The Girl Who Cannot Write Love Stories ✓

4: Plot Unfolding

Hindi mapakali si Jae simula kanina nang dumating sila sa ospital— scratch that, kanina pa siya balisa simula nang masaksihan ang pagbagsak ni Quinn sa kalsada. He could just stare at her sleeping figure right now.

She's still under observation. He insists that they'd run through tests to make sure that she's okay. Tumama ang ulo nito pagkabagsak sa kalsada. Mabuti na't sigurado silang ayos ang lagay ng dalaga.

She looks beat up from exhaustion, he couldn't help but notice. Nahihiwagaan siya rito, sa totoo lang.

He doesn't know why, but as if there's a magnetic pull dragging him towards her. Hindi niya ito maiwan-iwan. Maybe it is his conscience speaking. He can't sit still after the incident this morning. And perhaps she's telling the truth. He's gotten the invitation to join a photography competition right after the mysterious woman left.

Natauhan na lang siya nang pumasok si Amanda sa silid. "Kuya, you've told me that Dad is already getting through the bottom of this. Bakit... bakit nangyari pa ito?"

She launches herself on the sofa. "That guy who harassed me might be bigger than we think. I clearly saw him smirking before they left!" Pagtukoy nito sa bumangga kay Quinn. Yumani ang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

"If she's really the writer, Amanda, don't you think she's the reason behind this?" Hirap na hirap itong magsabi. Napaisip naman si Amanda. That's actually horrible.

"But... if she doesn't really care, she'd rather leave me merciless with that guy. And if she brought things her way... she wouldn't be lying unconscious now, right?" Natahimik silang muli.

Ayaw maniwala ni Jae kay Adanna. She comes out of nowhere at gusto ng binata protektahan ang pamilya sa mga nangyayari.

But there's a small part of him that wants to know Quinn. Ginugulo nito ang isipan niya. Parang may kung anong nabuhay sa kalooban niya na hindi niya mawari.

Napabuntong hininga si Jae. "You're right."

Meanwhile, Quinn starts hearing voices over her like a buzz. Pagkamulat ng kaniyang mga mata, sinalubong siya ng puting kisame.

Pain registers in her senses. Nakaramdam siya ng kirot sa ulo kaya't inabot niya ito. Natigilan siya nang mapagtantong hindi siya nag-iisa rito. Tuluyang natahimik ang silid. She sees Jae and Amanda looking at her with wide eyes.

"I'm glad you're awake now!" Amanda squeals.

**

"How did you find me?" Hindi niya mapigilang itanong sa dalawa habang palabas sila ng ospital. Nag-stay sila para sa ilang oras na obserbasyon. And she's glad her results have come clear— it means that she's physically fine after everything.

"It's not a simple hit-and-run case for you, Quinn," paglilihis ng usapan ni Jae.

Amanda quickly cuts in. "Yes. He insists on going after you, Quinn! Pagkatapos na pagkatapos mong umalis sa unit. And... and we saw the same guy from—"

Panic latches in Jae's eyes. His sister is oversharing! Quinn doesn't need to know that. He stares directly into Quinn's eyes. "You'll stay with us for the meantime."

Napatango na lang siya habang papalit-palit ng tingin sa dalawa. She couldn't catch up with them. Whatever has happened earlier numbs her. Parang kanina lang ay tila rollercoaster ang nararamdaman niya. Ngayon ay tila nag-shutdown na ang sistema niya sa mga napagdaanan.

**

"What are you doing in front of J&Queen pala?" Amanda asks while they're lying on the inflatable mattress. Jae hesitantly leaves them after he's got a call for a photo shoot. She urges him to go. Pinaalis niya ito dahil kailangan nitong gampanan ang karakter nito.