THE GOOD SISTER

Chapter 24 - Bubble

"Kat! This is so unlike you. Why are you being so ungracious?"

"Boss, I've been a good girl. Hindi ako maarte sa set, I do my own stunts, I attend all workshops you ask me to. I kiss ass if needed. But I will definitely not work with this asshole, if that is why he's here. I can do an indie film with someone else, someone who understands the industry more than some know-it-all bastard who looks down on hardworking actors just because we have the misfortune of working only on TV shows. Excuse me and good day."

She walked out of the office and headed for the elevator, ready to call it a day. Just as she was inside the empty elevator, a strong arm stopped the door from closing and in walked Inigo. Fucking sheer luck that he caught up with her.

He pressed the emergency stop button as the elevator doors closed.

"I'd like to apologize for the things I said."

"Fine. Apology accepted. But I am NOT working with you."

"I'm not joining Cannes anymore."

"I don't care."

"Kat......I sincerely want to work with you. Not for the funding anymore."

She pressed the stop button again to get the elevator in motion.

"I don't really want to know, ok?"

"Talk to me please."

The elevator door opened and she walked towards the parking area. Stubbornly, she walked on like he wasn't there. He just silently followed, letting her walk ahead of him. She got into the car and so did he.

"Can't you take a hint? I'm trying with every fibre of my being not to hit you again. You made me so angry. You made me doubt myself again, after I have painstakingly worked on my self-worth for years. Years. You have no idea what I went through to get to where I am. All my hardships encapsulated in one night's worth of careless sweeping statements by a stranger who doesn't know shit about me. And yet, you are considered a man of good repute in the industry. So that means your observation is credible, right? So it must mean, I do suck."

Her voice shook and she felt like crying. Up until he said something that night, she was doing well. She had no acting awards yet, but she was up for a few nominations for her TV series. Why was she coming undone by his comments? Why did it matter so much that one person thought her work was superficially easy?

He was at a loss and so out of his element. If she was yelling and hysterical, he'd easily just get out of the car and leave. But she was talking in a sad voice, and she looked so defeated. When her tears fell, she impatiently wiped them away like a child would. It was endearing and painful at the same time. Helplessly, he took her in his arms.

He cradled her against his sturdy body that was surprisingly gentle. She hit him once in the arm, but found comfort with his embrace. The man was an enigma to her. He elicited extreme emotions from her, like that burst of anger she felt when he maligned her that night. Now he was making her heart flutter in a way she didn't like.

"I'm really sorry I misjudged you."

She disengaged from him and looked away, briefly wondering if her make-up was still ok.

"Kat........can we start over? Look at me."

He turned her face towards him.

"Stop crying na.......ang pula na ng ilong mo tuloy."

"Tangina ka talaga."

He laughed and pulled her in his arms again. She shoved him away.

"Teka nga ha, kanina ka pa eh. From basher a few nights ago to breezy real quick? Ano ka sinusuwerte?"

"What? I was trying to make you feel better."

"Gagu feel better mo mukha mo. Get out of my car."

"Kala ko friends na tayo eh."

"Pakyu."

"Sama ng bibig ng babaeng 'to."

"Inggo......I swear."

"Puh-lease.....it's Inigo."

"You sounded gay just now."

"That was intentional, pinapatawa lang kita. Seriously, friends?"

He extended his hand to her. Grudgingly she took it.

"Fine."

"So.........this is the part where I ask you out."

"Get out."

He stole a kiss from her and got out of the car quickly before she had a chance to manhandle him again.

Hay, this girl. He was in love.