FALSE GOD Series: Phillip Warren (COMPLETE) Series #1

Chapter Nine

HALOS tumakbo ako papuntang cr. Kinalma ko muna sarili ko bago ako nag-reply kay Phillip. Hindi ko alam kung ba't ako nagre-react ng ganito. Nababaliw na ba ako?

"So you're getting discharged next week?" I asked very calmly. Well, if you can see me right now, I'm not really calm. I'm still puffing air. My heart might explode and paint the wall red.

"Yeah. Hindi pa totally healed yung mga sugat ko pero sabi ng doktor, handa na naman daw akong lumabas. Kailangan ko nga lang bumisita sa doktor every week just to make sure na naghe-heal ng maayos yung mga sugat at walang infection na nangyayari. I can walk and move properly now. Dr. Herrera recommended me another doctor working in the city hospital. He said I'll need someone to come with me every check up. So I just want to ask if you're free to go to weekly check-ups with me."

That's so smooth. I didn't see him as a man who knows his way around girls. I mean, I'm not saying he's flirting or something. I'm sure naghahanap lang siya ng makakasama niya sa weekly check up niya. Forget what I just said.

"How about your assistant? Or your manager? I'm sure free silang samahan ka sa check ups mo." Sagot ko naman.

Matapos kong maikalma ang sarili, I decided na bumalik na ng opisina bago pa mapansin ni Sir Tom na wala ako sa desk ko.

Panay ang tingin ko sa phone ko kaya hindi ko napansin na may kasalubong pala ako. Hindi sinasadyang nabangga ako dito dahilan kaya nahulog ang lahat ng dala niyang papers.

Malakas akong napasinghap. "I'm so sorry." Paumanhin ko at mabilis siyang tinulungan na pulutin ang mga iyun. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okey." He said timidly.

Inabot ko sa kanya ang mga papel na pinulot ko. "Pasensya na talaga." Patuloy ko.

Tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Okey lang. Salamat." Aniya saka tila nagmamadaling umalis sa harapan ko.

Nakakunot ang noong sinundan ko siya ng tingin. Did I scare him or something? I just shrugged and went back to texting Phillip while I'm walking back to the office.

"You know, one of your friends came to visit me. I really thought you came with here. I was disappointed."

Si Tiff ba tinutukoy niya? So she did come for him. Bumalik na si Tiffany like this monday but... I don't know what happened to her pero parang may iba sa kanya. Hindi ko siya madalas na nakikita sa bahay. Sobrang aga niyang pumapasok sa trabaho at late na kung umuwi. Me and our other friends actually talked about that. Gusto namin siyang kausapin kung anong problema niya but we never had a chance. Maybe this sunday dahil parehong sunday ang day-off naming lahat. We're really worried about her, dude.

"Uhm, did something happen to Tiffany while she was there?" Di ko mapigilang itanong kay Phillip.

"I'm not sure. I don't know. We aren't close. She came here a couple times with her parents but that's it. Why?"

Mas lalo akong nacu-curious. I really hope nothing serious happened. I hope that this is one of her mood swings. She does isolate herself sometimes when she's not in the mood o kung may problema sa business niya. But after ilang araw ay bumabalik din naman siya sa sarili niya. Sometimes, hinahayaan na lang namin siya. Some people just prefer to be alone when they're thinking, you know.

"Still there?" Text ni Phillip nang di ako sumagot ng ilang minuto. Ni hindi ko napansin na nakarating na pala ako sa pwesto ko at nakatunganga lang. I'm legit worried about Tiffany. I can't stop thinking about her. Maybe I should visit her in her shop.

"Phillip, can we talk later? May kailangan pa kasi akong asikasuhin. You already heard how aggressive my manager is. If he catches me texting, I'm dead." I sent it to him.

Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid ko. Thankfully, masyadong busy si Sir Tom kaya di niya ako nahuling nagte-text. He's too strict. Yung paraan niya ng pagiging leader is so old fashion. Like, I don't really mind it that much but if this goes out, he'll be in a lot of trouble. You know how sensitive people are nowadays. They fight for things they don't have any business with. This generation can't stand people who don't have the same principles as them.

Anyway, I should go back to work. Marami pa akong kailangang tapusin. Malapit na yung kompetisyon. I don't think they'll approve of my proposal that easily. Ibig sabihin, kailangan ko pa ring panalunin yung competition next month if I want my own show. Goodluck to me!

MADALAS kaming mag-usap ni Phillip through chats and video calls. Halos late na ako laging natutulog dahil sa kanya. If you want me to be honest, nagsisimula na akong magka-crush sa kanya. I mean, hindi lang toh dahil napaka-perfect niya physically. I'm not the type of person na nahuhulog sa isang tao dahil lang sa appearance nila. I like him because he's sweet and nice. Alam niya lagi kung anong dapat niyang sabihin at kung anong hindi dapat. Para akong bumalik sa teenage years ko. I can't believe I'm falling for someone through chat and I'm already 26.

"So how's your proposal? I feel like you'll be number one trending everyday if you start your own show. I mean, if you star that show, people will totally subscribe to you." Anang si Phillip habang magkausap kami through video chat.

I chuckled. "I don't think I have a talent to face the camera. I'd rather just write and produce the show."

He groaned. "I'd love it more if you're in it though."

Umiling-iling ako. "Will you agree if I ask you to be part of my show? I mean, I don't have enough funds but just in case... You know..."

Ngumiti siya. "If you ask, I'll do it."

"You're bluffing. Ikaw? I don't believe you."

Tumawa siya. "I'm serious though. Pag pumayag ako na maging parte ng show mo, ibig sabihin, lagi kitang makikita. I like that idea."

Umiling-iling ako. "Ewan ko sayo. Malamang sinasabi mo yan sa lahat ng babaeng nakakausap mo. I wonder who you're chatting with after I hang up." Pabiro kong wika.

Muntik na mahulog ang puso ko nang kagatin niya ang ibabang labi niya. f**k. He's so hot. Sometimes, I wonder if he's doing it on purpose. I feel like he knows how attractive he is and he's using it to lure me.

"You still don't believe me, do you?" Aniya. "You're a journalist so I'm guessing you've already made your own research about me. And you must have realized by now that I'm not the type of guy who gets off by playing women's hearts. Ni hindi ko maintindihan ang mga ganung tipo ng mga lalaki. What do they get from dating different women anyway? Ego? Fame? Image? I'd rather find myself one fine woman. Finding someone who loves me for who I am is it enough for me."

I stared at his face. He isn't physically here but I can tell he's being honest. Whoever ends up keeping this guy is a very lucky woman. Minsan hindi ko maintindihan yung mga babaeng nag-aagawan sa isang lalaki. Like, come on, show some self-respect. Pero ngayon, pag narinig ko na si Phillip ang pinag-aagawan nila, I will understand it. I mean, this guy is worth fighting for. Malamang sobrang laki ng pagsisisi ng kung sino man ang talo sa huli.

"When I like someone, hindi yun dahil gusto ko lang makipaglaro. When I like someone, it's coz I want to be with them long-term. So I always make sure na sigurado ako sa nararamdaman ko bago ako umamin." Patuloy niya.

"Do you like someone right now?" Kalmado kong tanong. Hindi ko alam kung anong ineexpect kong isasagot niya. I don't even know why I asked that.

Nakita ko na naman ang pagsilay ng ngiti niya. "I do." He answered while staring directly at my soul. "I feel like she already knows I like her though."

Tumikhim ako. "Really? Who is it? Is it a nurse? A doctor? Maybe a childhood friend na bumisita sayo recently."

He laughed sarcastically. "Come on." Aniya. "You know, hindi halata, pero marunong din akong mahiya. Kaya madalas, sa actions ko pinapakita sa isang tao ang tunay kong nararamdaman."

"Ikaw? Marunong mahiya? Don't me."

He laughed again pero this time, randam ko ang nerbyos sa tinig niya. He looks so cute. Mas lalo lang natunaw ang puso ko habang pinagmamasdan ko siya.

Naputol lang iyun nang marinig ko ang sunud-sunod na katok mula sa pinto ng kwarto ko. "Uhm, excuse me for a second." Paalam ko kay Phillip saka tumayo para tingnan kung sino ang nasa labas.

"Dinner na." Bungad ni Joey. "Who are you talking to?" Nagdududa niyang tanong.

"It's no one." Sagot ko. "Mauna ka na sa baba. Susunod ako."

Isasara ko na dapat ang pinto pero pinigilan niya yun. "Are you keeping secrets from us?"

I groaned. "No. Sige na. Bumaba ka na."

"Una si Tiffany. Tapos ngayon, ikaw naman. Tsk. This household is slowly breaking apart!"

Umikot ang mga mata ko. "It's really nothing. Bumaba ka na. You're so dramatic. Saka, I'm sure Tiffany's fine. Let's just give her a couple days. Malamang may pinagdadaanan lang yung tao na hindi siya komportableng i-share sa atin."

"Yeah, right." Sarkastiko niyang sabi. "Bumaba ka agad matapos mong magpaalam diyan sa ka-cybersex mo."

"Joey!!!" Malakas kong sigaw. "I never--"

"Blablabla... Whatever. I don't care. You're old enough to do that. Just don't keep secrets from us." Putol niya sa akin. "Mauna na ako sa baba. Bye."

Akala ko aalis na siya nang bumaling siya muli sa akin.

"You know, cybersexing while m**********g is more fun with s*x toys. If you need advice or recommen--"

"For f**k's sake, Joey! Go away!!"

Napapaypay ako sa sarili ko. Na-stress ako sa sinabi niya. Sana lang ay di yun narinig ni Phillip.

Why are their guesses always wrong? Their imaginations are so wild. Cybersex? I have never done that, okey? That is so weird.

Pumasok na ako muli sa kwarto at sinara ang pinto. Phillip's still there when I came back. I really hope he didn't hear anything Joey said. Ang lakas pa naman ng boses nun.

"Sorry about that. It was Joey." Wika ko.

"I heard it." Aniya.

Nabilaokan ako. "W-what? You heard what?" Tila defensive kong tanong.

He chuckled. "Everything." Aniyang tila tinutukso pa ako. "You don't really have to worry about anything. I mean, we didn't do it."

I tried to laugh pero pinagpapawisan na ako sa sobrang kaba. Di ko alam na may ilalakas pa pala ng t***k ang puso ko. "Right? We didn't do anything. Masyado lang green minded mga kaibigan ko."

Patuloy siya sa pagtawa. "You're so cute."

Napatakip ako ng mukha. I feel embarassed. Lagot talaga sa akin yung Joey na yun mamaya. Nakakainis! Ang seryoso na ng usapan namin kanina tapos biglang ganito.

"Kumain ka na ba?" tanong ko matapos kong kumalma.

"Kakain pa lang. I asked my assistant to buy me food and hindi pa dumadating yung delivery so naghihintay lang kami dito. Ikaw? I'm sure you're hungry. You should go ahead. Baka hinihintay ka na rin ng mga kaibigan mo. I'll wait until you're done so we could talk again."

I looked at the time on my phone. "Yeah. Medyo gutom na nga ako." Wika ko. "Kain muna ako. You should make sure to eat too once your food arrives."

"I will. I'll wait for you."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Okey."

Tinapos ko na ang video call namin matapos yun saka bumaba na kung saan ang mga kaibigan ko. Agad na hinanap ng mga mata ko si Joey. Dumaan ako sa likod niya at pinitik siya sa tenga.

"Aw! What was that for?!"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "You guys need to stop teasing me with your wrong accusations. It's annoying."

"Wrong? I'm sure I'm right though. Hindi ka naman nagagalit pag di totoo ang sinasabi namin."

Binato ko sa kanya yung table napkin. "You were wrong, okey?? Pinahiya mo lang ako kanina. Tss."

Binato niya pabalik sa akin yung table napkin. "Sino ba kasi yang lagi mong kausap nitong mga nakaraang araw? You're getting too suspicious."

Hindi ako sumagot. Kahit anong excuse ang sabihin ko, alam kong hindi rin naman sila maniniwala. "Alam mo, kumain na lang tayo. Where are the twins by the way?"

"You're too busy talking to someone else you didn't even read the messages in our group chat." Hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Joey. "Male-late ng uwi si Lana. Si Rina naman, may company dinner kaya hindi siya makakasabay sa ating kumain."

Sa totoo lang, di ako madalas pumupunta sa group chat namin dahil madalas ay memes and jokes lang naman ang sinesend nila doon.

"How about Torre?" I asked again.

He groaned. "Learn how to read, girl. Gosh. Wala ka na bang pakialam sa amin dahil may boyfriend ka na? Tsk. Her mom's sick so she went to the hospital."

Now, I actually feel bad. I guess I'm kind of turning into a bad friend. How could I not know that? Tsk.

"So tayo lang ngayong gabi?"

He rolled his eyes. "Obviously, duh? I told you this household is breaking apart."

"I'm starting to miss Tiffany." Malungkot kong sambit.

Hindi nagsalita si Joey. Mukhang ganun din ang nararamdaman niya. Dalawang araw nang hindi umuuwi si Tiffany. She told us na sa bahay muna siya ng kapatid niya magste-stay for awhile. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin namin alam kung anong problema niya. Hindi siya masyadong nagsasalita nung dumaan siya dito para magpaalam. Seriously, what is happening to us.