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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WITH A last peck, he immediately bolted from his room to the doors. Napatawa naman si Denryl dahil dito at napapa-iling.

"Hoy! Magnanakaw ka!" he playfully shouted at Laurentius.

"See you later!" ang sigaw lang nito.

Na-iwan doon si Denryl sa kaniyang cabin na mag-isa. His cabin's quiet and he could almost hear his thoughts. Laurentius left because he needed to change his clothes for the Bonfire Night later.

The management sometimes throw a Bonfire Night at Niu Nui island with a lot of food such as barbeques and finger foods, they would also play a good music in the background, may alcohols and cocktails na sine-serve, the night lights are lit so the place is bright and buzzing, you could dance by the bonfire and all. So, Laurentius proposed to Denryl that they should come tonight. With no more thoughts, Denryl agreed immediately.

Denryl dressed himself after taking a bath in the best way possible. Medyo kumikirot ang pang upo niya kapag naglalakad siya, kaya short na maluwag at manipis ang sinuot niya---but still simple yet pleasant in the eyes. He wanted to curse at Laurentius, pero ginusto rin naman niya ang nangyari sa kanila. Siya pa ang nag-engage kanina upang makipagtalik ulit kay Laurentius.

He wore a simple summer-theme polo shirt with white t-shirt underneath. He brushed his hair to the side and brought his flip-flops.

And he's ready.

Something's tells him tonight will be promising. But there's still doubt inside him. May sumisigaw sa isip niya kung tama ba ang ginagawa niya sa nagdaang araw. Was this the right thing to do? Does he deserve Laurentius' affections? What if it was just only a short-term feelings? Paano kung dala lang iyon ng mga libog ni Laurentius? Paano kapag may nakitang sexy at magandang babae si Laurentius, hindi ito magdadalawang-isip na iwan siya at ipagpalit doon sa babae?

Parang siyang ina-atake ng anxiety, but he didn't let them get into him. Fuck Jeimson. He's the root of all his traumas about love and relationships.

He heaved a deep sigh bago tumungo sa labas ng cabin niya upang magpahangin. As always, the wind's breeze brought comfort to him. It brought him calmness. Ito ang gusto niya, ang manirahan sa probinsiya pero may mga bagay pa siyang kailangang asikasohin sa syudad. If only.

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A KNOCK on his cabin's door can be heard he was busy combing his hair. Medyo paranoid siya sa mangyayari sa Bonfire Night ngayon with all those overthinking.

What will they be doing there? Are they, like, a couple now? If so, why there's still no word of affirmation? And those kinds of thoughts filled his head, making him shiver at the thought of Laurentius will leave him in the air suddenly.

Agad niyang binuksan ang pintoan at tumambad sa kaniya ang guwapong mukha ni Laurentius. As usual, Laurentius looks hot with his open shirt---tattoos showing. Those tattoos are related to Denryl, so showing them off means he won't mind showing the public about Denryl. And it makes him a blushing mess, but immediately avoided it before Laurentius sees it.

"Hi," Laurentius breathe out.

"Hello," ang tanging sabi lang ni Denryl. He caught Laurentius eyes him from head to toe and then back to his eyes with a glint on his own eyes. Agad bumalik ang tingin nito sa kaniya.

"Should we head to the party?" Laurentius asked out. He's like a jock asking him out to the prom.

"Yeah."

Agad silang pumaruon sa lugar kung saan gugunitain ang Bonfire Night. Naglakad lang sila since the air is not freezing and not that humid too. It's a perfect breeze to stroll around the island.

There's silence between them, but Denryl didn't want to engage or break the silence first. Laurentius is also waiting for Denryl to speak up first.

Finally, Laurentius couldn't take it anymore so he speak for the sake of the two of them. "Have you been to parties?" his deep, grudgy voice asks.

Denryl is joyed dahil sa wakas nagsalita na ito, so he replied, "Yeah, kasama palagi si Kelly. Just some bars and that, drinking and kumakain ng pulotan. I mean, si Kelly naman talaga ang party girl sa aming dalawa kaya nahihila akong sumama sa kaniya."

He heard Laurentius laughs. It is not mocking, but with amusement.

"Have you been to wild parties, like, drugs, sex and shit?" tanong ulit doon ni Laurentius.

"Uhm, no? I had a boyfriend before, so off limits iyan," naging sabi niya.

Jeimson won't allow him into those parties. Sa bars pa nga ay medyo hindi gaanong sang-ayon si Jeimson na pumunta siya kasi nga raw there's a lot of drunk bastards. Hindi naman toxic na nanakal si Jeimson---hindi rin obsessed at iba kung magselos. He's just a red flag since hindi siya makahintay na makatalik si Denryl, kaya sa iba niya ito kinamit while they're still in a relationship.

"Have you heard of Desire Island here in Achilles Resort?" tanong ni Laurentius sa kaniya kaya hinarap n'ya ito. Itinaas-baba nito ang kilay nito at may pinapahiwatig.

"I've heard that from Kelly, why?"

"Well . . . given the name, it is an island for wild people whose free to have a steamy night with anyone. As long as there is consent. A sex island," pahayag doon nito.

"Seems like a place I would never go to." Denryl huffed. He's sure Kelly would surely go there.

"Why are you so sure? Have you seen how erotic and hot the island is?" he asked tauntingly sa kaniya.

He rolled his eyes by this. "For one, hindi ako isang taong hayok sa kantot. And I even lost my virginity to you, which is thank you by the way! Ang sakit kapag naglalakad ako, shuta ka!" reklamo roon ni Denryl kaya hindi alam ni Laurentius kung matatawa ba siya o humingi ng tawad.

"I'm sorry na," Laurentius apologized in a half-joking manner. "If it makes you anything better, you're the first guy and the only guy I would fuck," dagdag pa nito.

"Dapat lang, kung hindi may mapuputol."

Aangal na sana si Laurentius nang a buzzing and lively place welcomed them. They're here.

The event place was a couple distance from the shore. It was also kinda remote kaya malayo sa cabins and people to avoid disturbance from those who settle for the night upang matulog na. The light bulbs that are hanging at trees and coconuts are lighting up the place that it makes it more elegant and pleasing in the eyes. There's also a music blasting from somewhere, and a few people scattered around. And so, they immediately stalk to the event and search for a table for them to settle.

"Hey," bulong ni Laurentius sa kabila niya. Hindi naman gaanong malakas ang music sa background kaya there's no need for shouting. "I will get us a drink."

"Sure. Light alcohol beverage lang sa akin, please," sabi niya rito.

Tumango ito bago ito yumuko at binigyan siya ng halik sa pisngi. Namula naman agad siya sa ginawa nito at hindi maka-react. Seeing this, Laurentius chuckled for himself before heading to the bar that is serving beverages.

Still from initial shock, he touched his cheeks on where Laurentius landed a kiss. What he did was just so public display of affection. Probably, may nakakita sa ginawa nito. For instance, he's a known personality and a playboy---and seeing him kissing a guy on his cheek is such a shocker. It looks so endearing, which isn't the Laurentius they'd known.

Shaking from it, agad niyang iniwaksi sa isipan iyong pag halik sa kaniya ni Laurentius at bumaling sa malaking bonfire sa unahan. May mga nag-toast ng marshmallows nila roon, may nagsasayaw na mga magkasintahan sa unahan nito na parang nasa royal banquet sila, mayroon ding naggi-gitara. They look so lovely.

He's alone on a table. May ibang tables din doon sa buhanginan na puwede mong umupoan habang kumakain o hindi kaya umi-inom. Most of them are either occupied with friends, lovers, family or even elder people. It is such a lovely sight.

Bigla na lang may tatlong babae na umupo sa harapan at tabi niya. Agad siyang napabaling at napangiti nang ito ang mga babaeng naging kaibigan niya noong nakaraan. Sina Emilia, Phoebe and Cherry. They're grinning from ear to ear at may panunudyo na tingin na tinatapon sa kaniya. He just smiled at them with uneasiness.

"What was that ba? Is there something sa both of you?" Phoebe pried him immediately, kaya tumatango-tango rin ang iba with one brow raised and a teasing smirks.

"May pahalik-halik pa siya sa pisngi mo, ha?" sabi naman ni Cherry.

"Sabi mo hate ninyo ang isa't-isa, but what happened? May pa yuck-yuck ka pa, eh, sa kaniya ka lang pala bibigay. Tsaka ano 'yon? Kahit kayo na lang ang matitira rito sa mundo ay hindi mo talaga siya lalapitan at kaka-usapin? Ano ang nangyari ngayon? True nga talaga ang kasabihang, 'the more you hate the more you love.' Yiehhh," mahabang lintaya naman ni Emilia sa kaniya. Nanukso naman ang dalawa pa sa kaniya.

"Like, you do the deed na ba? Like, you had sex and love making?" panuksong tanong naman doon ni Phoebe.

"Stop. Hindi naman sa gano'n, eh," namumulang sabi roon ni Denryl. They giggled because of this.

"Napansin kong medyo paika-ika kang maglakad kanina at inalalayan ka pa niya. So, did you both did it from night to morning?" pang gatong naman doon ni Cherry.

"Oh, my ghod! Look, he has marami of chikinini, oh! Look n'yo iyan, oh."

Yes. Ang raming iniwan na love marks ni Laurentius sa kaniya---ganoon din naman siya rito. Hindi na kayang takpan ng kahit na anong damit ang mga ito kaya hinayaan na lang niyang ibalandera ito. Eh, si Laurentius nga unbothered sa mga chikinini nito sa katawan at nag open-shirt pa, kaloka.

Before he could turn into a bloody red tomato, biglang dumating si Laurentius sa table nila na dala ang dalawang inomin sa kanilang dalawa. Laurentius saw there was already three girls sitting on their tables. He was about to get rid of them thinking they are pestering Denryl just because they saw him going with him, pero when he recognized them as Denryl's friends here on the island, he just shrugged it off.

"What's up, girls?" Laurentius said as he approached their table. Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Denryl nang makita niya ang papalapit na bulto ni Laurentius.

"Hey," bati ni Cherry in a casual voice.

"Hello." Laurentius acknowledged her and only gave them a short glance. Bumalik ang tingin niya kay Denryl na may malaking ngiti at inilapag ang inom nito sa harapan nito. Doon lang kay Denryl napako ang tingin niya.

"Thank you," Denryl mumbled.

Nang makita ni Emilia na nakatayo lang doon si Laurentius ay agad siyang tumayo at umupo sa kabilang side ni Denryl. She have the courtesy na umalis sa harapan ni Denryl upang si Laurentius ang papalit sa upoan niya. Laurentius declined at first, pero nakapalit na ng upoan si Emilia sa tabi ni Denryl kaya wala na siyang nagawa. And so, he toke a seat in front of Denryl.

"So, are you like lovers and couples na ba or just establishing pa muna the thing between you?" biglang tanong ni Phoebe roon. Namula si Denryl sa narinig.

"Hoy, ang straightforward mo, girl, ha? Shh ka nga," Cherry scolded Phoebe, and she immediately pursed her lips from the mistake. Pero tumawa lang si Laurentius sa narinig.

Laurentius never laughed whenever he found something amusing for the past years. In fact, he'll just stare at you blankly as if you just said vulgar things instead of amusing things. He just sort of became carefree.

"No, it is fine," Laurentius dismissed them. Nawala panandalian ang mga tingin kay Denryl at nakahinga na ito nang mabuti. Agad naman na pinanlisikan ni Phoebe si Cherry as if saying it was okay to question them. "I don't know what we are, but I'm working my ways to earn his trust and assurance," he said with a smile, back into staring at Denryl in front of his na hindi man lang makagalaw upang uminom sa inomin niya. Nasa kaniya kasi ang mata ni Laurentius na binibigyan siya ng mga tingin na may malaking epekto sa kaniya. It makes his stomach churns---like a butterflies are fluttering inside him.

"So, like, you don't hate him na ba? I heard you're on each other's throats noon, sabi ni Denryl," tanong ulit doon ni Phoebe. Kulang na lang ay sikohin nina Cherry at Emilia si Phoebe sa mga tanong nito dahil sa matalim nilang tingin dito. Phoebe don't didn't mind the girls' glares.

"Yeah," sagot ni Laurentius. Again, she gave the girls a teasing grin before listening to Laurentius by her side. "I mean, I have established my feelings from friendly intent, to love, then to hatred and then now to love toward Denryl for the past years. I guess you can say that I'm a sucker for him. Marupok, gano'n."

"Wow. So, like, you---"

Before Phoebe could finish another question, tumayo silang dalawa nina Cherry at Emilia upang hilahin palayo si Phoebe roon at pabalik sa table nila kanina. Nagpaalam pa sila bago umalis, at si Phoebe mukhang may gusto pang itanong sa kanila ngunit kinakaladkad na siya ng dalawang kaibigan.

"Do you not like the drink I got for you?"

Biglaang nagtanong si Laurentius doon nang makaraan na tumahimik lang ang mesa nila. They're still music being played in the background with smooth ballad songs. Denryl is flustered to even speak or bat an eye toward Laurentius' direction.

Agad na kinuha ni Denryl ang cocktail glass and took a sip on it. It was sweet at first but then there was a bitter aftertaste---just the way he likes his alcohol.

"Anyways, they have barbecue on the tables. Do you want me to get you some?" alok doon ni Laurentius at tatayo na sana nang pinigilan siya ni Denryl.

At last, he let his gaze upon Laurentius' handsome face.

"No," aniya Laurentius. "Kaya 'kong kumuha para sa sarili ko. You can sit here and wait for me."

Tatanggi na sana si Laurentius nang mabilis na umalis doon si Denryl at pumanhik sa mesa kung saan nandoon ang mga pagkain. They even had freshly opened buko with straws and cute umbrella props.

Sinundan ni Laurentius nang tingin si Denryl nang may naramdaman siyang presensiya na umupo sa harapan niya. He turned to face it, and then the face of the owner of this resort welcomed him. Achilles Roovers.

"Greetings, my dear friend."

xALPHA_SYRICx | SYRICH

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So, iyan lang nakayanan ng powers ko. HUHU. I'm such a cliffhanger. Sorry, ngayon lang ako nakapag-update. HUHUHUHUHU.

I hope things are starting to get exciting na. I hope you're excited for the next update!

As you can see, I am doing commissions just so I could pay my expenses in college. Nahihiya na talaga ako kay mama na humingi ng pera upang pangbayad kasi palaging bunganga niya ay wala nang pera at dapat i-chat ko na raw si papa na magpadala kada hingi ko. My father blocked us both pa. Malapit na finals namin. HUHUHUHUHU.

So I guessed this story will become 25+ more chapters or so considering how slow-faced it became kasi nga gusto kong makita n'yo paano umusbong ang affections nila on the early stages. And I think I am not ready to let go of them. I just love Denryl's character, kaya nga rin pangalan ko sa FB ay Syric Denryl blah-blah. WAHAHAHA.

Rest assured, may nabubuo na, pero clumps pa ng cells kaya okay pang uminom ng alkohol si Denryl. UwU. In the later chapters, dapat wala talagang implications sa pagbubuntis niya. UwU.

Anygays, baka want n'yo mag-commision sa akin? I'll drop my rates or price rates.

Message or comment na lang nang mapag-usapan natin. UwU.

So, ayon. I won't kuda na kasi ang haba na, oh. I'm so excited i-sulat ang next chapter kasi lumabas ang bagong panauhin natin. The owner of the Achilles Islands Resort: Achilles Roovers. UwU.

So, byers na talaga. I'mma edit and proofread this before posting tonight. As usual, ingats kayo! Love y'all! Muahx!