Chapter V: Ride

Nandito kami ngayon ni Dave sa Island and unlike kagabi hindi ganun karami ang tao. Umupo kami sa table na nakapwesto sa may gilid na parte ng club.

"I think Kuya will be here. Nandun ako kanina nung nareceive nya yung email. Nakakatawa ang itsura nya. Hindi sya makapaniwala na nag email ka," sabi ni Dave ng maka-upo na kami. He's definitely wrong. Knowing Shaun, he's already oved on. I mean it's already a year.

"I have to. Parte yun ng role ko sa school," I explained my actions. 

"Wala naman akong sinabi ah," sabi nito habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang buong club.

"So about the National Team, they are flying to Bahrain tomorrow right?" tanong ko dito.

"Yup," Dave replied with a popping P.

"You sure you ain't coming?" tanong ko dito. If he will say na he will come to watch I won't hesitate to come with him. I just need to destress.

"Sigurado akong hindi ako pupunta dun as a player. But I can go to watch the game if I want to. Bakit? Anong naiisip mo?" tanong nito. 

"I'm thinking of flying out. Padestress lang ganun."Dumekwatro ako at kinuha ang cocktail.

"Woah! You're really thinking of flying out of the country?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito. 

What's wrong with this dude?

"Sabagay. You and Tita were the only two left at your house in Laguna. How about you bring Tita with you?" he suggested. 

That's a good suggestion. A mommy-daughter time.

"Tanungin ko sya if game sya," I replied. 

The night gets deeper. Dave was busy accomodating his friends. Karamihan sa kanila mga kaklase nya nung Highschool pala s'ya. It's great to see that they are still talking even though they are not in the same school anymore.

"Tristan, pakilala kita sa Ate ko." His friends were puzzled. Humarap sakin si Dave.

"Tristan, this is my Ate Savannah. She's the best big sister. Ate Savvy, this is Tristan my high school friend." He introduced the guy. 

Oh, crap looks like Dave is already drunk.

"Hi. Sorry medyo may amats na si Dave kaya ganyan," pagpapaliwanag ko.

"It's alright." Ngiti nito.

Pagkaalis ng mga kaibigan nya ay sumandal sya sa couch. Looks like he is out. Itinaas ko ang kamay ko para tumawag ng waiter. Agad na dumalo ang isang lalakeng waiter sa akin.

"One glass of cold water for him," Tukoy ko kay Dave. Agad namang umalis ang waiter. Nag aantay lang ako nang bigla nag ring ang phone ni Dave. It's Shaun. I picked it up. But the moment I was about to answer it, it ended.

Nang ipatong ko ito sa mesa ay nagring ulit ito. Same caller. I picked it up and answered.

"Dimwit, where are you?! You're not at the condo!" galit na bulyaw nito. Medyo nagulat ako dahil ang agresibo nya.

"Hello?" Biglang tumahimik ang kabilang linya.

"C-Caily?" he asked confusedly.

"Yeah it's me. I'm with Dave. Nasa Island kami. He's actually out na." Dumating ang waiter dala ang isang basi ng tubig. Iminuwestra ko itong ibaba na lamang sa mesa ang tubig.

"That guy," bulong nito sa kabilang linya.

"I think you should pick him up. I don't think he will be able to drive at his state." I said ignoring what he murmured earlier. 

"Yeah, I'll head out para sunduin sya," he replied. 

"Thanks. Ingat." Ibinaba ko ang tawag at dinaluhan si Dave. Tinapik ko ang pisnge nito para magising ito.

"Dave, Dave." Gising ko dito. It didn't work because he is still snoring like a freaking horn.

"Dave wake up." Tinapik ko ulit dito but then again no response. I came across a thought. I racked him.

"Dave wake up! Dave Coach Donny is here!" After hearing Coach Donny's name he quickly stands up and bowed without even looking if Coach is really there.

"Good luck on the game, Coach. The whole country is behind the team's back!" he seriously said without raising his head. I burst out laughing at him. Moments later he realizes it. He was still confused but he is now awake.

"Where is Coach Donny?" tanong nito

"He was never here. Oh, God. I hope Coach Donny didn't choke on his food," natatawa kong komento.

"Ang sama mo," sabi nito bago pa sumalampak sa couch.

Yep, he is indeed the younger Alfonso. The childish and gullible Dave. I smiled while watching him take a sip of the glass of water.

"Shaun is coming," anunsyo ko pero hindi ako nito pinansin at tumalikod. Oops someone's mad. I moved closer to him but he moved away.

"The hell I care. Niloko mo ko. You're so mean." He turned his back against me. 

Nakapa isip bata!

"Sige magtampo ka. Balak pa naman sana kitang ilibre ng ticket to Bahrain para makapag bakasyon ka. Huwag na lang." Agad syang humarap sakin ng may malapad na ngiti. Kumuyabit ito sakin.

"Ito naman hindi mabiro," sabi nito at sumiksik sa braso ko. Kung may makakakita samin na hindi kami kakilala ,iisipin nilang mag jowa kami dahil sa estado namin.

A few minutes past and I heard Dave snoring again. Sleepyhead. I was about to move him into a more comfortable position when Shaun showed up.

"Holy crap," saad nito ng makita ang kapatid nya.

"He's knocked out," komento ko. Bumaling ito sakin bago umupo.

"Kanina pa ba kayo?" casual n'yang tanong.

"Medyo," sagot ko. 

Matapos nun ay nanaig ang katahimikan saming dalawa. He looks like a stone statue sitting across me.

"Ahmm so ahm how have you been?" Pagbubukas nito ng usapan. Napangiti ako.

"I'm doing great. Although I'm a little bit tied up with school, everything is fine. What about you?" I returned the question. 

"Mom is still giving me the cold treatment," natatawa nitong komento.

"Ikaw kasi masyado kang active." I tried to lighten up the mood.

"By the way, Dave and I are planning to fly to Bahrain to watch the team play. Wanna come?" paanyaya ko dito. Huminga ito ng malalim.

"Gustohin ko man kaso I still have a lot of work to do. Shoots," he explained. 

"The usual schedule huh." We were talking about our life after parting ways when his phoned ringed. The caller ID says 'Boss'. Oops.

"Hello, Dad?Nandito na ako. Dy, knocked out si Dave. Alright. Yup. I know. Okay Bye." Pag kababa nya ng tawag ay agad s'yang tumayo.

"May dala ka bang kotse?" tanong nito. Umiling ako bago nagsalita.

"Nope, Dave picked me up. No worries mag tataxi na lang ako," I answered.  

"No, I'll drive you home. It'll probably be a 2-hour drive since it's already late." I was confused. What? Two-hour drive? Is he sending me home to Laguna?

"Okay lang ako. Sa condo ako ni Kuya nagtitigil ngayon," pagpapaliwanag ko dito.

"Are you sure?" tanong nito.

"Yup surer than sure." Halatang hindi sya kampanteng uuwi akong mag-isa kahit malapit lang ang condo ni Kuya.

He was scrolling through his phone when a guy spoke from behind.

"Bro, how have you been?" I gulped when I the man's voice. Oh, God. Him again!

"Ey Dwight," bati ni Shaun.

Tuluyan nang nagpakita si Dwight at tumayo sa gilid ko. My depth perception got screwed. He is so tall.

"Brad, I know you're a good man even if we just met recently. I wanna ask you a favor." Pag kasabi nya ng dulong salita ay alam ko na ang gagawin nya dahil tinitigan nya ako.

"Sure. Anything I can do to help," Dwight answered optimistically.

"Can you drive her home? Her condo is just nearby so you won't have to endure long drives." I gulped. Oh crap. Really? May tiwala sya dito sa lalakeng to?

"Oh, sure no problem," sabi nito at nilingon ako at seryosong tinignan sa mata.

"We have to go. Dad is already calling," sabi nito at dinikot ang susi sa bulsa ni Dave bago ito alalayan palabas. Shaun is the manlier version of Dave. He looks like he is manhandling Dave.

"So you're here again," seryosong komento ni Dwight.

"Obviously tanga." He's American. I doubt if he knows any profanity in Filipino.

"I'm not dumb." Nanlaki ang mata ko. He understood what I just said?! I turned to look at him. His face was darker than usual.

"Do you usually go out with men and go to clubs?" His tone was odd. Why does he sound angry? He's from the States and I'm sure he is liberated.

"Wait a minute bakit parang pinapagalitan mo ko? Eh hindi mo naman dapat ako magiging resposibilidad kung hindi ka sumulpot dito!" bulyaw ko dito. He was puzzled. It's either the way I talked to him or the language I used that's making him wonder.

"I don't understand a word you said. Come, we're going back to the condo." He motioned me the way. Ako ang unang naglakad.

Maraming tanong sa utak ko. Una, bakit sya nandito sa club kung bukas ang flight nila papuntang Bahrain. Pangalawa, he is commited so why did he agreed to take me home? Pangatlo, bakit parang galit sya na nandito ako sa club. Pang-apat bakit. Bakit sya ganito?

We reached the parking lot.

"Ikaw na ang mauna," I dumbfoundedly mumbled.

Oh crap, he doesn't understand tagalog nga pala. I was about to speak when he grabbed my arm and walked. The parking lot is open so if there are nosy people or paparazzi he will be sure to be trending tomorrow. When he stopped at a black ford ranger. Pinatunog nya yun at agad akong sumakay.

I don't want any scandal. A scandal will jeopardize my whole family and most importantly my father's reputation and public image.

He was shocked when I didn't say anything instead I hop on the seat immediately. Umikot sya papunta sa driver seat.

"Are you running from someone?" tanong nito

"Why would you think that I'm running from someone?" naiinis kong tanong dito.

"Well, In just our few encounters I can conclude that you're not the type that will go home without a fight. You're the talkative type. But earlier you immediately hop in the car without any word," he noticed.