6

DEVIN RALEIGH CARTER'S POV.

I smirked when I saw Ciro's sister walking. Dumapo ang mata ko batong sinipa niya at napunta ito sa natipong tubig sa daan. Agad kong binilisan ang pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan at diniretso ito sa tubig. Using the side mirror, I looked at her reaction. I don't know why it makes me happy seeing her angry face.

When I visited Ciro's apartment when we were at New York, I saw his family picture but only one person caught my attention. She looks like a soft girl. She has an angelic face. Akala ko maayos ang ugali niya pero hindi pala. I never thought I would see her outside the bar. Hindi siya nakatingin sa nilalakaran niya noon kaya sinadya ko siyang banggain.

I thought she would say sorry like all the kind gilrs, but she glared at me. The corner of my lips curled up, amused by her angry face. Ibang-iba siya sa inisip kong klase ng babae noon. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa makapasok na siya sa sasakyan niya.

Just as I was about to enter the bar, my brother called. Kinuha ko iyon sa bulsa ng aking pantaloon at sinagot.

"Did you saw him, kuya?" my brother, Shawn, asked.

"Papasok pa lang ako sa bar, Shawn" I answered.

"Okay, okay" he hunged up.

Binalik ko na sa bulsa ko ang cellphone at tuluyan nang pumasok sa bar. I scanned the whole bar to search for my nephew but I can't see him. Naglakad-lakad na ako para makita siya nang maayos dahil madilim sa loob. Many woman offered me a drink but I declined it. I'm not in the mood to drink.

Tumigil ako sa paghahanap nang makita ko na siya. He was caressing his cheeks while walking closer to his friends. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pa sumasama si Jeo sa mga taong 'to. They are bad influence to my nephew! Agad akong lumapit kay Jeo.

"Let's go home, Jeo. Kanina ka pa nag-aalala ang mga magulang mo sa'yo" I said.

"Uncle! you're here!" gulat na saad nito.

Hinawakan ko ang balikat niya, "Let's go now" maotoridad kong saad.

"B-But I'm still-"

"I don't care, Jeo" I cut him off and dragged him out of the bar.

I visited Ciro's house to get some papers from him. I was waiting outside, waiting for Ciro to come out but his mother came out of the house. Her brows furrowed when she noticed me. She's probably wondering why there's a stranger outside her house.

"Can I help you?" she asked as she open the gate.

I flashed my friendly smile, "I was waiting for you son, Ciro, ma'am" I politely answered.

Nanlaki ang mata nito, "Are you one of his friends?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Why is he making you wait here?" galit nitong saad, "Let's go inside" hindi na niya ako hinintay na magsalita, hinila na lang niya ako papasok. Gulat akong sumunod sa kanya.

Ciro was walking down on the stairs when we enter the living room. There's a a color gray set of sofa in front of me. Binitawan ng mama ni Ciro ang braso ko at nakapamewang na nagtaas ng tingin sa anak niya na nagtataka sa ginawa.

"Why did you made your friend outside, Ciro?!" galit nitong tanong sa anak niya.

"It's okay, ma'am. Ako po ang nagsabi kay Ciro na maghihintay na lang ako sa labas para hindi ko na po kayo maabala" agaran kong paliwanag bago pa ito tuluyan magalit sa kanyang anak.

"Even so, hijo. He shouldn't make you wait for so long."

"Mom, stop-"

Hindi na niya pinatapos na magsalita si Ciro at tumingin sa akin ang kanyang ina saka matamis na ngumiti.

"Upo ka muna, hijo. Kukuha lang ako ng maiinom" she quickly left. Wala na akong nagawa kun'di ang umupo sa pahabang sofa.

Napabuntonghinginga na lang si Ciro at binigay sa akin ang papers na kailangan ko, "Nandyan na lahat ng kailangan mo" he sat down next to me. Binuklat ko ang folder at tinignan kung nandito na ba lahat ng kailangan ko.

Later that day, she enter the living room. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa parte ng damit niya na nalagyan ng putik. I smirked, even though I knew she was aware that I was the driver of the car that splashed through the dirty water. Her mother introduced her to me. Viviene Ace Herrer. The naughty sibling of Ciro and Nite.

Pagkatapos niyang ipakilala ang kanyang sarili ay umakyat na ito sa kwarto niya para Palit an ang damit niyang nadumihan. I gritted my jaw when I saw her secretly showing her middle finger to me. This girl is different! Viviene quickly put her hands down when her mother looked at her.

Hinatid ako sa labas ng pamilya ni Ciro maliban kay Viviene. I didn't expect to see my car on a worse situation!

What the f*ck!

Dali-dali kong tinignan ang kotse ko. It was covered with mud! I looked around to looked for the culprit. Who the h*ll would do this—Viviene! That woman!

"What the h*ll!?" I heard Ciro cursed behind me.

"Oh my gosh!"

"Who would do this?"

"I'll call the security—"

"No need, Ciro. I can handle it" I cut Ciro off. Huminga ako nang malalim at muling tinignan ang sasakyan ko. I can punish her in another way. Napatingin ako sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay nila.

I smirked when I saw Viviene peeking on the window. I wanted to laugh when she quickly hide herself but her family will be confused. Now I know why she was smirking when she saw me inside their living room. Try to hide yourself harder, Viviene, because once I see you. I'm going to punish you.

Minaneho ko ang sasakyan habang naghahanap kung may carwash-an ba dito. Hindi ko na pinansin ang mga taong napapatingin sa kotse ko sa tuwing nadadaanan ko sila. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang may mahanap ako. Akala ko ay sa highway pa ako makakahanap ng carwash-an. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan at pinalinis agad ito.

Viviene Ace Herrer, what punishment should I give to you?