CHAPTER TWELVE

ANOTHER DAY without his presence. Hindi na maintindihan ni Angelo kung malaki ang tiwala nila Narae at Anurak sa safetiness ni Charles o sadyang walang itong mga pakealam.

"You worry too much, I'm sure he's fine." Napailing na lang si Angelo nang maalala ang laging sinasabi ni Narae.

How am I not supposed to worry if it has been months since I last saw him? Kahit ang kapatid niyang si Wynter ay walang balita sa lalake.

"Merry Christmas, Oppa!" Narae greeted him with a tight hug before letting him go.

He let out a low chuckle. "Next week pa, Narae."

The lady pouted. "But I'm excited. First time ka namin makakasamang mag-celebrate, plus Dom called An this morning. He's finally done with his work." She slowly walked away.

Napatulala naman si Angelo sa kawalan. He's coming back? Finally! Buong araw na may ngiti sa mukha ni Angelo. For sure ay magkikita sila bukas para sa Christmas Party.

ANGELO WOKE up early like he did not sleep late last night. Ganon siya ka-excited na maka-attend ng Christmas Party ng DAWN. Well, that's one of the reasons. Angelo sure looked forward to it since last week.

"Hermano, come on," pagyayaya ni Wynter.

"Take care, Wynter, Gabby!" Tita Summer shouted while waving her hand with a smile.

Kahit hindi gaano gusto ni Angelo ang step mom niya ay hindi naman nawala ang good mood niya simula nang magising siya. Kaya naman sa unang pagkakataon ay nakangiti siyang kumaway sa ginang.

"Same to you, Tita Summer," he shouted back.

Hindi maitago ni Summer ang gulat sa nakita. That's a first. The woman said to herself.

Kahit si Wynter ay nakatulala sa kapatid niya. Did he just talk to Mom with a smile? Wynter had to blink numerous times before she came back to reality.

Si Angelo naman ay nanatiling nakangiti habang nakatingin sa bintana ng kotse. He wasn't even watching anything outside the window, he was just staring at it while on cloud nine.

I'll get to see him today. Ilang oras lang naman ang byahe from Philippines to Thailand eh. Ngayong araw din panigurado ang alis nila Charles at Narae sa kanya-kanyang bansa. Angelo automatically widened his smile at the thought of his name.

Wynter, on the other hand, worries about her brother. I think he needs a check-up. Napailing naman siya sa naisip. Wynter lets out a sigh as she realizes that those two might meet later. She can't tell her brother to stay away from Charles since she can't give him the reason, so she'll do her best to monitor her best friend's movements.

It's for your own safety, Hermano.

Ilang saglit lang ay nakarating na sila sa airport. Both didn't want to waste their plane's gas so they chose to ride a typical plane, first-class though. Buong byahe lang naman natulog si Wynter, while Angelo kept on entertaining himself to stay awake.

When they landed in Thailand, Angelo tried his best to hide his excitement. Wynter was still the one driving so he can't complain about the speed.

It feels like forever. Angelo said to himself.

Pero para kay Wynter, tama lang ang bilis niya. Besides, it's not like kailangang-kailangan siya roon. She even bets that Dom and Nar are late. Lalo naman si Dom na sa U.S. pa manggagaling. He'll probably be there at night.

But for Angelo, everything will be perfect. Ngayon niya rin kasi planong komprontahin ang binata tungkol sa nangyari sa kanila noon. He even plans to confess all over again.

Finally, they reached the LUST DAWN. Sabay pa silang magkapatid na kinuha ang mga regalo sa trunk ng kotse. May exchange gift kasing magaganap mamaya pero mamaya rin nila malalaman kung sino ang pagbibigyan nila ng regalo.

I hope Nick's mine. Angelo grinned at that thought before he shook his head.

"Umm... Hermano."

Angelo turned around to see his sister. "Yes, Emy?" She looked worried.

"Whatever happens tonight, promise me that you'll do your best to be okay, hmm?"

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Angelo. "What do you mean?"

Wynter showed a small smile. "Well, my friends are crazy and they might trick you into dares and such. You can always say no if you don't want to do it, okay?"

Mahina namang natawa si Angelo. "Akala ko naman kung ano na." Mas lalo pa siyang natawa. "I know your friends, Emy. Sa ilang buwan kong nagtatrabaho rito, sila ang madalas kong kakwentuhan, so don't worry too much, okay?"

Wynter smiled and nodded. Both of them went inside the club. And as per the DAWN's rule, since Angelo would be celebrating Christmas with them, hindi sila pwede sa penthouse, they'll be in the Lair.

Angelo was welcomed with Narae's warm hug, while Wynter received Anurak's. The newcomers immediately smiled at those two.

"Buti naman ang nakarating na kayo," panimula ni Anurak nang pakawalan si Wynter sa pagkakayakap.

Si Narae naman ay iminuwestra ang sofa sa dalawa. "Come on, take a seat. We thought you'd come around nighttime, like Dom," she commented as they sat down.

"Dad had an emergency meeting this morning kaya naman hindi na rin kami nakatagal ni Hermano roon," paliwanag naman ni Wynter.

"Well, at least you're here now. Si Dom na lang ang hihintayin," Anurak said.

Since it was his first time, nagtaka si Angelo kung bakit walang mga employee sa LD, and so he asked the owners.

Narae was the one who answered. "We let the workers spend more time with their families."

Napatango-tango naman si Angelo. Nagsimula naman nang magkwentuhan ang apat, main focus ngayon si Wynter dahil sa nangyaring break up na ngayon lang nila napag-usapan.

His sister was willing to feed them with limited answers. Ang punto kasi ng kapatid ay may respeto pa rin naman ito sa dating kasintahan. Nalaman din nila na nawalan ng komunikasyon ang dalawa pagkatapos ng break up.

Nang tuluyang matapos ang kwentuhan patungkol sa nakaraang relasyon ng kapatid niya ay saktong dumating si Charles.

"D!" Narae gleefully shouted as she stood up and welcomed her friend with a hug. "Finally you're here. Na-miss ka namin, y'know?"

Charles let out a small smile. "I missed you all too." Narae guided him towards his sofa, right across Angelo's. "I apologize for being late. Mom wouldn't let me go," he said as he smiled again.

Tahimik lang namang nakatitig si Angelo sa bagong dating. He was obviously happy with his presence since hindi niya maitago ang ngiti niya.

But slowly, he lost his smile. As time passes, halatang hindi siya pinapansin ni Charles. The guy wouldn't even throw him a glance, and because of it, Angelo lost his mood.

"Oppa!" Biglang tumabi sa kanya si Narae. "You can stop worrying now. As you can see, he's perfectly fine, physically speaking." The lady teasingly smiled. "You can go and have your ways with him now."

Napailing na lang si Angelo. Ni hindi niya mapantayan ang energy ni Narae. "I don't think so. As you can see, he's avoiding me." Angelo took a sip from his wine.

Narae sighed and smiled. "As much as I know what Dom is thinking, I can't give you concrete advice to hold on to him." She gave him a serious look. "But I do know for a fact that he feels something for you."

"Yeah, anger," Angelo snorted.

The lady chuckled. "Bahala ka na nga, Oppa. Basta ako, suportado ako sa inyo, oki?" Narae stood up and faced everyone. "Okay! Stop the chit-chat and let's proceed to exchange gifts."

"Who are you to order us?" Charles joked.

"Yeah. As far as I know, you're the youngest," sunod naman agad ni Wynter.

"Technically, you can't tell us what to do," pang-aasar din ni Anurak.

Narae's eyes squinted as she pouted at pabagsak na bumalik sa tabi niya. "Oppa oh! Did you hear that? They're bullying me." Narae wrapped her arms around Angelo's right arm, at parang bata na nagsusumbong sa kanya.

Mahina namang natawa si Angelo sa inasta nito, saka humarap sa iba. "Unfortunately, I'm the oldest here so stop bullying my little girl," pakikisakay niya sa trip ng mga 'to.

"Hey! I'm your little girl!" agad na reklamo ni Wynter. Narae let out her tongue as she teases her unnie. "Hermano!"

Natawa na lang si Angelo at kahit papaano ay gumaan ang pakiramdam niya. He was finally back to his playful self nang bigla siyang napatingin sa katabi ng kapatid niya. At last, he looked at me. My turn though. Angelo thought as he smirked.

"Exchange gift!" sabay na sigaw nila Anurak at Narae.

Hindi napansin ni Angelo na wala na pala sa tabi niya si Narae kaya natawa siya. For someone who wanted revenge, bakit naka-focus ang attention ko sa kanya? Natatawang nailing siya.

Wynter sat down beside him to exchange gifts. It was fun as he expected. Bahagya pa siyang nagulat nang makitang may palaro pa ang apat. Minutes after the exchange of gifts, Charles stood up and excused himself to go to the comfort room. Angelo's eyes followed him hanggang sa hindi na niya napigilan at tumayo na rin siya para sundan ito.

Sinadya niyang hintayin si Charles na makalabas para magkunwari siyang walang pakealam dito. Nang makalabas ang binata, Angelo executed his plan and without looking at the man he missed so much, he entered the restroom.

Angelo kept on hoping that Charles would stop him midway and inwardly smiled when it happened. Angelo's emotionless eyes bored into Charles'.

"Need anything?" Angelo nonchalantly asked.

"Why are you still here?" Charles' serious tone made him smile but automatically hid it.

"Such a silly question. Narae invited me." Angelo's face stayed serious but he let sarcasm leave his mouth.

Akmang tatanggalin niya ang pagkakahawak ni Charles sa braso niya pero mas humigpit pa ito. "Get far away from me, Cortez."

Angelo's playful aura was gone. He was dead serious staring at Charles. "No, Nick. I'm done being pushed away. I gave you time. I let our friendship be ruined para naman kapag bumalik ako sa buhay mo, you won't consider me as a friend anymore." Angelo moved closer to Charles, and the latter took a step back. "Wasn't that your concern in the first place? Wasn't that your rule number one, Nick?" Angelo stopped when Charles was already leaning on the wall. "I'm no longer your friend, Nick. You could finally let me in."

"You don't understand, Cortez—"

"Then make me, Nick." Angelo moved his face closer to Charles as his hand caressed his cheek. "Make me understand, Dominique."

Hindi makatingin ng maayos si Charles sa kaharap. "I—I don't want you, Cortez—"

"Liar," Angelo whispered. His thumb softly caressed Charles' lower lip. "Look at me and say you don't want me."

Charles automatically faced him. "And what? What would you do if I did that?"

Angelo showed his sly smile. "Then I'll do everything to make you want me."

Charles hardened his face. "Get off me, Cortez. That will never happen."

Angelo's smile turned to a smirk. "Then you don't know me that well, my dear Nick." Angelo leaned closer to Charles' ear and whispered, "I've already tasted you... and baby, I want more."

Charles was obviously shocked and stiffened when Angelo gave him a quick French kiss before he let go and gave him a sweet smile. Angelo even chuckled when he saw him unmoving. What a cutie. He thought to himself before he softly tapped Charles' cheek and left him in a daze.