Le Penchant

10| you deserve better

"I need to drive by the firm first," Calixto silently said, his eyes still fixated on the road.

Sinapo ko ang noo ko, while I tried to call Shirley and the others. I grunted frustratedly when no one was answering.

"Why?" Kunot noong tanong ni Calixto.

"My friends aren't picking up," I explained, he looked at me for a moment before chuckling.

Ang hilig niyang tumawa 'a.

"You really do value people," he commented.

My brows raised. "Only when they're valuable," sabi ko, stealing a glance from him.

The corner of his lips lifted up, he smiled bitterly. The rest of the ride was silent, halos ang tunog lang ng radyo ang nangingibabaw sa'min, I was still worried kung bakit wala ni-isa sa mga kaibigan ko ang sumasagot sa mga tawag.

Something's wrong.

Calixto parked the car in the driveway, walang paalam na lumabas siya sa sasakyan at dire-diretsong pumasok sa firm, I noticed how he didn't forget to greet the guard. Inapiran pa niya.

I bit my lip when someone finally answered the call. "Vince! I'm sorry I'm late papun--" I frantically said but he cut me off.

"Hershey? Hershey? Asaan ka? Dalian mo sumagot Shey," nag-aalalang tanong ni Vince.

A lump formed in my throat. "N-nasa firm," nauutal kong sambit, I heard how he cussed out loud, narinig ko rin na may hinampas siya, agad akong napabalikwas sa pag-upo.

"Vince, anong nangyayari?" Tanong ko, I was gripping my phone tightly the whole time. My whole body waited in anticipation.

"Nagwawala si Alonzo kanina sa condo mo, he said he'll be demanding a lawsuit against the owner's complex. Gumawa siya ng malaking eskandalo–Lecheng Sage, timing ang pagdating sa complex, mas lumala ang gulo nang nagsuntukan sila, pero tumakas si Alonzo nung mabagok niya ulo ni Sage. Alonzo's smell reeked of alcohol Shey, papunta na siya riyan," nagmamadaling sabi ni Vince.

Ilang segundo akong natulala, iniisip ko kung paano nagawa ni Alonzo 'yon, iniisip ko kung ano na ang nangyare kaya Sage. Hindi ako mapakali!

I nervously tapped my fingers on the dashboard. "Aalis na ako dito, asan si Sage? Okay lang ba siya?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong, habang pinipilit kong ayusin ang mga gamit ko sa loob ng kotse.

"Wag! Parating na ako d'yan, ako susundo sa'yo, Sage's in the hospital, tinakbo na nila Hera at Shirley. Gen was left in your condo," pagpapaliwanag niya, kaya mas binilisan ko ang pag-ayos ng gamit.

"Hershey, just stay inside the firm. Alonzo could be there any minute at malapit na a–"

Bumilis ang pagtakbo ng puso ko nang napatingin ako sa daan, Alonzo's car just arrived and it was sloppily parked along the driveway.

"V-Vince nandito na siya," I nervously said, Vince started shouting profanities.

Pero parang naging bingi ako na walang naririnig nang makita kong lumabas si Alonzo sa kotse, he was a mess, he could barely walk! Pinipilit niya ang sarili niyang lumakad papunta sa entrance ng firm, halos matumba-tumba siya along the way.

I was determined to stay inside the car, natatakot na baka pag lumabas ako ay mag-eskandalo siya. But that's when Calixto walked out of the building, nakita ko kung paano siya sinalubong ni Alonzo. He drunkenly pulled Calixto's arm as if he was asking something, he was hysterical. I went out of the car immediately, Ignoring Vince's protests when I ended our call.

Malayo palang ako sa kanila nakita ko na kung paano ako tinignan ni Alonzo. "Engineer C-Calixto let's go," I dryly said.

I noticed how ragged Alonzo looked, how confused his face was nang pabalik-balik niyang tignan si Calixto at ako, but he looked desperate when he finally recognized me.