BETWEEN WORLDS

(Alarm clock rings)


"What time is it?" he mumbled, then he looked at his watch.


His eyes widened and suddenly stood up. He immediately went outside his office. Inaayos pa niya ang kanyang magulong buhok while walking. Pero hindi iyon nakabawas sa charisma niya dahil whatever he looks like, ang lahat ng makakasalubong niyang employee, especially girls ay masayang bumabati sa kanya.

He took and wore his sunglasses at sumakay na sa mamahalin niyang sasakyan.

"Aldrich, cancel my meeting today. I'm going somewhere" hindi pa man nakakapagresponse ang kanyang secretary, binabaan na niya ito ng phone at ngumiti.


--AUTO CLASSICS--

(luxury car showroom for wealthy individuals.)


While the other car enthusiasts are busy asking about the features of the latest Bugatti Veyron Sports Car, a tall handsome guy wearing a black tuxedo just entered the showroom.

(with slow motion effect)

Siya si Drake Sebastian, the son of Don Mateo Sebastian na nagmamay-ari ng largest steel manufacturing company in the country.

He has this brawny body, amber eyes, naturally red lips and perfectly shaped face which made all the girls inside go crazy making their boyfriends feel intimidated by his pretty face.

He actually has the features of an ideal man who would definitely attract everyone undenyingly. However, because of his immature and childish personality, he never had a girlfriend. And being born with a silver spoon in mouth, kahit ano pwedeng maging libangan niya. He would always love to spend his father's money on anything that can caught his attention.

Like buying his 3rd luxury car this year.


"Bugatti Veyron Super Sport right?" he asked tapos ihinagis niya ang nakaopen na bag with millions of cash inside.

"Y_yes sir" agad na respond ng autobroker sa kanya habang silaw na silaw niyang tinitingnan ang pera in front of him.

"What made it more special than my Henessey Venom GT?" Drake asked while showing his worth a million watch.

Mas lalong nagningning ang mga mata ng autobroker, so he convinced him more thinking that he could earn a lot of money after sales talking to him.

"Sir! the Hennessey Venom GT can reach a speed of 260 meters per hour and go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds but this Bugatti in front of you sir... is a LOT different sir." he said confidently habang iniisip sa loob-looban niyang after ng araw na ito, he can go somewhere with his wife having fun together and enjoying the commision that he'll have from selling this luxurious car.


"Go on" Drake said with his arms crossed.

"We all know that Bugatti is a brand synonymous with speed and style. And it is the fastest car in the world WHICH can reach a speed of 267 MPH sir, 267! and can go from 0 to 60 in 2.4 SECONDS. It's a lot different sir so if I were you, I would make that cash to be exchanged with this...extra special gift intended for (then he go near Drake and whispered) an intelligent human being like you sir." then he winked at him.

Drake just smirked.

"Do you think that I will be convinced with your easy talking to me?" he said and dahan-dahan nang isinara ang bag of money.

"W_wait Mr. Sebastian, I've known you for months and isa ka sa VIP namin, just_ just give me a chance to convince you more."

Tiningnan lang siya ni Drake habang pinaglalaruan ang worth half a million niyang sunglasses. Alam ng mga taga Auto Classics ang personality ni Mr. Drake Sebastian, he's actually the kind of guy na kailangan mong iuplift ang kanyang ego to convince him with something. So, if someone wants to take something from him, he must give something that would let him think to be much better for him.

"So, what makes it different sir is its new vivid color. The golden one which usually emphasizes your worth sir. Every color has its meaning sir but this...this luxurious car with golden color tells the world that you are not just a wealthy brat but a person na Mahalagang- MA-HA-LA-GA"

"Valuable and wealthy brat? I like it! Okay, I'll get this car." Drake said and gave the bag of money to him.


"I_is it worth 80 million pesos sir?" abot tengang ngiti na tanong niya kay Mr. Sebastian.


"Stupid, those aren't real." when he heard it, napalitan ang sayang iyon ng kaba thinking that Drake was just pranking him, knowing his childish personality.


"Don't worry, I'll pay you. It's just for my dramatic entrance kanina. Anyway, this is my real payment" then he handed his check to the autobroker.

"Thank you sir!" sabi nung broker in a teary eyes. Hinalik-halikan pa niya yung checke at niyakap si Drake.


After he signed everything, he gave the key of his old car to his Personal Assistant na kanina pa niya kasama.

"Drive it on our way home, I'm gonna test its speed first" then he excitingly went inside his new car and show it off to the public, ang kaso, he accidentally bumped it into someone's car so he ended up being hospitalized for obtaining minor wounds.

Hindi naman siya nawalan ng malay, he's totally fine. Umarte lang talaga siyang may masakit para tigilan na siya nung babaeng nagmamay-ari ng sasakyang binangga niya. Well, that's his thing, everytime na he's into trouble, dinadaan niya lang iyon sa pag-arte making everyone believe him. Then after niyang makatakas sa eskandalo, doon na papasok ang responsibility ng PA niya--it is to make a way para ang lahat ng biktima ng kalokohan niya ay manahimik.

Nakaupo lang siya sa hospital bed this time with a lollipop on his mouth. Kasama niya ngayon ang kanyang PA at secretary.

"Sir, we have a problem, papunta na dito si Chairman at galit na galit siya!" Aldrich said habang nanginginig na binabasa ang text message ng girlfriend niya na secretary din ni Don Mateo.

When Drake heard it, agad siyang napabalikwas sa higaan at kinuha ang mga gamit niya.

"Yeul, give me my keys!" he panicked.

Pero kalmado lang na ibinigay ng PA niya ang susi ng kanyang bagong kotse.

"Not this one Ye_" him na napahinto sa pagmamadali niya.

Natigilan siya kasi bigla nang may nagsipasukang mga bodyguards which means, nandoon na sa loob ang daddy niya.

"Drake Sebastian!!!" hindi maipintang mukha ang agad na bumungad sa binata kaya mas lalo siyang nagpanic.

"Ah_ I have a meeting dad. N_next time na lang tayo mag-usap" him trying to escape the lion's fury.

"Stupid!!" agad siyang nakatanggap ng suntok mula sa kanyang daddy na ikinagulat ng lahat.

Napayuko na lang ang secretary and PA niya sa gilid habang nakikinig sa mga sigaw ni Don Mateo. Iba talagang magalit ang 50 anyos na Sebastian, dahil bukod sa sobrang lakas ng boses nito eh nagpapaulan pa ito ng mga biyaya mula sa kanyang bibig.

"Dad.." mahinang sambit ni Drake.

"Enough! wala ka na ba talagang ibang gagawin sa buhay mo kundi ang gastusin ang perang hindi mo pinaghirapan ha? Ano bang pakinabang mo sa pamilya na ito? Sinisira mo lang ang reputasyon ng pamilya natin dahil sa mga kalokohan mo!"

"Dad.."

"Shut up! Huwag mo na akong matawag-tawag na daddy from now on! wala akong anak na walang kwenta!!!!" galit na galit na sabi ni Don Mateo.

Nang marinig iyon ni Drake, bigla niyang naalala na matagal na pala siyang tumigil sa kakaasang itatrato siyang anak ni Don Mateo. So, he looked into his father's eyes and said...

"Dad_ listen okay? I'm already wet because of your saliva. Nagtotoothbrush ka ba dad? Ba't mabantot?" he said while covering his nose.


Because of what Drake said, napaupo sa dismaya si Don Mateo.

"Drake!!!"

"Don't worry, I'll buy you a toothpaste, bye for now dad" he winked and smiled before leaving.

Napasapok sa noo ang secretary ni Drake because of what he did.

Agad na nagpara ng taxi si Drake at nagpahatid na sa kanilang mansion. Nagselfie pa siya while riding the taxi kasi it was his first time, having no choice.

"Hashtag, going home wearing a hospital gown. PS: taxi is the best!" he said while typing, then a rock hand sign before posting it on his social media account.

Few moments after...

He sighed.

Dahil habang pinagmamasdan niya ang mga bahay na nadadaanan sa kanilang subdivision, napapaisip na naman siya about sa childhood memories niya which made him feel sad.


"Good day po sir, nakaprepare na po ang lunch doon" his maid said nang makauwi na siya't makasalubong nito sa pinto.

"Kayo po ba ang nagluto yaya V, asaan na po ba 'yung bagong maid namin? Yaya Jen!"

"Kaaalis lang niya. Hay, masyado ka kasing pasaway kaya walang nagtatagal na katulong dito" sabi ni Yaya V sa binata.

Si Yaya Vilma ay matagal na talagang naninilbihan sa pamilya nila. Siya rin ang nag-alaga kay Drake at sa kapatid niya noong mga bata pa sila dahil ang mommy nila ay nagpunta sa ibang bansa at walang ibang mag-aalaga sa kanila since busy din ang daddy nila sa sarili nitong kumpanya. Kaya malaki ang utang na loob ng magkakapatid kay Yaya V.


"Di ba sabi ko na sa inyo na ikaw lang, sapat na sa akin. So why bother hiring useless maids" he said tapos umupo siya sa napakalambot nilang sofa.

"Drake, hindi panghabang buhay ay mapagsisilbihan ko kayo. Matanda na ako at may mga apo na. Siguro naman, panahon na para makita at makasama ko ang aking mga apo sa mas mahabang panahon. Alam mo bang miss na miss ko na sila?" paliwanag nito sa binata.

"Pwede naman po kitang ipahatid sa inyo kung gusto mo silang dalawin eh. Basta huwag niyo lang po akong iiwan dito"

Habang tinitingnan ng matanda ang mukha ni Drake, pansin nito ang bahid ng lungkot sa kanyang mga mata.

Noong nakaraang linggo pa dapat umalis si Yaya V pero dahil parang anak na rin ang turing niya sa binata, pinagbigyan niya itong magstay muna ng isa pang linggo sa mansion bago tuluyang umuwi sa kanila. At mamayang gabi na nga ang pagkakataon na iyon.

"Drake, anak.... di ba lagi kong sinasabi sa iyo na dapat matuto ka nang tumayo sa sarili mong mga paa. Kasi hindi umaatras ang oras. At nasa saktong edad ka na."

Dahil doon, hindi na nagsalita pa si Drake. Tumayo na lang siya at nagkunwaring wala siyang narinig. Hindi pa rin talaga niya kayang tanggapin na aalis na si Yaya V sa mansion mamaya. At mas lalo siyang nalungkot ng makita ang mga gamit ng yaya niya sa may hagdan ng bahay.

Pakiramdam niya kasi na kapag umalis na ang nag-iisang taong nagparamdam sa kanya ng care eh, he will be alone again tulad ng mga pagkakataon noon na tinalikuran siya ng mga taong malalapit sa puso niya.

He just sighed at kumain na lang ng tahimik at mag-isa.

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras.

Naipasok na ang lahat ng mga gamit ng yaya nila sa sasakyan. Drake's dad hired someone para ihatid si Yaya V sa kanila na hindi na nahihirapan.

Naghihintay si Yaya V sa labas ng mansion. She's waiting for Drake to say good bye to her. Pero, nakakulong lang ang binata sa kwarto niya, watching her from the window without being noticed.

Nalungkot ang matanda dahil hindi bumaba si Drake. Sumakay na siya sa sasakyan at tuluyan ng umalis.

Naiwan na namang mag-isa si Drake sa napakalaking bahay nila.


"Good bye yaya" mahinang sabi niya while still looking at the window.

Napaupo siya sa kanyang king-sized bed at sinubukang huwag umiyak. Pero hindi talaga niya mapigilan kasi sobrang napalapit na si Yaya V sa kanya.

Until....

He heard some noise downstairs.

Agad niyang pinunasan ang kanyang mga luha at bumaba.

Pinakinggan niyang muli to know where that noise is coming from. Nagulat siya kasi biglang may narinig siyang ingay mula sa nabasag na mga figurines.

Napalunok siya bigla dahil sa takot kaya agad siyang kumuha ng kahit na ano na pwedeng ipanghampas. Then, dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa may pinto ng kanilang basement. Yun lang kasi ang place kung saan nila tinatago ang mga old figurines ng mansion.


Sobrang kinakabahan na siya thinking that a thief got inside their house. He opened the steel door of their basement slowly. He shakingly get his phone to have some light kasi sobrang dilim sa loob.

"H_hey, whoever you are, lumabas ka na't...huling-huli na kita!" he said habang naglalakad daha-dahan sa loob ng basement.

Then, may nabasag ulit na figurines kaya napapitlag siya.

"It's not funny! lumabas ka dyan!" he said habang pinupunasan ang kanyang mga pawis.

Umikot siya at itinutok ang ilaw from his phone sa paligid hanggang sa nahagip ng ilaw na iyon ang mukha ng isang babae making him run outside the basement. He's about to cry this time because of fear.

At mas lalo siyang natakot ng may biglang lumabas sa basement.


"Aaaaaahhhhh! huwag po!!!" tili niya.