Fidelity

24th

Shit

Davion's been eerily quiet since earlier. Wala kong narinig sa kanya nang bigyan ko ng mga paalala si Don bago pauwiin. I can feel his heavy gaze but no words ever came out from his mouth. Nakahalukipkip lamang siya sa gilid.

Akala ko'y magiging tahimik din ang byahe namin patungo sa karaniwang pinapagupitan niya ngunit nagsalita na siya.

"Kailan ka pa nagpalit ng Driver?" aniya sa tonong hindi ko mapangalanan habang nagmamaneho.

"Matagal na.. Since campaign period pa ni Dad... I think I mentioned it to you once? He started out as my bodyguard then Mom eventually decided to keep him as my driver,"

He scoffed. "Why would they get you someone like that... He doesn't even look like he could fight,"

"Are you kidding?" nakangangang wika ko. He can't be serious! "Don obviously got the body. He's toned!"

"He's stoned, you mean." pangongontra niya. I think I even saw his eyes roll. He seems badtrip, for some reason.

"Inggit ka lang ata kasi mas malaki katawan ni Don sayo!" I mocked.

I can't believe he really got pissed though. He was totally pissed even until we reached our destination! Was I too hard on that one? Eh mas malala pa nga ang ibang asaran namin minsan!

Seryoso ang mukha niya habang ginugupitan. Tila malalim ang iniisip. I got a magazine on my hand but my eyes would go his way from time to time to check whether he's done or not. Tuwing nagtatama ang tingin namin sa salamin ay lumilitaw ang iritasyon sa mata niya.

My lips parted for the nth time. What's wrong with him?! Why's he getting so grumpy over a joke? Para yun lang?!

Hindi ako makapaniwalang narinig ko pa siyang kinakausap si Mommy na palitan ang driver ko pagbalik namin sa bahay. Mukha raw kasing hindi mapagkakatiwalaan.

"I know someone from the best security agency in the country, Tita. I can refer you—"

"What the hell, Laygo?"

Narinig ko ang halakhak ni Mommy. "Don't worry, iho... Don may be young but he's very competent and good at his job,"

Magsosorry pa naman sana ko dahil mukhang sineryoso niya ang biro ko kanina pero wag na lang pala! Balak pa tanggalan ng trabaho yung nananahimik na tao! Siraulo!

"Bahala ka gawin yung isometric plates mo bukas, ha!" padabog na akyat ko sa hagdan nang makaalis na si Mommy. "Bahala ka sa buhay mo!"

I heard a sarcastic cackle from Davion. "Bakit? Dadalawin mo yung driver mo bukas? Dadalhan mo ng sabaw? Subuan mo na rin! Baka gusto mo alagaan mo pa! Bantayan mo na rin siguro hanggang gumaling!"

"Thank you sa advice! Mabuti pa nga!" sigaw ko bago binagsak ang pinto ng kwarto.

Wala akong balak pansinin si Davion sa school pagpasok kinabukasan. Kainis! He's acting like an insecure kid! He's being so childish! Kung inis sya, pwes inis din ako! At talagang nagdala ko ng sabaw na ihahatid ko sa bahay ni Don pagkatapos ng klase para patulan ang pang-iinis ni Davion kahapon.

Ngunit agad napalitan ng guilt ang inis ko nang sumulpot si Calcifer sa silid namin, partikular na sa harap ko, pag-upo ko sa pwesto.

He placed a small envelope on my desk. Ngumisi siya. "Excuse letter,"

"Anong meron, Cal?" narinig ko ang kyuryosidad sa tinig ni Adea mula sa upuan niya. "Kanino 'yan?"

Calcifer turned to her.