Century's POV
"Lagot. Tinuro ka niya" Big Shaq got inside the car quickly.
Anong sinabi ng Nic na 'yon? Kahit kailan talaga, napaka tsismoso niya. Nilaglag ba niya ako?
Papasok na din dapat ako pero inilawan ng sasakyan ni Nic ang kinatatayuan namin.
Wala na akong choice dahil palapit na sina Luke. Sinalubong ko na lang sila.
I regained my composure. 'so? nakiki-racing pala kayo'
Luke closed his eyes. "Please don't tell mom and dad"
'okay'
Luke looked at me. "Talaga?"
I nod.
"May kasama ka ba Cent? Kaninong sasakyan yan?" tanong ni Danny.
I panicked. Ano na ulit alam nila kay Big Shaq?
'mag-isa ko'
Nic laughed. "So how'd you get here?"
I gave him a killer look. 'sinundan kita'
"At bakit?" he flashed one those annoying smiles he makes "kakausapin mo na ako?"
Oh yeah. May naudlot kaming dinner. And he said dapat may pag-uusapan kami about family matters.
'yeah'
Sa totoo lang ayoko pang makita 'tong bwisit na 'to.
"Good. Tara na" Nic grabbed my hand.
"Saan naman kayo pupunta?" asked Luke. He's now holding my arm.
"Sa bahay syempre. At bawal kang sumama"
I rolled my eyes. 'antayin mo ako sa main road'
He let go of my hand. "Orayt"
I faced Luke. 'uuwi ako agad pagkatapos namin mag-usap'
"Sasamahan kita"
I shook my head.
"Hihintayin pa din kita sa gate." He then kissed my nose before I had the chance to write my reply. "Ingat ka"
Luke's POV
"Feeling mo kasama 'yong pangit na yun sa race?" asked Gabby
I shrugged "sabi niya, aye?"
He started cussing the guy and my thoughts went to Century.
Almost two hours na kaming nag-aantay sa may cafe malapit sa bahay. Danny's sleeping and rinig na ang hilik niya. Don's recording him. I smirked. See people, Don's got a lively side.
I finished my third can of beer and pulled my phone outta my pocket. I searched for Cent's cell number and dialed it. Guess what? Nakapatay phone nung pipi. Bwisit.
"Are you ready for the race?" Don asked me while posting Danny's ugly face on Facebook.
"Mmm"
"You better not die"
I laughed. "I won't. Ya'll miss me"
"Heeey, may account pala si Century?"
I leaned over to see clearer view of Don's phone. Oo nga noh, sa tagal naming magkasama ni Cent, hindi ko pa alam kung may social account siya. And she's got one. Naka private 'yong account and we get to see limited pictures lang. But then her profile pic was the same one na nasa kwarto niya. Yong naka-sandal siya sa isang muscle car.
"This is familiar..." murmured Don.
"Uh-huh. Nasa kwarto nya 'to"
"Parang nakita ko na din to sa race dati ni Gabby"
Upon hearing his name, Gabby nudged my butt. I gave him an annoying look.
"I heard my name?"
Pinakita ni Don phone niya kay Gabby. "Century"
"So?"
"Kita mo 'yong car, familiar ba sa'yo?"
Tiningnan niya ng matagal phone ni Don and may pa-angle pa ulo niya then he said "nope".
Don and I made a face.
Nag-browse na lang kami ng ibang pictures and mga walang kwenta na lang 'yong iba. Mga pang jejemon.
I checked the time again and ni anino ni Century hindi pa nagpapakita. Nag-order na lang uli kami ng beer habang kumakanta si Gabby. And nope, hindi kaaya-aya boses niya. Tipong pa-land fall na lahat ng bagyo para next year.
"...at ang nanay at tatay mo'y di malaman ang gagawin, minamasdan ka nilang tinitingnan. Tang ina mo, tang ina mo..."
I just shook my head nang pinagtitinginan na kami dahil sa lakas ng boses ni Gabby. I sipped my beer and muntik ko ng maibuga nang biglang napatayo si Gabby.
"Alam ko na!"
"What---what??!"
"Yong muscle car na 'yon, nakita ko na sa race dati!"
Don and I stared at each other.
"Pero ibang kulay pala kaya baka iba" he sat down again and continued singing "... at ngayon nga ay malaki ka na, dahil nuo'y maliit ka pa..."
Oh gawd. Bakit?! Bakit may kaibigan akong ganito?!