Lalong kumunot ang noo ni Ryko nang matamis siyang ngitian ni Iris. Halatang peke ang ngiti nito at maliban pa roon, nararamdaman niyang may binabalak itong kalokohan. He shook his head slightly and focused his attention on the road. Kalmado siyang nagmamaneho nang biglang magtanong si Iris.
“Is it true that you’ve been Mom’s driver for two years?”
He nodded enthusiastically. Seems like Iris just wants to talk. But he can’t be too laid back. Baka mamaya, tama siya at may binabalak nga ito.
“How come I don’t recognize you?” It’s more like a question to herself. Nilingon ni Ryko si Iris na salubong ang mga kilay.
“Baka ho dahil masyadong abala si Madam sa trabaho. Lagi siyang nasa kumpanya niya, kung hindi naman ay nasa business meetings at conference siya. Bilang driver niya, kung nasaan siya, nandoon din ako. Tsaka, madalas ho kayong wala sa bahay niyo,” sagot niya.
“Hmm, true.” Iris crossed her arms as she nodded. Then, she glanced at him. Kita ni Ryko sa gilid ng mata niya ang pagtaas ng kaliwang kilay nito. “Do you always speak straight tagalog? Ang weird kasing pakinggan, eh. Para kang makalumang tao.”
Ryko smiled to hide the slight irritation he was feeling. “Hindi po kasi ako sanay na magsalita ng Ingles,” magalang niyang wika.
“How come? We live in the city. Ang mga kapitbahay ko nga, mas madalas pang mag-English kaysa mag-Tagalog.”
“Lumaki ho ako sa probinsya habang ang mga kapitbahay niyo naman ay mayayaman. Magkaiba kami.”
“Though, I know some people who are not rich.” Iris was persistent in annoying Ryko. “Hindi sila kagaya mo.” She smirked as she waited for Ryko's response.
But seconds passed, he didn't say any. Iris’ brows formed a line.
“Wala ka man lang bang sasabihin?”
Hearing Iris’ slightly pissed voice, Ryko couldn’t contain the victorious smile that’s threatening to come out from his lips dahil imbes na siya ang mainis dito, ito ang nainis sa kaniya. Marunong naman siyang mag-Ingles pero hindi lang siya sanay.
Seeing Ryko’s lips tugged up a little, Iris’ breathing hitched at how charming it was. Pero kinontrol niya ang emosyon at hindi pinahalata ang pagkabighani sa ngiti ng binata. Instead, she acted even more pissed.
“Why the heck are you smiling?” she snarled while looking away.
“Sabihin na lang nating kakaiba ako kaya gano’n,” Ryko said, pertaining to Iris’ question before he smiled.
“Kakaiba, my ass.” She scoffed and combed her hair using her own fingers. Pasimple niyang nilingon si Ryko and this time, imbes na mabighani sa ngiti niya, totoong napikon na siya rito.
Why is he smiling like that? Does he find me humorous? Nasisiyahan ba siya sa pag-uusap namin o sadyang pinagtatawanan niya lang ako?
Habang iniisip ‘yon, hindi napigilan ni Iris na murahin ang lalaki sa utak niya na hindi niya namalayang naibulong niya pala.
“Motherfucker...”
Sa halip na ma-offend o mapikon, mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa labi ni Ryko.
“Ma’am, hindi po mabuting madalas magmura.”
Walang pakialam si Iris sa payo niya. What annoyed her to the core is what he called her.
“Why do you keep on calling me ma’am? Mukha ba ‘kong teacher para sa ‘yo?” Napamaang si Iris sa sariling sinabi. That felt familiar. Parang nasabi niya na iyon noon. She looked up to Ryko.
BINABASA MO ANG
Bewitching Disaster
RomanceSTATUS: ONGOING Being the one and only daughter of Whiz Entertainment founder Ivory Laxamana, who was then known as an actress-model, the moniker "Ivory's Carbon Copy" was given to Iris because she looked so much like her mother and did well in the...
