Prelude of Happiness

What if

GIAN

Kit went out after making a point. I stand up and look outside the glass wall. We're at the VIP lounge at the third floor so people can only look up but if you're lucky enough to catch Jace' eyes then you can step on this floor.

"Stop with your tantrums. What are you? 8?" Mon reprimanded him. It's refreshing to see Mon stand up to Jace. I looked at them while leaning on the glass and finishing my drink.

"Can't I do what I want? You can clean up as always." pang-aasar na sagot ni Jace.

"I'm not your security anymore. Let them do their job." sagot ni Mon habang chill lang syang kumakain ng chips.

"Then I'll hire you again." sabi ni Jace.

"Nope. Working with you is a pain in the ass." Mon answered flatly.

Jace laughed like a lunatic. Nagkatinginan kami ni Mon and he shrugged it off.

Unti-unti na kaming nasasanay sa bagong ugali ni Jace. Scratch that, that's really Jace' personality na na-supress lang on our last year of senior high. Mas lumala lang talaga ang ugali nya ngayon. Even Dad can only sigh whenever I report to him.

"You know, someone told me that before. That I'm a brat. How I wish I'll hear that again." Jace said that interrupted my thoughts. He straight up drink a shot of vodka. He's been drinking for hours now and that's the reason I called up Mon this morning. Dumodoble ang trabaho ko kasi lagi syang wala sa office and his drinking habit is out of hand.

Maya-maya pa ay humihikbi na si Jace na parang bata.

"What's with Kit that she appeared on his dream?" tanong nya habang patuloy na nagsasalin ng vodka sa baso nya.

"Am I not worthy?" patuloy na pagtatanong nya.

"Want to hear the truth?" tanong ni Mon habang nagsasalin din sa baso nya. I walked closer and grab my drink.

Jace looked at Mon while waiting for his answer. His eyes are droopy. He might be asleep any moment now.

Mon drank his shot and looked at Jace.

"Because maybe Kit did not kill her brother so yeah he's kinda worthy. Bitter right?" sagot ni Mon habang nakatingin sa shot glass bago kumuha ng chips.

Jace laughed again while tears are streaming down his face. He looks like a lost case. This is the Jace we all knew. We all coped up but Jace did not.

"I'll give anything to turn back time." Jace said hysterically while Mon is unaffected by his theatrics.

"Too bad. Regret does not bring back a lost moment and even a thousand years will not recover something lost in a single hour." Mon smiled bitterly.

He drank his shot then stand up to walk towards Jace.

Jace is looking at him blankly like a nutcase.

Mon holds Jace' shoulders with both his hands before he strike Jace' neck.
And just like that, Jace fell down like a sleeping baby.

"Hey, what was that?" I asked.

"A carotid slap. Baka sakaling matatauhan na yang kapatid mo. Buhay pa yan, pinatulog ko lang." sagot nya at kinuha ang coat sa upuan.

"That's some cool shit! Uuwi ka na?" tanong ko.

"Yeah. I've done my part and kanina pa naghihintay si Kit sa baba. Jace needs some professional help." paliwanag nya.

"Thanks bro but he wouldn't budge." sagot ko at hinatid na sya sa may pinto. Nagbilin din sya sa mga guards bago bumaba.

I finished my drink bago sumunod sa mga may buhat kay Jace.