Chapter 9

Luke's POV

I was scanning my law handbook when my phone rang. This would be the nth time that I got a call just within an hour time interval.

My eyes narrowed automatically as another unknown number flashed on the screen and just like the previous, they will hung it up whenever I'll answer it.

Hayop na lintek.

Seems like someone is bored and fond of making fun right now.

Ain't good.

I have no time for nonsense games but trying my patience if it gets longer than the usual isn't that bad. Suing someone who violates Republic Act No. 10173 isn't that bad, yeah? It's not only about the privacy, though.

I would probably hear Adrian's 'Ang pangit mo talaga kabonding. Wala kasing demandahan 'pag napipikon bro.'

Really huh? I don't easily get pissed. I wouldn't go this far without hitting someone if I do.

You think it's fun?

Yes of course. Just bear with me when I make fun too 'coz I swear to Satan's goddamn effigy. .

You'll gonna hate me, Kiddo.

I found myself smirking when the tenth call comes at the right timing to ruin someone's not-so-good mood. To my surprise, it's my phone, which is actually ringing right now.  My eyes get narrowed even more as not-so-good memories flashes back on my mind.

Damn it.

Stress became part of my daily life. And I'm at the point right now that I wanted to hire someone who will pick up the upcoming damn calls. Just for today.

It's been years since I had a headache huh? Should I get a new one? Well, I actually waiting for someone and I already had one before who did cause why I made extra careful about my personal contact number.

That prick.

I heaved a deep sigh before I answered the call. If only it's not an overseas I won't waste my damn time to answer.

I picked up the call expecting someone weird who has this extra finger to welcome my earshot.

"Buenas Tardes Maestro!"

Speaking of the 'lil dare devil. "Hmm?"

"Oh. Didn't you miss me? How rude are you not to miss your intern who's legend and dedicated as his master?" I can imagine his effigy right now, smirking.

How would not I miss the cause of my headache everyday?

"Yeah. A former intern. What do you need?" I asked.

"Teka. Hindi mo manlang ba muna ako kukumustahin Master? Saka ako pa rin naman ang intern mo, grumaduate at pumasa lang ako sa board exams pero sa akin lang ang titulo na 'yan sa ngalan ng matataba at mahahabang shanghai na pinakamasarap na pagkain sa panlasa ko hindi ka pwedeng–"

"Stop it and tell me what do you need. I am damn busy, Kiddo."

"Chill Master. Ba't beast mode ka na naman ata? Mukhang walang nagbago sa haba ng pasensya mo kahit kasing haba lang ng masarap na shanghai ni–"

"Kiddo." I heaved a sigh.

"Bakit Master? Hindi ka na sanay sa akin? Naiirita ka na sa akin? Bakit ka beast mode? Nampuputol ka na naman ng sasabihin eh. Sinong bumadtrip sa 'yo? Hindi ba niya alam na bumubuga ng apoy ang master ko 'pag hindi na niya pinapatapos ang sasabihin ng kausap niya? Hindi ba niya alam na–"

"I said I am busy. Damn it." Yes I do fond of cutting words than exerting an effort cussing someone from head to toe.

"Hala nagmura. Hala! You're busy reading your law handbook again while enjoying your orange na coke while eating your chicharon ni Mang Juan with suka na may sili. Am I right? Or. . Am I right? As usual. Hindi mo ba ako namimiss Master? Sabihin mo na kasing oo. Ouch ha, mapanakit ka pa rin talaga ng damdamin, para naman akong others niyan," he exclaimed.

Damn noisy.

I would congratulate him for having this so called voice acting skills. I can feel my headache rising up.

"Let's get decent by not telling we missed each other, shall we?"

Damn it. 

"Cringe." I heard him hissed.

"Exactly. Now tell me what exactly do you need." 'Coz this kiddo won't spare a time without an important matter to deal with.

It can take months or even years that if he doesn't need anything or nothing important to say, he won't keep in touch. What a busy Kiddo.

"Uuwi ako ng Pinas. Gusto ko ng shanghai, Master. Para sa pinakagwapo at pinakamagaling mong intern, you can't say no. Miss na miss ko na 'yong luto ni. ."

"Yeah, pinaka dahil ikaw lang naman ang naging intern ko. Lintek na bata."

Don't you dare dropping a name, Kiddo.

"Let me finish what I am saying Master. Of course, dahil ako lang ang nakapasa sa high standards mo 'di ba? I'm a record breaker and a record holder. Hindi ka nakapalag dahil bukod sa pareho tayong gwapo, pareho pang matalino pero allergic sa seafoods dahil ayaw ko sa hipon. The one and only Lu–"

I ended the call.

Hayop na lintek– Napakadaldal.

Too much conceitedness isn't good for my mood. I sipped on my orange coke to ease my headache.

I was about to drop my phone and will turn on the next page when I noticed a text message.

Damn it.

I wonder why he didn't call me, instead.

***

Be here at 12:00 sharp.

Still wondering but I assumed it's not an emergency, just something important.

But still. Why didn't you call me, Premore?

Knowing Kiel who's lazy as a damn sloth in some matters, texting annoys him. Bigtime.

Anong klaseng siomai ba yang nakain mo Premore at bigla ka atang sumipag?

With a speed of 420km/h I haven't notice how many minutes it took me to get here, in front of this huge vault.

I took a glimpse on my wristwatch and it's almost one o'clock.

One hour late.

I dialed Premore's contact number for how many times while waiting for this damn vault to open but it's number busy.

Hayop na lintek.

I'm starting to get irritated. I dialed Adrian's number.

"Oyyy Luke. Hahaha himala miss mo ba ako–"

"Ayaw mag-open ng vault. Five minutes na akong naghihintay."

Ibinaba ko ang bintana ng driver's seat nang makitang may kumakatok na batang paslit.

"Ha? Paanong ayaw mag-open?"

"Malamang sarado. Ayaw nga mag-open 'di ba? Teka."

This is why I really hate going somewhere that is unplanned. Ang daming hassle. I hate being on a hurry, I hate emergencies. Nasisira ang schedule ko.

I should be reading my law handbook at the moment and I deserve a good damn reason why I needed to get here, Premore.

At kung bakit hindi mo ako tinawagan samantalang number busy ka ngayon hayop na lintek.

Nawala na rin sa isip kong tawagan siya kanina dahil nagmadali ako agad pagkabasa ko ng text niya.

Aside the fact that the text message was sent at around eleven o'clock and have to read it at around 12:30, do I still have the guts to call when I am already late?

Hindi naman ata emergency, hindi nga ako tinawagan.

"Hoy Luke! Animal nandiyan ka pa ba?"

"Oo mag-antay kang lintek ka. Hmm– hindi ako bibili pero kunin mo 'to. Kumain ka." Isinara ko rin agad ang bintana pagkaabot ko ng pera at ng siomai sana ni Premore. I bought it knowing that he didn't take a lunch.

Oo badtrip ako kaya wala kang Siomai.

"Animal. Tinatanong ko kung nagbukas naman kahit siwang lang pero hindi buo gaya ng dati o talagang hindi nagbukas? Hindi naman 'yan basta basta masisira, itanong mo nga si Kiel kung anong nangyari kaninang ipinasok niya 'yong bebe niya diyan? Teka kalma lang sino ba 'yang kausap mo? Badtrip ka no? Tagalog ka makipag-usap sa iba eh–"

"Pakialam mo? Ayusin mo 'to agad ayaw kong naaarawan Bugatti ko. Inuutusan mo 'ko? Ikaw magtanong."

"Tanginang anak ng etets na kinulang sa–"

I ended the call. I drove towards the parking lot and it took me more or less fifteen minutes just to reach the public parking area.

Sa lawak ba naman ng ospital ni Premore, hindi ako pwedeng magmax speed dahil gaya kanina, baka may biglang sumulpot.

Reckless driving isn't a good idea and if I will be given a chance to choose a crime, I prefer murdering someone who loves to stock chuckie on my fridge.

I didn't waste more time when I saw an empty lot. Nagmadali ako kaya  hindi ko napansin ang isa pang sasakyan na mabilis din ang patakbo papalapit sa bakanteng parking space. Halos sabay lang kaming prumeno at kung hindi, malamang nagkabanggaan na kami.

Mabilis siyang bumaba at lumapit sa akin saka mabibigat ang mga kamao na kinatok ang bintana ng kotse ko.

Ibinaba ko ang bintana. "I'm in a hurry. If you'll use that lot, go ahead but if you let me use it, thanks." Pakiramdam ko sumasakit lalo ang ulo ko.

My orange soda is badly needed. 

Sinuri niya ang kabuuan ko pati ang kotse ko gamit ng paningin. Pinanood ko lang siya sa ginagawa maya't maya pa ay napakamot siya sa ulo. "May dadalawin lang naman ako, sige kayo na ho."

"Salamat," I simply uttered. I parked my car immediately.

Now I need to walk to the nearest gate of this damn huge hospital.

Habang papalapit ako ay napansin kong nakatitig na 'yong guard sa akin. He didn't have a chance to utter his words when I lend him my phone. "Here's Doc Kiel Premore's text message, you can call him if you aren't satisfied with that. Please make it fast 'coz I'm in a rush."

He let me in after he read the message.

I was walking with my hands on my pocket when familiar stares welcomed my peripheral vision.

Those stares that usually give me irritation before and now I am already used to. Who cares?

I looked around, trying to remember where the damn private elevator is located. Hindi naman kasi namin 'yon madalas gamitin dahil may vault kami. There's an elevator there which is connected to Premore's floor office.

Lintek na Adrian, 'pag pumalpak kailangan nasa timing?

I made my steps faster when I found it, finally. But before I would enter the goddamn elevator someone caught my attention.

Napakunot noo ako.

That's weird.

Time check, two o'clock. Talagang nilubos lubos na ng araw na 'to ang pagiging late ko. It took me more minutes just to reach Premore's floor. Damn it.

Pinihit ko ang pinto at nagulat ako dahil bukas ito. Naglakad ako papasok ngunit walang tao.

I dialed Premore's number while inspecting the whole area and he picked it up on the second ring.

"Saan ka? May nakalimutan ka ata brother," bungad ko.

"28th floor. What time did I tell you to be here, Brutine? I am fucking hungry, I'm expecting a delicious steamed–"

"I know you have a great security here but you won't like welcoming any intruders in your office yeah? Ba't bukas 'to?"

"Oh, Uno was here awhile ago."

"Alright. Baka may balak kang sagutin kung nasaan ka?"

Naiinip na ako. I hate being outside.

"Gago 28th Floor nga."

"Yeah huhulaan ko kung anong room? Lintek na 'yan."

"Oh. 2804 may dala ka bang–"

I ended the call.

I'm currently in front of this goddamn elevator again when he called back. Hindi ko na namalayan ang pagbukas nito at basta nalang akong pumasok. I saw some people who's staring at me but I simply walked inside.

Good thing they aren't like those fans who are aggressively coming closer and will give you a hug. Damn it.

Nakatitig lang ako sa isang babae sa harap ko na nakasandal sa gilid ng elevator. She's actually facing the right side instead of the front. Her hair is covering her face. "Wait for few minutes Premore, wag ka magreklamo dahil ang bagal ng elevator mo."

"Dalian mo hinihintay ka na ng mga anak mo." He ended the call.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

What the hell?

I am sure my name isn't Adrian or Aldrich.