Sinful Attachment

KABANATA 16

“How was Chaos’s reaction?” Lauren asked excitedly habang naka-video call sila nila Charlotte.

Laurren leaned closer to the screen, her eyes bright with curiosity, halatang matagal na siyang naghihintay ng update. May excitement sa boses niya, parang invested na invested siya sa kung anong nangyari.

Charlotte, on the other side, let out a small breath bago sumagot, her expression calm but slightly amused. “Hindi pa siya nagre-react,” she said.

“Anong hindi, hindi mo lang alam.” Biro ni Danzel na kararating lang.

“Ayan na pala ang best friend.” Biro ni Renan.

Lauren leaned back a little, a small smile slowly forming on her lips. “I feel like magiging interesting ‘yan,” she said, clearly entertained sa situation.

Charlotte smirked faintly, parang may sariling iniisip. “Kaya nga,” she replied, her tone calm but with a hint of anticipation, like she was just waiting for things to unfold on their own.

“Ala ka kasi nung isang gabi e, kasama mo si Chase.” Panimula ni Danzel kay Charlotte.

“Ano ba nangyari? Ikwento mo na kasi,” Lauren said in a chismosa tone during their video call.

Halos nakadikit na siya sa screen, ang mga mata niya punong puno ng curiosity, parang ayaw niyang may kahit isang detalye na makaligtaan. Kitang kita kung gaano siya ka invested sa nangyayari, na para bang siya mismo ang kasama sa eksena.

“Iba talaga ang chismosa.” Biro ni Renan na ikinatawa nilang lahat.

“Lauren, chill,” sabi niya, sabay pigil ng ngiti.

“Hindi ako kakalma hangga’t hindi niyo kinukwento,” mabilis na sagot ni Lauren, hindi nagpapigil. Umayos pa siya ng upo, parang mas handa na makinig. “Simula pa lang, detalyado ha.”

Sa kabilang screen, si Renan ay tahimik lang pero halatang nakikinig din. Paminsan minsan ay napapatingin siya kay Lauren na sobrang tutok sa usapan. Hindi man siya kasing expressive ni Lauren, ngunit makikitang interesado rin siya sa kung anong sasabihin ni Charlotte.

Si Lauren naman ay hindi pa rin umaalis sa pagkakatutok sa screen. Halos hindi siya kumukurap, hinihintay na magsimula si Charlotte. Para bang sa sandaling iyon, iyon lang ang mahalaga, ang malaman kung ano na nga ba ang nangyari.

“So ano nga kasi Danzel?” Tanong ni Charlotte na halatang interesado rin.

“Hindi ka ba nakakachismis sa bestfriend mo?” Danzel said jokingly, a teasing grin slowly forming on his lips habang diretso siyang nakatingin kay Charlotte.

His tone was light, but there was a clear intention to annoy her just a little. He leaned back slightly, resting his chin on his hand while watching her closely, like he was already expecting a reaction and was just waiting for it to happen.

Charlotte immediately rolled her eyes, clearly not impressed. Napabuga siya ng hangin nang mahina at tiningnan siya with a mix of irritation and disbelief, parang hindi makapaniwala na iyon pa talaga ang sinabi niya sa moment na iyon.

“Seriously?” she said, her tone flat pero may konting warning. “Ano nga kasi?”

Danzel only shrugged, still smiling like wala lang sa kanya. “Saglit lang kasi, oa ka?” Biro ni Danzel.

Napailing si Charlotte at umiwas ng tingin, as if ayaw na niyang patulan pa si Danzel. “You’re so annoying,” she said, crossing her arms slightly, halatang naiinis pero hindi naman totally galit.

Pero kahit ganun, may maliit na reaction pa rin siyang hindi niya naitago. A slight twitch sa expression niya, then a quick glance back at him, parang may gustong sabihin pero pinipigilan lang.

Danzel noticed it right away, and it only made him more amused. Napatawa siya nang mahina, clearly satisfied na nakuha niya yung reaction na gusto niya. Meanwhile, Charlotte just sighed quietly, sanay na sa ganitong pang-aasar niya, pero somehow, lagi pa rin siyang napapareact kahit ayaw niya.

“Ano nga kasi? Pabitin ka rin e.” Reklamo ni Renan sa video call.

“Diba nga magkasama kami nung nakaraan, iniwan niyo kasi kami ni Chaos kaya yon.” Kibit balikat na sambit ni Danzel.

“Heart to heart atake be like.” Biro ni Lauren na ikinatawa nila.

“Nag myday si Kaizer diba nung pic ni Chase na nasa beach.” Tumatawang sambit ni Danzel.

“Oo hoy! Diba doon din sila nagpunta nung umiiyak si Chase? First and last sunset together, diba?” excited na sambit ni Lauren.

She leaned closer sa camera, halos hindi mapigilan yung excitement sa boses niya, parang may bigla siyang na-realize na sobrang important detail. Her eyes widened a bit habang tinitingnan sila Charlotte, waiting for confirmation.

“Wait, oo nga…” he added, slightly lowering his voice pero mas intense na ngayon yung curiosity niya. “Same place… same sila…” Tumatawang sambit ni Renan.

“Ikaw naman ang late realization ngayon?” Biro ni Danzel.

Charlotte glanced at the screen, raising an eyebrow slightly, halatang gets niya agad kung saan papunta yung iniisip ni Lauren at Renan.

Lauren let out a small gasp. “Hala, don’t tell me…” she trailed off, her lips forming a small grin.

Charlotte didn’t answer right away, pero may faint smirk na lumabas sa labi niya, like she knew exactly what Lauren was thinking but chose not to say it out loud.

“Oo na, inaamin ko na,” nakangusong sambit ni Charlotte.

She leaned back slightly on her chair, arms still crossed, parang napipilitan pero at the same time may konting amusement sa boses niya. Her eyes stayed on the screen, like she already knew na wala na rin siyang takas sa usapan.

“Oo na, ako na yung nagsabi at nagbigay ng information kay Kaizer about doon,” natatawang sambit ni Charlotte habang naka-peace sign pa sa kamay niya, parang wala lang sa kanya kahit sobrang big deal pala ng ginawa niya. “Try lang if may magbago sa reaction ni Chase, tapos kung e-epekto kay Chaos.”

Sandaling natahimik si Lauren sa kabilang side ng video call, then napasinghap. “Girl, grabe ka.”

Danzel immediately leaned forward, halatang hindi makapaniwala. “Wait lang, ikaw talaga nag-feed ng info?”

“Siraulo, seryoso?” Sambit ni Renan.

“Oo nga, ipo-provoke nga diba.” Nakangusong sambit ni Charlotte.

Charlotte shrugged, still smiling like it was nothing serious. “Oo naman. Calm down, experiment lang ‘to. And besides, effective naman kasi.”

Lauren shook her head, half laughing pero halatang shocked pa rin. “Experiment? Parang pinagdaanan nila love life ni Chase tapos experiment lang?”

Charlotte tilted her head a bit, still calm. “Hindi naman in a bad way. Gusto ko lang makita kung ano mangyayari pag na-push sila sa situation na hindi na nila ma-ignore.”

Danzel narrowed his eyes. “So ginagamit mo sila as test subjects?”

Danzel narrowed his eyes. “So ginagamit mo sila as test subjects?”

Charlotte pointed lightly at him, still playful. “Not used. More like… guided.”

Lauren covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. “Ang lala ng ‘guided’ mo, Charlotte. Loka loka ka.”

Charlotte just leaned back, peace sign still up for a second before she dropped her hand. “Relax lang kayo. Kung walang mangyayari, then wala. Pero kung meron… at least malinaw na.”