Ruining Mr. Clarke

Kabanata 7

Kung may katawang tao lang ang inis, matagal na itong nakabuntot sa kaniya.

The car was filled in silence. But Andrea's insides were in turmoil, fighting whether to stop him from driving, so she could escape. Ang katahimik na iyon ay hindi maganda para sa nag-aalburuto niyang kalooban. She can't imagine being with the same room as Julian Clarke Veneracion ever since before but the universe wasn't taking her manifestation seriously.

Oo nga't gusto niya mapalapit dito dahil sa trabaho. At ito na nga ang gumagawa ng paraan para matupad iyon pero sa tuwing nagku-krus ang kanilang landas, hindi naman siya mapakali sa inis.

How can she do her job well if Andrea would think of her hate towards him instead of grabbing the opportunity to share a word with him?

Pakiramdam niya ay napakabagal ng oras. From Manila to Batangas only takes one or two hours but it seems like they were traveling forever. Pakiramdam niya ay sobrang bagal ng takbo ng sasakyan.

Isa pa, hindi niya matukoy ang pagsulpot nito. The woman that was about to get married was their friend, bakit pupunta rin doon ang lalaki?

"What's your relationship with Charlotte?" Hindi niya napigilan ang sarili.

Julian glanced in her direction. Ngunit hindi sa kaniya nakatuon ang kaniyang atensiyon 'kundi sa labas lang ng sasakyan.

"Charlotte?" he sounded confused. "Oh... She must be the bride. Gusto ni Chase na dumalo ako sa kasal. And I'm here with you to go there."

Hindi niya pinansin ang huling sinabi nito.

"Hindi mo siya kilala?" sunod niyang tanong nang maanigan ang pagtataka sa boses nito.

"Nope..."

"Then, why agreed to go there? You could have just said no. Hindi ka naman kailangan doon at hindi ka kilala ng ikakasal."

"I'm friends with the groom," anito na siyang ikinatikom ng bibig niya.

Parang gusto niyang maglaho sa kinauupan.

"At hindi mo kilala 'yong papakasalan ng kaibigan mo?" muli niyang usal.

Sa pagkakataon na 'yon ay nilingon na niya ito na may gitla sa kaniyang noo. Wala na siyang pakialam kung ang tingin nito sa kaniya ay naglalakad na bulkan dahil sa mukha nitong nag-aalburuto na naman sa inis.

He shrugged. A small smile left his lips.

"Hindi naman ako interesado malaman kung sinuman ang gustong pakasalan ng kaibigan ko. He's man enough to choose the woman he knew would compromise with him."

Tinikom niya ang bibig at muling tinuon ang tingin sa kanilang nadadaanan.

She wanted to ask questions regarding her work. Yet she wasn't prepared for this encounter. Tila na-blanko ang kaniyang isip at hindi na maalala ang mga katanungan na kaniyang inilista.

Besides, it would be strange. Julian doesn't have an idea of her field of work. Baka ang dating sa kaniya nito ay tsimosa na nais mangialam ng buhay ng iba. She's professional, and she must kept her chin high looking as one for she worked hard for it.

Ayaw niyang masabihan lang ng tsismosa gayong mas mataas pa roon ang kaniyang pinag-aralan.

Her mind and heart were fighting. Should she ask him about what happened last night? Or ask about how his wound.

Umiling siya na napansin naman ng huli.

"Do you want to say something?"

"How was your wound?" The question slipped in her mouth as her eyes landed on him.

Her eyes widened when her mouth open to ask the most dumb question she could ever come up. Ano naman ngayon? Julian was beside her, in good condition, and it seems like the wound never really bothered him.

Ang makita na maayos na ito ay indikasyon na maayos na rin ang sugat na natamo nito galing kung saan. Pero hindi niya pa rin napigilan ang sarili na magtanong!

She shook her head. "I mean, you looked fine so, I guess it wasn't that serious."

"You seems concern," he chuckled. "But yes, I'm fine. The wound... Well, I got used to it. Nothing really hurts me anymore."

Umirap siya rito. "Whoever did that to you, he must have been drunk to not stab you in ways you can't survive."

"Ah, you're so morbid. You hate me that much, huh..."

It wasn't a question.

She shrugged and keep her eyes on the road, but later closes it to sleep.

"So, you're really friends with Chase. For how long?"

Dahil doon ay muling iminulat niya ang mga mata. Now he's curious.

Parang kanina lang ay sinabi nitong kinilala niya muna ang pamilya nito at hindi aksidente ang pangalawang pagkikita nila.

"Since college," aniya. "We went to the same school. Then, we became friends. Hindi ko alam na ikaw ang pinsan niya noon."

"Knowing her, alam kong hindi siya nagsasabi tungkol sa 'min," sambit niyo. "So, I'm not surprised. Unless..."

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. "Ano? Na sa simula pa lang ay kilala ko na kayo at sinadya ko na lapitan si Chase, ganoon ba? You know what, Mr. Clarke. I'm someone who really don't give a f uck about anyone's assumptions about me. At isa na roon 'yong sa 'yo. Wala akong pakialam sa iniisip mo. So, just save the portion of of your mind thinking about me."

His upper lip rose up. "I didn't even think of that."

"Well, I assumed you did think of me in that way. Gano'n ka kanina, 'di ba? You thought last night wasn't a coincidence. Inuunahan lang kita."

"About that... I'm sorry," he said.

Bumagal ang takbo ng sasakyan. Andrea hug her body as she felt the coldness of the night. Nakapatay naman ang aircon pero medyo ibinaba niya ang bitana sa kaniyang tabi para makalanghap ng hangin.

The night was still young. Kaya medyo trapik pa at siguro uwian ng mga tao. It's Friday, after all.

"I was just used being surrounded by people who was there not for their genuine intention, but to use our names for their own good."

"I told you it wasn't free," she reminded him. "Since sabi mo nga, baka kinilala muna kita para may mahita sa 'yo, then okay. I'm taking advantage in the situation. Balang araw ay sisingilin kita."

"Why not now?"

"I still don't need your connection."

"Think of anything, then. I might change my mind if it would take you years to tell me what you need from me."

"It might prolly take years..."

Pinikit niya ang mga mata niyang nagsisimula nang bumigat.

She feels sleepy. She wanted to but she also doesn't want to leave Julian. Medyo mahaba ang byahe nila at alam niya kung gaano kalungkot mag-isa sa byahe na walang kausap.

Bumuntong hininga siya.

"If you're sleepy, then sleep..."

"I'm not," she whispered in a low voice. "Sumasakit lang ang ulo ko dahil kasama kita."

He chuckled. "Hindi ka naman lugi sa 'kin. Some girls would kill to be in your shoes right now."

"I'm not one of them. Ayokong makulong para lang makita ka. And I believe I'm a woman, not just some girls."

"I can see that," anito. "You seems different and I like it."

"My differences don't feel the same way with you."

Julian smiled in amusement.