Avenues of the Diamond (University Series #4)

37

"Is she around?"

I rang the doorbell again. I was in front of Hiro's condo to look for Yanna after checking out from the hotel, 'yong room tsaka 'yong suite. Sevi took the girls home pala yesterday. I wasn't sure if Arkin would go with him or not. Anyway, when I woke up, Clyden already left since he had to go back to the hospital. He left a message to say goodbye since he didn't want to wake me up. I also made sure to take a pill. 

I had to get our gifts for Yanna and deliver them to her, but she wasn't answering. Wala ba sila ni Hiro? I rang the doorbell for the last time. Finally, narinig ko na 'yong steps sa loob. I smiled when the door opened, but it immediately faded when I saw Yanna with messy hair, only wearing Hiro's dress shirt. Mukhang inaantok pa. 

"Nasa langit na ba 'ko?" she asked when she saw me, still half-asleep. 

"Uh, you won't go there." 

I laughed and pushed the door wider so I could bring the gifts inside. I wasn't planning to stay since I felt like I was disturbing her beauty sleep. Maybe she also had fun last night. A hickey was still visible on her collarbone. 

"Kaya nga ako nagtataka, eh. Sam, gumawa ka na ng kasalanan para kapag namatay tayo, magkasama pa rin tayo," Yanna said, taking her seat on the sofa. Mukhang nahimasmasan na siya. 

"Here are your gifts. You should open them by yourself. Some are... inappropriate." I scratched the tip of my nose. The girls had already told each other what they had bought for her. All of them were adult things. 

"Walang inappropriate kay Hiro. Okay lang 'yon." She closed her eyes again, trying to go back to sleep. 

"I was talking about Avi," I corrected her. I didn't see Avi around, so I assumed that she was still with Hiro's mom.

"Ano ba 'yan? Sex toy?" she whispered like someone would hear her. I just gave her an awkward smile since I couldn't answer that one. Dapat ma-surprise siya pagkabukas kaya hindi ko sasabihin kung ano ang laman. "Hay, nag-abala pa kayo." 

"I need to go now. I have a shoot," I told her. 

"Ah, kaya pala mukhang blooming ka kahit kakainom mo lang kagabi. Akala ko naman nadiligan ka o ano." She sighed heavily. 

I suddenly stopped walking when I heard what she said. I turned to her with my eyes wide in surprise. How did she know? Was it that obvious? Napalingon din siya sa 'kin at nang marealize ang reaction ko, napatayo kaagad siya. 

"Hindi nga?!" she yelled at me. "Totoo?! No joke?! Gagang 'to, nauna pang nakarating ng langit kaysa sa 'kin!" She pointed at me and scowled. 

"It just happened. I need to go now." Tumalikod na kaagad ako sa kanya para makatakas. 

"Details!" she yelled, but I had already closed the door. 

I drove to the studio, and I immediately saw Francine waiting for me outside. Dali-dali siyang pumasok sa loob kasama ako para maayusan. I greeted all the staff and bumeso na rin sa director. There were other Filipino models there and some celebrities. All of them looked at me when I walked inside, so I felt awkward.