My Incognito HeartBreaker

Chapter 58

"What's the fuss all about?" Si Gabbie, on a Video Call with Gabby while working out in his home gym. "Ayaw mo no'n, the hottie brother did you a great favor?"

"Hottie?"

"He's a model from Drake Sandoval's Modeling Agency, right? The girls, guys, and whatnots from my agency are raving about him."

"Really," Said in a manner of disbelief, "well anyways, it doesn't change the fact that I hurt her because I failed to protect her." He is half groaning because of the weight of the barbell he's lifting while lying on the bench press, and the dull pain from his healing wound.

"It's been a couple of weeks since. How are you holding up?

"G-d! I miss her so much! You have no idea."

"Hindi pa rin ba niya pinapansin si 'Paolo'?" Doing a quote gesture when she said 'Paolo'.

Umiling si Paolo, "I can't blame her. Lax is the better man. I feel horrible knowing she'll leave for Australia in two weeks. What excuse do I make to visit her kung hindi na kami?"

"Do you need help? Do you want me to talk to her?"

"Tumigil ka na nga d'yan Miss Wrong timing. Haven't you created so much damage in my personal life?" Paolo sat upright on the bench press.

"Doesn't change the fact that I always mean well! I want you to be happy, dude."

"Then stay away from my personal life. That's all I ask from you."

"Goodness!" Tatawa-tawang bulalas ni Gabbie as Paolo switched to his dumbells, "grabe 'yang addiction mo sa pagwe-weight lift ha?  Baka malampasan mo na ni katawan ni Captain America. "

"I can only wish to become the same hero."

"Ano, Captain Pinoy?" Humahalakhak na kantyaw ni Gabbie.

Biglang sumingit naman sa likod ni Gabbie si Gus, "Captain Penoy kamo!" Nakasumangot ito. "Hoy pangit!" Dinuro nito sa webcam si Paolo, "Nagpapasikat ka na na naman! Tumigil-tigil ka na sa pagpapa-yummy mo sa girlfriend ko. Ito ang tatandaan mo, hindi ka yummy! At hindi ka magiging kasing-yummy ko kahit kailan!" While flashing his skinny arms. Gabbie giggles in the background.

"Whatever you say, Mr. Apron." Nagpupunas na ng pawis si Paolo with a white towel he eventually hangs on his left shoulder. By this time ay sanay na siya sa ugali ni Gus na above the roof ang self-confidence.

Inilapit ni Gus ang mukha niya sa webcam. Kaya puro mukha na nito ang nasa screen ng malaking smart T.V. na nakasabit sa wall facing the window, sa loob ng home gym ni Paolo. Kinakanta nito ang Mr. Personality by Gillette. "They call you Mr. Personality because you're so ugly! Mr. Personality, you're so ugly!—" sumasayaw-sayaw ito, and then proceed with the same tune with an adlib, "Mr. Personality can't keep a girl because he's so ugly! Mr. Personality, he's so ugly!"

Ngisian ito ni Paolo, hands on each side of his waist, facing the screen. "That's right, Mr. Apron!" This time, Gus is already twerking while Gabbie's cheering him on.

Paolo is so preoccupied with Gus' silly antics that he doesn't notice who lurks behind the partially opened tinted window.

It was Helena, with both fists clenched, who now glares at Paolo with so much disdain.

***

Helena immediately hit the keyboard when she got home. She is starting a new novel loosely based on a true story.

She gazed at the sticky note on the top right corner of her MacBook. It bore her handwritten message: "Writers never get angry; they only kill you in a story."