THE DAY HE BECAME RUTHLESS: The Metaphorical Series #2

THIRTY NINE

The alternative plan did not augur well to me. Ang lumilipat kong paninitig sa dalawa ay tahimik ngunit tagos buto. It may be that great for them to have this solution of the absence but my pretty ego has thought otherwise.

"Something is telling me that you don't agree..." si Colby sa nanunuya nitong tono. He rocked into his heels while his arms are crossed.

Angat ang kilay siyang bumaling kay Dean at nagtitigan ang dalawa, tila may lihim na pinag-uusapan sa mga mata at sila lang ang nakakaintindi. I gravely need an interpreter for the guys' eye language.

Isang beses tumango si Dean matapos ang ilang sandali. Marahang tumawa si Colby at umiling.

"O'right." Iyon at saka iniwan na kaming dalawa ni Dean. I caught him directing his steps to where the rest of the members and the crew are.

"What is it, Ruth? I know that look of yours."

Muling umihip ang hangin dahilan kung bakit naanod ang samyo niya at hinaharana ang aking ilong. But that's not the reason why I turned to him.

I met his narrowed gaze, a sign of either curiosity or weighing of the truth. Pero weirdo na ang unang nahalata ko ay ang halukiphip niya habang hinihintay ang aking tugon. For me it's a stance of defiance and authority. And somehow a heavy weight in my chest was felt on how gorgeous he looks with it! Inaanod pa ng amihan ang ilang hibla ng kanyang buhok.

"Uncross your arms . Parang magsisinungaling ka sa ayos mo na iyan," mariin kong sabi.

His head tilted to the side rewarding me a glimpse of his shadowed and angled jaw. Nanatili ang panliliit ng mga mata niya.

"Sa pagkakaalam ko nag-nurse ka, hindi psychologist." May panunuya roon, kamuntikan na siyang ngumisi.

Ang aking mga labi ay hindi pumapayag na magdiborsyo. My glare at him is a cement it never faltered.

Ilang sandali siyang tumitig bago huminga nang malalim tanda ng pagsuko. Nakalabit ko ang kanyang pagrerebolusyon animo'y anak na gustong sumuway sa utos ng magulang. Kinalas niya ang mga braso at nilagay ang mga kamay sa likod. His left eyebrow reached up, commanding me to speak.

" I am Miss Seventeen..."

His lips jerked in arrogance. "I won't deny that."

Umalsa ang init sa aking mukha kahit inasahan ko na ito. Ngunit bakit para pa rin itong isang malaking surpresa o regalo?

I almost forgot what to say next. Parang nagpa-panic pa ang mga letra kung saan dapat ilalagay ang mga sarili para makabuo ng isang malinaw at buong salita. Staring at Dean's face didn't help. Mukhang ito pa nga ang nanggulo.

Sa paghinga ko nang malalim ay doon sila umayos.

"Had Jillian been in here, she would have played the role of the girl you wrote the song about which is me. Would I just watch the video shoot and oversee how that desperate girl try hard to play my character? She can't even hold a candle to me so I don't think it would be justified. Pero ano ba naman ako. Artista siya. Ako ay P.A lang. Substitute. Ex-girlfriend, 'di ba?"

Denial is a lost cause as I sound so bitter and sarcastic even in my own ears. Dumugtong sa lubid ng aking kaisipan na kung hindi si Jillian at ibang babae ang gumanap ay ganito rin kaya ako makareklamo? But I can't imagine anyone but that girl! They could have given me options. And as I thought of myself electing possible portrayers...nah! I don't think so.

Dean's lips became the playground for his smirk that wants to play. Nangilabot ang balahibo ko sa paniningkit muli ng kanyang mga mata. It's like he has confirmed a theory spot-on.