CHAPTER THIRTY

"WHAT THE f*ck was that‽" sigaw ni Charles sa matalik niyang kaibigang kapapasok lang sa penthouse nila. Wynter didn't even flinch at the loudness of his voice and just blankly stared at him. Charles continued to lash out at her. "Did your dad tell you about this‽ Akala ko ba may usapan kayo ni dad‽ Anong kalokohan 'to‽ I never knew he couldn't keep to his words!"

Napatingin si Charles sa tulalang Angelo. Once again his blood boiled. Kung kelan maayos na ang lahat sa amin, saka pa nagkanda-leche leche! He was mad as hell that he planned to confront his dad personally.

Charles tried to call his parents thousands of times but they won't pick-f*cking-up! When he heard the news, his eyes automatically flew to the man beside him, and his heart broke when he saw his lifeless eyes. P*tang inang buhay 'to!

"Dom, calm down—"

"What do you mean calm down‽" Charles' voice filled up the place. "Sinong kakalma sa ganitong sitwasyon, Wynter‽ My father just f*cking announced to the whole world that I'm f*cking getting married without me f*cking knowing!" He then softly stared at his best friend. "Wyn, I was going to face my father. I was going to tell him my feelings about your brother. I was going to ask him to cancel the wedding. Wyn, akala ko ba ikaw na ang bahala rito? A-Akala ko ba pagkakatiwalaan kita sa bagay na 'to?"

Sobrang daming emosyon ang nararamdaman ni Charles habang ang kaibigan naman niya ay walang kaemo-emosyon sa mukha. "I did take care of the problem, Dom."

"Then—"

"Your father's right. We really need to get married."

Para namang nabingi si Charles sa narinig. It took him a minute before he was able to recover from the shock and then, he laughed his ass off. Hindi niya pinansin ang naguguluhang tingin sa kanya ni Angelo o ang seryosong titig ng kaibigan niya.

Like a crazy person, because that's what he currently is, he laughed as if she just said the funniest joke of all time. At nang magsawa ay tumigil siya at tinitigan ang kausap.

"F*ck off, Wynter," seriously said. "Stop making unbelievable sh*ts."

"Do I look like I'm kidding, Dominique?"

He chuckled humorlessly. "Really? The infamous Wynter Emerald Vazquez is motherf*cking willing to get tied down?"

"Yes," she simply answered but it made his blood boil.

"I said stop these sh*ts, Wynter!" Charles snapped.

She was still emotionlessly staring at him. "I already said yes to the marriage."

"What the f*ck‽ You told me to trust you, Wyn! Kaya anong kalokohan 'yang pinagsasasabi mo‽"

Instead of looking at him, Wynter's gaze fell on her brother who was confused, staring at her. "You heard me, Hermano. I'm sorry but I'm marrying Dominique—"

"Shut the f*ck up, Wynter!" Charles shouted when he saw tears falling from Angelo's eyes. "What the f*ck is your problem‽" he asked her.

Muling tumingin sa kanya ang babae. "All your shouts and other complaints are worthless. Nothing will change, Dom. I'm just keeping my promise," huling sabi nito bago umalis sa penthouse.

Nanghihina namang napaupo sa lapag si Charles. His mind was in chaos. He wanted to scream so bad. Punch anyone, throw anything, but he couldn't make his body move. He was just weakly sitting on the floor, trying to figure out how the f*ck did they end up in that situation.

I was happy this morning. I was motherf*cking happy! Why the hell do they have to ruin it‽

"N-Nick..." Charles turned his head to Angelo who was still crying while looking at him.

Nagmamadali naman siyang tumayo saka nilapitan at niyakap ang lalake. "I-I'll do something, Gab. I'll stop my dad. I won't let you go. N-Never, Gab. Do you understand me? Never. I love you, remember? I-I love you so much, Gab."

Hindi niya napansing umiiyak na rin pala siya kung hindi pa pinunasan ni Angelo ang mga luha niyang nasa pisngi na.

"I-I'm so sorry, Gab. Please forgive me. I-I'll do everything to stay with you," emosyonal niyang sabi sa binata.

Nanatiling tahimik lang na umiiyak si Angelo na mas lalong nagpaalala kay Charles. He was not saying anything. He was just crying while staring into nothing.

He was about to say something again when the guy spoke.

"L-Let's stop this, Nick." Biglang natigilan si Charles at napatitig sa lalake. He was hoping he heard him wrong but then Angelo repeated his words. "Let's stop this. Please."

WHEN NARAE and Anurak entered the penthouse, they found Charles sitting on the floor with bottles of liquor surrounding him. They both heard about the news, at natagalan lang sa pag-uwi dahil sa traffic.

Agad nagkatinginan sina Narae at Anurak at parehong naintindihan ang gagawin ng isa't isa. Narae immediately left the building to find Wynter, while Anurak went to pick up the unconscious, drunk Charles and guided him to his room.

"Hey, don't stand up," pakiusap ni Anurak kay Charles na akmang bababa ng kama.

"Drink. I need to drink," nakapikit nitong ungot na pilit pa ring tumatayo.

Nang mapikon si Anurak ay itinulak niya ang noo nito at pilit na pinapahiga sa kama. "I said don't stand up. Kung ayaw mong matali riyan sa kama, makinig ka na lang sa akin."

Charles stopped resisting and just laid on the bed with a tear falling on his cheek. "He left me, An."

Mahina ang pagkakasabi niya pero rinig na rinig ito ng kausap. Anurak's shoulder fell as he sighed. He doesn't know how to comfort his friend since he also has a problem similar to his friend's.

Napailing na lang si Anurak saka nagpaalam na liligpitin lang muna ang kalat ni Charles sa sala.

Nanatili namang nakatulala si Charles sa kisame habang mahinang umiiyak at itinakip na lang ang braso sa mga mata nang marinig niyang may pumasok ng kwarto niya.

Naramdaman niya itong umupo sa may dulo ng higaan niya. He heard him "Wanna talk about it? I know I'm not Wynter, but I'm also your friend, Dom."

Charles, who didn't want to involve Anurak in his messed-up life, stayed silent. He tried to stop himself from crying but failed to do so.

On the other hand, Anurak stayed quietly in his room. Nakikiramdam sa kaibigan niyang tahimik na umiiyak. Dom has his reasons why he's not telling me anything. All I can do is be with him and silently support him.

Ilang minuto na ang lumipas nang biglang tumunog ang phone ni Anurak. Narae was calling so he answered, "Hey, any cold news?"

Narae sighed. (Unnie's locking herself in her room. She doesn't look well, Oppa.)

Anurak glanced at Charles before he went back to talking to his cousin. "And neither does he." It was his turn to let out a sigh. "I'll stay with him until he feels better—"

(—and I'll stick with Unnie.) Saglit na natahamik silang dalawa saka muling nagsalita si Narae. (Oppa, I don't know what else to do. I feel useless.)

Anurak couldn't help but agree with his cousin. "Same, nóng săao. But this is all we could do. Make them feel that they're not alone." Napailing na lang siya. "Anyways, do you have news about Angelo?"

(Oh... Yeah. I heard a while ago that he's flying to the US. Other than that, wala na.)

"I'm sure he's hurting as well. Nag-aalala ako sa kanya at baka wala siyang karamay. Wyn and Dom have us, but Angelo? I could only wish that Autumn would be there for him or a friend."

(I have the same thoughts, Oppa. Sinubukan ko siyang tawagan kanina kaya lang hindi sumasagot. Kung hindi ko lang narinig mula kay Unnie na ligtas si Kuya Angelo, malamang sa malamang hinanap ko rin siya.)

"Wala na muna tayong magagawa sa ngayon kundi ang alagaan 'tong dalawa. But also take care of yourself, nóng săao, okay?"

(Of course naman, Oppa. Ako pa ba?)

Kahit papaano ay gumaan ang pakiramdam ni Anurak. "Let's end the call for the meantime. You need to sleep, Narae."

(You too, Oppa. Bye!)

"Bye."

Nang tapusin ni Anurak ang tawag ay biglang nagsalita si Charles. "He's safe?"

Hindi naman na siya nagulat at sinagot na lamang ito, "Yeah. So don't think too much and rest. Bukas ka na lang ulit uminom, sasamahan pa kita with matching pulutan."

And finally, Charles' lips formed into a small smile. "Thanks, Anurak."

Anurak softly tapped his friend's leg. "Don't mention it." He then stood up. "Now, rest. Kahit bukas ka na lang din maligo at magbihis. I don't think you're still capable of doing those, so just sleep."

Tumango lang ang kausap niya kaya naman tuluyan na siyang lumabas ng kwarto nito at pumasok sa sarili niyang silid.

He's hoping that tomorrow everything will be alright. Unfortunately, their life is still being a motherf*cking assh*le.