Nights Like This

CHAPTER 29

"Maam just to make sure na all set na ang lahat bago namin ibalik sa'yo yung car mo, please give us until tuesday na maayos yung car mo," sabi ni Kuya Reno sa akin when they towed my car to fix whatever problem my car has.

"Tuesay po? It's fine Kuya. Just update me po pero sana the earlier, the better po. Please check po yung breaks and all para wala na po akong problemahin," sabi ko.

"Salamat po Maam, we'll prioritize you po para maayos o matingnan kaagad kung may dapat na ayusin at maayos."

My problem with my car is not yet done because they just towed my car papunta sa shop nila because it's not allowed to do all the fixing here in the parking lot because that might bother my kapit bahays.

Mom offered me to lend one of the cars and have one of the drivers to drive for me like the original plan but that might be bothersome and ilang araw lang naman so it's fine. Mom told Dad that I've been commuting like it's such a big issue and then suddenly, Dad wants me to pick a car and he'll buy it for me. Of course, I refused. Wasting millions for just a few days of having no car? No. I just bought my car with my own money and although second hand, wala akong naging problema except for this.

Wala namang problem to book a car service. It's just me and the driver. Who else would care if I commute.

After they got my car, umakyat na ulit ako because kailangan kong ayusin pa yung mga gamit ni Coco like her diapers, treats and water. Going out with the pet gives me the vibe of going out with a baby. There's just so much to prepare and to bring.

Vance called at he said na on the way na sil ni Whiskey and I am so excited because it's actually a first time to me na may kasama ako to the vet because none of my friends has a pet.

Full furr mommy mode ako today.

"Coco you're gonna play with Whiskey? You're gonna make her your friend?" Yumuko ako and reached her to pet her.

Hindi lang ako ang mukhang excited on this lakad because Coco's been wagging her tail kanina pa.

Wala pangilang minuto, tumawag na si Vance to say na nasa baba na sila ni Whiskey.

"Let's go baby! Let's meet Whiskey!" Nilagyan ko ng leash si Coco and then we got out of the unit para babain sina Vance.

He stopped at the front of the tower so agad rin naman naming nakita yung kotse. I opened the back seat and I saw a small kennel. Sa loob nun, is Whiskey peeking. I looked at her directly.

"Hi Whiskey! You're so cute!" bati ko kaagad and she's just eyeing me.

Whiskey is a white persian cat and in a pretty normal size. Inilapit ko ang isang daliri ko malapit sa nose nya just so she could smell me and get used to me. Lucky me, behave naman sya.

"Good morning, Camila." I looked at my side and hindi ko napansin na nandun na pala si Vance.

"Oh. Hey! Good morning din, Vance."

Vance frowned at me. "Si Whiskey talaga una mong binati?"

Tinaas ko yung kilay ko sa kanaya because I don't know if he's nagtatampo of his cat or what. "Of course. Ngayon ko lang nakita si Whiskey and she's cute. "

"Of course she is." Yumuko si Vance on Coco's level and looked at me. As soon as he "Is it okay for me to pet her?" he asked me.

I smiled. As soon as he bent down kasi, Coco sat and wagged her tails. "Of course. She's friendly with strangers," sabi ko.

Vance helped me na maikabit yung harness ni Coco just for safety lang while we travel. Baka kasi biglang mag break and tumilapon sya paharap and it's dangerous so it's better din that way. Whiskey's also secured to her place.

"Good morning po Maam and sir, do you have any appointment's po?" asked by the nurse na nasa front desk.

We're here at the hospital where I usualy take Coco and surprisingly, Vance also takes Whiskey here pala.

"I have appointment to Dra. Briones po," sabi ko. "He doesn't have an appoinment. Do you accept walk ins for check up here?"

I looked at Vance who's attention is on Whiskey na nag- iikot ikot on the lobby. I answered for him na because hindi nya talaga tinatantanan ng tingin si Whiskey. Baka saan nga naman kasi mag sumiksik ang baby girl.

"Yes po, Maam. May records na po ba si Sir na galing dito?" tanong nya.

"Yes. Yes, I have." Finally Vance snapped out of it at sya ang sumagot ng tanong for him.

"Alright po maam and sir, please write on this form po muna and then wait lang po na matawag kayo ni Doc."

I smiled at her and took the papers.

"Thank you!"

Dahil may appointment ako with the doctor, nauna kaming ma- accomodate ni Coco and I've been showering her with compliments because she's been a very good girl and behave during her vaccine.

After namin, we waited for Whiskey and Vance. He's such a fool for her and it's so adorable!

After that visit with the vet, we decided to take the babies to a pet playground and although it's usually dogs yung nandun, they allowed naman Whiskey kahit cat sya.

"Just let Whiskey go, Vance. Let her have fun, " sabi ko sa kanya because he wanna put on leash kay Whiskey.

"What if she'll go somewhere? She's a cat, Camila. Pwede syang sumiksik sa kung saan saan."

I rolled my eyes on him and I put my arms on my waist. "Vance, it's okay. It's safe. Let her enjoy. She's a free baby. She'll come back naman and it's safe here," I convinced him.

Nako talaga. If ever na magka anak 'to si Vance he'll be really clingy talaga yet strict.

"But it's all dogs here. Baka mapaano sya," he argued.

I sighed and dinilatan sya ng mata. "Hahayaan mo or we'll just pack up and leave if you won't let her?"

Nagpatigasan kami ng tingin and in the end, binitawan nya rin si Whiskey na gumugusto rin na bumaba. "Fine."

"Bantayan mo lang while she do her thing okay?"

Vance looked at me and then tumango rin.

For a moment there, I saw myself in Whiskey kaya ang laki ng pinaglalaban ko eh.

Whiskey and Coco's good naman kahit magkaiba sila. I can see na conscious pa sila with each other but I can see na they're trying to weigh things with each other because si Coco wants to play with her but Whiskey still has her guards up but she's curious.

Nakangiti na lang kami na pinapanood sila.

"Hi! Excuse me!" Sabay kaming napa angat ng tingin ni Vance to the person who approached us.

Bigla ba namang tumayo si Vance and he happily welcomed the man in front of us.

"Bro!" They shook hand and taps each other's back.

The man is also holding a leash with a cute Golden Retriever on it. I eyed him sandali and he looks like someone that's friends with Vance. I mean, yung mukhang successful and matalino. Mukhang good boy.

Binalik ko yung tingin ko sa dalawang babies kasi baka makaligtaan but they're still within my vision and happily enjoying themselves.

"Hi. Excuse me," the guy said to get my attention. Tumayo ako to introduce myself to him. He seems nice naman and mabait.

"Hi! I'm Camila." I extended my hands on him and he's already smiling at me.

"Cami, this is Teejay. Remember the friend that I told you na naka tira on the Tower B of your condo?" ani ni Vance.

I crunched my forehead and tilted it. "I think... yes. I remember."

"That's me," nakangiting sabi nya.

I nods and smiles. "Really? Nice to meet you!"

The world's really small nga naman. Teejay took my hand and then shakes it only for a brief moment.

"Nice to meet you again, Camila."

Namilog ang mata ko sa gulat. I don't remember that I've met this guy before. Sa dami ng taong nakikilala ko, I can't possibly remember them all.

"You've met before?" nagtatakang tanong ni Vance but he looks amused at the same time.

Teejay flashed his smile again and playfully looked at me. "At Space Bar remember?"

Space Bar? That's the bar that I last went to where my brother drags me out of it.

Inisip ko kung sino sya roon because there's literally a lot of people in that club all the time and I don't know who's who. Tinitigan ko sya and somehow, hindi ko talaga maalala.

I apologetically smiled at him. "I'm sorry, it's been a very long time when I last got there so I don't really remember anything," sabi ko.

Except the fight with my Kuya, of course. I cannot not remember that.

I looked at Vance and he's just listening to my conversation with his friend.

"It's okay. We just danced together that night. It's no big deal," aniya.

Para akong tinusok ng stun gun bigla dahil damang dama ko na naman yung buhos ng electricity sa katawan ko.

I remember the only time that I danced that night was me almost grinding with a guy on the dance floor.