Boys' Night Out

THE NIGHT

"'Bro! You've finally arrived."

Awtomatikong itinaas ni Max ang kamay upang tanggapin ang trademark nang handshake nila ng kaibigang si Miguel, pero napaigik siya nang maramdamang may sumigid na kirot sa braso niya.

Pilit niyang itinago ang ngiwi na dulot ng sakit.

"Yes, finally." natatawang pagsang-ayon niya. "Traffic kasi sa daan. Alam mo namang sa office pa ni Dad ako nanggaling."

Before arriving there, napasabak pa muna siya sa mahigit dalawang oras na byahe. He left at his father's office at exactly 8 in the evening. And now, it's 10:17PM.

"Why? Was it about his proposal for you again?"

Ang pang-eengganyo ng ama na hawakan ang Construction Firm nila ang tinutukoy ni Miguel.

"Nah, he didn't mention it when he made that call this afternoon." Pagkukwento niya dito.

Pero nang puntahan ang kanyang ama sa opisina nito kinagabihan gaya ng sabi, ay hindi niya ito naabutan doon.

"Maybe he already wants you to settle down?"

Pagak siyang natawa. "Yeah, right. I would marry my paintings?"

It was the conflict he had with his family. His father wants him to take over their family business, but he declined. His heart and whole-being was into making his canvass comes into life, nothing else.

Nakita niyang may sumilip mula sa loob ng gate. It was their other friend, Adrian.

Nakangiting lumapit ito at tinapik siya sa balikat. Hayun na naman ang'di maipaliwanag na sakit.

"What took you so long, dude? Alam mo bang kanina pa naghihintay sa loob ang Dream Girl mo?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Max. "What? Cherry is here?"

"Uh-huh. And she's waiting for you inside." Tumaas-baba ang kilay nito.

"But why did you invite her? This is an all-boy's night-" Natigilan siya, saka pinaglipat-lipat ang tingin sa dalawa. "Don't tell me this is just a set-up?"

Nag-high five sina Miguel at Adrian. Napamura siya ng malakas.

Natatawang inakbayan siya ni Miguel at inakay papasok sa loob. "A simple thank you will do 'bro."

"And that can wait. Save all your thank you's later." Segunda naman ni Adrian.

Pumalag siya sa pag-akbay ni Miguel at akmang babalik sana sa sasakyan nang maagap siyang nahila ni Miguel.

"Come on, 'bro. You didn't know how much effort we've put on this just to make this happen." Naghihinampong saad nito.

"But I am not prepared for this." Reklamo niya.

Tumawa si Adrian. "You still have a minute to prepare before facing her. Calm yourself."

Nagdabog siya. "Putangina kayo. This is torture."

Because for Cherry, he was just a bestfriend. She will never see him as the man who's been madly in love with her since grade school.

"Exactly 'bro, don't you have any plan to end this torture?" Seryosong tanong sa kanya ni Adrian.

Napatingin siya dito, saka napailing. "No, dude. I'm not going inside."

"Yes, you will." Tugon ni Miguel. "Take this chance, Max Wayne. You'll never know, it might be your last."

"What do you mean?" Nagtatakang tanong niya sa tinuran nito.

Nagkibi't balikat si Miguel. "Why not come inside and see it yourself? Let's go."