Chapter 8
I waved at Geraldine as her car drove away. We waited for about fifteen minutes before she was picked up by Kuya Francis.
I glanced at my watch. Gosh, it's already quarter to two.
"Leggo?"
The boys nodded so I started walking towards where I parked my car.
"Why didn't you just park sa Beech or anywhere nearer?" Ken asked, more like whined. I rolled my eyes, no one could have seen it because the three of them are behind me.
"Pustahan, she rolled her eyes." I glared at Kyle who just hit the bull's eye.
"There's no way I'm parking at The Beech. I know better than to park where drunk youths are," I explained in a less bitchy way.
"Fair point," Torque agreed so I gave him a thumbs up.
A few walks later, I fished for my key then unlocked my Patrol.
"Dibs on the passenger seat." Torque half-ran towards the seat he claimed his dib.
"Okay," the two boys agreed and settled at the backseat.
I started the engine then turned on the AC.
"Open niyo na lang 'yung aircon niyo there. Sa may d'yan 'yung switch." Itinuro ko ang switch sa kanila na agad naman nilang nahanap.
Good thing I'm still at half tank, I don't need to stop at a gasoline station.
"Patricia." My name sounded different as it go from Torque's mouth. Parang may kung anong kumiliti sa kalamnan ko.
"Hmm?" I answered in a nonchalant manner as I reach for my seatbelt.
"I can drive, I'm sober already," he offered. I locked my seatbelt then faced him. His expression is soft due to concern.
"Thanks for the offer, pero okay na 'ko. I'll drive," I politely refused.
He lightly clenched his jaw. Ooh. Now, that was... hot.
"I insist."
"Just let him drive, Patricia. He won't stop until you agree, you know, and we really want to go home already, right?" I glanced at Ken then to my front to think.
Hindi ko gusto ang ideya na siya ang mag-da-drive hanggang Greenview. Ewan ko. Ego ko yata ang namamayagpag dahil tingin ko iniisip niya na mas okay kung siya ang magmamaneho dahil lalake siya.
He called me names earlier, little girl and girly. It comes off kind of offensive to me. Now, he thinks it may be safer if he drives.
"Ganito na lang," I started. "I'm thinking of stopping over at any open café along Commonwealth. You can drive from there. Deal?" He thought for a few seconds before he nodded his head in approval.
"Deal," he agreed with a meaningful smile on his face.
Ano nginingiti-ngiti mo r'yan?
"Finally. Can we go now?"
For a while, ginusto kong hilahin si Kyle at ihampas ang kaniyang mukha sa manibela. Buti ay napigilan ko ang violent tendencies ko at nagsimula na lamang mag-drive. Ang attitudero talaga.
After a few minutes of driving in silence bored the shit out of me. Parang akong aantukin kapag nagpatuloy ang katihimikan.
Sumulyap ako sa rearview mirror at nakitang tulog na si Ken. Inilipat ko ang tingin kay Kyle at nakitang nakatingin lamang ito sa bintana. Dead batt na yata ang kumag kaya sa bintana na ngayon ang tingin.
