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"Sorry, pati sasakyan mo nabasa nang dahil sa akin." I apologised to him.

"No, it's okay! Kesa naman walang sumundo sa'yo roon," he said shifting his head to me.

My head went down because of the embarrassment and my eyes drifted to my chest, it immediately widened in surprise.

Nakauniporme pala ako, kitang kita 'yong bra ko sa loob dahil basa iyon. Dali-dali kong tinabunan ang dibdib ko ng bag.

Umupo ako nang maayos para 'di niya mahalata. Ngayon ay nanginginig na rin ako sa ginaw dahil sa air conditioner ng sasakyan niya.

I wanted to ask him to lower the temperature but I was too shy. I just hugged myself when I felt the extreme wintry chill, touching all over my skin.

"Uhmm..." he hummed so I looked at him. "... may tuwalya sa likod," he said when he noticed.

Thank God! He immediately lowers the temperature of the air conditioner. I shifted my head to my back and I saw a folded towel, so I extended my left arm to get it. I dried my hair first then I covered myself with it. 

I made a little sound because of the comforting warmth that I felt. I sat properly and again I realized that he was absent the whole day.

"By the way, ba't absent ka?"

"May inasikaso lang importante," aniya habang seryoso pa rin siyang nakatuon sa daan.

Tumango na lang ako pero hindi ko mapigilan isipin kung anong importante ang ginawa niya kanina. Magtatanong pa sana ako pero isinawalang bahala ko na lang. Ayaw kong maging chismosa baka ano pang isipin niya.

Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko, may tumawag. Tinignan niya iyon at sinagot naman ang tawag agad.

Nabigla lang ako nang binigay niya sa akin iyon. Nagkasalubong ang aking mga kilay sa kuryusidad. Ba't sa'kin niya binigay? Kanino bang tawag iyon?

"It's your Kuya, just take it. He was worried about you," Zack said.

I grabbed it and I put it on my ears.

[Hello? Zack pare, nasundo mo na ba si Vickie?] Kuya sounded anxiously.

"He already fetched me Kuya, kaya h'wag ka nang mag-alala," I said with an assurance.

[Thank, God! Sorry 'di kita nasundo busy rin ako sa project namin. Stranded nga ako sa bahay ng kaklase ko. Ang lakas ng ulan.]

"It's okay... but the thing is, did you ask him to fetch me?" I asked in a lower tone of voice but it was useless because he heard it.

[Actually, I asked Manong first but stranded din sila sa traffic. Hindi kasi natuloy 'yong meeting nila Papa, dapat nga sina Papa at Manong na susundo sa'yo pero hindi sila makausad nang maayos.] he explained and I just nodded slightly.

"Oh! Well how's Dad and Manong right now? Okay lang ba sila?"

Curiosity and worrisome were written all over my face. I am overthinking things right now. Parang ako na ang hindi mapakali rito.

[Okay naman daw sila... I gotta go, tatapusin lang namin 'tong project namin at baka mamaya pa ako uuwi. Kindly tell Zack, na salamat. Bye take care!] I just nodded and he immediately ended the call.

"Salamat daw sabi ni Kuya," I said as I gave back his phone.

Hindi pa rin ako mapakali. Ano na kaya ang kalagayan nila Daddy? Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana at pabigat nang pabigat ang buhos ng ulan.

Lumalakas na rin ang ihip ng hangin dahilan para magsayawan at maghampasan ang mga sanga ng mga puno na nalalampasan namin sa daan. Kulang na lang may yerong magsisiliparan dahil sa lakas ng hangin.

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