Author's Note (The Villain Series 1)

Kabanata 37

ADAMAS was impatiently tapping his fingers on his arms. Nakaupo siya sa sofa habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa nakasarang kuwarto ni Logan. Isang linggo na ang lumipas matapos ang kaarawan ni Gon at isang linggo na ring hindi nagpapansinan ang dalawa. Sa mga araw na iyon, walang tigil din sa pagtratrabaho ang lalaki.

Minsan lang din silang nagkakausap dahil puro trabaho ang ginagawa nito. Kahit madilim na ang gabi, naabutan niya pa rin itong gising. Nag-aalala na siya dahil baka bigla na naman itong mahimatay at magkasakit.

It wasn't the only thing he was worried about but the color of his emotion too. His dark and heavy emotion had been taking its shape since the night of Gonietta's birthday. Mas lalo itong lumaki, kinakapitan na ang buong braso ng lalaki.

"System, the progress bar," utos niya sa system.

[Character Restoration progress: 87%]

He hissed. He should've moved after Gonietta's birthday, but he couldn't just leave Logan alone. Baka bigla na lang itong kainin ng sariling emosyon at wala siya. Hindi naman siya makakapayag doon. He wouldn't let that happen.

His dark emotion was too similar to his author. Even if there were quite a difference, he was certain it was a triggering emotion that could lead to something terrible. And he couldn't fathom witnessing another writer killing himself without him doing anything to stop it.

Until now, he was still in pain. He would lose his mind if he witnessed something like that again.

Bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto ni Logan kaya kaagad siyang napatayo. Kaagad siyang sumunod sa lalaki na naglakad palabas para pumunta sa trabaho.

"What are you doing, Mr. Adamas?" taka nitong tanong.

"I'm going with you."

"Huh? But I'm going to the company." Nilingon siya nito.

"I'll go there with you."

"You can't."

"I'll go!" pamimilit niya habang 'di inaalis ang tingin sa emosyon nito. The dark emotion represented Logan's face right now--tired.

Bumuntonghininga naman ito. "Bahala ka nga, Mr. Adamas. Bawal ka rin naman sa office."

Hindi na ito nakipagtalo sa kaniya at bumaba na. Sumunod din siya kaagad. Hanggang sa makarating sa publishing company na pinagtratrabahuan nito, nakasunod lang siya. Papasok na sana sila sa building ngunit napatigil nang may makitang pigura na naglalakad din papunta sa pintuan.

It was Gonietta and a guy.

Napasingkit ang mga mata niya sa lalaki.

Who the hell is this?

Napatigil din sa paglalakad ang dalawa nang makita sila.

"Oh, hey, Logan!" bati ng lalaki. He raised his hand as a gesture.

Tumango naman si Logan at ngumiti. "Hey."

Nanatili lang tahimik si Gonietta, nahihiya itong magsalita.

Pinasadahan niya ng tingin si Logan at napansing ang pagbagsak ng balikat nito. Isa pang emosyon ang lumabas at iyon ay purong kalungkutan. Adamas then figured the guy must be the one Gon mentioned before. The guy she liked, Zaren.

Tiningnan siya ng lalaki mula ulo hanggang paa. "And who is this? A cosplayer?"

His eyebrows immediately furrowed. How dare he said that?! He was real! The real Adamas Vondrov Riscarte!

"Ahm . . . well . . ." Napakamot si Logan sa kaniyang batok na nilingon siya. Nagdadalawang-isip sa sasabihin dahil baka maulit ang nangyari sa una nilang pagkikita kapag um-oo ito.