Sinful Attachment

KABANATA 10

“Masyado atang focus mo diyan sa phone mo.” Charlotte pointed out as she looked at Chase, who was completely absorbed in her screen and even smiling to herself.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly noticing how different Chase was acting. Hindi ito normal para sa kay Charlotte, lalo na yung pagiging distracted ni Chase at yung palihim na ngiti sa labi niya na parang may tinatago.

Charlotte leaned a bit closer, trying to catch a glimpse kung ano ba yung tinitingnan ni Chase. Lalo pang lumaki ang curiosity niya habang ino-observe niya yung reaction ng kaibigan niya sa kung ano man yung nasa phone nito, parang may something na hindi niya pa alam.

“May kinakausap ka na ba ha?” Taas kilay na tanong ni Charlotte dahilan para mapukaw ang atensyon ni Chase na kanina pa busy sa kaniyang cellphone.

“Ha?” Painosenteng tanong ni Chase na ngayon ay kukurap kurapn ang mata sa harap ni Charlotte.

“Wag mo nga akong pag tripan, Chase. Nagtatanong ako nang maayos,” taas kilay na sambit ni Charlotte habang nakatitig kay Chase. May bahagyang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi, na tila ba hindi mapigilang magbiro kahit sinusubukan niyang magmukhang seryoso. Sa paraan ng pagsasalita ni Charlotte, ramdam ang halong inis at aliw, na para bang hindi niya alam kung maiinis ba siya o matatawa sa inaasta ni Chase.

“Maji-jinx, wag kang excited. Malalaman mo rin naman ‘to e.” Naka ngusong depensa ni Chase habang pilit na isinisiksik ang kaniyang cellphone sa kaniyang dibdib.

“So you’re lowkey admitting that you’re talking to someone?” Charlotte asked, raising one eyebrow as she looked at Chase.

Chase didn’t answer right away. She kept her eyes on her phone for a second longer before locking it, like she was buying time. “Ano ba ‘yan… Shhhhh wala bawal malaman muna.” She muttered, trying to brush it off.

Charlotte let out a short laugh, clearly not convinced. “Ano nga? Oo o hindi lang naman, hindi ko naman itatanong kung sino?”

“Unless….?” Dagdag ni Charlotte habang nag tataas baba ang kaniyang kilay.

Chase glanced at her, then looked away again. “Wala,” she said, a bit too quickly.

Charlotte smirked, tilting her head slightly. “Nagsisinungaling ka. Nararamdaman ko.”

Chase sighed and shook her head, clearly avoiding the topic. “Ang kulit mo. Halika nalang sa resto at papakainin kita.”

But the small smile she tried to hide gave her away, and Charlotte caught it instantly, making her even more certain that there was something Chase wasn’t saying.

“Kalaplit ng katahimikan ko?” Bahgyang tanong ni Charlotte dahilan para bahagyang mapa irap si Chase.

“Baliw baliw.” Napapa iling na sambit ni Chase sabay hagis kay Charlotte ng kaniyang susi.

“Holy freakng airball!” Sigaw ni Charlotte matapos sapuhin ang susi ni Chase.

“Chevrolet Corvette C8??!!” Sigaw ni Charlotte na ikinatawa ni Chase.

“Why do you look so surprised?” Chase said in an almost innocent tone, parang hindi niya talaga gets kung bakit ganun ang reaction niya, as if owning a Chevrolet Corvette C8 is just a normal thing.

She gives Charlotte a small, casual look, calm and completely unbothered ang expression niya. Wala ring kahit konting yabang sa boses ni Chase, no hint of showing off or trying to impress anyone, which somehow makes it even more unbelievable for Charlotte. Para kay Chase, hindi talaga ito big deal, parang normal lang na bagay na meron siya and nothing worth reacting to lalo na’t kaya namn talaga nilang bilhin iyon kung gugustuhin talaga.

She even glances back at the car for a second nang makababa sila ni Charlotte sa parking lot, like she is just checking it normally, then looks at Charlotte again, still slightly confused. “Ano ba meron? Palibhasa sanay ka kasing passenger princess lang ako ni Chaos e.” She adds lightly at medyo natatawa pa, parang genuinely curious pa rin siya kung bakit ganoon kalala yung reaction ni Charlotte, like she is trying to understand something she clearly does not find important.

There is even a small pause after she speaks, like she is waiting for Charlotte to explain herself properly. Chase stands there so casually, hands relaxed, posture calm, as if nothing about the situation is unusual for her. The way she acts makes it even more confusing for Charlotte, because it feels like Chase is completely unaware of how rare or expensive the car actually is.

“Baliw, ipapa drive mo talaga sa’kin ‘to?” Tanong ni Charlotte na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala.

“Oo, ikaw mag drive, susuhulan na nga kita e.” Tumatawang tugon ni Chase bago sumakay sa passenger seat ng kaniyang sasakyan.

Meanwhile, Charlotte is just staring at her, completely frozen for a moment, clearly hindi niya ma-match yung level of calmness ni Chase. In her mind, she is still processing everything, trying to understand how someone can look so normal while owning something that most people would consider a dream car. Mas lalo lang naging obvious kung gaano ka-different yung worlds nila in terms of awareness and lifestyle.

Hindi kasi ugali ni Chase bumili ng magagarbong gamit, unlike them na lantad kung ano yung mga gamit na binibili nila o kung ano yung mga gusto nila. Minsan lang bumili si Chase ng gamit, at sure na mabibigla ka talaga sa kung gaano kamamahal ito.

Charlotte even looks back at the car for a second, then back at Chase, still speechless, still trying to find the right reaction or words. She is not even sure if she should be impressed, shocked, or just accept the fact that Chase treats something so expensive like it is nothing special at all.

“Para namang wala kang ganyan, e mas mahal pa nga yung inyo.” Napapa iling na sambit ni Chase habang tinitignan si Charlotte na nasa labas pa rin ng kaniyang sasakyan.

“Halika na i-test drive mo na papuntang resto.” Chase said to Charlotte, who was still staring straight at the front of her Chevrolet Corvette C8.

“Tngina.” Ang tanging nasambit ni Charlotte bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan.

“Customized.” Tumatawang tugon ni Chase na para bang naiintindihan ang reaction ni Charlotte.

Sa loob, may soft purple LED light na sumasakop sa buong cabin, slowly glowing across the whole interior. Hindi siya masyadong bright or distracting. Sakto lang siya, enough para mag-create ng cool and classy vibe.

Charlotte sits in the driver’s seat, and the moment she settles in, she immediately feels the custom leather seats wrap around her body. The base is black, but it has purple stitching that matches the ambient lights around her. “Ikaw nga may-ari, puro purple e.” Natatawang sambit ni Charlotte habang ineexplore pa rin ang paligid. The leather feels soft, but still firm enough to give that sporty support, like the seat is built to hold her steady even during fast driving.