The Delinquent and The Silent

Chapter 37

Cent's POV

"Feeling better?"

I glanced up at the man holding a cup of coffee then I looked around me. I'm at some hospital.

He pointed at an empty plate. "Sorry I ate your lunch. Kala ko hindi ka magigising" he doesn't sound sorry.

He's familiar.

"Can't remember me huh?"

I just stared at him. He rolled his eyes. "It's me, Cent. You're supposed to be dead dad"

I felt like blood drained from my face. The hell? Sure enough he looked like my dad for my liking. He's not ghosting me, is he?

I remember the last time I saw him. He was driving his car--my car now, waving bye to me and yelling he'll get me something when he return. That didn't happen 'cause the next day, he went missing.

He took a deep breath. "You see, something happened yeaaaaaars ago. I joined some race I didn't expect to lose. The prize money was so catchy. They're asking for big money too before I could join." He grimaced. "So I edited some, you know, bank account info. Made it look like I had enough. They approved." He scratched his head. "But I lost and then... they're after me. Obviously they found out I got nothing in that fake bank account."

I dunno but I see some Luke side in him. They're both, what's the word... Con artist-ish?

"I need to hide and then I had to fake my death." He continued.

I made a face. "How?"

He smirked. "Chamelle"

Ha?

"Chamelle's a cop. She kinda worked her magic in some unknown corpse and announced the body was me."

Chamelle? Cop? I didn't know that. All I know is that she's my tracker. I really wanna meet Chamelle in person now. She's quite the man.

"It took some time tho before I can get back to you, kid" he tossed his hair aside. "I'm sorry"

I really wanna sleep again. This is too much for my brain to process.

"Meh. It's fine. Atleast you're here now"

He smiled and I drifted back to sleep.

The next time I woke up, I feel shitty. It's like that time when I woke up at the hospital after a beating. And Luke was there to keep me company.

I miss Luke.

I raised my hand and winced. My shoulder still hurts. A bullet was in my meat and it was removed this morning. Damn those racers who race dirty.

"Hungry?"

Dad's holding a box of pizza. "I suppose you prefer this than that yucky food in there" he twitched his lips towards the metal tray.

Sure I do. Hospital food are not appealing.

He did something with my bed so I can sit up. He then placed the pizza on my lap. "Enjoy" he grinned.

"Thanks"

He chuckled. "You still write huh?" He sipped his coffee. "I was hoping to hear your voice again"

"Baka hnd na babalik" I started chewing my pizza.

He rolled his eyes. "It's not even damaged"

That's right. Ang sabi ng doctor dati psychological daw. Walang problema physically. I don't remember when was the last time I spoke.

"Luke?"

He paused. "I need to tell you something"

I nodded waiting for him to go on.

"I talked to Jin couple of days ago, I introduced myself. What you are to me and then he told me how he found you." He looked at me with wary. "I know it's been tough for you at gusto kong bumawi sayo, Cent. I dunno if what I did will upset you but..." he trailed off

"Nyare?"

"Sabi ko kukunin na kita. Well, mukhang mahirap for them pero hey gusto kong makasama naman kita" he said that sincerely.

Lokong to.

"And kinuha ko na din gamit mo sa bahay nila" he said without meeting my gaze.

What. The. F

"Sira ulo ka ba? Hindi mo man lang ako inantay magising? I have a say on this!"

He cringed. "S-sorry"

My gawd! Luke's family has been so good to me. Tapos walang ano ano, nilayas ako ng papa ko sa bahay nila?! Bwisit. Bwisit. Bwisit.

"Asan cellphone ko?"

He reached for his pocket. "Aanhin mo?"

I gave him a sharp look. "May tatawagan ako"

He gave me my phone.

"Ginawa mo dito?!"

"Oi wala akong ginawa dyan. Nahanap na ganyan na" defend niya.

Basag yong screen ng phone ko! Gumagana pa ba to? I pressed the center button. Hindi umiilaw. My gaaaaaaad!

Regalo pa man din sakin to ni Uncle Jin. Parehas kami ni Luke. I tried reviving my phone again--wala pa din. I sighed, silently mourning for my phone.

I looked back at my dad when he said "Shaq's working on your car kasi basag basag din sasakyan mo"

I thought of my precious car. My baby. Fuck. Puro kamalasan na lang inabot ko sa race na yun.

"I was in that race too"

Hindi ko tinatano---what?!

"Bakit?"

"I heard sasali ka eh so I was there to back you up" he winked.

"Pwe! Ni hindi nga kita nakita. Pinagbabaril pa ko dun" I snort.

Thinking of the race made me feel worse. Basag na nga cellphone ko. Sira pa sasakyan ko. Nabaril pa ko. Wala pa kong premyo. Naman o!

Luke. I know he bagged the prize money. I took bullets for his ass. Pshh. I'm hoping hahatian niya ako sa pera? Malaki din 'yon. And kung hindi sakin, hindi makukuha ng kumag na 'yon ang pera.

I sighed. Well atleast sa kanya napunta ang pera and he's safe. I'm praying gamitin niya in good use yun since parang wala talagang balak na pabalikin ako ng papa ko sa bahay nila. Hindi ko siya masasabihan kung pano gamitin properly.  That's somehow a good parting way-- him winning a good cash. I know kulang 'yong amount na yun sa lahat ng ginawa nila for me. They gave me home when I didn't have one.

"Pano pala ako naka alis sa sasakyan ko?"

My dad gave me a smug look. "Ako syempre"

I made a face.

"I was driving that monster truck."

Oh.

"Remember those guys who were shooting at you? I bumped their cars down the hill"

Nice. Im thankful pero ayoko siyang pasalamatan. Naiinis pa din ako na inalis niya ko sa bahay nina Luke.

And then I remembere something. "How come nakuha niyo ung sasakyan ko? Akala ko kukunin sasakyan ng mga matatalo?"

He again grinned. "I organized that race. It's my race"

Nope. Ayoko pa din magpasalamat sa kanya.