Through Dangers Untold

Chapter Twenty-Two - A Better Player

"HELLO," bungad ni Renante sa kapatid nang tawagan nito.

So it's true, mabigat na wika ni Ronnie sa kabilang linya. Umalis ka na nga ng bahay.

"Yes," he replied coolly. "It took you this long to find out?"

Ngayon lang nabanggit ni Mama sa akin, anito habang nakaupo at ginagalaw-galaw ang swivel chair sa loob ng pribado nitong opisina. Ronnie loosened his neck tie before taking in a breath. Saan ka ngayon nakatira? I don't think you planned this. Binigla mo raw si Mama sa desisyon mong bumukod.

"Why are you concerned? Kinausap ka siguro ni Mama para kumbinsihin akong bumalik."

Well, he groaned, you know why our parents are worried, Renante. How are you supposed to live? Kumpleto ka pa bang nakakakain sa isang araw? We all know that VVatch is not yet that stable.

Great. Here his family goes again.

"You'll know once I started posting photos of the food I eat. I will, para hindi na kayo nag-aalala," sarkastiko niyang saad. "Pwede bang tapusin na natin ito? I'm busy."

How come? Your secretary just said you did not clock in today.

His eyes narrowed.

Mukhang may nagpapabaya na naman. Don't disappoint our family, Renante.

These bastards.

"I built VVatch with my own money," he hissed. "Wala na kayong pakialam kung paano ko patatakbuhin ang negosyo ko."

As far as I know, you used your lifetime of savings. How are you keeping up with so little left in your bank account?

"More fulfilled than people who has a lot in their bank account," he snapped. "Bye, Ronnie."

Pinatayan na niya ito ng phone. Pag-angat ni Renante ng tingin, napadpad iyon sa papalapit na si Kylie. She smiled at him, hurrying in her puffed-sleeved periwinkle dress.

"Renante!" she sweetly greeted. Pinasadahan siya nito saglit ng tingin. "You're here?"

Binulsa niya ang cellphone. "Yes. In fact, I'm with Stacey."

Biglang nagbago ang anyo nito. "Oh."

Hindi iyon nakaligtas sa kanya. "Is this about what happened the last time? Nung tumawag siya sa iyo tungkol sa pagpost mo ng number ni Marty sa Facebook?"

She sadly sighed. "Can we just not talk about it? Napag-usapan na rin naman namin ng personal iyan ni Stacey."

He nodded. We'll see... "So, dito ka rin kakain?"

"Ah, sasaglit lang ako," ngiti ni Kylie. "Take out ng milktea, tapos uuwi rin ako."

Oo nga pala, malapit lang dito ang bahay ni Kylie. So, she still lives with her parents, hm?

"Kayo? Sa dami-dami ng kakainan ninyo bakit dito pa?" Nagdududa na ang tingin nito sa kanya. "Are you guys dating?"

"D-Dating?" paling ang ngiti niya. "What... No. Don't get any ideas there."

"Asus, sa akin ka pa magde-deny," nanunukso nitong ngisi sa kanya.

"Really," he chuckled a little. "We're not dating. I'm just trying to make it up to Stace."