AFTER THE MATCH HAS BEEN SETTLED, we stayed on the top of the cliff track. Some of the crowd went down and some other stayed, like us. Tapos na kasi ang event ngayong gabi dahil na-cancel ang naka line-up na mga matches when Primo and Lance inserted themselves on the schedule. Since it was a one time match, they've been allowed to race tonight. Besides, people were waiting for their race to happen for the longest time. I even heard people talking about how this race was a very good match at malas ng mga 'di nakapanuod.
"Easiest money gained in my entire life," ani Jag at winagayway ang napanalunan. "Thanks bro!" he told Primo.
"I should've put a bet on Primo," Shiva stood up then sat down again in Seige's car hood. "Why didn't you tell me, you traitor!" he told Jaguar.
"Wala ka namang pampusta. Baka mangutang ka pa sa'kin," biro ni Jaguar sa kanya.
"Sabagay, medyo may point ka."
Natawa kaming lahat. Both of them are always bickering and it's like sitting in the front row in one of their shows in a comedy bar.
Speaking of sitting – we're all seated in the car's hood. Naging hobby na rin namin ang tumambay sa mga ganitong lugar. Surprisingly, this was nice. Malamig ang hangin, the place is almost deserted, you can freely drink and talk to each other. Peaceful hangout place kumbaga.
I felt my head slightly tipsy dahil sa dalawang shots ng tequila na ininom ko kanina. They put it in a beer pong cup kaya hindi ko napansing marami pala ang nasa isang baso. I thought it was beer – and the second I notice it was not, it was too late. Masyado rin akong kabado sa oras na 'yon to even think about what kind of alcohol it was.
"You reek of alcohol," marahang sabi ni Primo – his right arm rested just beside my waist while we're sitting side by side.
"I must've drink a shot or two," I told him honestly.
Awtomatikong dumako ang tingin niya sa tatlong lalaki sa harap. Pasimpleng nagbusy-busyhan ang mga ito at kunwari'y kinakausap ang mga kasamahan.
I almost shook my head.
I can't believe how big of a coward they get when it comes to Primo.
"I told you not do anything stupid," his voice is low, reprimanding.
I pouted slightly. "Don't get angry. I just needed something to help me calm my nerves," I looked at him then smiled – a little bit too sweetly. "I was so nervous earlier thinking you might get hurt."
His eyes sharpened. "Don't use that tactic on me, Ayah."
"What?," I feigned innocence. "My boyfriend was drift racing for the first time in a match, of course I was worried." I tauntingly moved closer to him.
His face wrinkled, he groaned then threw his head back to stare at the sky out of frustration – his arms flexed when he did that.
"So damn whipped," tudyo ni Jaguar. "If I get poor, I'll just kidnap Ayah then the next thing I know Primo is already selling his house, his car, his inheritance or maybe the whole Philippines to pay for her ransom money," he sneered, then laughed loudly — agad din naman niyang pinagsisihan 'yon ng isang rumaragasang beer pong cup ang sumalubong sa mukha niya.
Because Primo threw his beer cup, inabutan siya ng isa pang baso ng inumin ng isang kabarkada niya pero tinanggihan niya na ito.
"Aren't you going to drink?," I asked him.
All his other friends were drinking. Seige was barely drinking though, while the others were drinking moderately. Despite them having high alcohol tolerance, Primo didn't even drink one drop of alcohol.
"I still have to drive us home," he muttered in hoarse voice. "I want you safe," he added.
"One shot won't hurt," I encouraged.
Umiling lang siya. "Nagpaalam ka ba sa inyong matatagalan ka?"
"Pinaalam na ako ni Shiva na sa kanila ako matutulog," sagot ko sa kanya.
Nakangiwing lumingon naman si Shiva sa direksyon namin. She may or she may have forgotten about what she said to my parents when she was asking for their permission bago niya ako kinidnap.
"Nagyayang mag sleep over si Jaguar. I forgot you were sleeping in my house and I've already agreed to him. Are you going home or are you coming with us?" alanganing tanong niya at sinulyapan si Primo.
"I'm coming with you. Baka makadistorbo pa ako sa bahay," I immediately answered.
She smiled brightly then left our area to tell Jaguar, who's talking with their other friends, that we're both coming.
"That was a fast answer considering your boyfriend is sitting here beside you," he said in a straight tone.
"What? Shiva is there. Seige is gonna be there. Pati si Ranger."
"And I'm also gonna be there," dagdag niya, nagdesisyong sasama.
Sumimangot ako. "You're over protective..."
"Lucky you, then," he answered then rested his nose on my hair.
******
"Jag, hindi mo pa rin ba mahanap? Nilalamok na ako rito," I said habang pinapalo palo ang kamay ko dahil may dumadapo na lamok paminsan-minsan sa braso ko.
Hinubad ni Primo ang jacket niya at nilagay sa balikat ko. He leaned again in his car habang naghihintay mabuksan ang gate. He had an expression where he was like half regretting coming with us.
"Nandito lang 'yon sa bulsa ko kanina," ani Jaguar at patuloy sa pagkapa sa susi niya. "I checked it before we left the circuit."
It's official, he lost it.
After almost an hour of looking for something that's already lost.
He finally gave up on finding it and stopped being in-denial about his lost keys. He looked at Ranger asking for back-up because the sleepover plan is not working out.
"Nope. 'Di pwede. Badshot pa ako kay mommy dahil noong nakaraang party. Somebody broke her ming vase," agad na sagot ni Ranger.
Umiling din si Seige nang dumako ang tingin ni Jaguar sa kanya. "Under renovation ang bahay," ani Seige.
We all looked at Primo.
He sighed and opened the door of his car for me. "Ibigay niyo sa dalawang babae ang isang kwarto. Sa sala kayong tatlo," he said to the boys, defeated.
Nang makarating sa townhouse ni Primo ay nagpaunahan kami sa pagpasok – it was cold and too dark outside dahil madaling araw na. The boys immediately carried a sleeping mattresses to the sala at nagbato-bato-pick kung sinong mamimili ng palabas.
Hindi pa sila natatapos sa pag-aaway kung sino ang nanalo sa bato-bato-pick nila ay kinuha na ni Shiva ang remote at namili ng palabas sa tv. Nagtutulakan na naman sila kung sinong may kasalanan bakit hindi sila nakapili ng maayos.
These guys.
Chaotic and for what?
But it was definitely a cute sight.
My younger self wouldn't believe we would be doing sleep overs and watch racing match with these guys.
"Order kayo pizza," utos ni Shiva sa kanila at nakisiksik sa foam.
"Sagot ni Jaguar," ani Seige.
"Sagot ni Ranger," ani Jag.
"Sagot ni Seige," ani Ranger.
Pinaghahampas sila ni Shiva sa kanya-kanyang braso. I was just leaning on the bar counter and watching them do a pillow fight. Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit ayaw silang patulugin dito ni Primo.
They're like kids who've been imprisoned for about ten years at isang araw ay bigla nalang pinalaya – chaotic.
Bumukas ang pinto then Primo entered. He was the one to enter last since he took time to park his car. Palibhasa ay nag uunahan na silang makaparking and they took his spot so he had to find his own parking. Sinulyapan lang niya ang apat at dumiretso sa kung saan ako nakatayo.
He got the glass of water in my hand at uminom habang pumunta sa tabi ko at iniyakap ang isang kamay sa bewang ko.
I looked up to him.
"Are you sleepy?" tanong niya.
Umiling ako. "Not yet," I answered.
"I'll just take a bath. Do you want to take a bath too? After me of course," he said, half amused.
"Wala akong damit."
"I'll let you borrow," aniya.
Tumango ako.
"Ayah! Can you please choose and order three large pizzas? Pakisabi via credit if allowed," Shiva shouted habang pinipilit pa rin isiksik ang sarili sa tatlo dahil nag uumpisa na ang palabas. "Move aside... or sasapakin kita!"
"Got it," sagot ko.
Primo let go of me pagkuway inabot ang leaflets ng isang kilalang pizza house. He even dropped his phone on the bar counter para 'yon na ang gamitin kong pangtawag.
"I'll be right back," aniya and gave me a small kiss on my hair.
Tinulak ko siya ng kaonti. "Nakakarami kana. Maligo kana muna."
Sumimangot siya. "Alright. Just make yourself comfortable," he looked at his friends and sighed. "Just like them."
Tumango ako at namili na ng pizza. Pagkatapos kong mag order ay binaba ko ulit ang cellphone niya sa counter. I scanned his contacts at nakita kong maliban sa barkada ay ako at ang pamilya niya lang ang naka save doon.
Tumaas ang kilay ko sa nakita. He didn't ask for my number but he has them saved. He probably took it from Jaguar.
"Ayah! Come here," ani Jag nang madaanan ako ng tingin. "Ganda na nung palabas oh, patayan," dagdag niya pa.
"Whooo! What a pussy! Barilin mo na!" Sigaw ni Ranger. "Damn, that's so near to miss a bullet. Mahina, mahina."
"Ang ingay mo!" Shiva complained, pagkuwa'y hinampas si Ranger ng unan. He was about to do the same to Shiva pero inagaw ni Seige ang unan niya.
Protective.
But I started to notice, Seige doesn't really look in love. Just concerned and protective. Pero baka guni-guni ko lang ang nakikita. After all, he already confessed to Shiva.
I decided to sit on the sofa dahil halos mukha na silang sardinas sa hinihigaan nila. Nahuhulog na nga ata si Jag sa sahig dahil ang lalaki ng katawan nila.
"Ang taba mo Shiva, nahuhulog na tuloy ako rito. Mag diet ka naman!" Sigaw ni Jaguar nang umurong ulit si Ranger dahil umurong si Shiva kaya tuluyan na siyang nahulog mula sa foam na nilabas nila.
Oh no.
Jaguar didn't say the T-word, right?
Bumangon si Shiva at masamang tiningnan si Jaguar. I grab one of the pillow dahil may pakiramdam akong magkaka world war 3 dito.
"I'm only fifty two kilograms, Jaguar!" Sigaw ni Shiva at hinampas si Jaguar ng unan. "How dare you! I was even skipping breakfast!"
Tumakbo si Jaguar sa takot na mahampas ni Shiva – because of that, he has hit all the others while fleeing.
I can't believe them.
Hinampas ni Ranger si Shiva, in which Shiva hit him back the same way he did.
I shook my head in disbelief, this is gonna be so messy.
Nang mapadaan ang tingin ko sa kabilang bahagi ay nakita ko si Seige na mukhang may balak na hampasin ako – I judged all of his plan through his evil smile.
"Don't you dare touch me," banta ko.
"Says who?" ani Ranger na nasa likod ko na.
Naramdaman ko ang likod ni Shiva sa likod ko.
"It's gonna end up so bad for you all three," banta ni Shiva bago inumpisahan ang grand pillow fight.
Hinampas ko si Seige ng unan at ganoon din ang ginawa ni Shiva. Tawang tawa kami nang marinig namin ang reklamo ni Seige sa lakas ng pagkakahampas namin sa kanya. Hahampasin ko sana si Ranger nang pigilan ni Jaguar ang kamay ko. Ngumisi siya. He was about to slam a pillow on my face when the doorbell rang – literal na saved by the bell.
Natigil kaming lahat at inayos ang sarili. The boys immediately layed back on the makeshift matress na parang walang nangyaring hampasan a while ago.
"Boys, payments!" Shiva opened her palm in front of them, she was kicking them lightly when they were ignoring her.
"I don't have cash," Jaguar denied.
"Jaguar, more than fifty thousand ang panalo mo tonight kaya 'wag kang madamot," Shiva said, rolling her eyes. "Dapat nga binigyan mo 'ko ng balato. Pasalamat ka pizza lang ang inorder ko. Kung malaki laki napanalunan mo oorder ako ng bahay sa'yo ko pababayaran," she grinned, mocking.
"The others won, too." Jaguar said then took his wallet, Seige's and Ranger's wallet too. "Ayan ibili mo ng subdivision."
She grinned then mouthed thanks. She went to the front door to pay for the order. Bumangon ako para tulungan siya na magbitbit ng pizza but the boys also did the same.
"Kuya, pili ka nga dito sa tatlong card. Kung anong mapili mo dun mo na i-charge yung order namin. Then include a 1000 pesos tip," Shiva stated.
Napangiti ako sa reaksyon ng mga lalaki.
They were like praying for their lives na sana hindi sila ang mapili.
You wouldn't think they're filthy rich when they act like this.
"Ito na lang po, Ma'am," the delivery guy said while picking Jaguar's card. "Thank you po sa tip."
Tumango at ngumiti lang kami ni Shiva sa nagdedeliver. He looked genuinely happy and surprised.
"See? Destiny mo talaga ang manglibre ngayon," sabi ni Shiva sa harap ng mukha ni Jaguar – nang aasar.
Inalis ni Jaguar ang mukha ni Shiva sa harap niya. Ranger took their cards back, their wallets, and the pizza. Masamang tiningnan ni Jaguar si Shiva habang pinipirmahan ang resibo niya galing sa POS machine na dala ng delivery rider.
We hurriedly got back to the sala to eat. Ang daming nangyari in the whole day at ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang gutom.
Jaguar sat beside me pagkuway inakbayan ako. Si Shiva ay humiga sa binti ni Ranger. While Ranger is leaning at the short end of the sofa where we're sitting.
That's our position when Primo went out of his room. Naka sweat shorts lang siya at naka t-shirt na navy blue. He was drying his hair – damn, he looked really good while doing that. Bumabakat ang muscles niya sa dibdib kapag inaangat niya ang kamay niya. This guy is ripped. I'm convinced he's always working out to sculpt his body.
He raised his eyebrows on me then his eyes landed on Jaguar's hand.
He frowned then walked in the scene.
Sinenyasan niya si Jaguar na umurong at ganoon nga ang ginawa nito.
"Iniwan lang kita sandali, may nakaakbay na sayo," he mumbled and stretched his arms at sinandig ang ulo sa sofa at pumikit.
"We we're playing around. Why are you not watching? Don't you like watching movies?" I asked him in a whisper.
He just grunted.
"Maybe you should just sleep?" I suggested still whispering.
"I'll sleep when you'll sleep, babe," aniya, nakapikit pa rin ang mata.
Bago ako makaimik ay nagsitayuan na sila at hinila ang foam papunta sa isang kwarto.
"Matutulog na kami. Kayo nalang mag off niyan!" ani Ranger at sumunod sa mga kasamang nauna nang nagpaalam.
"Primo," tawag ko sa kanya.
It was time to talk about something that got me curious.
"Hmm?" aniya, still on his eyes closed.
"Your wallpaper, is she your mom?" mahinang tanong ko.
He gently looked down on me. "Yes," he said pagkuway isinandig niya ako sa dibdib niya. He's half hugging me habang pareho kaming nakaharap sa TV when we're not even watching.
"What happened to her? If you'd like to talk about her. If not, you can choose not to answer my question."
"She died when I was 14, cancer," he answered.
"Is this why you're living here all alone? You're not in good terms with Brent's mom, your step mother?" I asked, very careful not to say something offensive.
"It's mostly about my father. I don't like to be in the same house as him," he started sharing. "He's going to have reservations when it comes to how he's going to be a parent to Brent. Every time he will treat him nicely, he's going to get guilty when he looks at me," he chuckled, amused. "He love the boy and I love Brent equally. Hindi niya siguro narealize na nakakaintindi naman ako at masyado na akong malaki para sa ganyang bagay. So here I am, for the sake of mine and their peace of mind," he ended.
"I thought you were just trying to be independent."
"That too," he said, binalik ang ulo sa pagkakahiga sa sofa.
"So you could freely bring girls and screw them," I added.
"That too-"
He didn't finish his sentence. Paano ba naman ay hinampas ko na siya ng unan at inirapan.
"Come on! Ikaw pa lang ang babaeng dinala ko rito. I was just kidding," he looked at me still amused.
"Where would you screw them then? In a hotel?" I rolled my eyes.
"Language," saway niya.
"Bakit 'di ka makasagot?!"
"You'll just get angrier kapag sinagot ko 'yan. Besides, those were the days when I haven't met you yet!" Paliwanag niya, salubong ang kilay.
"Ewan ko sayo, Primo! Manood ka mag isa mo!" I said then slammed another pillow on his face at naglakad papunta sa kwarto.
When I opened the door ay tumambad sa akin ang kwarto sana namin ni Shiva. Magkatabi si Jaguar at Shiva sa kama na pangdalawahan at si Seige at Ranger naman sa foam na pangdalawahan.
Nagmamartsang bumalik ako sa sala at bumungad sa akin ang pilyong ngiti ni Primo. He probably realized that our room, which he has reserved for me and Shiva is fully occupied.
"Let's sleep," aniya at hinila ako papunta sa kwarto niya.
"Don't you dare.." banta ko sa kanya habang wala sa loob na nagpaakay.
He chuckled. "What? I said we'll sleep. Ang dumi ng isip mo," he taunted.
He opened his room which I was not surprised by how clean it was because I know he's been keeping his house neat. This one is a bit bigger than the other room, it has its own bathroom. This one has a more homey vibes than the other. Although the furnish was simple and obviously for the guy, there are a lot of photos. Family pictures of him with his mom and dad, Brent, him in his race suit and his car.
He took a shirt and shorts then threw it to my direction, he proceeded to open the bathroom then allowed me to take a short bath. Habang nag ha-half bath ako ay ang aayos naman ito ng kwarto. He's also prepared another set of blanket for me.
Paglabas ko ay nasa kama na siya at nakahiga. He looked comfortable while he's browsing on his phone. May sns life pa ba tong lalaking 'to?
"You look cute," puna niya.
Napangiwi ako. The shirt that he gave me was his kaya naman masyado itong malaki 'pag suot ko. Mukha akong hanger.
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at kumuha ng mga unan para gawing barrier.
Tumaas ang kilay niya sa nakita. "What are you doing?" He asked, amused.
"Hindi ba obvious? Baka mamaya may balak ka pang masama sa'kin e," I told him accusingly.
He chuckled heartily then he pulled me towards the bed in a quick tug. I almost screamed pero pinigilan ko dahil baka magising sila sa kabila.
"Baby, let's just fall in love now and complicate things later. I respect you too much," he said seriously.
"That's good to hear, Primo," I smiled, pagkuwa'y sumiksik sa dibdib niya – I had every intention to taunt him.
I heard him groan out loud, "Fuck! I think I'll just sleep on the sofa."
He gently pushed me away from him then took some of the pillow before he got up from the bed.
"I thought we were sleeping? Where are you going?" I chuckled, he brought this upon himself.
"Sleep well, Ayah." He said, frowning. "Someday, I'll make you pay for this torture, you'll see," he joked before he went out.