I
Tahimik na nakaupo si Juno sa kanyang couch nang nakataas ang mga paa. He's not on the mood to play any of his RPGs tonight. There is a large bottle of whisky on the center table. He poured generous amount on his iceless glass and drank it straight.
Kung may maipagmamalaki siyang talent, o kung maipagmamalaki ba niya iyon, he had a high tolerance in alcohol. Maybe because he treated alcoholic drinks like his life. He needed or was forced to endure all its bitterness and intoxication.
Huminto siya sa pag-inom nang makalahati na niya ang bote. It doesn't help at all. Wala pa rin siyang maisip sa kung paano siya makakaganti sa Tala Crevin na iyon, at hindi pa rin niya maisip kung bakit untraceable ang kanyang online companion samantalang nagawa siyang i-trace nito.
If that's the case, it will also be the same even if he emptied the whisky bottle.
Juno lets himself fall into the cushion of the couch. His head landed with a soft 'flop'. He squinted.
He could easily walk away from everything if he wanted to. Puwede siyang lumayo mula kay Fatima, lumayo sa mga bagay na ayaw niya... at lumayo kay Tala Crevin.
He just chose not to. He wanted to stay where he was and continue to live peacefully. They should leave him alone and not the other way around.
But to tell the truth, Juno was partly glad Tala is still around. Tala's presence keeps him sane. If he doesn't think of how to get even with him, he might've lost his mind.
Juno closed his eyes.
Hindi niya naisara ang blinds kaya pagmulat niya ng kanyang mga mata, nasilaw siya sa sinag mula sa mga bintana. May napansin siyang tao na nasa balcony kaya kaagad siyang bumangon.
Napansin siya nito kaya kaagad itong pumasok sa loob. It was none other than Tala.
"Paano ka nakapasok?" Kaagad niyang tanong sa binata kahit may hunch na siya. There is a possibility na nakita nito at nakabisado ang t-in-ype niyang unlock code sa pinto.
"Fatima told me your password..." Ngingiti-ngiting sagot ni Tala.
Juno forcefully shut his eyes. He is really losing faith to his mom nowadays. How could Fatima sold him to one of her talents that easy?
Pero kinalma ni Juno ang sarili. It's not the end of the world yet. He can still change his password later. He slowly breathes in and breathes out. When he opened his eyes, Tala is already standing in front of him.
"Pinapunta ka ba rito ni Fatima para ipaalam sa akin ang schedule ng Mania?" Tanong ni Juno sa binata. "Hindi ba puwedeng ipadaan na lang iyon sa e-mail? Don't worry about my attendance. I always see to it that I fulfill my ends on every contract I signed."
Sapilitan siyang hinila ni Tala patayo ng couch. Hinawakan nito ang magkabila niyang balikat at iniharap siya sa direksyon ng pintuan. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Juno pagkakita niya ng atleast apat na suitcases na nakaharang sa daanan.
"Nadagdagan ang mga stalkers ko at nalaman na nila na nag-i-stay ako sa bahay ng auntie ko. Ayokong pati si auntie ay guluhin nila kaya umalis na muna ako doon. So, I'll be staying here. It was my manager's best bet. Nobody would suspect I'm here," Tala explained.
