FROM LUST TO LOVE (Reluctant Bride No. 2)

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23

Tony looked at his friend like he was an alien from outer space.  Namilog ang mga mata nito, hindi makapaniwala sa narinig mula sa kanyang kaibigan. 

"So... what are you saying pare?" Tony said slowly, disbelief evident in his tone.  "Brix and I spent sleepless nights looking for that woman and when we found her, you got all yellow and ran away?!" komento ni Tony.

"Grabe ka naman Tony!  Hindi naman ganoon." Nagsimula mag-explain si Zed.  Uminom ito sa bote niya ng beer.

"Eh ano?!  Pucha pare, tatlong buwan wala na kaming ginawa ni Brix kundi hanapin ang babae mo tapos nung nakita mo na ni hindi mo man lang nilapitan.  Ano 'to?  Nachochope ka na yata pare.  What happened to the Zed that I know who always went after what he wants."  Dinagger look ni Zed ang kaibigan.  He went here to lick his wounds not to get all riled up again from his friend's statements.  "Okay, I'm sorry."  Pagbabago ng tono ni Tony nang napansin na parang nainis yata ang kaibigan.  "So, what are your plans now?"

"I don't know pare."  Sabi ni Zed nang uminom ng beer.  "It's like she doesn't need me."

"Matagal na 'yan.  She never showed that she needed you right from the start.  Ikaw lang ang mapilit.  At ngayon, nang biglang nakita mong okay naman siya without you parang nawalan ka na ng lakas ng loob."

"Hindi lang yun pare eh." Saad ni Zed, his low spirits evident on his tone. "May lalaki pare eh."

"Lalaki?" May naalala bigla si Tony.  Kinuha nito ang dossier na nakalap nila tungkol kay Lyn.  Isa-isang tiningnan ang mga larawan na nakunan nila sa resort.  Tiningnan din ni Tony ang mga narrative reports ng surveillance.  Linapag ni Tony ang larawan sa harap nila ni Zed.  "Ito ba ang lalaki?" tanong ni Tony.

Ang linapag ni Tony ay isang larawan ni Lyn na naka-angkla ang kamay sa braso ng lalaki.  Pareho silang tumatawa.  Isang masayang larawan.

Napapikit si Zed sa nakita.  Hindi niya kayang tingnan.

"So, siya nga." Conclusion ni Tony.  "Arch. Francisco Osmena.  Owner and CEO of Formidable Construction Company.  Mga contractor yan ng Montevista Holdings sa Visayas and Mindanao.  Based sila sa Cebu.  In fact, he attended the launch party a few months back and if I remember right, I saw him talk to Lyn doon sa party.  Actually, despite his famous last name, he is a self-made man.  He is an illegitimate son of an Osmena scion to a company accountant.  He never acknowledged him, but the mom insisted on the last name.  He finished his studies through scholarship and working as a draftsman.  He studied abroad with a scholarship.  Got small government contracts in the province then made it grow until his construction firm is what it is now.  Parang ang kwento lang ng papa mo sa Singapore."  Tony's narration just made Zed's spirits sink lower.

"Just stop it Tony.  I don't want to hear anymore about that ass, kaya please." Zed took another swig of the bottle of beer in his hand.

"Last I heard, he is just a friend of Lyn's though."  Tumingin bigla si Zed kay Tony at nabuhayan ito.

"Who said that?" tanong ni Zed.

"From our mole inside the resort.  He visits almost everyday except when he is on travel, but he is nothing more.  Never stayed in the resort overnight, but he would often accompany Lyn in her trips to the city."  Tinitigan ni Zed si Tony.  "He is just a friend.  That's why I never mentioned him to you."

"A friend?" sabi ni Zed.

"A friend." Categorical na sagot ni Tony.  "But, if you ask me, he is more like a suitor.  Sino naman lalaki ang sobrang tiyagang araw-arawin ba naman ang bisita sa isang babae kung friendship lang ang motibo nito.  If the pictures are any indication, Lyn has continued to be a hot chick, pregnancy notwithstanding."  Hindi nagustuhan ni Zed ang tono ni Tony.