CHAPTER NINETEEN

ALL NIGHT his eyes were opened. Hindi siya mapakali na nasa club si Angelo kaya naman nagkulong na lang si Charles sa kwarto niya sa penthouse nilang apat.

Pero bago pa siya tuluyang umakyat, nauna pa sa kanyang umalis si Wynter dahil daw may aasikasuhin pa sa Pilipinas.

Narae, on the other hand, went seducing men and partying dahil ayaw niya raw mainggit kay Anurak.

Speaking of that guy, he got laid last night, Charles' sure about that. Mukha kasing lasing na lasing na ang kausap nila kagabi tapos sumakto pang si Anurak ang hinarot, edi swerte nun.

As for that bartender, he didn't go home to the Philippines together with Wynter. According to Narae, Angelo wanted to spend three days in this country before he went back to his cell.

Hindi na nagulat si Charles sa term na ginamit ni Gan. After months of staying in your own house, without going outside because... well, because they said so, no valid reason. If that happened to me, I would go crazy.

Charles finally decided to get out of his bed and take a shower before heading out to the kitchen. Sakto namang nakita niya si Anurak na tulala sa harap ng lamesa habang parang t*ngang nakangiting mag-isa.

"Somebody's happy," Charles commented while searching for food because obviously, Anurak didn't cook.

"Nawa'y lahat," biglang sabi ng taong kapapasok lang sa kusina.

"Napano ka?" agad na tanong ni Charles sa nakabusangot na Narae. "Woke up on the wrong side of the bed?"

The lady just shrugged. "I felt bored last night. Wasn't able to get laid. Ang ending tuloy nakipag-daldalan na lang ako kay Kuya Angelo. He's more interesting than those who wanna f*ck."

Charles automatically stilled when he heard the name, but Narae wasn't able to notice it since she had her own problems.

"How about you, Dom? Where'd you go last night?" Sinenyas niya si Anurak na hanggang ngayon ay nakangiting kumakain. "I don't have to ask this one. Based on his expression, he had a great night."

Charles finally let go of the refrigerator's door and went back to their table. "Just here. I wasn't feeling it last night."

Narae hummed while slowly nodding her head. "Same! But I understand your reason. Kuya Angelo was there. And as for me..."

Narae didn't finish her sentence so Charles got curious. "What was your reason?"

Narae sighed and seriously looked at him. "I felt bored. I don't know why."

After some time, he got the urge to smirk at his friend. "You got someone special, is that it?"

The lady showed disgust all over her face. "Ew, Oppa! Are you kidding me‽ I mean, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against you having Kuya Angelo, but me? That's just gross!"

"Huh? What's gross?" Finally at mukhang nagising na si Anurak sa kahibangan niya at gulong-gulo nang nakatingin sa dalawang kaibigan niyang nasa harapan niya. "And since when did you two got here?"

Both Charles and Narae flatly looked at him and didn't bother answering his second question. But Narae did answer his first one.

"Gross is that grin of yours since I don't know, maybe ten minutes ago," she sarcastically said. "Anyways, what's with the grin?"

"Same question." Charles continued munching his burger.

Anurak removed the smile on his face. "What grin? I know nothing. Anyways, since it's vacation and I have no other things to do, plus Wynter's birthday is coming around, how about we go plan it outside?"

Napailing na lang si Charles sa bilis ni Anurak sa pagpapalit ng topic nila. They all do that if they don't wanna share something, and unlike other pushy people, they don't ask more and just let that person handle it. Unless of course if it's a medical or a life-and-death situation.

"Sure! I would very much like that! I'll invite Kuya Angelo—" Agad napatigil si Narae sa gagawin at biglang tumingin kay Charles. "I'm so sorry, Oppa. I-I got really comfortable with him na kaya nababanggit ko siya—"

"Hey, it's fine." Charles smiled. "It's not a big deal."

"What's not a big deal?" Parehong hindi pinansin nila Narae at Charles si Anurak.

"It is a big kinda deal, Dom," she pointed out.

"I'm fine, Nar." Lumingon siya kay Anurak na nakatingin pa rin sa kanila. "Tell me when we'll go out. I'll be in my room." Tumango lang naman ito. Kaya naman inubos na niya ang kinakain saka tumayo at umalis.

Nang ibagsak niya ang sarili sa kama, he felt drained. He didn't do much and yet he's already tired of everything. This sucks big time. Napailing na lang siya saka bumalik sa pagkakatulala sa kisame.

After three minutes,—yes, he counted since he's bored—he heard a knock on his door and Anurak came in.

"Yow, dress up. We'll go after fifteen minutes," his friend informed and went out of his room.

Charles let out a sigh and counted for five minutes before he began fixing himself. Sakto lang naman siya ng labas dahil kalalabas lang din ng mga kaibigan niya sa kanya-kanyang kwarto.

"Hey, Kuya Angelo called earlier today and asked if I was free," biglang sabi sa kanya ni Narae.

Charles acted as if he didn't care. "And?"

Narae stared at him for a minute before she answered. "I said I was busy with y'all and then asked him if he wanted to join us."

"And?"

"He said he'll meet us there."

"Okay." Charles walked ahead but stopped when he heard Narae talk again.

"Oh, and I told him we'll pick him up and he didn't refuse."

Charles took a deep breath before letting it out. He wanted to be happy because after months of being away, he'll finally have the chance to be with him again.

Unfortunately, he can't do that. He can't be happy knowing that he might risk his life again. Baka kapag nangyari 'yun, mapatay niya na ang sarili niya.

Putting my happiness away so that the people I cherish will be safe will be one of the many things I'm willing to do over and over again.

Charles was close to the stairs when he heard Anurak shout, "Let's go!"

Napailing na lang siya sa kaibigang nasisiraan na ng bait. I never knew s*x would make you lose your sanity. Napailing na naman siya. Good thing it never happened to me. Charles finally went down.