Chapter 42
1252 Words
JUSTIN
I immediately pulled Riz when I saw the car swerving. She was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt. In my anger, I picked up a rock and threw it at the car to make it stop. The glass in the back shattered from the force of the rock. I threw it hard; I used to pitch when I was younger.
“Justin!” Riz scolded me after I threw the rock. Her surprise was evident, and she probably didn’t expect me to do that. I ignored her and waited for the driver to get out of the car.
When the driver’s door opened, a teenager stumbled out, and when he looked at the damage to the car, he seemed to lose his composure.
Fuck! How old is he? 16? He doesn’t even reach my shoulder. I don’t think he has a driver’s license. Worse, he either stole the car or borrowed it.
“What the f**k?! Why did you throw a rock at the car?” He kept holding his head and scratching his neck, looking tense and on the verge of tears.
“Do you even know what happened earlier?” I asked him angrily while Riz held my arm, telling me to calm down. I approached him but kept enough space in case he tried to fight back.
People were starting to gather. Batangueños are naturally brave and don’t back down from confrontations.
“You almost hit my wife!” When I think of what could have happened earlier, I can’t breathe. I could have lost Riz and our baby.
“You said—”
He was cut off when I grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against the trunk. Fear was visible in his eyes. He should be scared of me.
“My wife is pregnant. If you’re going to drive, be responsible! Where’s your license? Is this your car?” I bombarded him with questions. If he were just a little older, we might have already been fighting.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen. My phone rang, and it fell, so—”
I shoved him again and let go. I felt even angrier. No one should use their phone while driving.
“You’re not even supposed to use your phone while driving! Your eyes should be on the road, not on your f*****g phone. Call your parents now! I want to speak to them.”
Even though I knew he was scared, he still acted tough. “I am old enough.” He adjusted his clothes and stood straight, albeit unsteadily.
“Fine. Show me your license and get yourself a f*****g lawyer right now. You could have killed my wife and unborn baby, and I am not going to take it lightly.” That’s how it feels when your own family is almost harmed. I might be overprotective, but I want them both to be safe.
“A lawyer isn’t necessary. Let’s just talk about this—” He discreetly wiped his tears. By now, he might have come to his senses. I’m simply waiting for an apology, but with his attitude, he can’t bring himself to do it.
“I am much older than you, boy. Do you even have a license? You look like you’re only fifteen.”
“Justin, let’s just go,” Riz urged me.
The boy laughed. “Listen to your wife.” He muttered “andres” at the end. Andres meant 'scared of the wife'.
But before I could speak, Riz beat me to it. She flicked the boy’s ear, even though he was taller than her.
“You f*****g asshole! I was saving you from trouble, and then you call my husband ‘andres’? Give me your license and call your parents. You’re the one at fault, and you’re the one being arrogant and mocking. Good thing I’m not your mother, because I wouldn’t tolerate your behavior.”
Riz was huffing with anger. She wasn’t mad about almost getting hit earlier, but now she looked like she wanted to strangle the boy in front of her for calling me “andres.” She cares for me too.
The boy scratched his head and looked at me. I didn’t say anything and let him deal with the mess he started.
“S-Sorry,” he apologized.
“I won’t accept your apology until you give me your license. Or maybe you don’t have a license? Did you steal the car?” my wife asked him, seething with anger.
It’s scary when my wife gets mad. It feels like you can’t give her a proper answer unless it’s what she expects.
“S-Student permit.”
Riz sniffed him a little. “And you still had the nerve to drink? Give me your student permit and call your parents. Ask them to come here.”
He handed his student permit to Riz, and when I looked at it, I saw his name: Romeo Toledano.
The kid was on the phone calling his parents while grimacing. When he hung up, he told us that his mother was on her way.
“Toledano?” He nodded. “Is your father Oli Toledano, that famous boxer?” I’ve idolized him since childhood. He has retired but remains respected in the country. He and his family live a simple life here in Batangas.
He scratched his head. “He’s my father.”
As respected as his father is, his son’s attitude is the complete opposite. Or maybe he’s just going through a phase.
Before long, an SUV pulled up near us. A simple-looking woman, whom I estimated to be around fifty, got out. She first looked at her son and then at the car.
“Rome, what happened?” she asked the boy, who was looking down and seemed unwilling to speak. “Who threw a rock at the car? Are you hurt?”
“Ma’am, your son was not hurt. But he could have killed my wife and unborn child with his driving.”
“And you are?” she asked me with a frown.
“I’m Justin Calderon, and this is my wife, Riz. We were happily eating here when your son’s car came and almost hit Riz as it swerved. Your son said his cell phone fell, but when he got out of the car earlier, he was staggering. He had a drink. Isn’t he a minor?”
The woman rubbed her temples. “I’m sorry about my son. I’m Maricon Toledano, his mother.” She pulled out a card from her wallet and handed it to me. “If there’s anything that needs to be settled, please give me a call. If you want to press charges—”
I shook my head. “I am not pressing charges, but your son might not be so lucky next time if this happens to someone else.”
It seemed like Romeo’s mother breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I appreciate your understanding. I’m sorry, Mrs. Calderon. Rest assured that I will talk to my son so this doesn’t happen again.”
After a few exchanges of words, Mrs. Toledano left, reiterating that if we needed anything, we should just let her know. She seemed like a good mother; I don’t know why Romeo acted that way. We took a tricycle to Riz’s house and didn’t wait for a jeepney.
But as soon as we got out, a car stopped behind us.
- Writer
