His Personal Driver

HPD 25.1

Pumasok na ako sa loob at nakasalubong ko si Daddy.

"Is Paul here?"

Lumingon lang si Dad sa kinalalagyan ni Paul.

And there I saw him, making himself more stupid. He's the one who told me that. I was in a party club one time in New York, drinking all alcoholic drinks there, when he showed up. It's kind of a long story.

"Here we go again."

"Go to him, young lady. He needs someone to talk to." Dad said before he left the living room.

I sighed.

"Hey..." Lumingon lang siya sa akin saglit saka ibinalik niya uli ang atensyon niya sa alak.

Napailing ako.

"C'mon Paul, that's enough. Ikaw nga hindi ba ang nagsabi sa akin na ang pagbuhos ng emotions natin sa alak will not help us, but just making us look like more stupid?"

He smiled to me bitterly.

"Well I guess, kinakain ko na ang sinabi ko."

"Talk to me. Tell me everything. I will just listen."

Oh my god. I never thought na mangyayari ang ganito. Before, siya ang nagsasabi nito sa akin. Siya ang gumagawa nito pero ngayon, nabaliktad na.

He looked at me. I can see the pain and sadness on his face. Sabay umiling lang siya habang tinitingnan ang alak sa hawak niyang baso.

"She gave up..."

Hindi ako kumibo.

"She said I killed my own child which I guess was half true. Tama naman siya na ako ang naglagay sa kanya sa magulong situation na ito pero iyong inaakala niyang may nangyari sa atin last night..." Sabay ininom niya lahat ng laman ng baso niya.

"Tadhana na ba talagang mamatay ang mga taong mahahalaga sa buhay ko ng dahil din sa akin?"

There he is. He already cried right in front of me.

"I said once... hindi ko na kakayaning mawala siya sa akin..."

Matindi na rin ang tama sa kanya ng mga iniinom niya. Hindi ko na nga maintindihan kung ano na ba talaga ang pinag-uusapan namin dito.

Naihatid na namin ni Dad si Paul sa kwarto niya. Nakatulog na kasi siya sa kalagitnaan ng pagkukwento niya. I sighed and looked to my Dad.

"Dad, did I mess his life?"

Dad did not answer me. He just gave me a half smile and tapped my shoulder.

Okay. That's what he does when he doesn't want to answer me directly. I looked down.

 "I already said to Paul that we can stop this but he said no. Right time will come. I sighed. But I guess, it's still all my fault. What should I do now, Dad?" Dad hugged me.

"Right time will come as he said. Kailan kaya iyon, my young lady?" I looked at him.

"Do what you think is right, Erynne. Hindi na ako nangingialam sa mga decisions niyo dahil alam kong nasa tamang mga edad na kayo. And I know, napalaki namin kayo nang maayos that's why I trust both of you."

++++

"Pero, hija, saan ka naman tutuloy? Wala ka namang kamag-anak dito sa Maynila, di ba?"

I heard Manang Pilar's voice. I was about to open the door when I heard their conversation. Nasa ospital ako ngayon. Pinayagan na rin si Sherlyn ng doctor niya na makalabas na.

"May pera naman po ako, Manang. Iyong sweldo ko po kay Paul hindi ko rin naman po nagalaw kahit piso kasi libre naman po ako lahat sa bahay kaya naipon lang. Magagamit ko na po iyon."

What? Balak niyang umalis?

I knocked on the door pero hindi ko na hinintay na pagbuksan pa ako ni Manang Pilar.

"M-Miss Nichole..."

I smiled at her, then I looked at Manang.

"Manang, okay lang po ba kung mag-usap lang muna kami saglit ni Sherlyn?"

She smiled back at lumabas na ng kwarto.

"A-Ano pong gusto niyong pag-usapan natin, Miss Nichole?"

"Everything... and huwag ng Miss Nichole. Sobrang formal." I smiled.

"E-Everything? Tungkol saan?"

"Okay. Let's start with the fact that I know what is happening between you and Paul."

Halos nanlalaki ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin. Masyado yata akong nagstraight to the point.

"A-Alam mo? Sorry... sorry, Nichole..."

"Okay, wait. I'm not mad but listen to me first. You have to understand everything. If Paul cannot tell you this, then I will. It's actually my entire fault kung bakit ang gulo-gulo na ng situation ngayon. I put him in this dumb kind situation and now, pati ikaw. I'm really sorry."

"A-Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

"I'm not his girlfriend, Sherlyn. I am his best friend."