CHAPTER 2

WALANG IMIK na umupo si Blaze sa pahabang upuan ng simbahan at inilabas ang cellphone sa bulsa saka binuksan ang group chat nilang lahat na magkakaibigan, ang Jumbo Hotdog Club. Pero may group chat ding iba ang mga single nilang magkakaibigan. Hindi niya alam kung sinong nakaisip nang pangalan na 'yon pero nasisiguro niyang wala sa tamang pag-iisip kung sino man 'yon.

Who was it anyway? Was it me?

Nailing na natawa siya saka binasa niya ang huling usapan ng magkakaibigan.

Train Wolkzbin: @Iuhence Yong babayaran mo saking fifty pesos, akala mo nakalimutan ko na? Magbayad ka nga! Hindi porke't hinalikan ng anak ko ang anak mo ay hindi ka na magbabayad. Hindi pa tayo magbalae ginugulangan mo na ako.

Iuhence Vergara: 🤣

Train Wolkzbin: 😡🤬 ibabayad ko pa 'yon kay Volkzki!

Calyx Vargaz: Ilang taon na ba yang utang mo ha, Iuhence? Magbayad ka na nga.

Lander Storm: Nagsalita ang walang-hiya @Calyx bayaran mo ako sa kinain natin doon sa Resto ni Calderon. Gago ka! Tinae mo na't lahat-lahat, hindi ka pa rin nagbabayad. Hindi 'yon libre oi!

Train Wolkzbin: 2 Years na niyang utang 'yon @Calyx. Walang hiya... katulad mo 😡

Valerian Volkzki: Manlilibre daw 'yong sintu-sinto.

'Yong kaninang mga 'seen' lang ay nagsilabasan.

Lash Colemen: Saan?

Evren Yilmaz: The who? @Valerian Maraming sintu-sinto sa kaibigan natin.

Valerian Volkzki: huwag mo akong i-tag Evren, hindi tayo close.

Iuhence Vergara: 🤪🤪🤪

Lysander Callahan: Fuck! I miss being there! Kung nandiyan ako, ako ang manglilibre.

Andrius Salazar: Hindi pala ikaw ang tinutukoy ni Valerian @Lysander? Lol. Sintu-sinto ka rin e.

Phoenix Martinez: Bakit ba nag-iingay na naman ang group chat na 'to? Sinong manlilibre? Sinong naniningil?

Titus Morgan: Mga hayop! Nagising ang anak ko sa ingay ng cellphone ko. Sino ba ang nagsabing bawal i-mute itong group chat na 'to, mga 'tangina kayo!

Blake Vitale: I'm in the Hospital. Can't come.

Kaagad na nagsalubong ang kilay ni Blaze sa nabasa.

Blaze Vitale: @Blake what did I tell you about your phone? No phone while recovering!

Blake Vitale: @Blaze make me 😛 i'm older than you.

Knight Velasquez: @Valerian i'm hungry! Buy me some cake! Sino ba yang sintu-sinto na manglilibre?

Blaze Vitale: @Blake I hate you 🤬 see this emoticon? I'm cursing you right now. Rest you motherfucker!

Blake Vitale: 😛 make me.

Hinilot niya ang sentido. Kailangan talaga niyang bantayan ang kakambal. Sasakalin niya mamaya ang nagbigay dito sa cellphone nito.

Is it Lucky? Of course its Lucky. She's a softy!

Wala sa sariling tumuon ang tingin niya sa rason kung bakit nasa simbahan siya. She's busy sketching and talking to his mother.

Hindi niya alam kung napansin ni Happy ang titig niya pero napabaling ito sa kaniya at nagtama ang mga mata nila, pero kaagad din itong nagbawi. 

Ibinalik niya ang atensiyon sa cellphone niya.

Blaze Vitale: @Valerian W&W?

Valerian Volkzki: Don't tag me Blaze. Hindi tayo close! @Knight ikaw ang manglilibre.

Mandurugas/Kutungero: @Valerian close tayo diba?

Knight Velasquez: Tag me too @Mandurugas/Kutungero!

Mandurugas/Kutungero: You animals! Who change my nickname again?! You will pay!

Knight Velasquez: @Shun me. Me. Me. I did.

Nag-angat ulit siya ng tingin mula sa cellphone saka tiningnan si Happy na dumadaan sa harapan niya habang abala sa pag-i-sketch sa sketch pad nito.

She's really serious when she told Lucky she'll help with the wedding preparation.

And he shouldn't be here. Looking at her... staring, actually. Nakipagpalit pa siya ng duty para lang makasama ito. Maybe because her face gives him comfort? Kung si Lucky nga na medyo kamukha lang, napapagaan ang loob niya, si Happy pa kaya na kamukhang-kamukha?

Just seeing her...makes him feel... okay. Genuinely okay.

Kaagad siyang nagbaba ng tingin sa cellphone niya ng sinalubong nito ang titig niya.

Cali Sudalga: What's W&W @Blaze. You and your weird abbreviation.

Dark Montero: I think that stands for Wuss and I don't know the other W.

*Mandurugas/Kutungero change his nickname to Shun Kim *

Shun Kim: I will make you pay @Knight!

Knight Velasquez: Thanks for tagging me, Shun 😊 see? I know how to use emoticons now. I can't believe they're just below the number button and you can see those weird yellow faces.

Iuhence Vergara: 😍😍😍😘😘😘❤️❤️

Train Wolkzbin: Kanina ka pa @Iuhence. Huwag mong hintayin na puntahan kita riyan sa bahay mo at sakaling tangina ka! You motherfucker!

Napailing nalang siya sa gulo na naman nang group chat nila. At wala na naman sa sariling tinitigan niya si Happy na kausap ang ina niya.

At nahuli na naman siya nitong nakatingin, pero hindi siya nagbawi ng tingin. Nakipagtitigan siya rito, minimemorya ang maganda nitong mukha.

It was Happy who looked away.

Blaze sighed and looked at his phone again.

Valerian Volkzki: Mga bobo! W&W stands for 'saan ba 'yang 'tanginang libre na yan nang makapunta ako'!

Malakas na natawa si Blaze ng mabasa ang chat ni Volkzki. Gago talaga ang isang 'to kahit kailan.

Blaze Vitale: You got it 👍🏻

Iuhence Vergara: ❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘😘😍😍😍😍😘😘😘😘😘😍😍😍🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Ymar Stroam: What's going on? 🤔

Train Wolkzbin: Fuck you @Iuhence. That's it! I'm going to your house! Now!

Iuhence Vergara: Fuck! That was my Princess Kisses. She got my phone again.

Natawa siya.

Blaze Vitale: Wala bang password 'yang cellphone mo?

Iuhence Vergara: Bud, if you have a wife, putting a password on your phone is a death wish. Your wife will kill you.

Lath Coleman: Yow!

Lash Coleman: That's why I don't have a password.

Hunt Baltazar: Wazzup?

Tyron Zapanta: No password, no problem.

Andrius Salazar: Agree with you @Tyron. Password is stranger to me, specially if you have a wife who knows how to use a gun!

Beckett Furrer: Want a happy life? Forget password.

Pierce Muller: The password on my phone has been long gone. Para walang gulo, tinanggal ko na. Ayokong nag-aaway kami ng asawa ko.

Blaze Vitale: What happen to privacy?

Iuhence Vergara: What privacy? When you have a wife, cellphone is not part of privacy. Trust me, it will be world war three if you contest that to my wife.

Shun Kim: I have a password on my phone. Its necessary. Of course, my wife knows the password.

Knight Velasquez: To my wife, password is a myth.

Valerian Volkzki: I was planning to surprise my mooncake on our third wedding anniversary so I put a fucking password on my phone to keep my plan a secret. When morning came, my phone is on the fucking blender. And I ask why, she said, remember my rule? No password. And I was like 'fuck! My wife is not kidding around'.

Naiiling na ini-off ni Blaze ang cellphone saka nag-angat ng tingin. Natigilan siya ng makita ang ina na nakapameywang sa harapan niya.

"Mom..."

Nakataas ang kilay nito. "Bakit ka ba nandito? Akala ko duty mo ngayon."

"I'm, ah," napatingin siya sa gawi ni Happy bago ibinalik ang tingin sa ina, "just helping out."

Alam niyang hindi naniwala ang ina niya sa dahilan niya. "You're making her uncomfortable. Akala mo hindi ko nakikita ang pagsulyap-sulyap mo sa kaniya?"

Blaze sighed. "I just wanna see her. She calms me."

"Son," His Mom looked at him with understanding and pity, "she's not Cassie. Maawa ka naman sa tao. Kanina pa siya ilang na ilang ng dahil sayo."

He sighed. "Mom, I know that she's not Cassie. Hindi mo na kailangang isampal 'yon sakin."

"Then why follow her around like a love sick puppy?"

He looked at Happy again. "I don't know..."

"Blaze..." umupo sa tabi niya ang ina saka hinawakan ang kamay niya at pinisil, "I know this is a torture for you, to see that face, but don't torture Happy too. She doesn't know that she looks like your Cassie and she doesn't need to know. It'll burden her in some way. Don't make her feel awkward around us. Kapatid siya ni Lucky, magiging kapamilya natin siya, please, Blaze?"

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa cellphone saka walang imik na tumayo at lumabas ng simbahan.

Nakakuyom ang kamay na tinawagan niya si Lucky. Gusto niya nang kausap. Pero hindi ito sumasagot. Kaya naman ang kakambal nalang niya ang tinawagan.

"Hey... what is it?" Kaagad na tanong ni Blake.

"What do I do?"

"What?" Halata ang pagtataka sa boses ni Blake. "Nasaan ka ba? Pumunta ka rito sa kuwarto ko, mag-usap tayo."

Nagtagis ang bagang niya. "I'm hoping that Happy is my Cassie...even though in the back of my mind, I know she's not..." bulong niya, "what do I do, Blake? I'm confused. I don't know what to do."

"Leave her alone."

Bumuga siya ng marahas na hininga. "I can't do that—"

"She's not Cassie." Ani Blake sa may pinalidad na boses. "So leave her alone. Don't see her. Iwasan mo siya. I know you're in hell right now, but don't put Happy in hell too. Hindi ka niya kilala. Wala siyang alam tungkol sayo at tungkol kay Cassie. You're a stranger to her so stop following her and live your life like before."

"Easy for you to say." Napatingala siya sa kalangitan habang nagtatagis ang bagang. "Tell me its gonna be okay... tell me i'm gonna be just fine, Blakey. Tell me..."

"You're gonna be fine, Blaze." Ani Blake. "I'm here if you need me."

Hindi nagpaalam na pinatay niya ang tawag. Noon, kapag sinabi ni Blake na magiging maayos lang ang lahat, nakakampante na siya, bakit ngayon wala siyang maramdamang ganun? Bakit hindi siya makampante?

HAPPY WAS HUMMING to herself while walking towards Lucky's fiancé room to see her sister. She ask Lucky to speak to her in Tagalog always, so she'll learn, and earlier, Lucky told her in Tagalog 'doon muna ako sa kuwarto ni Blake'. At dahil nakakaintindi na siya ng kaunting Tagalog ngayon, naintindihan niya si Lucky.

Well, sort of.

But her humming stops when she saw Blaze, the hot dirty Doctor, talking to a Nurse.

Happy sighed.

While she was with Lucky earlier, helping Lucky to fit her wedding gown, they talk about Blaze. She wanted Lucky to make Blaze go away because he's making her uncomfortable but Lucky ask her— no, more like begged her— to be nice to Blaze because he is her family and a good friend.

That, and he's brokenhearted according to Lucky.

And even though he makes her uncomfortable, she said yes to her sister's request, well, because, it's her sister's first request and she doesn't want to disappoint her little sister. She really wants to have a harmonious relationship with Lucky and to form a bond with her.

Because they're sister. At maliban sa ama niya, ito nalang ang pamilya niya.

Be nice to Blaze. I can do that.

Inihanda niya ang ngiti sa mga labi bago lumapit kay Blaze at binati ito. "Hi."

Blaze stilled, looked at her, then return his attention to the Nurse.

"—Just text me if the patient shows any response to our medication. Kailangan mo siyang bantayang mabuti. Call me if anything happens. I'm on duty until tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Doc."

Blaze nodded then he left without even glancing at her.

She pouted her lips. I was nice and that was rude!

Happy sighed. One more try, maybe? For Lucky.

Happy took a deep breath before running after Blaze.

"Hey!" Tawag niya kay Blaze. "Hey, stop."

Tumigil naman si Blaze at humarap sa kaniya habang nakapamulsa sa suot nitong Doctor's robe.

"What?" Walang buhay nitong tanong.

Be nice, Happy. Be nice! "Ahm..." she took a deep breath, "can you help me with the Reception tomorrow?"

"I'm busy—"

"Please?" Oh, Jesus, this is irritating! But she has to be nice! For Lucky. "I need some help."

His lips pressed together and she can't help but to stare at those nice looking lips.

Is it even legal for a man to have such luscious lips?

"Stop staring at my lips." Ani Blaze, "unless, you want a kiss?"

Happy blows a loud breath. Her niceness just ended. "What's with you and kiss? The last time we spoke, its about a kiss too. What? Do you want to kiss me? Is that it?"

Bumaba ang tingin nito sa mga labi niya. "Noon, pero hindi na ngayon."

That irritate her even more because she now understand his words! Well, a little. "Oh, so you change your mind?"

"I can't?" Blaze asked.

"Of course, you can." Nagtaas siya ng nuo. "Same as me. Earlier, I decided to be nice to you, but now, i've change my mind. Hindi ka nga..." what's that tagalog word again? "Ahm, hindi ka, ahm, hindi ka, ahm, ano...basta! Hindi ka nice."

Natigilan siya ng tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito. "Lose the accent."

Tiningnan niya ito ng masama. "I'm still learning. I'll get there."

Blaze levelled their face, his face is just inches apart from her. "Its 'hindi ka naman mabait'. Come on, say it."

Nakataas nuo pa rin siya. "H-Hindi ka naman mabait."

He smiled. "That's it. Lose the accent."

She pouted. "I said i'll get there."

Happy stilled when Blaze's finger pressed against her pouted lips, "don't pout. It makes me want to kiss you."

She blinked. "What's with you and kissing me?"

Blaze shrugged. "You remind me of her, that's all."

Her? "Who?"

Nawala ang emosyon sa mukha ng binata. "Hindi mo kilala."

Oh. Maybe the woman who broke his heart? "Is that why you were looking at me like a wounded animal and i'm the one who wounded you, fatally?"

"Something like that."

Napatango-tango siya. "That's why you're not nice to me. Okay." She nodded again. "I understand. But i'm not her, so please don't look at me that way."

"I know that." He whispered.

"Then you won't look at me like a wounded animal anymore?" She asked with a smile so her question would come out as nice and not brazen.

"I'll try."

Happy beamed at Blaze. "I'll hold on to that." Inilahad niya ang kamay. "Let's have a deal."

Kununotan ni Blaze ang nakalahad niyang kamay. "What deal?"

"For our Lucky and Blake, let's be nice to each other. I'll be nice to you and you'll be nice to me." She said, "but—"

"There's a but?"

"Yes." She smiled sweetly, "but, if you become rude to me and do something I don't like, I will punch you, kick you and beat you up." Her sweet smile widen. "Deal?"

Blaze stared at her sweet smile. "Your smile is creepy."

Kaagad na binawasan ni Happy ang pagiging matamis ng ngiti niya. "How about this smile?"

Blaze stared at her before chuckling softly and deeply, "that'll work."

"Deal."

Tinanggap niya ang pakikipagkamay niya. "Deal."

"Great." Inagawa niya ang kamay na hawak nito saka pinagsiklop ang sariling kamay sa likod niya. "So... in all of the profession in the world, why choose being a Doctor?"

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay ni Blaze sa kaniya. "We're close now?"

"It comes with niceness..." napangiwi siya, "I think?"

"Okay. I'll bite." Blaze let out another deep chuckle. "Well, I would be lying if I say I want to help people?" He chuckle again. "At first, the Human Anatomy intrigues me and I heard that Doctor's has high salary. And then, the job just grew on me. In the long run, I realize that I like helping people... so, I became the youngest Surgeon in the country. Chicks digs that."

She frowned at Blaze while walking side by side. "I don't think you need a Surgeon title to get laid. I mean, you're handsome. A little bit dirty because of the tattoos, but other than that, you're okay."

Blaze stared at her and laughed. "I'm okay? That's it? I can get laid anytime because i'm okay looking?"

"Yeah." Happy laugh a little. "You're okay looking."

Napailing si Blaze. "How 'bout you? Why Jewellery Designer? The salary is good too?" He joked. "The Business is booming? Maraming nagpapakasal na kailangan ng singsing?"

Happy shrugged. "It's a girl thing."

Blaze shrugged and brace himself. "That's okay. Hit me."

Natawa siya sa hitsura nitong parang hinihintay ang pinakamasamang rason niya. "I like designing sparkly things. That's why."

"So girly." Blaze commented while chuckling softly.

Tiningnan niya ito ng masama. "Be nice to me, remember?"

Tumaas ang kamay nito na parang sumusuko. "Sorry, my bad. So... does designing jewellery makes you happy?"

Happy nodded. "Yes. I'm happy."

"Of course you are." Amusement in Blaze's eyes. "You're Happy."

She glared at him. "Stop joking."

Blaze laughed. "Can't help it. I like joking around, it calms me."

"Oh." So he's making himself happy so he won't get sad? "Fine. Hit me with your best joke."

"You won't hold it against me if it's a lame one?"

She shrugged. "I'll just punch you."

"Punch me? I can take that." Blaze chuckled. "But i'm not just a joker, i'm also a Drama King and a big baby. So if we're going to be nice to each other, bear with me. I'm a handful."

Napangiwi siya. "And you said i'm girly."

"Hey!" Tiningnan siya nito ng masama. "Being a softy is not a crime."

"So you're soft? Like gay soft?"

He stops walking and stared at her. "Gusto mo halikan kita para mapatunayan sayong hindi ako bakla?"

She immediately covered her lips. "No kissing. Be nice."

Naglakad ito ulit. "I'm not gay, i'm just soft."

"Not from where I stand."

Natigilan ito sa paglalakad saka nilingon niya. "What do you mean?"

Iminuwestra niya ang kamay dito, "you're you. I mean, you look like a dirty badass with your tattoos and all. You're like in a gang or something."

"A gang?" He smirked and he looks so sexy. "Well, I was a drug dealer."

Natawa siya. "Really? How many did you sell?"

"Enough to go to hell."

Happy chuckled. Okay, she admit. He's a good joker. "And you're a Doctor now after dealing drugs?" Pakikisakay niya sa biro nito.

Blaze shrugged. "Drug dealer slash Killer slash Doctor slash Torturer—"

She punched Blaze in the arm.

"Ouch— fuck!" He glared at her. "That was strong. What was that for?"

"I told you i'll punch you if your joke is lame."

"I'm not joking." He whispered before shaking his head. "You're really a strong puncher."

"I know," she smiled, "right?"

Napailing si Blaze saka bumuntong-hininga. "May gagawin ka mamaya?"

She frowned. "Am I doing what?"

He glanced at her. "May gagawin ka mamaya, meaning, are you busy later? Do you want to have dinner—"

"Oh, shit!" Nasapo niya ang bibig ng biglang maalala kung bakit siya nandito sa Hospital. "Oh, shit, oh, shit... I have to go see Lucky. The wedding cake. Hell!" Kaagad siyang tumakbo, "bye! See yah later! Dinner. Its a yes!" Tumatakbo palayo na sigaw niya kay Blaze.

Holy shit! The wedding cake! This is Blaze's fault. He made me forget!

~~~
These days, jaded people are everywhere.
Yong kailangan mong mag-ingat sa mga nakakausap mo kasi hindi mo alam kung totoo sila o hindi 😔 it saddened me sometimes. Yong tiwala ngayon, ang hirap na ibigay kasi most of the time, masasaktan ka lang kapag nagtiwala ka at nagmahal. that's why i wrote characters with positive outlook in life. Who trust easily. Because i want to relieve the old days where trust was easy to give and positivity is everywhere.