Page 17 of Chasing Mr. Prefect

“Why are you waiting for a jeep? You usually drive around, right?”

“Kuya Chan needed the car today. I just borrow it most of the time.”

I shrugged and felt my phone vibrate.

Dad

I attended this last-minute thing in our Quezon City office. Let me know when you’re done with classes so I can pick you up.

“I’m going back home to Las Pinas today, too. Sayang, I could have driven us both.”

“Huh?” I said, distracted.

I was supposed to just meet Dad in Makati this afternoon. He had a project managers’ conference in Singapore tomorrowand he had asked me if I could take the car home after we drop him off at the airport tonight. I had been worried about delaying him as I heard the train was only running up to Shaw Boulevard station today but this just made it easier.

Ok. Class is finished, we can meet @ BA building.

Thank you po

“My Dad just texted saying he’s picking me up. Do you want to catch a ride with us?”

“Huh?”

“You also live in CG Homes, right?” I said, looking up at him, and the expression on his face jolted me back into reality, reminding me that I had spent the past three years pretending I did not recognize him.

The cheeky brat looked so smug.

“Nowyou remember me.”

“Do you want a ride or not?” I asked, making a face and getting out of the queue as the MRT-bound jeep had arrived.

“I’m just messing around. Ito naman.”

“Hindi tayo close. Know your place, Prefect Brat.”

“Okay,” he said zipping his mouth shut and throwing away an invisible key as he followed me to the BA building.

“Dad,this is Cholo, Cholo, this is Dad,” I deadpanned as I opened the passenger seat door, completely forgetting my manners and realizing Cholo was just standing there in front of a closed car door. “Sorry. Let me get that.”

I opened the car door for him and signalled him to get in. Dad offered a small smile at both of us and if he found any of this strange, he did not let it show.

“Good afternoon po,” Cholo said, his club president smile plastered on his face. “I’m Vinnie’s classmate.”

“He lives in our village,” I told Dad. “I thought he could use a ride given the MRT’s not working. ”

“That’s ok. Make yourself comfortable, Cholo,” my dad said. “And this is good, Vinnie. You won’t be driving alone.”

I put on my seatbelt and stayed quiet for the rest of the drive. Cholo was all shy at first, but, thirty minutes in, he and my dad started talking about NBA. I tuned most of it out as I had nothing to contribute to the conversation and I thought it was good that Dad had someone to talk to while driving so he would not get sleepy.

By some miracle, we made it in time to the airport with three hours to spare before my dad’s flight.

Dad got out of the car and I followed suit, so I could go over to the driver’s side. I was surprised to see Cholo do the same but it would have been rude for him to stay in the back seat while I drove so I figured he was going to take the passenger seat. When I got to the driver’s side, however, I saw him at the back of the car instead, helping my dad with his luggage.

“Thanks, hijo, you didn’t have to,” my dad was saying.

Embarrassed that I had not thought of that, I went over to them. “Everything there? Your phone? Passport?” I said, trying to be helpful.

Cholo closed the latch and told us to watch our heads as my dad turned to me.