Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

“WHAT'S your plan now?” Tanong ni Lucas sakanya na prenteng nakaupo sa kama niya.

“I don't know. I'll wait for the call na lang, Jammy. Ayoko na talagang mag first move.” Sabi niya at umirap.

Never again. Para hindi na siya napapahiya.

Lucas chuckled lowly, “Hain, We know na kahit ganyan, at some point need mo talaga mag first move ulit pero maybe, somehow plan it? Para hindi epic fail.”

“And wow, you called me Jammy again. Bati na tayo?” Tanong nito sakanya habang nakangisi.

“Malamang! Hindi pa ba halata?” She hissed at him.

It's actually been three days since the epic call happened, and she still hasn't received any calls or email.

What if tinanggal na nila siya? There's a lot of what ifs in her mind, and she hates it. But, they would inform her naman siguro kapag naalis siya sa organization diba?

“Stop worrying too much, Hain. Noong nakaraan ka pa sana nila tinawagan kung alis ka na talaga sa organization.”

Inis niya itong binalingan. “What if they just got busy kaya they forgot to call me?”

Lucas smirked at her. Tinignan siya nito sa mga mata na parang naghahamon. “Then, call them first. Ask them, Hain.”

“Are you saying that I should do the first move!?” She exclaimed.

“Oo, part ka lang naman ng organization nila. Member ka lang, and not the top member. You should reach out.” Paliwanag nito sakanya.

“Fine! This will be the last time ha?” Sabi niya bago kinuha ang cellphone at tinawagan si Keirra.

She's nervous as she waits for Keirra to pick up the call.

“Hi, Hussain!” Magiliw nitong bati sakanya.

She cleared her throat. “Hi, Keirra. Gusto ko lang sana mag ask, hindi ba ko nakakaistorbo?”

Natawa naman si Keirra mula sa kabilang linya.

“Of course, you can! Ano ba 'yon? Tungkol ba 'to sa membership mo?”

“Uhm, actually yes. Tanggal na ba ko? Three days na kasi akong walang nakukuhang email or call mula sainyo.”

A long pause from the other line, “No, silly. Hindi ka pa rin ba natatawagan ni Mr. Primordial? Siya kasi ang pinaka compatible na ka-collab mo eh.”

She sighed, “Not yet, tinawagan ko na siya three days ago about sa collaboration after kong mabasa yung email mo, and he said he'll call me back pero until now, wala pa rin.”

“Oh, I'll call him for you. Dapat kasi kayo talaga ang mag-uusap for your collaboration. Nabigyan na rin naman namin kayo ng certain topic.”

Keirra instructed her a little more before ending the call. She thanked her for all the tips and advices.

She'll definitely just wait for Mr. Primordial's call because that's what Keirra said.

“How's the talk? You looked relax now.”

“It's fine, Lucas James. Thank you for encouraging me, ngayon lang ako naging masaya after a first move.” Nakangiting sambit niya.

“You're always welcome but of course, may bayad 'to. Help me with Alex.” Lucas said that made her look at him ridiculously.

“Alex? Diba may girlfriend ka? Selene?”

Lucas scoffed. “She broke up with me last week pa. Kaya lang naman daw siya nakipag relasyon sakin dahil sayo. She wants to annoy you. Akala niya may something satin.”

“Like what? Like—I like, like you?” Natatawang aniya.

It's very normal for her and Lucas to hear such things. The truth is, before she and Lucas became best friends, they were somehow lovers. Exes to be exact but since they were too young, it wasn't serious.

TYMOTEUSZ kept staring at his phone, nag-aalangan kung tatawagan niya na ba si Miss Sotelo. The woman who kept bugging his mind for the past ten days.

Nagulat siya ng malamang isa pala itong bagong actress sa Theater organization. Just like him, it's her year to transfer to a new organization.

Hussain Amor Sotelo… that's her full name.

A top achiever in Class A. Second year high school. Fifteen years old. Have two older brothers and three younger brothers.

Yes, he stalked her like a creep in all her social media accounts.

His older brother, Tyson tapped his shoulder. “What are you doing? Kanina ka pa panay kuha at baba ng phone mo. May nangyari ba?” Tanong nito sakanya.

He shrugged. “I think I like someone…” Marahan niyang sabi.

Mukhang nagulat ang kuya niya. He really never opens up to his family. He likes to stay silent and alone in his room.

“Whoa! That's good, buddy. What's your problem then?”

“I think she's in a relationship. Tapos siya ang magiging kasama ko sa collaboration sa Theater organization.” aniya at inis na ginulo ang buhok.

“Tinanong mo ba kung may boyfriend talaga siya? Baka kaibigan niya lang.”

“I didn't. Di pa nga kami nag-uusap, tatawagan ko nga siya dapat para maka-usap tungkol sa collab namin.”

Tyson nodded, understanding his situation.

“Ano bang pangalan niya? Maybe, I know her.” usisa nito sakanya.

Tymo looked at him. “Hussain Sotelo.”

Tyson gasped hearing the familiar name.

“Why do you looked shock, kuya?” tanong ni Tymo sa kapatid.

“Do you perhaps, remember my friends named Liam and Logan?” tanong nito sakanya.

He nodded. Kuya Liam and kuya Logan are always in their house kaya paanong hindi niya ito maaalala.

“Yes, why?” nagtatakang tanong niya rito.

“She's their only princess, bud. The rose between the thorns. The Sotelo's most precious gem.”

He bit his lower lip. “She is? Ano naman name nung iba niya pang mga kapatid?” he asked curiously.

“Liam is their eldest. Logan is the second, kambal sila ni Liam. Hussain is the third. Then, there's Apollo. Next is Tyler then the youngest, Axis.” paliwanag nito sakanya.

“Hussain actually had a twin, but he died six years ago. His name was Hullain.” dagdag pa nito.

“Oh, so… originally, seven sila?” tanong niya.

Tyson shook his head. “Hindi. They are originally ten. Divorced na ang parents nila since they lost Hullain, may kanya kanya ng mga pamilya. May half siblings sila na tatlo from their mother and isa sa father nila. Hussain and the twins, Logan and Liam, mga working student 'yan sila. Oo, mga may pera dahil parehas mayaman ang mga magulang pero bumukod sila sa mga 'yon at bumili ng sariling bahay malapit sa bahay ng tiyo nila tapos silang tatlo ang bumubuhay sa tatlo pang nakakabata.” pag kwento nito.

“Bakit mo ito kinukwento sakin? Hindi ba sila magagalit, kuya?” nagtatakang tanong niya.

Tyson smiled and shook his head. “Alam naman ng lahat ang kwento nilang magkakapatid. It's nothing new so it's fine.” sabi nito at tinapik siya sa likod, “Call her now. Good luck, bud.” sambit muli nito at tuluyan na siyang iniwan.

He took a deep breath before clicking the call button. This is it. It's now or never, Tymoteusz.