Stockholm Syndrome (Mature Content)

Jelly Bean

CHAPTER TWENTY

Q u i n n

"Alright! One more take and we're gonna have to take a break." Nilapitan ako ng isang kaibigan. Patch Navasca, isang batikang direktor. He's my friend, a nice guy and also super gay, so Grey doesn't need to worry about him. Chos! Akala mo naman jowa-with-feelings, ano?

"Sorry. 'Di kasi ako makapag-focus." He motioned for someone to give me a chair to sit in. The girl smiles at me before walking away. Ngumiti ako pabalik, kaya naman nagtaka itong si Patch. I'm not usually like that kasi. Hmm, impluwensya ni Grey. Magpakita naman daw ako ng kabaitan kahit kaunti. "I just couldn't. I was thinking about something," I took a deep breath and trailed off, "...someone."

"Ooh, tea."

Walang nakakarinig sa'min, so it's fine. I signaled Shiloh that I'm okay. She saw me leaning my back slowly and crossing my leg, before leaning forward again as I speak. For others, this is a sign of confidence. Well, I'm different. It was tita Red who noticed this. "I'm bothered. Confused. Doubtful," That was me, sharing my thoughts with Patch. "Ugh, my head hurts thinking 'bout it."

Pinag-break muna niya ang iba upang kami'y makapag-usap ng maayos. "Love problems?" I nodded. He seems interested. "An actor or a non-showbiz guy?"

"Neither of the two."

"What, then?"

Noong una, hirap akong sabihin, pero naisip kong kailangan ko nang ilabas 'to, baka sakaling maayos ko ang trabaho ko. "There's this girl, and I can't seem to focus on anything but admitting my feelings for her. She's very pretty," Ayan, nasabi ko rin. Patch laughed. Hindi siguro siya makapaniwala sa aking sinabi. "I know, it's stupid. I mean, I just got back on my feet and I'm already letting my big comeback slip away," He knows exactly what I meant by that. "Not everybody will understand. Everyone will hate me again."

"Ano'ng pangalan niya?"

"Her name is Gremory Pedrosa. People call her Grey." I know he knows about Grey. I post pictures every single day. It's just that, ano, ah, we never really talked about it. He knows the celebrity game too much for me to fool him.

"Is she a tom or a les? Bi, perhaps?"

"What?"

"Is she someone that dresses like a man and is sexy as fuck?" Tanong niya sa akin. "Or is she one of those girls who just discovered Narnia and then walks out of the closet wearing a super-hot dress?"

"You and your imagination, Patch."

"Eh, ano nga kasi?"

"Does it matter?" I leaned my back on the chair, closing my eyes. "She's still a girl," I argued, sipping my coffee. "The storm may have passed regarding my stupid video scandal, but then, gumagawa na naman ako ng bagong issue ko."

"Do you love her?"

"I do."

"Gaano mo siya kamahal?"

"I don't know. I really can't tell at the moment," Sagot ko kay Patch. "I'm not even sure kung itutuloy ko pa 'tong letseng pag-ibig na 'to. It will ruin my career and we both know that."