Sweet Revenge

An excerpt from my untitled novel, taken from Chapter 13. The drift was taken from a comedy I dearly loved.

Ethan and Samuel were left alone. They looked at each other and glanced away with sky-high pride. Ethan began by pleading to Samuel to go back to work at Brentford. With a stiff upper lip, Sam turned him down. They spent some moment of a piss-poor negotiating job, though.

“Let’s just talk about it in the car.”

“You think sasabay ako sa’yo? Duh! Mag-isa ka. Mukha mo.”

“Hindi ka yayaman sa pride mo. Malayo pa ang sakayan dito.”

“Balewala lang sa’yo ang pride kase mapera ka.”

“Hindi ka talaga sasakay?” Ethan’s last offer.

“Hindi.” Samuel contemptuously stared then began walking off.

Ethan’s car sped off, passing by him. Anger burned inside him that his whole body raised temperature. He tried to chase but got tired, finally stopping to pant.

“Hoy, Echas, may araw ka rin!” Samuel exasperatedly shouted. Then he put his left palm under his right elbow, with right fist clenched, saying, “Eto ka, Echas, eto ka!”

An hour later, Samuel hopped off a bus. He got off at the same place where Ethan had dropped him off on the day he had spilled coffee on the former. He walked slowly with painful legs and sore feet. Across the road he saw Ethan seated on the hood of the damned car that had left him an hour ago. Ethan seemed to have been waiting for him.

Samuel treaded on nonchalantly. Ethan followed at a safe distance behind.

“Pagod na pagod ka yata,” Ethan teased.

Samuel walked on. “Gago ka ba? Anlayo kaya ng nilakad ko.”

“Sabi ko kasi, sumabay ka na. Aayaw-ayaw ka pa, eh. Adik ka rin, eh.”

Samuel stopped and turned. “Mas adiktus ka. Ba’t mo’ko iniwan?”

Ethan also stopped, distance kept remained. “Ang tigas kasi ng ulo mo. Pinapairal pa kasi ang pride.”

Samuel pivoted and walked up again. Ethan went into motion.

“Bumalik ka na kasi sa Brentford.”

“In your dreams.”

“Okay. I’ll give you a ten percent raise. Or twenty.”

Samuel puffed up some bangs covering his left eye. “How cheap. Sa yaman mong ‘yan, hanggang twenty percent lang ang kaya mong idagdag?”

“Hindi ako waldas. Businessman ako.”

For the second time, Samuel stopped and faced Ethan. Of course, Ethan also ceased from walking.

“Eh ano pa’ng itinatayu-tayo mo d’yan? Businessman ka, ‘di ba? Baka nalilimutan mong Lunes ngayon?”

“Absent ako ngayon pero I’m making a business deal. Kaya pumayag ka na. ‘Wag mo nang aksayahin ang oras ko.”

Disdainfully, Samuel folded his arms. “Abusado ka, ha. Ikaw ang may kailangan, ikaw pa ang reklamador.” He noticed something in Ethan’s grasp and asked about it.

“Isang box ng chocolates. For you.”

“You bribing me?”

“Peace offering. I know you’re mad at me, so I bought chocolates. Sabi kasi nila, ‘Choco latte makes the pain go away.’ Nice rhyme, ain’t it?” Ethan stretched his arm, giving off the box.

“Ayoko n’yan. Walang katambal.” Samuel pretended he was thinking of something.

“Anong katambal? Don’t tell me, gusto mo ng roses? Babae ka ba?”

“Kalahati.”

“Kaya nga kalahati lang ang ibinibigay ko. Chocolates lang. Choosy ka pa?” Ethan shook the box in front of Sam’s face.

“I’ll take that in one condition: lumuhod ka sa harap ko.”

“What! Nangangarap ka na naman ba? Tanggapin mo na lang kasi ‘to!” Ethan furiously demanded.

“Ayaw mo?” Samuel waited awhile then turned to leave. He walked slowly.

“Sandali.”

Samuel briskly turned around. “Ano—luluhod ka na? Kung ayaw mo, aalis na’ko.” He pretended to pivot.

“Sandali nga!”

“’Wag mo nga sayangin ang oras ko. Gagawin mo ba o hindi?” Samuel repeatedly tapped his shoe on the ground, mimicking a ticking clock.

Glaring, Ethan exhaled audibly. He flipped his head and flipped back with a sigh. He did it again with a louder sigh. Then again with a clearer sigh.

In hidden amusement, Samuel was waiting, giving Ethan a prompting stare. Ethan had no choice. He badly needed a designer and he needed to do Sam’s foolish idea. He scanned around the area. Fortunately, not a soul was lurking out under the summer sun. In half-hesitation, he knelt on one knee, head ducked down, hand with chocolate raised towards Samuel.

Kumakagat talaga si Engot! Samuel thought. He made a big flattered smile and waited for a few seconds before finally spoiling the fun by taking the box of sweets.

Ethan immediately sprang to his feet. He scanned around again and wiped his perspiring forehead with the back of his palm.

“Ayan. Ginawa ko na, ha. Mag-report ka tomorrow sa office,” Ethan demanded.

“Pag-iisipan ko pa, ‘no.” Sam glanced at the box.

“Tsk. Anong pag-iisipan? Tumupad ako sa usapan kaya tumupad ka rin.”
“Hala! May usapan ba tayo?”

“Meron. Nagbigay ka pa nga ng kundisyon na lumuhod ako sa harap mo.”

“Tanga. Peace offering lang ‘tong chocolates, ‘di ba? May pinirmahan ba ‘kong kasulatan na babalik na’ko sa trabaho?”

Ethan irritably scratched his head. “Pinaghirapan ko ‘yon tapos pag-iisipan mo pa?”

“Tigilan mo nga ako. ‘Pag ako nainis, ‘di ko na pag-iisipan yun.”

“Gano’n? Gimme back the chocolates.” Ethan tried to snatch the box.

Samuel hid it behind him. “Lelang mo. Ibinigay mo na, eh. Alis na. Bumalik ka na sa office.” He turned around and walked homewards. Knowing Ethan couldn’t see him, he closed his eyes and smiled brightly.

Ethan stayed put. “Pumasok ka bukas, ha?”

Sam didn’t answer. From an irate look, Ethan’s face suddenly switched to a blithesome one, with a smile undoubtedly authentic.