CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

KANINA PA masama ang tingin ni Angelo kay Charles. Even Wynter was curious what was going on between them. Hanggang sa makasakay sila sa eroplanong papunta sa Thailand, at nang makilala niya ang iba pang mga kaibigan daw nila Wynter ay hindi pa rin mawala ang masamang tingin niya sa binata.

"I swear, Nick. One more irritating expression from you and I'll kick you out of this plane," aniya nang maramdamang nasa tabi niya ang binata. He still wasn't looking at him, pissed that he might see him still grinning. The plane was already in the air kaya ayos lang nang tumayo at maglakad-lakad.

When Charles heard his last sentence, he raised his hands as a sign of surrender before smiling at him. "I just wanna sit beside you. You know, have a little chat."

Umikot naman kaagad ang mga mata niya. "The last time you said you wanted to have a chat, ended up in me lying on my bed—"

Charles leaned to his ear and sexily whispered, "—naked and heaving under me."

Hindi naman naiwasan ni Angelo na mag-init ang pisngi niya sa tinuran ng binata. "Shut the hell up, Nick."

Hindi malaman ni Angelo kung bakit mas dumoble ang hiyang nararamdaman niya simula nang maalala niya ang nakaraang nangyari sa kanilang dalawa ni Charles. Instead of feeling bold and confident, he suddenly felt embarrassed and more awkward with him.

Ano kaya ang nangyari noon para mapunta kami sa sitwasyong 'yun? Para namang bumagsak ang pakiramdam niya sa naisip. Maliban sa naalala niya kagabi, wala nang iba pang memorya ang pumasok sa isip niya. Gusto niyang malaman kung ano ba talaga ang nararamdaman niya para sa binata dahil sigurado siyang konektado ang epekto ni Charles sa kanya ngayon at kung anong nangyari sa kanila noon.

Naramdaman naman niya ang titig nito sa kanya kaya nilingon niya ito. "What?"

Gone with the teasing Charles and replaced with a serious one. "You look deep in your thoughts. Mind sharing with me what's on your mind?"

He let out a sigh and went back to watching the clouds through the window. "Naisip ko lang yung rason kung bakit hindi kita maalala. It's bugging me off. May ilang bagay na pumapasok sa isip ko kaya pakiramdam ko hindi lang tayo magkakilala dahil kaibigan ka ng kapatid you." He let a dry chuckle escape his lips as he stared into the depths of Charles' eyes. "I know it, Nick. I know there's something more. We have something more. I just couldn't remember exactly what it was."

He saw how Charles' face softened as he looked at him. Umayos ito ng pagkakasandal sa upuan saka siya nilingon at tinapik ang sariling balikat. "Come. You look tired."

Angelo couldn't help but smile at his gesture. It looked sweet and warm. Angelo didn't need to be told twice, he rested his head on his shoulder and closed his eyes. Sana maalala na kita ng buo, Nick. I don't know why but I long for you.

Hindi namalayan ni Angelo na komportable na pala siyang nakatulog sa posisyon na iyon. Nagising na lamang siya nang bahagya siyang alugin ni Charles para sabihing malapit na silang bumaba.

"Ayun oh! Makakapasok din sa famous LUST DAWN," excited na salita ni Light. According to him, mamaasukan ito sa club para lang daw ma+try na maging DJ.

"I haven't been in a club," ani Dian. Sa pagkakaalala niya ay bouncer ito sa club. Pero paanong hindi pa siya nakakapasok sa club kung iyon ang trabaho niya?

"I saw in the news that LUST DAWN has been the talk of the century ever since their first anniversary last month," sabi naman ni Kathleya, ang makakasama niya behind the counter.

Si Khrysgen naman ay kinuha ang backpack nito saka nauna nang bumaba. 'Yun ata ang magiging waiter.

"Narae and Anurak missed you, Hermano," biglang usap sa kanya ng kapatid nang pababa na sila ng eroplano.

Agad siyang napangiti sa narinig. "I missed them too."

May bigla namang tumikhim mula sa likuran niya kaya nilingon niya ito. Napakunot naman ang noo niya nang makita ang madilim na mukha ni Charles. Anong problema nito?

Narinig niya naman ang mahinang tawa ng kapatid niya kaya ito naman ang tiningnan niya. She just smiled at him and asked, "Sinong mas miss mo, Hermano? Si Narae o si Anurak?"

"Walang mas mas. Pareho ko lang silang namiss."

Lumingon naman si Wynter sa lalakeng nasa likuran nila. "Kalma lang, Dom," nakangising paalala ng kapatid niya.

He saw Charles glare at his sister but she didn't seem affected by it and just laughed at him. Ngayong lang napansin ni Angelo kung gaano talaga ka-close ang dalawa. And for some unknown reason, it didn't sit well for him. Napailing na lang siya sa iniisip. Emy and Nick are just best friends. Best friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Snap out of it, Angelo!

Hanggang sa nasa loob na silang tatlo ng sasakyan papunta sa LUST DAWN ay walang imik na nakatitig lang siya sa may bintana. Noon niya lang naalala na magkasama rin ang dalawa noong mga nakaraang linggo. Were their friends with them or was it just the two of them? Napabuntong hininga na lang siya.

What the hell is wrong with me? Since when did I care about their relationship? Besides, ang sabi naman ng kapatid niya sa kanya ay matalik na kaibigan niya lang ang lalake. His sister also doesn't give a hell about romantic relationships, she would never find an interest in her best friend.

Nababaliw na ata siya sa mga pinag-iisip niya at mag-isang nakatulala habang umiiling. Hindi niya tuloy napansin ang nag-aalalang tingin na ibinibigay ng kapatid niya at ng kaibigan nito. Both Wynter and Charles share a look as they glance back at Angelo who's still busy shaking his head.

"Ayos lang ba siya?" pabulong na tanong ni Charles habang nakatingin kay Angelo.

"Mukhang re-reserve-an ko na siya ng slot kay Dr. Simoune," sagot naman ni Wynter.

Charles flatly looked at his best friend. "You're already assuming that your brother's crazy?"

The lady just shrugged. "I'm just a very concerned sister, you know?" she said with a hint of sarcasm.

Si Angelo naman na walang alam sa usapang nagaganap sa dalawa ay tuloy pa rin sa pag-alis ng selos na nararamdaman niya. I should stop overthinking about it. He sighed and turned his head to look at Charles, only to see him laughing with Wynter. Yep, I won't be able to stop thinking about it anymore.