LOHIKA [COMPLETED]

Chapter VII [Edited 2022] - Black Coffee and a Slice of Mocha Cake

Alas diyes ng umaga, pababa na si Jiwon sa unang palapag ng kanilang tahanan nang marinig niya na may nag-uusap sa salas. Boses iyon ng kanyang ama at ng kanyang Uncle Teodore.

She took her cell phone out of her sling bag and was about to look for Kit's number in the contact list when she remembered that they hadn't exchanged numbers. She tried to eavesdrop on the conversation between her father and uncle while putting the cell phone back in the bag when it accidentally slipped. Imbis na sa bag mahulog ay nagtatalbog iyon pababa sa hagdan. And that caught the attention of the old men in the living room.

"Jiwon?" her father called in an authoritative voice.

With no choice, she carefully went down. Naisip niya na, "Bad timing! He'll tell me not to go out for sure!" Pinulot niya ang cell phone at sinuri kung gumagana pa. Good thing that it was still working. Nagkaroon lang iyon ng gasgas sa tempered glass.

"Where are you going? Wala kang sinabi sa akin na may lakad ka ngayon. You can't go out. Stay at home." She was right. Ganoon nga ang naging reaksyon ng kanyang ama.

But her uncle was different. "Why not? It's Saturday! Bakit hindi mo hayaan na makipag-mingle sa mga friends niya itong paborito kong pamangkin? Come on, sweetheart! Akong bahala dito sa Papa mo." He even gestured for her to leave the house.

If she had an ally to consider, it would always be her uncle. But as much as she wanted to go outside that easily, she still needed to explain why she had to leave. "Pa, may group project lang po akong pupuntahan. They will not list my name kung hindi ako makikipag-cooperate. Promise, I'll be back before six." Even if it was a lie.

Her father said, "On leave ngayon si Tonyo. Hindi rin kita maihahatid."

"Nasa labas si Lieutenant Lim. P'wedeng siya ang maghatid kay Jiwon," mungkahi ng kanyang Tiyo.

"Lieutenant Lim?" Nagsalubong ang makakapal na kilay ng director. He was not familiar with the name.

"Yung nabanggit ko sa'yong bagong salta sa unit. Top student ng Police Academy. H'wag kang mag-alala, kayang-kaya nu'ng protektahan 'tong pamangkin ko." Mayroong assurance sa tono ng boses ni Uncle Teodore.

Ngunit sa kabila ng magandang suhestiyon ay hindi sang-ayon ang dalaga. Ayaw niyang makaistorbo sa ibang tao lalo na at hindi naman talaga group project ang kanyang pakay. "Uncle, okay lang naman pong mag-commute ako."

Imbis na pakinggan ang opinyon niya ay tumayo ang kanyang ama at sinabing, "Kailangan ko munang makita ang Lieutenant Lim na 'yan." Then he went outside to meet the new guy.

Left with no choice again, she followed her father and uncle outside and was surprised to see a familiar face.

Bumaba ng kotse si Lieutenant Lim nang makita niyang papalapit sa direksyon niya ang dalawang makapangyarihan na tao sa division na kinabibilangan niya. He saluted to show respect.

"Lieutenant Lim, ihatid mo muna 'tong unica hija ni Director Natividad sa..." Ibinaling ni Uncle Teodore ang tingin sa kanyang pamangkin. "Saan nga ba, Jiwon?" tanong nito.

"Florentine Coffee Shop po," napilitang sabihin ng dalaga. Her eyes fixed in the familiar man's perfectly sculpted face. She had seen him before. He was the lieutenant whom she mistook for a snatcher. Sinong mag-aakala na magkikita silang muli?

"Mag-ingat ka sa pagmamaneho." Tila nagtunog pagbabanta ang paalalang iyon ng director.

"Yes, sir!" masiglang sagot ng baguhang lieutenant. Pinagbuksan niya ng pinto sa backseat ang dalaga.

Jiwon went inside the car while keeping an eye to the young man who will serve as her driver for that day. Nakita niyang kinausap muna ito ng kanyang Papa bago tuluyang sumakay sa kotse.