Hacker Vs. Hacker

Chapter 18

Penny's POV

I AM feeling this confusion that I Can't even fathom. What the hell is he doing? He was really serious. Or was he? God. But I may hate to admit it, pero medyo nakita ko kagabi yung romantic side ni Paul. And yeah, I was surprised. Well, surprised was an understatement.

Para akong baliw na titig ng titig sa singsing na nasa daliri ko. Did He really spend thousands of money just to fool me? Ganun siya ka-bored? Ganun siya ka-desperado na paglaruan ako? At ganun rin siya kayaman? Paul, you're giving me headache.

Nasa office ako, pero mukhang wala naman akong magagawa dito. Humihigop ako ng kape nang biglang nag-ring yung phone ko.

It's James. May problema kaya? Shit.

"James, Yes?" sagot ko.

"We saw Ian's brother," muntik ko nang mabitawan ang phone ko.

"What?"

"Ian's Brother, I think he's working here," pagkaklaro niya.

Mierda.

Mierda.

Mierda.

Mierda.

"Really? Didn't he recognize you?"

"We don't think he does."

"Ian introduced him to us, right? Noong birthday niya?"

"Yep."

"And he doesn't recognize you?"

"Think not."

"Okay, thanks, James."

Pinatay ko yung tawag.

My heart is beating so fvcking fast. It's him. God, it's him. Alam kong matagal na akong nagdududa. But part of me wants to think it's not him. It can't be him. Napatingin ulit ako sa singsing na suot ko. Putangina ka, manloloko ka!

Tinawagan ko si Ian.

"Hi," bati kko sa kanya nung sumagot siya.

"Hey."

"Any update?" pasimpleng tanong ko.

"Wala pa naman akong nakikitang tao na related sa akin dito, so I guess none?"

"I see. Can I... can I ask something?"

Paano ko ba 'to itatanong?

"Alam mo ba kung saan nagtatrabaho yung kapatid mo?"

Ilang Segundo siyang tahimik sa kabilang linya, "No, why?"

"What did he finish in college?"

"Something related to business. But he's fond of computers and poetry."

"I see."

"Why? I thought he's your boyfriend? You can ask him yourself stuffs like that."

Binalewala ko yung sinabi niya. Kung nang-iinis man siya, bahala siya. Wala na akong energy para patulan siya.

"Thanks," at pinatay ko na yung tawag.

Fond of computers and poetry? Sounds like the hacker. Why? Why? Why would he do such thing to me? Anong ginawa ko sa kanya? He's so cruel! Ginawa ko lang naman ang trabaho ko. Kung hindi siya papahuli, eh di sana cyber attack na lang ang ginawa niya. Bakit?

Nahilamos ko ang palad ko. Hindi ko na alam kung anong nararamdaman ko ngayon.

Alam ko namang siya na talaga, eh. I just needed to confirm it one last time. One last time? Tanga-tanga mo, Penny! Sinampal na nga sayo ang katotohanan, confirm-confirm ka pang nalalaman.