The Red Butterfly (My Lady Gangster 2) :Published under Lifebooks

Red 37

Fia's POV

Nagulat ako nang tabihan ako ni Lhester sa bar na pinuntahan ko. "Drowning yourself, dear?"

"What are you doing here?" Tanong ko na lang at uminom na naman.

"Hmm, saving some damsel in distress?" He teased, that's why I tried to punch him but he just dodge quickly.

"What do you want, Lhes?" Tanong ko at lumagok ulit ng brandy.

"I want you," he teased even more and leaned closer to me. Tinulak ko naman kaagad siya palayo.

"Stop the nonsense! Can't you see I want to have some lone time and rest before I fcking fight a losing battle later?"

He laughed on my remarks. "Dear Fia, there's no losing battle to you. Hindi ba nga, as an Oedo, you don't even need luck, because you're born to win any battles."

Ako naman ang napatawa sa kanya, totoo nga naman. Oedo blood runs in my veins and I'm confident because of that. But I'm---

"Worried?" Napatingin ako kaagad kay Lhester nang sumingit siya sa inisiip ko. Nabasa niya ba iniisip ko?

"Huh? What the fck are you babbling about?" I asked and was about to sip my drink, but he stopped me and ordered other drink.

"It's their most powerful drink. Try mo, para tamaan ka naman." Pag-abot niya ng inumin sa akin. Sinunod ko naman ang utos niya at ininom ang alak.

"Sex on the beach cocktail?" I asked eyeing him.

"Yeah, it helped Zia before. Baka makatulong din sa'yo." Saad niya at uminom rin ng inorder niya.

He's plotting something. He's my fcking best friend, I know him. Kaya naman tumahimik ako at nilagok nalang lahat ng inaabot niya.

"Dear Fia, drink more." I can almost hear a devil's whisper because of Lhester's words.

"You want me to get drunk? Don't you?" I asked raising my brow

"Well, yeah." The devil answered. That's why I slapped his shoulder.

"Fck you, asshole. Tell me what you want." I said looking at the six glasses of cocktail.

Umiling naman muna siya at nag-abot ng isang baso pa. "Before that, drink one last glass."

Wala naman na akong nagawa at ininom na lang, saka k naramdaman ang tama ng alak. Just as I thought, I'm starting to get tipsy. Because of the fcking 6 glasses.

"Now-hik! Tell me, Lhes. Why are you doing this?" I asked not being able to hide how I am getting drunk by the minute.

"Nagpaliwanag ako kay Zehl kanina, na may parte si Renz sa buhay mo. Pero napapatanong ako, bakit gano'n kalaki ang parte ni Renz sa buhay mo. E 'di naman kayo nagkasama sa iisang bahay ng matagal kung ikukumpara kay Zia? They grew up together as brothers and sisters, so why Fia?"

Napatawa ako sa kanya. Kung dati ako tinanong ni Lhester, hindi ko 'to masasagot. Pero ngayon naalala ko na ang lahat, may maisasagot na ako.

"I'll hik! Tell you the truth, since I remembered everything. Renz was visiting me in Japan since I was 11 years old. Pagkatapos ng isang taong pag-alis ko sa poder ng mga Santillan, Renz was seeing me. He kept on begging me to come back."

Halatang nagulat si Lhester. "You mean you two were seeing each other, kahit pa no'ng nasa Japan ka?"

"Hmm, yes. He was visiting me time after time just to beg me to come back. I even threatened him with a knife on his first visit, but he fcking continued visiting anyway."

Napabuntong hininga pa ako at uminom pa ng isang baso. At dahil nanatiling nakatitig lang sa akin si Lhester ay nagpatuloy ako.

"He just won't stop seeing me. Kahit na iniiwasan ko siya, he kept on finding ways just to talk to me. And because of that, I've been able to see my sisters."

And with that, Lhester was awed. "Sila Zia at si Iris?"

"Kapag pumupunta si Zia and my late ate Iris sa Japan. I always hide. Takot akong makita sila, palagi kasi nilang kasama yo'ng hukluban. Pero kahit patago nakikita ko ang mga kapatid ko. It's because of Renz." I explained.

"So what does it mean?" Ianong niya

"I don't know, maybe I'm just very thankful to him. Nakita kong lumaki ang kambal ko. But—"" Napatigil ako

"But what?"

"The last time that we secretly see each other was the time that we argued big time." I sighed remembering the memory.

"What did you two fought about?"

"He brought his mom with him that time," I stopped again and drink another glass.

"Then what happened?" Atat na tanong ni Lhester, kaya sinmaan ko siya ng tingin.

"I...I almost killed her. Because she---She was saying that, hik! My mom was the one who cheated. I almost choked her to death that time...That's why we both hated each other."

Napakamot tuloy sa batok si Lhester at biglang inakbayan na ako.

"Now I understand. Ayaw mo na, ano?" Tanong niya, kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Ayaw na?"

"Ayaw mo nang magsinungaling na wala kang pakialam kay Renz. Na ang totoo talaga ay nag-aalala ka sa kanya at may nagbago nang maalala mo ang efforts niya noon. Tama ba ako?"

Napaayos ako kaagad ng upo, para akong natauhan bigla. And I laughed.

"Hahaha! Lhester, I may be drunk but I'm still sane. You can't trick me like this."

"Anong trick? Tinatanong lang kita e," pagbusangot niya.

"Whatever, just send me home. To Zehl's house," I commanded and stood up.

I can't deny nor agree to him. Because I still can't weigh what I really feel, because I know that I still hate Renz and at the same time, maybe I am starting to care. Fck, right? Tss.