~(KING KALZIFER SANDOVAL)

"Where's Zice?" mom asked while we were at the table for breakfast.

Hindi ako nag-abalang tingnan ang bakanteng silya.

"He's having a stomach ache," Ate answered without taking her eyes off her plate. Nagpatuloy siya sa paggalaw ng mga kubyertos doon while chewing slowly.

"Have you checked on him, babe? May... nakain daw ba siyang hindi maganda yesterday?"

"He will be fine."

I knew she intentionally made his stomach ache. She always punishes like that.

Napatingin kaming lahat kay Vice na pumasok sa kusina hawak ang tiyan niya pagkatapos ay umupo sa silya niya.

"Haaays..."

"Kurseiv, what happened? Are you okay?" tanong ni Dad.

"I'm—" Narinig namin ang pagtunog ng tiyan nito. Napatigil ito sa pagkuha ng ulam at mabilis tumayo hawak ang tiyan at puwitan niya. "Argh! Damn it!" He shouted while running away.

Mom was about to stand up pero muling nagsalita si ate. "Mom, I can assure you, he's fine."

Hinaplos naman ni dad ang balikat ni mom. "I'll check on him. Finish your foods, love. Ako nang bahala."

Inatras ni dad ang silya at sinundan si Zice. Pinunasan ko ang gilid hg labi ko at bumaling kay mom na nasa gilid ko.

"Mom"

Binaba nito ang hawak na napkin sa tabi ng pinggan niya at tumingin sa akin. "Hmm?"

"I have a project to finish at my classmate's home, I might go home late tonight."

Ngumiti ito. "Alright, just don't forget to call mommy pag dating mo ro'n, okay?"

I nodded.

"You done eating now? Eat more, try this I made this."

Kinuha nito ang fittata at nilagyan ang pinggan ko. I couldn't say no to her even I already feel full.

"What about you Kiandre?" tanong ni mom rito. He didn't say anything pero nilapit niya ang pinggan kay mom. "Klaire, Kal, K? You want some?"

"Give me some, mom," ani Kal.

Mom stood up at isa-isang nilagyan ang pinggan nila. Minsan hindi ko gusto ang pagiging maasikaso nito. She couldn't eat peacefully.

"How was it?"

"Always the best, mom!" Kal said smiling from ear to ear.

It tasted good. She could always do everything better.

Tumayo na rin ako nang matapos. I slightly leaned closer to her to kiss the top of her head.

"Have to go now."

"Take care, babe. Don't forget to message me, hmm? Love you," she said.

As usual there were girls calling my name habang naglalalakad ako sa hallway papunta sa klase ko.

They were too loud.

Nagsimula akong humakbang papunta sa cafeteria pagkatapos ng klase. Lumapit na naman sa akin ang babaeng iyon bago pa ako makarating sa loob.

"King... I-I'm sorry about last time."

"Come on," mahinang bulong ni Raix and rolled her eyes.

"Here... pinagluto ulit kita ng lunch..." She handed me a lunch box. Sunundan ko lang iyon ng tingin pakatapos ay hinawi ko iyon. Tumapon lahat ng pagkain sa sahig.

She seemed not even surprised. I have done that so many times, but she still chose not to stop. I knew she likes me and I already told her that I don't like her pero hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa pagpapakita ng interes sa akin.

Not because she's tita Hailey and tito Jade's daughter I would treat her special. She was not special. There was nothing different in her. She was just a usual random woman.

Nagbulungan ang mga tao sa paligid just like before but I didn't give a shit about them.

Nobody sat beside me or even near me. They changed seats when I chose a table to seat at inside the cafeteria.

That was better. I don't like anyone near me.

I was heading to my next class nang maramdaman kong may humawak sa braso ko. Huminto ako sa paghakbang.

"Hi King! You're going to your class na? Can we walk together? Parehas naman tayo ng class at this hour, right?"

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa braso ko. My jaw automatically clenched. I hated people touching me without my permission.

Madiin kong kinuha ang wrist nito.

I saw her gulped something down her throat.

"K-King..."

Hinawakan pa nito ang isang kamay sa kabilang braso ko na lalong hindi ko nagustuhan. Mahigpit ko ring kinuha iyon. Tinulak ko ang mga braso niya palayo sa akin. Napalakas ang pagtulak ko rito kaya dumiretso siya sa katabing fountain.

"Oh my gosh!" agad sigaw ng ilan sa paligid.

"King just pushed Chloe in the fountain!"

Agad itong tumayo roon and groaned in frustration. "Agggh!"

He knew what I hate the most.

I turned my back from her. Pinagpatuloy ko ang paghakbang ko. Agad nahawi ang mga estudyante sa daan ko na abala sa pagkuha ng mga litrato rito.

"Stop taking photos of me! I will kill everyone of you!" Narinig ko pang sigaw nito.

I just finished all my classes bago ako nagpunta sa event ng race.

As usual, maraming tao sa lugar. There were more than 20 people who registered in the race.

And as usual, maraming kumukuha ng litrato sa akin and my car even they were not allowed to upload those in social media because the race was illegal. Post it and you'll get arrested.

Hindi rin basta-basta ang organizer ng mga race na pinupuntahan ko. They had connections that's why we could fully use the roads without getting caught.

Napatingin ako sa isang direksyon nang may dumating na isang asul na sasakyan. Gumitna ito sa kalsada kaya naman naging agaw atensyon ito.

"Wow...Pagani Roadster," bulong ni Brayle.

"Panis pa rin 'yan sa Bugatti ni King. Sigurado ako baguhan 'yan," said Gavin.

Agad nagsigawan ang mga babae sa paligid nang bumaba ito ng sasakyan.

"Ang gwapooo!"

"He's hooot!"

Ngayon ko lang ito nakita sa tagal ko nang sumasali sa mga car race. Tumingin ito sa direksyon ko without any emotions in his eyes. There was something in that look. Something I don't like.

"Mukhang baguhan nga 'yan ah?" ani Helix. "Dito pa talaga siya nag-practice ha, sigurado ako lalampusahin mo lang 'yan."

The race started in elimination like usual. Two vehicle would compete and the losing racer will be the one to be eliminated.

"Wuoh! I thought he's a newbie, mukhang maangas din 'to ah," said Brayle while watching on the projection screen.

"Mukhang... may katapat na si King ah? Tingin ko silang dalawa ang maglalaban for the first place," said Helix.

He wouldn't win over me. I don't lose.

I already positioned myself inside my car when it was my turn. Tiningnan ko ang counter at hinintay ko ang pag-angat ng flag bago ko paharurutin ang saskayan ko.

2 rounds were a piece of cake for me. Hindi ako nahirapang kalaban ang mga ito. Pagdating ng 3rd round, the random selector matched me and that guy.

Tumingin pa ito sa akin bago isara ang bintana ng sasakyan niya.

I don't like him.

Pinaharurot ko ang sasakyan ko nang tumaas ang flag. Halos dikit lang ang sasakyan namin nito. I speed up and he also did.

Ilang minuto nang tumatakbo ang sasakayan naming dalawa nang makita kong binuksan niya ang bintana ng sasakyan niya. I absentmindedly looked at him. He was still looking at the road but I could see the smirk on his lips.

"Damn it!" I cursed nang sadyain niyang gitgitin ang sasakyan ko.

Humigpit ang kapit ko sa manibela at nagtangis ang bagang ko. Nobody dared to that to me except that asshole.

Hindi ko ito hahayaan na lang at hindi ko hahayaang palagpasin iyon.

Ginitgit ko rin ang sasakyan nito. I stopped at the second attempt dahil sinadya nitong magbawas ng speed.

Nagdagdag ako pero hindi pa rin gaanong malayo ang pagitan ko rito. I focused on the road and looked at his car from time to time.

"Fuck it," mariing mura ko nang sadyain nitong banggain ang likuran ng sasakyan ko.

Halos magliyab na ang mga mata ko at mabali na ang maibelang hawak ko nang ulitin niya ulit iyon. Damn. He was playing with me.

He obviously didn't want a race, he just wanted to piss me off.

Iniwas ko ang sasakyan ko rito pero kahit saang linya ako pumunta, he had no any plans to overtake. Plano niya lang sundan ang sasakyan ko and fucking bump it with his car.

Sinagad ko ang speed ng sasakyan ko habang masamang nakatingin sa daan.

Nobody. Nobody should fucking play dirty with me.

Malapait na ako sa finish line nang pihitin ko patagalid ang manibela, gumawa nang malakas na tunog ang gulong ng sasakyan ko dahil sa malakas na preno.

I made sure na nakaharang iyon sa gitna so he would have any choice but to also step on the brake.

Tinanggal ko ang seatbelt ko at bumaba ng sasakyan.

Kumuyom ang mga palad ko sa galit. Ang ayoko sa lahat iyong ginagago ako.

Kabababa lang nito ng sasakyan nang makalapit ako sa kanya. I didn't think twice to fucking punch him on the face.

Kinuha ko ang kuhelyo niya at dinikdik siya sa sasakyan niya.

Marahas pa rin ang paghinga ko at pakiramdam ko nagliliyab ang buong katawan ko out of anger.

"You don't fucking do that to me," nagngangalit na bigkas ko.

Lalong humigpit ang kapit ko sa kuhelyo niya nang makuha niya pang ngumisi sa akin. I was about to punch him again pero pinigilan ni Brayle ang braso ko at pilit akong nilayo sa lalaking 'yon.

"Kalma! Kalma, bro!"

Malalim pa rin ang paghinga ko lalo pa at hindi nawala ang ngisi sa mga labi ng lalaking iyon. Hinawi niya ang dugo sa ibabang labi niya gamit ang likod ng palad niya.

"You don't mess up with me," I said in gritted teeth.

He chuckled. "I will see you again."

Tinabig ko ang kamay ni Brayle na nakahawak sa akin and turned my back. I heard the two of us were disqualified in the game bago ako tuluyang makapasok sa loob ng sasakyan ko.

Pinaharurot ko iyon at mabilis namang tumabi ang mga tao sa daan ko. I didn't care about the traffic light or even the law. Binilsan ko ang pagpapatakbo at binusinahan ko lahat ng sasakyang nakaharang sa daan ko.

I looked at the the road, jaw clenched. I could still feel my body burning in anger.

I could beat him to death if Brayle didn't stop me to break his goddamn face.

Bumaba ako ng sasakyan pagtapat ng sasakyan ko sa main door.

Sinalubong agad ako ng katulong.

"Sir, kakain ho ba kayo ng hapunan?"

Hindi ako nag-abalang sagutin ito. Nagpatuloy ako sa paghakbang papunta sa hagdan habang nakakuyom pa rin ang mga kamao ko.

I hated losing my temper. Nobody should make me lose my temper. Nobody.

Binagsak ko ang pintuan ng silid ko.

"Damn it!" I shouted at hinawi ang mga gamit sa bed-side table.

Nabasag sa sahig ang mga gamit doon.

How dare him do that to me?

Damn it!

Ilang minuto na akong nagpupuyos sa galit nang makarinig ako ng katok sa labas ng silid ko.

Marahas pa rin ang paghinga ko kahit pa narinig kong bumukas ang pinto. I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself.

But when I saw her eyes... I felt like my heart started to calm down even without any words from her.

Her eyes... my mom's eyes. She just looked at me. The look she would always give me each day. Full of care and love for me.

Lumapit siya sa akin at dinala niya ang mga palad niya sa magkabilang balikat ko.

"Inhale..." she inhaled. "Exhale." And exhaled.

Ilang sandali ko siyang tiningnan bago ko sinundan ang ginawa niya. She smiled a little at me at hinaplos ang balikat ko.

I was still a little bit upset but... it was slowly going away.

I always feel like mom has magic power to make me feel calm kahit na makita ko lang siya. She could always make me feel at peace. Every time that I would have anger management issue she was the only one I needed to see para magawa kong kalmahin ang sarili ko.

"Come..." she lead me to sit on my bed.

Tumayo naman siya sa harap ko at hinaplos ang pisngi ko at ang buhok ko.

I hated people touching me especially my hair but my mom was the only exception.

"My baby had a bad day, hmm?" she asked with a slight smile on her lips.

"Why are you still awake?" I asked her.

"I told you to call me, but you didn't call me."

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. I had to hide most of my race to her. Mostly, legal competitions lang ang alam niya not the drag racing or street racing na sinasalihan ko sa halos gabi-gabi.

It was only Zice na nakakaalam ng lahat ng race ko dahil nagmo-motor racing din siya na tinatago niya rin kina mom and dad. I didn't always want to tell dad. He supports me but he couldn't lie to mom.

Ayoko lang mag-alala siya and not sleep at night just like now.

"I forgot..."

Mom smiled at me. "It's okay... have you eaten? Do you want your favorite sauteed mushrooms? I will cook for you."

"No... I'm full."

"Okay... you rest now, hmm? I just really want to check on you."

She hugged me tight habang patuloy sa paghaplos sa buhok ko.

She never failed to check on me and my siblings.

She kissed the top of my head and my forehead.

"Good night, babe, love you..." she said bago tuluyang lumabas ng silid ko.

Dumiretso na rin ako sa bathroom nang makalabas ito. I stayed in the bathroom for almost no hour.

Hindi pa ako naka-bihis nang marinig kong tumunog ang cellphone ko.

Kinuha ko iyon sa ibabaw ng kama at tiningnan ang mensahe roon from an unknown number.

[Hi King! Congrats! I know you win the race again tonight. See you tom. Good night!] May hearts at kiss emoji pa sa dulo ng mensaheng iyon.

Even it was an unknown number, somehow I already knew kung sino ang nagpadala ng mensaheng iyon.

She never get tired to message me. Hindi ko alam kung ilang numero na nito ang binlock ko just for her to fucking stop, but still never did.

I don't know why I even let myself have sex with her. She was just so much hassle to me.

[Anyway, I will cook lunch for you again tomorrow. See you! :)]

Binagsak ko ang cellpone ko sa ibabaw ng kama.

When will she put in her mind that I don't fucking like her?

How I hate that damn Halene.