CHAPTER 8
1434 Words
Soleil’s POV
HIS ANSWER caught me off guard. He’s right; I don’t even know him, but I’m letting him ride with me and even letting him inside my car.
"Why? What’s interesting about you? Do I need to know something?" I managed to reply, trying to maintain my composure and make sure I wasn’t showing any emotion.
He didn’t reply but turned his face to look out the window, a smile forming on his lips. That smile—a smile that had a lot to say.
"Pfft! Nagiging interesado ka na ba sa 'kin, chikababes?" With his kanto attitude. I rolled my eyes at what I heard. All the suspicion he was giving me seemed to dissipate into thin air.
Ang layo n’ya sa hinahanap ko.
I didn’t reply, looking at him blankly, unable to express my feelings about what he said.
"Tsk! Sabi ko nga, wala akong epek sa 'yo," he murmured.
We were silent for a moment until I noticed we were about to return to the main road.
"Pwede bang dumaan tayo sa university ninyo, chikababes? Malapit lang 'yon dito, ‘di ba?"
"Bakit? Anong gagawin mo sa university ko?" I broke the silence.
"Ano pa? Eh, 'di ihahatid kita sa dean mo. Nagpaalam ako sa kaniya at nangako akong ibabalik kita ng buhay. Dapat lang bago tayo umuwi makita niya na walang ginawa ang kagwapuhan ko sa 'yo," he seriously uttered.
What the f**k? Anong akala niya kay Dean? Nanay ko?
"You are talking nonsense again, moron. Ano namang pakialam ni Dean sa buhay ko? And why did you even ask her permission? Ni hindi ko nga siya pamilya," I said.
"Bakit hindi? Sabi nga nila, ang mga guro ang pangalawang magulang ng mga kabataan. Nakapag-aral din naman ako, chikababes! Alam ko naman ang mga ganoon," he replied, acting like a toddler throwing tantrums at his mother.
"Hindi mo ba 'yon alam? Nakaabot ka na sa college pero 'di ka pa rin enformed na pangalawang nanay mo ang titser mo?" dagdag niya pang nagpatawa na talaga sa akin.
I wanted to burst out laughing, but I saw him looking at me kaya pinigilan ko na lang ang tawa ko.
"Alam mo, chikababes, may nakapagsabi sa aking kaibigan ko na may namatay daw siyang kapitbahay kasi nagpigil ng tawa," aniya.
Pfft! I almost gave up. Pangiti na talaga ako pero I bit my lower lip and started looking outside at nag-focus sa pagmamaneho. I tried to divert my attention.
"Pasimple ka pa d'yan, chikababes! Tumawa ka na. Ayaw mo pang umamin. Lunod na lunod ka na naman sa kagwapuhan ko. Ayaw mo talagang magpatalo!" He continued blabbering, but I focused myself.
"You know what?" I started bago ko siya muling hinarap.
"Oo, alam kong gwapo ako at gwapong-gwapo ka na sa akin, 'di mo lang maamin. Hindi naman masama—," he replied before winking at me, but I cut off his statement.
"You need to see a psychiatrist. Narcissistic traits are with you."
"Hindi naman masamang tumawa. Chikababes, hindi ako narsisistik—narsisistik!"
"Narcissistic," I corrected.
"Ah, basta! 'Yong sinabi mo! Kumbaga sinasabi ko lang ang totoo," he confidently opposed while brushing his hair.
"You know what?"
"Ano, chikababes? Aamin ka na bang gwapo talaga ako?" sagot niya at inilapit pa talaga ang mukha niya sa akin.
"Ilayo mo 'yang pagmumukha mo sa akin kung ayaw mong mabangasan," warning ko before stopping the car in the middle of the road.
He was about to bump into the dashboard with my sudden brake, and I saw his face change before looking at me.
“Alam mo, chikababes, alam ko namang gusto mong saktan ang pagmumukha ko kasi ayaw mong may iba kang kaaway pagdating sa akin. ‘Wag ka kasing mag-alala, sa iyo lang ako ngayon and porever!” I rolled my eyes at what he said. Ang taas talaga ng tingin sa sarili.
“Get off,” utos ko.
“Ano? Gusto mo akong i-off? Hindi naman ako remote control para—”
I massaged the tip of my temple while slightly gritting my teeth.
“Oh! Chikababes, kalma! Bababa na ako. Mag-iingat ka. Iisipin ko na lang na hinahatid mo na ako ngayon kasi ayaw mong masaktan ang gwapong ako,” he managed to reply before getting out of the car. Pero pagsara na pagsara niya, agad kong pinaharurot ang kotse ko habang dina-dial ang phone number ni Maximus. The next thing I did was put my AirPods on my ears.
“Heiress,” he answered on the other line.
“Kumusta? Where are you? Were you able to catch that Mr. Montague?” I asked.
“Heiress, hindi namin nasundan ang lalaking hinahabol mo. Napakabilis niyang nakalusot sa mga pasikot-sikot. Naiwala niya agad ang sarili niya sa paningin ng mga tauhan natin.” In my frustration, I hit the sirens of my car.
Hindi naman impossible ‘yon lalo na at tulad ko ay alam n’ya rin ang lugar.
“I’m sorry, heiress, pero bumalik na po kami sa mansiyon.” He continued, and I was in a panic.
“Huwag muna kayong magpakita kay Dad, Maximus,” I ordered, but I think it was too late.
The line became noisy, and I think someone grabbed the phone from Maximus.
“Bakit sa tingin mo hindi ko malalaman ang palpak ninyong plano, Soleil?” It was Dad’s voice.
Damn it.
“Umuwi ka ngayon din at may pag-uusapan tayo. Hindi mo ba alam kung anong perwisyo ang ginawa mong pangingialam sa transaksiyon ng mga Montague at sa Uncle Bart mo?!” He shouted before ending the call.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko noong banggitin niya ang pangalan ng isa sa pinakamatalik na kaibigan n’ya. Hindi ko naman alam na sila ang katransaksiyon ng mga Montague at isa pa ay hindi naman namin ginambala kung anong meron sila sa loob.
I was able to park my car properly in the basement, and the moment I stepped out, I was met with my father’s strong slap.
“Don Alessandro!” Maximus shouted in disbelief.
“ANG UTOS KO SA INYO, ALAMIN NINYO KUNG SINO AT ANONG PAGMUMUKHA NG MR. MONTAGUE NA ‘YAN! HINDI ANG MANGIALAM AT SIRAIN ANG TRANSAKSIYON NILA!” Dad shouted at the top of his lungs.
Oo, masakit pero hinding-hindi ako iiyak.
Tinignan ko siya pabalik sabay salubong ng mga nanlilisik niyang mga mata. Nagagawa n’ya talagang saktan ako kahit nasa likuran lang ang mga tauhan namin.
“We didn’t intrude or even ruin the transaction that they have inside, Dad. Wala kaming pinakialaman. Nasa labas lang kami and we were about to corner Mr. Montague,” I defended.
“YOU WERE JUST ABOUT TO CORNER THAT MONTAGUE! PERO HINDI NINYO NAGAWA! HINDI NGA KAYO NANGIALAM SA TRANSAKSIYON NILA SA LOOB PERO UMATRAS ANG MGA MONTAGUE! YOUR UNCLE BART WASN’T ABLE TO GET HIS PRODUCT PERO THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIS MONEY! THE MONTAGUES ARE PINPOINTING YOUR UNCLE BART NA PLINANO N’YANG I-CORNER SILA WITH YOUR HELP!”
“Hindi namin kasalanan kung they were able to give their money. Kung hindi sila bobo, eh, ‘di sana hindi sila nakuhaan ng pera,” I bluntly said.
“WHAT?!”
“Dad, it was just so simple. Hindi ko kargo ang kabobohanan ng mga tauhan ni Uncle Bart. Bakit nila ibibigay ang pera nila without even securing the products they are exchanging? Parang hindi naman sila gumagamit ng utak,” I explained.
I was about to get another slap from my Dad when Maximus and Lorenzo interfered. Agad na hinarang ni Maximus ang sarili niya sa harapan ko habang si Lorenzo naman ay agad na hinatak palayo sa akin si Dad.
“Tama na, Don Alessandro. Nakikita tayo ng mga tauhan natin. Hindi maganda na nakikita nila kayong dalawang ganito,” bulong niya kay Dad bago sila naglakad papasok ng bahay.
I remained standing while following his back as he left the basement.
“You better take care of our men, Maximus. Iwanan mo muna ako. I want to be alone,” I commanded, which he followed instantly.
Doon lang nanghina ang mga tuhod ko at napasandal ako sa hood ng kotse ko habang hawak ang pisngi ko.
Hindi ko na nasundan pa ang mga sumunod na nangyari; ang alam ko lang, may yumakap sa akin.
“Hindi kahinaan ang pag-iyak. Kung masakit, iiyak mo na lang hanggang sa mawala na ‘yong sakit.”
That line, that voice. Hits differently, and it made me cry.
“Ang bagsik naman pala ng isang Don Alessandro Verona,” pagpapatuloy n’ya.
Kilala n’ya si Daddy?
- Writer
