He almost occupied the whole space inside the elevator. I feel suffocated. This is one hell of a Torralba! I can't just relax, okay?
"You're working here? Kaya pala matagal kitang hindi nakita." Aniya sa kalmadong tono na akala mo'y hindi ko ex ang isa niyang kapatid.
"I-I needed to. A-Ano nga palang ginagawa mo dito?" I don't want to pry with whatever business he's doing here, pero kailangan kong maliwanagan. I need to know that I wasn't his business, assuming na kung assuming.
He suddenly gripped his back pocket and took out something. A wallet.
"I need to bring this back to its owner, Jake."
Oh! Tangina! Bakit kinalimutan ko na na hindi nga lang pala ako ang nag-iisang nilalang dito na konektado sa mga Torralba? Tinampal ko ang sarili. May nanalo na talaga ng award for assumption.
"And also.." Natigil ako sa pakikipag-debate sa aking isip nang may idugtong pa siya.
Kung makatingin siya sa akin ay parang may nakakatuwang meme sa mukha ko. His eyes are a bit filled with delight. Sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya at pagkibot ng kanyang mga labi ay parang may magandang balita siyang ihahatid.
"I am inviting you to my wedding."
The what?? Ikakasal na siya? Why?
Anong why, Symon?
"C-Congratulations! I didn't know."
At saka ko naisip ang maaaring mangyari kapag dumalo ako sa wedding niya. Of course, hindi mawawala doon ang mga Torralba. There's no way in hell that I will go there! Magkamatayan na pero ayokong makita ang pagmumukha ng Troy na 'yon!
"Since you are here, why don't you come? Dito naman sa Barcelona gaganapin." Wala akong nakitang anumang masamang intensyon sa mata niya. He just really wants me to come. No other agendas. But..
"I think I'm busy.." Pinagmamasdan niya ang mukha ko. Nailang tuloy ako.
"Busy ka sa Sunday?"
What? May gagawin ako sa linggo, with Jake. Does he mean this coming Sunday?
"Yes. I mean, I have business with Jake." Natatawa nalang ako mairaos lang itong pag-iwas ko sa mga Torralba. The award for avoidance is also bestowed on me.
"But I'm inviting Jake too, and he's not going to say no. Why don't you come together? That will be a good idea!" Masayang tugon niya. No. He doesn't have any idea what he's planning to do. We were both exes, maybe it's too awkward for us to be there in our ex's brother's wedding?
But Jake doesn't seem affected. But I'm sure he's going to say no. He is more rational than me. Kung hindi siya pupunta, ibig sabihin magkakaroon ako ng rason upang hindi rin makapunta. Jake's my lifeline!
"Come on, I don't think Kuya's coming. He's real busy with modelling, if that's what you are worrying about."
Kailangan ko nalang magtiwala sa paninindigan ni Jake. He's the creative director, I'm sure he has lots of possible reasons not to come. And I'm betting on that thread of hope.
"Y-Yeah.. Okay. Just send me the address."
Malakas ang loob ko na tatanggihan ni Jake kung iimbitahan man siya. I know he won't fail me.
Nakauwi ako sa bahay bago mag-alas siyete ng gabi. I found Aljer sitting on the stool, looking at the flowers in a vase. Naramdaman niya ang presensya ko nang dumaan ako sa likuran niya.
"What's with the flowers?" I took a sit on the sofa while looking at him.
"You mean these flowers that your secret admirer sent again?" His smile is teasing me. What? What is he talking about?
BINABASA MO ANG
Masked Pleasure (BxB) ✔
RomanceSimon, haunted by a turbulent upbringing and a profound sense of abandonment, finds solace in his rebellious nature. However, his path takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Troy, a charismatic yet troubled individual grappling with the...
