ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 24

AT FIRST, Midnight thought that his stay in Venice would only include meeting the person the old man recommended, visit some sight—alone—and then return to Rome, alone as well. However, that was not what happened in his one week in Venice.

Love, his very sociable tracker, as a local, took him to places tourist normally wouldn't visit. Then at night, the Vitale twins would come looking for him to do a lot of nonsense things. And tonight was the worst night since he met the twins.

He got drunk.

Midnight felt the entire world was spinning and the annoying twins were just laughing at him.

Midnight stopped walking and glared at the two. "So annoying. Stop being noisy."

The twins—specially Blaze—laughed even harder because Midnight's expression was more like sulking than glaring. At para may proof ang kambal kapag tinudyo nila si Midnight bukas kapag hindi na ito lasing, inilabas ni Blaze ang cellphone nito saka kinunan ng video si Midnight.

Seeing Blaze's phone's camera pointed at him, Midnight, in his drunken state, swayed and lurched back towards the twins; however, his intoxicated condition resulted in an encounter with a railing, which blocked his path and prevented him from reaching them.

If Midnight was not drunk, he would have realized that it would only take a few steps to walk around the railing and reach the twins, but at that moment, he was out of his mind. He kept pushing the railing and because he was using all his strength; the railing made a creaking sound.

"Fuck." Blaze cussed. "Blakey, hurry, he's going to destroy that railing! We're broke as fuck, so you better stop him! We don't have money to pay for the damages!"

Blake finally stopped chuckling and walked to Midnight to stop him from destroying the railing. "Alright, bud. You can stop now. We're broke."

Midnight sneered at Blake. "Kayo lang. Marami akong pera."

Blake sighed and held Midnight's wrist to take his hands off the railing. "Yes, yes, Mister wealthy, we hear you. Now, let go. Seriously."

However, Midnight stubbornly refused to relinquish her hold, his grip firm and unwavering. With his knuckles white and his grip so tight on the railing, Blake realized, in that instant, that Midnight's strength surpassed his own.

Bumaling si Blake sa kakambal. "Help me?"

Bahagyang nagulat si Blaze sa tinuran ng kakambal. They were not exactly normal people. They had considerable strength due to the nature of their 'work', so to see his twin struggling to overpower Midnight, Blaze stunned.

"Hey!" Blake snapped at his twin.

Blaze finally moved and helped Blake. It took all their strength, but they finally managed to wrestle Midnight's hand loose from where it was gripping the railing.

Thus, with Midnight's left hand held by Blake and the right hand held by Blaze, the twins guided the drunk Midnight into their boat.

The twins plan to take Midnight home through the canals since it would be faster compared to navigating the sea of people through the busy streets.

"Saan niyo ako dadalhin?" Biglang tumigil sa paglalakad si Midnight na ikinatigil din ng magkambal.

Sabay na napatingin ang dalawa kay Midnight. Honestly, they didn't even drink that much, so Midnight getting drunk was unexpected since he didn't reject the alcohol they gave him.

"Where?" Midnight was drunk alright, but he still speaks clearly. Although it was clear that his mind was intoxicated and not thinking straight. It even stopped putting on a mask. "Kidnapping me? I'm worthless."

Blake, bothered by Midnight's words, flicked Midnight's forehead. "No one is worthless. I'm sure you're worth something."

"Hmm." Midnight nodded, agreeing. "As long as my brother is alive, I am worth something."

Blaze grimaced at that. "We're friends with your brother and he's a cool guy, but I'm sure your worth has nothing to do with him. You're you."

Midnight was silent.

"He's drunk." Ani Blake. "He won't listen."

Blaze clicked his tongue and pulled Midnight again together with Blake.

Sa pagkakataong 'to, nagpahila si Midnight sa dalawa hanggang sa makarating sila kung saan nakadaong ang maliit nilang bangka.

"Paunahin na muna natin si Midnight." Suhestiyon ni Blake.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Blaze ng makitang pagiwang-giwang kung maglakad si Midnight. "I don't trust him. Siguradong magda-dive siya sa tubig kung hahayaan natin siya na siya lang ang sumakay. He needs support."

Blake agreed and told Midnight their plan.

Tumango si Midnight sa magkambal pero hindi ito gumalaw para sumakay sa bangka.

Nagpakawala ng malakas na buntong-hininga si Blaze saka tinuro kay Midnight kung saan nito i-aapak ang paa para ligtas na makasakay sa bangka.

But Midnight just looked at the spots Blaze pointed and said, "no."

"Huh?"

"Ayoko."

"Come again?" Feeling ni Blaze pinaglalaruan siya ng tainga niya. But he heard Midnight said the same thing.

"Ayoko." Midnight glared at Blaze. "I hate being ordered around."

Blaze gritted his teeth. "This is a request!"

"Ayoko pa rin. I will not follow anyone's orders or request! I'm sick of them! I'm done! I don't want this anymore!"

Nagkatinginan ang magkambal saka hinilot ni Blaze ang sentido. "Huwag mong sapakin. Lasing siya. Lasing."

Nalukot ang mukha ni Midnight sa narinig. "Mas malaki ang posibilidad na masapak kita keysa masapak mo ako."

Tumaas ang kamao ni Blaze pero kaagad na namagitan si Blake sa dalawa habang nakaharap ito may Midnight.

"Midnight, listen to me," Blake patiently spoke to Midnight. "This is not an order or a request. Think of this as a favor, okay? Please do me a massive favor and carefully step on the spots we showed you. Could you please?"

Listening to Blake's soft voice, Midnight finally nodded.

The twins let out a relieve breath.

"Careful." The twins had to make an effort to get Midnight to the boat safely. "Only steps on the path we pointed out to you. You would not like to take a dive in the canal."

Midnight nodded once again while the twins helped balance Midnight's swaying body.

At sa kakabalanse ng magkambal kay Midnight para logtas itong makasakay sa bangka, si Blaze ang nawalan ng balanse at tumalipon sa canal. And he dragged Blake with him because as he tried to save himself, he grabbed the back of Blake's shirt, and a loud splashing sound was heard.

Now comfortably sitting on the boat, Midnight tilted his head at the twins and when he saw the state in the water, he started cackling.

Nagtatagis ang bagang na matalim na tiningnan ni Blaze si Midnight na tumatawa pa rin habang si Blake naman ay hawak sa kuwelyo ang kakambal at lumalangoy patungo sa hagdanan na gawa sa bato para makaahon sila.

Midnight was still laughing his ass off, holding his stomach, when the twins finally managed to come back to the boat.

In between laughs and amidst Blaze's annoyed glare, Midnight asked, "bakit kayo naligo sa canal?"

"Why do you think?!" Blaze snapped; his fist clenched.

However, seeing Blaze angry made Midnight even more happy that his laughter was shaking the small boat.

"Kung maligo ka rin kaya sa canal?" Handa na si Blaze na itulak si Midnight pero napigilan ito ni Blake.

"Calm down. He's drunk." Kalmadong sabi ni Blake.

Blaze angrily pointed at Midnight. "Does he look drunk to you?!"

Midnight immediately stopped laughing and then looked at Blake with so much innocence that the twins became speechless at the fakeness.

Blaze gritted his teeth. "Faking innocence, I see!"

Midnight's face remained innocent until Blaze moved to the front of the steering wheel, and he swayed, nearly falling to the water again if not for Blake stabilizing him and the boat.

"Fuck! Fuck!"

Midnight burst out laughing again.

Blaze's already thin and short patience snapped. "Mamaya ka sakin pagdaong natin."

Patuloy ang pagtawa ni Midnight kahit nasa biyahe na sila. Lalo na kapag tumutuon ang tingin nito kay Blaze na parang basing-sisiw, mas lumalakas ang tawa nito.

Ang uri pa naman ng tawa nito ay 'yong tunog nakakainsulto. If not for Blake stopping Blaze from attacking Midnight, the two might've fight on the boat and would now be in the water.

Pakiramdam ni Blake mga bata ang kasama niya. Lalo na ngayong lasing si Midnight. Midnight was not as reserve, polite, and serious as he used to when sober. The drunk Midnight was a little honest and carefree which was a welcome surprise to Blake.

"Look after him." Ani Blaze sabay turo kay Midnight bago nito binuhay ang makina ng bangka at maingay na pinausad 'yon.

Midway, Blake saw Midnight's head kept falling. Clearly very sleepy.

Blake had to extend his hand to hold Midnight's head and support his shoulder, so Midnight won't fall down.

"Blaze, go straight to the yacht." Utos ni Blake.

Blaze looked back and when he saw Midnight's state, he did not ask and just did what his twin told him to.

Blaze navigates straight to their yacht in the dock. At dahil nagising si Midnight kahit nakadaong na sila, Blaze had to help Blake carry Midnight into their yacht and into Blake's room.

"Saan ka matutulog?" Tanong ni Blaze sa kakambal.

Blake looked at his twin as if Blaze just asked the dumbest question before answering. "Sa kuwarto mo. Saan pa ba?"

"Um..." Blaze recalled the mess in his room. "I don't think we'll fit in there."

Kumunot ang nuo ni Blake. "Hindi ka na naman ba nagligpit ng kalat sa kuwarto mo?"

"It's not that!" Blaze exclaimed. "I have medical books all over. I'm preparing for my residency, remember?"

"Oh, yeah." Blake sighed. "Fine. Sa sofa ako matutulog."

Kinumutan muna ng kambal si Midnight bago ang mga ito lumabas ng kuwarto para magpahinga na rin.

THE NEXT MORNING, Midnight woke up with a massive headache. His temple was pounding and his body felt so heavy that he didn't want to leave the bed.

However, when the realization hit him that it was not his own bed, he quickly got up, grab his phone on the bed and made the bed, then got out of the room.

Midnight had a high pain threshold, so the pounding pain in his head did not bother him that much.

Nang makalabas siya ng kuwarto kaagad na sumalubong sa kaniya ang mabangong aroma ng agahan at nakita niya si Blake na nagluluto habang si Blaze naman ay nasa mahabang sofa at nagbabasa ng medical book.

Sabay na napatingin sa kaniya ang kambal ng makalabas siya ng kuwarto.

Tinuro ni Blake kay Midnight ang toiletries at bagong damit na nasa lamesa. "It's new. You can use it." Kapagkuwan ay tinuro nito ang banyo ng yate na nasa katabi lang ng kusina. "Bathroom. Feel free to use it."

Midnight nodded and silently took the toiletries and new clothes on the table before walking to the bathroom.

Soon after, Midnight stepped out of the bathroom looking fresh with his old clothes in a laundry bag he found in the bathroom.

"Wait for a bit. Breakfast will be served in a few minutes." Imporma ni Blake kay Midnight.

Midnight nodded, took a seat on the single sofa and patiently waited, like an obedient child. Gone the carefree and honest Midnight from last night.

Habang naghihintay siya, nagpadala siya ng mensahe kay Love ng mabasa niya ang mensahe nito sa kaniya na hinahanap siya kaninang madaling araw.

He placed his phone in his trousers pocket and then, with a subtle glance around the luxurious yacht, his attention was drawn to Blake, who was concentrating on cooking.

The smell of freshly baked bread, coffee, bacon and scrambled egg wafted through the air, reminding him of lazy mornings spent at the farm, and he felt like he was back in that cozy place again.

He wondered what everyone was doing on the farm. He's certain that Silvanus was back in the lab. Happy was probably exercising now. Then the old man and Klaus were probably bickering again over breakfast or something.

How about his big brother? What would he be doing now? Bahagyang nagsalubong ang kilay niya ng wala siyang maisagot sa sariling tanong hindi katulad sa mga tao sa farm na alam kaagad niya.

At that moment, he realized that he might have a close bond with his brother, but it seemed he didn't know his big brother very well. Why was that? In his memory, his brother was always there for him... so why doesn't he know anything about his big brother other than some few details?

Before Midnight could question his memory even further, he felt a sharp, searing pain in his head. As if sending a warning to him not to explore any further.

Almost immediately, he stopped. He still recalled Silvanus' warning. He couldn't risk his newfound freedom from his father's control.

Midnight turned to Blaze after the pain subsided. "Busy? Can I ask you something?"

Isinara ni Blaze ang makapal na librong binabasa saka pinaningkitan si Midnight. "Oh. So now you're being polite?" Puno ng sarkasmo ang boses nito.

Midnight, who remembered what happened last night down to its minute detail, pretended like he did not remember a thing.

As long as I don't remember. I'm safe. Midnight observed.

Seeing Midnight blinking at him with a confused glint in his eyes, Blaze let out an exasperated and sat up. "Whatever. I forgive you."

I knew it. Midnight remained looking clueless.

"Anong gusto mong itanong?" Ani Blaze kapagkuwan.

"About my big brother..." paninula ni Midnight. "May balita ba kayo kung kumusta na si kuya?"

"Just call him." Blaze pointed out.

"It's not that easy."

Thinking that Midnight had his reasons, Blaze shrugged. "Last info we got, he's in the Philippines. At mukhang mas lumala pa ang pagiging sinto-sinto ng kuya mo."

Midnight felt even more confused than when he first asked. "What do you mean?"

Bumalik sa pagkakahiga sa sofa si Blaze. "Well, let's just say he has lunatics for friends."

At the mention of his big brother's friends, Midnight grimaced. Sa hindi malamang rason, hindi niya gusto ang mga kaibigan ng kuya niya. He wondered why when his brother always gave him his attention. He did not have a reason to resent his brother's friends.

From that train of thought, Midnight's mind jumps to another thought. "Hindi ba kaibigan kayo ni kuya?"

Blaze shrugged. "Well... I guess? I mean, he's more like a boss that became a friend."

Sumabad si Blake sa usapan ng dalawa. "We're friends. Period."

Tumango-tango si Midnight. "Then you are lunatics, too, right?"

The twins looked at Midnight dryly.

"What?"

Blaze sighed loudly. "Blakey, I don't like him." Parang batang nagsusumbong si Blaze sa kakambal.

Mahinang tumawa lang si Blake saka sinenyasan ang dalawa na umupo na sa hapagkainan. "Come on. Breakfast is ready."

Sabay na tumayo si Midnight at Blaze saka nagsalo ang tatlo ng agahan sa lamesa.

In the middle of enjoying their breakfast, Midnight spoke.

"I'm going back to Rome tomorrow." Halos isang linggo pa lang mula ng makilala ni Midnight ang magkambal, pero sa hindi malamang kadahilanan, komportable siyang kasama ang mga ito.

Maybe because they really didn't do anything when hanging out. Just finding some random topics to talk about, sharing nonsense things and then just doing whatever they wanted.

The Vitale twins made him feel normal. As if there was nothing wrong with him. They accepted him for who he was and treated him like a normal person. They never made him feel like he was someone else, which makes him comfortable.

"You have our number," Blake said. "Just call if you need anything. We'll be there."

Midnight frowned. "Aren't you two in hiding?"

"Who cares about that?" Blaze glanced at Midnight. "Just call if you need any help. Tatawag din kami kapag may kailangan kami sayo." Blaze joked. "A head up, just in case."

Midnight chuckled at that, and the twins smiled.

"Sure. Just call." Midnight said with a nod.

The breakfast ended and the three cruise around for a bit before sending Midnight off.

Midnight waved his hand at the twins standing at the dock before turning around and joining the sea of people moving out and about in Venice.

Blaze crossed his arms and asked his twin, "Think we'll see him again?"

Blake shrugged. We run in the same circle. It's only a matter of when."

For a moment, the crowded city of Venice seemed quiet as they watch Midnight disappear into the crowd.

Although Midnight had to return to Rome, the bonds they'd formed in this short, bizarre week would linger like the echoes of laughter over the canals—proof that even fleeting connections could leave lasting marks.

CECELIB | C.C.