Dusk Crown

Chapter 7

NAHILOT NI Dusk ang sintido pagkalabas niya ng Crown hotel sa Las Vegas, Nevada. Bukas na ang uwi niya ng Pilipinas, and he feels so tired and homesick.

Miss niya na ang mga kapatid niya, magulang, at mga kaibigan. He doesn't like long travels where he wouldn't have ways to see any of those he holds dear.

Tapos may masquerade ball pa siyang dapat daluhan sa Ceasars Palace. Gusto niya na lang magpahinga pero siya lang ang Crown na dadalo bilang pagpresinta ng angkan nila. So he knew he has to be there. Kahit siguro isang oras lang. Wala rin naman siya sa mood mambabae.

Unbeknownst to his friends and brothers, he's not a full blown rake but he does bed women more often than they would. Yet there are times that he just wants to be left alone. Hindi naman lahat ng babae na lumalapit sa kanya at gusto ng higit sa pag-uusap ay dinadala niya sa kama. There are times he's not in the mood, tired, or not interested at all.

Dusk sighed and headed to his car. Nagpunta siya sa paborito niyang restaurant sa Las Vegas para doon kumain. Matapos ay bumalik siya ng Crown hotel para magbihis na para sa masquerade ball.

Wearing a dark suit and a black mask, Dusk was off to the ball with the invitation card under his coat.

Taking the VIP lift, Dusk went down to the ground floor where he saw a few guests from his hotels also leaving in their elegant dresses and suits.

Lumabas siya at agad na nagtungo ng parking lot at agad na sumakay ng kotse niya.

Pagkarating niya sa hotel and casino kung saan ang ball ay agad niyang sinuot ang maskara bago umibis ng sasakyan. The mask covered half of his face, enough to hide his...well, good-looking face.

Ayaw niyang makakuha ng atensyon. Kahit naman gago siya naiinis parin siya sa mga babaeng kung makakapit sa braso niya aakalain ng iba niyaya niyang maging date. When the fact is, he just met the woman at the party.

Dusk scan the place when he entered the venue. As usual, it's opulent and full of rich and famous. Nevertheless, it is still boring in his opinion. Women are highly likely talking about gossip and fashion while men very much talk about business stuff and their boring lifestyles. There could be something interesting but no one would dare talk about that thing in this open venue for someone to eavesdrop on their dark endeavors that pump their blood.

Naglakad siya papunta sa mag-asawang kilala niya at alam niyang walang nakakasukang gawain sa likod ng nakasarang pinto. It was one of his friends- Leaf Alcindor - parents.

"Nice to see you here, Brent and Alice." Bati niya sa dalawa at inabot ang kamay. "Dusk Crown." Pagpapakilala niya at inangat ang maskara ilang sandali at ibinalik rin iyon.

"Oh, Dusk!" Alice greeted with pleasure. "It's been a while." Tinanggap nito ang kamay niya bago siya bineso.

"How are you two?" Usisa niya saka nakipagkamay sa ama ni Leaf.

"Oh, great. Missing our son Leaf. That friend of yours hasn't visited us for a month now." Kwento ni Alice.

Dusk talked to the two for a while before he was approached by another couple and guests.

"So you're Dusk..." A lady asked. "I saw you from afar once and you were undoubtedly good-looking, mayhap you can lift your mask so I'd get to see you close." Matamis itong ngumiti at tumango naman ang mga kasama nito.

"Sorry, you must have seen someone else. I'm not that eyecatcher," Dusk subtly refused, smiling a little while scanning the place for the exit.

"Come on..." Malambing itong nagsalita. "No one is average from the Crown family. Even your father despite his age is still darn good-looking. Or maybe you're not Dusk."