Deal Breaker (Published under Pop Fiction, Summit Publishing)

SIDE STORY - Shut Up Or I'll Kiss You

This time I’ve learned my lessons. So I didn’t put her down, not until she’s inside my car and I’ve put on her seatbelts. I run to get to the other side. The moment I get inside, I saw her trying to take her seatbelts off. I hold her hand. Stopping her.

“Ano bang balak mo sa’kin ha??!” she immediately stole her hands from my hold.

I insert the key to the ignition.. the moment the car roared to life. I started driving.

“I’m planning on taking you away from here. ‘coz obviously you can’t unders—“

“tagalog!”

“*sigh* okay. Ilalayo kita sa mall. Kasi di mo maintindihan yung english ko.”

“tss! Anong akala mo sa’kin bobo??!” she leaned at the passenger seat, put her arms across her chest and pout like a child. “nakakaintindi ako no! wag mo ko igaya sa’yo!”

Staring at her lips.. I wonder where all her voice come from. It seems so small for all those noise.

“anong tinitingin-tingin mo?! Eyes on the road. Tss!” she whispered something after but I didn’t hear it clearly so I just ignored it.

Next followed a long silence..

When I can’t take the silence anymore..

“what is it that you desperately need insid—“

“tagalog.” She said calmly. Wow that’s a first.

I swallowed first before speaking again... I don’t know why I did that.

“ano bang kailangan mo sa loob ng mall na yun?”

“ano bang paki mo??! Hindi ka lang kidnapper. Pakielamero ka rin?!! Dagdag mo sa resume mo yan! Baka makatulong! At hindi ako naniniwala na sa’yo tong kotse na to! For all I know carnapper ka din! At isang scam artist!”

She’s shouting again.. did I make a fatal mistake on breaking the silence??

“Hindi ako isang scam artist.. o carnapper. O pakielamero. O kidnapper. O rapist. O kung ano pa mang pumasok sa utak mo. I’m Charles. And I don’t write resumes, I don’t work for people, they work for me.”

“so? Pake ko?! Kung ano ka na sa utak ko, yun ka na sa paningin ko! Wala ka nang magagawa!”

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Patience.. more patience..

“We’re inside my car. And there’s no mountain between us. We’re seating beside each other. Hindi ba pwedeng magsalita ka ng normal??”

“Ganito ako magsalita ng normal! Kung hindi mo na kaya.. eh di ibaba mo ko!! Sino ba kasing nagsabing isakay mo ko dito sa KOTSE MOO??!!”