Hello to Rachelle Engada, Mary Buenavides, Jan Lyza Tabingo ang Richard Engada Jr. ❤️ And thank you, Ardelyn Magbanua from Krizzia ❤️

CHAPTER 59

BLAZE WAS IRRITATED as he looked at Niccolo drawing blood from his wife's forearm. Nasa bahay sila nina Uncle Klaus, doon nila dinala si Happy pagkatapos itong duguin. Uncle Klaus' house had medical equipment and hospitals were out of the question now after everything that had happened.

And Happy was in full bedrest after the bleeding. Thank God their baby was a survivor.

Samantalang si Blaze ay nakaupo lang sa gilid ng kama habang hinahaplos niya ang buhok ng asawa. "Niccolo, she's my wife," may diin niyang sabi. "I would know if she's a fake."

Niccolo smiled at Happy before glancing at him. "We can't be too careful, Blaze. Pagkatapos ng mga nangyari, kailangan natin 'to."

"It's okay," sabi ni Happy na may tipid na ngiti sa mga labi. "Let him, Blazey. To give everyone a peace of mind."

Hindi na umimik si Blaze pero panay pa rin ang tagis ng mga bagang niya hanggang sa makalabas ng kuwarto si Niccolo.

"I hate this... don't they trust my judgement that you're my wife and I will not mistake you for someone else—"

"Hey..." Inabot ni Happy ang kamay niya, saka pinagsalikop 'yon. "It's okay. Hindi naman sa wala silang tiwala sa iyo, kailangan lang nila ng pruweba na ako 'to. Ayos lang naman sa akin, para mapanatag na rin sila. Pagkatapos ng mga nangyari, normal lang na i-check nila ang dugo ko kung ako nga 'to."

Blaze sighed. "I still don't like it. I know it's you. I would know. Asawa mo ako."

Nginitian siya ng asawa. "Huwag ka nang magalit. Ang importante ngayon ay maayos ang lagay ni baby at ng lahat ng nakipaglaban, lalo ka na at si Kane, saka si Daddy. And long as you're all okay and no one was harmed by my idiotic plan to bait myself, everything is fine."

Blaze sighed before softly squeezing his wife's hand. "You're the one who's not fine." Tumiim ang mga bagang niya. "You have bruises all over and I'm so mad at myself for letting this happen to you. Kasalanan ko 'to kasi pinayagan kita sa plano mo—"

"Blazey..." Happy cut him off by saying his name softly. "Iyon lang ang plano na naisip ko na masisiguro ang kaligtasan ni Lucky."

"Paano naman ang kaligtasan mo? Hindi mo ba naisip 'yon?" madilim ang mukhang tanong niya.

"It's for Lucky."

Bumuga ng marahas na hininga si Blaze. "I know that, but I'm your husband, baby. Hindi mo man lang hinintay ang desisyon ko. Bigla ka na lang nagdesisyon na wala ako."

Happy's face fell. "I'm sorry... ayoko kasing ilagay ka sa sitwasyong mamimili ka. I know you love me and I'm important to you but so is Lucky. She's your baby girl, your twin's wife, your friend. I'm not gonna put you in a position where you and Blake will have a beef with each other because of choices and decision making."

Hinalikan na lang ni Blaze ang likod ng kamay ng asawa, saka pinakatitigan ito nang matiim at nakikiusap ang mga mata. "Huwag mo nang uulitin 'to, please? I was so scared. I wanna be there for you, just like how Blake wanna be there for Lucky but... we both know we can't and it's driving us crazy. Mas mapapahamak kayo kung kasama n'yo kami. Blake was going insane. I was losing my mind as well."

"I'm sorry." Hinaplos nito ang pisngi niya. "I won't do it again."

"Dapat lang." Dumukwang siya para halikan sa gilid ng mga labi ang asawa. "Huwag mo na akong pag-alalahanin nang ganoon. Mababaliw na ako."

Happy chuckled before tapping the space beside her. "Tabi ka sa akin. Gusto kong yakapin ang asawa ko," paglalambing nito.

Agad siyang tumabi rito, saka pinaunan ito sa mga braso niya bago masuyong yinakap nang mahigpit. Maingat ang galaw niya baka masaktan ito dahil sa mga pasa nito sa katawan.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," bulong niya habang yakap ito. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm really sorry."

"I'm safe now, Blazey," sabi ni Happy, saka yumakap din sa kanya. "Pinatay ko naman na 'yong dalawang lalaki na nanakit sa akin at wala na rin 'yong babaeng nagpanggap na ako."

Bumuga siya ng malalim na hininga. "Sana nga wala nang magpakita uli na kamukha mo. Mababaliw na ako kapag may pinatay pa akong kamukha mo. I know it's not you but killing someone who has your face, I can't even look at them." Napailing siya. "Para kasing ikaw ang sinasaktan ko."

It was really taking a toll on him and his sanity. He made it look so easy killing his wife's look-alike, but it wasn't. He couldn't even look at the face because he felt like he was hurting his wife. Physically. And he couldn't take it.

"Sana nga wala na," wika ni Happy, saka naghikab at mas isiniksik ang katawan sa katawan niya. "Sabi ni Helena, dalawa lang ang ipinagawa niyang kamukha ko. I'll assume that the first one was the woman who pretended to be Cassie and the last one is the woman who pretended to be me, the woman you and Kane first saved."

Blaze tsked. "That woman was beat up as well," sabi niya nang maalala ang lagay ng babaeng una nilang iniligtas ni Kane na akala niya ay ang asawa niya. "Who would do that to herself?"

Naghikab uli si Happy. "To be more convincing, I guess." Humigpit ang yakap sa kanya ng asawa habang pahina nang pahina ang boses nitong inaantok. "I was scared when Helena came back for me in that room. Balak niyang tumakas kasama ako kasi kailangan pa niya ako. Hindi kasi nangyari ang plano niya kasama ang babaeng 'yon na kamukha ko. Balak niya akong dalhin sa ibang main HQ ng Triad. 'Buti na lang nasa labas kayo ng pinto at napigilan siya."

Blaze kissed Happy's forehead. "Hindi namin siya hahayaang makatakas. Pagkatapos ng mga ginawa niya, kailangan na niyang mawala. Baka kung ano na naman ang gawin niya sa atin—"

A soft snore filled his ear, making him stilled.

Bahagya niyang idinistansiya ang katawan sa asawa para titigan ito. Mahimbing na itong natutulog na may kasamang mahinang paghilik na nagpangiti sa kanya.

Maingat niyang inalis ang ulo ni Happy sa pagkakaunan sa braso niya, saka inayos niya ito sa pagkakahiga.

Pagkatapos ay umalis siya sa kama para kunin ang ointment na dala niya palagi sa bag niya, saka bumalik sa asawa para lagyan n'on ang mga pasa nito sa katawan. Ginawa na niya iyon kanina pero gusto niyang gawin uli para kahit paano ay hindi lumala ang mga pasa nito sa katawan.

Blaze was in the middle of rubbing the ointment softly on Happy's bruises on the shoulder when Niccolo stepped in the room again.

"Is she asleep?" ranong nito.

Tumango siya, saka lumipat ang daliri niyang may ointment sa pisngi ni Happy na may mga pasa rin. "Why are you asking?"

"The test came out positive," sabi nito. "She's your wife."

He looked at Racini. "I told you so."

Ngumiti ito. "I'm sorry. It was necessary, for precautions. Saka nakita na namin ang CCTV footages. There was only two Happy in that building, the real and the fake. 'Yong totoong Happy, ikinulong nila roon sa kuwarto para itago, at 'yong fake naman ay inilabas ni Helena sa kuwarto kung saan ikinulong si Happy at pinabugbog nang kaunti para siguro mas nakakakumbinsi bago itinali sa upuan para makita n'yo ni Kane at iligtas. I think Helena's plan was to trick us into saving the fake Happy, but it didn't work as she expected. She underestimated your love for your wife."

Blaze nodded before sighing softly. "Sana nga wala nang lumabas na kamukha ng asawa ako." Then he remembered something. "I sent you my wife's whole body scan a few months back. Nakita mo na ba?"

Niccolo nodded before looking at his wife. Napailing ito na parang hindi makapaniwala. "I saw the internal scar tissues and the healed broken bones. Grabe pala talaga ang naging impact sa kanya ng pagsabog na 'yon noong bata pa siya. Grabe ang pinagdaanan ng katawan niya, mabuhay lang siya. Her father really didn't give up on her."

Blaze caressed Happy's face. "Nang makita ko ang whole body scan niya, natakot ako, kaya ipinadala ko sa iyo para humingi ng pangalawang opinyon at para masiguro na wala akong dapat na ipag-alala."

"She's fine," sabi ni Niccolo. "Magaling ang mga naging doktor niya noon. Naayos naman nila lahat at wala akong makitang mali ngayon. Tama naman ang diagnosis mo. Wala naman akong nakitang dapat ipag-alala. Though, have you told her about this?"

Umiling siya. "It was scary to see even for me. I don't want her to ever know it. Kaya naiintindihan ko si Dad na inilihim niya ito kay Happy. Hindi na niya kailangang malaman 'to. Ang importante, maayos ang lagay niya at walang magiging problema sa pagbubuntis at panganganak niya."

"Do you want a tip from me?" Niccolo asked. "To have a happy married life?"

"What?"

"Kapag malaki na ang tiyan niya, magiging iritable na siya, lalo na kapag third trimestral na niya. And as much as possible, stop the libido. Yes, an ob-gyn would say that it's okay but trust me, it's not. It's very uncomfortable for them. And when she's giving birth, prepare to be a punching bag and cuss absorber because that's what will happen to you. At kapag lumabas na si baby, ikaw ang magbantay sa gabi. Your wife needs all the rest she can get."

Mahina siyang nataw. "Based on experience?"

Nangingiting tumango si Racini. "Happy wife is—"

"Is a happy life," pagtatapos niya.

Pareho silang natawa at nabaling nang sabay ang atensiyon sa pinto nang may kumatok do'n.

It was Blake.

"Can I come in?" Blake asked.

Tumango si Blaze, samantalang si Niccolo naman ay nagpaalam na. Tatawagan daw nito ang asawa na miss na nito.

"How is she?" tanong ng kakambal niya nang makalapit sa kama na kinahihigaan ni Happy. "She looks beat up."

"She was beat up," sabi niya.

Natahimik si Blake, kapagkuwan ay lumapit ito sa kanya ay inilahad ang kamay. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" Tinapos niya ang paglalagay ng ointment sa mga pasa ng asawa, saka tumingin sa kakambal. "Guilty?"

Nagbaba ng tingin si Blake. "I was desperate, Blaze. I can't let anything happen to my wife—"

"Save it." Iginalaw niya ang kamay para tanggapin ang pakikipagkamay ng kakambal.

A forearm handshake.

"Thank you," sabi ni Blake. "For not blaming me."

Huminga siya nang malalim, saka tiningnan sa mga mata ang kakambal. "It was Happy's decision and it was her plan. Alam kong nahirapan ka rin na magpaiwan dito sa bahay habang nasa panganib si Lucky. I know how much you love her."

Natahimik si Blake, kapagkuwan ay bumuntong-hininga. "Wanna drink? I'll make you one."

Mahina siyang natawa. "Is this you blowing off some steam?"

Blake shrugged. "Well? Drink?"

Blaze sighed before shaking his head. "I can't leave my baby. Kailangan ko siyang alagaan."

"So responsible." Blake smiled before messing his hair. "You finally grew up."

"Love made me grew up." His face softened as he stared lovingly at his wife. "She made me grow up so I can be a better version of myself."

"Sino ka na nga uli?" biglang tanong sa kanya ni Blake na ikinatawa niya.

"That was my line," reklamo niya, saka bumaling sa kakambal.

Blake shrugged. "Pareho na tayong who you sa isa't isa ngayon." He tsked before offering his hand at him. "My name is Blake, your twin."

Natatawang tinanggap niya ang pakikipagkilala nito. "Blaze, your twin."

"There. Kilala na uli natin ang isa't isa," sabi ni Blake na napapailing.

Napailing rin siya, saka napabaling ang atensiyon kay Henreitta na kakapasok lang sa kuwarto.

"Dominick is looking for you two," sabi nito na nakangiti. "I'll take care of Happy while Beth takes care of Lucky. Don't worry about your wives and get your ass in the dining hall."

"There's a meeting?" Blake asked.

Blaze scoffed. "Anong meeting? Kapag nandiyan si Daddy Dom walang meeting na magaganap. Parang si Knight 'yon, sinto-sinto minsan at madalas ang minsan sa kanya."

Napatango-tango ang kakambal niya, saka tinapik ang balikat niya. "Magpapaalam lang ako kay Lucky. See you in the dining hall."

Nang makaalis si Blake, inayos niya ang kumot ni Happy bago tumayo at humarap kay Henreitta. "Thank you. I'll be back ASAP."

Henreitta smiled. "Happy is gonna be fine. If something happens, I'll call you immediately. Don't worry. I know the drill."

"Thank you," Blaze said to Henreitta with so much gratitude. "I'll be back as fast I can."

Hinalikan muna niya sa noo ang asawa bago lumabas ng kuwarto. Tamang-tama naman na kalalabas lang ni Blake sa kuwarto nito at ni Lucky kaya sabay na silang bumaba.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang pagmi-meeting-ngan natin?" tanong ni Blake. "I think it's about the Triad and how we're gonna handle them now that Helena is gone. Parang siya lang naman 'yong may personal na galit sa Pamilya Quinn."

Tumango siya. "That's true. The fight was personal because of Helena, but now that she's gone, I don't know what the Triad will do. Kailangan nga nating pag-usapan 'to. Good thing the first Arkhon is still here."

"Yes, we should formulate a plan and—" Napatigil sa pagsasalita si Blake nang makapasok sila sa hapagkainan at makita kung ano ang ginagawa ng Team Oldies at Team Happiness.

Daddy Dom was strumming a guitar while the other oldies were singing. While Team Happiness was eating an ice cream. The first Arkhon and his hippeis were gone. It was just them again.

Blake sighed. "Umasa ako na matinong usapan 'to."

Napailing siya. "Pagdating sa matatandang 'to, huwag ka nang umaasa."

"Hey!" agad na reklamo ng Team Oldies na mukhang malinaw siyang narinig.

Then Daddy Dom smiled. "Good thing you two are here." Itinuro siya nito. "I heard that you make one hell of a drink." Itinuro nito ang kusina. "Go mix some drink for us."

Napangiwi si Blake. "I hope this house has a lot of bathrooms."

Tinapik ng ama nila ang tiyan nito. "We didn't grow old to have weak stomachs. Come on, son." He urged him. "Make some. We'll celebrate."

Uncle Klaus spoke. "No worries, my house is secured."

"I checked." Nag-thumbs-up si Niccolo. "All good. We can drink without worrying."

"Go. Make us that drink, Blaze," sabi ni Daddy Dom.

Napailing na lang siya, saka sinunod ang mga ito. Matatanda pa rin ang mga ito, kailangan niyang sundin.

Same ingredients from the last time he mixed a drink on Blake's bachelor party. Except for the dinuguan, he replaced it with something more sinister.

Nang makabalik si Blaze sa hapagkainan, nakaupo na ang lahat, maliban sa kanya na may dalang dalawang pitsel ng pinaghalo niyang inumin.

Uncle Vent mouth formed into an "o." "That looks so ugly, but who am I to judge. Von Per makes some worst drinks, just like his son."

"Dad, I'll bet that'll knock you out," sabi ni Lyf sa ama na nakangisi pa. "Wanna bet?"

Uncle Vent smirked back. "Wanna bet your inheritance, so you'll go broke?"

That silenced Lyf, making everyone laugh.

"How about you, Deth, son?" Uncle Vent asked. "Wanna bet as well?"

Deth smiled. "Should I call Mom and tell her you're drinking again?"

Agad na umayos ng upo si Uncle Vent. "Deth, shut up. I'm giving you Lyf's inheritance."

"Dad!" reklamo ni Lyf.

Uncle Vent tsked. "Because of too many women in your life, you're becoming a pussy now, Lyf. Look at Deth, no pussy, no problem. Right, son?"

Deth nodded.

Lyf tsked. "Let's just drink."

Napapailing na inilapag ni Blaze ang dalawang pitsel sa gitna ng mesa, saka umupo na rin sa tabi ng kakambal niya.

"Actually," panimula ni Daddy Dom. "This is supposed to be a very serious meeting but fuck, serious is not my style. Unless I'm flirting and flirting chatting which of course, I'm not doing anymore because I have my very lovely Henreitta—"

"Too much information," his father interjected. "This is not a meeting, it's a drinking session."

"Do you have a cake?" Knight asked.

Daddy Dom smiled. "I know you're gonna ask that, so I asked Klaus here to bake you one."

Knight's face actually lit up. "Really? Fuck! I feel honored and..." His face fell when Uncle Klaus put a cupcake in front of him. "That's not a cake. That's a cupcake."

Daddy Dom argued. "Of course, it is. It's a cake in a cup."

Knight looked at Daddy Dom flatly. "Ginagago n'yo ho ba ako?"

Tumawa si Daddy Dom. "I like you already. And yes, ginagago kita. May angal ka?"

Knight tsked. "Pasalamat ka idol kita."

"Your very much welcome," sabi ni Daddy Dom.

His father interjected. "You're such a dick."

"What?" Daddy Dom frowned. "I'm not a fake person. This is me. Take it or leave it."

"I'll take it," sabi ni Knight na kinakain na ang cupcake. "I still remember the first time I met you, when I came to your house to tell you about Lucky, you were drinking a hot coffee, in the middle of the day, during summer while you're sweating bullets. Doon pa lang, nakita ko nang sinto-sinto ka kaya tanggap ko na ang lahat."

Daddy Dom smirked. "Drinking coffee, in the middle of the day, during summer, is my talent."

His father tsked. "Of course. Drinking a freezing water in the middle of winter is also your talent."

Daddy Dom smiled smugly. "What can I say? I like breaking the norms."

"Breaking the norms or just being an idiot in general?" His dad savaged Daddy Dom again.

"Von Per!" Daddy Dom glared at his father. "How dare you! You're such a jackass."

"And you're a dick."

"Here you go," sabi ni Uncle Klaus na naglalapag ng wine glass sa harap ng bawat isa, saka sinalinan nito iyon ng alak na hinalo niya at hindi pinansin ang pagbabayangan ng dalawang matanda. "Master Kane will start to drink first, and then my son, King, and then his next and the next of his next and so on."

Kane looked at all of them. "But I only drink beer."

"Kane..." It was Uncle Ruthgar. "You're a man so man up and drink this poison."

"Yeah," sabad ni Yrozz na nasa harap na naman ng laptop nito. "Drink up, Kane, and be a man. Your mom, Lady Happy, will like it."

Napangiwi si Blaze. My baby will kill me if something bad happens to Kane. Fuck!

"Okay," madaling kausap si Kane.

"Now that it's settled," sabi ni Daddy Dom nang makaupo na si Uncle Klaus sa tabi ng ama niya. "We'll call this gathering a drinking session while pretending we're in a meeting and sharing our most embarrassing moments in life."

Sumabad si Blake. "This is actually a good therapy session for groups who's working together."

Daddy Dom nodded. "This is why I like your sons better, Von Per. They have brains, unlike you."

His father glared at Daddy Dom. "Do you wanna get stabbed, you motherfucker?!"

"That's a bad word," sabi ni Kane na sumabad ng usapan, "His Highness told me not to say it so I assumed it is."

Lahat, napatingin sa kanya.

"Happy will kill me."

Lahat, tumango.

"That's true," everyone murmured.

"Looks like Kane is Lady Happy's big infant baby," sabi ni Monti Parisi.

"And Blaze here is the big baby," sabi ni Niccolo Racini.

"A very big baby," dagdag ni King.

Blaze just shrugged. "What can I say, I'm a very understanding husband."

"Welcome to the club," sabi ni Blake na mahinang tumawa. "Imagine Zapanta saying that plus barbecue and beers."

Natawa siya. "I miss those lunatics."

Daddy Dom pointed his finger at him, stealing his attention. "Nice one and smooth as fuck. For that, I'll give you a personalized jacket." Bumaling ito kay Uncle Klaus. "Go get them. I designed it myself for my son-in-laws."

Agad namang tumalima si Uncle Klaus at nang bumalik ay may dala itong dalawang jacket, saka ibinigay iyon sa kanila ni Blake.

"Come on." Daddy Dom grinned excitedly. "Open it."

Sabay naman nilang inalis ni Blake sa lalagyan ang jacket at sabay na tiningnan.

It was a black jacket, no print on the front, but in the back, there were two words.

"Happy's bitch," basa niya sa nasa likod ng jacket niya.

"Lucky's bitch," basa naman ni Blake sa nasa likod ng jacket nito.

"That's a very wonderful jacket," sabad ni Knight. "May ganyan ako. The back says 'my wife's bitch' then below was a word #JokeOnly. When my wife saw it, she cut out the 'joke only' so my jacket has a rectangular hole in the back. People asked me what happened to it when I'm wearing it, I only answered simply. It was designed by my wife with a very sharp scissor that can cut my dick as well."

Napailing silang lahat.

Sinto-sinto na naman si Knight.

"My Iriszilla made me a personalized mug," kuwento naman ni Niccolo. "And a word is printed on the cup. So every time we argue over something, she would hand me the cup to read the words printed on it because it says, 'I concede and admit defeat.'"

"My cup has a word 'my wife is the law,'" sabi ni Monti. "And of course, she is. My wife is a lawyer after all."

Napailing ang Team Oldies bago sabay-sabay na nagsabi ng, "pussies."

While the single Team Happiness murmured, "I can't relate." Except for Kane who was now sniffing the drink and crunching his nose in disdain.

"Mukhang excited na ang bunso natin," sabi ng ama ni Happy. "Drink it, Kane."

Akmang iinumin na 'yon ni Kane nang magsalita uli ang ama ni Happy.

"Share a story first. A very embarrassing one. Come on, don't be shy. We're all family here and this is like a group therapy session as Blake put it."

Inilapag naman ni Kane ang wine glass sa mesa bago tumingin sa kanya at nagsalita. "I was embarrassed to call Lady Happy, Mom, but not anymore. I actually like it... having a mom."

Natahimik silang lahat sa ikinuwento ni Kane.

It was simple, embarrassing maybe but on Kane's case, it was not. It was a development for Kane. An emotion and care he needed in his life.

"Can I drink now?" tanong ni Kane na sa kanya nakatingin.

Tumango siya. "Be careful. That's deadly."

Kane smiled. "It's okay. Just heal me afterwards."

Kapagkuwan lahat sila ay nakatingin kay Kane nang inumin nito ang hinalo niyang inumin. After he gulped it down, he immediately passed out on the table.

Face first.

Mabilis na tumayo si Blaze para tingnan ang lagay ni Kane. Nang masigurong nawalan lang talaga ito ng malay, nakahinga siya nang maluwag.

"Still alive," sabi niya, saka huminga nang malalim. "Fuck. No one tells my wife about this."

Lahat tumango at napatitig—pati siya—sa pitsel na laman ang hinalo niyang inumin.

"That's a very powerful toxic," sabi ni Uncle Ruthgar. "I'm shaking."

"I'm excited," sabi ni Uncle Vent.

"I'm not," sabi ni King.

"I don't think it's a good idea to drink that," sabi ni Niccolo.

"Same," sabad ni Monti.

Knight tsked. "Don't be pussies. Let's continue."

King gulped as he held his own wine glass filled with the toxic deadly drink he mixed. "I... ahm, my embarrassing story is..." He sighed. "When I did drugs way way back. That was a very shameful part of my past that I can't still forget. Even now that I've been cleaned for many years."

Pagkatapos ni King magsalita, lahat tumingin kay Blake na ikinakunot ng noo ng kakambal niya.

"What?" Blake asked, confused.

"Say something," sabi ni Uncle Ruthgar. "Be Dr. Phil, come on."

Napailing si Blake pero nagsalita pa rin. "Forget about that part but don't forget the reason why you got cleaned up. Let it go and focus on the reason why you are who you are now."

"Brilliant!" Daddy Dom applauded again. "See that Von Per? Blake is more useful than you."

His dad just tsked.

While King took a deep breath before gulping the drink.

Natawa si Blaze nang makita ang pag-iiba ng hitsura ni King na halos hindi maipinta 'yon bago ito tumakbo patungo sa banyo.

"Fuck you, Your Highness!" King screamed.

Blaze smirked smugly. "I'm so talented."

Napailing si Lyf na siyang susunod na iinom. "Fuck." Napangiwi ito, saka napailing uli. "My embarrassing story was when I stopped a woman from seducing my brother because I want Deth to stay a virgin and untainted by pussies." Kapagkuwan ay mabilis nitong ininom ang laman ng wine glass nito.

Lyf didn't run towards the bathroom or puke or passed out. He just sat there, with his eyes wide opened. Unmoving.

"Is he..." Mas itinutok ni Uncle Vent ang mga mata kay Lyf. "Passed out with his eyes wide open?"

"That's just creepy," sabad ni Monti.

Blake let out a sighed of relief. "At least I don't have to give him an advice. That's a good thing."

"My turn," sabi ni Deth, saka hinawakan ang wine glass at inangat 'yon. "I don't actually have an embarrassing story—"

"Bull," sabi ni Niccolo.

"Bullcrap," sabi ni Uncle Ruthgar. "Everyone has one."

"But I don't," sabi ni Deth, "I have nothing to be ashamed of."

Napasipol ang ama niya. "See that, Vent? Your son is more than a man that you could ever be."

Uncle Vent showed his middle finger to his father. "See this, motherfucker?"

Habang-nag-uusap ang dalawa, ininom na ni Deth ang inumin at wala man lang itong reaksiyon. He was still breathing and conscious. No vomiting or passing out.

"Wow..." sabi ni nilang lahat.

Deth shrugged. "I have a strong stomach. You'll get that after spending time with Lyf."

"Nice," sabay nilang sabi ni Blake.

"Next." Nginisihan ni Uncle Ruthgar si Yrozz na siya nang susunod pero nawala rin agad ang ngisi nito nang makitang nangangalahati na ang laman ng wine glass ni Yrozz.

Kanina pa kasi inom nang inom si Yrozz at walang epekto rito ang inumin niya.

"Is that a legit drink?" nakakunot ang noong tanong ni Uncle Ruthgar sa kanila, saka kinuha ang wine glass ni Yrozz at doon uminom.

They all went silent when Uncle Ruthgar dropped unconscious on the floor—with a very loud thud.

Yrozz stilled before glancing at Uncle Ruthgar. "What happened to him?"

Napailing na lang sila. Walang kaidi-ideya si Yrozz dahil busy ito sa harap ng laptop.

Napangiwi ang Team Oldies habang nakatingin kay Uncle Ruthgar.

"Nakakahiya," sabi ng ama ni Happy. "We should kick him out of the team for having a weak stomach. Such an embarrassment!"

"He's a good tracker," paalala ni Uncle Klaus.

"He's old," Daddy Dom retorted.

"So are you," his father interjected.

Naputol ang pagbabangayan na naman sana ng dalawa nang makabalik si King sa mesa.

"Fuck..." Hinihingal at namumutla si King. "That was fuck. Sana nawalan na lang ako ng malay. Mas gusto ko pa 'yon." Then he looked at him. "Fuck you, Your Highness."

"King!" Uncle Klaus hissed at King. "That's not how you talk to your master—"

"Fuck you, Prince Blaze," ulit ni King dahil alam nitong ayaw niyang tinatawag na prince.

Blaze just showed his middle finger at King. "Fuck you too, jackass."

Napailing na lang si Uncle Klaus na siya nang susunod. Pinulot nito ang wine glass, saka inamoy 'yon bago nagsalita. "My most embarrassing story was when I first started working for Master Dominick."

Biglang tumawa si Daddy Dom. "That one?"

Tumango si Uncle Klaus. "I went to his office in his house to introduce myself and when I opened the door I saw him having a threesome on the table. I cannot unseen it. From that moment onwards, the table looks gruesome to me, so I burned it after a month of working for him. And then there's also the car incident."

Daddy Dom laughed again. "I told you not to go in!"

"The car was shaking, so I went inside to check and saw two horny individuals having sex on the backseat." Uncle Klaus sighed heavily. "And the woman looked at me and asked if I wanna join. My answer was, 'no thank you, I'll just guard the door.' After than I burned the car and bought a new one who was violated by Master Von Per this time. So, I have to burn it again and buy a new one. Again."

"Come on, Klaus," nangingiting sabi ni Daddy Dom. "I'm sure you also have experienced sex in the car—"

"I haven't. I have a bed for that. It's more comfortable there."

Napatanga ang dalawa kay Uncle Klaus.

"Fuck. Then you missed the adventure," sabi ni Daddy Dom.

"The adrenaline!" dagdag ng ama niya.

Uncle Klaus spoke calmly. "No, I didn't. It was quite an adventure and adrenaline for me because I'm the one who has to explain to the cops why the car is having a personal earthquake."

"That's just TMI, Dad," sabi ni King sa ama.

"Oh, you have no idea," sabi ni Uncle Klaus. "My masters are animals."

Daddy Dom sighed heavily. "Just drink, Klaus."

And Uncle Klaus did. No effect. Nothing.

Uncle Klaus then glanced at Uncle Vent, the man sitting next to him. "Your turn, Vent. Do not embarrass us."

Uncle Vent quickly picked up the wine glass to smell the drink. "Hmm... smells awful. I love it!"

Napailing ang Team Oldies.

"Well..." Uncle Vent smiled. "My embarrassing story was we were in a mission, the whole team, when my wife called me and said, 'sweetheart, I'm pregnant.' That was Deth. And because of too much shock, I pulled the trigger of my gun and accidentally shoot Ruthgar in the leg. And the last one was me and my wife was having a sexy time when Lyf barged in into our room and saw the whole thing. That was embarrassing because Lyf was already twenty-five at the time."

Napangiwi silang mga bata pa.

"TMI, Daddy. TMI!" Deth hissed. "That's just gross!"

"Sex is not gross," agad na depensa ni Uncle Vent sa sarili, saka tumingin kay Deth. "That's how I and your mom made you so be grateful, you motherfucker, before I disinherit you—"

Nagtakip ng tainga si Deth at malakas na kumanta para hindi marinig ang ama. "Lalalalalalalalalala!"

Natawa na lang silang lahat.

Though they all agreed. It was gross hearing their parents talked about sex.

Natatawang uminom naman si Uncle Vent at katulad ni Uncle Klaus, walang nangyari. Nagsalin pa ito ng isa at ininom lahat.

"That was good," sabi nito. "Very strong. My stomach is grumbling. I like it!"

"My turn," sabi ng ama ni Happy, saka nakangiting nagkuwento. "My embarrassing moment was when I masturbated and came into my hand and then I forgot to wash that hand before taking a bread and giving it to Von Per."

"Fuck you!" his father hissed at Daddy Dom who was laughing his ass of. "That's not funny!"

"It's true! And when I tried to cook and burned Von Per's castle." Daddy Dom smiled cheekily. "Literally burned it. They have to renovate the whole kitchen because I burned it. And when his parents asked who did it, I pointed Von Per and said, 'he tried cooking but failed.' Of course, they believe me because I'm the second Arkhon and I'm so believable. Until I keep burning their kitchen because I keep trying to cook. They installed a camera to see the real culprit and they saw me in the footage, and they were like, 'Dominick, we love you but please keep out from the kitchen for everybody's safety and to keep us from kicking you out.' Of course, I didn't listen. The next thing I knew, I was packing home because I got kicked out and Von Per was like, 'Thank God, you're leaving. Don't ever come back.' And I was so embarrassed."

"Fuck you," sabi ng ama niya.

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Daddy Dom, saka ininom ang alak na ginawa niya. Napangiwi ito pero walang epektong kakaiba. "Damn!" he hissed. "That's a strong gut puncher. I like it."

Napailing na lang si Blaze. The Oldies were really veterans in drinking hard drinks.

"For me..." Ang ama na niya 'yon. "The most embarrassing moment was being Dominick's best man in his wedding and while walking on the aisle towards the altar, I keep farting because someone..." He glared at Daddy Dom who was laughing again. "Put a farting pill on my bottled water. Fuck you, Dominick. Fuck you!"

Daddy Dom replied with a sweet smile. "You're very much welcome, Von Per."

His father tsked before drinking the toxic and nothing. Just like the other oldies. No effect.

Blake took a deep breath. "My turn." He held his wine glass. "Blaze and I was in the mall, just looking around when I farted really loud and people looked at me. And then this bastard..." Dinuro siya nito. "Acted like he doesn't know me when we're look-alike!"

Natawa si Blaze nang maalala niya 'yon. That was indeed embarrassing.

Blake tsked and drank the toxic he made. Napangiwi lang ito at napahawak sa tiyan pero hindi natumba. "Fuck! That was gross!"

Tumawa si Blaze, saka agad na ininom ang laman ng wine glass na para sa kanya bago nagkuwento nang nakangiwi. "Embarrassing was when I was so full and I need to poop. So nasa mall kami no'n ni Blake kaya doon ako nag-CR sa public comfort room. And when I was about flush the toilet, it wouldn't budge, and someone was waiting for me outside to use it after me. And I didn't know what to do so I open the door, then ran. Like hell! No turning back. And that mall has been blacklisted in my head since then."

"That was gross," sabi ni Monti.

"Fucked up," sabi ni Uncle Vent.

Blaze sighed. "Yep. It was."

Niccolo held his wine glass before speaking. "Well, as for me, I got drunk, like really drunk, I don't know what I was doing. Until the morning came and I found that I bought a building."

They all frowned at Niccolo.

"What's embarrassing about that?" Knight asked.

"I was naked the whole night and dancing to 'Careless Whisper' on the street." Niccolo sighed. "Imagine the shit I pulled after that one just to delete every video of me dancing naked on the street. It was fucking horrific."

Monti spoke. "The closest thing I have for embarrassing was when I get into a passenger seat of a wrong car while I was talking to someone about cleaning up dead bodies, burning them, dried blood and all that shit. And the driver was a detective. I got arrested and questioned."

"What happened?" puno ng kuryusidad na tanong ni King.

"The Organòsi pulled me out."

"Oh," sabi ni Knight, saka ito naman ang nagkuwento. "My wife pranked me. I was in a meeting with the other royalties in Spain when my phone rang. Iniba ng asawa ko ang ringtone ng cell phone ko kaya sa halip na mag-ring 'yon, my phone keeps saying the word, 'am so horny, am so horny' again and again. And everyone was looking at me like 'you're really horny?'"

Inangat ni Niccolo ang wine glass nito. "Let's cheers to our embarrassing moments."

Itinaas din nina Monti at Knight ang mga braso ng mga ito at sabay uminom ang tatlo. Ngumiwi lang ang mga ito, saka hindi maipinta ang mukha.

It was King's turn to drink again because Kane was still unconscious when Henreitta entered the dining room.

Nakatingin ito kay Daddy Dom. "Happy, she's awake and she is looking for you, Dom."

Nakangiwing tumayo si Daddy Dom at kinakabahang nagsalin ng inuming ginawa niya sa baso nito, saka ininom iyon. He repeated that five times. "Pray for me. My princess is gonna grill me."

Napailing na lang sila, saka sinundan ng tingin si Daddy Dom. Mukhang gigisahin nga ito ng asawa niya.

And now he wondered... Sino ba ang tunay na ina ni Happy?

CECELIB | C.C.