Through Dangers Untold

Chapter Six - What If

BROKEN WINDOWS. SCRATCHED EXTERIOR. CUT-OFF SIDE MIRRORS. Iyon ang sumalubong kay Stacey nang madatnan ang kotse niya sa basement parking kasama ang dalawa sa security team ng building. Ginabayan siya ng isa sa mga guards ng rooftop restaurant at ang nagpapatrolya mismong guard sa parking na nakakita sa kalunos-lunos na kondisyon ng kanyang kotse.

Nabawasan na ang shock niya dahil sa elevator pa lang, nasabihan na siya tungkol sa kanyang kotse. Yet, deep inside she was horrified. The car had been with her for years. Ingat na ingat siya sa paggamit at maalaga sa pagmimintina nito. It was her favorite because it was the only car where Renante got in with her. Noon pa iyon. Nung okay pa sila... When there was no sex involved yet...

"At wala kayong idea kung sino ang gumawa nito?"

"Paalis na po 'yung van nung nakita ko, Ma'am," sagot ng guwardya. "Na-detect ko lang ho na sila ang may kagagawan kasi bago umalis yung van may nagbato mula sa loob ng sasakyan. Kaya ho basag ngayon 'yung salamin dito sa likod ng kotse."

Lalapit sana si Stacey pero naagapan ito ng isa sa mga gwardiya.

"Pwede ho namin kayong samahan sa police station, Ma'am, para mag-file ng complaint."

"File ng complaint?" pagak niyang saad. "Kanino? Sino ang irereklamo ko?"

Hindi alam ng dalawang lalaki ang isasagot.

She turned to them. "Hindi niyo nga nakilala, 'di ba?"

"Well, Ma'am," seryosong saad ng isa sa mga kausap niya, "baka may suspetsa ho kayo kung sino ang pwedeng gumawa nito. Baka may mga nakaaway kayo o..."

"You're just suggesting this to me dahil ayaw ninyong magkaroon kayo ng liability. Lalo na kayo na tinuringang security dito pero hindi magawa ng maayos ang mga trabaho ninyo!"

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang lalaki. Tila nagtuturuan kung sino sa kanila ang magpapakalma sa kanya.

Stacey let out a bored sigh and shook her head. "I'm getting my stuff."

Hindi na siya pinigilan ng mga ito nang maingat na iniwasan niya ang mga nagkalat na bubog sa sahig. Stacey opened the car door and collected her stuff in the car. Ipapa-tow na lang niya ang kotse para ipa-repair.

She heard the soft thud upon closing the car door. Napatitig siya sa Corvette.

Dapat pa nga ba niya ipagawa pa ang kotseng ito?

She was only keeping it for memories' sake, right?

That one time Renante reluctantly joined her in the car because he was left with no choice. It was at that Christmas Party. Nung buo pa ang barkada. He was too drunk to drive. Renante was never that drunk before. It was the first time she saw him drunk. Her friends knew that it should be her who should take care of him. Nothing outside the friendzone happened that night. Yet she was happy. Kasi kahit lasing ito, hindi ito naghallucinate na siya si Sondra. He never did anyways even when he got drunk after that time. He knew he was with her. And he even thanked her for the ride home.

Nakakabit ang neck pillow sa kanyang leeg, nakasukbit ang shoulder bag at yakap niya ang nakasampay sa braso na balabal. She tiptoed away from the car, leaving the two guards watching her in stunned silence. Bukas ang shoulder bag niya dahil pinuno niya iyon ng ilang mga gamit na kinuha niya sa loob ng kotse.

While walking, Stacey let out a groan and remembered her phone. She should take a cab home then. Naabala tuloy siya sa pagkapa sa loob ng shoulder bag. She was careful not to spill anything from the bag.