Chapter 5

 I was nervously scratching my finger nails. Hindi ako mapakali habang hinihintay ko ulit ang tawag ni Zack para sabihin sa akin ang kalagayan ng Daddy. I thought everything is fine? ang sabi sa akin ni Mom last week ay naayos na ang gulo at nahuli na ang nagpapadala ng death threats pero ano 'to?

"Calm down, Catalina."

Napatigil ako sandali at sandaling huminto ang paghinga ko nang marinig ko ang baritonong boses ni Luther sa aking tabi. Gosh. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na siya ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan at nasa tabi ko lang!

"How can I calm down if my father was shot?" hindi ko gustong tumaas ang boses ko pero sobra talaga ang takot na nararamdaman ko.

My lips are wet, my fingertips hurt because of nonstop picking of my nails. My heart is beating so fast. It's been half an hour, and Zack still hasn't called me. Sampung mensahe na ang naipadala ko at tinatanong ko ang kalagayan ni Dad.

Isang oras pa ang byahe para makarating sa St. Mary's hospital at ngayon ay gusto ko nang sabihin kay Luther na paliparin na niya ang sasakyan niya.

But this man beside me was just quietly driving. Hindi naman mabagal, mabilis naman pero may pag-iiingat.

"What did the man say when he called?"

I swallowed hard before answering. Hindi ko talaga maitago ang nararamdaman ko. It was my father...

"Tinamaan sa tagliran si Dad. T-The shot could be life threatening. Oh, God, hindi pa ako nakakabawi sa kaniya sa mga nagawa niya sa akin.I even refused to take over his company, and we had a small fight when I suggested he should just give up his position as the CEO."

My eyes heated up. Naninikip ang dibdib ko dahil sa takot at kaba. I love my father so much. And even if I know he wanted me to be the CEO, he respected my decision of not joining their business world. Pero nang malaman ko na may banta na sa buhay niya dahil sa kumpanya simula nang mas dumami ang mga investors at mas nakilala ang kumpanya ay sinabi ko kay Dad na i-give up na niya 'yon.

W-We don't need a lot of money... pero ayaw ng Daddy, eh. Sabi niya na mas mabuti pa raw na mamatay na nasa kaniya ang kumpanya kaysa mapunta sa mga halang ang kaluluwa. He doesn't want to let go of the company because he worked hard to build it, naiintindihan ko naman 'yon pero kung ganito at buhay niya ang kapalit mas mabuti pa na hayaan na niya'yon.

"W-Why do business run like this? bakit may sakitan? may pagbabanta?" I whispered. Pinalis ko agad ang tumulo na isang butil ng luha sa aking kanang pisngi.

"It always work in this way, Catalina. In order to be in a powerful seat everyone must fight for it."

"But, Dad owns a huge share! he worked hard for the company for years! it was his and--"

"Your father is Callix Trevor Rivanez. He is a huge person, he has a lot enemies not just inside of his company."

Marahas kong binalingan si Luther. He is still calmly driving. Nasa daan lang ang kaniyang mga mata pero sinasagot naman niya ang mga sinasabi ko at mga tanong.

"Why? he is a good person! I don't remember anything na ginawa ni Dad para mangyari ito sa kaniya... h-he is one of the kindest... he has a lot of friends..."

I bit my lower lip hard but when we stopped because of the traffic lights turned red, I heard he breathed harshly. As if he's having a hard time making me understand their 'world.'

"Sometimes, the people you consider friends can be your enemies, and not everyone close to you has good intentions."

After he said that, one of his hands let go of the steering wheel at nang humarap siya sa akin ay umangat ang kamay niyang 'yon at lumapat sa pang-ibabang labi ko. He pressed it harder and I let go.

"Stop biting your lip, it will bleed, Catalina."

Napalunok ako sa klase ng tingin na binibigay niya sa mga labi ko. I looked away when my heart started beating fast. Sa bintana ako humarap at tumalikod sa kaniya. When the car started, I touched my lower lip.

Why is he with me again?

Ipagda-drive ka lang, Thes. Iyon lang. Pagkatapos wala na.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa sa buong byahe. When my phone vibrated and saw Zack's name on my screen agad kong sinagot 'yon.

"H-Hello, Zack? how's Daddy?"

"Hindi naman ganoon kalalim ang tama ng bala, Thes. Wait, huwag mong sabihin sa akin na nagda-drive ka na ngayon?"

Umiling ako agad kahit hindi naman niya 'yon nakikita. "N-No! hindi ako ang nagmamaneho."

"Then, who? anong oras na, Thes. Nag-taxi ka? it is still not safe."

Napabaling ako kay Luther, I saw his jaw tighten a little bit. I think he wanted to speak, but he's just waiting for me to finish the call.

"A-Ahm, a friend... ipinag-drive ako ng k-kaibigan ko."

Sa kalmadong pagmamaneho ni Luther simula kanina ay bigla itong pumihit ng preno na ikinagulat ko at ikinahawak ko sa braso niya.

"I'm sorry, a cat suddenly passed by," he said.

I saw nothing on the road!

"Who's that, Thes?"

Napaawang ang mga labi ko at bumitaw sa braso ni Luther nang muling umandar ang kotse niya.

"S-Siya yung kaibigan ko na ipinagmaneho ako. B-By the way, malapit na rin ako, Zack."

"Oh,that's good but I didn't know that you have a male friend, Thes."

"Just... recently," sinulyapan ko si Luther. His lips were moving, and his eyes became sharp as he looked at the road

"Okay. Pero, huwag ka na masyadong mag-alala. Papunta na rin pala dito ang Mom mo at si Caitlin. They heard about what happened from my father."

They're on the way, too? pero bakit walang mensahe sa akin ang Mom at si Caitlin?

"Sinabi kaya ni Tito na a-alam ko na?"

"No. I heard their conversation. Ang kausap lang ni Dad ay ang mom mo and he just informed her what happened. Saka, hindi ko rin binanggit kay Dad na sinabi ko sa 'yo but Tita said that she and Caitlin are on the way now baka mauna sa iyo dahil mas malapit ang lokasyon nila."

Even in this situation, I felt like I am not part of them. Ilang beses na rin ba? the surprise parties for Dad, I was always out. It's Mom and Caitlin who always make the plan. Ako ay iba palagi. The events of the family, if hindi ang Dad ang magsasabi, malalaman ko sa iba.

My heart clenched. I heard Zack told me that he will wait for me outside of the hospital. Wala sa sariling sinagot ko na lang ito na malapit na. I said that I'll arrive in ten minutes. Pagkababa ko ng cellphone ay inilagay ko 'yon agad sa loob ng bag ko.

"Just drop me off at the drugstore near the hospital, Luther."

Sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay nakita kong napabaling siya sa akin pero hindi siya sumagot. I assumed that was his answer.

Naalala ko ang ganap sa aming dalawa kanina. How we were both in heat and ready to devour each other. Nakita ko na rin ng malinaw ang makakapagpalasap sa akin ng langit at naramdaman ko na ang ligaya na dulot ng mga kamay niya. I was enjoying his company actually, how he make me feel the pleasure. Pero yung pagkasabik ko na madiligan ay hindi nga natuloy.

Sayang.

Pero hindi ko inaasahan na mangungulit rin ang isang ito dahil hindi niya talaga ako hinayaan na magmaneho.

Pabor 'yon sa akin dahil parehong mga kamay ko ngayon ang nanginginig sa pag-aalala kay Dad.

When I spotted the place where Luther could drop me off, I looked at him.

"Diyan na lang ako sa 24/7 Drugstore."

I took my phone again, looked at myself in the camera. Fixed my hair but when the speed of the car didn't slow and we already passed by the drugstore, ang bilis ng paglingon ko sa katabi ko.

"Luther, hindi mo ba ako narinig?"

"I didn't say that I'd drop you off there, Catalina, ihahatid kita hanggang sa loob," sandali niya akong tinitigan. It was as if he's telling me not to argue about that. Ang suplado pa!

"W-What? there's no need! stop the car at dito mo na lang ako ibaba!"

"The place is still a few minutes' walk from the hospital, and it's too dark here for you to walk alone."

Ang kulit rin ngang talaga! eh, hindi siya pwedeng makita ni Zack na kasama ko! of course Zack would recognize him! oh please! he is not just a nobody!

He is Luther Rico Valleje!