third time's a charm

Preface

Do you believe in bad luck or negative superstition?

NO, absolutely not.

"All of the things that happened to me, good or bad, were mostly due to my actions and the actions of other people.

The problem with believing in luck was that you would cut yourself off from the real world which was governed by detectable and provable things that really existed.

My working life was lackluster, aside from the fact that I remained continuously employed. Was that luck? No. It's because I work like a dog and employers like that."

Win arrived at his position, just in time to mouth Tay's following words that came directly from the earpiece that he was wearing. Gun laughed as he could hear the same thing in his own earpiece, sitting inside the pizzeria and watching Win mimic Tay's lengthy soliloquy.

This was an everyday occurrence for them. While Tay struggled to make Win understand that none of his superstitious crap was REAL; Win struggled to seek narratives to help weave his past, present and future together through his goals and expectations.

"I don't care what you think but ever since I followed this fortune teller's words, I've been lucky so far. Mind you, she also prophesied my past two failed romances and even told me exactly how these people would hurt me. I didn't listen. Look at ME."

New, the epitome of a cool chic guy, who was sharing a space with Tay inside the van with their high-tech surveillance wonderland couldn't help but barge in. "Win, you don't need a fortune teller to advise that your first two affairs were a disaster in the making."

Tay rejoiced. "Yes! Baby, why are you so good at this---"

"Shut up. I'm not your baby," he stuffed a sandwich in the other's mouth to stop him from talking. "Anyway, Win, if we don't do this now Gulf is going to have our ass on the platter. We need a STORY."

Win grimaced as he rearranged the wire around his waist inside his shirt. He felt itchy and uncomfortable. "I don't know...this is so wrong. Is this the same shit we used to expose on that overweight actress? Is that why they never give you a second bag of nuts during fan meet?"

"Yes and no," New answered. "And when did you grow a conscience?" He scowled when Tay reached on his side for the bag of nuts.

Gun waved his hand when the waiter with the box of Hawaiian pizza started calling his name. Or at least, the name of the actor he fancied that he wrote on the piece of paper. "Guys, Win makes sense. This is intrusion after all and can be quite dangerous. By the way, I have an announcement."

Win rolled his eyes but stood up straight when he spotted his subject coming out of the building in front of him. "Gun, I swear! Every day you have a fucking announcement. Unless you're fucking someone, I don't want to hear---"

"I'm getting married!"

They thought they heard the tires screeching and what followed was a series of reactions that was best described in one word uttered in unison---

"WHAT?!"

"Oh, wow!" Gun snapped. "Do I hear crickets? Hello! Are you guys still there?"

"We're here," Win was too surprised by this. He had known Gun longer than Tay and New and he never mentioned anyone in particular though he told him that he had been seeing someone. "Who?"

Gun giggled. Clearly, he was too happy to be upset with his friends. "Remember I told you about that guy I've been seeing? The one I met on a flight to Mexico, two weeks ago. And now, we're getting married in Cancun. How sexy is that!"