Men In Love 1: His Sweet Maiden

SPECIAL CHAPTER

"HOW long are we going to be here?" asked Tux while having a sip in his short glass of whiskey.

"Forever!" Brad answered in an exaggerated tone while enjoying the company of the two hired escorts by his side.

Nilingon ito ni Tux, pinanood ang kaibigan kung paano lingkisin ang mga braso sa mga babaeng halos litaw na ang kabuuan sa suot na two piece. He sighed.

"I'm back." Siya namang pagbungad ni Greco sa sliding glass door ng terrace na kinaroroonan nila.

They were on the top floor of the most expensive hotel owned by one of the their business partners, Devon Skyke of Skyke Corporation. The meeting was held this morning and thought he would be back home right after that but Brad insisted to stay for the night.

"What held you?" Tux asked Greco irately.

Pero ngumiti lang si Greco. Alam kasi nito kung bakit iritado siya. Hindi na kasi siya makapaghintay na makabalik sa Maynila para makita ang kanyang mag-ina.

"I was talking to Devon and he invited us to his anniversary celebration dinner at six tonight," answered Greco.

"Why don't you two attend and I head home instead? Hindi na kailangan ang presensiya ko roon." Walang interes na muli niyang nilagok ang iniinom na alak.

"Stay." Madiin na saad ni Greco. "Franco is not here because of his personal issue. If you leave, that shows disrespect to the host."

"I did not fucking sign up for this!" Hindi na niya napigilan ang magtaas ng boses.

"Whoops..." agaw ni Brad sa usapan. "Let's go girls, let's leave the lovers alone. Let's enjoy ourselves in my bedroom." Hinatak nito ang dalawang babae para iwanan sila ni Greco.

Nang tuluyan nang makaalis si Brad at ang dalawang babae, muling nagsalita si Greco. "What's wrong with you?"

"Wala." Pumunta siya sa mesa para magsalin uli ng alak sa hawak na baso.

May sari-sarili silang negosyong magkakaibigan. Pero may ilan din naman na sama-sama sila sa ilang negosyo katulad nang sa Skyke Corp. Nagsimula sila bilang katuwaan lang, hanggang sa lumaki iyon at dahil negosyante sila, nakita nila ang potensiyal sa negosyong iyon kaya itinuloy na nila ang partnership. Kaya naman may ilang events nakailangan nilang dumalo sa business meetings in person lalo at out-of-town pa.

"Napapansin ko lang na sa tuwing umaalis tayo, at bihira lang naman ha, na hindi ka mapakali? Ano bang inaalala mo?" Umupo si Greco sa coffee colored soft couch at kinilatis siya.

"Wala!" singhal niya.

Sa halip na mapikon, natawa lang ito. Tila natutuwa pa sa kanyang reaksiyon. "I think I know why..."

"What!" Franco and Greco knew him well enough to dig into his mind. And how he hated that.

"Just do it, Tux. What are you scared of? You said so yourself that Shyna loves you. And you already told her you love her so. So what's to worry?"

"I'm not worried."

"Even if you spell that out, you still can't convince me. You are as scared as a mouse in the cat's mouth."

Inubos niya ang alak sa baso. Lumagok. Pinanood niya ang paglubog ng mamula-mulang araw. Nagtagis ang bagang niya. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa baso.

"Don't make another mistake. If you love her, just love her. Give it all. What's there to lose? Your heart? Afraid that you'll get hurt? You got to be kidding me!" Tumawa ito na tila nanunudyo.