It felt like an endless drive. The car sped through the almost endless darkness. Just then, I saw some streetlights ahead, signaling that we had entered another municipality. The black car was still behind us.
“Don’t you have a plan to shake him off? I mean… he’s still tailing us. I remember how you drove fast months ago,” I complained to Robert, then looked ahead with a shaky breath. “Did you lose your nerve to speed?”
I glanced at him, but he didn’t even look my way. His gaze remained fixed ahead, which made me sigh in resignation. I didn’t know how else to please him. He wasn’t this stubborn before.
I gasped as the car suddenly accelerated to its fastest speed without warning. My heart raced, and I glared at Robert, who still had his eyes fixed ahead. “Robert! Slow down!”
It took him a few moments before he finally slowed down. My mouth hung open as I panted nervously. I shot a disapproving look at Robert, but he still didn’t glance my way.
When the car passed under a streetlight, I noticed a small smile tug at the corner of his lips. I gritted my teeth in annoyance. “Such a jerk!”
“He’s gone,” was all he said.
I glanced at the rearview mirror, and true to his words, the black car was nowhere in sight. I furrowed my brow.
“You should have warned me,” I snapped before falling silent.
I looked out the window again and noticed unfamiliar buildings illuminated in the darkness. There were a few people walking on the sidewalks, but you could count them on one hand. It seemed like a small town, far removed from the city.
“Where are we?” I asked Robert without turning to look at him.
“Alcantara.”
“Alcantara?” I echoed in surprise. I looked out the window again. “That’s far.”
“I have a house near the river. You can stay there for now until you find somewhere else.”
“What about you?”
For the first time since we started driving that night, Robert glanced at me. “I have another house nearby.”
“Another house?” I raised an eyebrow at his statement.
“There’s a subdivision near the river. I bought two houses-one for you and one for me.”
“Really?” My lips twitched, and I eyed him skeptically. “Where did you get the money?”
But he didn’t answer my question. I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest. I didn’t bother asking further.
After a short while, we arrived at the house he mentioned. Two large houses stood side by side. Robert got out of the car first, so I followed him. I looked up at the houses.
Both were two-story houses. Unlike Japen’s bamboo house, these subdivision houses Robert mentioned were made of concrete and had tin roofs.
I sighed, reminiscing about the past when I enjoyed myself at Japen’s house. Then a thought struck me.
Right. I was free from Dad’s watchful eyes now, so I could visit Japen in San Fernando. A smile played on my lips as a plan formed in my mind. It was only two municipalities away, so it shouldn’t take me long to get there.
“Miss,” Robert called to me.
I smiled cheekily at him and followed after. He led me towards the house with the red roof and white walls.
“You can stay here for now, Miss. It’s been a week since I last visited, so just check if the floor is clean. I’ll buy some food so you’ll have something to cook tomorrow.”
I processed his words, and a sudden thought made me frown. “Wait, cook? You mean I have to cook for myself?”
Robert stared at me for a moment before a grin spread across his face. I narrowed my eyes at his expression. I could count on one hand the times he grinned like that, but it always happened when he was teasing me.
“You’ll be alone in the house, Miss.”
My eyes widened at his statement. “But I can’t cook!”
He shrugged and started walking away. I gasped and hurried after him, grabbing his hand and turning him around to face me with a shocked expression.
“I told you beforehand that I can’t be left alone! I can’t cook. How am I supposed to survive if I can’t cook?”
He furrowed his brow and withdrew his hand. “You wanted to escape from your father, Miss. You should have thought about whether you could live without his support.”
He said it seriously before turning and crossing the narrow street towards his house with the brown roof.
I gasped in disbelief and blinked several times. What? What now? I couldn’t be left alone in his house. I didn’t know how to cook. I knew nothing about it!
Plus, I didn’t have my cellphone with me. I couldn’t even access the internet for tutorials!
“Robert! Robert!” I called out, crossing the narrow street myself.
I was thankful he left the small gate open so I could enter the other house.
“Robert! I don’t have a phone,” I complained as I entered through the main door. I paused briefly at the clean living room, but my anxiety pushed me to look away and search for him. “Robert! I need a phone!”
I found him in the kitchen, stirring a cup of brewed coffee. I fell silent as I watched him quietly stir the spoon inside the cup.
I gulped nervously. “Hey,” I called out, then walked closer to him. I stood a few feet away. “I’ll pay you back when I have the money. If you want, I’ll double the interest for you! I just need it right now. Robert. Robert, are you listening?”
He raised his gaze slightly before walking towards the table. I followed him. He placed the cup of coffee on the table and glanced at me.
“Drink it,” he said.
I huffed at his words. “I don’t drink coffee.”
He smirked at my response and then looked away from me. “Don’t you find it strange how easy it was for you to escape, even though your father watches you closely?”
I fell silent at his words but spoke up after a few moments of thought. “I knew it had something to do with your identity.” I glanced at him carefully. There was a small furrow on his forehead as he gazed into the distance. I cleared my throat. “I’m not like those nosy girls, so don’t worry. I won’t reveal your identity to anyone, and I’ll keep it safe.”
I was puzzled when he suddenly chuckled. “You know nothing, Miss,” he said before walking away from the kitchen.
I was left alone in the kitchen, wondering what Robert meant by his words.