DEV VILLAFLORE ( Wild Men Series # 12 )

Chapter 2

There was nothing to say the day you left. I just filled a suitcase full of regrets

I hailed a taxi in the rain
Looking for someplace to ease the pain, ooh
Then like an answered prayer
I turned around and found you there...

DEV HAS BEEN playing the song over and over again. Paboritong kanta iyon ni Andrea. If the music player can complain, they probably complain to him because he seems to have been listening to the song repeatedly for two hours. He also drinks. Just one night to sober up, he will be fine again the next day.

Habang naririnig niya ang kanta, all he can think at that moment is Andrea. Never did he imagine that he would lose the woman he deeply fell in love with. He feels deeply connected to Andrea. After his mother lost, si Andrea ang unang taong tinulungan siyang buuin ang kanyang sarili. Matagal na silang magkaibigan at matagal na rin niya itong minahal. In an instant, she was lost too— forever.

Pabagsak niyang sinandal ang ulo sa headrest ng sofa. He stared blankly at the ceiling. Mariin niyang pinikit ang mga mata sandali saka muling dinilat.

“Happy anniversary, Love.” He whispered as if Andrea could still hear him.

Two years. Two fucking years when Andrea left him. She left him— broken. Kung paano siyang binuo, ganoon din siya nitong iniwan na durog na durog. Ilang beses na ba niyang hiniling na sana ay sinama siya nito kung nasaan man ito ngayon. Countless times he wished he was dead to escape the pain of losing his mother and Andrea.

Tumayo siya't kumuha ng alak at nagsalin sa baso. Mabilis niyang inubos ang laman na alak. Lumapit siya sa glass wall na natatanaw ang mga building at ang mga ilaw ng siyudad.  He missed her. Kahit saan yata siya tumingin, si Andrea ang nakikita niya.

Kumuha siya ng sigarilyo at pumunta sa balcony at doon naninigarilyo. Humithit muna siya ng usok saka binuga sa kawalan ang usok. Tumingala.

“Dev, sorry sa istorbo. Hinahanap ka na ni Boss Logan.” Biglang salita ni Miguel sa sliding door na nag-uugnay sa balcony.

Tinapunan niya nang matalim na tingin si Miguel. Alas onse na ng gabi at pinapatawag pa siya ni Logan. Four hours ago ay magkasama lang silang dalawa sa isang nightclub. What does he need at this hour?

He continued smoking. “Why?” Nakakunot ang noo niyang tanong with a frustrated look on his face. He wanted to drink more. Iyong tipong hindi na niya magawang makapag-isip mamaya bago matulog. Maayos naman ang naging trabaho niya kanina.

Miguel shrugged his shoulders. “Wala ako idea, Dev.”

Tamad na pinatay ni Dev ang sindi ng sigarilyo sa ashtray. May ipag-uutos na naman sa kanya si Logan kaya ganitong oras ay pinapatawag siya. Dev went back inside with Miguel following him. Miguel sat down on the long sofa when Dev entered his room to change his clothes.

Pinuntahan nina Dev si Logan sa bahay nito.

“Boss?” bungad niyang tanong kay Logan. Naninigarilyo at umiinom ng alak. “May problema ba, Boss?” Nagtataka siya dahil mukhang maayos naman ito kanina nang umalis siya rito, pero ngayon tila malalim ang iniisip ng kanyang amo at mukhang may mabigat na problemang dinadala.

“Do you believe in love at first sight, Dev?”

For a moment, there was a deafening silence between them. Dev couldn't react, but a surprised look was evident on his face. “Boss?”