CHAPTER 10

IT'S OFFICIAL, Cloud was avoiding him, Jacques concluded. How could he tell? Easy. Hindi na siya nito dinadalhan ng pagkain sa kuwarto niya sa tuwing nakakalimot siyang kumain, ayaw na rin nitong manood ng pelikula kasama siya, kapag magkasama naman sila, gumagawa ito ng dahilan o paraan para makalayo ito sa kaniya. Kapag nagti-text siya rito, maikli lang ang mga sagot nito. Kapag kinakausap niya ito, kung anong tanong niya, iyon lang ang sagot na makukuha niya rito.

The teasing and sarcastic Cloud was gone.

It all started three days ago, in his plane, going back home. The bastard even sat with Dimitri and not with him just to avoid him. Jacques should be happy, no one's pissing him off anymore, no one's teasing him and flirting with him, but he's not. He's far from being happy. He's pissed! He's very pissed!

So he plans to confront the son of a bitch who's avoiding him these past few days and hanging out with Dimitri all the time.

Jacques barged into Cloud's room after everyone had quieted down inside the Count's house.

It's 11:05 PM.

Kaagad na pinalibot ni Jacques ang tingin ng hindi nakita ang hinahanap. "Clo—"

The door to the bathroom opened and Cloud stepped out.

Jacques didn't know why his mind went blank seeing Cloud with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

Broad chest. Sexy veiny arms. Well-built biceps. Well-toned body. Six packs abs. Chiseled v-line. And a very sexy back.

That's the body of the philandering bastard in-front of Jacques and he's impressed. He could never have that kind of body since his Doctor advice him not to exercise a lot because of his condition. The closest thing Jacques did for an exercise was swimming — the only thing he's allowed to do to have a well-toned body and just enough arms, thighs and leg muscle.

"Lord Jacques..."

That woke Jacques up from his own thoughts.

Jacques dragged his eyes from Cloud's body to Cloud's eyes. "Let's talk. You have some fucking explaining to do."

Naglakad siya patungo sa kama at nakasunod lang ang tingin nito sa kaniya.

"Now. Cloud." May diin niyang sabi habang matalim ang tingin dito dahil hindi ito gumalaw sa kinatatayuan.

Cloud blinked a couple of times while gripping the towel wrapped around his waist before going towards the walk-in closet. Nang makalabas ito doon, nakasuot na ito ng itim na sweatpants at medyo maluwang na kulay gray na muscle shirt.

Cloud was drying his wet hair with the same towel he used to wrapped around his waist earlier and Jacques couldn't stop the disapproving look on his face when Cloud sat on the single sofa, meters away from him who's sitting on the edge of the bed.

Hindi na kayang magpigil ni Jacques kaya nagsalita na siya. "Why are you avoiding me?"

"No I'm not—"

"Los Cojones!" Bullshit! Jacques' lips curled into irritation. "Talk or I'll fucking hit you."

Ilang segundong tahimik lang si Cloud habang nakatitig sa kaniya na parang inaarok ang laman ng isip niya, kapagkuwan ay tinigil nito ang pagtuyo sa medyo basa pa nitong buhok at basta nalang itinapon ang tuwalya sa isa pang pang-isahang sofa bago tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo at naglakad palapit sa kaniya saka tumigil sa harapan niya.

Pagkatapos ay walang sere-seremonyang sinapo nito ang magkabilang pisngi niya at basta nalang na inilapat ang labi nito sa labi niya.

Wide eyes and shocked, Jacques was frozen in place. Unmoving for a couple of seconds until his mind came back to him and with all his strength, he pushed Cloud away from him.

Jacques' eyes held fury and disbelief fused into one as he stared at Cloud. The killing intent in Jacques' eyes were palpable. "You motherfucker—"

"That's why." Cloud cut him off, confusion was now added to Jacques' fury and disbelief. "That's the reason I'd been avoiding you, Lord Jacques. I wanna kiss you so bad, I don't want to make you uncomfortable so I keep my distance, but here you are, in my room asking for my reason. How am I suppose to stop myself now?"

Jacques huffed in anger. "Are you saying this is my fucking fault, you asshole?!"

Cloud didn't say anything and Jacques' angered doubled. Sa sobrang galit niya, kumuyom ang mga kamao niya at akmang susuntukin si Cloud pero ng makita niya ang kaguluhan, lungkot at pagsisisi sa mukha nito, hindi niya iyon maituloy. Jacques wanted to beat Cloud up so bad but he couldn't — his body won't allow him.

Angry at his traitor body, Jacques stormed out of Cloud's room.

And while stalking towards his own room, Jacques had the back of his hand pressed against his lips, it's like he can still feel Cloud's lips on them. Soft but firm.

"How am I supposed to fucking know that he'd been avoiding me with that fucking reason?!" Jacques angrily asked himself when he entered his room and kicked the door close behind him. "Why the fuck does he make it sound like it's my fucking fault ?! Why is he blaming me?! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

To release the anger burning and boiling inside him, Jacques kicked the corner frame of his bed again and again, but his anger didn't disappear.

He wanted to feel pain at the moment, he wanted to know how it feels like — he wanted to feel pain to replaced this fury inside him — he wanted to feel the pain to distract his anger.

But he couldn't feel pain. All he felt at that moment was anger and frustration and it won't go away even how much harder he kicked the bed frame.

Jacques told Cloud that he's a good friend, Jacques thought he understood that — why must he do this to him?! Why?!

Yes. It was just a simple kiss. Only a peck even. But their lips still connected for a couple of seconds, long enough for Jacques to know that Cloud's lips were soft but firm and Jacques knew what that kiss would do to his friendship with Cloud.

When Cloud's lips were on him, that's when Jacques felt the gravity of Cloud's 'feelings' for him that he didn't take seriously when he confessed to him in the plane. Jacques' always thought that it was only a simple like, not too deep and only on the surface kind of like, he always thought that Cloud was just teasing him or something.

Pabagsak na naupo si Jacques sa gilid ng kama at napasabunot sa sariling buhok habang nakayuko. "I just don't want to lose a good friend ... Cloud is so good to me ... what if that kiss ruin my friendship with Cloud?"

Now he's regretting going to Cloud's room. Sana pala hinayaan nalang niya itong iwasan siya. Sana pala hinintay niya itong ito mismo ang lumapit sa kaniya.

Fuck! Now I'm blaming myself. Fuck you, Cloud! Fuck you! Fuck you!

Jacques really wanted to release this anger and frustration inside him so he stood up and started ransacking his room to release this raging emotion inside him. So he would calm down. So he wouldn't hurt Cloud in so much anger.

Good thing the Count's room was sound-proof so they couldn't hear what's happening inside his room, but he was pretty sure that Cloud could hear him because minutes later, there was a knock on the door and he heard Cloud's voice.

"Lord Jacques?"

Jacques didn't answer but he stopped the distraction inside his room.

"I'm coming in." Wika ng nasa labas.

When Cloud stepped inside his room, Jacques threw a heavy vase on Cloud that the latter was able to catch effortlessly before it hit his face.

Jacques wanted to shout at Cloud, to make him leave, but his mouth remained close even when Cloud started walking towards him, Jacques just stood there, frozen while remembering what happened in Cloud's room.

That kiss ... Cloud's lips...

Thinking of that kiss, unconsciously, Jacques' eyes dropped to Cloud's lips. How can a man have soft lips anyway?! Fuck! What am I thinking?!

Bumalik sa kasalukuyan ang pag-iisip ni Jacques ng hawakan siya ni Cloud sa pulsuhan at walang sabi-sabing hinila siya patungong kama. Jacques tried to escape from Cloud's grasp but Cloud didn't let him. Mas lalo pang humigpit ang hawak nito sa kaniya at mas lalong ayaw siyang pakawalan.

That angered Jacques again.

"Let go of me and get the fuck out of my room!" Jacques hissed at Cloud angrily.

Cloud pushed him to the bed, "stay there." Ani Cloud sa mababa pero may diing boses bago lumabas ng kuwarto niya, pero kapagkuwan ay bumalik din ito kaagad. May dala-dala na itong first aid kit at doon lang niya na napagtanto na nasugatan pala siya dahil sa paulit-ulit niyang pagsipa sa gilid ng kama niya.

Jacques was angry and frustrated but he couldn't help but watch as Cloud sits on the bed and started cleaning his fresh wound on his leg.

Cloud didn't say anything, afraid that it might set Jacques' off again. Cloud stayed quiet as he clean his wound, put antiseptics and wrapped it with bandage. Kapagkuwan ay sunod nitong binigyan pansin ang mga braso niya na may mga pasa dahil sa pagwawala niya.

Carefully, like he's a person sensitive to pain, Cloud cleaned his bruises before softly rubbing an ointment on them. Nang matapos ito, walang imik nitong itinabi ang first aid kit at nag-umpisa itong linisin ang kalat sa kuwarto niya na kagagawan niya.

And Jacques just watched Cloud while leaning on the bed's headboard.

Jacques was still pissed at what Cloud did, but he didn't say anything. Kahit naman anong mura niya rito, walang magbabago. What's done was done. They couldn't take back that kiss.

Hindi namalayan ni Jacques na tapos nang maglinis si Cloud hanggang sa walang imik itong bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa gilid ng kama niya habang ang likod nito ay nakaharap sa kaniya.

After a long while, the silence was broken by Cloud. "I'm sorry."

Jacques let out a strained laugh. Two words from Cloud and it manages to melt his anger and frustration away. It only means that Cloud was really a good friend of his — a very good friend that he doesn't want to lose.

"I'm sorry, Lord Jacquess—"

"Let's just forget about it."

Cloud stilled then he looked at him over his shoulder. "What?"

"Let's just forget about it." Ulit na sabi ni Jacques.

"What if I don't want to ... forget about it?" Tanong ni Cloud na ngayon ay nakaupo na paharap sa kaniya.

Jacques instantly glowered at Cloud. "Cloud, I'm trying to save our friendship here. I told you before, I don't want to lose a good friend and you are a good friend to me. Can we just forget about the kiss and move on, hmm?" Jacques didn't know that he was making a puppy dog face while negotiating with Cloud, "That's the reason why I'm mad, because I'm afraid that that kiss will change our friendship and I don't want that, Cloud. I wanna stay friends with you for a long time."

Ilang segundong nakatitig lang sa kaniya si Cloud bago gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi nito.

Ah, I miss that smile. Jacques thought. He haven't seen that for days now.

"Galit ka dahil sa tingin mo may magbabago sa pagkakaibigan natin dahil hinalikan kita?" Maingat si Cloud sa bawat salitang binibitawan, ayaw nitong magalit na naman ang Marquess.

Tumango ang kausap. "I'm not dumb. Kiss always changes relationship — and people. I've seen it with my own eyes."

"So ... you're mad because of what the kiss will do to our friendship, but not because I kissed you?"

Jacques glared at him. "Should I beat you up?"

Cloud grinned. "Ah, and here I thought you're mad about that."

Jacques just scowled but what Cloud said got him thinking. Cloud was right, Jacques was more than angry at the effect it'll do to their friendship rather than the fact that Jacques was kissed by a man.

Napailing siya, kahit ang sarili niya hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit.

Jacques blows a loud breath. "Let's just forget about it—"

"I don't think I can." Cloud cut him off honestly. And looking at Cloud's eyes, Cloud was telling the truth. "I like the kiss — I want more actually—"

"Cloud!" Jacques hissed at the motherfucker.

Tumawa lang si Cloud saka napailing. "Chill, my lord — though I'm not kidding." Sobrang sama ng tingin ni Jacques kay Cloud habang nagsasalita ito. "For me, I don't think it'll affect our friendship though."

Jacques gave him a deadpan look. "Fuck you, asshole. You know it fucking will. And because of that fucking kiss, I know for a fact that you want more than friendship from me. I'm not a kid not to figure that out."

Cloud smiled and continued explaining his thought. "That's true, I like you, and I want more than friendship, but, if it's the only thing you can give me, then I'll accept it. I won't ask for more from you." Cloud took a deep breath. "And I'm really sorry for kissing you without your consent. I was losing my mind these past few days, I couldn't hold myself back anymore. Please, forgive me."

"If I forgive you, you won't avoid me anymore?" Jacques asked, he doesn't really like the thought of Cloud avoiding him.

"I might avoid you again," Cloud wanted to be honest with the Marquess. "When that happens, just let me. Hindi porke't iniiwasan kita ay ayoko nang maging kaibigan ka. I just need the space to clear my mind and control myself so I won't end up kissing you or more."

Jacques paled with Cloud's last word. "W-what do you mean by ... more?"

Napangiwi si Cloud. "You don't wanna go there."

Jacques gulped. "Fine. I will let you have your fucking space when you want it — but two days only. Tops. No negotiation."

Napatanga si Cloud sa Marquess. "So ... I'm allowed to avoid you for two days only?" Napapantastikuhan niyang tanong.

Tumango si Jacques. "Yes. Be thankful that I'm being fucking considerate. So whatever it is that you have to control or settle, do it in two days and then come back to me."

Cloud breathing hitched at Lord Jacques' last word. Does this guy even know what he just said? Or is he that oblivious to his own words?

"And if you want to avoid me again, tell me beforehand so I'll know." Dagdag pa ng Marquess.

And now, Cloud was perplexed. "It's not like I can schedule my urges to kiss you or more..."

"Don't fucking care." Ani Jacques na walang pakialam. "Figure it out yourself. No negotiation."

Cloud was dumbfounded. How the hell did their conversation turned out this way?

Tumingin si Jacques kay Cloud ng natahimik ito. "What?"

"Nothing." Wika ni Cloud saka umiling pa. "just curious about something."

"What?" Jacques asked.

Cloud slightly leaned in to the Marquess, before rolling his tongue in between his lips. "Can I still flirt with you?"

Jacques snorted. "Friends don't do that."

"Well," tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Cloud. "I didn't say that I'll treat you as a friend."

Kaagad na sumama ang mukha ng Marquess. "Then what the fuck did we just talk about?!" Jacques snapped again.

"You can treat me as a friend, but I didn't say that I'll treat you the same."

Jacques have this deadpan look on his face. "Now I'm confused, but you know what — whatever." Jacques dismissed the topic quickly. "I don't care. Just don't avoid me again, I mean you can, but only for two days, after that, you come back to me. Understood?"

May naglalarong ngiti sa mga labi ni Cloud habang tumatango ito. "Yes, my lord."

Jacques scowled at Cloud before pointing his leg wound. "That's your fault. Better take good care of me."

"I will." Cloud had this triumphant smile. "Wanna watch a movie?"

Jacques' face actually lit up, making Cloud smile. "Sure. The scarier, the better."

Cloud playfully bowed down at Lord Jacques before Cloud went to fetch a film for them to watch while there's a shadow of a smile on Jacques' lips.

Jacques was happy that he and Cloud were back to normal again. He really didn't like it when Cloud was avoiding him and the bastard had been hanging out with Dimitri instead. It's annoying.

But now they're back to being friends again — well, sort of. It's okay though, as long as Cloud remains the same and treats him the same, he's cool with that. Jacques would overlook Cloud's flirty words as long as he won't avoid him anymore.

Napatigil sa pag-iisip si Jacques ng pumasok si Cloud sa kuwarto niya at dumeretso ito sa DVD player. Moments later, the Conjuring 2 started playing on TV.

Lihim na nasiyahan si Jacques ng umupo sa kama si Cloud, sa tabi niya, habang nanonood. Pareho silang nakahilig sa headboard ng kama.

Jacques really likes that Cloud was not avoiding him anymore.

Ilang minuto pa lang ang nakakalipas mula ng mag-umpisa ang pelikula na pinapanood, nakita niyang umilaw ang cellphone niya na nasa bedside table.

Someone's calling him.

Nang makitang si Kaius 'yon, kaagad niya iyong sinagot. "Yes?"

"How are you, Jacq?"

Napatingin siya sa benda niya sa binti. "I'm good."

"Good. Free to talk?" Kaius asked.

"Nope." Sagot niya.

"Then I'll do the talking." Ani Kaius. "My father wants to know how much information about Sweet Monday Lopez have you accumulated. Call me back if you're free to talk. Bye."

"Bye."

Pinatay ni Jacques ang tawag at akmang ibabalik niya ang cellphone sa bedside table ng maramdaman niyang may humilig sa balikat niya.

Jacques looked at his shoulder to check and saw Cloud's head comfortably resting on his shoulder.

"Cloud?"

"Mmmm?" Cloud sounded so comfortable as well.

"Wanna visit a Funeral Home?"

"Huh?" Umayos ng upo si Cloud saka tumingin sa kaniya. "Why?"

"You're leaning on me. Comfortably I might say." Jacques tsked. "You have a fucking death wish? Wanna die fucking early? I can fucking arrange that."

Cloud chuckled and went back to resting his head on Jacques' shoulder again.

"Cloud, get off!" Jacques hissed.

"I'm tired." Cloud said in a groan. "Nilinis ko ang kalat sa kuwarto mo, kaya napagod ako. Bakit ka ba kasi nagwala?"

"To release my anger so I won't kill you."

Cloud chuckled again and stayed silent, few minutes later, Cloud called out his name.

"Jacques?" It was the second time without honorific.

"Hmm?" Jacques hummed in response while watching the film.

"You lips tastes good by the way."

Napailing si Jacques. Cloud's really a shameless prick. "Can you be more shameless than that?" Puno ng sarkasmo niyang tanong.

Cloud let out a deep sexy chuckle and then his voice became low and enticing, "the next time I kiss you, I'll make sure to do it in french."

Jacques can't help but chuckle. He didn't care about the 'next time' in Cloud's sentence, his mind focused on the word 'french'. "Was that a pun, Mr. French guy?" Cloud was French by origin, they just moved to Spain.

Natawa na rin si Cloud habang nakahilig ang likod nito sa headboard at nakahilig ang ulo sa balikat ng Marquess. "Wait, let me think of another one."

Jacques laughed again. "You're impossible, Cloud."

"I got one!" Umayos pa talaga ng upo si Cloud saka tumingin sa kaniya kaya napatingin din siya rito.

"Well?"

Tumikhim muna si Cloud bago bumukas ang bibig. "I borrowed a kiss from you earlier, want me to give it back?"

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya. "Is this how you pick up your women?" Jacques snorted. "And they call you womanizer." He said in thick sarcasm.

"How about you do it, you son of a bitch." Cloud said in a playful tone.

Jacques smirked at Cloud. "They say your tongue is the strongest muscle in your body. Wanna fight?"

Cloud matched the grin on Jacques' lips. "Damn...If I didn't know better, I'd say 'what are you waiting for? My tongue's all yours'."

Jacques laughed so hard for a whole minute before he sobered up. "See?" He said between laughs "It's good that we're back to being good friends."

Cloud leaned on the headboard again, his eyes boring into the TV. "I don't think of you as a friend though."

Jacques tsked. "Nube, don't fucking ruin the moment."

Cloud stilled and inquisitively looked at Jacques. "What did you just call me?"

"Nube. That's your name in my phone." Sagot naman ni Jacques bago bumalik sa pagkakahilig sa headboard. "Spanish for 'cloud'." Nube is pronounced as Noo-beh.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Cloud. "Sounds like an endearment to me." He teases the Marquess. "Should I call you mon amour or mon cher. Which do you prefer?"

Jacques answered him with his middle finger. "Fuck you."

Cloud retaliate. "When and where?"

Lord Jacques showed him another middle finger and Cloud just laughed before focusing his attention on the film.

But from time to time, Cloud would look at the Marques who has a small smile playing on his lips while watching. Lord Jacques looked happy.

Cloud smiled to himself. What an adorable son of a bitch.