CAUGHT (REVAMPED)

6

Elijah Alkie Rivera

Malapit na ako. Are you hungry?

Take your time po. I'm okay.

I looked at my watch and sighed. I've been waiting for almost an hour na here. Medyo hungry na rin ako but I don't want to be rude naman kay mamang police.

"Elijah!"

My senses were alerted nang ma-hear ko ang voice ni Ali. It didn't take long for me to find her sa bagong naka-park na black Lexus RX ni mamang police.

I waved my hands when she showed baby Ali sa window saka ako nag-run papunta sa kanila.

I sat behind the driver's seat and looked at mamang police through the mirror. He's so pogi. Hindi na rin siya naka-uniform.

"Eliiiii!!!" Ali squealed and hugged me kahit medyo mahirap ang position naming dalawa. Nasa middle kasi si baby Jacky sitting like a princess sa pink niyang car seat.

"I'm so proud of you. First day of work mo."

My eyes soften and I feel like tearing up tuloy. "Thank you, Ali. I did my best kanina. It was so fun and scary."

"I know right! Nasilip ko kanina sa convo niyo kanina ni kuya nags-send ka ng mga pics sa kan—"

"Okay, that's enough. Continue your talk after you check your seatbelts." The both of us shut our mouth kasi medyo na-scared kami sa biglang pag-join ni mamamg police sa convo. "Elijah, seatbelt."

I hurriedly touched my chest. I have no seatbelt pala talaga. I wore mine immediately and I also checked baby Jacky.

"Okay na?"

"Yes po!" "Yes, kuya!"

Ali and I looked at each other nang magkasabay kaming nag-talk at tumawa. Napailing lang naman si mamang police sa amin.

Mamang police drove us to a seaside food park. The place was super busy and lively but still cozy pa rin naman. The wind blowing from the sea made my cheeks blush.

"Elijah," I turned to look at mamang police na naka-follow sa amin habang dala ang pink na baby bag ni baby Jacky.

"Po?"

"Suotin mo muna 'to," he said as he handed me his black Jacket.

Napa-stare ako sa kamay niya at nag-blink. Is he lending me his jacket? For real?!

"Kunin mo na, beh." Pinush ng slight ni Ali iyong shoulder ko tas sinundot pa niya ang waist ko.

This is not bad naman siguro? I like mamang police but hindi ko naman siya sinusulot.

A shy smile made its way to my lips as I reached for the jacket. I wore it immediately and thanked mamang police.

We sat around a wooden table na katabi lang ng railings. You can perfectly see the sea and the twinkling city beyond it.

"It's so nice here," I said dreamily. "Now lang ulit ako nakagala. Thank you po for bringing me with you."

"Ang cute mo talaga!" Ali laughed and pinched my cheeks. "Dasurv mong igala, beh. Saka bagong sweldo si kuya kaya huthutan natin."

I smiled awkwardly. "What's huthutan?"

Tinitigan ako ni Ali. "Seryoso ka?"

Mamang police watched us with amusement in his eyes habang kandong-kandong si baby Jacky. My cheeks blushed from that. I'm just not used to a lot of Filipino words pa kasi.