His Girl Friday 2

Chapter 20: A Closed Chapter

Akala ko ay tapos na usapan namin. Pero hindi pa rin tumayo si Apollo at nanatili lang ito sa mesa. Hindi pa rin ba ubos ang kape niya?

Apollo cleared his throat. My eyes immediately went to him. "Is it okay if someone checks your car first? I just want to know if your clutch is fine, and your brakes as well."

Huh? Kakapagawa lang niya 'yun last month sa tulong ng isa sa mga tauhan niya. Tsaka wala na rin naman akong naging problema kapag ginagamit ko ang kotse ko kapag lumalabas ako ng Hacienda.

"Hindi na kailangan. I think I can do that by myself," sagot ko. I always check my car whenever I have a long drive. The last time was the only time I didn't for obvious reasons. There's nothing in this world na makakapagpa-stay sa akin nang matagal sa bahay namin ni Dash.

Umiling sa akin si Apollo. "I need a third person to do it, please. For my–"

"For your peace of mind?" I finished for him with a teasing smile. This guy is turning into a worry-wart. Pero kung kapalit ng pag-aalala niya ang safety ko at peace of mind niya, why the hell not? Sige, let's give it to him.

Relenting to his request, I just shrugged at him and smiled. "Sure, Apollo."

He didn't smile back, but he responded with "Thank you."

Then he finally finished his coffee.

"No, thank you," balik ko sa kanya bago siya umalis. Baka hindi ko na siya makita mamaya. I have to tell him everything. I need to show him how much I appreciate everything he has done for me. "You've done so much for me and I am so grateful for all of it. I don't know why you're so helpful and nice to me still," "But that just makes me want to thank you all the more."

He waved my words away before standing up. "It's nothing. It's just for my–"

"Your peace of mind, I know," I said, interrupting him again with a teasing smile.

Apollo and I looked at each other. He opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted again, but this time it was Manang Jocelyn who entered the dining area. "Aalis na po kayo, Ma'am Ara?"

I looked away from Apollo and smiled at Manang, she was one of the people who made me start to appreciate Hermosa. This woman taught me how to cook her recipes every time we were in the kitchen. Whenever I got bored, she would ask me if gusto kong tumulong sa kanya na mag-bake. "Yes po, Manang Jocelyn," I finally answered her. "Kakausapin ko po sana kayo pagkatapos ko kumain."

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito. Napatingin siya kay Apollo, para bang hindi niya nakita ito sa pagmamadali niya. Bumalik din ang atensyon nito sa akin. "Pasensya na po, Ma'am at Sir Apollo. Hindi ko lang napigilan ang sarili ko na magtanong nang marinig ko na aalis ka na pala."

"Okay lang po. Hindi ko naman sinisikreto."

Napansin kong napatingin ito sa orasan. It's just 8 AM. "Kaso pumasok na sa eskwelahan si Angelica. Malulungkot 'yun na hindi ka niya naabutan sa pag-alis niyo."

Shit. Oo nga pala.

Isa pa sa mga nakasundo ko sa Hermosa ay ang anak ni Manang Jocelyn na si Angelica. Hindi man kami madalas na nagkakasama, katulad ng mama niya, pero kapag kasama ko siya ay hindi ako nito pinapabayaan. Mapa sa Food Fair 'yan kung saan kami nag-trabaho for three straight days o sa pag-kanta man 'yan sa karaoke, hindi niya ako iniiwan at laging tinitignan kung okay lang ako.

Hindi pwedeng hindi ako makapag-paalam sa kanya. "Maybe I can wait for her bago ako umalis."

"Masyado ka nang gagabihin sa daan kapag hinintay mo pa siya," Manang Jocelyn responded, shaking her head. "Siguro papupuntahin ko na lang siya dito sa lunch break nila."