The Pen Behind The Popular Writer

Chapter 9

Nakausap ko naman si Hanna at nayaya ko siya sa double date na ginusto ni Alastair. Hindi ko inaasahang hindi gaanong masasabik si Hanna para sa double date, na parang hindi siya interesado sa pagdala ng kanyang boyfriend pero masaya naman siya kasi makikita na niya ako at si Alastair na magkasama sa date.

She was too happy to see me with the boyfriend I introduced to him. But that was better than letting her know the real issue between me and him.

Nagkita kami sa isang kainan kung saan namin naisipang kumain. It's my first time seeing his boyfriend and he seemed so nice. But the way how Alastair's treating the guy right now's making him show his bad side.

Pareho kaming nananahimik ni Hanna kakikinig sa pagtatalo ni Alastair at ng boyfriend niyang si Zachary.

"Mukhang ikaw kasi 'yong lalaking magloloko sa girlfriend mo, makakita ka lang ng ibang babae, eh! Kaya posibleng agawin mo 'tong si Hanna sa akin!" sigaw ni Zachary, kulang na lang ay kuwelyuhan si Alastair.

"I see, this is how a boyfriend treats his girlfriend. You need to be possessive, is that it?" Alastair asked and Zachary thought he's being teased.

Zachary hissed. "Mukha ba akong nakikipag-interview sa 'yo? Huwag na huwag mong susubukang hawakan si Hanna, mapapatay kita."

Napatigil kaming lahat sa sinabi ni Zachary. Hanna suddenly looked nervous while Alastair reacted nothing, same as me.

"HAHAHA! Huwag ka n-namang manakot sa kanila nang ganiyan, Zachary. Pasensiya na sa ugaling ipinakita niya, Alastair saka Jasryl."

"O-Okay lang," I answered and tried to check if Alastair's not okay with it. But he's very unpredictable, nakangiti siya kay Zachary at parang nakabubuo na ito ng ideya sa isipan niya.

Kaya ba niya naisipan ang double date? Para makahanap ng ideya sa totoong magkarelasyon?

"Huwag mo siyang susubukan, nagkakaintindihan ba tayo? Alastair?" tila nanghahamong tanong ni Zachary kay Alastair.

Ako na ang kinakabahan sa usapan nila.

"Aagawin? Sino? Ang girlfriend mo?" Sandaling natawa ang katabi ko. "As you can see, I have Jasryl in my life already. I don't need other girls in my life other than my Jasryl."

I was never on the place to get flattered by his genuine words to other people. Because he's a real example of a fake one.

That's how he was.

Nakipagsabayan na lamang ako sa galawan ni Alastair nang mabilis niya akong inakbayan. "Si Jasryl ang tumutupad ng mga pangarap ko sa buhay. Kaya kami nagkasusundo."

Napaniwala niya naman si Hanna dahil masaya niya kaming nginitihan. At least, seeing Hanna's relieved face made me feel a bit better.

So I hope she's actually okay, living with Zachary.

"Masaya siguro kayong magkasama araw-araw, ano?" tumatawang sabi ni Hanna. "At, Alastair! I'm so happy for you. That you have such an amazing writer and a girlfriend that you can be proud of."

Nabigla ako. Tila awtomatiko kong hinintay ang reaksyong igagawad ni Alastair sa sinabi ni Hanna. Alam kong hindi maganda ang timpla niyon kay Alastair. He's thinking what's actually true right now. That I was not supposed to be the one who was accepting the credits.

But he needed to stay silent.

That's how he's supposed to be. For his own sake.

"Of course." Alastair smiled proudly. Pero sobrang higpit niyang hinawakan ang braso ko. "I am really happy to have her! And I really love how Jasrly writes those amazing novels."