Take Me Home (City Series #4)

Chapter Thirty-Five

L

"Saan ka pupunta, Shobe?" tanong ni Kuya Leo sa akin.

"Baguio day sa Monday. Wala kami klase." I smiled. "I'm going to Manila!"

"By yourself?" He looked skeptical. "Ako na mag-hahatid sa'yo."

"Kuya, I'm staying there for three days."

"Nag-paalam ka ba kina Mommy?" Kunot noong tanong ni Kuya Leo. "Ayoko 'yan, Shobe, ah. Ikaw na yung dumadayo para sa kaniya."

"Ahia, it's called give and take."

"Anong pake ko sa give and take na 'yan?" He huffed. "Z should be treating you like a princess. Dad never treated you like anything less."

I licked my lips and avoided his gaze. "Can you just help me with my bags, please?"

Nag-buntong hininga siya at kinuha yung bag ko. We both went outside to place my things in my Beige Jimny. Kabibili lang nina Daddy nito dahil yung lumang sasakyan na gamit ko nung first year, gagamitin na daw nung driver ni Daddy para ihatid at sundo si Liam sa school.

"Where are you guys off to?" tanong bigla ni Kuya Gio na kabababa lang sa kaniyang sasakyan. "Are we getting some drive thru? I'm starving. Binyagan na natin bagong sasakyan ni Shobe!"

"Eh pupunta daw ng Manila." Halukipkip ni Kuya Leo.

"Huh?" Kunot noo akong tinignan ni Kuya Gio. "Mag-isa mo?"

"Can you guys chill?" I sighed. "I'm nineteen! I can handle myself."

"You're nineteen." Binuksan ni Kuya Gio ang pintuan ng sasakyan ko at nag-akma na kunin ang bags ko. "No way you're traveling all the way to Manila for some guy."

"He's not some guy!" I grabbed my bags back from Kuya Gio. "Dihia, stop it!"

"Shobe—" Kuya Leo started.

"Ano meron?" tanong bigla ni Kuya Gabe na mukhang galing sa garahe at nag-aayos ng motor niya.

"Nothing! This involves none of you naman kasi!" I said and placed my bags back in the Jimny.

"I don't know what's going on with you, but you're acting like a spoiled brat." Kuya Leo sighed. "Hindi ka naman ganyan, Shobe."

"Ahia.." Kuya Gabe started.

"Ipagtatanggol mo?" Lumingon si Kuya Gio sa kaniya. "Totoo naman sabi ni Ahia. Ikaw nga nag-sabi sa amin na halos gabi gabi nakikipag-away si Lia sa phone, diba? Ilang buwan na 'yan? Isang buwan?"

Tinignan ko si Kuya Gabe. How dare he. He was no right to pry on my personal life.

"Shobe, concerned lang kami," ani Kuya Gabe. "Magang maga mga mata mo halos araw-araw."

"I can handle myself, okay?!" I entered my Jimny with no hesitation.

Hindi ko na inantay na maka-angal pa sina kuya. I started driving off, and thankfully, pinagbuksan naman ako ng gate nina manong.

I opened my phone as I drove and texted Z that I was on my way. Paalis na ako ng Baguio nung nag-reply siya.

From: Nathan Zion 👹

Oki love ingat ka

See you

• • •

"How's my future doctor?" bungad ko pagkabukas ko ng condo unit ni Z. He already gave me a spare key at ngayon ko lang magagamit dahil hindi naman ako taga-Manila.

Lumingon siya sa akin at ngumiti. "Hi, love. Wait lang, tapusin ko lang ayusin 'tong transes para sa Bio."

"Go lang." I smiled and sat down on the couch.