Lies and Deception ✔ (Haciendero #4)

Ikadalawampu't Dalawang Kabanata

Kabanata 22

In a good condition

Tumaas ang kilay ko nang bumalik si Michelle na walang kasama. She shook her head.

Umirap naman ako sa ere.

Kanina ko pa hinihintay dumating si Gareth sa set para makapag-practice sa mabilisang tapon ng dialogue. As much as I loathe the guy, I want this set up to work for the success of the movie.

He's not good, and he's not even doing something to improve himself. No doubt I'll be carrying this movie in my back.

"Hey," Rye smiled. "P'wede ba akong mag-stay here? People are just weird, they keep on talking to me about modelling and acting gigs. Hindi naman ako interesado maliban sa'yo." Napakamot siya ng ulo. Hindi ko masyado narinig ang huling kataga.

"If you don't want to, I can stay in the car. Mukhang masama agad ang mood natin, baka stressor pala ako." He chuckled.

Oh, that gave me idea.

"It's fine, you can stay here."

Actually, I don't mind. If I were honest enough, I want him here beside me or on my top... whatever. Naupo siya sa harap ko. Bumalik naman ako sa pagbabasa ng screenplay.

I was indulged into a certain scene when a flash of a camera interrupted me. Nag-angat ako ng paningin, only to see Raius holding his phone, frozen on the spot. Huling - huli ko siya habang kinukuhanan ako ng litrato.

I raised a brow. "You could have asked me for a picture, masyadong fan."

Ibinaba ko ang mga papel sa mesa, tumayo ako at iki-nrus ko ang braso sa aking dibdib.

Hindi ako galit.

I wasn't mad, in fact I was amused. He certainly could have asked, he opted to take a stolen shot. Was it worth the shot?

Lumapit ako sa kanya. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa phone nang makitang iyon ang pokus ng aking mga mata. He knew me, and he knew my next move would be demanding his phone be given to me.

That's what happened.

Hindi ko siya tinantanan hangga't hindi niya iyon ibigay sa akin.

"You're gorgeous in any angle, don't delete it, please." Rye pleaded.

Tiningnan ko ang litratong kuha niya. It wasn't bad --- like hello? Ako iyong nasa picture, of course, maganda iyon. But it wasn't the usual glam with a perfect pose to partner.

I was busy in the shot --- busy with the script. My head was a bit creased. Nakayuko ako habang binabasa ang hawak na papel. The picture was decent, something normal yet beautiful.

Pinindot ko ng ilang beses ang phone niya. He was sulking already. Natawa naman ako.

"Ayan, you have a new wallpaper, thanks to me." Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang phone.

His whole face reddened seeing the things I did to his phone. I took some selfies on his phone, and set the picture he took without my knowledge as his wallpaper. Kinilig naman masyado ang ex-boyfriend ko.

"You think that's for free? No, not at all."

"Just name what you want, miss. I'll do whatever you want."

Ngumisi ako at muling bumalik sa puwesto ko kanina. Kinuha ko ang screenplay bago muling naglakad sa tapat niya. I grinned evilly as I sat in front of him. His eyes were just waiting for me to say something.

I sat on the chair in his front.

"Hm?"

I smiled. "You'll have an acting banter with me. Wala si Gareth, kaya ikaw ang substitute."