Smile For Me, Ressler

12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Taxi driver

"Sawang-sawa na ako sa floorplan," I hissed.

"Seriously, when will they give us a break?" Brook added.

Pare-pareho kaming pagod na pagod na. Gitna pa lang ng semester pero grabe na talaga 'yong pagod namin. OA na kung OA, pero bugbog talaga kami sa floorplan, matrix diagram, bubble diagram, design considerations, design concepts, perspective, etc. I know basic pa lang ang mga 'yan, pero 'yong paulit-ulit namin silang ginagawa, 'yon ang nakakapagod.

"May proposed mausoleum pa sa HOA, and proposed residential building pa sa Design. Deadline pareho ngayong Friday. Dagdag niyo pa perspective ng Admin Building sa VTCH deadline ngayong Thursday. Ano na? Drop na kaya tayo?" pagbibiro ni Marcus out of frustration. Hindi na kami puwedeng mag-drop kasi tapos na ang midterm.

Napatingin ako sa labas. Ang lakas ng ulan, eh. May bagyo ba? Hindi kasi ako updated kapag may bagyo.

"I'm hoping for class suspension this week para madaming time gumawa ng plates," Brook muttered.

Pumunta sila sa next subject nila at dumiretso naman ako sa gate. Hindi ako makalabas. Wala akong dalang payong at hindi rin ako nagdala ng sasakyan.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa bulsa ko and I dialed Zild's number.

"Hi," I said, flashing a smile on my face kahit hindi niya nakikita.

"Hey, Tam," he responded. I know he's smiling right now. Lagi naman siyang nakangiti. It's either he smiles or he smirks.

"Where are you?"

"Meeting with a client. Bakit? Ikaw ba?"

"Uwian ko na. Hindi kasi ako nagdala ng sasakyan, and inabot ako ng ulan. Papasundo sana ako sa 'yo pero nasa work ka pa so nevermind. I can handle," nakangiting sabi ko.

"Nasa campus ka pa?"

"Yes."

"Stay there. 'Wag kang magpaulan. I'll be there in thirty minutes," bilin niya.

"What? No. 'Wag mo na akong sunduin, Zild. It's fine with me," I said, trying to stop him from leaving his client but he ended the call.

"You didn't bring your car?"

Agad akong napalingon kay Ressler na nasa likuran ko pala.

"Yeah, obviously," I responded.

Akala ko aayain niya akong sumabay sa kanya but he walked straight to the parking area to get his car.

I rolled my eyes.

Kahit kailan ka talaga, Ressler.

I watched him drive his car and nagulat ako nang bigla siyang huminto sa harapan ko at ibinababa niya ang bintana ng sasakyan niya.

"Hop in. I'll give you a ride," he said, glancing at the nonstop rain.

"Uh, I don't have an umbrella," I muttered.

He clenched his jaw. May kinuha siya saglit sa loob at agad siyang lumabas ng sasakyan niya, offering me to walk with him under his umbrella.

Palihim akong napangiti. First time niya kong payungan.

I slid to the passenger seat and agad siyang umikot sa driver seat. Nilagay niya 'yong basang payong sa likuran and he started driving.

Oh. Sh*t. I forgot about Zild.

Nagmamadali kong nilabas ang phone ko at tinawagan agad siya.

"Hey, I already grabbed a taxi. 'Wag mo na akong sunduin, okay? Tapusin mo muna 'yang ginagawa mo," I said with a calm voice.

"Are you sure?" tanong niya. Bakas ang pag-alala sa boses niya.

"Yes."

"Alright. Dalhan na lang kitang pagkain mamaya pagkatapos ko dito," he said.

"Okay!" I giggled.

"So I'm a taxi driver now huh?" Ressler said with sarcasm when I ended the call.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko.

"I'm sorry," I said, giving him an apologetic smile. I almost forgot his existence. Bakit nga ba taxi ang sinabi ko? Tch.

"That is my boyfriend," pagtukoy ko do'n sa tumawag sa 'kin. "I don't want him to get the wrong idea if I tell him that I'm in your car," I honestly said.

"So it's really you and Zild huh," he scoffed.

I rolled my eyes.

"What?" tanong niya nang makita niyang inirapan ko siya.

"Nothing."