Strings And Benefits

CHAPTER 1

“Naglayas ka na naman?” Salubong na naman ang kilay nitong gagang kaibigan kong ‘to habang nagtitimpla ng kape sa kusina.

I laid myself towards the couch to relax myself after having a hard time sneaking out the security in our mansion.

Yes, my parents were over reacting and over protective towards me. Hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi dahil matapos maaksidente si kuya noong nakaraang taon ay talaga namang sobrang higpit nila sa akin. But what else can I do? Maging kagaya ni Kuya? Palaging nasa bahay at naglalaro ng computer games?

I shrugged. “I had to live my life! Sabi nga nila, we only live once kaya dapat natin sulitin ‘no!”

Humalakhak ako habang nakatitig sa ceiling na kasalukuyang nakahiga sa couch. Iniisip ko kung paano ako nakawala sa security kanina. Nasanay na siguro ako sa ilang beses kong pagtangka na makatakas sa mansyon.

Narinig kong natawa rin si Tessa sa sinabi ko kaya nilingon ko siya at nakitang papalapit na siya sa akin hawak ang dalawang tasa ng kape. Agad na inayos ko ang upo ko at isinandal ang sarili.

“Alam mo? Mayayari na naman ako nito sa Daddy mo!” Umiling ito at ngumisi.

Minsan, hindi ko alam paano ako napagtyagaan nitong kaibigan kong ‘to, eh! Ilang taon na kaming ganito pero natutuwa ako ng husto dahil ganito kami ka lapit sa isa’t isa.

I crossed my arms and arched my brow.

“Ngayong gabi lang naman ako matutulog dito, susunduin ako ni Jacob bukas.”

 I gave her a wide smile to convince her that I’ll be staying here tonight. Kahit alam ko namang madali kong mapapayag ang babaeng ito, eh kailangan ko pa rin gawin ang lahat para dumito muna ako pansamantala.

She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

“Fine!” iritadong sagot nito dahil alam naman naming napilitan na naman siya at wala siyang choice kaya natawa na lamang kaming dalawa.

Nilapag niya ang tasa ng kape sa center table at umupo sa katapat na couch kung saan ako nakasandal.

“Pasalamat ka at wala dito ang parents ko. Kung hindi, baka nasa lansangan ka ngayon!” biro niya at sabay kaming humalakhak sa sinabi niya.

“Grabe ka naman! Edi, thank you!” Natawa ulit ako at umiling bago uminom ng kape.

“Kahit kailan ka talaga!”

Napangisi na lang ako at ibinaling ang paningin ko sa cellphone ko na naka lapag sa tabi ko.

Ilang minuto kaming tahimik habang kaniya kaniya kaming abala sa pagpipindot ng cellphone nang biglang tumunog ang telepono na nasa gilid lamang niya.

“Hindi mo ba sasagutin iyan?”

 Napalingon ako sa kaniya na hindi man lang niya pinansin ang tumutunog na telepono.

“Tinatamad ako.”

She lazily rolled her eyes and shrugged looking back her phone.

“Ang tamad mo! Ako na nga!”

Padabog akong tumayo at inirapan siya.

Nginitian lang ako nito kaya pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Ang lapit lapit lang naman sa kaniya tapos hindi pa niya masagot. Kahit kailan talaga!

“Love you!” Mas lumawak pa ang ngiti nito at nag flying kiss pa ang gaga!

Nakangiti kong sinagot ang telepono habang nakatingin kay Tessa.

“Tessa! What took you so long to answer the phone!”

My smile faded away as I heard Tessa’s mom on the other line.

I was practically at freeze looking at Tessa. The moment I bit my lower lip, I bet she already know whom I was talking to.

I don’t know how she quickly went towards me taking over the phone I was holding.

“Mom! I thought you’re on vacation?” She acted normal but I could see all over her face the nervousness inside her.

“Yes, but your Tito won’t leave me. He kept on calling every single minute. Are you with Brylle?” I gulped an imaginary lump as I was listening closely.

My eyes widened and looked at Tessa’s expression while I was shaking my head, telling her not to tell the truth.

I know I’ve been selfish to dragged Tessa around to all the trouble I’ve been doing my entire life. And to be honest? I had a great time sneaking out around with Tessa. Her mom always gets frustrated to everything when Tessa’s around me. .

“You better not hide Brylle, her mom would probably kill me!” she almost shout out of frustration.

“But Mom, Brylle has nowhere to go!” Tessa defended as she almost yelled.

“Brylle? Are you listening?”

Her mom must have known I was there listening.

“Don’t get nervous! You’re good at sneaking out,” I heard her laughed on the other line.

A smile was drawn all over my face. Tita’s really cool!

“I know right Tita!” I couldn’t help myself but answer her. Tessa turn her gaze at me looking mad at me.

I shrugged.

After the call has finally ended, I burst into laughter that made Tessa rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

“Hey! huwag ka na magalit. Your Mom’s always been cool, nakakainggit!” Ngumiwi ako at umupo sa tabi niya.

“s**t!” We both cursed in chorus and turn our gaze into our left side where the entrance door was found. We could hear Jolly’s bark, sign that there’s someone outside.

Tumayo kagaad kami at hindi alam ang gagawin. Panigurado si Dad na iyon. Hindi na ako magtataka.

Hinawakan ni Tessa ang dalawa kong balikat at tinitigan ako sa mata.

“Mukhang hindi ka na makakatuloy dito. Use the the kitchen door to sneak out. Tumalon ka na lang sa bakuran,” natatarantang saad ni Tessa na bakas sa mukha ang kaba nito.

Hindi ako kinakabahan pero natatawa ako sa reaksyon ni Tessa ngunit pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Sa mga sandaling ito alam ko naman na ang gagawin. Ilang beses na naman itong ginawa at sanay na ako sa ganito. Hindi ko lang maiwasan na mapaisip.

Niyakap ko siya at nginitian.

“There’s no time. Pumunta ka na agad sa labas ng village, doon ka muna sa Mini Mart. I’ll call Jacob to fetch you.”

Matapos niya magsalita ay agad na niya ako itinulak palayo. Tinaboy niya ako hanggang sa nakita ko ‘yung suitecase ko.

Agad ko naman hinila at dinila ito ng marahan upang hindi marinig at mabilis na tumungo sa kusina.

Nang makarating ako sa labas ng Village ay hingal na hingal akong umupo sa labas ng Mini Mart. I took my phone and texted Tessa to inform her that I was already here.

It was already eleven in the evening and Jacob was not responding to any of my messages. I took a deep sighed and put my phone back to my pocket.

A tall man wearing a black jacket and a cap caught my attention that came inside the store.

I arched my brows and shrugged.

“Magnanakaw!” A female staff shouted as she was chasing the man I saw earlier.

Napahawak ako sa suitcase ko at baka pati ito ay manakaw. Sa panahon ngayon, mas mabuti nang mag-ingat kaysa mapahamak.

Naglakad ako palayo sa Mini Mart na ‘yon.

My phone suddenly vibrated. I was smiling opening the message that came from Tessa.

“Hey! I’m sorry, your Dad has been here since you left. I couldn’t use my phone because he’s been watching me.”

“Still there?”

“I couldn’t reach Jacob’s phone. Saan ka tutuloy niyan?”

“Call me when you read this.”

I sighed looking above the Sky. Why won’t Jacob answer his phone?

I dialed Tessa’s number…

“Brylle! I was worried about you!”

Her voice was really worried.

I sighed.

“I’m fine, I was worried about Jacob. He’s not answering the phone.”

“Ano na ang gagawin natin? Alam mo naman na hindi ako makalabas dit- oh s**t! I have to go, call you back bye!”

She ended the call. It looks like she was in hurry.

I stare my phone for a quite some time thinking what I should do about my current situation.

The man I saw earlier just passed by in front of me. Ang kapal ng mukha! After stealing? Nakuha niya pang maglakad lakad?

I stretched my arms and legs. I need to get him and make him pay. Baka kung sino pa ang mabiktima niya.

I took another deep sighed and prepared myself for a long run. He’s tall and he’s probably a fast runner. Pero hindi ako magpapatalo. He needs to be caught and pay for what he did.

“You’re dead meat, if I caught you alive.”