Let Love Happen

Chapter 8 - joyride

"Guess what happened while I was in Tagaytay?" Ate Andrea's blissful voice interrupted my peaceful breakfast as the front door swung open.

I put down my hot mug of coffee and chewed the bite of toast inside my mouth before speaking.

"You fell inlove?" I kidded and chuckled after swallowing the bread.

Her eyes widened and a smile graced her radiant face as she danced her way towards the kitchen.

"How did you know?!" she asked in an exaggeration.

I meant it as a joke and the way she plays along never failed to amuse me. Bukod sa batuhan namin ng asar, isa ito sa mga na-miss ko ng sobra while we were away from each other, iyong kung paano niya sakyan ang mga biro ko.

"Don't tell me-," I started again before she cut me off.

"I met someone, Yana," she told me.

"Really? I'm so happy for you!" I said, acting delighted.

We tend to make fun of her lovelife all the time. I lost count kung ilan na nga ba ang naging boyfriend niya. And honestly, I hope she'd stop counting as well. Noong una napipikon siya pero nang siya na mismo ang naka-realize kung gaano karaming epic fails na ang mga romantic relationships niya, tinatawanan na lang namin iyon.

"I think he could be the one," she continued. She sounded giddy and I marveled at how she could easily fake it.

"So, what's the name of your new prince charming?" I asked to challenge her more.

I waited in anticipation, expecting her to come up with an iconic name like Romeo. But the name she gave me didn't sound like someone taken out of a fictitious love story.

"Brett. His name is Brett," she told me.

Of course, she could have just made that name up. Anyway, madali namang mag-isip ng pangalan.

But that dreamy eyes?

Oh God, not again, I discreetly looked up and pleaded.

"Brett," I repeated and swallowed hard as she sat across me.

With glistening eyes and alarmingly cheerful expression, she reached for my hand.

"I was at Auntie Mina's flower shop. Syempre, tinutulungan ko siya. I was arranging lavender roses to be exact when this guy came in," she narrated.

Oh no, she can't be serious.

"Parang tumibok ang puso ko noong pumasok siya kahit hindi ko pa siya nakikita. Tapos I heard him ask Auntie for white roses, ibibigay raw niya sa Mama niya. Napalingon na ako that time kasi naisip ko what a sweet and kind son he must be."

"Kapag nagbigay ng bulaklak ang anak, mabait na? Malay mo kung may kasalanan siya sa nanay niya kaya sumisipsip?" I couldn't help butting in.

She quickly hushed me down with a frown and went on.

"Eto na. When I turned to look at him, eksakto naman na tumingin rin siya. I swear I saw fireworks when our eyes met. For a while we just stared at each other without a word. Tapos noong nagsalita si Auntie, Brett asked if he could get the lavender roses instead, the ones I was arranging."

That narration was followed by a loud shriek and I had to cover my ears. Ate Andrea is five years older than me pero kapag love ang topic, nawawala ang sense of maturity niya.

"Pinag-uusapan pa naman namin ni Auntie Mina yung mga meaning ng flowers bago siya dumating. Now tell me kung coincidence lang or is it fate at work," she demanded my full attention by squeezing my hand.

"Hulaan mo kung anong meaning ng lavender roses according to Auntie Mina?" she prompted.

I rolled my eyes up and pretended to be in deep thought, resisting the urge to laugh at how cheesy her story is getting.

"Love at first sight?" I guessed and cringed.

The moment I said that, she stood up at once and threw her arms around me.

"Exactly!"

Oh please.

"And you're relying on flower meanings now when deciding on love? Love at first sight is not possible, Ate. Siguro infatuation or admiration. But love? I don't think so."

I was expecting her to frown at me for ruining her high hopes, but she was still smiling when she pulled away from me.

"Love appears in the most unlikely places, when you least expect it, little sis. Love exists. Believe me."

Now that is something I have trouble believing.

And coming from her na puro not so happy ang ending ng bawat chapter ng love story, I highly doubt it.

Bukod sa nangyari kay Mama at Papa, iyong mga tragic endings nila ng mga former boyfriends niya ang nagsaksak sa isip ko na walang forever.

High School ako nang nakipag-break sa kanya ang first boyfriend niya dahil ipinagpalit siya sa ibang babae. Iyong sumunod doon, ipinagpalit siya sa ibang lalaki. Mama's boy naman ang boyfriend niya noong College siya at iniwan si Ate dahil hindi siya gusto ng nanay nito. May naging boyfriend rin siya na masyadong demanding, gusto sa kanya na lang iikot ang mundo ng kapatid ko. Meron ring weirdo na nagbebenta ng mga anting-anting kaya duda ko ay ginayuma lang niya si Ate kaya siya nagustuhan. Pero ang pinaka-worse sa lahat, iyong last boyfriend niya sa Dubai na dapat ay pakakasalan na niya pero iniwan siya.

"Ate, take my advice. Slow down. Walang love at first sight. Kilalanin mo muna bago ka ma-inlove," I told her.

Hindi pa naalis ang kislap sa mata niya nang titigan niya ako.

"Yana, hindi mo pwedeng diktahan ang puso kung kailan siya dapat magmahal. That's why it's called falling in love...you just fall," she reasoned out.

Gusto kong sakalin ang kapatid ko sa sagot niyang iyon. O iuntog kaya sa pader para maalala niya ang mga sakit na naranasan niya dahil sa pesteng pag-ibig na iyan. But I also know that there's truth in what she said kaya pinalampas ko na lang iyon.

"Just please be careful who you fall for," I finally said.

Kahit papaano, naging believer rin naman ako ng love. Noong High School, dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ni Mama at Ate sa pag-ibig, gusto ko nang isumpa lahat ng lalaki. For those reasons I thought that all guys were out there just to make girls cry. I was so ready to be a man-hater. Pero hindi ko iyon nagawa. Dahil kay Tristan.

He was, of course, an exception. He was everything that those guys aren't. He was caring and sweet and a perfect gentleman. He was my last hope. Kaya nang hindi niya ako siputin sa Senior Prom at ipagpalit kay Amber, it was the last straw.

Because of that incident, I decided that bad luck in love runs in our family. Kaya kapag may nagpaparamdam ng love interest sa akin, lumalayo na ako. Hindi ko pinangarap na basain ng luha ang unan ko gabi-gabi at umiyak sa lahat ng heart-breaking songs sa radyo.

So, who could blame me if I'm not a big fan of love? I once believed. But I no longer do.

"Ikaw rin Yana, love will find you, maniwala ka sa akin," my sister suddenly said.

At the mention of my name and in fear of talking about my own love failure, I abruptly stood up.

"Male-late na ako, Ate. I have to go," I quickly told her.

She glanced at the clock on the wall and turned back to me.

"Seven o'clock pa lang ah! Ang lapit lapit ng office mo. Diba mga seven thirty ka umaalis?"

"May ocular visit kami para sa venue ng Christmas Party sa Sta. Rosa."

It wasn't a total lie. Totoong pupunta kami doon, pero eight o'clock pa.

"Ah. Kasama si Tristan?" she then asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"Oo, siya ang representative ng Purchasing. Marami kami, if you must know. Kailangan kasi may representative bawat department. Dapat raw hindi lang isa ang nagde-decide," I informed her.

"Oo o hindi lang ang sagot sa tanong ko, ang dami mo nang sinabi," she said with a chuckle and urged me to go.

I shook my head as I left the apartment. Dumaan pa ako ng Espresso Haven bago dumeretso sa trabaho kaya halos eight na rin nang dumating ko sa building. Nakita ko agad si Tristan na nakasandal sa kotseng pula ng Prime Publishing.

He's sporting casual clothes today. He's still wearing a sky blue long sleeve folded up to his elbows but this time he left the buttons open, showing a white inner shirt. Instead of his usual jeans and loafers, he matched it with navy blue cargo shorts and white tennis shoes. Kung hindi lang nangingibabaw ang pagiging jerk siya, iisipin kong gwapo siya.

"Where are the others?" I asked habang naglalakad palapit sa kanya.

Kinapa niya ang mga bulsa ng cargo shorts niya bago nagkibit-balikat sa akin.

"Wala sa bulsa ko," he said defensively.

I darted him a look and pointed at the hot coffee I was holding.

"Tinatanong kita ng maayos kaya sumagot ka ng maayos kung ayaw mong ibuhos ko ito sa iyo," I warned.

He responded with a laugh.

"Causing physical harm towards co-employee. Suspension ang sanction na katapat niyan sa handbook," he informed me.

"Wala akong pakialam. I'd tell them you provoked me," I retorted back.

"And I would deny it," he replied.

I didn't say a word, but I stepped closer and started removing the lid of the coffee cup. This time, he held up his hand in surrender and stepped back.

"Peace! Di ka na mabiro! Si Ms. Yvette ng Marketing, sa site na raw dederetso after her meeting in Alabang. Yung representative ng MIS, may kailangan pang ituro sa bagong employee sa Primeworks Courier sa Parañaque kaya susunod na lang daw siya. Yung mga taga Publishing naman, nauna na dahil may dadaanan pa silang site para pictorial ng magazine."

"So, you mean tayo na lang dalawa ang naiwan?" I asked kahit alam ko na ang sagot.

"Yes."

Bahagya akong natigilan sa sinabi niya. Pakiramdam ko binagsakan ako ng langit at lupa.

"Why? You have a problem being alone with me?" I heard him ask.

And there goes that smug smile again.

"Ako? Baka ikaw. Trabaho lang ito, walang personalan. I can pretend that you don't exist," I sneered and threw my bag at the passenger seat through the open window.

With that, he opened the door for me, once again pretending to be a gentleman.

I was taking my seat when I heard someone whistle behind me. I was taught not to turn around when someone calls my attention with a whistle, but I need not wonder who it was when another annoying guy suddenly appeared by my side.

"She has a name, Frank. Bakit ka sumisipol? Nasa Marketing ka pa naman, mukhang di mo ginagamit ang mga natutunan mo sa Customer Service Training," Tristan told him in an irritated tone.

Frank ignored his sarcasm and turned to me. Naaalala ko na ngayon ang pangalan niya dahil siya iyong magpapainom sana sa akin ng alak during Seth's birthday.

"Looking good, Ms, Audrey! Had I known na kasama ka, ako na lang sana ang nagprisintang official ng Marketing!" bati nito, totally creeping me out.

"Had I known na kasama ka, magba-back-out naman ako," ganti ko, seeing no reason to play nice with him.

He laughed.

"Palaban! That's how I like it, Pare," he said, making Tristan's frown deepen.

"May hangover ka na naman ba? Magtrabaho ka na nga! Ayan na si Savannah, hinihintay ka na," pagtataboy nito bago pabagsak na isinara ang pinto ko.

Si Savannah ang Marketing Officer ng Prime Publishing na ubod ng ganda at arte. Isa siya sa mga babaeng palaging nakataas ang kilay sa tuwing nakikita ako and it doesn't take a genius to know na isa rin siya sa mga may not-so-hidden desire kay Tristan. Nitong nagdaang meeting na tinabihan ako ng crush niya ay panay ang irap nito sa akin. She obviously wants to trade seats with me. Ang hindi niya alam, tinatabihan lang naman ako ng l*kong ito para bwisitin.

"Magkasama kayo?" she asked, raising her voice and eyebrows as she approached us.

"Not if I had any other choice," I muttered just loud enough for annoying guy beside me to hear.

He smirked before nodding at Savannah.

"Kayo lang dalawa?" was her next question.

"Feel free to join us," I offered pero inirapan lamang niya ako at bumaling kay Tristan.

"I guess I'm stuck with her," sagot nito kay Savannah na tila napipilitan bago naglakad papunta sa driver's seat.

Pinahawakan nito sa akin ang mamahaling camera na nakalagay sa upuan bago sumakay.

"We have to get going. See you around," he told her and started the car.

"Feeling photographer talaga? Ubra na kaya yung cellphone camera," I commented as he maneuvered the car towards the gasoline station just outside Alabang Business Park.

"Iba naman ang quality kapag captured ng ganitong camera, syempre mas maganda. Tsaka I want everything documented," he informed me.

Talaga. Tuwing nagdadala sa amin ng documents ang staff niya na si Hannah, palaging may receiving copy at logbook because her immediate superior wants everything documented raw. Kahit noong bata pa kami ganoon naman talaga siya. He takes pictures of almost everything. May scrapbook pa nga siya noon.

"Dami mong arte," I said as he put the car into a halt.

"Full tank," he instructed the gasoline boy and reached for his back pocket.

"Sus! Pareho rin-" I was saying when he suddenly panicked.

“Oh no! Ang wallet ko!" he exclaimed while continuously searching all the pockets of his cargo shorts.

"Ang lakas ng loob mong mag-full tank, wala ka palang dalang pera?!" I asked while he duck his head under the steering wheel to search under the driver's seat.

"One thousand eight hundred po, Sir," the gasoline boy said after a while and stood by the open window to wait for the payment.

When Tristan heard that, he straightened up on his seat and turned to me.

"Bayaran mo na," he commanded.

"B*wisit ka," I told him, making the gasoline boy chuckle.

Two thousand lang ang dala kong pera. That will only leave two hundred pesos for the rest of the day. Pero wala naman akong choice so I took my wallet inside my bag.

"Ibabalik ko naman sa iyo, nandun sa wallet ko kasi ang cash advance for this trip," he said.

With a heavy heart, I handed him all the bills inside my wallet. Pati mga twenties ay ibinigay ko sa kanya.

"Wow, tumama ka sa jueteng?" he even joked habang binibilang ang pera.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mong mang-asar. Sige nga, maghanap ka sa labas ng mauutangan!" I snapped and punched him in the arm.

By this time, the gasoline boy was handing him the receipt. He witnessed what I just did and stifled a laugh. The jerk on the steering wheel noticed it too and smiled at him.

"Sweet ng girlfriend ko, ano? Kunwari lang galit yan pero deep inside, mahal na mahal ako niyan," Tristan told him.

My face burned as I clenched my fist once again.

"Just shut up and drive!" I yelled and hit his shoulder harder this time.

"Maganda sana Sir, medyo bayolente lang," sagot nito at lalong nanlaki ang mata ko.

Tristan laughed heartily as he once again started the car. But before he stepped on the accelerator, bigla siyang natigilan.

"Oh no, we have a bigger problem," he stated and bit his lower lip.

It must have been something that I mastered back when we were friends because he didn't have to say a word. I can read his mind just by looking at his sheepish grin.

"You left your driver's license inside the wallet," I stated and narrowed my eyes at him.

"Sorry," he said and held out a peace sign.

"Baba!" I shouted. We cannot possibly hit the road with him on the steering wheel if he doesn't have his license.

"Eh paano tayo?"

Lalo namang hindi kami pwedeng mag-commute dahil wala na kaming pera. Kung babalik kami ng opisina, hassle pa.

"Move! I'll drive," I told him.

"Marunong ka?"

He sounded doubtful but I didn't feel insulted. In fact, mas lalo akong ginanahan mag-drive.

"I drive like a pro," I boasted and left the passenger seat.

"Sigurado ka? Bata pa ako, marami pa akong pangarap. Gusto ko pang magpatayo ng sarili kong bahay at bumili ng sarili kong kotse. More than that, gusto ko pang mag-asawa at magkaroon ng mga anak," he narrated as he got out of the driver's seat and held up the keys.

I snatched the keys away from his hand bago ko siya tinabig para makaupo ako.

"Just sit back and relax. I'll give you the greatest joyride of your life," I said and gave him an evil smile.

He was obviously reluctant, but he settled on the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt as I move the car out of the gasoline station. Sumaludo pa sa kanya ang gasoline boy na naging instant best friend niya bago kami umalis.

I was nearing the main road when I abruptly stepped on the brakes to avoid an approaching jeepney. I saw how my passenger took a very deep breath when I did and sighed heavily when he realized we're safe.

"Oops..." I said with a giggle.

"Sigurado ka bang makakarating tayo ng buhay sa Sta. Rosa? Hindi ka pa nakaka-isang kilometro may almost accident ka na agad," he asked me.

I gave him a side glance and beamed.

"I hit the brakes just in time, what are you talking about?" I reasoned out with a shrug.

He felt the need to re-fasten his seatbelt and sat up straight.

"When was the last time you drove a car?"

"Last week, with my sister," confident na sagot nito.

May kaibigan si Ate na nagpahiram ng sasakyan sa kanya last week at ginamit namin iyon para mamili ng ilang gamit sa bahay. Syempre hindi ko na idinagdag na pilit akong pinababa ni Ate at pinabalik sa passenger seat matapos akong mabigyan ng ticket for overspeeding. Hindi na rin niya kailangang malaman na kahapon ko lang nabawi ang lisensya ko.

"Okay naman si Ate Andrea? I mean, you both got home safe, I suppose."

Pilit mang itago ay halatang-halata ang kaba sa boses ni niya. And I find it very amusing to see him holding on to his seat.

"Bakit ka nag-overtake sa blind spot? Delikado iyon!" biglang puna nito bago pa ako makasagot.

I smiled to myself and went on driving without a word.

"Pati sa solid lines nag-overtake ka! Strictly no overtaking kapag ganun!" he informed me again afterwards, but I kept silent.

"Marunong ka ba talaga mag-drive?" he asked next.

I raised one eyebrow before throwing him a look.

"For your information, nag-driving school ako," I bragged.

"Pwes, hindi halata," he answered, and I had to smirk.

"At least I'm not st*pid enough to leave my driver's license at home kahit alam kong gagamitin ko sa trabaho."

"Hindi ko naman sinasadya. Nagpahatid kasi si Lola sa Talisay kahapon tapos may pinsan akong lumuwas eh nakisabay ako. Ayun, sa pagmamadali ko naiwan ang -" hindi pa siya tapos magpaliwanag nang tapikin ang kamay ko sa manibela.

"O swerving 'yan!" biglang saway nito sa halip na tapusin ang sinasabi.

"Says who? Nobody noticed," I told him with a little smile.

As we drove along the expressway, panay ang sermon niya about defensive driving. Binuksan ko ang stereo ng sasakyan at sinabayan ito sa pagkanta but he turned it off and demanded that I listen to him instead.

"Pumirmi ka nga sa isang lane! Bakit ba palipat lipat ka?" anito maya-maya.

Kung may nag-e-enjoy sa joyride na ito, ako iyon.

"Why don't you just sleep? Medyo mahaba pa ang byahe," I suggested.

"With the way you're driving, how do you expect me to sleep? Paano kung hindi na ako magising ng buhay?" sagot niya bago ako pinanlakihan ng mata.

I just laughed in response and sped up.

"One hundred fifty ka na Eliana Audrey! one hundred lang ang speed limit dito!" he scolded just as fast, and I had to laugh.

"Traffic enforcer ka siguro noong past life mo," I commented and slowed down.

"Dapat nahuli ka doon eh," he mumbled and I winked just to piss him off.

"But I didn't get caught," I told him wickedly.

He slumped on his seat with his hand still gripping the handle above the window.

"Ngayon ko napatunayan na matibay pala yang hawakan na yan," I kidded but he didn't laugh. He didn't let go either.

He ran out of things to say after that and fell silent. Hindi rin niya inaalis ang mata niya sa kalsada when I started another conversation.

"My turn to ask," I said and continued.

"When was the last time you attended confession?"

Kunot-noo siyang bumaling sa akin.

"What?!"

"You heard me. Kailan ka huling nangumpisal?"

"Noong Holy Week. Bakit?"

"Good. That was only a few months ago, siguro naman hindi pa ganoon karaming kasalanan ang nagawa mo since then?"

His frown deepened in confusion.

"What's your point?" he then asked.

Kinuha ko ang rosary na nakasabit sa rearview mirror ng sasakyan bago iniabot sa kanya.

"This will do. Umpisahan mo nang magdasal. It's a long drive to Nuvali, Sta. Rosa," I told him.

The look of terror written all over his face was priceless.

Finally, it's my turn to give him a smug smile.