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"Fuck! Vienna, you answered!" Pagkasagot na pagkasagot ko sa tawag ni Ryan ay yan agad ang bumungad sa akin. "God damnit! I've been calling you for how many times but you didn't answer!"
I sigh. "Ry, calm down. Walang signal dito kaya di ko namamalayan na tumatawag ka pala."
"Walang signal? Why? Are you on an island ha? Nasa bukid ganon?"
"Yes." Mabilis kong sagot.
Naupo ako sa kama. Katatapos lang din kasi namin kumain.
"What yes? Nasa bukid ka?" He asked exaggeratedly. "Don't fool me, Vienna!"
Hindi ko na napigilan ang sariling matawa. I can imagine how his face are now red dahil sa inis. "Ry, nasa San Jose ako. Remember the client your dad transferred to me? I visit them."
"San Jose?" Kalmado na ang boses niya pero kahihimigan pa ng pagkalito. "Do you.. by chance.. met Carl?"
Pagkabanggit niya sa pangalan ni Carl ay siya namang pagpasok niya dito sa kwarto. Nagkatinginan pa nga kami. He's now wearing a black V-neck shirt and maong shorts. Buti naman at may extra clothes pala siya sa sasakyan niya.
I nodded as a response in Ryan's answer as if he can see me. "You know that he's here?" Mahina kong tanong. Ayokong marinig ni Carl na siya ang pinag-uusapan namin ni Ryan.
"I heard it from lolo." Panimula niyang sagot. "Obviously, mas pinili niya ang business kaysa maghanap ng babaeng iuuwi sa bahay."
What can I expect from him. Kahit naman noon pa ay seryoso na siya sa trabaho niya. I don't see him hopping in different bars just like his other cousins.
Well, maybe because he wants to be that successful for Aina. Para hindi na siya mabasted nito.
"I see." Wala naman akong ibang masabi. Hindi ko alam kung anong icocomment ko.
Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ni Carl ay nakataas na ang kilay niya at nakatingin sa akin. "Who are you talking?" He mouthed.
"You don't know how worried I am, Vien. I called your office, sabi ni Aiko di ka daw papasok. I went to your house, nandon ang kotse mo pero wala ka naman. Buong araw kitang tinatawagan pero hindi ka sumasagot." Rinig na rinig ko ang frustration sa boses ni Ryan. I want to be sorry for him.
"Ry, I am safe. Okay?" I try my best to convince him that I'm really okay and there's nothing to worry about. "I'll be back tomorrow. It's late and hindi ako makakabiyahe."
"You want me to go there? Sunduin kita?"
"Ry, San Jose is a four hour drive plus the traffic you might encounter. I won't let you drive this late. Just rest,"
"But.. will you be okay?" Malambot na boses ang gamit niya. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pag-aalala niya sa akin. "And you are with Carl."
Of all people, Ryan knows how annoyed I am everytime I saw Carl. Kaya gets ko kung saan nanggaling ang pag-aalala niya sakin ngayon. He knows that I can't stand a five minute interaction with Carl, what more an overnight with him.
But little did he know that I am slowly learning to enjoy his company. Plus, if he's really serious in helping me with this case, I'll be with him most of the time.
"You're thinking too much, Ry." I chuckled. "You have to rest na. See you tomorrow, okay?"
He sigh in defeat. Alam din niyang hindi ako magpapatalo sa arguments ko. I will insist na okay lang ako kahit na hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko dito. Paano ako matutulog gayong alam kong katabi ko siya?
