My Beautiful

Chapter 3

Warning: This story has mature content so please be cautious in reading. 

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I just got out of a meeting. I was tired and hungry, but Carlo was standing in front of me, scowling as I tried to back out of the party he wanted us to attend.

“Xi, naman. Inaantay tayo dun.” He was dressed for the occasion, while I, on the other hand, was still in my business suit.

I rubbed my temple, trying to will away the ache in my head.

“Dude, hindi ba pwede pass muna ako? I’m really tired,” I said. “I just want to go home and relax.”

“No, man. I need you there with me. Nadine is there and I need your support.”

He and Nadine broke up over the weekend – over his being immature – and he was trying to get back with her. The only problem was she no longer wanted to be with him, and he couldn’t accept that. He seemed to love her, and as his closest friend, I didn’t want him to have the same fate in love as I did. There was nothing I could do but accompany him, and try to win back his ex-girlfriend.

“Kung hindi lang kita kaibigan hindi ako pupunta,” I mumbled, not liking the idea of attending a party but not wanting to let Carlo down.

“Thanks, pare. I know I can count on you.” He smiled, looking relieved I finally relented. “Yan ang Xian na kilala ko – reliable.”

“I’m going, so tama na ang pambobola mo,” I told him. Then suddenly it hit me. “You sure you’re not setting me up with a date?” I had to make sure because he was dubious like that.

“Pare, no offense ha … but mas importante sa akin si Nadine kaysa sa lovelife mo. Wala akong panahon ngaun to focus on anything else but to get her back.”

“Just making sure. Ikaw pa naman medyo gago.”

“Hahaha,” he said sarcastically. He slumped on the chair in front of me, looking so serious and defeated I suddenly pitied him. He looked as if the world was on his shoulders. “This is serious, Xi. I really need you to be there just in case I do something stupid.”

“Okay, okay,” I said, tapping my ballpen on my office table. “I’ll go because you asked me to, but make sure na susundin mo lahat ng sasabihin ko.”

“Yun lang pala eh.”

“Seryoso ako, dude. You have to promise to listen to everything I say. Ayokong mapahiya tayong dalawa.”

He frowned, clearly thinking whether to agree with my terms or not. “Baka naman sirain mo diskarte ko?”

“Seriously, Carlo … ang dami mong angst! Gusto mo bang sumama ako sa iyo or hindi?” I asked a little too loudly. “Either way I’ll be happy, so just make up your freaking mind.” I scowled at him, disliking the fact that he was seriously dampening my mood.

“Alam mo namang mas gusto ko nandun ka eh,” he answered apologetically. “I’m sure you’ll have my back.”

“Eh ganun pala, so just shut up and let me do my thing when we arrive there.” I gave him this look that told him he needed to trust me on this. “Rest assured I won’t allow you to make a fool of yourself in front of Nadine or anybody else.”

“Yeah, whatever pare,” he mumbled. He still looked a little down, and I couldn’t blame him.

“What time does the party start?” I asked.