Stuck At The 9th Step

CHAPTER 50 : THROW IT

"I'm excited." She let out a lifeless chuckle. She coughed after. Anxiety strikes into me.

"I think I'll visit you again before I go home."

"Huwag na. Maaabala ka pa. Baka maaga rin akong matutulog."

"That's what you should do. Give your stubborn traits a break."

Nang matapos ang team sa shoot ay papagabi na. Sandali pa akong nakipag-meeting sa mga scriptwriters kaya alas otso na ako nakapagbyahe pauwi. Nang marating ko ang bahay ng mga Marval, tulog nga si Rhea pero naabutan ko sa kwarto nito si Shinn na tinitignan ang isang photo album.

He just gave me a quick glance before darting his eyes back to the album. "Don't wake her up." He said.

Nagtuloy-tuloy ako sa kama ni Rhea para pagmasdan itong matulog. Pinatong ko ang aking kamay sa kanyang noo para sipatin ang temperatura nito. Mas lalong tumaas.

"Na-check up na siya?"

"How the hell would I know? I just came here 15 minutes ago."

"Can you answer without being caustic?" I asked, quite annoyed by his tone.

"That's me being naturally incisive. You're just too sensitive and weak for my remarks." He said drily. "No match."

Tinitigan ko siya nang mabuti. Naalala ko ang nangyaring pag-uusap sa pagitan namin ni Ren kaninang umaga. Bumalik sa akin ang mga katanungan.

"Ren knows you." I blurted out.

Hindi nag-angat ng ulo si Shinn na parang wala lang sa kanya ang sinabi ko. "What's new about that? Everyone knows me. Maybe, he's a new fan."

Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ako o matatawa sa sinagot niyang walang kakwenta-kwenta. Mas lalong nakapagdududa ang kawalang reaksyon ni Shinn. Contrary to Ren's repulsion and obvious disgust, Shinn acts reversely. But I refuse to be deceived by his innocence. He's a social artifice. Did he start doing his plotted scheme? Hindi kaya't nagsimula na rin siyang umatake kay Ren?

"Or a hater." I added drily.

He smirked smugly. "Isn't that a kudo on my part? Intends to prove my greatness and I'm quite better than him."

Why am I wasting my time talking to this arrogant and self-assured arrogant brute?

"I have no time for deception, Shinn. What are you planning?"

"Interested?" Isinara niya ang album at tumayo. "I'm not going to share it with some coward sucker who refuse to join my scheme."

"I did not refuse. I won against you. Kasalanan ko bang natalo kita?"

"You should've quitted. It's a win-win case. Sinira mo lang."

"I'm not a quitter."

"But a coward. Ba't hindi mo na lang aminin na isa kang talunan? Hindi mo kayang makipagkumpetensya sa isang dating kaibigan. A friend who betrays you secretly is a form of treachery. You should've won." Ngumisi siya at matalim na tumingin sa akin. "I mistreat people. You better stay away from me. Huwag ka na lang rin makialam kung ayaw mong ma-involve sa gulo. 'Coz whether you like it or not, manggugulo at manggugulo ako."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Anong mapapala mo pagtapos?"

"Marami." Mas lumaki ang ngisi niya. "But I won't tell you."

He turned his back and left the room. Naiwan akong hindi siya naiintindihan. Umabot pa sa puntong napatanong ako kung normal pa ba ang pag-iisip at kinikilos ni Shinn? Is that a side effect of being a genius? Absurd idea. I don't think so.