The Perfect Revenge

Thirty-four

Jake

I have been claiming my thirty minutes and three questions without fail for five days now. Hindi ko ginagawang pare-parehas ng oras ang punta ko sa bahay nina AJ to keep her on her toes.

Though everytime I visit, laging nakabantay sa akin ang mga kuya niya, especially Kiel.

Just yesterday, he cornered me just before I meet with his sister.

"Alam mo ba kung sino ang unang tinawagan ni AJ noong umalis siya ng bahay mo? Nakita mo ba kung gaano katakot ang kapatid ko habang naghihintay sa isang 'di pamilyar na lugar, sa kalagitnaan ng Maynila, kung saan prone siya na pagsamantalahan ng kung sino-sino?" The veins on his neck were starting to show as he try to compose himself. I doubt if he's succeeding. "Isang maling galaw, Jake, at huwag ka nang magpapakita rito. Wala akong pake kung gusto mong makasama ang bata. Kung kailangang ako ang maggabay sa kanya, gagawin ko."

I gritted my teeth. Though I don't have anything against him anymore, he's not my favorite person at the moment. "I understand where you're coming from pero don't ever think na hindi ako seryoso in reaching out to AJ and our child. I've been on your position, I know how fiercely you feel seeing me here. But please, and I mean no disrespect, leave my business with AJ alone. Don't make the same mistakes I did."

Tinitigan lang ako ni Kiel, seeming to assess the sincerity of my words. I looked at him head on, hindi nauunang umiwas ng tingin.

I never really noticed the similarities between his features and AJ's. Kung ikukumpara sa dalawa niyang kapatid, mas hawig si AJ kay Kiel. But it was obvious that she got her positive outlook from Migs.

"Kuya?"

His jaw ticked before he swung his gaze to his sister. Nakita ko kung paano lumambot ang expression niya pero nang ibalik niya iyon sa akin and caught me staring at her, napuno na naman ng warning ang tingin niya.

"Nagtitimpi ako ng galit ko dahil iyon ang pangako ko sa kapatid ko. Pero kaya kong sirain ang pangako na 'yun kapag pinaiyak mo pa siya," was his last warning before letting me inside their home.

Now as I stare at AJ working on her Porsche, I can't stop thinking kung paano ko pakikisamahan nang maigi ang mga kapatid niya when they are all wary of me.

Nag-glance si AJ sa direction ko pero umiwas din nang makita akong nakatitig. May mga ten minutes na rin kasi akong nakasandal sa driver's side ng kotse ko at pinagmasdan lang si AJ at her element. I was thinking of cheating on my thirty minutes by not yet going to her.

"AJ pumasok ka na muna nga sa bahay, hindi mo maaayos ang Porsche mo, tigilan mo na yan!" suway ni Mak.

May kinalikot si AJ sa loob ng hood and frustrated, sinara niya iyon. Humila siya ng upuan and sat herself down, fanning her face. "Nabili mo na ba yung nawawala kong parts?"

"Out of stock."

"Kuya Mak naman! Limang buwan na, out of stock pa rin?" ungol ni AJ.

"Kapag binili ko ngayon 'yun ipagsisiksikan mo yang tiyan mo sa ilalim ng Porsche. Sinabi na sa 'yo ni May na magpahinga ka." Sa akin nakatingin si Mak while talking to his cousin. Ganito lahat ng mga Guevarra sa akin, laging alert kapag lumalapit ako kay AJ.

It's nice to know that she's always protected kahit na medyo nakakainis na yung overprotectiveness nila. Para kang laging papasok sa isang lion's den. At least si Rica na-persuade ko na tulungan ako.

AJ grimaced. "Ilang buwan na kong nagpapahinga! Kung tratuhin niyo ako parang ako 'yung baby at hindi itong nasa loob ng tiyan ko. Naiinip na ko."

"You could always come with me back to Manila," suggestion ko.