Chapter 5

"Are you okay?" he asked me before sitting down next to me offering me a beer. I just shook my head before sighing. After that conversation, I received a call from him that's why I am with him right now.

"Huwag mo namang ipahalatang hindi ka masaya na kasama mo ako ngayon," he said while laughing.

"No," I said and shook my head. "Good thing you called me."

"Bakit? May nangyari ba?" he asked me right away.

"Nothing," I told him. "You," I looked at him, "does my scars bother you?"

"Hindi naman," he shook his head. "Bakit? Are you afraid that I might judge you with those bruises and scars of yours?"

"I just thought your answer would be yes," I answered. "Have you ever tried to ask someone to kill you? Have you ever tried to... beg someone to just let you die?" I asked him as I looked away. 

We are here now on the rooftop of his condominium and the lights of the buildings and houses are starting to comfort me.

"I'm not sure," he said. "Have you?"

I nodded. "Yes. Earlier when you called and I almost regret it," I said. "I almost regret it because there was a part of me who still wants to live. But the life I have now prevents me from doing that."

"Is it that hard?"

"The life I have now serves as my prison," I said softly.

“Ano bang kasalanan ang nagawa mo?" he asked out of curiosity.

"I can't tell you the details," I laughed a bit. "All I can say is, many people ended up dying because of me," I said slowly. "And that includes my family."

I looked at him and was no longer surprised when our eyes met. We stared at each other for a while before I averted my gaze.

"Do you want to share the burden with me?"

I laughed for a moment because of his question before looking back at him again. "Can you carry the burden?" I asked him. "I don’t think so."

"Pwedeng hindi but I can lend ears and over you a shoulder to lean on," he smiled at me sweetly so I looked away.

"Are you still thinking of backing out of the deal?" I asked him out of nowhere. 

"To be honest with you, yes."

"Why don't you do it now?" I asked again.

"I gave you my word," he told me. "I'm a man of my words, you know," he chuckles.

"What if something bad happens to you because of our deal?" I continue asking.

"If something happens to me..." he paused for a moment before looking at me. "... I'm sure you'll protect me."

I gave him a small smile and didn't bother to answer. We remained silent for a moment and no one dared to talk.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked after a few moments of being silent.

"I'm good," I answered before standing up. "I should go now. Let's just see each other again tomorrow."

"Magkikita tayo bukas?" he looked shocked because of what I said.

"Why? You don't want to?"

"Gusto!" he said like a child. "Bye, see you tomorrow!"

I nodded before turning my back at him. In just a blink of an eye, I was already in my room. I immediately lay down on my bed and stared at the ceiling for a long time. 

I recalled everything that happened to me today. And how that man... made me feel better. While thinking, I didn't realize that I had fallen asleep.

When I woke up, I saw Kaito as soon as I came out of the living room. I didn't bother to greet him good morning nor smile at him because I didn't feel like talking to him yet.

"Good morning," he greeted me as I sat beside him. "I'm leaving for Spain. My flight is in the afternoon and I thought of going here first to say goodbye."

"Why? Are you bringing your Mom with you to Spain so you literally can't see me?" I raised a brow at him.

"I just thought you might want me to do something there aside from the business," he said. "Like visiting your old house and---"

"Shut up,"  I cut him off. "Will you just please stop asking and mentioning that country to me? You're just ruining my morning. Go leave and hand me your resignation letter when you come back or else I'll fire you myself." After I said that, I completely disappeared in front of him.

I fixed my hair while looking around. I sighed and started to walk faster, approaching the man. "Careful," I told him as I grabbed his arm.

"Woah!" he was amazed when he saw me. "Is that how you miss me so you're here in front of my condo right away?" he looks at his watch. "It's six o'clock in the morning."

"Whatever," I said, then I let him go. "It just happens that I went here and saw you almost hit by a car. You must be careful."

"Did you help me or saved me?" he asked again while still fixing his polo. He was folding it up to his elbow.

"I helped you not to die early so that means I saved you."

"Am I the first on the list you will help today?" he asked again.

"You're not the first and you're not even on my list," I said.

"How many people will you help today?"

"I'm not sure. I'm planning to help no one today," I seriously said. "Why are you up so early?" I asked him, trying to change the topic. Good thing he didn't ask more. 

"I'm going to visit one of our branches. I received a report that there was a problem so I had to go there and check it myself," he finished what he was doing with his polo before stepping back once and looking at me. "How was it? Do I look like the owner of Heace Restaurant," he asked and then turned around.

I looked at him from head to toe before lazily nodding. "Pwede na."

"Pwede na?" he asked in disbelief, repeating what I just told him. "Bihira ka na nga lang mag-tagalog! I was expecting something and then that was it? Pwede na? What does it mean? Na pwedeng hindi rin ako mukhang owner?"

"Pwede."

"Wow!" he exclaimed, still can't believe it. 

"Stop talking and open your car. Give me a ride," I told him.

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere. You can take me anywhere you want," I said and without saying a word, I got in his car when he opened it.

"Where do you plan to go? I can drop you off there," he said before starting to drive.

"Spain," I told him without even thinking. I felt his gaze on me for a moment. "Just kidding, I just don't want to go home for today."

"Did something happen?" he asked me but I did not speak. "Then come with me to Tagaytay."

"Why Tagaytay?" I asked him.

"Because that's where I'm going," he winked at me. 

I just rolled my eyes and didn't complain anymore. Whatever Sia, you asked him to give you a ride and you said to just drop you off somewhere.

While we were on the trip, he kept on receiving consecutive calls so I can't help but be curious. After a few minutes, someone was calling him again.

"Yes, I told you to stop calling me when I'm driving. I’m already on my way there," he immediately said right after he answered the call.

"I’m really sorry, Sir. Nagkakagulo na po kasi rito. Some customers are already leaving," I heard a woman's voice, there was a slight noise heard in the background.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw him massaging his head. "Just tell her to stay still. Make her calm down and assist the other customers. Malapit na ako," he said before hanging up.

"You can use your first wish with this," I suggested. "Or ask me to help you," I added. I felt him look at me for a moment before shaking his head. 

"No, you're out of this. Hindi naman kita sinama para tulungan mo ako. I'll fix it myself," he told me before smoothly parking the card in front of his Restaurant. "I'm sure this will take a long time so you can go around. You can have my car," he handed me his key. "I'll just call you. Don't ever think of going back to Manila without me," he warned me before going inside the Restaurant.

From where I was standing, I could see a bit of a mess inside. I saw how the guard instantly greeted him and how he approached those people who were gathered in the corner.

Instead of going somewhere, I just sat here and waited for him. It took him a long time before finally going outside. I followed him with my gaze as he smiled as he talked to the guard. When he finally got out, his smile faded and I saw him sigh before rushing to the car.

"Hindi ka umalis?" he asked me when he got in. Instead of answering, I just stared at him because his smile showed again as if it didn't fade when he was walking near the car alone. "Bakit?" he asked again when he noticed that I was staring at him.

"I'm too lazy to drive," I answered before averting my eyes. "What happened?"

"They serve rotten food to the customer," he sighed. "I'm sorry but can we stay for a minute here. My hands are trembling," he said while showing me his hands.

"Did the customer get mad?"

"She is. Good thing I managed to change her mind. She wants me to fire the chef," he answered.

"Did you fire your chef?" I asked him and he shook his head. "Why? It might happen again and get your Restaurant in trouble."

"I talked to him after talking to the customer. I can't fire him, he needs this job. Wala lang siya sa focus ngayon dahil naka-confine ang asawa niya at walang nagbabantay. I just gave him a day off so he can take care of his wife at the hospital."

"What a good boss huh," I complimented him before fastening my seatbelt like he did.

"You need to understand your employees. You need to hear their side before doing such things. Kung hindi ko siya tinanong at basta na lang sinisante, mas lalo lang siyang nagkaroon ng problemang iisipin.”

I was silent when he started driving until he opened the speaker and played a song. I was looking out the window while listening to the song when an incident suddenly flashed in my mind. I sighed before stopping the music.

"Park your car there," I told him while pointing at the building. He looks at me before looking at where I am pointing and looking at me again.

"Are you serious? It says no parking there," he said.

"Just park there," I repeated. 

I heard him whisper something before parking there. He keeps on looking around like he was scared that someone might approach the car because we can't park here.

"Don't look around. They won't approach you because I am with you," I told him while looking at the people crossing the road. When I saw a woman walking. I crossed my arms and started to count using my fingers.

Five... four.... three... two... one...

The truck honked louder before it hit the woman. I saw how Asher turned his gaze in front and was shocked because of what happened. The girl was now lying in the middle of the road bleeding while the people around her were starting to panic .

"If there are deities that can hear me, please save me. Kahit ngayon lang. Save me."

I laughed a little because of what I heard. "If there are deities that can hear me, please save me. Kahit ngayon lang," I repeated. I saw Asher look at me because of that.

"Did you, perhaps, ask me to park here so you can help her or watch her die? Why aren't you doing anything? I thought it was your job to help others. We were here a few minutes ago before the accident happened," he said continuously .

"I told you, I have no plan of helping someone today."

"What?!" he sounded in disbelief.

"If there are deities that can hear me, please save me. Kahit ngayon lang," I repeated what I heard from the girl again. "She was asking for help for a deity, and it's not me."

"Kaya hahayaan mo nalang siyang mamatay?" he asked again and was ready to get out of the car so I spoke again.

"You don't have to worry about her. The deity she is calling is already here," I said bitterly as I looked at the side of the road and saw her.

"But still, you should've tried to save that woman instead of waiting for it to happen. I cannot believe this," he said. I look at him because of what he said.

"Why? You can't stand it? This is not yet the real me," I said seriously. "I'm giving you a chance. Runaway and back out from the deal. I won't give you consequences if you do."

I looked seriously into his eyes, "Runaway as far as you can," I told him. That woman is correct. I was just putting his life in danger because the truth is, it was him whom I saw earlier that got into an accident and not the woman.