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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

THE FOLLOWING morning, Denryl woke up with a huge hit of nausea, and he dashed to the nearest toilet to throw up. Nagising naman ang matalik niyang kaibigan dahil sa pagsusuka nito.

Hindi alam ni Denryl kung dahil ba ito sa niluto at kinain kagabi, so he immediately texted Laurentius asking if he's throwing up or some shit. Dahil maaga palaging nagigising ang lalaki, agad siyang nakatanggap nang reply na nagsasabing maayos lang naman daw ito. The guy also asks if is anything alright with him. He truthfully said that he threw up, kaya naman gusto sanang puntahan ni Laurentius kung nasaan ang bahay ng matalik na kaibigan niya. He immediately explained to his boyfriend that it was nothing serious.

Not fully convinced, Laurentius just texted to wish him well and to take care of himself. And of course, hindi nawawala ang I love you's nito sa kaniya.

"Beshie, let's go shopping kaya? I heard that Kuilos has released a new set of clothes and bags. Tapos iyong favorite makeup brand ko ay may new seasonal make-up sets," biglaang imbita ni Kelly sa kaniya roon.

Napabaling ang tingin niya sa kaibigan na nakasalubong ang mga kilay. "Sobrang mahal ng mga products ng Kuilos, hoy. Kailan ka pa natutong magbili-bili ng mga luxury items?"

"Duh. Since I've earned money . . ?"

"Hm . . . may bibilhin nga rin pala ako sa mall. I think let's go nga." In the end, they freshen up themselves and dressed casually to go to the mall.

In the next following days, it will be Laurentius' 28th birthday. Of course, Denryl still knows Laurentius' birth date since they were once friends and celebrated it back when they were still freshmen college. And almost everyone in the business world knows the infamous playboy bachelor's b-day. He always hosts huge parties with a lot of hot models thrown in. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa birthday nito ngayong taon, though.

He is buying a gift for him.

They hail a taxi cab to the mall since none of them has a vehicle to start with. The mall they are going to pursuit was known as one of the largest mall in the world. It was founded by a German-Pilipino bachelor who already built a hundred branches of it. His mall was like a competition to the Gaisano malls or Robinson's. Because of this, Zeus Pudleiner was one of the most sought-after bachelor in the country who also resides in San Dimartino city.

After insisting to his best friend to pay for both of their fare, binayaran na niya ang driver at nagpasalamat dito. Matapos ay bumaba na sila at agad nagtungo sa entrada ng sinasabing mall---Pudleiner Galleria. May makikita kang bank machine at iba't-ibang klase ng cafés sa labas ng mall. Makikita mo rin sa unahan ang malawak na parking lot ng mall nila. Their café is perfect for rainy days.

Bago pa makapunta sa ini-isip na shop si Denryl, bigla na lang siyang hinigit ni Kelly sa isang sikat at luxury boutique. Kelly is full of excitement habang hila-hila siya nito. Nagpahila lang sila hanggang makarating sila sa sinasabing boutique. Maraming tao rin ang naroroon at parang magkaka-social anxiety siya sa dumog nila. May karatula nga namang super sale nila ngayon at may new release silang nga products kaya dagsa ng mga tao rito.

"Magtingin-tingin ka rin sa paligid kung may natitipohan ka, beshie. Dito lang ako sa mga aisle ng women's clothing." Kelly waved him off at agad na itong pumaroon sa mga display ng damit na pinagugulohan ng ibang costumers doon.

Sa men's clothes ay medyo ka-onti lang ang nag-e-stroll doon to buy something. Hindi pa alam ni Denryl kung ano ang bibilhin niyang regalo sa kasintahan. His boyfriend seems to have the ability to buy anything he wants. If he would buy something, it should be sentimental and special na hindi kayang tumbasan ng isang materyal na bagay. What could it be?

Linapitan niya ang estante at display ng mga perfume and cologne collection ng boutique, at pinagtitignan ang mga ito. Laurentius always smells good, so he wouldn't need one as a gift. Besides, parang sinasabihan niyang ang baho nito kaya perfume ang regalo niya rito. There's a tester doon kaya kinuha niya ang isang vanilla infused with citrus scent at sinubokan iyon. He caught a whiff of the scent, and it smelled really good. The vanilla scent complimented with the citrus scent really great. He loves vanilla scent and he's been using it since he wears colognes back when he was high school, so kumuha siya ng isang bote nang perfume.

Iyon lang ang pakay niya roon, kaya agad na siyang pumaroon sa mga damitan ng pang lalaki. A cute onesie caught his eyes. He never wore one with Jeimson kahit anong tulak niya rito. Sabi lang ng dating kasintahan ay baduy at ingot tignan kung may gimik silang ganoon. Ano sila, five years olds?

What's the purpose of adult onesies kung pang bata lang pala ang mga ito? Kaya lumapit siya roon at pinagtitignan kung anong animal onesie ang mayroon sila. There's a lot of variation of animals onesie na mayroon sila, kaya natuwa siya. Dahil favorite niya ang raccoon as an animal, iyon ang pinili niya for his boyfriend. Penguin naman ang pinili niya para sa sarili.

Ini-isip niya pa lang, natatawa na siya sa reaksyon ni Laurentius. He's sure na hindi gusto nito ang magsusuot ng mga ganito. He's too manly and masculine upang magsuot ng mga cute na bagay. Sorry na lang ito, dahil pipilitin niya ito at titigangin kung hindi susundin ang gusto niya. Sex life nito ang nakasalalay sa pag suot ng onesie. WAHAHAHAHAHHA.

Dahil walang basket na kinuha, medyo nahihirapan na siyang bitbitin ang mga pinamili. Agad naman siyang pumanhik sa mga nakatalagang baskets for shopping. Kukuha na sana siya ng isang basket nang may naka-una sa kaniyang kumuha. Agad niyang nginitian ang lalaki na naka-una dahil sa hiya.

Bago pa siya makakuha ng basket ay nagsalita ang lalaki. "Denryl? Is that you?"

Napabaling siya sa nagsalita. The guy in front of him has a rounded eyes and a shock expression. Salubong ang kilay, tinitigan niya ito na may pagkalito.

"Ako ito, si Preston! Iyong ka-trabaho mo sa part-time job natin sa Mooncream Café noon!" the guy exclaimed to him.

Something clicked inside Denryl's head. Naalala na niya kung sino ito! Kasama niya ito minsan sa shift doon sa part-time job niya noon. Law student pa nga ito, eh.

"Hala, hindi kita agad namumukhaan. Ikaw pala iyan, P-Preston," agad na sambit doon ni Denryl na may paturo pa sa lalaki.

"Buti na-aalala mo pa ako!" anito. "Kamusta ka na? Huli nating kita ay iyong after kang g-um-raduate! Mukhang successful ka na sa profession mo, ah?"

Denryl scratched his neck dahil sa sinabi nito. "Naku, ito, going well and healthy," he replied. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang lalaki. His old peer looks polished and dashing as usual. "Ikaw ba? Mukhang successful ka na as a lawyer, ah? Under saan kang law firm? May asawa ka na ba o anak?"

Sa kaniyang huling tanong, namula ang dating kaibigan at hindi makatingin ng diritso sa kaniya.

Hindi ko ba dapat tanongin iyon? "Luh. Ignore mo na lang ang huli kong tanong ko. That's too personal and I have no rights to pry to your private life," agad na bawi ni Denryl doon.

"Okay lang, wala kang nako-cross na boundaries. Nahihiya lang ako dahil ang workaholic ko kaya wala pa sa isipan ko na mag-asawa at magkapamilya. Sa edad kong ito, ni-seryosong relasyon wala ako. HA HA HA," the guy explained to him with an awkward laugh at the end. "I-Ikaw ba? Musta k-kayo ni Jeimson? Staying strong pa rin ba kayo?" dagdag nitong na-u-utal sa hindi niya malamang dahilan.

Niramdaman niya ang sarili at ka-onting kirot lang ang naramdaman niya sa pagkarinig ng pangalan ng dating kasintahan.

He smiled softly. "We broke up dahil sa cheating. I mean, madali lang talagang i-tapon ang isang relasyon kung ang isa sa inyo ay hindi faithful sa inyo." Although he sounded nonchalantly, the guy sensed it was shameless for him to ask about his past relationship.

"I am so sorry to hear that. Hindi ko kasi alam . . ." agad na humingi ng patawad ang lalaki.

"It's okay," Denryl assured him. "Teka, ano pala ang ginagawa mo rito? Shopping for yourself?"

"Oh, right! Kasama ko ang kapatid kong babae. Nahigit lang ako rito against my will," he said.

As if magic, biglang sumulpot ang kapatid nitong babae sa tabi nila. Kung mukhang polished at mayaman ang datingan nito, mas lalo naman ang kapatid nitong babae.

"Kuya, what toke you so long? I am carrying a lot of clothes na at ang tagal mo. Who's this?" Her voice is sassy and kinda classy. She sounds like a bratty and spoiled child.

They faced her. "Priscilla," Preston called his sister in a warning tone.

"What? If you're done here, I need your hand for carrying my clothes. So, let's go."

Preston glared at her. "I'm not your lackey, so you cannot boss me around. Here." Inabot niya ang basket na hawak pa nito kanina sa kapatid. "Kung gusto mong mamili ng mga damit, go on your own. You don't need to drag me along here. Jeez," aburido nitong saad.

Priscilla, his sister, glared back at him at napabaling ang tingin niya kay Denryl. Her perfectly arched brows are knitted.

"He seems familiar. Did you introduced him to me before, Kuya?" tanong nito sa kapatid.

Denryl awkwardly stood there and just watched their exchange. He wanted to leave now.

"N-No---I mean, yes. Wait, I-I haven't---It was just . . . maybe . . ." Proper words cannot form from Preston's mouth. He stammered and anxious dahil lang sa tanong ng kapatid. To save him, si Denryl na nagpakilala sa sarili.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Denryl Alcanzare. Old friend ako ng kuya mo dahil ka-trabaho ko siya sa isang café noon," nakangiti pakilala niya sa babae.

Her left brow quirked up and eyed him up and down as if scanning his whole soul. "Oh, that's why you're familiar," sabi nito. "Kuya Preston showed me a photo of you on his phone before. He has a massive crush to you for the longest time and tells stories about you before. It can be called an obsession now, to think of it."

"Okay, that's enough, Priscilla," pamagitna ng namumulang Preston doon, at itinulak ang kapatid palayo roon sa kaniya.

"What? It was true. Madalas nga kitang nakikitang pinag-ha-heart ang kaniyang mga social media posts, like, that's stalking, my dear brother," sabi pa nito kahit tinutulak na palayo ni Preston.

"Just shut up, you're bluffing."

"Why don't you leave me na lang muna to tend to your honeybun and take him to a nice dinner? Sige na, I won't tell Mom and Dad that you're obsessed with a guy. You'd be cute together!"

Na-iwan doon si Denryl doon na speechless. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyayari ngayon. I mean, he gets compliments and affections from guys before, but this was all sudden. He was supposed to be shopping!

He wanted to wave goodbye at Preston, pero nakatalikod na ito sa kaniya at umalis kasama ang kapatid patungo sa kung saang aisle ng boutique. He sighed and continued his strolling.

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AFTER FINDING things they want, agad binili ng magkakaibigan ang mga bagay na tipo nila. Denryl only bought a few items dahil nagtitipid siya. Bibili pa siya ng bagong apartment upang hindi na maging freeloader sa bahay nila Kelly.

Ready to exit the said luxury boutique, may kumalabit at lumapit kay Denryl bago pa sila tuloyan na maka-alis doon. It was Preston, to his surprise.

Of course, Kelly also knows the guy since palagi itong nagtatambay sa café na pinagtatrabahoan as part-time job noon ni Denryl. She has a little crush on the guy back then dahil sa mabait at approachable ito. Tsaka law student pa ito, kaya who wouldn't like a wise and intelligent man?

"Long time no see," galak na bati ni Kelly sa lalaki. "I didn't know that we'd bump into you rito sa mall. Ang tagal na noong huli ka naming nakita."

The guy awkwardly chuckle. "Yeah, ang tagal na nga."

"You look stunning as usual, ah," komento pa roon ni Kelly. Ngumiti lang ito sa babae at ibinaling ang tingin kay Denryl.

He talk directly to Denryl, saying, "Ayos lang ba if hingin ko ang phone number mo? To, you know, to hang out and reach out each other if you have time . . ? Would that be all right? I mean, it's fine if you don't want to . . ."

Medyo hindi inasahan ni Denryl na manghingi ito ng numero niya, pero binigay niya naman agad sa lalaki. He smiled sweetly at him, before they fled to that place after saying their good-byes to him. Denryl didn't give a thought about the matter, so he grudgingly drag Kelly to the nearest fast-food chain. Nagugutom na siya.

After finding a table for four, they sat and placed their shopping bags sa tabi. Hindi na sila nag-aksaya ng oras at nag-order ng makakain.

While waiting for their food, Denryl sent a text message to Laurentius na nasa mall sila. Of course, hindi niyang sinabi upang bumili ng regalo sa kaarawan nito. He got a reply na nagtatanong kung saang mall sila dahil pupuntahan nito sila. Malapit-lapit lang naman ang kompanya ng kasintahan sa mall, kaya ilang minuto lang ay nakarating na ito roon.

A lot of eyes are on their direction now dahil sa kasintahan na bagong dating. It's unusual that you can see a famous business tycoon at a fast-food place. He should be at a three-star Michelin restaurants, some exclaims.

"What did you buy? Can I see?" nakangiting saad ni Laurentius doon with excitement on his voice nang makita ang shopping bag sa tabi ni Denryl.

"Go ahead."

Laurentius immediately rummage through the bags, and saw a couple of clothes such as hoodies, and some folded fluffy garments. He didn't know what those are. May nakita rin siyang box ng perfume.

Kelly and Denryl was busy talking to each other, kaya hinayaan lang nila si Laurentius na parang bata na nagtitingin ng mga binili ng ina. Laurentius didn't know what those fluffy garments are, so he toke them out of the bag. Dalawa iyon, habang ang isa ay kulay asul at shades ng asul, ang isa ay grey na may itim na stripes dito. What a weird color and pattern.

"What are these?" pamagitna niya sa nag-uusap na magkaibigan. Napabaling naman sila sa kaniya.

Denryl's face lights up noong nakita niya ang mga hawak ni Laurentius. It was the onesies he bought for them.

"Those are onesies. A penguin and a raccoon," came Denryl's reply.

"Those animal suits for children? Are you giving them to someone?" gulat na tanong doon ni Laurentius sa kaniya.

"No, sa akin iyang isa habang sa iyo naman iyang isa. We're gonna wear that to sleep some time," aniya sabay pakawala ng excited na tawa.

Laurentius' face scrunched up into confusion. "Us? Isn't these for kids? Besides, we would look silly in these."

"Pang adult din kaya iyan. Tsaka magmumukha kang cute niyan kapag ipapasuot ko sa iyo iyan, ano."

"Are you insane? I won't wear this."

"I will sleep at your penthouse tonight if you'll wear them with me."

"Argh. Fine."

With that, Denryl gleefully celebrated inside dahil napapayag niya ito. Although it was kinda a blackmail, mapapasuot niya ito ng onesie right in front of his eyes. He would surely take a lot of photos tonight.

xALPHA_SYRIC | SYRICH