Marriage and Maintainability

Chapter 28

"SHE'S avoiding me," pag-uulit ni Leon habang pinapaikot-ikot niya ang ball pen sa pagitan ng kanyang mga daliri. Nang hindi nakinig si Klaus ay binato niya ito ng binilog niyang maliit na papel kanina. "Can't you hear me? I said she's avoiding me."

"You've been saying that for seven days now, what do you expect me to react?" sarkastiko na tanong ni Klaus sabay walang gana na humarap sa kanya. "You know what, if she's avoiding you, so what? Who gives a fuck? That's what you wanted, right? Why don't you just get the hell on with it just like you always do? Claire is not that special for you, isn't she?"

Seryoso na napatitig siya sa kaibigan bago naningkit ang kanyang mga mata. "I know what you're doing. You are using the reverse pychology to me. You are smart, Klaus. But I am smarter. That plan of yours will not work on me."

Pabiro na pumalatak si Klaus at itinaas ang kamay sa ere. "Well, you got me. But still, I have a point, right? It is better since you don't want to do it with her."

"I didn't said I don't want to do it with Claire," depensa ni Klaus at ipinagpatuloy ang pagpaikot-ikot ng ball pen sa kanyang daliri. "It's just... we were better off without strings attached."

"Then what are you whining about? If she's ignoring you then ignore her, too. Basic," ani Klaus at ipinagpatuloy ang pagtitingin ng mga bote na maaring paglagyan ng bagong produkto. "Don't fuck with me , Leon, I'm busy, can't you see?"

"So, Alegría, huh?" tanong ni Leon habang nakatingin sa abala na kaibigan. "A women's whiskey. I wonder why choose a product name that means 'joy'?"

"Nothing. It's just classy to hear, is it not?" balik-tanong ni Klaus at halatang tinatanggihan ang pagtama ng kanilang nga mata.

Ipinagdaop ni Leon ang mga kamay at napailing-iling dahil naintindihan niya na kung bakit iyon ang napili nitong pangalan. "Well, I have to admit that it is. But then I remember Carol."

Agad na napatingin sa kanya si Klaus habang kunot ang noo. "What are you talking about?" tanong nito sabay pinigilan ang pagngiti.

Bingo!

Klaus may be a womanizer but when he was attached, he will stick like glue. Alam na alam niya kapag nagsisinungaling ito dahil kumikibot ang bibig nito.

"Carol means joy, fucker. Joy in spanish is La Alegria," sagot ni Leon at naghahamon na tiningnan ang kaibigan. "Tell me I'm wrong without looking away and I will not tease you anymore."

Napabuntong-hininga si Klaus. "Fine. The name I got for this year's product is from Carol. I named it after her because she is the one who recommended it. It was true that there was no women's whiskey in my business. I didn't think of that until Carol mentioned it on the yacht."

"That's what I thought, too..." ang tanging nasabi ni Leon habang nakangisi pa rin sa harap ng kaibigan.

"But don't get me wrong. I just happened to name it after her because she has recommended a good product, and I'm not going to hit on her, don't worry. Besides, Carol just made me her best friend..." wika ni Klaus para hindi niya na mapigilan ang malakas na pagtawa.

"You? Best friend? With a woman? Not just a woman but with Carol? Isn't that your way on bedding her without actually wanting me to know?" natatawang tanong niya dito at nawala kalaunan ang ngiti sa labi at pinagbantaan ito gamit ang mga mata. "Because if it is, I will beat you to death once you do, so stop this nonsense."

"It's not like that, Le. Carol is a wholesome person," depensa ni Klaus at umismid. "You can laugh at me and judge me all you want, but I am telling the truth. She is. I cannot do the thing I did with other girls to her, I don't know why."