Scarper with Fremde

Chapter 4

Chaper IV

Having the feeling of calmness and peacefulness just by smelling something is a different level of relaxation. The seat is just too comfortable for me that I felt like I could be sleeping by just sitting in there.

Sinasabayan pa ng malamyang musika na mula lang sa piano. It's so comforting.

Glancing at my side, I could see how beautiful Vinx was while driving. His side profile gives me a vibe of a beauty product model. His jaw wasn't sharp but it defined the shape of his face. His not-so-thick eyebrows but aren't thin either furrowed and his eyes have a touch of brown focused on the road. His nose is straight and proud. And lastly, his plum lips that are like candy that can eat were pressed together, afraid that they'd speak a word.

I did send a message that I'll be home late in the group chat in case they look for me.

Chuckling, I shifted my gaze to the window. Sa ibang way dumaan ang sasakyan niya, do'n sakabila ng University. I'm not familiar with this way but I'm sure Kuya Thallus passes by here when he has to get something from somewhere. Or if Dad wants us to have dinner at a restaurant somewhere.

Hindi pa naman malayo sa University pero palabas 'to sa highway.

"Where are we going?" I asked when I saw how many cars passed. We're currently on the highway.

"Kloven and Kriev, my cousin asked me to deliver a package." He cleared his throat, and glanced at me. Our eyes met through the side mirror but he instantly avoided it. "After that, are you uh... okay to come with me in my condo?"

My head automatically went to his side when I heard it. "Are you crazy?" It wasn't an extravagant reaction, but it was supposed to be what should I react.

"Let me explain first!" The dim light came from above the dashboard, it gave me a clear look of Vinx. His ears turned red as his eyes moved to see me but for some reason, he couldn't. "I want to cook you something, and that's all! I'm not planning to do something—you know!"

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi matawa sa reaksyon niya. "Sorry, sorry!" Winagayway ko pababa ang kamay ko habang pinipigilan ang tawa. I know what he meant.

Hindi dapat ganito ang reaksyon ko pero sa pagkakasabi niya parang alam niyang gano'n ang iniisip ko. Well, that should be but I couldn't find a single negative feeling when he's with me.

He may have pestered my mind but I couldn't admit that I felt free when he was talking to me or just in there, near me. He's a stranger but strangely, he isn't.

Oddly, hindi ako nakakaramdam ng pagka-ilang sa kan'ya.

"Ianna..." He stopped the car because of the red light.

He finally looked at me. I met his gaze. His face was void of emotion but his eyes, it was speaking too many words even I couldn't understand.

"Vinx, my phone has a tracker my Dad inserted for emergency purposes." I smile a little. "It's been minutes, and I should be home by now."

As a cue, my phone rang. It's Daddy. He probably saw my message.

"Answer it. I'll talk to him." He bravely said, even though his ears were still red.

Sinagot ko ang tawag hindi dahil gusto kong siya ang kumausap kay Daddy. I want Dad to know where I am and who's with me.

"Dad,"

"You're still inside the city, Thally. Who's with you?" Dad sounded so serious

My eyes followed the sound of clearing a throat. "Good day, Sir! My name is Keziar Riva. I'm with Ianna, Sir! I just want to treat her to an early dinner. Is it okay if she gets home before eight in the evening?"

I press the loud speaker button so we hear the silent on the other line. "Thally,"

"Dad," I glanced at Vinx and he nodded at me.

"It is okay with you? To dinner with him?" Naninimbang ang boses ni Daddy.

Ngumiti ako kahit hindi niya naman kita. "He's the one I told you last night, Dad. I wouldn't be with him if it isn't fine with me."

I heard him sigh. "You said you're a Riva, right?"

"Yes, Sir!" Vinx answer fast.

"So, you're a Vermont." A strange tone Daddy used. Ito ang unang beses kong narinig sa kan'ya 'to. Did he know Vinx's family? "Protect my daughter and keep her safe until you get her home. I would trust you for her safety, don't break it. And Thally,"

"Dad?"

"Be good. Know your limits. I won't stop you from doing what you want but know where to stop, okay? We just talked last night. Fill your tummy. I'm going to date your Mom today and we'll probably go home late at night. Ang Ate mo kay Grethel daw matutulog kasama si Cathia. Ang Kuya mo naman nando'n sa Kuya Rozein mo, baka hindi 'yon umuwi dahil wala naman siyang pasok bukas. Riva,"

"Sir?"

"Ihatid mo nang maayos ang Anak ko. If I see something wrong with my Daughter, I don't care if you are a Vermont, I'll hunt you myself." He uses it again. That unfamiliar tone of his voice.

"Don't worry, Sir. Since I am a Vermont, I could protect your Daughter!"

"That's good. Enjoy it, Thally!" Then, he hung up.

He is a Vermont. What does it mean? Dad trusts me to him since he is a Vermont. What is there? Why does Daddy know that?

"So..." my eyes went on him. He's a Vermont. What the heck does it mean? I cleared my throat, trying to get rid of those thoughts. "Let's go?"

Ini-start niya na ang kotse at nagsumulang magmaneho ulit dahil nag-green light na. This place is different from what I am used to. Maraming matataas na building at maraming sasakyan. Ibang iba dahil ang madalas na nakikita ko ay mga pader lang sa kwarto ko, o kung hindi naman, mga libro.

It feels good to see new things. Discover a new scenario that is not just created in my mind. Maka-kita ng iba't ibang mukha na nasa paligid na nakikita lang sa telebisyon. Differences in cars, their heights, colors, and different types. It's like I was born again.

We only have an outing in the summer, with other family members. The mall or even the restaurant is close to our subdivision, so I often only see the same place over and over again. I don't often go out and join their wanderings.

"We're here," Vinx's voice is gentle and it's opposite his rough body before left hurriedly.

The door on my side opened, and behind it was Vinx. I stepped out and took a back when he held my bag even with his bag on his shoulder.

"Thank you," I muttered as I followed him. Didn't even bother to take the bag back and refuse.

We're at a parking lot based on many cars parked in this lot. Huminto kami sa tapat ng elevator at siya ang pumundot sa button. When it opened, there was no one inside. Alone with him in a small space made me smell his lavender-like scent but still, the earthy aroma is lingering.

"Wait?" I glance at him through the mirror inside the elevator. "I thought you were going to deliver a package to your cousin? Is that here?"

His eyes met mine fast as he looked down immediately. "I changed my mind. Mamaya ko na lang ihahatid."

My eyes watch him as he puts my bag on his shoulder and opens his own. Naglabas siya ng sumbrelo bago sinuot ulit ang bag. He faced me as he had shaken the cap once. Then, my heart skipped a beat when he put the cap on my head to wear it. Hinawi niya rin ang buhok ko na nasa balikat papunta sa likod.

I hadn't even recovered when the elevator opened and he got out. Kusang sumunod ang paa ko sa kan'ya. His back wasn't as wide as Kuya Thallus' but it's straighter and bulky. My white bag shines beside his black bag. Ngayon ko lang din napansing wala na siyang suot na coat na kasama sa uniform namin, tanging ang puting polo na lang ang suot niya, maging ang neck tie ay wala na rin.

He stopped at a white plain door. As he opened it, I was greeted by darkness. Pumasok ako at narinig kong may pinindot si Vinx at kasabay niyon ay ang pagliwanag ng paligid. As the door made a sound as it locked, my eyes roamed around.

The entrance was one way. Sa kanan ay ang mataas na shoe rack. Lahat ng shelf may pares ng mamahaling sapatos. Sa kanan naman ay ang katamtamang taas na kabinet at sa tabi nito ay cloth rack. Nilapag ni Vinx ang bag namin sa taas ng kabinet at naunang pumasok. Hindi pa siya nakakalagpas sa shoe rack nang lumuhod siya at kumuha ng tsinelas sa ilalim no'n.

He put a slipper in front of my feet and he looked up. "You can wear this." Then, he pointed at his back, where the sofa was peeping. "Do'n ka magpalit."

I nodded and did what he said. The color of the things inside was three color. Bukod sa puting tiles sa sahig, pader, kisame, at lahat na ng bagay ay iisang kulay lang. Nilapag ko sa lamesa ang sumbrelong suot bago hinubad ang coat kasama ng necktie. Nilagay ko sa bulsa ng coat ang neck tie 'saka tinupi ang coat ng maayos bago pinatong sa tabi at pinaibabaw ang sumbrelo.

Hinubad ko rin ang sapatos ko 'saka sinuot ang malambot na slippers bago tumayo para ibigay kay Vinx ang sapatos at nakatuping coat kasama ang sumbrelo. Kinuha niya 'yon at nilagay sa ibabaw ng kabinet, sa tabi lang ng bag ko. He's also wearing the same slippers I had.

"You can watch first while I prepare our food. Is that okay?" He asks as he leads me to the sofa again.

The sofa is in the shape of L. Sa gitna ay may maliit na salaming lamesa. Sa tapat niyon ay ang malaking TV. He opened it and on the aircon.

Sa tabi ng living area niya, naroon ang kitchen. It was a small U-shaped kitchenette. Kompleto ang gamit at malinis tignan. On the other side of the kitchen, may lamesa na nakadikit sa pader at may tatlong upuan. And between the kitchen and living area, may magkatabi na dalawang pinto.

White, slate gray, and black are the only colors I could see around maliban sa mga ibang gamit na gan'on lang ang kulay.

Nagsimula na siyang kumilos sa kusina. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa kan'ya. With every move he makes, he looks like an expert. He is proficient and knows what he is doing. Every move he makes is polished and smooth. Ang sleeves ng polo niya nakatupi hanggang sa ibabaw ng siko niya, kaya kitang kita kung paano gumalaw ang mga muscles doon.

"Vinx," I called. He hummed and glanced at me but he returned to what he was doing. "Why do you want to cook for me?"

He stops at what he's doing and puts his hands on the edge of the counter. Our eyes were looking at each other. He smiles, his face glowing as he balances his body.

"Did you read the text I sent you?" I shrugged. Hindi ako nagkaro'n ng pagkakataon basahin 'yon dahil nawala na rin sa isip ko. But, I was right. It was him. "Then, do you know me, Ianna?" A question I didn't expect him to ask.

I nod. "Keziar, a member of the Music club." That's all I knew about him.

He hummed again and continued chopping the potatoes. "It wasn't just a music club, Ianna. We are a band. Jandel, our President, or rather, leader has a dream. And that is," he looked up and smiled. "To be a band vocalist."

Band... they are a band? Of course, they are. They're performing.

"We weren't just a group that performed every event was allowed to. May kontrata kami sa University. Since malawak ang koneksyon ng University sa bansa, pumayag kami magkakontrata sa kanila. Hawak nila kami at sila ang nag-a-ayos o nagha-hanap kung saan kami magp-perform."

Nilagay niya ang hinugasang patatas sa kawali. The TV is on but my attention is on him. He looked happy while he was talking about their band.

"Na-regular kami sa Tanui Bar para mag-perform. Ang usapan ay magp-perform lang, hindi p'wedeng magtagal o uminom dahil estudyante pa rin kami at hawak kami mismo ng University. We're fine with that kasi tama naman sila. And every Friday evening, may performance kami sa Mall malapit sa Subdivision niyo. Doon kung sa'n tayo nagkasalubong."

I just want to know why he wanted to cook for me... he told me their band's history. Well, it was fine though. At least, I know something that came from him. Hindi na galing sa iba na tinanong ko.

"I already knew you before the Cofféy incident."

My eyes widened at the truth. "What?" It's shocking, but I'm not surprised that he admitted it.

"It's true." He nodded. "You are Ianna Thally Norris. The youngest among Thallus and Thalian." He looked at me. His eyes were seriously staring and seemed like pulling my soul. "I saw you always with Thallus every after school, so I got curious. Hindi kayo magkamukha kaya nagtaka ako kung bakit ka palaging sumasakay sa sasakyan niya. Kayo ni Thalian."

That's true, the three of us had different faces. Si Kuya kahawig na kahawig si Daddy, gano'n din ako kay Mommy, habang si Ate naman ang mix nila Mommy at Daddy.

Tinignan niya ang pinapakuluan bago humarap ulit sa'kin. "Don't get me wrong! I know Thallus, so I knew how playboy he was. I'm sure you know it, too." I nod as if agreeing with him. "I thought, You and Thalian were his girls. But when I saw you talking to Cassiara, I asked her if you, Thalian, and Thallus were related."

"What did she say?" That girl. She didn't even tell me earlier.

He chuckled like he just recalled what Cassiara said. "Sa tagal na nakikita ko kayo, nakikita ko mga similarities niyo. Kaya gano'n yung tanong ko. She said yes, of course. But I also asked Thallus myself."

Wow, he did that because he got curious. Well, if I were him, I wouldn't do that. Except if my reason is deep. I'm sure he has it.

"Siya ang unang nakaalam na may gusto 'ko sayo."

My mind couldn't process what he just said. My ears were deafened by the loud beat of my heart and I couldn't hear what he said. Ang malamig na likidong namuo sa chan ko ay umakyat sa dibdib ko na kumalat sa katawan ko.

"That's right." He smiled as his eyes didn't leave mine. "I want to cook for you to taste my work but I also wanted to grab that opportunity to be close to you." He looked straight into my eyes. There was an honesty and gentleness in it as he stared. "I like you, Ianna. Since when you entered the music club room."