. I know it." I should not think what he says. Siguro nagandahan lang siya sa akin, right?
Nauna na akong pumasok sa station. Hmm, ewan. He's weird for me. Urgh! I really don't get him.
Pasara na sana 'yong elevator pero pinigilan 'yon ni Frost gamit 'yong kamay niya.
"You left me."
Hindi ko maiwasang ikutan siya ng mata "Ang bagal mo kasi."
He smiled and "You don't even say,thank you." Huh? Thank you for what?
"Oh, you mean dahil sa pagpayong mo sa akin? Oh, edi sige. Thank you, Frost."
"Well. Too, late for that. Hindi ko na kailangan ng thank you mo. I need..."
And he kissed my right cheek. Oh man! Did he, kiss? Kissed me?
"What the hell is that?" I ask, annoyed.
"You mean the kiss?"
He playfully asked. Parang hindi naman niya alam! Kainis!
"Of course! Bakit ka nanghahalik diyan bigla?"
Seriously! Hindi ko siya maintindihan! I mean, hindi nman kasi ito big deal pero why kiss me?
"That's your payment. Pinayungan kita." Hah! Baliw!
"Baliw ka na no? Tama bang gawin mo 'yun? Sinabi ko namang thank you diba? So what's that?"
"Just a kiss. Nothing more. Bye, Queen." Sabi niya sabay lumabas ng elevator. Urgh!
And seriously? Queen?
This can't be! Hinabol ko siya. Hindi pwede 'yon!
"What?" Binatukan ko siya.
"Ano’ng what! You freaking kiss me! Anong what ka diyan?"
At saka siya binatukan ulit. The hell with him.
"Is that a big deal for you? Artista ka, kaya okay lang dapat sa iyo ‘yon."
"Damn you, Frost!"
"And I like you, Zendrea."
My eyes grew wide. What? Ano raw?
"Wha---."
"The two of you! Late na nga kayo? Nakuha niyo pang maglandian?"
What?
"Hell no, Manager! We're not!"
"Shut up, Zendrea!"
"But, Ma---.”
"Enough!" I rolled my eyes and sat on the couch. Biglang tumabi sa'kin si Frost.
"Move." Mahina kong sabi.
But urgh! Nang-aasar ata siya. Umurong lang siya lalo sa'kin.
"Zendrea! Frost!"
"Totoo bang nasiraan ka ng kotse mo? Or you, just make an excuse?"
What a damn question. "Yes. And gosh. I am not making an excuse, Manager."
"How about you Frost? Late ka ng gising? Oh, nagdate lang kayo ni Zendrea?"
"Manager? What is that kind of question?"
Angal ko. Inis! Tama ba 'yung tanong niya? Date? Date talaga?
"Oh, ngayon magdadahilan ka pa huh, Zendrea?"
Dahilan? Nagda-dahilan ba ako? 'Yong totoo? 'Yong lakas ba ng ulan kanina sa labas, ininda ni manager kaya siya galit na galit? I already tell her that my car is broken! How could she say that! Damnit!
Nanahimik nalang ako imbes na kausapin at sumabat pa. Hinayaan ko siyang magdada.
Bigla akong nahikab sa kalagitnaan ng pagse-sermon niya.
"Ouch!" Manage glared at me.
"Fine,sorry!"
Tss. Parang naging instant terror na Professor si manager. Mabait siya, kapag tulog. Kidding. Mabait talaga 'yan. If you, follow her rules. But, when it comes to me? Brutal 'yan.
"Tomorrow, be early, Zendrea."
Manager reminded me.
"What? Unfair! Bakit ako lang ang sinasabihan niyo? Bakit si Frost, hindi? Madaya!"
Kaasar. May favoritism si manager. Hindi pwede 'to.
"H'wag ka ng maarte huh? Alis na. Umuwi ka na at matulog pagkatapos… Umalis ka bukas nang maaga!" My mouth drops open. What?
"And, oh. From now on! Hindi na ikaw ang magda-drive para sa sarili mo. Ibabalik ko na 'yong van mo and even Daylan, your driver. So, alis na."
Bigla akong napatayo. This can't be.
"Manager!" I exclaimed.
"Ang sinabi ko? Sinabi ko!"
She said and get out of her office.
No way! Hindi na naman ako makakakatakas! How can she. Urgh!
"I guess, you push manager to her limits." Frost said and went out. They left me.
Urgh! Damn this day! My car, Frost and manager. I really really, really hate this day!