Chapter 5

"Please, get in." He invited as he motioned his hand to get inside his car. He even opened it for me. Nagpaka-gentleman raw, mukha niya!

Inirapan ko naman siyang tumuloy ako sa loob ng sasakyan. He then shut the door so quick na muntik pa akong maipit. He roam around his car and opened the door on his side. As he got in, gusto ko siyang suntukin sa balikat niya pero dahil hindi naman kami gano'n ka-close, I kept my fist closer to me.

As he settled inside, he put his seatbelt first and when he's done, he casually ordered me to wear mine. Hindi ko naman siya agad sinunod. I was looking intently at him. As if I'm examining his intention and what he would do. I also don't know what pushes me to sit right inside his car, but maybe because I was attracted to money. Wala, e. Nabudol kaagad ako.

Nakipaglaban din naman siya ng titigan sa akin.

"Sure ka bang wala kang masamang gagawin?"

"Why would I tell if there is?" Ngisi pa nito.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sagot niya. That's not the answer I'm expecting to get pero kung makikipaglokohan lang pala siya sa akin, then I can do the same thing. Taga-FEU lang siya, palaban na babae rin ako.

"Hindi mo ako pagsasamantalahan ano?" panunuri ko pa.

Bahagya naman itong natawa at umiling. Hinawakan niya pa ang panga niya at bahagya iyong umigting.

"Why would I do that?" he questioned. Tiningnan niya ako nang mariin. "Do you think I'm capable of doing that?"

I shrugged off and shook my head. "I don't know. Tell me."

He smirked. "You should've known the answer to that when we first met. And you shouldn't have come with me that night when you thought I would do something bad, right? But I didn't. So, how's that, Criselda?"

My eyes narrowed. "How did you even know my name? Sa pagkatatanda ko, hindi ko ipinaalam sa 'yo ang pangalan ko. You're stalking me 'no?"

"Pssh! I'm not stalking you. You wish, woman."

I crossed my arms. "Matapos mo akong yayain na sumakay rito sa sasakyan and you're gonna be rude to me. Ano ba talagang pakay mo sa akin? Did you intend to give me a ride back home? Nasa plano mo ba 'yon?"

He laughed. "Do you think it was me who hop inside a random car on a rainy day?"

"Hindi," confident kong sagot sa kanya. "That was me. That's my fault, but I apologize for my mistake. But what is this? Anong need mo sa akin? I know you've been on an accident and I'm sorry you've been through that situation pero kasalanan ko ba 'yon? Is that the reason why you're here with me?"

He shrugged off. "I didn't even think about that. I'm fine and I have an insurance, and you're not the reason I got into an accident. It was raining that evening."

Hindi naman ako sumagot. I'm still waiting for him to answer what I'm really asking of him. "I know it was raining, but if you didn't insist to—"

"At least, you got home safe, alright?" pagpapatuloy nito. Natahimik na lang din naman ako. An assurance from it makes me feel so guilty. Bakit nga ba biglang umasim ang tingin ko sa kanya? "But here we are and let's just make this a new beginning for both of us. What do you think?"

"I don't think people like you would do that. Saka may girlfriend ka, 'di ba?"

"I'm not cheating on her for you," he said straightforward. Wala na akong kawala ro'n Ano pa bang bala ko? "And I will never do that. I'm here to tell you something and I thought this might take your interest and here you are, sitting inside my car."

I groaned and crossed my arm. "Kaasar. As if may choice pa ako."

"Basically you have," he pointed out. "But, you're here now so let's just roll with it."

"Okay. Dalian mo na. Kailangan ko na ring umuwi."

"I can take you home."

Umiling ako. "Hindi mo alam kung saan ako nakatira."

Napangisi rin naman siya. "Did I just take you home the other time? And how shouldn't I know about that, huh?"

Muli ko siyang inirapan. "Umuuwi lang ako ro'n kapag weekends. At bakit ba sinasabi ko 'to sa 'yo? As if naman kailangan kong magpaliwanag sa 'yo. And just like what you said, let's just roll with it. Ang dami pang sinasabi."

He laughed. "You're a different kind of species, woman. But whatever, how long have you been working here? And that's a serious question so please answer it."

Naningkit ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. I really feel like it was an order rather than a question. "Okay. Sasagutin ko 'yan. Since I started college so bilangin mo kung ilang taon na."

"How would I know that?" His forehead creased.

"Hulaan mo," panunudyo ko pa.

He sighed and shook his head. "Do you really want this or not?"

"Ano ba kasi muna 'yan?" paninigurado ko.

He didn't answer my question, but he moves his waist forward. Napatingin ako sa ginagawa niya until he grabbed his belt and started unbuckling it. Nanlaki ang mata ko dahila alam ko na kung saan papunta ang ganitong senaryo. Serron never failed to tell us every single detail sa mga nakakasama niyang lalaki and clearly, this guy has the same kind of intention towards me.

Agad ko naman siyang pinaghahampas sa braso at sinisigaw ang salitang, "Manyak! Manyak ka!" Pilit naman niyang pinoprotektahan ang kanyang sarili gamit ang braso niya. "Anong akala mo sa akin? Papatol ako sa 'yo? I don't need your money. Hindi ako bayaran para lang i-blowjob kita. Humanap ka ng ibang babae or call your girlfriend! May no cheating-no cheating ka pang nalalaman! Manyakis!"

I was about to get out of his car, but it was locked and I tried to pull the lock and it kept going back. Agad kong binalingan siya ng masamang tingin.

"Kung hindi mo ako palalabasin—"

"Stop," pagpigil niya sa akin. Itinaas niya ang palad niya sa mukha ko. "You're thinking it wrong. I'm just trying to loosen it and I won't let you suck for me. For fucking sake, where did you get that idea?"

Wala akong naisagot sa kanya kung hindi ay iniwas ko lang ang tingin. Medyo nakahihiya, but that's the usual instinct I had. Siguro dahil sa impluwensya na rin ni Serron. I tried to sway my mind out of it. Gusto ko na lang talagang umalis.

"Can we continue now?" he questioned and I just gave him a slow nod. "Alright. Whatever how long you were working for this fast-food chain. Would you be able to drop your work here and work for me?"

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "Hindi ko sure."

"That's alright. But I also know you're a dean lister, probably running for a Latin Honor, and a breadwinner for your family. I also found out you're 20 years old, studying communications in National University on your fourth year. You're only two semesters away before you'll get your degree, am I right?"

What he said leaves my mouth open. I'm not sure how did he get all of those information and those are accurate.

"Sure ka bang hindi ka stalker?" tanong ko sa kanya. Umiling naman siya at bakas sa mukha niya ang kaunting ngiti. At that point, he could possibly be playing with me. Pwes, kung makipaglalaro lang din pala siya sa akin, I can do the same thing. "It looks like you're blackmailing me na."

"What?!" he exclaimed with so much confusion sets on his face. "I'm not blackmailing you. Look at this like I'm trying to help you."

"You don't even know me."

"Then let's get to know each other," mabilis nitong pagrarason sa akin.

"You have a girlfriend, baka kung ano pang isipin no'n."

"She won't mind." He assured, but I'm still reluctant of this conversation and wherever this may lead to. "I promise you, this won't do bad to you."

"E, hindi mo nga kasi ako kilala tapos tutulungan mo ako ngayon? I mistakenly got inside your car at sana hanggang do'n na lang 'yon. At pasensya na kung naaksidente ka no'ng hinatid mo ako. Pero hindi ko matatanggap kung ano man 'yang i-o-offer mo sa akin. I already have a job so I don't think I need yours."

"Oh... alright, pero hindi mo pa naman alam kung anong work ang i-o-offer ko sa 'yo."

I shook my head as a confirmation na hindi ako pumapayag. "What you did for me the last was enough and I don't want anything from you na. Maraming salamat na lang. I'm sorry, I need to go na."

"Wait," pagpigil nito sa akin. Bahagya ko siyang nilingon at dahan-dahan kong hinanap ang titig nito sa akin. "If you changed your mind, text me or give me a call."

"Sure..." Tango ko pa.

"And for you to do that, would you please unblock my number?" he asked.

"Sure, sure. I'll do that. Thank you, uh..."

"It's Bennett," pagpakikilala nito sa akin tapos ngumiti.

"Sige, Bennett. Thanks... at uh... pwedeng pabukas na ng pinto?"

"Yup." He then opened the car and I immediately bid my farewell and jumped straight out of his car.

Sa bilis ng lakad ko papalayo sa pinanggalingan ko, hindi na ako nagbalak pang lumingon. Everything that happened was weird for me—not totally, but this is still a different situation for me. I actually never met anyone from the other university kahit magkalalapit lang din ang mga campuses dito.

But neither way, hindi ko inaasahan na magkikita ulit kaming dalawa at magkaroroon pa nang interaction. Super nakahihiya 'yong inakala kong i-blo-blowjob ko siya kanina and why would I think of that? Napakalaswa ko rin talaga mag-isip kanina.

Nang makarating naman ako sa dorm ay napaupo na lamang ako sa sulok ng kama ko. Nang pumasok si Tessa ng kwarto ay agad ako nitong tinanong at nagdahilan na lamang ako nang maisasagot ko sa kanya. Mabuti na lang din ay hindi na niya iyon pinansin at nagsimula na akong mag-ayos ng gamit ko.

"Uwi ka, Isel?" tanong ni Tessa. Tumango na lamang ako. Napansin ko rin naman na biglang tumahimik kaya nilingon ko siya. Napakunot naman ang noo nang maabutan ko siyang nakatingin sa akin at nakataas ang isang kilay. "Why do I feel like may naganap na naman sa 'yo ngayong araw?"

Umiling ako. I'm just trying to avoid her suspicions and all. Hindi na naman ito maiiwasang mapag-usapan kasama sina Serron at Dolly kapag nagkataon.

"Talaga ba?" paninigurado pa nito. Lumapit naman siya sa akin at umupo sa kama ko at pumwesto sa harap ko. "'Yong totoo nga, Isel? Anong chika today?"

Napabitaw naman ako ng malalim na hininga. "Nagkita kami ulit." Nanlaki naman ang mata niya sa pag-amin ko. "'Wag ka muna maingay sa dalawa. Ako na bahalang magsabi, if ever. Nakaloloka lang talaga. Akala ko one time lang kami magkikita, but here he is. Unti-unting ginugulo ang tahimik kong buhay."

Napangisi namn si Tessa. "Feeling ko may iba pang dahilan. Pero ayaw mo no'n?"

"Na ano?" Taas kilay kong tugon.

"Na unti-unti na rin siyang nagiging parte ng buhay mo," panunudyo pa ni Tessa. Hindi na niya ako tinigilan kahit hindi ako payag sa sinasabi niya. "Ang saya no'n, 'no? Hindi mo in-expect na darating siya sa buhay mo. Fortunate of you, kahit maling sasakyang ang napasukan mo no'n, parang idinala ka na ng tadhana sa right person! Destiny!"

Napailing na lamang ako. "Mali. Maling-mali. First of all, he has a girlfriend and he admitted it to me. Hindi ko rin naman siya papatulan kahit gwapo siya. It's okay nang hindi madiligan basta maka-graduate ng buo."

Tessa laughed. "That's the weirdest motto I've ever heard pero may sense. But that's alright kung hindi ka madiligan today, tomorrow, or whenever basta I believe ito na 'yon, Isel. Itong-ito na 'yon."

"Whatever, Tessa," aniko. Natapos ko na rin naman ang paglalagay ng damit ko sa bag at binuhat iyon. "Enjoy your weekend! See you on Monday!"

"Sus! Update mo na lang ako kung may ganap ka, girl, a?"

Inirapan ko na lamang siya saka ako tuluyang lumabas ng kwarto. Narinig ko na lang din naman ang tawa niya. Napailing na lamang ako dahil sa totoo lang, napaka-imposible no'ng sinasabi niya. If there's one thing I needed to do now, 'yon ang lumayo kay Bennett and I think that's the right thing to do. Ang magpakalayo-layo sa kanya.

But how will I do that kung alam niya kung saan ko nakatira? Nag-pa-part time at school na pinapasukan? I mean, at this point, I really should be afraid of him and start blocking him. Maybe, that's it. That's what I should do.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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