Alluring Gleam of Light (Scholar Series #2)

Chapter 32

I woke up from my deepest sleep when I heard my phone rang under my pillow. Nag-inat ako ng dahan-dahan at inalis ang sleep mask ko para sagutin ang tawag.

It's Hellux.

"Hmm? Why? Aga mong napatawag, ah? Miss mo na 'ko?" Sabi ko sa kaniya at ngumisi.

"Yeah, babe. I missed you." She laughed on the other line. "That's real."

"You know we can date." Nagkibit-balikat ako. "If you're free. Because I will be. I guess."

"Next week pa ako free. May sched ka ba niyan? Baka ikaw naman itong busy next week, e."

"Magsisimula na taping ko next week. Pero don't worry, masisingit ko 'yan! I promise!"

"Yes! Wait ko 'yong call mo, ah?" She asked, raising her tone.

"Naman! Ako pa ba!"

"Wait, kaya talaga ako tumawag to ask you something."

"Okay?" Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko.

"Could you still talk to Renzo pa ba?" She asked.

"Yeah? Kapag hindi busy. Bakit naman?"

"The management has been investigating him. Palaging umaalis, e. Mas marami na yata siyang time sa labas kaysa dito. The management doubt if he's seeing someone outside. You know ... Baka kilala mo. O 'di kaya. Baka ikaw, Jaile." Tumawa siya sa huli niyang sinabi.

Nagsitayuan kaagad ang mga balahibo ko.

"Gago. Kung pag-ibig talaga ang habol namin ni Terence sa isa't-isa matagal na dapat naging kami." Umiling ako.

"Binibiro ka lang, e. Masyado ka talagang seryoso."

"Hoy sino kaya?! E, kaunting lambingan lang namin ni Terence noon pine-predict niyo na agad na sa simbahan ang tuloy namin!" I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Alam ko, okay?" She chortled.

Bumuntong hininga ako at umayos ng upo. Sumandal ako sa headboard ng kama ko. "So you call to ask me if Terence has girlfriend, right?"

She said Terence oftenly went out their company to work on something they don't know. Salubong pa rin ang mga kilay ko. That man is so determined to his dream. Paano nangyaring sa palagay nila ay may ibang pinagkaka abalahan maliban sa trabaho niya?

"Are you guys sure he's dating someone kaya madalas siyang wala diyan? Baka naman, he's just visiting his family."

"No way. Makinig ka sa akin." Lalo ko ngang nilapit ang tainga ko sa speaker ng aking cellphone. "The management doesn't know about this yet. But Ethann, 'yong co-member niya told me na may nakita siyang lipstick and other girly things sa gamit ni Terence. May shoes pa na pangbabae!"

Umawang ang labi ko sa narinig. Their hunch might probably right. Walang kapatid na babae si Terence o hindi kaya naman ay pinsan!

"We haven't reported this matter to the management yet. We wanted to protect his contract and his career. Kaya Jaile ... We need you. Hulihin mo na siya bago pa man siya mahuli ng management. I swear, his contract will doubtlessly be terminated easily if the management happens to know about his relationship to someone. God! He's already at the peak of his success! Hindi pwedeng basta basta na lang siyang lumagapak!" She's frustrated as I am.

Damn. Anong pumasok sa kukote ng lalaki na 'yon at ngayon pa siya nagloko, ha!?

Kaagad kong hinawi ang comforter para maligo dahil ang mission ko ngayon ay ang kausapin si Terence! Nilapag ko ang cellphone ko sa ibabaw ng tukador matapos makipag-usap kay Hellux.