LAXUS (R18) (Published Under RedRoom)

Goodbye

"WHERE is it, Miss Sanchez? I said I need the revised proposal in five minutes!"

"Y-yes, Sir. I'm just polishing it."

"I need it now. Now!" Agad na pinatay ni Laxus ang intercom at marahas na sumandal sa executive chair. "Fuck, Laxus. Calm down, will you?" He couldn't control his emotions lately. At alam na alam niya kung bakit. Napapikit siya at napasabunot sa sariling buhok at marahas na namang napamura. Napadilat lang siya ng tumunong ang intercom.

"What?" paangil na tanong niya sa sekretarya.

"S-Sir, Mister Billy De Asis is here and he said he wanted to talk to you."

Sandaling natigilan si Laxus nang marinig ang pangalan. "Send him in," sabi niya at napatayo sa executive chair. He walked towards the glass wall that oversee the Makati skyline. He took a deep breath and adjusted his tie.

Ilang beses na niyang ginustong makausap si Billy pero hindi niya magawa. He was afraid to know the answers.

"Laxus."

"Billy." Humarap siya sa kaibigan.

"Whoa. You look like a mess," tatawa-tawang sabi nito at umupo sa swivel chair sa harap ng executive table niya. Hindi agad siya nakapagsalita. Of course he was aware of that. His stubbles are growing. He would go to work with hangover. Hindi lang niya gustong magkulong sa condo unit niya. He was just pretending that he was okay.

"We both know why I'm here," sabi ni Bill. "Or that gold digger already got in your head?"

Nagtagis ang mga bagang ni Laxus. "Don't call her that."

Ngumisi si Billy. "But base on how you look—"

"How did you know about it, Billy?"

"Well, the day my mother rushed to the hospital, my father admit it to me. He's so guilty that time."

"Did you see them... together?" Parang may kung anong mapait na nalasahan si Laxus sa ideyang iyon.

"No. But the day my mother had a heart attack is the day she caught the two of them in the... hotel, Laxus."

"What?" Halos hindi iyon lumabas sa kanyang bibig.

"That bastard told me that nothing happened and they just met recently but I don't believe him. Since I know that gold digger name I had her investigated. That's when I saw her face. I've got to know about how low her life is. I had her investigated to make sure they already stop their relationship. I just don't want my mother to get hurt again... If she can only leave that bastard."

May diin ang huling sinabi ni Billy. Kahit ilang taon pa lang silang magkaibigan ay alam ni Laxus kung gaano kababaero si Tito Peter at kung gaano ito kamahal ni Tita Mara. 

"So you should thank me for saving your ass from that gold digger, Laxus."

Hindi na napagilan ni Laxus na kuwelyuhan si Billy at idiin ito sa kinauupuan.

"I told you to stop calling her names!"

"Whoa. Chill man!"

Napakuyom ang isa niyang kamay saka itinulak sa kinauupuan si Billy.

"One more word from you and you're dead, Billy. And I'm serious." Tinawanan siya ng kaibigan.

"Really, huh? You don't even know her."

"I know her more than your hired PI do!" Natigilan si Laxus nang marinig ang sariling sagot.

Really, Laxus?

"Shit," usal niya at napahagod sa sariling buhok. Naglakad siya pabalik sa harap ng glass wall. Naalala niya ang gabing hindi siya nakinig kay Elena. "He said nothing happened," sabi niya sa sarili. And it slowly dawned on him. Slowly and all at once. Subconciously, he knew he was wrong to judge Elena. For not listening to her. At iyon ang ikinakatakot niya.