The Gentlemen Series 6: Chris, The Macho Lawyer (SELF-PUBLISHED)

THIRTEEN

Kiss

Monica seemed not to mind the glaring eyes I was giving at her. She kept on gaping at us audaciously. I suddenly felt unconscious on my seat, especially when Ysmael cleared his throat, tapped the table with his fingers just to break the deafening silence on the dining table.

"The way I look at it, both of you knew each other?" He asked.

I swallowed. Why is this getting so uncomfortable?

Chris expelled a sigh. "Yeah. We knew each other. Naging bisita namin siya ng ilang araw."

"Oh? Is she the one you were talking about?" Ysmael seemed surprise and then laughed afterwards. "Now, it makes sense."

"What do you mean by that, Ysmael?" kunot noong tanong ko dito.

"Well, Monica mentioned your name to me at nang magkausap kami ni Chris at nabangggit ko rin sa kanya na may bisita kami na ang pangalan ay Veronica. He suddenly changed his mind and accepted my invitation to stay here for a week. He was supposed to travel to Davao City. Ano nga ulit ang gagawin mo sa Davao, bro?"

Nlingon ko si Chris at nahuling pinaniningkitan ng mata si Ysmael. "Paperworks." he simply replied as I saw his Adam's apple moved from swallowing. He looked tense at tila ba ay hindi mapakali sa kanyang kinauupuan.

Monica coughed loudly. "Wait lang guys, hindi ko masyadong nasundan ang mga kaganapan na ito at medyo naalog ata ang utak ko. Kuya, paano kayo nagkakilala nitong si Chris? I can't remember you mentioned his name to me. I didn't see him with your group of friends." she took a new set of cutlery as she speak.

"Ah. Nitong mga nakaraang buwan lang kami nagkakilala nitong si Chris. Nagkita kami sa dela Silva Ranch when I needed to meet Reid dela Silva personally para sa proposal ko sa farm. As you know by now, galing sa ranch niya ang mga bagong baka natin. Chris happened to be there also along with their circle of friends. I was glad I approached him first kaya madaling nalakad ang mga kailangan ko." he grinned.

Dela Silva? I was so sure Kuya mentioned that family name to me before.

"Dela Silva? Wow! Hindi ko alam na nagpunta ka dun kuya! Dapat sinama mo ako eh! Crush ko pa naman yun!" Monica exclaimed as she looked up dreamily.

Tumawa si Ysmael. "Nakita mo na ba si Reid?"

"Hindi pa pero kwento ng mga kaibigan kong may antenna sa ulo pagdating sa mga kalalakihan, ang gwapo daw nitong si Reid kuya. I mean, c'mon. Sino ang hindi nakakaalam tungkol sa reputasyon ng dela Silva? Sila lang naman ang may-ari ng pinakamalaking ranch sa buong Mindanao at pinakamalaking supplier ng karne sa mga hotels at super markets sa buong bansa. And to think he managed to run the ranch singlehandly. As in amazing di ba? Kaya nga kahit hindi ko pa nakikita itong si Reid, tiyak akong magkakagusto na ako sa kanya."

Oh, that made sense. Sila ang supplier ng meat sa hotel namin.

Tumawa kaming tatlo sa sinabi ni Monica. "Hindi ka type ng mga yun, bunso. Ang tipo ng babae na gusto nila ay mga babaeng galing sa Alta Sociedad at hindi ang mga tulad mong probisyana. Tska ang mga taong yun, sila yung tipong di tapat sa mga babae."

"Duh. Perception mo lang yun, kuya. As if naman hindi mo rin gawain. Hindi ko na nga mabilang kung ilang babae na ang ipinakilala mo sa akin na syota mo kuno. Then the next day, iba naman. Parang nagpapalit ka lang ng damit eh. Hmmp." Umirap ito at humalakhak si Ysmael sabay abot sa buhok ng bunso para guluhin.

I smiled. I feel you, Monica.

Ibinalik ni Ysmael ang tingin sa akin. "Your brother, Lawrence, right? He was there-"