"Where's Silver?" I asked Slade when I found him lying on the living room floor, propping his head up with his right arm while watching TV. There's literally a couch ride beside him but he chose to lie on the floor.  Ni hindi pa niya tinatanggal ang apron niya.

      "Umalis. May practice daw para sa PE nila," Slade answered as he turned his head a bit just to look at my direction. 

        Masyado akong naging abala sa paglalaba, di ko man lang napansin ang pag-aalis ng Elemento. Sayang magpapabili sana ako ng kwek-kwek mamaya pag-uwi niya. 

      "You do realize there's a couch right beside you right?" I couldn't help myself.

      "Mas gusto ko sa sahig, malamig." He grinned like he was so proud of his preference. 

      "Whatever. Just don't go whining when your arm becomes sore," sabi ko na lang.

       Mayroong salamin malapit sa pintuan kaya lumapit ako rito at inayos ang pagkakatali ng mahaba kong buhok. Katabi lang nito ang shoe rack namin kaya kinuha ko na rin ang black ankle boots ko.

       "You heading out?" I heard him ask.

       "Yeah. Just lock up if you head out too." Masyado akong abala sa pagsusuot ng sapatos para lingunin siya. 

        "I'm heading out too. Hatid na lang kita?" Aniya kaya natawa ako. Ba't parang ang bait ng isang 'to?

        "Nah, I got my motorcycle--" Nahinto ako sa pagsasalita nang maalalang si Lolo nga pala ang pupuntahan ko. Ayaw na ayaw niyang nagmo-motor ako kaya hangga't sa maari nagco-commute lang ako kapag siya ang pupuntahan. I kinda like commuting too. Nakakapagod kayang magmaneho and at least, hindi iinit ang ulo ko dahil sa ilang mga pilipinong hindi marunong sa batas trapiko. Man, with how stubborn some Filipinos are, I might end up murdering someone or it is I who will end up being killed somehow. 

        "Any problem, Rei?" Slade asked so I turned to look at his direction. This time, he's already wearing a decent navy blue shirt. The TV has already been turned off too. 

        "You know what, I'll take you up on that offer." I shrugged so it won't seem like a big deal. I don't want him to think that he's doing me a big favor or that I owe him because of this. Baka mamaya isumbat pa sa akin ito kinalaunan.

         Ready to leave, we both came out of the house, but I was surprised when I saw another motorcycle parked next to mine. It's even annoying how his motorcycle looks bigger and more badass than mine. 

          "Got a problem with my Big bike?" Humalakhak si Slade habang nakatayo sa likod ko.

          "No, but my Grandpa has." I sighed. "Magco-commute na lang ako."

           "Wait, takot mapagalitan ang isang Reika De Juan? What happened to the bad girl who gives no fuck to anyone?" Slade joked in a mocking tone. 

            "Shut up." I rolled my eyes. "And ew, what bad girl? I'm not some bitchy thot okay? I just don't want to upset my Gramps. Baka mamaya, atakihin pa iyon dahil sa akin.  I choose my battles wisely, Slade."

            "Okay, then let's go use Brownie. I'm sure he still works like a charm."

            "Brownie?" I asked, utterly confused on who the heck Brownie is.

***

            "Oh..." I nodded when I realized who Brownie is... what Brownie is.

             Sa loob ng bodega nakatago si Brownie, ang kulay brown na Nissan Cedric na may kalumaan na. Ni minsan hindi ito ginamit ni Silver, hindi rin naman marunong magmaneho ang elemento, pero lagi niya itong nililinisan dahil sa Lolo pa raw nila ito. Silver said her parents wanted to sell it but she begged them not to. 

            "Looks like my sister maintained him well," sambit ni Slade sabay tapik sa hood nito.

            "Well, that's a family heirloom so of course," sarcastic ko namang tugon.

             Humalakhak si Slade at isa-isang chineck ang mga gulong. "This boy is mine, actually. Grandpa gave it to me before he passed."

            "And you just abandoned it? Left it to rot? God! If it wasn't for Silver mukha na yang haunted car!" The bitter words came out from my mouth. I could even feel the anger building up inside me.

           Surprised, Slade immediately turned to look at me. "Hey, come on. It's just a car."

          I closed my eyes and sighed the anger away. It's no use trying to convince people to give a damn, after all they will only realize the worth of something when its gone. 

           "Let's hit the road. Grandpa's waiting and I'm already starving." Ako na mismo ang naunang pumasok sa passanger seat. 

***

       "So.. what about the no-motorcycle rule?" Slade broke the silence as he drove the car. Para siyang naiilang sa katahimikan kaya nag-uungkat ng kung anong usapan.

        "What about it?" tanong ko pabalik habang nakadungaw sa bintana. 

        "Heard from Silver that you're not a fan of being bossed around? Why are you suddenly following your Grandpa's rule?" he asked.

         "He's been pretty lenient all my life. He  doesn't usually ask me to do stuff either. It doesn't hurt to respect his wish every once in a while." I shrugged. Nagmo-motor din naman ako paminsan-minsan, umiiwas nga lang na malaman ni Lolo.

          "Konsintedor ang lolo mo?" Humalakhak siya at sumulyap sa akin saka muling ibinalik ang tingin sa daan.

           "No. He just wants me to be who I am, embrace my individuality, follow my goddamn heart." I pointed out.

           "So that's what makes you a rebel," he chuckled.

           "What?" My eyebrows furrowed.

           "Because you follow your heart even if it means breaking the rules and the norms. Man, you're even out there forcing some gay dude to love you back." Slade laughed like he was so amused with me. But he got the last part wrong.

           "I'm not forcing him to love me back." I corrected him as I tried to look smug. 

           "So what were you doing then?" He said it like he was challenging me.

           "I was just protecting him from you!" I spat out the truth. 

           "Protecting him from me?! Why? What did I even do?" Tumaas nang bahagya ang boses ni Slade. He chuckled but I could tell by the look of his face that he was completely bothered. He was trying to look all calm and collected by laughing but his defensive actions say otherwise.

           "Reika, I didn't even know who Riley was before you began terrorizing me. Okay I recognize his face since he's always watching our gigs, but all I did was appreciate his support for our band! If it makes you feel any better, I find his best friend hot, Piper right?" he explained like his life depended on it. Natutuwa akong malaman na hindi siya interesado kay Riley pero at the same time, nalulungkot din ako para kay Riley. His crush doesn't like him back. Shit! Kung ako na lang kasi!

             "Slade..." sambit ko nang rumehistro ang huli niyang sinabi sa isipan ko.

              "Ano?" Slade asked. He sounded annoyed.

              "Aside from Riley, don't make a move on Piper too. She already has Apollo but she just doesn't know it yet. Don't ruin things for them."

              "Apollo? Si Apollo Apolonio?" Humalakhak bigla si Slade. 

             "You know that fool?" tanong ko at agad na napatingin kay Slade. 

             Slade paused. It's as if he didn't hear what I just said so I had to repeat it.

           "Kilala mo si Apollo?"

          "Y-yeah..." Tumango-tango si Slade at marahang tumawa. "Lagi kaming may gig doon sa bar tapos minsan nagpa-part time din si Apollo doon. He's nice."

         "Right..." Pagsang-ayon ko na lang sabay tango. Ano kayang meron at parang naging weird 'to bigla?

          "Take a turn down that street. Diyan na yung subdivision," paalala ko.

          "Yes Ma'am," sarcastic niyang tugon.

          "This is enough. Just pull over on that sidewalk," sabi ko nang kalaunan ay matanaw ko na ang entrance ng subdivision. 

         "Sigurado ka? Eh ba't wala akong natatanaw na bahay malapit sa entrance?" 

         "I can walk, Slade." I looked at him and smirked.

         "You sure?" He asked as he pulled over the car on the spot I pointed.

          "Do I look hesitating?" I asked sarcastically while pointing my face.

          "No, you look like you worship Satan on a regular basis. And it seems like Silver is your newest recruit on the cult." Slade retorted with a smirk. Normally, I'd get offended but that burn was too good that I couldn't help but chuckle.

           "Says the guy who looks like Satan." I fired back as I unclasped the seat belt wrapped around me. 

            "So you worship me?" Slade's smirk turned into a playful grin. 

            "So you're admitting that you're Satan?" I couldn't help but chuckle.

            "You can worship me anytime," he said as he winked. If other guys said this, maybe it would seem perverted, but with Slade it seemed like he was just purely fooling around. I like it. 

             I tried to think of a good burn but before I could even come up with one, someone suddenly knocked on the window behind me. I quickly turned, only to be surprised by the sight of my Grandpa in a tracksuit beside his bicycle. Shit.

            Grandpa gestured for me to roll down the window so I quickly did.

           "Hey Gramps! Ba't ka nagba-bike nang tanghaling tapat? Tirik na tirik ang araw oh!" Bulalas ko agad.  Minsan talaga hindi ko na ma-gets ang trip niya.

            "Kaninang umaga pa ako nagba-bike, natagalan lang akong umuwi kasi nag-kwentuhan pa kami ng mga caretaker sa malapit. I saw this car pull over and thought there was a problem. I had no idea you were in here," Grandpa glanced at Slade and gave me a questioning look.

           "Who's this young man with you?" Grandpa was smiling but I could sense the tone of authority in his voice.

          "Good Afternoon po, Attorney." Nagulat ako nang aligagang tinanggal ni Slade ang seat belt niya. Para siyang nataranta sa presensya ni Lolo. I can't blame him. Grandpa is pretty intimidating... except to us grandkids of course.

         Lumabas si Slade mula sasakyan at lumapit kay Lolo sabay lahad ng kanyang kamay.

         "Good Afternoon Attorney, Ako po si Slade Villacorta."

         "How are you related to Silverianne Villacorta?" Grandpa asked in a serious tone , ignoring Slade's hand. Oh God it's happening again.

           "I'm Silver's Older Brother. Hinatid ko lang po pala si--"

            "Oh! You're the asshole twin! The one with a band!" Grandpa suddenly exclaimed and chuckled, nodding as if he has remembered something. Ba't alam ni Lolo na may kambal si Silver? Buti pa siya may alam, ako wala. Wait, did he just called Slade an asshole?!

           Napaubo bigla si Slade pero mabilis siyang nakabawi at idinaan na lang ito sa tawa. Slade could only laugh at Grandpa's assault of words.  Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng hiya. Alam kong maaring mangyari 'to pero hindi ko inakalang ganito pa talaga ang sasabihin ni Lolo.

          "Gramps, Slade was nice enough to drive me here," pasimple kong paalala kay Grandpa para wala na siyang ibang masabi pa. 

          "Oh..." Gramps nodded and his smile turned genuine all of a sudden. "That's good. You seem to be as nice as your sister. Want to join us for lunch?"

          Napatingin ako kay Slade at saktong lumingon din siya sa akin. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. Pinanlisikan ko siya ng mga mata, sumisigaw sa isipan ko. No! Don't!

           Ngumisi bigla si Slade at ibinalik ang tingin kay Lolo. "Sige po, Attorney."

END OF CHAPTER 12

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