Chapter 16: Two of Us
NANA'S POV
"You?"
I gasped. He removed his hand from my mouth.
"Ano sa tingin mo ginagawa mo? Kelan ka pa natutong pumasok sa locker room ng lalake?"
Ibinaba ko yung dagger saka nilagay ko sa bulsa.
"Oh, for self-defense." I smiled.
Paano niya nalaman na dun ako nanggaling eh nakacover naman ako ng towel ng lumabas at inassure kong walang nakakita.
"Locker room? What are you saying? Napadaan lang ako, ang ingay kasi nung mga girls dun."
"Tingin mo kung hindi ko binaba yung fusebox, nakilala ka na n'ya?"
Jesus, how did he know? It's not brownout. Was he tailing me? The fusebox is located outside the locker room so probably nasa labas siya at naririnig yung ingay namin sa loob. Locked yung pinto kaya kami lang ni Lydon ang makapagbubukas nun.
"Kaiser, thank you. Happy?" I said.
"Sinaktan ka ba nya?"Kaiser asked.
"Not really."
"Walang sini-sino yang Lydon na yan, kahit babae ka pa, papatulan ka niya."
In troubles like this, why is it Kaiser always there? Naghihinala na'ko sa kinikilos nya. He's in third year BSBA, classmate ko lang siya sa Philosophy class, working student siya at may dalawa pang younger sisters.
"Relax. Nanilip lang ako okay?"I smiled to change the mood.
"Nanilip? It's not the real Nana if you say that. Hindi bagay."
"I still have the genes of a girl."I smiled
"Really."
LYDON'S POV
"Babae sya, matangkad, about 5'6 or below ewan. Malakas siya at skilled sa self-defense, mahaba ang buhok. Ewan ko basta madilim, bigla na lang namatay yung ilaw." sabi ko.
"Hindi kaya, stalker lang yan?"Edge asked.
"Dude, kung stalker yan, na gaya ng mga babaeng obsess kay Lydon, baka makipagkita pa."
"Ang kaso, hindi stalker eh. Halos kulang na lang patayin ka."
"Ang akala ko pa nga nung una lalaking player ng kabilang team na nakikiusisa sa locker room natin. Hindi ko narinig yung boses niya, basta ang natatandaan ko lang left-handed siya base sa engkwentro namin."
"Hindi mo man lang nasundan?"
"Edge, paano ko masusundan, bigla na lang nagpasukan yung maiingay na mga babaeng yun."
"Wala ka naman sigurong napagtripang babae?"
"Ang alam ko wala."
"Dude, sigurado ka?"
Bigla kong naalala.
Dance with that Black American guy while taking off you bra then hand it to him.'
"Si Nana."bulong ko. Maaaring siya?
NANA'S POV
Ack. I can't drive my Ducati home. Alam kong ako ang primary suspect ng Lydon na yun since alam niya yung background ko sa taekwondo and muka pa'kong guilty sa pantitrip niya saken sa BlackPub nung isang gabi. Alam ko rin alam nyang matindi ang tinamaan niya sa'kin, kaya lang hindi niya alam na nasa kaliwang braso at kapag hindi ko pa naiuwi itong motor ko, bistong bisto na. Fvck!
Kanina pa ako dito sa parking lot. Hindi naman sanay mag-drive si Wynwyn. Ayoko namang ipa-drive kay Kaiser, malaman pa niya dorm ko, hindi ko pa siya totally kilala, mahirap na'ng magtiwala. Yung staff kaya sa Rossian Hotel? Ugh, wag na lang, ireport pa ako kina Mom and Dad na bumili ako ng bigbike.
Si Khalil naman, wala dito yung car niya.
"Sir!" nandito siya.
"Yes, Ms. Rossi."
"Ahm, may gagawin ka pa ba? I mean, you're goin' home?"
"Yeah, I'm off to..?" he wiggled his eyebrows. Nagtataka siya sa pagkakatawag ko.
"Thank you nga daw pala sa pagbuhat kay Wynwyn." I said. He helped me carrying Wynwyn nung gabing nakasabay ko siya sa hallway.
"She already thanked me."
"Ah.. okay. Since same lang tayo ng uuwian. Can I----?" I paused. I don't have a choice but show a brave face on.
"..drive you home?"he continued.
I nodded. Bakit ba lagi na lang akong nauutal pag kausap itong lalakeng ito. I am not the tough Nana pag kaharap ko siya. This is quite real stupid alter ego! Oh, sh*t. Nagbabait-baitan lang ako kasi ako yung may favor.
"May masakit ba sa'yo kaya hindi ka makapagdrive?" we're now riding the Ducati, tinted yung helmet glass na pinasuot ko sa kanya and muka namang hindi siya makikilala ng makakasalubong naming students since dun kami dumaan sa backgate.
"Ahm, medyo na-twist lang yung arm ko sa taekwondo class." Liar I am. Eh hindi na nga ko nagpapasok dun. Hindi pa rin siya nagpapalit ng perfume. Medyo mas naging broad pa yung shoulder nya. Sexy back.
"Nana, okay lang bang baba muna tayo sa fastfood, di pa kasi ko nakapaglunch, bayad ko na lang sa free ride. Is it okay?"
Huh? Is he treating me? Siya na nga 'tong nagdrive. Bakit ba ako hindi makatanggi, dahil ba may favor ako na ipagdrive ako pauwi? Fvck.
"S-sure.. b-bahala ka, sir."
Pinark na si Cattie and we entered the fastfood. Siya na yung umorder sa'kin ng food. Steak and grilled tapa with fried rice saka iced tea. Mas masarap pa rin yung milky brain topped with mozzarella cheese.
"Masarap yan, ayaw mo ba?"
"Wala kong sinasabi, sir."
"Let me."He took my plate and he sliced the steak into tiny strips. "Ah sorry, nakalimutan ko nga palang injured braso mo." He smiled.
"I'm not whining either, sir." I eat my food.
"Bakit ang aloof mo sa akin? May problema ba? We can talk personally."
"Too long to enumerate, sir."
"Seriously, enumerate.. Spill it, will not count on grade of behavior."
"FYI Sir, wala tayo sa school so hindi mo ko estudyante ngayon. Magpapakatotoo lang ako sa behavior ko, that's it."
"Okay. Spill it. Sige na. Tell. Hindi ako magagalit."
Ganun pa rin siya. I sneak my eyes looking as close as this. His eyeglasses covering those adoring eyes that I've missing so bad. Anyway, stubborn? Fine! I'll tell!
"Una, naiinis ako sa inyo coz feel ko you make fun of me during your class! Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa'kin mo lagi binabato yung napakahihirap na questions! Pakialam ko sa mga periods, era or what!
Pangalawa, ang daming girl students ang sumisipsip sa inyo! Lalo na sa cafeteria, hindi ka mauubusan ng table kasi lahat ng girls ishe-share sayo yung table nila! Like what duh.
Pangatlo, sabi nila may girlfriend ka raw na co-instructor mo sa ibang school pero nagtatago ka pa rin ng picture ng ex mo!"sabi ko.
"What?! Una, anong make fun of you? Sino bang naunang mang-insulto sa'tin, ibinabalik ko lang sa'yo, saka you can recite, so what's wrong? Pangalawa, hindi sipsip yun, kasalanan ko bang yung mga babaeng estudyante ang lumalapet sa'kin. As a courtesy, I'm veing friendly. At pangatlo, hindi ko alam kung paano mo nalaman yun pero ibang usapan na yun."Khalil said.
Ibang usapan? May girlfriend na siyang co-instructor from other school. Hindi kaya, hanggang ngayon mahal pa rin niya si Ate Chanel?
"I saw that picture sa may veranda. Is it okay if I ask if you-- I mean if you still have feelings for her?"
He paused. Straightforward.
"I've been keeping that for long time. Nakita mo pa pala yun."
"I'm asking you, sir."
He stopped eating.
"Of all the students I've encountered, ikaw lang yung straightforward. Look, ang sungit mo na, ang kulit mo pa. Ano ba naman yung kalapit ko lang kayo ng dorm, eh di sana sinoli mo yung picture. Kung ang ikinasusungit mo ay yung minsang tinitingnan kita it's because you both resemble each other, okay? Yun lang yun. So whenever I see you--"
"What? Naaalala mo s'ya sa'kin?"
He sighed. Napailing siya. About the picture. Tumawid ako sa kabilang balcony. Yeah, dangerous.
"For some reason. Magkaiba totally." he smirked. Ang layo niya sumagot.
"Like I care?" alam ko naman na pumayat man ako onvampire white iba pa rin beauty ni Ate Chanel, she's more beautiful. Dati pa pala niya nano-notice na magkamuka kami pero hindi man lang nya naisip na may younger sister ako. Talagang nakalimutan na niya ako. Well, one time lang pala kami nagkita.
"Pero wala na yun. Malabo ko na'ng maipakilala sa'yo." I can feel his sad emotion when he said that.
"Give me your steak, ayaw mo namang kainin." he said na napapailang, para machange yung mood.
"Excuse me, you paid this for riding."
"Am I not paid as driver? Hindi talaga instructor ang treatment mo sa akin 'pag labas ng school. Look, I'm 4 years older than you!"
"Excuse me, am I invited here para lang pagalitan? At ipamuka age gap natin and how I should behave for you?"
"Enough, just eat. Stop whining, okay?"
"Fine, sir!"
"Sir your face."He whispered. Did I hear it right? What? What did he say? He sounds like gay. Very very gay. I bursted into laughter.
"W-what? Come again, Mr. Vargas? Ang decent mong tingnan with matching attaché case and eyeglasses then 'sir your face?' Pftt...."
"Stop laughing. Nana." I never laughed like this.
"Done laughing?"
I never laughed like this before. Why he's acting like childish, Gayish. He's 24 already. I laugh out loud.
We drove off home safe.
"Thanks sa ride, sir."
"Khalil na lang, hindi mo rin naman akong tinatratong instructor." Inabot niya yung key.
"I won't. I still have to address you as you say so.."
"Bahala ka."
Dito kami sa gilid ng dorm kung saan pinark yung Ducati ko. May dumating na parang professor na babae about mid-20s na rin siguro. She's tall, beautiful and sexy with brownish wacy hair.
"Honey, kanina pa kita tinatawagan, out of reach ka, kala ko ba sabay tayo maglalunch?"
"Sorry, nagkaron kasi ng rush seminar and we need to precede there immediately kaya dun na kami nakapaglunch . Anyway, babe, si Nana Rossi, estudyante ko and kadormmate."
Lumapit yung babae sa'kin, offering a shake hand.
"How are you?"
"Hi." Matipid kong sagot and I shrugged.
"Anyway, I'm your instructor's girlfriend Georgina Tan."
"Oh hi, I'm Nana. By the way, Sir Vargas, nagtext saken yung kasabay mo raw naglunch kanina."
"Nana.." Khalil with a warned tone.
"She said, thanks daw sa pagslice ng steak nya, balik daw ulet kayo dun minsan. Good night!"
I can see how her girlfriend is pissed off! Funny I make Georgina frown.
"What?! You said you were in the seminar. What's the meaning of this?"
Liar. Umalis na'ko, hindi ko na narinig yung pinag-uusapan nila. Akala ko ba si Ate pa din? Bakit nagsinungaling pa siya na ako ang kasama niyang naglunch at sinabing nasa seminar siya. Khalil is somehow jerk.