Page 61 of Chasing Mr. Prefect

Dad laughed and I stared at him in disbelief as we came to a full stop on the Ayala-EDSA intersection. I folded my arms.

“Wow,” he said, looking at my defiant expression. “I haven’t heard you apologize in a long time. It’s good to know you still know how.”

“Dad!” I sputtered and he laughed harder.

“Don’t apologize to me. Text Cris and Liana and say sorry to them. I’m sorry for laughing, though. It’s just that I never imagined you ever saying that to me. I never thought I’d have you back but I’m grateful.”

I was touched but was spared from having to say anything in reply as the light turned green. I did as I was told, texting my apologies, and both replied saying it was okay. My mood improved significantly after my dad hugged me goodbye and helped me with my stuff. He drove away and I went inside the venue, carrying my backpack and laptop.

I was goingup the stairs when I heard two people talking.

“What a mess!” a shrill voice was saying. I took a couple of slow steps, wondering if I should back off. “I should have asked someone else.”

“Ate Mikayla, I’m sorry, I had other things to bring,” said another voice, which I now recognized as Cholo’s. “I can just drive back and get it now.”

“And what? Waste another hour? Sobrang iresponsable mo!” she scolded. My fists clenched at my side. “We’re co-presentors! Do you have any idea what my boss would say if he found out that you managed to bring your club tarps but not the company standees? You’ll get blacklisted!”

I took a couple more steps up and saw Cholo standing in front of Miss Mikayla, looking like a little boy being scolded despite the fact that he was taller than her.

“It’s because your brothers are too soft on you. Even Patsy treats you like a baby and that’s why you just can’t learn. You think everyone’s on your side. Palibhasa, you’re Angkong’s favorite.”

Holy mother of ad hominem.Did she really have to say all that?

“Ate Mikayla, please. I can ask Vinnie to get it from my house?—”

“Oh, please. She’s just as much of a nuisance as you. Do you know how unprofessional your girlfriend is? Those last few changes on the video took so long and were of poor quality, too. You can’t even hold your own stuff together or keep your grades up, now you have to date that?—”

“Please leave her out of this,” Cholo cut her off, gritting his teeth, calm demeanor gone. I saw the fire in his eyes even from where I stood.

“Sumasagot ka?”

Cholo bit his tongue but stared at her, determined not to bow.

“Huh. I wonder where you’re getting it but it makes sense. Like attracts like. I heard she’s doing this to make up for causing a brawl. Is that true?”

“I’m not having this conversation with you, Ate Mikayla,” he said. “I have always listened whenever you raised your voice at me without complaint because I respected you like an older sister but I am not going to let you talk about my girlfriend like that.”

I felt a huge rush of affection for Cholo.

“Oh, things must be serious. You thinking of bringing that girl to Angkong?” Miss Mikayla said, getting all up into Cholo’s face. “Didn’t you say you wanted to prove yourself to our titas? You were better off with that first girl from the student council two years ago. Why are you associating yourself with a brat like that now?”

“You and our aunts have always thought of me as useless, anyway, even before Vinnie came along,” Cholo retorted.

“I thought you wanted to change that?” Miss Mikayla said. “Aren’t you afraid that she’s going to turn you into something exactly like your Kuya Chip?”

“There is nothing wrong with Kuya Chip and Ate Ania,” Cholo snapped. “And Vinnie is a good person, not that I have to prove that to you. You’re just bringing this out on her because you’re angry with me.”

Miss Mikayla stared him down. I got this overwhelming desire to barge in and yell at her but it was not my place to do anything. It frustrated me that I couldn’t do anything. The words she said burned through my veins like poison. I could not even imagine what Cholo was feeling now.

“I guess it’s too late. You’ve always been on that side of the tracks, anyway. Beyond saving,” she said, shaking her head. I had no idea why the line sounded familiar but I was sure I had heard it before.

Cholo’s face paled as Miss Mikayla had delivered a verbal death blow. “If you want to get the brand standees at home, go ahead. I’m stressed enough without you here.”

She left and bossed the other officers around. Cholo shook his head and took out his phone, dialling, and sure enough, mine shook in my pocket just moments after. I waited ten seconds before I appeared around the bend.

“Yes, yes, I know I’m late,” I said, trying to smile and look like I was joking. “What did I miss?”

Cholo smiled at me tiredly and took my bag from me. “You okay?” I asked innocently.