Shin's Diary

Chapter 11: Revealation

Kriiing! Kriiing! Carmen’s phone rang again. People who know her are aware that this very hour is past her bedtime. She groaned complainingly. Then, she reached for her phone and clicked the Answer Button and sat on the sofa. She scratched her head and felt like she’s going to be in bed again. “Hello,” she said blankly.

“Carmen, I will be leaving. Maybe outside Iloilo or Philippines?” Shin revealed. “I’m going off somewhere and leave the company for good. Sorry.”

Unexpectedly, Carmen felt her heart very loudly. She was tense about what is happening to her friend. She never felt uneasy before. There was something about Shin’s voice that makes her knees tremble.

“Wait, where are you going? Who are you going with?”

“Apparently, I am with Ian… he doesn’t want me to work in the company now and I don’t know. I just asked him for a little favor to give the spot to you. Bye!”

“Just tell me why you are going with him. Are you going to elope? What about Gab?” Carmen asked without thinking.

“DAMNIT, Carmen! Just don’t ask,” Shin said rudely. “I will miss you.”

Carmen heard Shin cried over the phone. Then, Shin pressed the End Button.

Carmen dramatically sprang her feet to the ground and cried for herself. Hearing Shin crying caused her much pain. She could not tell if Shin was really in danger, but her heart is telling her so.

Shin was crying the whole time while Ian drove. The fact is he didn’t know exactly what to do. He’s not used to see weeping girls in front or beside him. He’s tenser since he’s protecting her life and in the first time in his life, he is damn afraid for not protecting a life. That was unacceptable for him.

He’s falling for this innocent young woman but unaware of it at first, he wouldn’t be surprised to recognize his feelings for her. She leaned on her seat and calm down.

He took a glimpse of her, and then realized one thing: she’s still really beautiful even if her eyes were red. “Hey, don’t worry, you’ll be fine with me,” Ian assured her.

“I know that,” she replied and hiccoughed. “Ian, why are you doing this to me?”

“Honestly? I felt responsible of you and I don’t know why. I just made an early investigation about your sweetheart whom I am sad to say that he’s my former friend,” he revealed. “Don’t get mad at me but I have read your diary when I visit your house 4 years ago. Your whole house is locked, so technically, I went in through the window which happened to be unlocked. I also took a picture of it, I’m sorry.”

She listened carefully but there’s a fury flickering inside her body because she has lost her privacy. “Then, go ahead. Explain as long as you want to. I will be straight, I am mad at you now. Let’s start at this ‘old friends’ thingy.”

Ian refreshed his memory the time he first read the diary:

“Gab and I were friends since 5th grade. 10 years ago, we made an account at CR because we sort of, love anime that time. We were 18 years old. And that’s how you met us two. But before that, like almost 2 years before the CR thing, he had a girlfriend named Aisha, and that time, me and Mishie were together.but among us, Aisha was the vainest and liked everyone to love her. She sensed that I don’t really like her for Gab, so she seduced me. We had a school trip somewhere in Bohol and we got some rooms in a hotel for each of us. You know, I always slept half-naked. She went to my room and sat on my bed but I kept on pushing her to go away. She stood up I front of me and aggressively wore off her clothes. She didn’t unlock the door so Gab caught us inside. He thought I betrayed him and they broke up. Mishie believed I was innocent that’s why we stayed together until we’re 18.
“2 years later, Gab and I met in Manila and we applied on the same school. We’re in amicable terms again. Then, I saw a pretty young girl in CR and invited her as my friend --- that’s you, pweTTy_shin? Then, he agreed to me that you’re beautiful and all. I tried my best to get closer to you. You were one of my fave buddies there. But I didn’t really reveal my identity. I introduced myself as Kyle Gordo to you, if you have remembered chronotrigger and as far as I can concern, I am your first buddy. I was thankful of that. And he also befriended you, but then, I told him that I think I was starting to fall for you though I know it’s impossible because we haven’t met yet. That’s where he started flirting with you. He said you were nice and it wouldn’t be difficult for him to get you like that. I’ve read all of his posts at your GB and there, I was discouraged to show my intention to you because it seems like you already like each other… and I easily gave up.
“6 years after, of course I totally forget about you. But incidentally, I can still remember how you walk across the room when you applied for a job in the company. You were undisputedly hot although you were dressed in that simple job attire. I told Dad to get you and he sensed I like you… and you seemed to be an overachiever in your school days that’s why he agreed. Then, I went to your house not because I want to talk to you about business. That time, I have no interest in business. You see, I graduated in Fine Arts. I dreamt about painting the deepest beauty God had ever given. And then, I thought it was you. I was about to convince you to pose for my painting so I went there. But unfortunately, you didn’t show up. I thought you were sleeping in your room so I’ve got this whole idea to use the window instead. I saw your window open, so I proceed to your room. Then, suddenly I saw you diary displaying in your cabinet. I didn’t know it was too personal for you but out of my curiosity, I read it.
“You have an awesome diary. I laughed at it but I realized that I just made a sinful crime. I know I have invaded your privacy so badly and I’m sorry. I promised myself not to go into your house again so that I won’t be tempted to read it again. But I can’t help it. Last month, I remembered Gab and I sent a private cop to investigate all about him just to check him up. We haven’t talk since graduation, you know. Damnit! I never felt any insecure to a guy. And then I realized how perfect he was for a guy because he is raising an orphanage and had a very successful life. He is a famous soccer player and you are with him.
“I went to Cebu because you’re brother heard that you and Gab were together. He knows the company number and he called me to keep your safety the best that I could. You told me he’s a police chief there, right? So then, he asked me to make you stay away from him because he is the bad guy between us two. To keep his image positive, he raised an orphanage. He has so many things hidden. He joined in a fraternity when we were in college which has been allegedly news around the school that all members were taking illegal drugs. Some of Gab’s colleague in Cebu had been caught and put in jail.
“I thought I had the chance when you were daydreaming about me. The time you thought that I was in my office while in fact, I was beside my car watching you. And the daisy thing, basically, I wasn’t a good face reader. I read that to your diary that you are allergic in daisies when someone from your guy classmates before gave you daisies and you had rashes because of that.
“I wasn’t hoping that you’ll feel the same way for me but for all of these times, I only laid my eyes on you. And well, I didn’t stop loving you. For me, Gab is a tough challenger for me but not a hindrance. If you remembered my preach at the church, it was all about you --- that you are blinded from his love. I know that you’re not a prize to be won, but you’re just simply special in my eyes.”

She gasped by his confessions. He seemed to be so honest and sincere. How couldn’t she notice that this man loves her from the very start? How could she put all of her attention and wasted all of her affection to Gab while this man is willing to be with her? She thought that this man is conceited and prideful --- that’s his outer part. But deep within him is the pureness of his heart.

She sighed and looked through the window. She could still feel the tingling sensation coming from her toes up to her brain. It makes her remember the kiss they have shared. It was carnal, a promise of what was to come.

“Ian, would you please ---?”

“Shin, NO!!!”

A pickup truck loses control on an icy overpass and spins out, striking the center concrete divider and blowing out a tire. Ian holds out the brakes but he can’t. his car slides off the road, jumps the sideways, the car slides head first into the concrete barrier and does a complete 360-degree spin before coming to rest.