The Candle of Love

Chapter 30: Partner

: Are you home?

Nagising ang diwa ko nang mabasa ang text na 'yon.

Bumangon ako sa pagkakahiga at tinignan ulit ang kadarating lang na text message.

: This is Berlin

Kumunot ang noo ko.

Zephorah:
I'm home. How did you get my phone number?

Berlin:
Are you going to work tomorrow?

Ngumuso ako. Hindi man lang niya sinagot ang tanong ko.

Zephorah:
Nope. We are given a day to rest.

Berlin:
Good.

Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga at tinitigan ang reply niya. Muntik nang malaglag ang cellphone sa mukha ko nang mag-ring iyon. He's calling!

Umupo ulit ako. I cleared my throat before I answered. "H-Hello?"

Hindi siya sumagot. Ang mga malalalim na hininga niya lang ang naririnig ko sa kabilang linya.

"Bakit ka tumawag?"

"Just checking if you're already asleep."

"Ahh."

Natahimik kami. Akala ko nga naputol na ang iyon pero nang tignan ko ang cellphone ay nandoon pa rin naman ang kabilang linya.

"Can you talk?" he asked.

"About what?"

"Anything."

I chuckled softly. I heard him whisper something. Hindi ko lang nakuha iyon.

"Hindi ka pa ba inaantok?"

Kanina bago ka tumawag pero ngayon... "Hindi."

"Were you not tired?"

"Hindi naman."

"Really? Pero ang sabi ng boss mo pagod ka kaya nagmamadali siyang iuwi ka."

Tinignan ko ang cellphone ko nang magbago ang tono niya. Naging monotone iyon.

"Nakatulog din kasi ako sa byahe."

"Were you two alone in his car?

I imagine his forehead furrowed with that question.

"Oo. Bakit?"

"And you fell asleep?"

"Yes."

Natahimik siya.

"Bakit? What's the problem?"

"It's not good to be left alone with a man on a car unless you're both in a relationship. Nakatulog ka pa."

"Really? What about you and Anie? Doesn't it also apply to you?"

Kinagat ko ang labi ko nang malasahan ang pait sa tanong na iyon.

"We had a driver earlier."

"You two have never been in a car alone?"

"It's different."

I rolled my eyes. "Tell me how it is different? Dahil kayo ba?"

"No," matigas niyang sabi. "She's your sister, Zeph, and a friend to me."

"Well, Dion is also a friend to me."

"Also, your suitor. May malisya iyon."

Kay Anie ba, wala? She's his ex-girlfriend. Halata rin namang gusto pa siya ng kapatid ko.

"I don't get what's the problem being alone in the same car with my boss."

"There's no problem with that. The problem is you fell asleep. You still don't know him that long."