Chapter 48

Beating the red light

While on our way, Korg isn't talking, kinakabahan tuloy ako kung saan kami pupunta but he's assuring me that the place we'll go are worthy. I comfortably set my back on the chair and waiting as we'll reach the place he's talking about. There's a lot of thing going inside my head and those things are what I aspire to see. But I don't expect too much, but Korg doing this surprise me. Hindi ko alam na mahilig pala siya sa mga ganitong bagay. Binibigla ako ni Korg—akala naman niya natutuwa ako... sa totoo lang rumurupok na ako.

"Malapit na ba tayo, Korgian?"

"Alex."

"What?"

"Stop calling me that."

"Anong masama doon? It is still your name."

"Yes, it is but I don't like hearing it from you."

"Don't you like Corgi's?"

"I do... but I'm not a Corgi, right?"

I chuckles, "whatever, I still like it.... So answer me, malapit na ba tayo?"

He didn't answer me for seconds and I reasoned cause he's busy driving and put his focus on the road but on the other hand, "shit!" he hissed, I was alarmed by his sudden tone of panic. He immediately pull over. Napuno nang kaba ang dibdib ko. I was blind. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari. I keep asking him kung anong nangyari but he isn't answering me, he just kept cursing like the hell what happened.

Dahil hindi ako makampante, mabilis kong inalis ang blindfold without his consent. Mabilis kong tiningnan kung may nabangga kami sa harapan o kaya naman ay bumangga sa amin but there are no collisions happened. And when I look upon Korg, he keeps calling someone on the phone.

"Korg... what's happening?" nag-aalala kong tanong sa kanya.

He cursed once again, didn't answer my question.

"Korg, what happened?!" I bursted out, grabbing his full attention. Dahil sa ginawa ko ay taas ang dalawa niyang kilay na nilingon ako, he's trying to understand why I shouted on him. "Anong nangyari? Bakit ka bigla-bigla nanahimik diyan?"

He shook his head, didn't answer my question again. "We gotta to the hospital."

I panicked when he said those words. "Wait, what? Anong gagawin natin doon?"

"Alec." He said.

"Anong nangyari kay Alec?" bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Hindi ko nagugustuhan ang naging pag-uusap namin ngayon. He's giving me a heart attack, for pete sake, Korg, 'wag mo akong bitinin.

"He's in the hospital." He said, didn't directly answer me, and when he notice I roll my eyes on him and cross my arms. He reach for me, "I'm sorry Alex, I couldn't just believe Alec would be in an accident, so we—"

I interrupted him when he said that, "accident? Don't explain now, start the engine now and hurry, Korg. We don't wanna see him lifeless." Pagmamadali ko kay Korg and he started the engine and we roll down the road again.

My chest filled with mixed emotions and I don't know how to handle those when it comes to every close people I know. Sa mabilis na pagpapatakbo ni Korg ng sasakyan ay kasabay ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko. Pansin ko rin sa mukha niya ang sobrang pag-aalala, he doesn't speak, he cursed a lot when we get stuck in the traffic. All I could see in Korg were being a good friend.

He's a good friend even if things didn't go as planned to them.

"I hope Alec's okay..."

"He'll be okay, that's hardheaded boy." He smirked, trying to be positive even if the situation aren't good.

Hindi rin nagtagal nang marating namin ang hospital kung nasaan daw si Alec. I hope this aren't an act dahil kung biro ito para sa kanila, hindi nakakatawa. When Korg parked his Ferrari, dali-dali rin naman itong bumaba at sumunod naman ako. Hindi pa man ako nakakaayos nang higitin niya ako sa kamay at tumungo papasok sa loob ng building. We asked the front desk kung nasaan na naka-deploy si Alec and they said, kakalipat lang daw nito sa isang private room mula sa emergency room. We headed to his room and on the hallway, we can see some familiar faces.

Some are Korg's teammates on the football. Korg immediately asked what Alec's condition, nakinig na lamang ako sa kanila and they said Alec's condition now were fine and he's recovering from the accident. Of course, the team notice my presence and was picking on me because I'm with Korg. Sinaway naman sila ni Korg at 'wag na 'wag daw nila akong aasarin dahil siya ang makakahap nila. They hold up their hands in the air, already giving up to the threats of Korg.

Pumasok na rin naman kami sa loob dahil pu-pwede naman daw but they told us to be quiet and let Alec rests. When we enter his room, nakita namin ang kanyang parents doon sa couch na nagbabantay sa kanya. We find Alec on the hospital bed with a cast on his right leg, and instead of seeing him in pain, he greeted us with a warm smile.

"Dude, fuck you, what do you think you're doing?" Korg attended Alec and just do their man hug—I don't what they call it—I didn't bother to know, duh.

"Language, son." Pagsita naman ng ama ni Alec kay Korg, he immediately apologizes.

Nang makalapit din naman ako sa kanila ay niyakap ko si Alec, "thank God you're fine..."

He nodded, "yeah... I'm blessed."

"What happened to you, Alex?" Korg asked.

Alec chuckles, as if nothing comes wrong. "I was just riding my bicycle on a normal speed but... I was beating the red light and almost hit up by the truck and when I try to avoid the incoming truck, I lost my balance. I roll out on the road and got injured right after."

"So, it is your fault, that's fuck up dude." Muli ko namang siniko si Korg dahil sa pagmumura nito, napalingon muli ang ama ni Alec sa kanya pero napailing na lang ulit ito. "Sorry to say that... How am I the last to know about this? All the team are outside and I'm the last one to know this accident?"

"How I feel like you wanted to be the first one to know I got into the accident? It feels like you're waiting for it happen, huh?" he smirked.

Korg shook his head, "not like that, Alec, coach called me and tell me you got into the accident... and when I got here, I was the last one to know about it. You know we're good friends right?"

"We are Korg, we are good."

"And then answer me." Korg still initiate.

"We know you're busy." Alec answered.

Napakunot-noo naman si Korg, "ha? Paano? Sinong nagsabi busy ako?"

"On her, Korg." Tinuro naman ako ni Alec, "you're busy with her and they know, they wouldn't bother you that's why you ended up the last one to call..."

Napangisi na lamang si Korg, "whatever dude, I'm glad your okay and only broke your leg. You should be glad that the season was over."

They laughed, "I know, I know. Thanks for it, though."

Mayamaya lamang ay may isang babaeng pumasok sa room ni Alec, napataas pa ang kilay ko dahil baka nagkamali lang ito ng pasok pero lumabas sa bibig nito ang pangalan ni Alec. Dumiretsyo naman ito sa kama at inabot ang kamay nito. Napuno naman ako ng pagtataka habang inaalam kung anong nangyayari.

Tiningnan ko pa si Korg pero tinatago niya ang kanyang tawa.

"Oo nga pala, Alex," pagtawag ni Alec sa akin. "She's Asia. The girl I'm dating."

Asia look at me and reach her hand out, "Hi Alex! Alec has been talking you a lot lately, I think, do you think, we can be friends?"

Mabilis naman akong tumango sa kanya, "of course, sure, why not diba." I muttered. "Thank you." Muli naman siyang bumaling kay Alec and they talk come with his parents.

As to give her some way, nagpaalam muna kami kay Alec na lumabas ng kanyang kwarto. Muli namang hinarang si Korg nang kanyang team at ako naman ang maayos na nakalusot mula sa kanila. Habang abala si Korg kasama ang kanyang team at dahil dumating ang kanilang coach na may dalang pagkain sa bawat isa, tumuloy muna ako sa waiting area at doon ako naupo.

Bigla namang pumasok sa isip ko kung ang dapat na pupuntahan namin ni Korg. Bigla na lamang niyang nakalimutan iyon. Saan naman kaya niya ako dadalhin? Is it kind of a sweet thing he usually did o kaya naman naiiba sa nakasayanan niya?

"There you are!" automatic na lumingon ang ulo ko nang marinig ko ang boses niya. Parang pagod na pagod si Korg, "I thought you already leave." Aniya at lumapit sa akin, tumabi naman siya sa akin at huminga nang malalim. "Those people stopped me and also coach bring something for everyone... here." Inabot ni Korg sa akin ang isang burger, kinuha ko rin naman iyon. "Sorry, this wasn't supposed to happen."

"I know, I was just thinking where would you bring me?"

"Oh, about that," napakamot naman siya sa kanyang ulo. "I booked us together in a five-star restaurant, it has been paid though but we couldn't make it either cause the we're late to the given time."

"Hala, shocks, sayang naman 'yon? Can you refund the payment?"

He shook his head, "no, but they send me a message that I can rebook it and so, we'll be having it again. Gusto mo ba 'yon?"

I nodded, "hindi ko na tatanggihan iyon, you know, hindi ako gano'n."

He laughed, "but tonight we should share the burger together and..." he didn't finish his words instead stood up and head to the vending machine. I can still remember the first time—second time I guess we've encountered ourselves. He's been struggling to put his money on the vending, hindi kasi tinatanggap ito but then, ako naman si gaga—to the rescue! Those things are still in vivid on my memories. Bumalik si Korg na may hawak na dalawang bottled juice at chocolate. Inabot niya sa akin ang juice at chocolate. "Hope this is enough, sorry—"

But I immediately stopped him by putting my finger tap on his lips, "stop, whatever you're gonna say, this is enough Korg. You were enough. And I don't care if we got into the five-star restaurant or not, the most important thing were... we're together."

"Am I getting that wrong?"

"Ano naman 'yon?"

"You're saying yes on me?"

"Did I say yes, Korg?" I chuckles, "but anyway... thank you for this, babe."

"For you, I will do everything..."

"Jerk."

"Despera—" dinuro ko naman siya sa itutuloy, "I was actually gonna say despacito." He grins.

I pinched his nose, but he tickle on my side at hindi ko naiwasang hindi tumili kaya napatingin ang ibang tao sa amin sa waiting area. Napalo ko si Korg dahil sa ginawa niya. Nang kumalma naman kaming dalawa ay isinandal ko na lamang ang ulo ko sa balikat niya.

"Do you want to go home na?" he asked.

I shook my head, "maybe later, but not now..."

"You say, babe."

I took a deep breath and thought, this man show me today how he cares, and he prove that when it comes his friends, family or whoever... and I think I found the right person.