A Pure Heart: Missing Piece

Kabanata 42

I messaged my driver to pick me up at the mall after buying the book I plan to read in my room. I'm currently in the basement parking lot, waiting for my driver. Oh, by the way, I intend to take driving lessons soon because I want to own a car, even though I'm not good with directions. I think it'll be a valuable skill to have in the future.

After a few minutes, I spotted our car approaching, so I stood up from where I was sitting and organized my belongings.

"Ma'am, pwede ko po bang saglit daanan iyong anak ko sa pinagtatrabahuan po niya? Magbibigay lamang po ako ng allowance niya para sa susunod na linggo," paalam ng driver sa akin matapos akong pagbuksan ng pinto.

"Sige lang po, kuya. I don't mind," nakangiti kong tugon saka na pumasok sa loob at naupo sa likuran.

Nagpasalamat ito sa akin pagkasakay niya pagkatapos ay nagsimula na ngang magmaneho patungo sa pupuntahan nito. Nang makarating ay inihinto niya ang kotse sa parking lot at nagpaalam sa akin na pupuntahan lamang ang anak sa loob kaya naman ngumiti ako at muling tumango sa kanya.

While waiting for my driver, I was browsing on my phone and thought about opening my social media accounts. I keep a low profile there, maintaining a private profile with only a few followers and following a handful of people. Magkaiba naman kami ni Kuya na dalawa. He is well-known throughout the university and has a large following. Yshi also has a significant number of followers since everyone knows who she is, although I'm not even sure if she's aware of her social media following. She doesn't tweet much on Twitter and hardly ever posts on Instagram, leaving no traces in her IG story. She's not even into Facebook.

However, after a few minutes, I got bored and decided to put my phone away. I glanced outside and saw that the parking lot was nearly empty, except for the guard keeping watch. It seemed safe, so I decided to step out of the car to get some fresh air. As I looked around, I realized we were parked near a bar, as I noticed a banner with the bar's name. I felt a bit embarrassed when I noticed the guard was looking at me. Luckily, I wasn't in a uniform, just casual attire for our Saturday half-class.

Iniwas ko ang tingin kay manong gwardya na tila gustong sabihin sa akin na umalis na ako dahil mukha akong bata, hanggang sa nakuha ng atensyon ko ang isang pamilyar na kotse at sandaling nanlaki ang mata ko. Kay Kalil yata? Anong ginagawa niya rito? Kahahatid lang niya sa akin sa mall namin kanina, ah? Dumeretso ba siya rito pagkatapos at hindi umuwi?

"Bakit muna siya nandito?" tanong ko sa sarili ko.

I wondered if he was inside his car or the bar. His car had tinted windows, so I couldn't tell if there was anyone inside. Unconsciously, I started walking toward it. I furrowed my brow for a moment before I extended my hand to knock on the driver's seat window. However, I was startled by a slight thud from inside, not too loud but enough to surprise me. May napasandal yata.

I knocked on the window three times, but he didn't respond. He didn't even roll down the window, even though it was clear he was inside. I frowned briefly due to his lack of response and immediately grabbed the handle of the driver's seat door, to my surprise, finding it unlocked. What was he doing inside his car, leaving it unlocked like that? It's not safe!

I didn't waste any time and immediately opened the door to see what Kalil was doing. Why didn't he respond to my knocking on the window earlier? However, my eyes widened as I saw him kissing someone inside, and I was even more surprised to see that the woman he was kissing was none other than Lovely Mariano! She seemed as startled as I was when the driver's seat door suddenly swung open, and she turned to look at me while Kalil continued to kiss her neck. I noticed Kalil's hand on her legs, and her skirt was almost lifted.