The Bachelor's Bed Games

Chapter 24: Red Alert

Radley's phone, which was laying on the small glass-made center table, rang for the umpteenth time and he glared at it as he clenched his fists. His ringtone wouldn't stop from resounding in the whole apartment for the past half an hour and it made him feel uneasy.

Ayaw niyang sagutin ang tawag. Seeing the unregistered number flashed on his screen gave him a hint who was calling. Namatay ang tunog ngunit wala pa mang dalawang segundo ay umalingawngaw muli sa apartment ang kanyang ringtone.

He expelled a heavy breath. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down his nerves. Hindi ba talaga nila ako tatantanan? he asked himself in exhaustion.

"Hindi mo ba sasagutin 'yan? Kanina pa siya tumatawag, ah," the woman, who was busy preparing their dinner, asked as she peeked at him from the dining area.

Radley was sitting on one of the sofa in the living room. Hindi kalakihan ang apartment na pansamantala niyang tinitirhan. Cabinet lamang ang naghihiwalay sa dibing area at living room kaya magmula kanina ay napapanood din niya ang babaeng abalang-abala sa paghahanda ng kanilang hapunan.

Napangiti si Radley nang makita ang ayos ng babae. Marumi ang apron na suot nito dahil sa mga mantsa galing sa mga gulay at karne na kanyang niluto habang may hawak ito na mga plato na inaayos niya sa lamesa. Her hair was tied in a messy bun but still, she looked so beautiful.

"Naks! Bagay na bagay mo ang maging isang Misis, ha," he jested with a soft smile although it did not reach his eyes.

Pinaikutan siya ng mga mata ng babae at mahina siyang natawa. "Si Ianna ba ang tumatawag?" the woman asked.

Radley shook his head. Nag-iba rin ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha at alam din kaagad ng babae kung sino ang tumatawag sa binata.

"How often do they call you?" she asked, concern and worry were laced in her voice.

"Every day," he answered, his tone was tired. "Every fucking morning, afternoon, and evening!" he yelled in total frustration.

Bumuga siya ng hangin at sumandal sa back rest ng sofa. Ginulo niya ang kanyang buhok sa sobrang asar. Tangina! he cussed inside his head as his phone started ringing again.

Awang-awa naman siyang tiningnan ng babaeng kanyang kausap. Gusto man siya nitong tulungan ay wala siyang maisip na pwede niyang itulong dito.

"Huwag mo akong kaawaan," Radley muttered, reading hee thoughts based on her facial expression. "Sige na, do your thing," he commanded as he picked his phone from the table.

The woman heeded without any question or protest. Alam niyang ayaw ni Radley na kinakaawaan siya kaya't she better not show her pity to him. Bumalik siya sa pag-aayos ng mesa na wala ng ibang sinabi.

"Hello," Radley muttered under his breath as he took the phone call. Lumabas siya ng apartment para makalanghap mg sariwang hangin.

"Radley," the voice from the other line spoke full of venom.

Radley clenched his fist tightly as he gritted his teeth. He bet the guy from the other line was smirking while rolling his name off his tongue.

"Ilang beses ko na bang sinabi sa'yo na wala akong gano'n kalaking pera kaya tigilan mo na ako!" puno ng galit na wika ni Radley. Kahit galit na galit na siya ay pigil na pigil pa rin ang kanyang boses dahil ayaw niyang gumawa ng eksena kapag narinig siya ng mga nangungupahan sa mga katabing unit.

Tumawa nang malakas ang lalaki sa kabilang linya na nagpataas ng balahibo ng binata.

"Hanggang ngayon ba ay hindi pa rin pumapasok sa kokote mo kung sa anong klase ng institusyon may atraso ang pamilya mo?" nagbabantang-tanong ng lalaki.