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CHAPTER THREE

SA NAGDAANG araw, kila Kelly na pansamantalang naninirahan si Denryl. Para na rin kasing ka-pamilya nila si Denryl dahil parang magkapatid kung magturingan sina Denryl at Kelly. Nasisiyahan rin naman ang nanay ni Kelly sa kaniya.

Denryl sold their old apartment. Hindi na niya kaya ritong manatali, lalo pa't puno ng mga ala-ala ang lahat ng sulok ng apartment.

Nasa silid siya ni Kelly---kung saan iisa silang natutulog---na ngayon ay nagtitipa upang ma-search ang sinasabing Achilles Islands Resort.

The results of 'Achilles Islands Resort' flashed before his eyes. The said resort had its Wikipedia and the basic information you could know.

Achilles Islands Resort is a Mindanao-based resort that was first publicly opened on March 3, 2002. It is an outdoor vacation resort that offers a lot of fun activities such as land and/or water attractions. The founder and CEO of Achilles Islands Resort is a Filipino-Hawaiian citizen, Achilles Conrad Roovers, and his brother, Marco Cormac Roovers, as co-owner. It is widely known as a tropical holiday spot for vacation at Mindanao with over four million tourists annually, based on their daily reports.

[A/N: Keneme ko lang ang mga iyan, huwag kayong ano. I referenced to Wikipedia's information about FENTY by Rihanna and customized myself a description of Achilles Island. LOL. This is Wattpad, and all of my settings are in parallel universe so some things are possible in their world than in real life. LOL.]

Denryl gaped and was buffled to read about the basic information about the said resort. He haven't heard of it, but it is suspiciously mad popular among tourists. Maybe he's missing some chunk on his life!

He clicked for the images of the said resort and he was shown with the paradise-like photos of the resort. It was an exact description of paradise. It was so immaculate.

There's a capture of the aerial view of the three main islands of Achilles Islands---with distinctively different names. There are photos of some infinity pools, the different hues of blues of their beaches, the white sand shores, their meticulously crafted cabins, cottages and inns, a floating inflatable islands, their mountain ranges, the benches with umbrellas for shades and so much more. It was complete with necessities and needs for relaxation.

The resort looks heavenly and relaxing.

He looked up for the whole experience package fees, but came up with an expensive price results. It was worth its magnificent attraction and accomodations. The fees are almost his salary a month!

Denryl is very barat, okay? So, one-month pay is already a huge earn for him. He doesn't like to spend so much on things.

Achilles Islands was his description of dream paradise, but he couldn't afford to step on the luxurious resort. Maybe he's not ever to set foot in the island resort. Jeez.

Rubbing his temples with disappointment, agad niyang pinatay ang personal laptop at nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga. There's a lot more pressing important things than having a vacation. He doesn't need those!

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OKAY, MAYBE he does. He's super exhausted from work, lalo pa't hindi sakto ang tulog niya at kain. His break-up with his long-term boyfriend did left a big toll on him.

His boss noticed his tiredness and exhaustion from everyday since Denryl came to work this week. His boss was concerned toward him, kaya ito na ang nagsabi rito na magpahinga muna kahit ilang oras sa sariling stall nito. Denryl being persistent, hindi siya pumayag and persuaded his boss to keep working. Ika niya, sayang raw ang working hours at keri lang daw niya ang self.

Still doubting, he gave his secretary some small tasks to do upang mabawasan man lang ang stress nito. He can see his secretary is miserable from the inside---and it's showing. He Doesn't know what it was, but he'll soon find out.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pag tipa ni Denryl sa computer niya, biglang tumunog ang intercom sa mesa niya na naka-connect sa opisina ng boss niya. He picked it up to answer his boss.

"Yes, boss? Do you need something?" magalang niyang sagot sa kabilang linya.

"Come to my office," ang naging utos nito. Hindi na siya pinasagot nito, at agad na siyang pumaruon sa opisina ng boss niya.

Nang makarating sa tapat ng opisina nito ay kumatok siya sa pintoan at agad na pinapasok ang sarili. Bumungad sa kaniya ang boss na naka-upo sa swivel chair nito. His boss looks normal---not that he's expecting him to be fuming from something.

"You called me?" tanong ni Denryl sa boss niya.

"Come take a seat. I have some pressing matter to talk with you." The boss gestured a seat in front of his desk, kaya masunuring umupo si Denryl doon.

"Does it concern my performance lately, mister Millers?" agad na tanong ni Denryl sa kaniya. "I'm so sorry if I seemed to be lacking lately. A lot of things happened lately. I hope you will consider me," paliwanag doon ni Denryl.

"Actually, I am concern for your health, mister Alcanzare," panimula ni mister Millers sa kaniya. "These past days, I've noticed that you lack of enthusiasm and bubbliness like you used to be. You look like shit---pardon me for the use of word---and it concerns me as your boss. It is fine not to be enthusiastic and all, but it seems odd since I worked with you for the past years with your goofy and funny character. Don't take ill to my words."

"Oh . . ." Denryl mumbled.

"Anything I supposed to know? Come on, I'm your friend. You can tell me," mister Millers encouraged him.

Smiling bitterly, napag desisyonability niyang i-kuwento ang nangyari sa simula hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Taimtim namang nakikinig ang boss niya, and there is understanding and sympathy sa mga tingin na kaniyang pinupukol kay Denryl. When Denryl finished his story, mister Miller intently stares at Denryl.

"I am sorry to hear that, mister Alcanzare," ani mister Millers. "I know little of your relationship with your boyfriend, but I know you really love him so much. It must be really hard for you," he sympathized with Denryl. "Since you've been working hard for my company for the past years, I will give you some pocket money to have a three-week vacation. I can buy you tickets to any country you want to visit. And you don't have to worry about the expenses---it's all on me."

Napa-awang ang bibig ni Denryl dahil sa narinig sa boss niya. His boss must be insane and nuts.

"Boss, hindi ko po matatanggap iyan. That's not what I need . . ." pag tanggi ni Denryl doon.

"Nonsense," mister Millers dismissed him. "Just take your reward, you've earned it. Consider them as my early birthday gift for you. And it will make me sleep at night if you accept them. So, please . . ?"

"Maraming salamat po," nakangiting sambit na lang ni Denryl doon.

"No worries."

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"SERIOUSLY, YOU looked like you need to have a vacation for a while," komento ni Kelly noong i-kuwenento niya ang nangyari sa opisina ng boss niya.

"Ghod," Denryl groaned. "I said I can manage, pero lahat kayo ay persistent na magpahinga muna ako. I don't need three weeks of vacation."

"M'yeah," ani Kelly. "Try to convince yourself, beshie."

"I would like to, pero sayang ang pera," ani Denryl.

"Wala ka pa namang sinusuportahang pamilya, ah? You don't have to pay expenses anymore, you know," Kelly explained to him.

"Siyempre, mag-a-ambag rin ako para sa gastosin dito sa inyo, 'no. Nakikitira na nga lang ako, wala pa akong tulong sa bahay n'yo. Nakakahiya kaya. Hmpt," Denryl said.

"Ano ka ba, hindi naming sinabing mag-ambag ka rin dito sa gastosin ng bahay," paliwanag pa ni Kelly sa kaniya. "Willing naman si nanay na amponin ka niya, eh. Tapos alam mo namang parang anak na ang turing nila sa'yo. May hiya-hiya ka pa, makapal naman feslak mo, vhakla."

Nakatanggap naman ng mahinang sapak si Denryl sa kaniyang balikat galing kay Kelly, kaya masama niya itong tinignan.

"Kahit na, I'm still a guest," Denryl persisted. "Eh, ikaw nga diyan ay may gastosin at ambag din dito sa bahay n'yo, eh. Since family na ang turing n'yo sa akin, mag-a-ambag rin ako ng pera para sa gastosin."

"Teka nga, akala ko ba sagot na ng boss mo ang mga expenses mo for your three-week vacation? Ano pa ba iyang pino-problema mo d'yan, beshie?" nakataas ang kilay ni Kelly habang tinatanong iyan kay Denryl.

"Ang gasto lang kasi," Denryl said. "Tsaka pwede namang one week lang ang ibigay ni boss na day-off ko, eh."

"Too bad, binigyan ka na ng three-week vacation ng boss mo," Kelly unapologetically said. "You should be excited, bhie! So, aling lugar or country ang gusto mong bibisitahin? Anything in mind? OMG!" alog ni Kelly kay Denryl dahil sa excited siya para sa kaibigan.

"OMG rin sa 'yo, bhie, mahihilo ako sa ginagawa mo. Ginawa mo naman akong binatil na itlog, shuta nito." Umikot ang mata ni Denryl sa kanyang kaibigan.

"Oops, sorry," pag hingi ng tawad ni Kelly at pilyong nginitian ang kaibigan sabay takip ng labi. "So, aling lugar mo nga gustong magbakasyon ngayon? It is almost summer, kaya marami-rami ang turista ngayon."

"So, narinig ko sa mga co-workers ko itong magandang resort. I searched it up kanina, and it was so---argh! Basta, ang ganda ng resort," panimula ni Denryl sa kaibigan. "It was called Achilles Islands Resort and was located at Mindanao. Ang mahal ng kanilang whole experience package fees and all for an employee like me. Pwede ko nang i-pangbili ng groceries at bayad ng bills rito for a month iyong pang vacation ko for one week!"

"Kaya nga libre na ang expenses for you, 'di vah?" Kelly pointed out. "And I've heard a lot about Achilles Islands, too. I heard they have this exclusive island that offers people with wild party and sex, and I want to see for myself if it's true. Rawr!"

"You want to go there?" takang tanong ni Denryl sa kanya. "Yeah, right. Sex is your passion nga pala. Kung meroong lalaking K-K, may babae ring K-K---like you."

Kelly's brows knitted together. "K-K?"

"Kantot-Kalimut, dzuh." Denryl sassed her.

"Nililihis mo naman ang usapan, eh," she smacked Denryl's shoulder at masama itong tinignan. "Pero seriously, this is your chance to experience relaxation for a while. I agree with your boss, you've earned and deserved to have a short vacation for a while."

"What if the people who organized there are homophobes? Ano na lang ang posisyon ko doon? I'm sure lahat doon ay mga lalaki't babae na mga turista. I'd be an outcast," Denryl voiced his thoughts.

"Achilles Roovers has a biggest gay bachelor brother in the Philippines that had shares on the resort. Its impossible for them to be homophobe. And!" Kelly assured him and encouraged him. "If they are not friendly toward the LGBTQ community or an ally, they can fuck themselves and you will leave that resort immediately. Avoid toxic people at all times, okay?"

"Are you literally trying to push me away, beshie?" biro doon ni Denryl kasi medyo seryoso na ang atmospera ng paligid.

"Gaga, nagawa pang magbiro nito. Ang seryoso ko na, eh," dabog kuno ni Kelly doon. Natawa naman si Denryl sa inasta ng kaibigan. "I am not pushing you away, I just want you to have your best moment of your life at that resort. These past days are really hard for you dahil sa break-up ninyo nang de'putang si Jeimson. So, please give yourself some rest, and relax for a couple of weeks. Pati nga ang boss mo ay pinu-push ka ring magbakasyon muna, eh."

"Wala akong mga gamit na susuotin doon. Tsaka I'm sure lahat na nandoon ay mayayaman kaya magagara ang suot nilang outfit for these kind of occasions, for sure," ani Denryl doon.

"Ano ka ba, we're going shopping today! Ako na ang bahala sa OOTD mo doon," nakangiting representa ni Kelly doon bago tumayo at hinila rin si Denryl pa-tayo.

"Excuse me, sinasabi mo bang pangit ang taste ko when it comes to fashion, besh? It's a mockery," ma-arteng sambit kuno ni Denryl doon.

"Gaga, magbihis ka na at pupunta na tayong mall upang bumili ng mga damit mo upang gamitin sa Achilles Island. Para na rin makasimula ka nang maka-relax!" engganyo ni Kelly sa kaniya.

"Pinapa-alis mo lang ako rito sa silid mo, eh. Oo na, ako na ang pabigat sa inyo ni Tita," tampo kuno ni Denryl.

Tumawa lang si Kelly at agad na tinulak ang kaibigan patungo sa mga sariling damit nito. Walang nagawa si Denryl kaya nagbihis na siya at pomorma upang mag-shopping.

Who doesn't love shopping, aber?

Nang makabihis at prepara na ang dalawa, agad silang lumabas sa silid ni Kelly at pumanhik pababa.

"Nay, alis muna kami papuntang mall!" sigaw ni Kelly doon.

They descended down the stairs when a door a couple away from them suddenly swung opened. Ugh. Not this brat.

"Can I come?" rinig nilang tanong ng isang binata.

Hinarap naman nila ito at tinignan ni Kelly ang kapatid hanggang ulo at paa. "Sasama ka?" tanong niya. Tumango naman ang binata sa kaniya with a huge, cheeky grin. "No, you can't. Ang dugyot mo at nakakahiya kang i-sama."

Tinignan naman ng binata ang kabuohan niyang suot. Ang suot nito ay lower jersey short at pinarisan lang ng itim na tank up shirt na malinis naman tignan. Tinignan niya si Denryl kung nakikita ba siya nitong dugyot at hindi presentable. Nang makitang nakangiti ito sa kaniya, nakampante naman siya.

"Come on, I am not dugyot," the boy groaned out. "Ang gwapo ko kaya, kuya Denryl, 'di ba? Ako ang i-papalit mo sa gago mong boyfriend, right?" anito kay Denryl. Na-iinis naman itong tinignan ni Kelly.

"I-sama na natin siya, ano ka ba. Cute kaya ng binata n'yo, oh. HEHEHEHE." sang-ayon na lang ni Denryl upang hindi masaktan ang damdamin ng binata.

"I am not cute, I am masculinely handsome. Cute are for feminine boys---like you. And your cuteness cannot be described by words alone, cutie," matatag na pahayag ng binata doon with his head held high and winked at Denryl. Denryl just amusedly giggled by his statement.

"Lumalaki na talaga ang ulo mo, jusko," Kelly dramatically groaned out. "O siya, sumama ka kung gusto mo---basta hindi ka namin libre. Ikaw ang gumasto sa mga bibilhin mo."

"Kahit ako pa ang magbabayad kay kuya Denryl, sure. I want to spoil him," the boy flirtatiously said directly towards Denryl.

"Magbihis ka na, dalian mo," singhal ni Kelly rito kaya pumanhik na ang binata sa silid nito upang magbihis.

"Nagbibinata na talaga iyang si Killian. Noon, ang cute-cute pa niyan, eh," nasisiyahang komento ni Denryl.

"Hayaan mo na 'yang bubwit na 'yon. Nang tumatagal, lalong naging naghuhumaling sa'yo," Kelly grumbled as they continued to descend down the stares.

"Ayos lang, nagbibinata naman kasi iyon. Sa tamang panahon, may makikita iyang mas kakahumalingan pa niya. Sa hitsura ba naman ng pamilya n'yo, hindi siya mahihirapang makahanap ng syota," natatawang salaysay ni Denryl.

He found the son of their household as his younger brother. Hindi siya naka-experience nang makabonding ang isang kapatid. Ang mga anak kasi ng foster home niya noon ay ina-abuso rin siya at minamaltrato.

Life isn't fair, after all.

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LAURENTIUS' VACATION IS ending so soon, but he still wants to stay. The resort gives him the relaxation he needed.

His vacation he payed is worth one-week vacation package. He could extend and stay if he wants, but isang Linggo lang ang kaya niyang ibigay sa sarili as day-off. After his vacation, he will continue to run their businesses across the country---not to mention, some of his overseas trips and meetings, too. At least he had a fun and eventful vacation.

He sighed.

If only he could do something about it. Well, he isn't the CEO of their company if he can't make things happened for some reasons.

Unexpectedly, a smiling face of Denryl appeared on his thoughts. He scowled from the mental image and contoured his face into disgust. He can't wait to go back to business and pester Denryl everytime he'll see him around. He hates that guy to the core. For what reason?

Clenching his jaw and fists, he keeps thinking on how he will make Denryl's life miserable and suffer. He deserves it than no one else's, because he is a f*ggot. And a douchebag in the past.

I can't wait to make you more miserable as you are, bitch.

xAPLHA_SYRICx | SYRICH

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So, that is it! Sana hindi siya gaanong cliché and cringey for y'all! I've tried my best to make it more decent and professional.

Siguro hindi ko na pahahabain ang kuda ko. Sowwy kasi medyo matagal akong naka-update kasi wala kaming WiFi and wala rin akong load. Malapit nang magsimula ang klase ko for College, pero wala pa rin kaming laptop and WiFi connection. Hays.

So, iyon nga. Byers! Take care sa inyo! Love y'all! muahx!

Question: What's your favorite food?

Mine is Bistek, like ang sarap niya lang! HUHUHUHUHU. Tuwing may birthday ko lang siya naka-kain, shuta. And maybe Fries and Fried Chicken for side dish. Ano raw? And for dessert is Mango Graham Float talaga. Ackkk! Hindi na iyan makuda, selp?