Fortress Island Series 2 Romano: Can't We Try (BOOK 2)

NINETEEN

Fantasy

Romano's POV

"What the actual fuck, Romano Salvatore!"

"What the fuck, Matteo! Turn the fucking lights off!"

Nasilaw ako sa pagbukas ng mga ilaw. I was sitting here on the chair in the dark facing the window. Pagkaalis nila Mira at JK, hindi na rin ako nagtagal sa Moon Records building. Hindi na ako bumalik sa loob ng banquet hall at para makasiguradong hindi magku-krus ang landas namin ni Matt sa hallway, sa employee's exit ako dumaan. I didn't even ride my own car and held a taxi instead. I sent a message to Mariel telling her I already left the building and my cousin just replied me with 'you're such a loser' message. Well, guess what? I was.

Fuck this life. What did I do to deserve this!

"Romano, get your shit together!" Matt growled.

"Stop acting as if you're my brother, Matt. Leave me the fuck alone. You're disturbing my drinking session." I didn't bother glancing at his direction. Alam kong nakatayo lang ito sa may pintuan, nakikiramdam sa paligid.

"You better be thankful you're not my brother because if you were, I was sure as hell gonna whoop your sorry ass, Romano."

"Then stop breathing under my neck, Matt. Alam kong binabayaran ka ng mga magulang ko para i-report kung ano man ang pinagga-gawa ko dito sa Pilipinas. Just tell them I'm good as dead."

I heard him heave a deep sigh. "You're drunk again. Pang-ilang bote mo na yan?"

I finally tilt my head to the side to look at him. "Why don't you come closer so you could count the empty bottles yourself."

He gave me a stoic expression, one that he casually wears every day. "I could smell vodka from here, Romano."

I smirked. "You got a perfect sense of smell, I see."

"I swear, it's more like you're breathing alcohol. Akala ko ay natigil ka na sa pag-inom. Pero ano, dalawa o tatlong araw lang ang nakalipas at heto ka ngayon, lasing na naman."

"Hindi ako lasing. Matino pa rin akong kausap mo, Matt. Aren't you tired nagging at me? Why don't you sit down and join me instead."

"Kung susundin ko ba ang sinabi mo, are you going to open up with me? I will stop nagging and reprimanding you, Romano, if you will tell me the reason why you're acting this way."

I slumped on my chair as I looked straight and gazed at the window. "Nice try, Matt, but it's not gonna happen. I won't open up to you, to them and to everyone else in this fucking hell I'm living."

I heard Matt's footsteps getting closer. He approached me and sat on the edge of the bed. "Tell me everything and I promise you, tomorrow, I will erase them in my memory. You badly need someone to talk to, Romano. And let me just clarify this matter to you. Bayad man ako o hindi, lagi ko pa ring aalamin ang sitwasyon mo dahil concern ako sa'yo. You and Alejandro are like my brothers. And believe me or not, I'm worried about you both."

"Thanks but as you can see, I'm still breathing."

"And drinking to death."

I laughed drily. "May namatay na ba dahil sa sobrang pag-inom? Nakakamatay ba ang alak, Matt?"

"Siguro. Pero isa lang ang tiyak ko, hindi yan makakabuti sa kalusugan mo, Romano. Are you going to give up your life just like that? Hindi mo man lang ba ipaglalaban si Mira? Kung ang problema mo ay dahil ayaw ng mga magulang mo kay Mira, madali lang yan solusyunan. Itanan mo siya. Magpakalayo-layo kayong dalawa. Tutulungan kita, kung gusto mo. I knew a few places na hindi madaling mahanap."