🏝️

CHAPTER TWELVE

SEATING ACROSS from the one you loathe since that very day brought back those emotions. His stomach churns that he might throw up at any moment.

Given today, he can say he's glad that he never confessed to this person. It would be so embarrassing and disgusting at the same time. He is not just homo, and would never be gay in the eyes of any gods out there.

He's not gonna be a unicorn puking rainbows and sunshines.

Tama nang masaktan siyang hindi sumusubok sa pag-ibig, kaysa sa uuwing dugoan ang puso at pang habang-buhay itong dalhin. For him, it is better to fuck people's guts on his bed, than being fucked by feelings. So, he became a great jerk and asshole since that day.

Not just to Denryl, but to everyone, too. Ang dating mabait at pala-kaibigan na Laurentius ay naging babaero at regular customer sa mga bars at inuman. Halos naging pariwara siya sa alak, ngunit he still accelerates his academic performances. Study at day time, drunk at night time with a lot of sex and skins.

And now, he is willing to destroy Denryl the way he was destroyed unbeknownst by the person.

"Hey," tawag pansin niya kay Denryl. "How about I'll treat you to dinner tonight? Would that cheer you up?"

Agad na napatingin sa kaniya si Denryl na may kakaibang emosyon sa mga mata. Para itong uma-asang baka babalik sila sa dati. Na magiging kaibigan ulit sila.

"Talaga? You wouldn't mind kung ang pinakamahal na putahe sa menu ang pipiliin ko?" paninigurado roon ni Denryl sa kaniya.

Laurentius faked a chuckle. "Of course, it's my treat. You forgot yata na I am a multi-billionaire now."

Natawa naman si Denryl sa sinabi niyang biro. "Ayos, gusto ko iyan. Parang noong mga freshmen college pa lang tayo."

Except, you thought I would be nice to you this easily. "Yeah." He sighed. "Just like the good ol' days."

Napansin ni Denryl na huminto na sa kaka-ikot ang mga washing machines kung saan nakapaloob ang damit ni Laurentius. Denryl rises. "Mukhang tapos na 'yong mga labahan mo, tara?" Denryl invited him, at agad naman siyang tumayo at sumunod sa kasama.

Agad nilang isinalang ang mga basang labahan sa dryer ng establishemento at naghintay ulit doon ng ilang minuto bago ito matuyo at maging fresh as new. Nang matuyo ito, parang proud na nakangiti siya roon habang tinitigan ang mga bagong labang mga damit, na parang nanalo sa isang parangal.

He felt proud for himself doing all that laundry. Wait. Denryl helped him, though.

Agad niyang hinarap ang kasama at nginitian ito ng malaki. "Thank you for helping me," galak niyang pasasalamat sa kasama.

"Ano ka ba, walang problema 'yon." Denryl just shrugged it off. "Librehan mo na lang ako ng dinner mamaya. HAHA." Tinataas-baba pa ni Denryl ang kaniyang kilay in a suggesting way.

Nawala ang ngiti niya nang mapagtanto kung anong ginagawa. But then put a fake smile for his old friend. "Sure, my treat." I bet I looked like an idiot while smiling brightly at him, damn it.

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DENRYL DRESSED himself extra since Laurentius invited him for dinner tonight. He had a feeling that they will have a truce and an end for their years of being on each other's throats. He missed the old Laurentius who wouldn't mind hanging around with him. And just . . . be friends. Again.

A dinner with the guy sounds wonderful. It is their first dinner since their first year college. He can't wait.

Maaga pa ang oras at mamayang alas sais pa sila magkikita sa isang fancy restaurant ng buong isla. He's pretty sure not to pick anything expensive para naman hindi magmukhang makapal ang kaniyang mukha sa harap ni Laurentius. Biro niya lang iyong pinakamahal sa menu ang pipiliin niya mamaya.

He's not that shameless.

"Okay. I think presentablé na ako," usap niya sa repleksyon niya sa salamin. "Let's go to that dinner with Laurentius."

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DENRYL WAS waiting outside the said fancy restaurant and it was getting dark already. It looks like Laurentius was gonna be late for twenty minutes.

Denryl can still wait. Maybe he was just busy with work through phone calls . . ?

He keeps checking the time on his watch at ilang beses nang napapabuntong-hininga. Medyo nagugutom na rin siya sa kakahintay at tayo roon.

Ma-u-una na sana siyang pumasok sa loob ng kainan nang biglang dumating ang panauhin na kaniyang hinihintay. Denryl's face lit up as he saw Laurentius elegantly walking toward him. Kaniya itong sinalubong nang may ngiti sa labi.

Kaniyang tinignan ang suot nito habang sinasalubong ang lalaki. Kaswal lang ang suot nito, he thinks. White, open chest polo with royal blue stripes. May shades pa sa gitna ng kaniyang polo. Ang lower nito ay royal blue shorts at tsinelas lang. Simple, yet it was a head-turner.

Kahit ano yatang suotin nito ay babagay pa rin sa kaniya. Sikat nga naman ito sa department nila noon dahil sa angking kagwapohan at kabaitan. But he changed suddenly.

"Thought you'd never show up," Denryl said to the guy.

Laurentius chuckles by this. "Well, I'm here," sabi nito at nilapitan si Denryl. Agad na nasamyo ni Denryl ang mabangong pabango ng lalaki. "Let's get inside?"

"Tara."

Agad silang pumaruon sa reception desk ng restaurant na may babaeng nakabantay doon. "How may I help you, gentlemen? Any reservations?"

Laurentius give her a small smile. "We have a reservation under Laurentius Altarejos."

Agad na tinignan ng babae kung mayroon nga bang table under Laurentius doon. At nang makita ay agad itong hinarap sila na may malaking ngiti.

The woman gestured to a guy beside the entrance. "Welcome, Mister Altarejos. Please follow him to your table."

"Thank you," pasalamat niya roon.

"Salamat po," ani rin doon ni Denryl sa babae bago sila sumunod sa itininalagang tauhan upang ihatid sila sa table nila.

Sa kanilang paglalakad, hindi inasahan ni Denryl na mabagal na naglakad si Laurentius upang magkatabi sila. Kaya nasa tabi ni Denryl ngayon si Laurentius, at binalingan ito na may maliit na ngiti.

"I'm sorry I got late, may importante lang na ginawa." More like I purposely did it. Tsk.

"No, ayos lang. Na-iintindihan ko." Denryl just waved it off. Too good for a nasty guy like Laurentius, and a cheater like Jeimson.

"Talaga?" paninigurado kuno niya roon.

"Yes, it's fine," Denryl assured him with a genuine smile.

"Good."

Out of instinct, biglang lumipad ang kamay ni Laurentius sa buhok ni Denryl upang gulohin ito. Hindi agad napagtanto ni Laurentius ang ginawa sa kasama kaya ngiting-ngiti lang ito. Si Denryl naman ay prenti lang doong naglakad katabi ito, hindi tulad noon na namumula siya agad kapag ginagawa ito ng dating kaibigan.

"Here's your table." Tumikhim ang waiter sa kanila. Agad namang tinanggal ni Laurentius ang kamay niya sa buhok ni Denryl at ibinulsa ang kamay. "Gentlemen."

"T-Thank you," utal na sambit doon ni Laurentius at agad na umupo sa isa sa upoan doon na pang dalawahan na lamesa. Denryl also sat opposite his chair at nginitian lang ito. What the heck I was doing?

"Here's our menu, or do you want me to bring you both a drink first while still looking for something to eat?" lahad ng waiter matapos ma-i-bigay ang mga menu list sa kanila.

Agad na tinignan ni Laurentius ang menu at hinanap ang pinakamahal na dish at refreshment doon. "No, we can order right away, right, Denryl?" He eyed Denryl as he wait for the guy's response.

"I guess," sabi lang ni Denryl while shrugging. He glanced on his menu bago isiniwalat ang gusto na kainin.

"I'll get . . ." lahad naman ni Laurentius doon at nginitian ang waiter. Lahat ng pinili niyang putahe ay mahal, kaya napangisi siya sa isipan niya.

"I'll be back with your orders, gentlemen," ani waiter bago kinuha ang mga menu nila at umalis na roon.

"Sa nakikita ko, ang mamahal ng mga pagkain nila rito, ano?" biglang bulong doon ni Denryl na si Laurentius lang nakarinig.

Nasa isang kuwarto sila kung saan sila lang dalawa ang nandoon na may isang set-up ng table with fine dining at motif. And mahal pa ito dahil pinapa-reserve ito ng mga mamayaman na customer ng restaurant. They served high-class food naman kasi with great services, kaya ganoon.

Laurentius faked a chuckle this time for the nth time today. "Yeah, but it's fine. I'm gonna pay for our food."

"Thank you talaga," pasalamat sa kaniya ni Denryl. "Alam mo namang barat ako since college pa lang. You know na."

"Don't mention it," sabi lang ni Laurentius at agad na hinugot ang phone sa bulsa, at itinuon ang atensyon doon.

He searched for his friend Paul's number upang i-text. Nang makita ay tinadtad niya ito ng text messages such as, "Call me, asshole!" "Call my phone so I could ditch this fagg*t in front of me!" "Hey, are you busy?! Call me ASAP!"

Mukhang busy ang kaibigan kasi hindi man lang nito ni-reply-an kahit isang tuldok man lang. Napabuntong hininga na lang doon si Laurentius.

Lalo siyang nataranta sa kaloob-looban niya nang biglang dumating ang waiter with their steaming food. Nang i-message sana niya ulit ang kaibigan, nag-reply na itong nagsasabing, "I'm busy, asshat," "I'm in the middle of a meeting," "Stop messaging me!"

"This fucker," sambit niya roon sa inis.

"Are you alright?" tanong ni Denryl sa harapan niya.

Agad niyang inayos ang upo at nginitian ang kaharap. "Yes, don't worry about me."

Patuloy sa pag lapag ng mga pagkain nila ang waiter at nakita niyang natakam ang kasama sa mga pagkain. Nakita pa niyang kinagat nito ang pang ibabang labi, kaya panandalian siyang napatitig doon.

"Enjoy your food," sabi ng waiter matapos ma-i-lapag ang mga pagkain nila. "Ring the bell if you both want anything, thank you."

"Thank you," sabay na wika nilang dalawa sa waiter.

How was he supposed to ditch this guy kung walang tatawag kuno sa kaniya upang lisanin ito? How can he use an alibi kung ang mismong kaibigan niya busy upang tawagan kuno siya?

Yes. He planned on ditching Denryl after ordering expensive dishes upang ito ang magbayad sa lahat through answering a call outside kuno. But his plan didn't go according to what he thought it would end up.

"Let's eat?" imbita roon ni Denryl sa kaniya.

"Sure, go ahead," he said before eyeing his dishes. Am I really eating these stuffs? It is too much for one sitting.

Napabaling na lang siya kay Denryl nang biglang itong napa-ungol ng mahina dahil sa kinakain. He could swear that it sounded so erotic. The way Denryl moaned because of the food, it sounded so erotic to him. And that's very dangerous.

"Is the food that delicious?" dinaan niya sa tanong ang nasa harapan.

"Yes, it is so good. Ang sarap lang nila," Denryl answered him before shoving another scoop of pasta into his mouth and moans again.

Pretending to be not bothered by it, kaniya nang ginalaw ang mga kubyertos at hiniwa ang pinakamahal na steak sa menu na kaniyang in-order. This was the most expensive Wagyu in the world, actually. He couldn't count how many times he had eaten this, but it doesn't hurt his bank account while eating this. Damn, he could even order dozens of this steak and still it wouldn't cause a dent on his account.

God. I wish I can make it through this night being unscathed.

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THEIR DINNER together went fine. They had a serious talk and catching up that night. Laurentius forgot about his plan about ditching Denryl to make him pay for the expenses but instead, he wholeheartedly paid for it. And for some reasons, Laurentius was feeling so calm that whole night. He felt like he can breathe freely again for years.

Their dinner wasn't bad at all.

And so, Laurentius always invites Denryl for a dinner every night and talks about things like they are casual friends. Until someone sets foot on Achilles Island that Denryl didn't expect.

xALPHA_SYRICx | SYRICH

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OMG! Why so short lang ang chapter na, ito? HUHUHUHUHU. Ito lang kaya ng powers ko, eh. HUHU.

Anygays, salamat sa mga comments ninyo! I really appreciate them big time! Like, nakakataba ng puso kasi all the time feel ko talaga pangit ang mga sulat-likha ko. HUHUHUHUHU. Hindi ako maka-dedicate ng chapters sa inyo kasi wala akong laptop at sa phone lang ako nagsusulat. HUHUHUHUHU.

Hindi ko na pahahabain ang kuda ko. Basta, promise, dalawang chapters ang update ko next week. Nagkataon kasi na midterms namin this week kaya walang time at sobrang drained ko. Kaya sorry kung masabaw at boring ang chapter na ito. HUHUHUHUHU.

So, ayon. Love yah y'all! Ingats kayo palagi! Muahx!