The Hacker (BxB) Completed

Fifteen

"Hey," I looked at the person who called me. "Did I scared you?," tanong niya.

Umiling ako at mabilis na binalik sa loob ang mga litrato at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang envelope.

"Hindi naman," ani ko dito. He smiled at me and chuckled.

"Bagong lipat lang ako dito. I don't know anyone here," sabi nito habang tinuturo ang pinto sa likuran niya. His room's just one door across mine. "I'm Carter by the way," inabot nito ang kanyang kamay upang magpakilala.

Tinanggap ko naman ito at ngumiti sa kanya. "Raiden. Nice to meet you," pakilala ko.

"Me too. Ikaw ang una kong nakilala rito," natatawa nitong sabi. Napailing naman ako sa sinabi nito at mahinang natawa dahil para itong nahihiya. I let go of his hand and chuckled.

To describe Carter, he's taller than me. Probably older than me too. Sa tingin ko ay magka-edad sila ni Kyle. His built is also similar to Kyle's. He got looks different from Kyle. Mas gwapo si Kyle kesa sa kanya---fuck! Why the hell am I comparing him to Kyle?!

"Ah, let's catch up some other time. May gagawin pa kasi ako," paalam ko sa kanya.

"Oh gano'n ba? Sige. Nice to meet you, Raiden." I waved at him before entering inside my apartment.

Nang makapasok ay napatingin ako sa hawak ko. I think I need to talk to Javi and ask him right away. I heaved a sigh before placing the envelope to my drawer beside the bed.

Bakit parang ang daming dumadating na problema sa'kin ngayon?

I reached for my phone and searched for Kyle's name in my contact. Tinawagan ko ito ngunit nakailang ring nalang ako ay hindi pa rin ito sumasagot.

Napabuntong-hininga ako bago naisipang pumunta sa kompanya niya.

Ilang minuto lang ay nakarating na agad ako sa harap ng gusali ng kompanya nito. I went straight to his office. Nang makarating doon ay wala akong Kyle na nadatnan.

Nagtatakang bumaba ako dahil hindi ko alam kung nasaan ito. I went to the receptionist to ask Kyle's whereabouts.

"Nasaan si Sir Kyle?," tanong ko sa babae.

"Hindi ko po alam Sir Raiden. Umalis kanina e, nagmamadali," sagot nito. Napatango nalang ako at nagpasalamat sa kanya. I went back to my car and contacted Kyle's number again.

Ilang ring lang at sinagot niya ito.

"Hey Raiden? Sorry I was doing something a while ago," agad nitong sagot mula sa kabilang linya.

"It's okay. Ah, pwede tayong magkita ngayon? Nasa kompanya ako," tanong ko rito.

"Is there anything wrong? Is it important?"

"Kind of---

"Okay I'll be there. Five minutes."

Hindi na ako nakasagot nang ibinaba na ni Kyle ang tawag. Napailing nalang ako bago lumabas ng kotse para bumalik sa opisina niya.

I waited for how many minutes before Kyle arrived. Humahangos ito nang makalapit sa'kin. Both of his hands are on his waist habang hinahabol ang hininga.

"Hey...," he greeted habang mabibigat ang hininga.

"Anong nangyari sayo," nag-aalala kong tanong.

"I kind of...ran. The elevator's out of order when I arrived so...I---fuck---took the stairs..."

Napanganga ako sa sagot nito. Pinasadahan nito ang kanyang buhok exposing his forehead with beads of sweat. Umupo ito sa kanyang upuan at malakas na nagpalabas ng hininga.

He looked at me worriedly while I was left frozen looking at him.

"Tell me what happened," he said.

"You shouldn't have ran, you know."

"You said it's important kaya ako nagmadali," rason naman nito. Napalunok ako sa sinabi nito. I was touched by his effort I must admit. Ngunit nagi-guilty ako sa loob-loob.

"I want to request a..."

"A what?," he asked when I stopped. I heaved a sigh before looking at him again.

"I want to request a leave," mabilis kong sagot.

"Pardon me?," nagtatakang tanong ni Kyle.

"I want to request a leave, Sir," pag-uulit ko.

"Why?"

"May kailangan akong asikasuhin. It's personal I can't tell you."

"You should tell me you know. I'm your boss," he said leaning on his chair. Now, he's using his authority against me.

"It's a family matter. One week lang naman po," sagot ko.

"What if I deny your request?"

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa tanong nito. The fuck is he saying? Pwede niya bang gawin 'yon? Of course, pwede dahil boss siya. Pero may rason naman ako. I just need to solve my problem on my own.

Maayos akong nakikipag-usap sa kanya at nakikiusap tapos papakitaan ako nito ang attitude. Umiinit ang ulo ko sa inaasta ni Kyle.

"Bakit? Maayos naman ang rason ko ah? At saka ngayon lang naman dahil kailangan ko talaga. Bakit niyo idedeny? Kung gano'n lang din naman edi magquit na ako rito---

"Raiden!"

"Ano?!," sigaw ko pabalik sa kanya dahil pinagtaasan ako nito ng boses.

"You and your temper. Calm down," mahina nitong sabi. I tried myself to calm down. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. "I'll grant your request in one condition."

Napatingin ako kay Kyle. He's looking at me also and met my eyes.

Nabalot nang katahimikan ang pagitan naming dalawa na parang nalulunod na sa titigan. Umiwas ako ng tingin dito dahil bumilos ang tibok ng puso ko just by looking at his eyes.

"Ano 'yon?," I asked.

"You're just leaving for one week. Sa trabaho. Sa trabaho lang Raiden," kunot-noong napalingon ako rito dahil sa sinabi.

"Yes, I know. What are you saying?"

"You're leaving work not me. Sa trabaho ang alis hindi sa buhay ko. Okay babe?"

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(Ang daming sinabi ni Kyle 'no? Takot na takot maiwan? HAHAHA sa trabaho nga lang kasi ang leave!)

@HenryLauv