My Super Shy Boyfriend

26th Chapter: His Game

"SO NALAMAN ni Hendrick ang tungkol sa pag-alis ng parents ni Yuni this December from her manager?" tanong ko kay Krey (na nakaupo sa tabi ni Tray) at nang tumango lang siya, nilingon ko naman ang katabi kong si Yuni. "Did you tell your manager about it?"

The four of us went to a milk tea store just across the condominium building where I live in. Nasa secluded area kami para makasigurong walang nakakarinig sa pinag-uusapan namin.

Sumipsip muna si Yuni sa iniinom niyang milk tea bago siya napa-"ah!" "Right. I think I mentioned it to my handler. Nasabi ko kasi sa kanya na 'wag akong ibu-book ng photoshoot for December kasi wala ang parents ko. I'm eighteen now but I still ask my parents' permission before I accept a project kasi."

"That makes sense," tumatango-tangong sabi ko, saka ko tiningnan si Krey. "So, ano pa 'yong mga nakita mong information na na-dig ni Hendrick sa pag-i-stalk niya?"

"Let's compromise first," sabi ni Krey. "Kapag sinabi ko sa inyo ang mga nalalaman ko, I want you to promise na hindi niyo dadalhin sa pulis si Hendrick. He might just be a stalker to you but he's family to me."

"Your request is ridiculous and selfish," mabilis na kontra naman ni Tray. "Hendrick is your cousin, yes, but you have to acknowledge that he's being a threat to other people. Plus, being a family doesn't mean you have to tolerate a member's wrong behavior. Instead, it's your responsibility to correct them."

Namula ang mukha ni Krey na parang napahiya sa sinabi ng boyfriend ko. "I know that. Pero ayoko pa ring makulong si Hendrick. He needs help."

"That's true but we can't risk Yuni's safety just to help him," kontra ko naman. "Plus, if he endangers Yuni's life because of his obsession, then he might need professional help. Masyado na 'yong seryoso para i-handle natin. We need to tell the authorities if he becomes dangerous."

"I plan to stop him before he gets dangerous," katwiran naman ni Krey sa desperadong boses. "I know how to make Hendrick stop stalking Yuni."

"Really now?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong naman ni Yuni. "He doesn't listen to me no matter how many times I reject him. Krey, I turned him down in the clearest way possible that even a dense person will understand. Plus, if a man doesn't listen to a woman who already said 'no' to him, then he's a trash."

Napalunok ako dahil kahit mas bata sa'min si Yuni, aaminin kong nakaka-intimidate siya kapag galit. Napainom tuloy ako ng milk tea ko. Teen these days are scary.

"I agree with Yuni," sabi naman ni Tray. "Pa'no mo naman mapapahinto si Hendrick kung mismong si Yuni nga na nag-reject sa kanya eh hindi niya pinapakinggan?"

Bumuga ng hangin si Krey bago sumagot. "Hendrick wants to know if Yuni is in love with someone." Tumingin siya sa'min ni Tray habang nagsasalita. "Bomi and Tray, hindi naman talaga kayo ini-stalk ni Hendrick. Hinahanap niya lang ang mga close friends ni Yuni na puwedeng magsabi sa kanya kung in love ba si Yuni. Bukod sa address at university niyo, wala nang ibang information si Hendrick except sa connection niyo kay Yuni. Like Tray is her childhood friend and Bomi is a friend she met when she was in junior high. He plans to get closer to the two of you to know more things about Yuni."

Kinilabutan ako sa narinig ko. "A-Alam niya ang address ko?"

"Is that the reason why you're living in the same condo building as Bomi?" sita naman ng boyfriend ko sa lalaki. "Do you want me to call the police right here, right now?"

"Hey, don't be like that," pakiusap naman ni Krey. "Look, buddy. Hindi ako inutusan ni Hendrick na lumipat sa condominium building na 'yon. Ako ang nagdesisyon na gawin 'yon kasi... kasi..."

"Spill it out or else, we'll tell the police," banta ko naman kay Krey.

"I really don't want to involve the police here at first," dagdag naman ni Yuni. "Pero ibang usapan na kapag may ibang tao nang madadamay."

"Fine," pagsuko naman ni Krey, saka siya tumingin sa boyfriend ko. "Krey, nag-rent ng temporary unit si Hendrick sa condominium building niyo. To be precise, he's on the same floor as you. Hindi mo ba napansin na may lumipat sa floor mo?"

"Uhm..." Namula ang mukha ni Tray. "I don't really pay attention to my neighbors..."

"Seriously?"

"Tray doesn't know how Hendrick looks like," pagtatanggol ko sa boyfriend ko dahilan para lumingon sa'min si Tray. "Tell me. Bakit lumipat ka sa condo building na tinitirhan ko? Why are you wasting your parents' money like this?"

"I'm using what I earn from my modelling here, not my parents' money."

Okay, napahiya ako do'n. Masyado kasi akong judgemental. "Oh, my bad."

"Anyway, ni-rent ko lang din naman ang unit na nilipatan ko," pagpapatuloy ni Krey. "Lumipat ako malapit sa'yo para makita ko kung ano ang gagawin ni Hendrick kung sakali mang magpunta siya sa condo building. Saka gusto ko rin talaga kayong makausap tungkol sa pinsan ko. Like I said earlier, I know how to make him stop."

"Let's hear it then," sabi naman ni Yuni. "Ano ba 'yang plano mo, ha?"

"The last time I talked to Hendrick he complained something about the way you turned him down, Yuni," deretsang sabi ni Krey kay Yuni na kumunot ang noo. "According to my cousin, you told him that you're in love with someone."

Bigla akong kinilabutan, saka ko binigyan ng nagdududang tingin si Yuni. At mas lalo akong kinabahan nang makita kong nag-blush siya. Can it be...?

"S-Sinabi ko lang 'yon para tigilan niya na ko," pagtatanggol ni Yuni sa sarili niya. "What about it?"

"He seems bothered by it," sagot ni Krey. "I think Hendrick will stop bothering you if you give him a name."

"That's stupid," sabi ko naman. "Kung ini-stalk niya si Yuni, siguradong malalaman agad niya kung nagsisinungaling si Yuni."

"Yeah, I know. That's why I have a suggestion," sabi ni Krey, saka niya tinuro si Tray. "What if Yuni tell Hendrick that she's in love with Tray?"

"Why Tray?" kontra agad. "Don't make us awkward."

"I agree with Bomi," dagdag ni Yuni. "Plus, I don't like lying."

Tinaas ni Tray ang kamay. "I object, too."

"But it's more believable if it's Tray," giit ni Krey habang nakatingin kay Yuni. "He's your childhood friend." Pinasadahan niya kami ng tingin. "Think about it, guys."