Kabanata 3
Fiancee
Natigilan ako nang nakitang sa front seat ang binuksan ni Royce na pintuan para sa akin. I thought we're going with a driver since it's a formal date. Napatingin tuloy ako kay Mama na nasa hagdanan at nakatunghay sa pag-alis naming dalawa. Papa is still in a meeting so only Mama is sending me off tonight.
"I drive my own car. Even on dates," malamig na sambit ni Royce nang napansin siguro ang pagkakatigil ko.
I sighed heavily and slowly slid myself inside his black, and very tinted car. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na hindi nga naman siya gaya ko, laking driver. Marunong man magdrive, mas madalas pa rin akong may driver at bodyguard.
Now that I think about his status, I wonder where we'll live after our wedding? Sa bahay ba? Probably... I don't think my father will let me live somewhere else. Maaaring pinaparusahan niya ako ngayon sa pagpapakasal sa akin sa lalaking ito pero ang kaisipang bumukod ako ay wala sa bokabolaryo ng ama. We have lots of properties and after graduating, I told him I want to live alone in a condo, he didn't agree. Ngayon pa kaya? Maybe Royce will live in our mansion?
Sumulyap ako sa kanya, seryosong nagda-drive. Tahimik kaming dalawa at wala siyang music na pinapatugtog. I think about some party music, EDM, and chill, but I don't think he's the type. Or maybe it is? Kasi saan nga ba kami nagkita sa gabing iyon kundi'y sa isang club.
"Don't you have music or something?"
Gumilid ang tingin niya pero agad ding binalik sa kalsada.
"Feel free to connect your playlist."
I took my phone out on my purse and started scrolling. Magtatanong sana ako kung ano ang gusto niyang music pero dahil wala naman akong pakialam sa isasagot niya, pumili na lang ako ng gusto ko at pinatugtog iyon. It's a chill music I usually hear in music festivals.
He tilted his head a bit as he watched the screen of his car flashing the song I'm playing. Bahagyang bumilis ang patakbo niya kaya nilingon ko siya. Bahagya kong hininaan ang music dahil napansin ko rin ang simangot niya.
"What's wrong? Don't like my music?"
Sumulyap siya sa akin nang tumigil ang sasakyan dahil sa isang traffic light.
"Iyan ba ang pinapakinggan mo kapag nagpa-party at nag-iinuman kasama ang mga kaibigan mo?" It wasn't just a question. I felt the insult etched around his tione.
"It's not too loud, and it's not too slow. Why do you sound annoyed with it?"
"I was just asking a question."
"Why don't you put on a music you like then? Hindi iyong hahayaan mo lang tayong tahimik na bumabiyahe, it's boring and awkward."
Tuluyan na siyang tumingin sa akin. Looking annoyed, he didn't say a word. Pinaandar niyang muli ang sasakyan nang nag green light na.
Umirap ako. "You won't because for sure you like old songs. That will suit you better," bulong-bulong ko pero sinigurado kong naririnig niya iyon.
Hindi pa rin siya nagsalita.
"You should like this, too. This is played in clubs and it seems like you're a frequent customer of some."
Medyo hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko roon, ah. Hindi pa naman ako sigurado kung kaya ko nang pag-usapan ang tungkol sa gabing iyon. He glanced at me before he sighed and concentrated again on his driving.
"I go there when I'm bored. I don't particularly go for music so..."
I rolled my eyes. I was about to tell him that he comes there for the girls but I stopped. Niliko niya na ang sasakyan niya sa malapit na malaking hotel. Iyon ang napili ko. It is near our house and it is not owned by our company. We have stocks in here but then that's all there is to it. Royce agreed with my choice because it is in a central area, that means it will be a bit crowded than other hotels.
