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"Ano sa tingin mo?"
"Audrey?"
"Jordan?"
"Jordan, nakikinig ka ba?"
I snapped back to reality as soon as I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I found myself sitting on the passenger seat of the patrol car, next to Gil who was driving. Napalingon ako at nakitang papalayo na kami sa police station kung saan namin iniwan sina Fash.
"Sorry, may sinabi ka ba?" Ipinilig ko ang ulo upang tuluyang makawala sa gulong-gulo kong pag-iisip.
"Sa tingin ko mas makakabuti kung maghahanap ka na lang ng ibang lugar na puwede n'yong mapagtaguan ni Masha. 'Yong kayo-kayo lang at walang ibang nakakaalam," walang emosyon niyang sambit habang nakatuon ang mga mata sa daan.
Nalilito ako kay Gil. My father trusts him and he also saved my life, but is that really enough to trust him completely? After all, he has motives.
Huminga ako nang malalim at napahilamos gamit ang nanlalamig kong mga palad. As I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply, I tried to gather my thoughts and decide once and for all.
Minutes passed, I finally came up with a decision. And by the time I opened my eyes, I looked around again.
The backseat was dark and empty while the windows looked eerily black and blank. I faced the windshield and all I saw were raindrops pouring all over. The car's headlights were on and the wipers kept swaying desperately, but for the love of God, we could still hardly see anything.
"Shit. Nasaan na ba tayo?" Napasinghap ako.
I used to know this place at the back of my head, but after three years, I don't know shit anymore.
"Nang kumidlat kanina, nakita ko ang signage ng Georgia's Mart. Mukhang malapit-lapit na tayo sa inyo," Gil said with the same monotonous voice and stern expression.
"Let's just run it. I think we'll be safer and faster this way. We've been on the road for a while and no one chased after so far," suhestyon ko at muling inaninag ang paligid mula sa bintana.
"Sigurado ka?" Naramdaman kong binagalan niya ang pagmamaneho at kunot-noo siyang napasulyap sa akin.
Tumango naman ako. "We can't see shit anymore. Baka mabangga tayo o baka tayo na ang makabangga. Either way, we can't risk it."
"Kanina ka pa nakatulala at wala sa sarili. Kung tatakbo tayo, kalimutan mo muna ang lahat ng mga bumabagabag sa 'yo kasi buhay mo na ang nakasalalay rito," Gil reiterated. This time, throwing me an authoritative gaze.
I looked down on the floor and nodded. I then took a deep and determined breath. As soon as I felt that I was ready, I looked up at Gil. "Let's do this."
He nodded and focused on the road again.
"You've been to my house before, right?" I asked as soon as Gil parked the car by the side of some pitch-dark sidewalk.
