THE GOOD SISTER

Chapter 29 - Hyphenation

Hi guys. guess what, we're now #10 after just 16 days! Thank you very much for reading and commenting. My stories get better with your feedback, and I want you to know, it's as good as though we are writing this together. 

I'm happy with your responses to the last chapter and to Disruption! Thank you for reading that too. Incidentally, Disruption is also on Wattpad for those who want to access it here. You can read the story in this link: https://www.wattpad.com/476977717-rockiversary-disruption. The version on Wattpad is slightly different, because the Q&B version is a little longer, but the basic plot and incidents are intact.

Anyway, here's what happened right after the presscon. When the excitement has died down, I'm sure you're curious as to what happened to both couples. When I started this story, I was not planning to have a love angle story arc for Kat, but Inggo just suddenly happened in my head, and see, he keeps making his presence felt :)

Hope you'll like this chapter, my dears. Feel free to comment away after reading :)

Dei was quiet on the drive back to her condo. Richard glanced at her from time to time, wondering what she was thinking. The movie was not just his shining moment, it was hers as well. He made sure to mention that during the presscon earlier, that she, Kat's sister, wrote the screenplay. He also mentioned that he was actually closer to her than to Kat. Let the press know that. Even though Dei briefed him to avoid mentioning their relationship, he made sure it clear he was closer to Dei than to Kat.

They reached her condo, Dei was still silent. It was starting to worry him. He reached for her in the elevator and hugged her from behind. She sank against him quietly, holding on to his arms with cold hands. He kissed the back of her head and tightened his arms around her.

Inside her condo, he sat on the couch and pulled her to his lap. What was troubling her? They had been so happy these past months, even if they were busy.

"Dei......what's troubling you?"

"Nothing. Just.....thinking."

"About?"

"The things that just happened. Wasn't it exciting? You and Kat working together."

"Wrong. You and me, working together. Kat and Inggo, working together. That's how it will be. Inggo will direct her, they will have more interaction together. You and me, we'll work on the screenplay. I'm the one who researched on OCD so you'll be talking to me more. Inggo will talk to US together. I'm not letting him get near you alone."

"But won't Kat need to consult you on her character?"

"Not really. The manuscript is clearly written, your screenplay already broke down everything she needs to know about her character. But even if she does, will it worry you? The truth, sweetie."

"Jay........I saw the way you looked at her. I saw the way she looked at you. It was like a scene from a movie. You two gazing at each other, it was........magical. You looked good together. I don't think I'm the only one who saw it. The media picked it up too."

"Dei..........no. I was happy to see her, that's true. It was my first time to ever see her face-to-face and to be honest, I wasn't expecting her to be as pretty. I never really ogled at her FB account, I didn't lurk to check her photos or get updated about her. To me though, she will always be your kid sister. Please believe that."

"She seems smitten with you though."

"It's just the novelty of seeing me for the first time. It will wear off."

"No, it won't. You have no idea how strong your impact is, Jay. You make people stop in their tracks to stare at you. Even now, after I've known you for years, you still have that same impact on me. I can't breathe when you look at me."

"Dei......I appreciate this gift of a movie for my book. But sweetie, if it's going to cause you pain, I'm not going to do it."

"No! Are you crazy? This is a perfect opportunity for you. Don't mind me. Please?"

She was cupping his face with her hands, her beautiful eyes imploring him.

"Dei, my writing may be a priority to me, but our relationship is more important. If it's anything that will rock our relationship, ayoko na. Remember that."

She merely nodded. But deep down, if there was any pain this project would bring, she was going to grin and bear it. He made enough sacrifices for her already. It was her time to give back.

-----

Kat was about to go to bed when her bell rang. She opened the door to see Inigo standing there, freshly showered and shaved, a bottle of vodka in hand.

"Yes?"

"Can't sleep," he said, barging in before she could even invite him.

"And that is my problem because?"

"I need to clear a few things with you, Kat."

"Clear things with me? Kaya pala may dalang alcohol. Pag may alak may balak, right?"

"This is not for you, it's just for me."

"Exactly how much alcohol is in your system? You're always drinking."

"I'll stop if you ask me to."

"Tssss. You should stop because it's not good for you, not because I tell you to."

She motioned for him to sit down on the couch while she sat on a Lazyboy adjacent to it, her legs up. She was hugging a throw pillow to cover her body, she was wearing only a thin shirt and shorts, no underwear.

"So.........what seems to be the problem. Why can't you sleep?"

"I don't know. I used to be ok being alone, but lately......."

"Lately?"

"I dread going home to an empty house."

He stood up and walked to her window. He took a swig from the bottle and grimaced. He felt absurdly like crying. Fuck, not now, boy.

She stood and took the bottle from him, throwing it into a wastebasket. She watched him, studying his profile; the aristocratic nose, thick eyelashes, the stubborn chin jutting out from a chiseled jaw. In the dark, with the city lights playing on his face, he looked vulnerable and she had the ridiculous urge to pull his head close and cradle him against her chest.

"Inggo....."

He laughed humorlessly. "That nick is beginning to stick with me, huh? But it's growing on me."

She reached for his face and cupped his jaw. "Stay with me tonight."

"I'm not asking for a pity party, Kathryn."

Her full name on his tongue did something to her. It made her heart beat a tad faster, and she put a hand against her chest as though she wanted to ease the beat.

She went into his arms and snuggled against the muscled body that just stood there, unsure of what to make out of her move.

"Don't start something you can't finish, Kat."

"We're not doing anything, asa ka pa."

"Then what is this?"

"I don't know what to call it yet. But it feels right."

His arms went around her gently, swaying to music in his head. He closed his eyes and smiled sadly.

She cares, she just doesn't know it yet.